Every year, we all make the same mistake of setting new year’s resolutions for ourselves that are just that teeny tiny bitimpossible to keep. Making self-improvement goals (like going on a diet or exercising more) can be emotionally and physically demanding for anyone, but when you have a little person on your mind 24-7 it’s even worse!
The easy solution is to bin the big resolutions. “Going on a diet” or “giving up drinking” can be intimidating following the celebratory festive joy and season of big meals and chocolate! So why don’t we try setting ourselves some smaller goals that will help us in lots of little ways?
Here’s our list of (doable) new year’s resolutions for parents. We hope there’s a few that will appeal to you.
1. Plan a trip/day out that is fun for you!
We all often make sure to have plans that will keep our kids entertained. But what about us? This year, make sure you have at least one plan that’s going to have something there for you. Even if it’s still a family trip out, make sure there is going to be fun for kids and fun for adults too.
2. Stress less about the mess
Marie Kondo knows what she’s talking about when it comes to organising a drawer or donating excessive amounts of clothes. However, what Marie Kondo never shows us is what happens an hour later when our freshly organised and neatly folded drawers has had a toddler has tumble through it.
So, let’s try to not pull our hair out when we see the toys strewn across the floor and let’s not bite our nails at the thought of opening a clothes drawer that we forced shut in a sloppily rushed panic. Let us tell ourselves that mess does not equal stress!
3. Talk less, listen more
Busy busy busy! We’re all always rushed off our feet with a to-do list that’s as long as our arms. It can mean that we’re often rushing about and dashing from one point to the next. However, sometimes that can lead to us rushing through conversations or talks with our kids. And when they’re young, these can be incredibly formative moments!
So, let’s all try and take the time to slow down our pace a little. And when our kids want to talk, let’s try to let them talk as much as they can. Let’s listen as much as feasibly possible.
4. Family activity jar
Not sure what family activity to decide on this week? Here’s an easy solution!
Get everyone in your family to write down any activities that they want to do at some point inside a family activity jar (or hat, bowl, or any other vessel you want to use!). Do this throughout your week/regular routine. And then once you’ve reached the day when you are going to do something all together, reach in and pick one at random.
You’ll reduce disputes and keep things fair!
5. Look after your own health if you’re feeling run down
This one sounds like it should be very easy to keep. But you and I both know that it’s not.
We try incredibly hard to stride through any illnesses and try to carry on like normal. But it can just make us feel worse and worse until we’re reduced to tears.
This year, let’s try not to do that. If you feel ill and feel like you need to take some time to look after yourself, then do that. Ask someone if they wouldn’t mind looking after your little ones for a day and allow yourself a sick day. Even super-parents need a duvet day and a hot water bottle every so often!
6. Smash your screen (time)
Something that we didn’t notice happening alongside the unfortunate experiences we’ve had during the pandemic is our newly increased screen time. A lot of us are clocking up more time on our phones, but too much time on social media (or using our devices in general) can have a big effect on our mental health.
Reducing the amount of time we spend with our phones would be a great place to start improving our mental health, and also help us sleep a little better at night!
7. Treat yourself once a week
Not being acknowledged as we’re doing our usual parenting acrobatics as a parent or guardian can sometimes leave us feeling a little bit invisible. All that work, and it usually goes unnoticed. It’s time that we started treating ourselves for all the hard work we do! Make sure to treat yourself at least once a week. Whether that’s with a takeaway, a pamper session, or just plain and simply, some me-time.
You deserve a treat too, mamas and papas!
8. Practice taking more moments of calm for one of your new year’s resolutions
Newsflash: Parenting is manic!
It’s time consuming, stressful, and none of us knows what we’re doing! And while it’s going on, our own mental wellbeing is usually on the back burner and slowly being extinguished.
But taking a moment of calm for yourself doesn’t need to take longer than 2 or 3 minutes. Whether you take a moment to write down your thoughts, do a quick meditation or take a walk, why not try increasing how often you check in with yourself?
Read more of our tips on how to be more mindful here!
9. Make plans for adult-only parent time
You love your kids to infinity and beyond! They are your tiny little human and you love them with your all. But we all need to take a break from even those we love the most. This year, make some plans that will give you a breather from the kid-pocalypse and have some adult-only time, and try to make it as guilt-free as possible!
10. Have more meals as a family
Sometimes the different timings from every person in the house can lead to differing meal times. Where we can, try to arrange to have more meals all together as a family. It will increase our kids (and our) mood so much more!
11. Make one of your new year’s resolutions trying something new!
What’s something that you’ve always wanted to try? A new food? New outfit? A new baby class?
Don’t hold back anymore! This is your excuse to give it a go, and if it turns out you didn’t like it? Well, now you know! Try out something new in 2023.
