100 Simple Parent Child Activities To Do at Home

Looking for fun activities to do at home to bond with your kids? Check out these great ideas!

My little one is two and so is still fascinated by so much that he often doesn't need any activities to keep him entertained. And I love his free play. However, I often want some play time where I can be engaged with him, so I personally do better at being present if I have an activity I want to do with him.

That being said, I am also busy and don't want anything that requires a lot of preparation or special materials. Most days, I am not organized enough to have things prepared. So I have compiled a list of ideas for activities that anyone can do with their child that does not require any special preparation. I hope it inspires you to play!

Activity Ideas

1. Bake something

Baking is such a great activity to do together as a family. Baking is so fun, a great way to bond with your little ones, and an excellent opportunity to practice math and life skills. Baking involves a lot of measurement, you can also incorporate counting, recognizing shapes, and comparison into your baking. Best of all, what a great memory to create with your little ones!

2. Have a storytime

I love when my little one wants to read outside of our bedtime routine. Let your kid pick the book and you can even take turns reading (even if they are just making up a story about the pictures). Have fun with it and take story time outside or read in a fort you build or go to the park - be creative!

3. Garden

Gardening with your child is so beneficial for many reasons. Check out this post about gardening with kids. It is a great way to get outside at home and teach your child about nature. If you can grow some food, even better! We have a couple of small produce-producing plants and my little one loves to go pick the food off. They are learning math and science skills, getting outside time, and bonding with you!

4. Take a Walk

I love taking a walk with my little one. It gets us somewhat active (at least) outside, and I often feel like we both feel better when we are out in nature. Additionally, there are so many opportunities to initiate discussion and playfulness while out for a walk.

5. Make sock puppets

This is a fun and creative activity in both the creation of the sock puppets and the show you and your children can put on after their creation. Additionally, you can make up scenarios to help your children process big feelings and events.

6. Do a puzzle

Puzzles are fun and great for learning. While puzzles are not always the first toy kids reach for, often playing with them intentionally leads to tons of fun for everyone!

7. Build with blocks

Any type of block - wood, silicone, LEGOs, plastic, etc. are a fun, creative, and a great way for kids to utilize STEAM skills. Try challenging your kids in different ways, ex. who can build the highest tower or let's try to build a princess castle or anything else that will capture your little one's interest.

8. Have a mystery food game - guess foods while blindfolded

If your little ones are a little older this could be such a fun one to try so they can try to trick their grown up! Or you can do it together to see if you can taste the difference between similar products. Have fun with it!

9. Write a letter

Have your child write a letter to a friend of family member. What a fun surprise for them and a chance for your child to learn about letter writing.

10. Color a picture

Coloring is always a lovely option when you need a quieter or more still activity. My little one is engaged in coloring for longer periods if Mom and Dad join him in it. You can also have your child color a picture for someone else as a small kind act to brighten someone's day.

11. Have a dance party

Throw some music on that the whole family will enjoy and just be silly. What wonderful memories are made with impromptu dance parties. I particularly love them for when a little extra energy needs to be had with lots of joy.

12. Play with chalk

My two-year-old has recently discovered chalk, and he loves it. He will often ask me to draw something and then he will color over it. A great way to let kids be creative outside. You can also suggest/challenge your kids to different drawings or activities with chalk.

13. Teach your child hopscotch

A fun and easy activity that is also active. We found hopscotch the other day at the park that another family had drawn on the sidewalk. My little one giggled and giggled (and requested more) when he saw me hopping through it. And great practice for some gross motor skills for little ones.

14. Ride bikes

We have a little tricycle and a balance bike for my little guy and I am trying to get him more interested in it. So I just bought a bike, so he can ride on my bike with me and I am hoping this will increase his interest. I have such fond memories of riding bikes when i was a kid, that I look forward to making these memories with my own child.

15. Have a paper airplane contest

Make paper airplanes and test them. See whose airplane can go the furthest, highest, etc.

16. Create an obstacle course with objects around the house

This can be done inside or outside depending on the weather or space. What an opportunity for your kids to be creative in designing an obstacle course. Then active as they make their way through the obstacle course. Let them know they have to put everything back when they're done.

17. Play hide and seek

Who doesn't love a classic game of hide and seek? For very little ones, hid a small object just out of sight. Hide and seek is fun and helps with development!

18. Build a fort

Building a fort is beneficial for kids in a number of ways. Plus, it is so much fun! Build an awesome fort and then use the fort for storytime or a tea party or another fun activity.

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19. Do yoga together

Doing yoga with your little ones can be beneficial for everyone. It is active and can be a great mindfulness activity to do while you bond.

20. Create a city or parking lot for toy cars

Let your kids be creative and design a parking lot or a city out of chalk (or painter's tape if inside). Then your little ones can drive their toy cars around the city or parking lot.

21. Have a tea party

A classic for a reason. You can have so much fun enjoying a tea party with your little one(s). Also, a great way to work on communication skills with your little one as you chat over tea.

22. Play dress up

Let your child dress up in your clothes or pretend clothes. Have them take on a character and/or be creative with it in any way that is fun.

