Parenting Growth Diary for New Parents

Waking up every morning feels like you’re being given a new challenge, and any parent raising a child can relate to this feeling. Methods that worked yesterday might not work today, bringing both lovely and difficult moments. Today, I wish to share my modest parenting diary, in which, although clumsy, I grow with my child inch by inch, offering warmth and practical parenting tips to parents facing similar challenges.

A Smiling Start to the Morning for Both Children and Parents

“Just 5 more minutes please…”

It’s hard to resist when your child snuggles into the blankets with their soft voice, but daycare time approaches inexorably. Previously, I would forcefully wake my child up, resulting in tears for them and exhaustion for me, repeating the vicious cycle every morning. To end this ‘morning war,’ I attempted a small change.

By using ‘sound’ and ‘light’ I replaced the alarm sound with gentle children’s songs at the lowest volume, and slightly opened the blackout curtains to let in natural light. Instead of waking them up loudly, I allowed their brains time to gradually wake up with soft stimuli. Initially, I doubted its effectiveness, but amazingly, after a few repetitions, my child significantly reduced the frequency of their morning tantrums. It was an important experience, realizing that a pleasant morning can set the tone for the entire day’s mood. This simple yet certain parenting tip may intrigue many people.

Overflowing Energy, Joyful Afternoon Playtime

A child’s energy seems infinite, while play ideas quickly run dry. When the child shows boredom with the same toys and similar games, parents can become anxious.

“What should we play today? I want to encourage my child’s creativity, but I’m not sure how.”

In such cases, I use the ‘change of space’ card. Even providing a new environment, like stepping out from familiar spaces such as the living room, child’s room, or balcony, stimulates the child’s creativity. On clear days, venture to nearby parks where they can touch dirt and leaves instead of the apartment playground. On rainy days, setting up a tent in the living room and camping can be a special experience. Grand preparations aren’t necessary. Simply adding new rules to familiar spaces (ex: only stepping on specific colored parts of the living room floor) can be an exciting challenge for kids. Remember, the best toy for a child is a ‘new experience.’

Mealtime Becomes Communication, Not a Battle

“I don’t want this!”

When children firmly reject lovingly prepared meals, many parents feel disheartened. Mealtimes with picky eaters often feel like a battleground. I was upset every time my child spat out vegetables.

In such situations, approaching with curiosity rather than forcing was effective. Try simple ‘food art’ by cutting carrots or bell peppers with cookie cutters shaped like animals or cars that children love or making smiling faces on rice with seaweed. Encourage a fun atmosphere with prompts like “Wow, a lion-shaped carrot? Want to try it?”, which reduces resistance. Also, involving the child in the cooking process is an excellent parenting tip. Give them small tasks they can handle, such as trimming the ends off bean sprouts or transferring washed vegetables into a bowl. They develop an attachment to the ingredients they handle and build positive experiences with food.

Bedtime Routine for Peaceful Nights

Ending the day revolves around the ‘bedtime routine,’ which lays the foundation for successful independent sleep. Let’s take a ‘bath-contact-reading’ order as an example of a bedtime routine.

Release body tension while bathing them in warm water, then gently massage them by applying moisturizing lotion. During this time, have tender conversations like “Your legs must be tired from playing in the park today, let me massage them with love”. A parent’s warm touch and voice provide ultimate reassurance for a child. Finally, dim the lights and read 2-3 picture books in a calm voice. Choosing books with warm illustrations and few words is better than those with flashy and stimulating content. This process helps calm an excited mind, gently signaling to the child that it’s time to sleep soon. Such consistent efforts form a solid parenting tip for fostering healthy sleeping habits.

Parenting presents daily challenges, yet it’s also about laughing and learning alongside your child. I hope these small, doable parenting tips make everyday life a bit kinder, and if you need content planning tailored to your child’s development, please reach out to MOM-i for planning requests.