I LOVE YOU rituals are delightful interactions or games that adults can play with all children beginning during infancy. They send messages of unconditional love and acceptance. What a wonderful message to send to children! Becky Bailey’s book, I Love You Rituals, tells of ways to send these messages to children through games that incorporate words and touch. So many times, we are too busy to enjoy the moments we spend with our children. I Love You rituals are a gift you give your children and at the same time, you are actually giving a gift to yourself as well. I Love You rituals accomplish the following 4 goals. 1. They optimize your child’s brain for success at school and in life. 2. They increase learning potential and effectiveness through touch. 3. They create loving rituals that hold families together even through the roughest times. 4. They strengthen the bond between adults and children that insulates children from drugs, violence and peer pressure, laying the foundation for mental and emotional health. Take a little time to try one or both of the rituals below! Please comment below or on our facebook page which ritual you tried and tell us about your experience. Let us know how your child responds to the rituals after using them several times in a week! How do you feel while using them? Do you feel better connected? Round and Round the GardenRound and Round the Garden Round and round the garden Goes the teddy bear One step, two step Tickle under there. Begin by holding your child’s hand in your hand, palm up. Draw circles on your child’s hand with your index finger as you say “Round and round the garden goes the teddy bear”. Continue drawing circles then walk you fingers up the child’s arm saying “One step, two step” and give a gentle tickle under the arm as you say “Tickle under there”. A Wonderful Woman Who Lived in a ShoeA wonderful woman lived in a shoe. She had so many children She knew exactly what to do. She held them. She rocked them. And tucked them in bed. “I love you, I love you” Is what she said. Have your child sit in your lap or lean against you. Wrap your arms around the child and hold onto one hand. Say “A wonderful woman lived in a shoe”, turn child’s hand palm up and touch each finger on one hand as you say, “She had so many children” then touch fingers on other hand as you say, ”She knew exactly what to do”. Say “She held them” as you fold the hand into a fist with both of your hands. “She rocked them” as you rock the hand from side to side. “And tucked them in bed” as you press the child’s hand against his chest which will place you in a hugging position. “I love you, I love you is what she said”. Give your child a hug. Please check out other I Love You rituals. She has 204 rituals. As you become more familiar with them and use them, you will become more comfortable with them. Your child will love them too. They take only a few seconds of your time but leave the child with a wonderful feeling that will last much longer. You can find the other rituals, tools, and ideas, as well as links to Becky Bailey's books at her website. Click on the "Parents" tab when you arrive at the website.
Comments are closed.
|
AuthorThe parent educators with Grandview Parents As Teachers have over 100 years of cummulative early childhood and home visiting experience. Archives
September 2023
Categories |