23. Search for four-leaf clovers

I love watching the kids when I go to pick up my son at daycare because a number of kids like to play outside after school. I love watching their fascination with everyday things, especially things in nature many adults pay no mind to. Little ones will have so much hunting for four-leaf clovers, having the opportunity to examine nature.

24. Play with water

In my experience, kids love playing with water. Be creative and let them get wet and they will probably have a blast. A water table, a kids pool, the hose, buckets of water - we have used them all with our son and we always have a great time.

25. Play I-Spy out your window

Do you have a window in your house that is a good place to sit and look outside? I was surprised at how much my little guy just liked sitting with me and talking about observations outside the window. If your kid is a little older, you can play I-spy.

26. Clean out the closets

Sometimes you just need to get some things done around the house. We have found our little one loves to "help" with chores. The joy he finds in the chores makes them more fun for us. Find something simple they can do to help or let them play dress up or put music on and have a dance party while you clean out the closets.

27. Play the floor is lava

Kids love playing the floor is lava and they will love it even more If you play with them. Have fun and lots of laughter.

28. Sort all the toys by color

Make it a game and have your little one bring all the orange toys or all the orange Legos. It then becomes a good opportunity to practice matching skills and you can even take to the opportunity to organize toys by color (if you like rainbow organization). Have a competition to see who can find the most to really engage your kids.

29. Put on a play with stuffies

Use all of your little one's stuffies to put on a show. You can use the show to discuss big topics in a playful way.

30. Play Simon Says and/or Follow the Leader

A fun way for your kids to practice following directions!

31. Bubble party

In my experience, most kids love bubbles. There are a number of options to have a bubble party. Make bubbles, put music on, and use a bubble maker or some combination of both!

32. Cook dinner

Cooking can be a great bonding experience, meanwhile, you are teaching your kids valuable life skills. You are also able to get dinner ready while keeping your kids busy.

33. Lemonade stand

Help your little ones with a lemonade stand and you will all have a blast. Plus they can learn a number of skills including math and communication skills. Bonus, let them keep any profits to spend, save, or donate.

34. Play board games

We love board games! I cannot wait to teach my little guy when he is ready. Looking for good board games for littles? There are more options than you may realize. Check out Peaceable Kingdom Games as a good starting point.

35. Have a picnic

Picnics are so much fun and there are so many options for a picnic - Have a picnic in the backyard, or on the living room floor, or at your favorite park. You can also get your kids involved in planning the picnic and making the food for it.

36. Play balloon tennis

I remember playing this as a kid and I know my little guy likes anything with balloons. Try to keep the balloon from hitting the ground!

37. Write/draw a story

A fun way to be creative and work on practicing writing (if applicable). Let your little one create their own story about anything they want. They can then illustrate it too. If your children are little (like mine!) you can help them come up with and write the story, and illustrate it together.

38. Draw a body with chalk

Have your child outline your or a sibling's body with chalk then they can create a person out of chalk.

39. Treasure Hunt

Fun and creative and can be done with supplies you likely have around the house. Create a treasure hunt for your child to go on and keep busy with at home.

40. Draw a self-portrait

Have your child draw themselves. Fun, creative, and a great way to have a conversation while they are drawing.

41. Make a paper chain

Paper chains are so much fun! There are so cool paper chain craft ideas on the internet. And if you want to stick with a basic paper chain, you can use one to create a countdown to a special event, or you can use one as a fun way to write down something your little one is grateful for each day, or just create one for no reason in particular. Be creative and have fun!

42. Paint the fence with water

A fun and mess-free summer activity. Give your littles a paintbrush and a cup of water and they can "paint" on the fence. It will then disappear as the sun dries it.

43. Play "reporter" and interview each other

Such a fun way to get to know and take an interest in your kids and let them learn about you too. Come up with a list of questions and take turns playing reporter.

44. Create a special handshake

Your kids are likely to feel super special if you come up with a special handshake that you can use to show your bond for years to come.

45. Have a movie night (or afternoon)

Plan a full movie night with popcorn and maybe some candy. Make it interesting by having it in the backyard (if you have all the stuff) or on the floor of the living room. If your kids go to bed early, have it a little earlier in the afternoon and just close the blinds and enjoy an early night.

46. Create gratitude journals together

I personally believe teaching my kid gratitude is super important. Spend some time discussing gratitude and creating fun gratitude journals together that you can do together daily! Let your kid decorate it however they want and decide how they want to use it (how many things will they write down, do they want to draw a picture with it, etc.)

47. Plan a trip or outing together

Making a plan is an important skill for little ones to develop! Plan a future (or dream future) trip together or even just a fun outing.

48. Play a sport together

Introduce your child to your favorite sport or bond over theirs. A fun way to play together, be active, and get outside.

49. Play pretend

Pretending is a great way to develop your little one's brain. Let them be creative and go with it, engage with them, and have fun!

50. Give each other makeovers

Do your little one's hair and nails and let them do yours. Maybe even let them put your makeup on if you are feeling brave.

