- Give them unique names.
- Most likely after book characters.
- Let them get dirty.
- Foster their creativity and imagination.
- Let them paint their bedroom walls.
- Let them dress themselves.
- I saw a little girl in the grocery store the other day with an enormous, billowing, aqua tutu on and I knew she had picked that out for herself.
- Tell them how much you love them every single day.
- Don't yell at them.
- Yelling is never the best way to convey your anger.
- Expose them to culturally different people and places.
- Read to them.
- Let them read to you.
- Listen to them.
- Tell them how beautiful they are.
- Don't be afraid to act silly with them.
- Enroll them in music/art lessons.
- Enroll them in a sport.
- Don't fight with their father in front of them.
- Don't let them sleep in your bed.
- Don't spoil them.
- Don't impose your religious beliefs or lack thereof on them. Let them decide for themselves.
- Camp out in the backyard.
- Take pictures of everything.
- Don't tell them that Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, etc. aren't real. Let them believe. Reality will ruin it for them without your help.
- Always have pets around.
- Don't buy them Barbies or Bratz dolls or any other toy that perpetuates bad body image.
- Cook and bake with them.
- Grow a garden with them to teach them to appreciate where real, fresh food comes from.
- Foster healthy eating habits without depriving them of childhood treats every once in a while.
- Tell them everyone's body is unique and beautiful.
- Travel with them.
- Don't let them have cell phones or use the internet at a young age.
- Limit and restrict television viewing.
- Build a tree-fort with them.
- Buy them toys that use imagination not electricity.
- Don't spank them or use any other kind of physical force against them.
- Help build their self-confidence in every way. Teach them to respect themselves and others above all else.
- Do not plop them in front of the television when you need a breather/are looking to distract them.
- Savor every small moment with them because they will grow up far too quickly.
- Go to the library and come home with piles of books often.
- Do not buy them things to substitute spending time with them/to appease them.
- Strongly encourage outdoor play and imagination.
- Encourage them to follow their dreams no matter how crazy they may seem.
- Encourage them to volunteer. Whether it be at an animal shelter, a soup kitchen, etc. Teach them to give back.
sep 21 2008 ∞
oct 28 2011 +
oct 28 2011 +