An initiative of the Dekko Foundation
Day to Day
Making the most out of everyday moments
We are well on our way into 2026 and I don’t know about you but so far the time is flying by! We want to encourage you to make a few parenting goals for this upcoming year. Sometimes making goals can seem overwhelming and daunting so we want to keep them short and sweet!
- Be intentional. Whether you are in the car or making dinner, take a minute or two to connect with your kids. Ask them about their day, who they played with, what they ate, and so on. This shows you care and are interested in their life.
- Read! Kids love to be read to. Go to the library together and ask your kids to pick out books they like. You don’t need to spend hours reading to your kids each night. Even reading just one book a day will promote a healthy attachment between you and your child(ren) and increase their love for reading.
- Pause before correction. We all have those moments where kids are yelling and running around the house and then someone gets hurt. We encourage you to pause before correcting or disciplining your child. This gives you an extra second to think before you react in a way you might regret later. An escalated adult cannot deescalate a child.
- Put your phone down! When your child comes to you with a question or to tell you something, we encourage you to put your phone down and listen to your child. We live in a world where electronics are everywhere all the time. Our kids are growing up in a time where they have to fight for their parent’s attention because there are so many distractions. When you put your phone down and choose to listen wholeheartedly to your child, you are showing them that they are important and what they say matters.
- Have fun! This world is filled with negativity and stress. Don’t take life so seriously (easier said than done). Make a fun dessert after dinner, have a pajama party and eat popcorn, blow up balloons and jump up and hit them into the air, sing silly songs, make a secret handshake, do a fun art project, etc. Kids need time to just be kids! They only get one childhood and as parents we need to make the most of it!
Our kids need to know they matter and are important. They need parents who give them the attention and love they deserve. We hope these goals are simple and can be integrated into your daily routine without a lot of thought and stress. Happy parenting!
At Before5, we are passionate about helping you understand how your child grows and develops – especially in the first five years, which is when the really important learning happens.
An initiative of the Dekko Foundation
©2019 Before5 Developed by Carpenter Web & Design