All About Weekday Parenting

When it comes to our children’s education, it’s a whole new world than what we used to have.

With different school year schedules and various educational methods such as distance learning and hybrid setups, today’s educational landscape is definitely more challenging for parents. On top of that, most of us manage dual income households to keep up with the costs. Take all these factors and what we’re left with is a puzzle that asks, “How do we navigate this brave new world better to support our little learners?”

The short and simple answer is “spending quality time with your children.” If you’re interested in the process of it, join us explore how exactly we do that with three simple P’s: patience, planning, and presence.

Good Nights make Great Mornings

It’s understandable to think that we’ll chronologically start at the early hours of a school day, but nope, we’re starting WAY earlier—specifically, the end of the previous day!  Here are some simple tips to ensure your little tykes get some healthy sleep regularly:

• Eat dinner on an ideal schedule. Feeling too hungry or too full stop kids from falling asleep. Be sure to have children avoid having too many sweets for dessert before going to bed.

• Wind down the energy before bed. Instead of watching something on screen, a book, some gentle music, or telling bedtime stories help your kids pipe down at the end of the day.

• Create the perfect environment for sleep. No loud noises, no TV or computer screens, and no distractions nearby. Make sure kids are not too hot or too cold in their beds as well.  Fluff up their pillows, give them their favorite stuffed toy. Tuck them in well and tight. And hey, make sure there are no bed bugs that bite.

We all know how breakfast can start the day right. So, here’s a quick refresher on the food groups that should be present in every day-starting meal:

• Fruits
• Vegetables and legumes
• Cereal and grains
• Dairy and dairy alternatives
• Meats and meat alternatives

Be sure to keep it varied as much as possible. If you’re at a loss for what to prepare, champorado checks a lot of boxes in the list above. Try out this easy champorado recipe. Partner that with an apple or a banana plus a protein source, and your kid is good to go!

Now, we know not everyone gets to have breakfast together with their kids every morning because of work, but there are other ways to be present without being there in person. Short, handwritten letters in post-it notes or video selfies of you wishing their day well are simple gestures that go a long way when done consistently. So, whenever you can, take a few seconds to jot down sweet messages before going to work.

After-School Bonding

This section varies from parent to parent. Some get to spend this as early as their kids end the school day by fetching them home, while others get to start this when they arrive home from work. The important thing is to make as much time and space as possible for your kid on a regular basis.

Some kids are born conversation starters, they’ll talk about anything without being prompted. But if you need some tasty icebreakers, we’ve got some questions you can ask:

• What did you learn today? This gives you an idea of their interests, what occupied their minds. Letting them explain what they learn also exercises their manners of expression, which can eventually develop into eloquence and confidence in speaking.
   

• Who made you feel great/bad today? The answers to these questions are the names you should take note of. It could be a developing friendship, a classroom bully that makes things difficult for multiple children, or even a teacher whose teaching style might need some looking into. 

• What’s making you excited/anxious about going to school? If your kid is struggling with a specific homework, project, or subject, this is the question that makes it pop out. However, if there are school presentations or events you should take part in, this will give you enough time to schedule a day off from work if needed.

Always reward honesty in these conversations, especially when kids open up about something they’re struggling with. Thank them for the courage to say it out loud, and give them something special to enjoy, like their favorite dessert, scheduling a trip together, or getting them something they really want without spoiling them.

A busy life should not get in the way of spending time together—this goes both ways, for parent and children alike. Time spent together are the moments we’ll never regret spending because it builds stronger and closer connections within the family.