Use a combination of listening, empowerment, time, attention, and branding to make almost any day special.

The idea of the child choosing the activity can be a powerful one (especially if it’s just one child in a multiple child family!), but you can definitely help the process along by providing a few suggestions and guidelines.

One idea for a treat is when one child gets to go do something special with just mommy or daddy - a personal “I’m the center of your universe” day. This does not have to be anything outlandish or costly - one favorite in our family has often been a trip to the pet store to see the live critters and the fish in the aquariums - just something that feels special.

Another idea we heard about was the “yes” day, when within reason, a parent says yes to the requests and choices of that child for the whole day, or for even just a specified time period (Thanks Dean!).

Often, days blend into each other and we are all very busy. To solve this we create elaborate special events or plan vacations. A “mommy day,” “daddy day,” or a “yes” day can be just as meaningful to a child - sometimes even more so.

We live in an amazing time in history, but sometimes fail to take advantage. We can speak face to face, through video, across the world, for free. This assumes you have a computer with a web camera and fast enough internet, but many of us have the tools and fail to act. 

Make today the day you break through that invisible wall, sign up for a service like Skype, and talk with a relative. 

Our youngest likes this so much he often will choose it when he has free time. This is a great way to encourage reading as he can read a book long distance to his aunt (for example). Making connections, building relationships, extending language skills ... what a great way to learn!

It is no mystery that we at JLN are huge fans of games, but this recommendation is about getting together with other families for a multi-hour gaming extravaganza. Just add some food and everybody wins!

For adults, it is a chance to relax and play some games (a rarity for many of us). For children, it is a chance to play games with other people, cross ages (older kids playing some younger games and vice versa), and play games with other adults. Plus, including multiple families means new games, and children pretty universally love OPT (other people’s toys).

Storytelling is an incredibly powerful medium for sharing important values, transferring information, and building language skills. It also can provide a glimpse into your past that helps your child understand who you are and what makes you tick.

In many families, stories are what bond the generations together. Your children will surprise you with how well they remember these moments even months later. The honesty, the sharing, and the joy of story are important and could be a great part of your family time.