We don’t keep it a secret at Happity that parents often feel lonely. You simultaneously have someone always in your life, and yet no one to talk to. You’re not alone in feeling that way.
But, maybe it’s time we made an effort to change that feeling while we’re experiencing it. When you’re feeling a bit lonely one day, pick up the phone and ring up someone who never fails to make you feel better. Whether that’s a family member or a close friend! Make sure that you’re staying connected, and the isolated feelings that come with parenthood should hopefully feel a little lighter.
13. Make some new year’s resolutions to spend more time outside
There are countless benefits of making sure to get some fresh air every so often! Mind.org have said that being closer to nature can do some of the following:
Reminder: accepting help from others isn’t a sign of weakness!
We all sometimes have those days where we wished we had 7 or 8 pairs of hands. So when someone offers their help your way, don’t be afraid to take them up on it. Whether you’d feel more comfortable with them taking your kids for the day, or simply helping with folding up some laundry.
People are more than happy to help!
15. The best new year’s resolutions involve no longer being your own worst enemy
If you’re going to make any big new year’s resolutions for yourself, try to make them about being kinder to yourself! Don’t put any heightened amount of stress on your shoulders, and try to find a resolution that’s in place for you.
Make a resolution to stop beating yourself up, comparing yourself to the picture-perfect family on Instagram, and feeling like you’re not a “perfect parent”.
Being a parent isn’t easy. You should be proud of every achievement you’ve made day by day with your kids. Make sure to remind yourself of that throughout the new year.
From all of us at team Happity: Happy New Year! We look forward to helping you find your new classes this year 🎉
Read on to find some of our best rainy day activities for toddlers!
When you’re stuck indoors because it’s rainy, cloudy or freezing, the days can feel super long. Especially if you have an energetic toddler to entertain!
The four walls can seem like they’re closing in on you! Because of that, you end up wondering how you can fill the hours and make it through the day with your sanity intact!
We’ve put together some fab rainy day activities for toddlers to get you through.
Many are super quick and easy to set up. And little ones will love them.
Looking for fun activities with your baby or toddler? There are thousands of classes and groups on Happity. Find one you’ll love here.
Activities to do with toddlers on a cold or rainy day
1. Washing up glove finger puppets
Make finger puppets in minutes with this toddler-friendly activity. Simply snip the fingers off a pair of washing up gloves and use pens to make faces (Sharpies work best but supervise toddlers well if you use these!). You could glue googly eyes and wool hair to make your puppets.
2.Painting with cars
For a quick and easy painting session with an exciting twist why not paint with toy cars? Your toddler can ‘drive’ cars through blobs of paint and then explore all the colourful tracks they make on the paper.
3. Play dough works of art
Have you ever made ‘paintings’ with play dough? They’re so much fun to do. Start with simple shapes and let your toddler enjoy squishing and squeezing down the dough so that it sticks to the paper.
4. Rainy day activities for toddlers – Make a sensory play tray
Set up a bowl of warm soapy water and a bowl of clean warm water. Gather lots of towels. And then let your toddler enjoy washing their toy cars or dolls. You could also make toy cars muddy first by driving them through the soil in the garden for added fun
6. Two ingredient cloud dough
This cloud dough is super quick and easy to make – using only 2 ingredients! Just mix roughly equal amounts of hair conditioner and cornflour until you have a soft dough.
It is so lovely to play with! Add some play dough cookie cutters and tools for added fun.
7. Sock puppets
Put all those odd socks to good use! Glue on buttons, googly eyes and wool to transform an old sock into a fab hand puppet. Once you’ve made that, we know that your toddler is bound to have lots of giggles with it.
8. Rainy dayactivities for toddlers -Make an indoor den
Drape a blanket over two chairs to make a simple den. Fill with cushions, toys, books and little activities for some magical den time fun. Then you’re sure to have created a space that your toddlers will adore!
9. Take a trip to the library
It’s the perfect activity for a cold or rainy day. Wrap up warm and then head to your local library. Loads of libraries have arts and crafts or colouring activities on hand for toddlers to do too – some even have storytelling sessions.
Have a quick search on Happityto help find some great library-based toddler groups!
10. Cress Heads
A classic that never loses its appeal for little ones. Clean and draw faces on eggshells and then show your toddler how to plant and grow cress. They’ll love checking their little egg heads every few days to see when they start to grow ‘hair’. These lovely Cress Heads were made by Emma for her amazing guest blog filled with amazing activities for toddlers.
11. Let’s go shopping!– Rainy day activities for toddlers
Set up a play shop with your toddler. Will it be a food shop or a shoe shop? Maybe even an ice cream shop with cones filled with play dough? Gather all the items for sale and pop on a shelf or table. Add a play till and a basket and your toddler will spend a happy time playing shops.