51. Create a mud kitchen

I think most kids love playing in the mud. Set them up a little mud kitchen in your backyard and just let them have fun and get messy. They will really love it if you join them in the mud!

52. Create a time capsule

Explain what a time capsule is and brainstorm with your kids what could go in to represent the present time. Then let the choose some items to put in and find a fun place to put it where it can be found in the future to look back at this time of their lives.

53. Find items to donate

Need to declutter or maybe you just want to teach your little ones about generosity. This is a great opportunity to discuss ways to help people in need. You can clean out some of your things and invite your little one to choose a toy(s) that they are no longer using to donate to other kids.

54. Plan a yard sale together

Another good option if you are wanting to declutter your home. If your kid is a little bit older, it is a great way to help them practice money skills.

55. Go on a rock hunt

My little guy loves to pick up rocks. We have a pile of rocks inside our house, in our garage, and on our front porch from the rocks he has picked up along the way. So I know he would love to go on a rock hunt and depending on your child's age and the area you live, you can challenge them to find specific rocks or rocks that are a certain shape or color.

56. Give them a bath with extra play time

Often times the regularly scheduled bath time has to be pretty quick as we try to complete our daily routines. So giving your kids a bath where they are allowed (or even encouraged) to play will be a fun activity for them.

57. Create a mini-bowling alley

You can use empty water balls and any ball you have around the house. Let your little ones bowl and you can even keep score if they are a bit older and enjoy a friendly competition.

58. Video call a friend or family member

I know our friends and family love getting a call from our sweet boy. Take some time to catch up with friends and family and maybe someone you haven't spoken with in a while.

59. Organize your pantry (help your child sort foods)

My pantry almost always needs to be organized (since it only seems to last about a week at my house). So you can take foods out and let your child help you sort foods. You can also have them sort play food if you have it.

60. Clean the house together

Since my little one loves to help we have a number of toy cleaning supplies/tools. I also highly recommend taking a Swiffer and taking out a part of the middle section to shorten the handle. Then they can actually clean while you clean. My little one loves to "help" us clean and we all have more fun with it.

61. Have a "karaoke" party

You don't have to have a karaoke machine for this version. Just put on some music and take turns singing and putting on a show.

62. Wash the car

Another fun but still productive activity. Let your kid get their swimsuit on and help wash the car. Playing with water and soap in the driveway will be a blast and you will have a clean car. You can also let them create a car wash for their toy cars or other toys.

63. Play tag

Get outside and get moving with a fun game of tag. Your kid(s) will love it if you are playing too!

64. Have a campfire

There is something magical about sitting by a fire under the stars. Have a campfire in the backyard, make s'mores, tell stories, sing songs, and just relax together. We have a Solo Stove for backyard fires (one of those smokeless fire pits) and I LOVE it. I highly recommend it if you like having fires. It is super light, so we can store it in our garage when we are not using it.

65. Stargaze

Maybe while you are out having a backyard campfire or are just wanting to relax outside one clear evening, take some time to appreciate the stars with your little ones.

66. Play rock, paper, scissors

Teach your kids rock, paper, scissors, and have a competition. Older kids may even want to get creative and invent their own version.

67. Take silly selfies

My two-year-old loves selfies. Take fun selfies and use silly filters to get lots of giggles.

68. Measure different parts of your body

Practice measurement skills by using a tape measure to measure different parts of the body. Have them measure height, arm length, leg length, wingspan, hands, feet, etc. and record their measurements.

69. Practice shoe tying

Shoe tying is such an important life skill! And while it is a tough one to learn, your child will feel so proud of themselves once they get it. Use real shoes or make one out of cardboard and a shoelace. Check out some great tips from We Are Teachers.

70. Create your own secret code or language

Another great way to make your child feel special. Create your own secret code or language that you can use while together. Bonus: you can then use your code/language to send fun messages in their lunch or to leave in their backpack to find at school.

71. Play catch

A classic for a reason. Tossing a ball together is enjoyable for many years.

72. Pick flowers

Outside my child's daycare facility, there is a field that often has "weeds" growing in it. Many of the kids love to play in it after school and during the spring they love to pick the dandelions and other flowers to give to their parents. It is adorable and so fun!

73. Play in the sprinklers

When it is hot outside, there isn't much better than running through the sprinklers. Join in on the fun with your little one.

74. Teach your dog a new trick

If you have a dog, work together to teach it a new trick! A great way to teach patience and persistence since teaching a new trick will likely take some time and effort.

75. Build a farm out of playdoh

Give your child a prompt for guided playdoh play of a farm or anything they might be interested in. If you build a farm, it could start a great discussion on animals and how farms run.

76. Have an at-home spa day

Need to relax? Enjoy face masks, mani/pedis, and even give each other massages at home. Enjoy and make memories!

77. Cook/bake for your neighbor

Cooking and baking are great activities because they teach some different skills including (but not limited to) math skills, life skills, and communication skills. If you bring your cooking or baking over to a neighbor, it also doubles as a fun random act of kindness!

78. Make necklaces using pasta

With just a few supplies that you may already have in your house, you can make macaroni necklaces. Fun, creative, and great fine motor practice.

