1. If you argue with others in front of your child, make sure they see you reconcile, or at least tell them about it.
2. Hang a family mantra on the fridge door, like “We love even when we fight” or “There’s nothing we can’t do!” Remind your child of it whenever they feel insecure.
3. Occasionally include a note with a cute message in the school sandwich you prepare for your child to make them smile, and once a week, add a small chocolate square or cookie to sweeten their day.
4. Show your child that you can enjoy the playground too and allow yourself to have fun with them on the equipment.
5. Go for a walk with just one child and give them your full attention.
6. Wear jewelry or decorations your children make - at least until you’re out of their sight...
7. If your older child leaves their room messy, don’t clean up after them; close the door and let them deal with the consequences for a week. Chances are they’ll start keeping it tidy when they begin losing things...
8. Let your child call their grandparents via video chat from time to time.
9. If they really want to quit a club or team they worked hard to join, despite their efforts to fit in - give them your blessing.
10. Let your young child jump in every puddle they see on the street - even without rain boots.
11. Buy glitter glue to make your child a special, beautiful birthday card that will make them happy.
12. When accompanying your early school-age child to the park, let them handle disagreements with friends or other challenges on their own before stepping in. This way, they’ll realize they’re mature enough to solve problems independently.
13. If your child comes home upset after a school day, hold off on the barrage of “How was school?” questions - you can ask them later, after they’ve calmed down, perhaps at dinner.
14. Let your young child wear whatever they want when going to the store or visiting grandparents.
15. Create your own family traditions and routines, like “Pizza Tuesday,” “Bike Saturday,” or “Movie Thursday.”
16. Say nice things about your child when they’re not supposed to hear, but you know they’re listening...
17. Print selected photos featuring your child, so they have a tangible copy to look at when they’re older.
18. Don’t rush to tell your child to let go of something bothering them and move on; let them vent their frustration and calm down on their own.
19. Once a month, make heart-shaped pancakes for Saturday breakfast.
20. Let your child stay up late at least once a year to see a full moon or special events like a lunar eclipse.
21. Hang a whiteboard in your child’s room, and leave messages for each other on it.
22. Have a lighthearted family pillow fight, just out of the blue in the middle of the day, without warning...
23. Share funny stories with your child from when you were their age - they might fondly remember them and pass them on to their own kids to show what cool grandparents they have.
24. Thank them when they do a household chore on their own, even if it’s something small like hanging up a fallen towel or replacing the soap in the bathroom.
25. Dedicate a song you love to them every Sunday morning, so they start the week with a smile.
26. Transfer your family videos to the computer or a portable storage device and watch them together on a big screen.
27. Tell your child a joke once a week, even if it sounds completely silly.
28. Dance with them to the songs they love, in the most carefree way, as if no one is watching! Your child will cherish these moments forever.
29. Try to play with your child when they ask you to, even if you’re in the middle of an important task. Don’t worry, the dry clothes that need folding can wait...
30. If they show you their latest creation, be amazed, tell them what you love about it, and ask, “How did you do that?!” If it’s a drawing that can be hung on the fridge - do it!
31. Let your child choose what’s for dinner twice a month - they might really enjoy being your sous-chef!
32. Have a race with them in the park - running, biking, or even hopping on one leg. Give them a big hug at the end, regardless of who wins.
33. Remind them what a cute and amazing baby they were, show them photos from that time, and tell them what their first word was.
34. Listen to your old albums together, share when and where you bought them, and tell them interesting facts you’ve gathered over the years about the songs.
35. Lie next to them in bed before they go to sleep, and hug them tightly for a few minutes.
Remember, you don’t have to do everything on this list to be good parents and raise happy children. You just need to find other ways to give them time and positive attention, but these ideas can certainly be a solid foundation for the small actions that are unique to your family and your relationship with your child or children. Try some of them this week, and you won’t be disappointed when you see the smile on your child’s face!
