As we turn the calendar to January, people are often motivated to set health, fitness, and monetary goals. It is also an opportune time to consider setting some parenting goals for the upcoming year.
5 NEW YEARS parenting RESOLUTIONS:
- Spend more time outside as a family.
No matter the weather, there
are numerous
benefits to getting outside
with your child, including increased opportunities for cognitive,
social, emotional, and physical development. Fresh air and movement are
wonderful for maintaining a healthy body and encouraging a curious mind,
and outdoor activities foster strong connections between parents and
children.
- Read
more.
Besides opportunities for
snuggling and bonding with your child, reading aloud to your child
promotes language development, encourages future reading
skills, and lays the
foundation for building
empathy. Even if it’s a
few minutes each day in the morning or the evening, make reading time a
priority for the new year.
- Take advantage of Prime Times.
When juggling work and
family, it can feel challenging to carve out large chunks of playtime
with your children each day. Commit yourself to being present and
playful during even the small, everyday moments with
your child. At Bright Horizons we call these moments Prime Times.
- Ask more open-ended
questions. During car
rides or over a meal, practice asking your child open-ended questions to
encourage thoughtful conversation. “What do you play today? What
was something that was tricky for you today? What would you do
if…?" These kinds of questions inspire your child to share
details about their day and
how they are feeling.
- Practice self-care and ask for help. There are no prizes or trophies at the end of the year for parents and caregivers who are the most drained and burned out. Ask your partner, friends, relatives, or neighbors for help when you feel exhausted or overwhelmed. Small moments of self-care, such as taking a walk alone, stretching, or doing deep breathing, can often provide the energy and attitude shift needed to commit to the above goals. Taking care of yourself is not selfish, it is an act of love for yourself that you are modeling for your child.
Happy new year to you and your family!
- Parenting does not have to be perfect to be successful. Listen to two seasoned parents discuss their parenting paths.
- A New Years time capsule is a fun kids craft that helps foster a discussion about memories from the past year.