79. Race play cars

If your little one loves playing with toy cars. Have a race with their toy cars. You can even create a race track using painter's tape.

80. Go puddle splashing

A few weeks ago my little guy got to play in his first puddle. The joy he had splashing in the puddle was amazing. I loved watching him as he experienced this pure joy from something so simple. Next time you have a rain storm, put on your rain boots and just let go and have fun.

81. Give massages

Take turns giving each other shoulder/back/foot massages.

82. Make a vision board

Use old magazines or let your child draw their own pictures to create a vision board. This is a fun and creative way to discuss setting goals and making your dreams happen.

83. Play musical chairs (or cushions)

If your little one loves music, this is a great way to incorporate music, music, and games. Cushions are s safer option for our littlest kids to avoid any accidents.

84. Have a toy car wash

Using a container or bucket with soap and water to set up a car wash for toy cars or a washing station for other kids. This is fun water play for your kids and a great opportunity to sanitize their toys.

85. Play a low-effort game

Feeling tired? Find something simple to make a game. For example, challenge your kid(s) to find all of the orange toys. This is great matching practice! Bonus: if you are interested in organizing their toys, by color is a great organization system for kids.

89. Have a calisthenics challenge

Having a calisthenics challenge can be a great option if you need a healthy outlet for your kids' excess energy and/or if you need to get some exercise in too. Challenge your kid(s) to see who can do 10 push-ups, 50 jumping jacks, run in place the longest, etc.

90. Play red light, green light, and other classic games

Classic games like red light/green light are so fun for kids and a great chance to practice following directions.

91. Play with shadows

Shadows are so much fun and a great way to teach a scientific concept. There are so many fun ways to play with shadows with your little ones.

92. Play with stickers

Stickers and sticker books are a new favorite at my house. If you are needing a quite more low-key activity, try stickers.

93. Play with magnets

Personally. I am a big fan of magnets. Since my little guy discovered them, it is much easier to keep him in busy in the kitchen while I make dinner. But you can also play with them and show them all of the awesome attributes of magnets. If you are looking for more structured magnet play, there are a ton of great ideas on the internet.

94. Make a card for someone

Another fun and creative activity that can double as a random act of kindness.

95. Have a photoshoot

You can pair this activity with playing dress up or it can stand alone. Have your kid pose and be silly well you take pictures and let them take pictures of you doing the same.

96. Collect leaves

I love kids' natural interest and joy in exploring nature. Go on a hunt to collect different types of leaves. You can have fun discussing the differences of the leaves, drawing different types of leaves, identifying them, etc.

97. Write a family song

Be creative together as a family and come up with a family song.

98. Have your child teach you something

Your kid(s) will be so proud to teach you something. Let them come up with something they feel they are really good at and let them teach it to you. A great way to develop communication skills too.

99. Walk the dog or a neighbor's dog

If your family is anything like mine, your dog does not go on enough walks. Get your kids and your dog active by taking the dog for a walk. If you have a neighbor, friend, or family member who has a dog, you can also offer to walk their dog (another fun random act of kindness!).

100. Create a family bucket list

Brainstorm with your kids things you would like to do as a family. This could be in general or over the summer or in the next year.

Note: This list contains Amazon Affiliate links. I only link things I have used and genuinely recommend.

More Information/ Sources:

• Brookes Blog - Activities

• Parents - Activities

• Indy's Child - Activities

• The Spruce - Activities

• Mum's Little Explorers - Activities

• Simply Well Balanced - Activities

• North Shore Mums - Activities

• This Simple Balance - Activities

• The Star - Activities

• Raising Children - Activities

• Happy Toddler Playtime - Activities

• VeryWell Family - Activities

• Action for Children - Activities

• Mommy Poppins - Activities

• All Pro Dad - Activities

• Mom Life Made Easy - Paper Chain Ideas

• We Are Teachers - shoe tying

• The Spruce - Macaroni Necklaces

• Scary Mommy - Creating a Vision Board

• Play to Learn Preschool - Playing with Shadows

• Pre-K Pages - Magnet Play

Brain Development Stages in Early Childhood

Understanding how children's brains develop can assist their caregiver(s) in understanding how to help their child's brain develop healthily and in creating reasonable expectations for their child.

Do you ever find yourself talking to your toddler using logic or expecting your child to be able to regulate their own emotions or exhibit self-control? I know I have! But once you understand the brain science of how their brains develop (it takes a long time!!), you begin to understand that their brains are not ready for that. Which can then help in choosing parenting strategies that will actually work with your child's brain development.

A few weeks ago, my little one was playing with the baby gate (which he can open, lock, and unlock at this point). I was trying to make dinner and was encouraging him to go play with something else, but was also not giving him my full attention. His finger got pinched in the gate, and I said to him, "I told you to stop playing with the gate, if you had stopped your finger would not have been pinched." He is two. This is not helpful, it is not needed for him to learn, and his brain does not understand logic at this point.

