Resources
Parent-Child Interaction: The Heart of Development
Children learn language, empathy, and patience as they explore the world alongside us. When we engage with our children, we nurture cognitive, emotional, and social growth, aka their brain development.
These moments create memories, strengthen bonds, and provide a foundation of security that lasts a lifetime.
Whether telling stories or simply exploring toys together, engaging with your child during play gives them the best of both worlds: learning, imagination, and the warmth of family connection.
Cultivating Gratitude as a Family
Gratitude is a 🌱 seed, one of many character seeds, that develops (or grows) with time. But just like seeds, we have to plant it and nurture it dutifully, so that it grows moment by moment, day by day… taking root and strengthening throughout the years.
Mom, Dad, (and guardians), we’re the gardeners, meaning, in this season of parenthood, we’re responsible for planting the seeds and nurturing the seedlings (aka laying the foundation) of our children’s lifelong garden (character development).
Activities
Character Cooking Night
Purpose: Build patience and teamwork while bonding.
- Choose a recipe connected to a specific character theme (teamwork tacos, patient pancakes).
- Each family member has a role: mixer, reader, cleaner, taste-tester.
- Talk about the character trait while eating.
Character Story Time
Purpose: Ignite imagination and build moral reasoning.
- Parents read a short story, a chapter from a fiction novel, or a children's story (depending on your child's level of literacy).
- Ask: What should the character do? What would you do? What’s the lesson?
- Talk about character traits with your child after reading.