SELF-LOVE:
Game night round two. Board Games - We have a few more suggestions - For 2+ Peaceable Kingdom's Monkey Around. For 3+, Janod's Acrobat is a great stacking game for fine motor skills.For 4+ Hungry Hippos, UNO, and Electronic Hot Potato. For 8+ Kingdomino, BopIt, and Exploding Kittens. For Zoom (older children with school friends or grandparents) - Battleship is great!
PARENTING TIP:
Annoyed or frustrated means connect more! Yesterday we talked about how to respond to triggers. When I am triggered by a particular child, I try to make a mental note to connect more with that child. It's the 5:1 ratio. For every one negative interaction with a child, it takes 5 positive ones for your child to feel connected again. The connections can be small, like an extra long hug, singing her a song, or just telling him how lucky you are to have him as your son. When the relationship is "in balance" through the 5:1 ration, you'll start to see less acting out to get the negative attention.
INDOOR ACTIVITY:
MATH (and fine motor!): Patterning with beads! Talk about how patterns repeat themselves and help your child create a pattern with their beads. Pipe cleaners are great to bead on, even for younger toddlers because they are easier to manage than string. Note-if you have a younger child and they are resisting creating the pattern-don't push it and focus on this as a fine motor skill.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITY:
CHALK MAZE - Create a simple labyrinth or complicated maze with chalk and have your child walk through. The calming effect of inward and outward walk of the labyrinth is great for even the youngest of toddlers.