I have had the opportunity to take the 12-week parenting course with the Jai Institute. (Not an ad, just something I have been doing and have found helpful.) In this course, they teach parents about brain science (among many other things) and I realized that my response to my little one is not producing the outcome I want because his brain is not ready to understand my response AND it is not what he needs in that moment. Learning about brain development in that course inspired me to take a bit of a deeper dive and write this post. By understanding even basic brain science, I have learned how to better respond as a parent. Though I still make a lot of mistakes in this area!

So of course my two-year-old has played with the gate since then, with the same result. Only I remembered to respond in a more helpful way. Find out more later in this post! 😊

Important note: I am not a doctor or trained in medicine. I have researched this information because I am interested in the subject. If you have any medical concerns, please talk to your child's doctor.

The Importance of Brain Development in Early Childhood

Your child's brain development is 90% complete by age 5. After age 5 brain development slows significantly. So the first few years are critical to healthy brain development.

At least one million new neural connections (synapses) are made every second, more than at any other time in life.

According to Harvard's Center on the Developing Child, a child's experiences shape their brain development. If a child is not living in a safe, nurturing, and responsive environment their brains do not develop in the same way, and this can lead to disparities in learning and behavior. This means that as parents and caregivers, we have an awesome responsibility to provide an environment conducive to our child's development. (No pressure or anything!)

The brain develops from the bottom up and builds on earlier development and learning. So as your child grows, they are developing more and more connections and those connections link in more complex ways as they are developing. The connections children develop when they are very young lead to the connections that allow for higher-level skills and abilities like emotional regulation, motivation, problem-solving and critical thinking, communication, and building healthy relationships.

Connections in your child's brain are built through their interactions with their environment and their experiences. Connections are built through positive interactions with parents and caregivers. These experiences and interactions determine which connections develop and which will last. Through positive interactions and experiences, our children are more likely to be healthy and successful later in life. Sadly, the opposite is also true. Unfortunately, often parenting styles are learned from parents, so it is important to be aware of parenting styles and intentional in choosing how to parent.

If you would like to print the above infographic, click below.

Brain Development in Early Childhood (2)

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Brain Development Stages

When I first started relearning about brain development for children with the Jai Institute course, it made me reevaluate some of my expectations for my little one. It has made me more understanding of my child's behaviors because his brain has not developed all of the abilities that control behavior. Learning about it in the 12-week parenting course, encourage me to look a bit deeper. So I created this table below to share what the five lobes of the brain do and why it is important to me as a parent.

Important note: I am not a doctor or trained in medicine. I have researched this information because I am interested in the subject. If you have any medical concerns, please talk to your child's doctor.

	​What does this part of the brain do?	When does this part of the brain develop? * Every child is unique so there is not a specific age of development, just a rough approximation	Why is this important?
Cerebellum (Lower Brain)	​Balance, coordination, attention, rhythm	​By Age 3	In the first years of life, your child's physical abilities are rapidly developing. Provide plenty of safe opportunities for play and movement.
​Occipital Lobes (Lower)	Processes visual signals, spatial awareness, processes colors, distance and depth perception	By Age 3	Early in your child's development, they are still working on developing spatial awareness, depth perception, and understanding their environment. Be sure to keep a close eye on them for safety and provide a safe space for play and exploration to help them develop these abilities.
​Temporal Lobes (Middle Brain)	Object and facial recognition, memory, language, emotions, senses	​Ages 7 - 12	​Your child's language is developing rapidly, but it will take time before they fully understand everything. Your child will have a lot of emotions, but they do not have the ability to regulate their emotions until this part of their brain is more developed. This means that they will need you to help them co-regulate and teach them how to regulate for when their brain does develop (build those brain connections and eventually they will be able to do it on their own!)
​Parietal Lobes (Middle Brain)	Self-perception, sensory information, learned movements, spatial awareness	Ages 7 - 12	​Your child is still developing spatial awareness, so they may bump into things or fall down. They are still developing their ability to process sensory information. They may have difficulty fully controlling movements. And they are still developing their language and number sense.
Frontal Lobes (Front Brain)	Reasoning, social understanding, self-control, attention-span, memory	By Age 25	It is important to know that our children do not fully develop their ability to reason, control themselves, or social understanding until they are well into adulthood because we often expect them to be able to do these things from a very young age. Personally, I find knowing this information helpful in managing my expectations for my little one. He is not going to fully understand logic for a long time. He may have difficulty controlling his impulses for a long time. While he will get better and better at this, he will need me to guide him to help develop these skills.

The Lower Brain

The lower brain is the first part of the brain to develop, developing by around age 3. When babies are born as they begin to experience their world, form connections with their caregivers, and have the ability to move they are developing the lower parts of the brain. These early neural connections are building the foundation for more complex development.

The first neural connections to form are those that affect basic vision and hearing and gross motor function. Then the connections for early language develop, followed by higher cognitive functions.

Because the brain develops in layers, the early connections form the foundation for later connections. More complex development is building off of the foundation formed in the first years of life. Early in life children have a huge capacity for learning, and as they get older and develop into adults it becomes harder to influence the connections in their brain. This is why the experiences children have early in life are critically important.

