The gifts have been unwrapped, the food eaten, and the stores have been picked
clean. Now that the
holidays are coming to a close, we turn our attention to the new year. There are a lot of people out there who refuse to make New Year’s resolutions. I don’t blame them. But every now and then it’s worth some serious consideration. Take the renewed sense of purpose the new year can bring us. None of us are perfect parents, and we can all strive to be just a little more patient, a little more understanding, and a little more fun.
1. Making More Time
This is the hardest goal for every parent, and sounds impossible at first. But we’re not talking hours a day, just a few minutes here and there to stop whatever it is we’re doing. The dishes can wait for five minutes while we hear the great tale of what happened at
school. Just a few minutes to look at our
children and really listen to them.
2. Learn How to Let Them Help
With so many balls in the air at one time, letting our little ones help can be harder than it sounds. This year take a deep breath and let them have at it. Helping with chores,
cooking, and
shopping is how they learn. Spending a few extra moments letting them stir the soup, getting items from the shopping list, or
dusting the shelves helps them to become self-reliant as they grow older.
3. Get Your Kids Active
If you have a resolution this year to
exercise more, add the kids to that resolution too. The trick is finding what they like to do. Video games can actually be a great way to get active. With motion technology available for every major game system, it's easy to get moving. There are many
games out there geared toward fitness for people of all ages. I recommend Wii Fit Plus for adults and teens, and
Nickelodeon Fit for toddlers and preschoolers. Dancing games can also be a great way to get active without getting bored. Dance Dance Revolution is a big favorite right now, and Nickelodeon Dance is easy for little ones and a lot of fun.
But don't forget, no game can equal just getting outside and running around. Get out there with your kids and play tag, hid and seek, or any sport they love.
4. Institute a Daily Routine
For parents with younger children it’s easy to just let the day slip away unstructured. This year try writing down and instituting a
routine for you and your kids. You may be surprised at how much a little structure can change everything. Children will behave better when they know how the day will be. Having set times for meals and
naps can solve so many daily behavioral problems it seems almost miraculous. Just don’t get bogged down by your own routine. Any good
routine needs to have some flexibility to it. Allow for extra
play time, errands, or surprise visits from family or friends.
5. Learn How to Say No
This one can be tough for some parents. That “no” can easily lead to crying, yelling, and kicking. Sometimes it feels easier to give in and let them have or do whatever it is they’re asking for. This year stick to your guns. No means no. And saying “no” is good for them. That little word can serve a multitude of purposes. They learn that they cannot have every little thing they want, that you are not a push-over, and throwing a fit will not help them in any way. Just remember there is only one secret in how to say no: stick to it. If you give in every time after you have already told them “no” you only feed into the next tantrum. If you give in this time, it will only make next time worse.6. Learn How to Say Yes
This is for those of us who never have a problem saying “no”. In fact, we’re so comfortable with that little word we inadvertently deny our children a whole host of potential experiences. Saying “no” too often can be just as bad as saying “yes” all the time. This year when your child wants to play, to explore, or to do it themselves consider saying “yes”.7. Grab a Little More Patience
I know, it’s another resolution that is much easier said than done. But the hardest resolutions are usually the most important ones. Any parent will tell you one of the secrets to getting through the day with a child of any age is patience. When we’re in the moment it can be hard to keep calm. Child number one is throwing a fit, child number 2 is asking the same question over and over, meanwhile
dinner is about to burn, and to top the whole momentary fiasco off the phone will start to ring. These are the moments to hold on to your calm with both fists. If you can stay calm in this moment, and in all the
rest, you can teach your children how to take life’s stresses in stride.
8. No More Broken Promises
We all do it, every now and then. We made a promise to our kids, something we will do with them or showing up for an event, and something happens. We forget or we get held up at work. This year resolve to take those promises seriously. A broken promise to a child is far more detrimental than you may realize at the time. Don’t make a promise unless you are sure you can keep it.
