Day 65: Rainy Days, More on Screen Time, Reluctant Drawers, and Your Full Attention

SELF-LOVE:

Try completely ignoring the house while you are working or with your kids and vice versa! Children will resist this in the beginning of course, but if you can give them your full attention they will learn to do much better when they are on their own. I find each task so much more fulfilling when I can give it my full attention, and not feeling constantly divided.

PARENTING TIP:

One way to begin to think about screen time is to divide your day into three categories. One is time when you’re 100% present with your child(ren). One is when you have to be 100% checked out (maybe while in a work meeting, work emails or just when you need a total break from your kids!). One is when you can maybe give 10-50% of your attention (maybe household tasks, work emails or cooking). Try to revolve your screen time around the times when you need to be 100% checked out and begin to encourage independent play during that last third. If you allow screen time whenever there is a lull in the day, or whenever you have to get anything at all done, you’ll find it is a very slippery slope.

INDOOR ACTIVITY:

(Fine Motor) For your reluctant drawer try dividing their paper up into shapes using masking tape. This enticing set up helps them to focus on these small parts. Remember that even "scribbling" is great practice with grip, fine motor, and developing the muscles in their hands used for writing in the future. Depending on the type of paper used, you may be able to remove the masking tape and reveal a work of art!

OUTDOOR ACTIVITY:

Embrace the rain! Make those mud puddle memories! It's amazing what a a brisk walk and a splash in the puddles will do for the spirits.