While the lower brain is developing:

• Your child may not be able to follow verbal cues, particularly when they are stressed or feeling big emotions

• Your child has very little impulse control and so cannot resist if they have a desire to do something (even if they know it is not allowed)

• They are fully dependent on their grown-ups for co-regulation to help calm down

The Middle Brain

The middle brain is developing usually between ages 7 to 12. During this time your child is learning how to process and understand their emotions and feelings. And their belief system is being formed based on their life experiences. Their interactions with family and friends will help shape their personality.

Your child is becoming more independent and learning more about their place in the world. During this time they will be more aware of the world around them and other people. Friendships become more important and they desire to be liked and accepted. Their cognitive skills are developing rapidly during this time.

While the middle brain is developing:

• Your child may not be able to regulate their emotions without co-regulation, especially when stressed

• Your child requires guidance and modeling to continue developing their impulse control and their ability to regulate emotions

• Your child is still learning how to share and develop relationships with their peers, but friendships are becoming more important

• Your child needs guidance and a good role model to show them how to be a person

• Is still mostly focused on themselves, but during this time begin to show more concern for others

The Front of the Brain

This part of the brain doesn't even begin to develop until ages 7 - 12 and continues to develop well into adulthood. During adolescence and puberty, our children's brains experience rapid development as the front of their brain begins to develop.

Your child is becoming even more independent. Friendships and peer relationships become more important during this time and can have a stronger influence (peer pressure). They may become more aware of their body and sometimes body image issues develop around this time.

The development of the prefrontal cortex means your child is going to start being more aware of others. This is when they start to see how their actions affect others, can begin to understand another person's point of view, and develop empathy for others.

While the prefrontal cortex is developing

• Your child is beginning to follow directions as they begin to understand what you want/need and what they want

• Your child is beginning to be able to follow multi-step directions

• Your child starts to understand hypotheticals and abstract thinking

• the ability to feel empathy and understand how their actions affect others forms

• They are beginning to develop impulse control

• Their personality, opinions, understanding of right and wrong, and worldview is continuing to develop

• Need your guidance and modeling as they learn how to be adults, be sure to spend time with your child whenever possible

How do I help my child's brain develop?

So now that we know all of this awesome information about the brain, how do we help our children? Michigan State has an awesome resource about this and it includes additional resources (if you are interested).

• Manage your expectations for your child

Your child will not always make good decisions, remain calm, or consider people's feelings. Their brain is developing! Be calm and consistently model the behaviors you want them to show - they will eventually learn it from watching you! (Be patient! This takes a long time.)

• Help your child's brain develop connections

Provide a loving, nurturing, and safe environment. Provide many opportunities for connections between you and your child, it is good for them to form a secure attachment with you. Provide plenty of opportunities for safe play and exploration. Engage with your child regularly through talking, singing, reading, and playing.

• Learn to recognize when your child(ren) is experiencing emotional distress

When your child feels strong emotions, this may block their ability to be able to access other parts of their brain. Stay calm and try to help them co-regulate. It may take time to find what works for your individual child to help them become regulated. Keep trying different things to find what works so you can help co-regulate.

• Remember that emotions are normal and good

Your child will feel many emotions and that is a good thing. It is important to let them feel their emotions and help them process their feelings. Learning this is a child will help them deal with and process emotions as an adult! You can teach them to "name it to tame it." Encourage them to name their feelings, "I wonder if you are feeling angry." This will help them in calming down and able to access other parts of their brain.

• Model the behaviors and characteristics you want for your child(ren)

Children learn from the important adults in their lives. Use mindfulness strategies to strengthen your parenting and to help your children learn how to be mindful. Show them how you regulate your emotions. Let them see you apologize, show empathy, and be a part of healthy relationships. They will see you and follow your example.

Summary

The first few years of your child's life are critical to brain development, with 90% of brain development occurring before age 5. Positive, safe, and nurturing environments and experiences are the foundation for healthy development for young children. As parents, we want to make sure our children are forming secure attachments and have a healthy environment to grow in.

Having an understanding of brain development in children can help us in managing our expectations for our children. It is important to be aware of what their abilities are and what abilities have not yet developed. This can help us in creating a warm and nurturing environment conducive to healthy development for kids.

I personally have found that understanding brain development has made me rethink my expectations for my little one. I am not perfect, I still find myself asking things beyond his development sometimes. But I have gotten better and continue to practice!

So the next time he was playing with the gate and got his finger caught in the gate, I started by asking him if he was okay. I believe this made him feel understood (my mama understand my finger was hurt). I also have found with my son that when he feels understood, he moves on pretty quickly. Once I acknowledged his feelings, he said he was okay and started playing with something else. I chose not to tell him that is why we don't play with the gate because I trust he learned that through his finger being hurt (even if it takes several times to learn). And the next time he plays with the gate, I can gently remind him from the jump that our fingers can get caught in the gate and make them hurt.

That was just one very minor example. But I feel learning more about brain development has been super helpful to me and my parenting. I know it has made me feel like I understand him more. I hope you can use this information to your advantage as well!

