Providing Children with Excitement: The Pleasure of Little Traditions

My children are real homebodies, you see. They would spend their entire lives at home, creating things, playing video games, or reading about fantastical animals, if they had their way. As opposed to school? It is a sensitive area. Additionally, people experience things, not because they dislike learning. large objects.

They are the kind of perceptive children who notice every change in the educational environment.

Even if my child had nothing to do with the mayhem, their small hearts are nonetheless hurt when the teacher yells at the class. School feels more difficult than merely reading and recess when that kind of emotional burden is there.

We discuss it frequently. About the importance of education and how everyone, including adults, is learning. However, young minds may find those discussions abstract at times. I began to wonder: what if I gave them little, dependable pleasures to help them ground their week? Something they could cling to when math class gets too noisy or the school day seems too long?

Presenting Our Week of "Something to Look Forward To"

Ice Cream Friday is a simple habit that I started years ago. We walk to our neighborhood dairy, which is our corner store, every Friday after school, and each child selects an ice cream or ice block. It is not big. Inexpensive. And magical, in a strange way.

Minecraft Friday was created at the same time. During the school week, we do not permit electronics, but on Friday afternoons? The displays appear, and some well-earned downtime is spent with Minecraft. It has turned into a weekly respite.

We need more of those anchors throughout the week, not only on Fridays, though, I have noticed lately. Thus, following a conversation during supper, we devised a strategy. Nothing unusual. Just comfortable, dependable customs. Next week, we will begin the following:

Kid's Choice Dinner on Monday

We are changing the narrative because Mondays are difficult for everyone. The children are allowed to eat anything they want for dinner on Mondays. Whether it is spaghetti, pancakes, or a complex tower of nachos, Monday becomes a day to look forward to.

Wednesday is the day of the lucky dip.

We are adding some spice to the middle of the week with a Lucky Dip because it can feel like a lengthy stretch of "just get through it." On slips of paper, we listed a number of easy, enjoyable activities, such as making homemade slime, going to the playground, baking cookies, watching a favorite movie, or hosting a dance party. We choose one at random every Wednesday morning. To be honest, the children adore the surprise. I also do.

Friday: The Return of the Classics

Our cherished Minecraft Friday and Ice Cream Friday customs are still in place because, if something is not broken, do not fix it. These customs provide a happy way to end the week, and Fridays feel joyous.

The Reason It is Effective

These small customs have evolved into emotional pillars rather than amusing diversion. When school becomes too much to handle, they provide the children with something concrete to concentrate on. Without always having the perfect words, they provide me with a means of comfort and connection.

Furthermore, children thrive on predictability, let us face it. They enjoy knowing that there is always something positive at the end of the day, regardless of how it turns out.

Is This How You Have Weekly Traditions?

Would you mind telling me if your family follows a similar practice? Are your children like me—reluctant learners with huge feelings and even bigger hearts—or are they the kind that jump into school with joy?

If you have your own "something to look forward to" routines, please leave a remark or message for me. Sincerely, these small customs may be the thread that binds our hectic, lovely weeks together.