12. Shaving foam painting fun
Squeeze out some shaving foam into a tray and add either food colouring or paint. Then let your toddler swirl the colours around with a paintbrush or marble them with a cocktail stick
13. Mini Masterchefs
Get the pinnies out and enjoy a baking session together. There are loads of toddler-friendly recipe ideas out there. We love this one for strawberry and coconut flapjacks.
14. Leaf printing
Collect some leaves and have great fun painting them and then printing with them onto a sheet of paper. In spring/summer you could put out a selection of green paints. In autumn use browns, oranges and yellows.
15. Peg paintbrushes – Rainy day activities for toddlers
Use pegs to make fab paintbrushes that little ones will love. Use a peg to make paintbrushes with leaves, twigs, sponges and even tufts of wool. Your toddler will enjoy painting with their alternative brushes to see the marks they’ll make!
Becoming a first time dad can have premade assumptions. We expect soft, but dignified, feelings and swelling music to add to the hollywood-style scene.
But, is it quite so glamourous?
We’re excited to introduce a new monthly segment, “Diary of a First Time Dad”, being written by our new Head of Growth, Stuart. We hope you enjoy!
Diary of a first time dad – Aged 45 and â…”
From the day I discovered that my wife was, that we were, expecting our first child, fatherhood conjured up an image in my mind. Closely followed by reality. A very, very, very different reality. Having gone to all the antenatal classes and the scans I was allowed to I felt informed… I’d read the books and packed the bag and I felt ready. Prepped.
How did I imagine it? When the time came I’d grab the bag and bring round the car, get my wife in and get to the hospital in no time. After a few brief, soft-focus-shot hours a gleaming baby would appear and smile beautifically at me. In the clenched-jaw, picture immortalised by Hollywood I’d perhaps shed a single tear with my wife looking on serenely, holding our sleeping baby. Fast forward to the next day and we’re happily driving home, baby resting and before you know it we’re settled on the sofa with a cup of tea (decaf for my wife, of course – I HAD read the books) with baby Stu dozing quietly. I was ready. It was all going to run like clockwork.
*RECORD SCRATCH*
That isn’t what happened. That isn’t close to what happened. Not even slightly close. To give an example, the idea of a single tear manfully rolling down my cheek was, in hindsight, highly unlikely at best. Notwithstanding the fact that there is NOTHING as a dad which can prepare you for meeting your first child. Think all of your emotions turned up to 100 and hitting you like an express train all at once – the more pertinent point is that I tend to wail like an Italian grandmother at mildly poignant television adverts. Suffice to say, I nearly flooded the birthing room.
Fast forward to the slowest drive home since the horse and cart was replaced (joggers were overtaking me, and not particularly fast ones at that) and the clearest memory I have was the moment the front door clicked behind me. I looked at my wife. She looked at me. We both looked at our daughter. She threw up a little (and tbh if I’d known what was coming, perhaps I would have too.).
…What now?
We all looked at each other and thought, what now? What on earth now?? As parents, you’re led all the way to the day of birth but straight after that, you’re on your own. Or at least that’s how it feels on that first moment home alone. My wife looked to me, exhausted, glowing, brilliant… and it was everything I wanted to do to problem solve and have the answers. Fix things. And so began the most humbling, grounding, wonderful, exhausting, exasperating journey. With the first lesson being you can’t ‘fix’ anything for the mother of your child. They know more than you. They can do more than you.
First Time Dad – First of a series
This is the start of my monthly blog as the diary of a first time dad as I enthusiastically crash around, getting lots wrong along the way but learning even more.
I’ve actually only just joined the Happityteam and these first memories go back to March 2020 when my daughter was born. As I sit here typing with one eye on a baby monitor she is currently 8 and a bit months old (when did I stop knowing the exact weeks and days old?). The posts in the weeks and months ahead will be a mix of what’s happening now and looking back on the months gone by. The teething. The weaning. The terror. The joy. Countless nappies. And so many laughs.
I’ll also try to recommend something I’ve seen, read or heard which has helped me make sense of the journey I’m going on. And whilst I’m a dad, I hope of course this will give some laughs, guidance (and let’s be honest, insight to you mums out there of what us dads are going through too!) to any parent or carer out there.
This is obviously just my experience and everyone’s will be different. I’m a dad. Not a mum. My experience will be like many dads out there. And different from many others. The same as many mums out there. And different from others. Your experience may be very different to mine, and we would love to hear (and if you’d like us to) your story too! Get in touch on [email protected] if you’d like to share your story.
This week’s recommendation: The brilliant weekly podcast by Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe, Parenting Hell.
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