Holly Hartman
Have you ever tried to explain the concept of New Year’s Day to a young child? For little people who don’t have a firm grasp on the concept of yesterday-today-tomorrow, the idea of a whole new year has got to be fuzzy at best. As my own child once argued, you could say that every single day is both a New Year’s Eve AND a New Year’s Day. (He was hoping for a later bedtime.) Anyway, Happy New Beginnings in 2026!
Speaking of new beginnings, I have ideas for a few worthwhile resolutions for anyone with a young child in their care, courtesy of The Basics.org:
Maximize Love, Minimize Stress
Focus on changing your reaction to one small, daily irritation that comes with raising your child, and plan a different response that demonstrates your love and acceptance.
Talk, Sing, and Point
Focusing your attention on communicating with your toddler, especially in a playful way, supports your child in so many ways. Make a playlist of silly kid songs you already know and post it on your refrigerator as a reminder to sing to your child every morning.
Count, Group and Compare
Take advantage of the natural math-building activities in your day, like counting steps, tapping to a beat, and sorting the silverware to keep your child busy and boost their understanding of the world.
Explore through Movement and Play
Moving and playing are the backbones of healthy child development, but they are also necessary for our own mental and physical health. Schedule a time each day for open-ended, child-led, self-motivated exploration. Even a few minutes can make a big difference for the whole family.
Read and Discuss Stories
Sharing books with your child is a proven way to build closeness, calm anxiety, and grow creativity for both of you. Look at the pictures, make up the story, use silly voices... make reading a time for connection and companionship.
Lastly, think about how much growing, playing, and learning your child will experience in the year ahead, and give yourself a big pat on the back just for keeping up with your little bundle of energy!
Learn more about these five simple parenting strategies on our website, eccstillwater.org.