AUGUST 13:

Decide:    You can know whether your child has too much.

Practice:    Today, survey your child’s existing toys or your shopping list for your child. Answer these questions.  (Thanks to Jean Illsley Clarke for connecting these types of questions with knowing what is enough.)

• Do these toys help your child grow and develop based on his age and abilities?  Are they too old for him?  Too young for him?  Do they encourage too much screen time?  Do they encourage enough physical activity?  Enough creativity?  Enough play with others?  Does he take care of his toys?  Is he thankful for gifts?  Is he disappointed after opening several gifts?
• Do these toys require so much of your money or so much family time and attention that other needs or other people are losing out?
• Are these toys about what your child needs or do you need or want him to have them for your own reasons (for example, you wanted them when you were a child; you feel guilty that you work a lot; they are things you are interested in yourself)?
• Are these toys harmful to others (for example, could hurt another child or are harmful to the environment)?

Use your answers to these questions to help you know whether your child has too much and if so, what you want to do to correct that.

Let us know which tips you like the best or any others you think of that you want to pass along to others.

Today’s Decide and Practice daily parenting tip was inspired by our featured picture book, KATIE AND THE PUPPY NEXT DOOR.  Read the book to a child in your life each day as a reminder of what you are deciding and practicing that day.

Come back each day for another good parenting decision and how to practice it. (Each day’s activity will also be posted on Daily Parenting Tips page for easy access.)

Read the whole story at Kids and Sharing pt 2.