Playful Ways to Begin the New Year

Anyone else already exhausted from the post-winter break bustle? If you’re feeling burnt out and seeking strategies to playfully reconnect with your little one, this one’s for you! As parents, our days can feel incredibly repetitive. This is especially true when we’re balancing many responsibilities at once- day after day. When you’re feeling emotionally exhausted or begin noticing physical symptoms of stress, making some simple shifts in your parenting routine can help you reconnect with your baby or child. Here are a few playful ways to begin this New Year: 

- Embrace a New Daily Ritual. 

Embracing a new daily ritual can lift moods and shift the energy in your home. Simple rituals, like sharing the “high” of your day at dinner, can serve as a meaningful way to reconnect as a family, without requiring tons of time or effort. Wondering what new daily rituals we’ve committed to lately? We’re all about the “Cleanup Dance” these days. We’ve transformed our pre-bedtime cleanup into a musical cleanup party. As we listen to upbeat music, we dance around the house and tidy up. One person acts as the DJ each night and occasionally pauses the music, forcing us to freeze mid-clean! Even the toughest days end on a high note when we’re giggling and dancing (and cleaning!) together.

- Play in a new place.

If you have a go-to play space in your home, head to an entirely different room. For example, if your baby’s play mat and favorite toys are typically set up in the living room, move his or her entire setup into the kitchen for a change of scenery. What intriguing kitchen items can become part of the play? Is there a safe, low cabinet you can explore together? How can you use the spaces under tables and chairs for play?

- Take family play to a higher level (literally).

Try singing or reading a book as your baby lies beside you on a mattress or gazes up at you from the changing table. Invite toddlers and older children to create new play spaces by stacking and building with sturdy boxes or couch cushions. Simple, physical changes in your daily routine can be refreshing for the entire family.

- Head outdoors- or as close to outdoors as possible! 

Outdoor play offers valuable, mood-boosting opportunities for us to reconnect with our children. When it’s not possible to head outside, rely on natural elements. What room in your home gets the most natural light? Can you open a large window or play beside a sliding glass door? How can you utilize window sills for play? Bowls, bins, and bathtubs filled with water are playful solutions when you’re longing for a beach day or pool outing. Our tried-and-true family favorite = gathering for indoor picnics during stormy weather!

- Make bathtime, anytime!

Sensory play can serve as a major reset for the entire family. Instead of sticking to an evening bathtime, try moving it to the afternoon. As a bonus, introduce shaving cream or measuring cups to encourage different types of water play.