Remember Mama, you are doing a great job! You got this!

Sources & Resources:

• Cleveland Clinic - The Frontal Lobe

• Cleveland Clinic - The Parietal Lobe

• Cleveland Clinic - The Temporal Lobe

• Cleveland Clinic - The Occipital Lobe

• Cleveland Clinic - The Cerebellum

• Integrated Learning Strategies - Brain Hierarchy

• First Things First - Brain Development

• Harvard's Center on the Developing Child - Brain Architecture

• Caring for Kids - Supporting Healthy Development

• California Department of Education - Ages & Stages of Development

• Jai Institute for Parenting - 12-Week Course

• Michigan State University - Understanding the Brain

Parent Coaching Online Program

Are you looking for a positive parenting program or course that will help you become an empowered parent? Check out the Jai Institute!

Have you ever felt like you could use a parenting guide or manual to help you in the most important job you will ever have? I know I have. Unfortunately, they don't give you a manual at the hospital when they send you home with your new sweet baby. Many people will use the parenting methods and strategies of their parents. However, there is a lot of new science and research that can provide some guidance on a better way to parent and the Jai Institute is here to help!

My friend is a parenting coach with the Jai Institute. She asked me a few months ago to participate in the coaching. I agreed but really did not know what to expect. After completing the 12-week course, I am here to tell you that it is a game changer! If you are interested in participating in coaching, I would encourage you to reach out to my friend Jaicie at Joyfully Connected Parenting. She has three children of her own and started out taking the course herself to try to strengthen her own parenting (so she has been there!). She was also a teacher for 10 years before pursuing parent coaching. She is super reliable, understanding, non-judgemental, and helpful.

Check out my other posts about this experience: Regulating Emotions as an Empowered Parent and Empowered Parenting.

Before taking the Jai Institute's 12-week parenting program with Jaicie as my coach, I often felt unsure of my parenting decisions. I also had no idea how to handle it when my son was having meltdowns or acting defiant, often feeling like I had no control and I was a bad parent. After completing the program, I feel infinitely more secure in the parenting decisions I am making. I have learned that things felt out of my control because "controlling" my child is not actually helpful. I feel like I am able to provide the support and nurturing my child needs, and I know that while I am an imperfect parent (aren't we all), I am not a bad parent.

The Jai Institute's course is all science and research-based (which I love because I am kind of a research nerd 🤓) and gave me the information I need to understand my child's development, needs, abilities, and how I can best support him. Jaicie was able to coach me on how to apply the parenting strategies learned to my unique child and situation. Additionally, she helped me in understanding how my own parenting has affected how I parent and my confidence in my parenting. I highly recommend this program and Jaicie!

I will share more specific examples of how this course has changed how I parent later in the post, read on! :-)

What is a parenting coaching program?

So you may be wondering, what is a parenting coaching program? It is essentially a course to learn about effective and healthy parenting strategies accompanied by meetings with a coach to help you apply the learning to your unique situation, work through your unique parenting situations, and help you overcome obstacles.

Jaicie at Joyfully Connected Parenting offers a variety of services. If you have any interest in parenting coaching I highly recommend reaching out. She can walk you through different options and help you figure out the best path with no pressure. That was one of my favorite parts about this program - no pressure, no guilt the whole way through.

How Jaicie's Coaching Works:

When you book a call with Jaicie, you will have a conversation about what’s going on for you and your family. This helps her get a sense of where she can offer support.

She will explain her approach and the options for working together. You can ask any questions you have and see what type of support would be the best fit for your life and schedule.

If it feels right to you, you can book your first session and get started. If it’s not a good fit, she will do her best to offer alternative resources or suggestions for support, wherever possible. There’s no pressure of any kind, simply an opportunity to see if we are a good fit to work together.

Some of the different services Jaicie offers include individual or group sessions.

Individual Packages:

• 1 Hour Personalized Session

• 4 Week Mini Transformation Package

• 12-Week Transformation Package (This is what I did - highly recommend)

Group Packages:

• 4 Week Mini Transformation Package

• 12-Week Transformation Package

Click To Schedule a Discovery Call with Jaicie

The Benefits of a Parenting Coaching Program

Okay, but why is a coaching program helpful? So not only is the content of the course awesome, but coaching allows you to get support. Anyone could find the information if you read enough books and research. But coaching is more beneficial because they offer you support, help you apply the information to your family, and help you work through difficult situations.

Working with Jaicie is super helpful because:

1. she offers support through parenting challenges.

2. she is understanding and non-judgemental.

3. oftentimes, she has been in a similar situation with one of her own children!

4. when requested she can offer helpful advice (she always asks before giving advice, so no pressure!)

5. she can help you work through past traumas and habits you would prefer to change.

6. she can help you build confidence in your parenting.

7. she can help you feel less guilt and self-judgment.

8. she can help you build more cooperation and joy with your family.

9. she can offer you an opportunity to learn more about how your child's brain, body, and nervous system work so you have increased awareness.

10. she can help you build connection with your child(ren).

