All of us have fond memories of our childhood and if we could, we would certainly turn back time and relive our childhood memories again and again, wouldn’t we? Ah! Those were the glory days, we were so free, without a care in the world. Remember how you felt when you ran your first race, the first time you learned how to ride a bicycle, those sweet jelly candies, and riding the school bus for the first time? Much of these memories created were only possible because our parents and our caregivers shaped our surroundings and circumstances for us. Now, it’s your turn to do the same for your little one. Here are some wonderful ways to let your child know that he is loved and cherished. Follow these tips to make your little one’s childhood filled with some memorable moments in life and a gift to treasure forever.
The Importance of Childhood Memories and How to Create Them
- Your Undivided Attention
- Be Present
- Get Them Involved
- Document Moments
- Engage in Acts of Kindness
- Encourage Conversation
- Learn Something New Together
- Read, Read, Read
It’s a busy world and a busy life and parents are finding it difficult to manage time, especially when they don’t have help taking care of their children. Between work, managing a household, social commitments, and more, quality time with children may become compromised. Yet, parents must make an effort to actively spend time with their children. Set a routine and strictly follow it. Starting the day even half an early can impact how the rest of the day may play out. Meal prep in advance, finish off mundane tasks like laundry on the weekends, and if both parents work, ensure that the evenings are solely for children.
They may not be able to voice their thoughts or needs as well as we do but what all children want is to be around their parents. If your child wants to play with you, try not to dismiss them off by asking them to play with a sibling or that you have work to finish. If you do, promise them that you would play with them later and honor the promise. Always show up for their school events and other activities as actions speak louder than words.
We often underestimate just how sharp our children can be and also how capable they are. In the fear of them hurting themselves, we forbid them from doing many things like helping us in the kitchen, helping tidy up a room, or simply running an errand. One of the best ways to spend more time with your child is to get them involved in the everyday things we do. Teach your child how to peel potatoes or carrots, if introducing a knife seems too early. Show them the art of folding clothes or dusting tabletops and surfaces. When grocery shopping, let him handle the shopping list so it teaches him a sense of responsibility and he will feel important. Playtime can include educational things but ensure that whatever you do, you do it together.
This doesn’t mean you have to constantly be on your phone taping his every move–it may set an unhealthy precedent. But, make the time and the effort to celebrate victories, even small ones and document them in videos and pictures. You can also involve your child in creating mood boards or vision boards for what his year ought to look like. If your child loves spending time with arts and crafts, set a dedicated time to, perhaps, create a photo album of him complete with dates, notes, ribbons, colorful stationary objects, and the like. If your child is fantastic at sports, keep a token from the day. For instance, if you drank a soda during his football game, save the receipt for the soda. If you took your child to the museum, buy a tiny souvenir of his choice to commemorate the day. It’s always the little things that matter and your child will appreciate you immensely.
While kindness is an inherent quality in all children, sometimes they may be led astray by various external factors. It is the parents’ duty to bring them back on the right path and always show them the path of kindness. Kindness can come in many forms–whether it is being respectful of the neighbors and gently petting their dog, saving money to donate to charity, picking up someone else’s trash to keep the area clean or simply saying ‘sorry’ and ‘thank you’. Even small acts of kindness can go a long way in shaping the attitude and personality of children and a kind childhood is always a healthy childhood.
A good practice to engage with children and improve their communication skills is to ask them about their day. Pay attention and be patient. Your child may have seen a blue car on that particular day and something as mundane as that may have been the highlight of his day. Don’t dismiss his thoughts and excitement and ask follow up questions. If you feel like he’s not able to put his thoughts together, make it seamless for him. You can ask him how his first period went, what happened in the second, how was lunch, which sports he participated in. If your child is not chatty on a particular day, don’t force him to talk but reassure him that if something is bothering him, he can talk about it.
A great way to bond with your little one is by trying out something new together. Always wanted to learn how to swim but could never find the time to? Now is a great time. When the child sees the parent taking risks, it also gives him the courage to try out new things. Can’t dance to save your life? Why not sign up for a parent-child dance class together? The next time a family event takes place both of you can show off what you’ve learned together. In the process, your child will have not only learned a new skill, he’ll cherish these memories forever.
We can’t stress on this enough–it’s incredibly important for your child to read and you must help him develop a reading habit. It helps boost cognitive development, stimulates imagination and creativity, helps build empathy through emotional intelligence, and also improves his language and communication skills, among other benefits. Set some time aside, preferably around bedtime to read to your child or help him read a book. Learning about new stories, scenarios, and characters will allow both of you to get lost into many worlds and have much to talk about.
At EuroKids, we ensure that each child is given equal attention and love, just as a parent would do with their children to make their childhood a healthy, happy, and positive one. As India’s leading preschool expert, we gear our students with age-appropriate stimulation and the perfect harmony of learning and fun. To learn more about us, visit our website.
