The first hour that everybody is awake often sets the tone for the rest of the day. For many of us parents, it is also one of the most difficult times of the day to try to match the energy level of our children. They bound out of bed bursting with energy, creativity, and chatter. We just try to survive until we can get through that first cup of coffee.
Yet don’t underestimate the significance of that first hour of the day. Dare to be the one to set the tone for the hours to come. Here are some ideas to help you do that.
1) Greet them affectionately and with a positive tone when they wake up. I sometimes find myself complaining about how some days begin with whining, fusing, and arguing, but then I often hear the same tone reflected in my own voice. Break the cycle.
2) Spend some time participating in intentional interactions with your kids. Children are always looking for ways to interact with their parents and to explore some of their independence. Tension between us and our children often happens when we underestimate the significance of either of those childhood needs. Spend a little bit of time reading with them, doing a small craft, or playing a game. By meeting this need, even in a small way, at the beginning of the day will help free them to focus on free play and exploration instead of attempting to gain your attention.
3) Keep all forms of media turned off. The best that you can, refrain from turning on the TV or computer during the first hour or two of the day. We have all experienced the dulling of the mind that can result from too much time in front of a screen. Don’t let that set the tone for your day. You are much more likely to return to an active state if you are active initially and then have only short media interactions.
We can’t make attitude decisions for the other members of the family, but we do have the power to set the tone in our own home. Keep your attitute positive, remain active, and provide opporunities for interactions and exploration. It is hard to remain grumpy for too long when you are immersed in a positive environment.