Water Is the Best Way to Raise Children
This week we talked about the best parenting advice you’ve ever received (and the worst parenting advice ), and the result of those discussions was a shiny gem that I couldn’t, with a clear conscience, keep to myself. And this is a reminder of the main – and most natural – of all parenting techniques: water.
It’s easy to forget that water is one of the most effective parenting tools, especially during the colder winter months, when throwing young children into the backyard paddling pool, turning on a sprinkler, or filling balloons with water is not an option. But as a parent on the Offspring Facebook group reminds us, when a young kid gets nervous, loses control, or just has a shitty day, he needs some form of H2O. As Shruti says:
If anyone has a day , just add water. A glass of water, a touch container, a bathtub, whatever. A glass of water is especially good for us when a 4.5 year old is crying. Stretching makes her breathe.
Shruti is right; we have to listen to Shruti. Water in all its forms can be a soothing and sensual experience. When my son was three or four years old, and I got to the point where I just didn’t know what to do with him, I plugged the kitchen sink, filled it with water, turned the stool over and let him happily splash in it, dipping his toys. as much as your heart desires.
You can play water all year round, and there are many ways to change your bath or shower to make life a little more interesting. For instance:
- Let your kids take a LEGO bath
- Make a baby shower with an inflatable pool
- Read to the children while they are in the bath.
- Install a toy cleaning station
- Let them bathe in a glowing bath
- Put on your swimwear and let them float in the tub.
- Or my personal favorite: give them a popsicle in the shower (or bath).
Another simple idea that I sometimes came up with when my son was little: “colored bath”. Fill the tub, add 4-6 drops of food coloring, stir to distribute evenly, and your boring transparent tub will now turn red, green, or blue. (I never wore yellow so it didn’t look like my baby was taking a “piss bath,” but hey, everyone is different.)
Join us on the Offspring Facebook group to see more of these shiny gems.