Parenting Matters, Cynthia Martin

The same old thing day after day can be frustrating both for parents and children. After a while, daily life can become just plain boring. You can put a little “spice” into your daily routine with minimal effort.

 

1. Try pulling out a few old toys your child hasn’t played with in some time. They will seem fresh and new.

2. Take a “field trip” to the local library. Play with toys they may have set up in the children’s area. Read a few books. Sign out one or two books to take home for bedtime or anytime during the day.

3. How about giving your child a bubble bath in the middle of the afternoon? Toss a few clean pool toys in for him to play with.

 

4. For fun at lunchtime, lay a quilt on the living room floor and have an indoor picnic lunch.

 

5. Cut the peanut butter sandwich she has most days for lunch in a different shape.

 

6. See if she would like her hair cut differently.

 

7. Ask her if she would like to dial Grandma’s number instead of you doing it all the time.

 

8. Have her draw a picture to send to her cousin in another city.

 

9. Let her help you give the dog a bath. Put her into old clothes so she really can help in a significant way.

 

10. Let her plan the menu for lunch today. See how much of it she actually could make by herself.

 

11. Play Hide and Go Seek in the house. There are a lot of places to hide.

 

12. Let her have her friend over to play and maybe even have two friends over.

 

13. Find a craft to do by looking on the computer.

 

14. Do some kind of craft together.

 

15. Get ready for spring. Plant some seeds inside and they will be ready to move to outside when the weather gets a bit better.

 

16. Go for a walk together. It is good for both of you.

 

17. Do your exercises with her. She will enjoy them and help you enjoy them, too.

 

18. Go through all your old pictures together. She will have forgotten what she looked like when she was just a baby.

 

19. Talk about healthy eating and see what changes she thinks you both should make.

 

20. Ask her what she wants to be when she grows up. Tell her what your dreams were when you were little.

 

21. See what ideas she has for special, new things you could do together.

 

Reach Martin at pmf@olypen.com or at 681-2250.