Happy New Year!
As the calendar turns to a new year, we have an opportunity to reflect on our roles as parents and set goals for the coming months. New Year’s resolutions can be a good start for our personal development and improvement, allowing us to focus on what is truly important for ourselves and our families. After some research and self-reflection, I found a few recurring goals/resolutions many parents are setting for themselves this year that can inspire us to create a more nurturing and harmonious environment at home. Let’s take a look at them together.
A Balancing Act
Strike the right balance between guidance and control, and let our kids progress at their own pace, one baby step at a time. This podcast gives great insight into what could be going on inside their little minds, why they respond, or not respond, to our advice in certain ways, and the importance of our trust in their judgment during various stages in their development. I think parenting is a challenging journey that must be approached with patience and understanding. With that, you will be able to respond calmly in difficult situations, fostering a more positive and supportive environment for our children to thrive with confidence.
Limit Screen Time
In today’s digital era, striking a balance between technology and other activities is critical. Although it is by now impossible to completely avoid screen time for our young children, we need to accept the fact that this generation of children is growing up with them as an integral part of their daily lives. However, there is research suggesting that when young children are leisure-reading from digital devices when they are still developing their reading skills, their comprehension level might not be as high as learning to read from printed materials. I guess the takeaway from this is that moderation is key when it comes to using electronic devices.
Photo: @vickieliliyan
Buy Fewer Toys
We are all doing our best to reduce waste and be more environmentally responsible in our daily lives, I think we need to make more effort and extend this practice to the consumption of toys. The internet and online shopping opened up so many more possibilities for us to buy toys and gadgets for the kids. So many of these are impulse purchases that we think would be “cute” or “fun” for our kids to have, but they can have a much bigger consequence for the environment when our children lose interest in them or outgrow them after a short time.
Prioritize Self-care
As parents, it’s natural to put our children’s needs ahead of our own. Neglecting self-care, on the other hand, can lead to burnout and as a result, impair our ability to be the best parents possible. Getting enough shut-eye and having regular workouts are just some of the more obvious things we can do to keep ourselves fit mentally and physically. By focusing on our health, we can be in a better condition to take care of our kids.
Photo: @mrpaulfeinstein
Jumpstart Your Social Life
I don’t mean playdates for your kids! But make time to meet up with your friends and connect with them socially again! Having kids doesn’t mean the death of friendships with your buddies in your pre-kids days. Spending quality time with your own friends as a couple with your partner, or a girls’ night out could do wonders to your morale and mental well-being. Everyone needs this social network of support to briefly take our minds off the daily stress of taking care of our families.
Adopting New Year’s resolutions as parents can be a wonderful strategy to improve your parenting journey. Remember that resolutions are personal, so pick the ones that speak to you and tailor them to your situation. Accept this new beginning and embark on a year of growth, love, and connection with your children.
Stay Sparky in 2024!