What to Expect

I really did not know what to expect when I first got started with the 12-week program. When you sign up, you will get access to a learning portal with the Jai Institute. You will complete "homework" each week between meetings with your coach. So there is a video and workbook for each week and then you go over the information with your coach and apply the information to your family. In the workbook and with your coach you have the opportunity to reflect a lot on your background, childhood, beliefs, and how you would like to show up for your children.

Below are the topics for each week of the program:

1. Introduction

2. Intentions and Values

3. 10 Pillars of Empowered Parenting

4. Attachment Science

5. Nervous System Science

6. Mindsight and Brain Science

7. Emotional Intelligence

8. Empowered Conversations

9. PEACE Process and Setting Boundaries

10. Anger and Healthy Agression

11. Playful Parenting

12. Personal Transformation

Each week you watch the video and complete the workbook then have a one-hour Zoom call with your coach. I enjoyed the content because it includes research and science, but in an easy way to consume. I also liked the content and the coaching because:

• there is no judgment

• the program leaves space for humanity, there is no expectation of perfection

• it is based on the assumption that this will be a long process with a lot of practice and a lot of mistakes

• there is no pressure

• there is no guilt (it actually made me

• it is flexible - while we tried to meet weekly, sometimes life comes up and there was room for flexibility

Interested in Learning More?

If you are interested in learning more, schedule a discovery call with Jaicie! She will discuss your situation and needs with you and helps you pick a package. She may even have special offers! This is a no-pressure call. You can learn more about the services she offers, the program, the outcomes with no pressure to enroll if it turns out it is not the right fit for you.

I encourage you to check out the Jai Insititute.

I encourage you to check out Joyfully Connected Parenting and schedule a call!

Schedule Your Discovery Call

Examples

This post is not sponsored. I generally enjoyed taking the course and believe in the information they are sharing with families. Why? It has changed the way I parent and respond to my little one. I now feel more confident in my parenting strategies. I also find myself giving myself grace when I make a mistake or show up in a way that I would have preferred not to because I am human and I am still working on improving.

Below are just a few specific examples of how my parenting has changed with my two-year-old son.

Example 1: When my son is upset because he fell or got hurt, I start by asking if he is okay (instead of saying, "You are okay"). Even when I know he is fine. Oftentimes just being asked makes him feel better. He says, "Yes," and moves on. Either way though, I want him to feel seen, heard, and understood.

Example 2: When my son is being loud, getting upset, or just having a bit "too much fun" when we are out at a store or running errands I strive for my response to not be controlling him to be quiet and still. In the past, I would feel like others were judging me for "not being in control of my child." However, through this program, I have learned that I don't want to control my child. It is developmentally appropriate for him to want to play and move around. So I now respond differently. I may allow him to be out of the cart (if it is not too busy) so he can be walking, running, and dancing by the cart. Or I may play a game with him in the shopping cart. Or I might help him do bicycle kicks in the cart. Or a couple of times, I have realized that he needs more connection and I have given that to him in the middle of the store without caring what others are thinking of me.

Example 3: More and more my child avoids diaper changes as much as he can. This is a source of frustration for me, particularly in the middle of our morning routine. Working with Jaicie, I learned that introducing play into our routine could really help with this. So I will use a stuffie or a toy nearby or even the diaper itself to be a character to talk to Parker to get him to come to the changing mat. He thinks this is hilarious and even if he is mad, he gets over it almost immediately and starts giggling.

Example 4: The time I need to be cooking dinner can be hard for my little one. He is tired, he wants to play, he wants me to play with him, and due to being tired he gets upset easily and doesn't listen as well as I hope. This often leads to both of us getting frustrated! Working with Jaicie, I realized he oftentimes is just desiring connection. So by giving him a few minutes of my attention where I am playing with him and being present with him, I can then step away to make dinner with less struggle. It actually ends up saving me time in the end.

These are just a few examples of how my parenting has changed. Much of what I learned during this program takes practice, and so I am continuing to work on it.

Please note: Using this parenting style of positive parenting does not mean that suddenly everything is going to be easy, your child is going to be a perfect angel 100% of the time, and they will never have big feelings that will display as a tantrum or some undesired feeling. That is just not going to happen. However, the program gives you strategies to support your child, help them learn how to regulate, how to be mindful and make good choices in the long term. It takes time and effort. But it feels so much better than overly permissive or controlling parenting strategies.

Conclusion

If you are looking for new parenting strategies and more connection and joy in parenting, you may want to consider this wonderful parenting coaching program. This coaching program provides invaluable information related to kids' development and parenting, and working with a coach allows you to apply the information to your family and work through your past to help you parent in the best way possible.

Jaicie of Joyfully Connected Parenting can work with you to find a package that works for you. She is understanding and non-judgemental, plus she has experienced her own struggles as a mom of three.

Parenting is the most important job I will ever have and it is not easy. This program has helped me increase my confidence and increase my connection with my son. I highly recommend it.

Remember Mama, you are doing a great job! You got this!

Sources and Resources for More Information:

• Jai Insitute for Parenting

• Joyfully Connected Parenting