We do everything that we do for our children, we know that. In most cases, they know that, too, but sometimes it is fun to remind them just how much they mean to you by giving them an extra special treat. Perhaps as a reward for great behavior or working hard at school or being especially kind and helpful or maybe ‘just because’. Along with treating the kids, it is bound to put a smile on your face, so let us share with you 4 ways to treat your kids today.
Take a surprise trip
There are few things likely to excite your children more than taking a surprise trip. It often doesn’t matter too much where you actually go, the fun is in the anticipation. Pack a picnic or eat at your favorite restaurant, enjoy the great outdoors or play in the arcades for hours. You know your kids best, so think about what would make them really smile and take them there.
Give a gift
We all know that it is not all about buying gifts, but if you are going to get them a treat, why not make it a useful one? If you are thinking about helpful gifts, we would suggest thinking long term with donating to savings accounts of making a contribution to the college fund, if indeed college is the right thing for your child. In the shorter term, practical buys such as safe cell phones from https://smarty.co.uk/blog/student-sim or paying for them to take up a new activity or class are likely to be well-received and appreciated for much longer than one day.
Have a movie date
Is there something showing right now that your children would love to see? Then book those tickets and get going, making time for popcorn on the way in. If not, don’t be put off this one as you can always have a movie date at home. Choose an old favorite DVD to watch or stream the latest release and then snuggle down to watch it together on your couch. Try to make it extra special by getting cinema snacks in ready and turning all of the lights out. Now you are at the cinema!
Give them yourself
When was the last time that you said to your kids, ‘I’m all yours’? It can be hard as we juggle so many things, but we all know the benefits of spending quality time with our children, and aside from the benefits to them, it simply makes us happy. So give them the gift of yourself, let them dictate the hour, the afternoon, the day, whatever you can give to them. It can often be surprising what they come up with and you know that you are giving them just what they want, time with you doing whatever they choose. If you have more than one child, it is also great to do this one to one with your kids from time to time.
You’re in your least favorite aisle of the grocery store: Aisle 5. That’s the candy aisle. Your four-year-old daughter is screaming at you full blast because she’s very upset that you will not allow her to have the candy bar she had sweetly pointed out. She’s stuck in the cart, but you’re sure she can be heard throughout the store. It feels like a crowd is slowly gathering to see how you’re going to handle the situation.
Kids’ meltdowns often produce a painful feeling of temporary insanity in parents. This awful feeling, in turn, can produce horrible screaming matches and sometimes even physical abuse. But the next time you are faced with a child’s tantrum, consider making two new and drastic changes-one in the way you think and the other in what you do.
The absolutely necessary alternative to whimpering is “Checking Out” and utilizing the “10-Second Rule.” When a child whines or melts down after a denied request, the parent has 10 seconds to gently disengage. No talking, no eye contact, and increase physical distance as much as possible. Parents’ checking out will surprise and bewilder the little ones initially. For some children, brief consequences may also be helpful. But soon the kids will begin to realize that tantrums get them only one thing: Nothing.
