Saying thank you to a mail carrier is an easy and thoughtful way to share the holiday spirit with others
Through snow and rain, heat, and gloom of night, your local mail carriers deliver your letters and packages directly to your door (or at least your nearest mailbox). And, during the season of goodwill and cheer, they deserve major props. From mail carrier thank you cards to gifts for mail carriers, here are six ways to thank your mail carrier. The best part? All of these are easy for kids and fun, too (think baking cookies!).
Write a letter!
Even if you don't know your mail person by name, you can still address them in a general way, such as "Our Favorite Mailman" or "Our Faithful Carrier." A simple note that says how much you appreciate the hard work they do (extra cute if your kids can write it out) will go a long way in making your postal worker feel special. Put it in an envelope and use stickers instead of stamps. (After all, they love mail, right?) You can also nab this free, downloadable template if you need a little help!
As always, a thank you card is a lovely gesture. Let the kids draw a little picture or get creative or use a printable like this one to make a little note to attach to the flag of your mailbox. If you can afford it, add a $10 or $15 gift card for somewhere like Amazon or a nearby coffee shop in the envelope. Be sure and do something OBVIOUS to make it clear it's not a regular piece of mail.
Include a Gift Card
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If you can afford it, add a $10 or $15 gift card to somewhere like Target or a nearby coffee shop with the letter or the card. Be sure and do something obvious to make it clear it's not a regular piece of mail. Mail carriers are not legally allowed to accept single gifts valued at over $20 so keep that in mind.
A thoughtful gift (again, under $20) is another simple way to let them know you're thinking of them. Consider things like warm gloves, an insulated mug, cozy socks, or a new water bottle.
Bake Something Special
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Leave cookies in the box or on the doorstep with a clearly marked sign. Be sure to seal them in something, even a ziplock or paper bag decorated with stickers works, and attach a note that says thanks! It's a good idea to list the ingredients in case of allergies or food sensitivities.
Say It Out Loud
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Shout it out! If you're home when the mail comes, be sure to say, "Thank you!" Get the kids in the habit of saying it, too. You can always throw open a window and shout it out. A little gesture of kindness and gratitude like this can go a long way on a long day.
Check out these helpful tips for how to teach kids to be grateful this year
As parents, guiding our kids toward living a life of gratitude is no easy feat. After all, how do we actually teach our kids what gratitude means and how they can demonstrate it on a daily basis? It starts with simple acts and words that even the youngest of kids can understand. (Also, try reading these books about gratitude.) Here are a few specific examples to get your little one in the habit—you can thank us later.
1. Give back to the community. Acts of service are great ways to instill gratitude in kids. Consider participating in a local park clean-up, donating canned goods to a food pantry, or giving away unused clothes and toys. There are also lots of ways you can volunteer right from your own home.
2. Ask your kids to name one thing they're grateful for every night. Starting this habit helps kids (and adults) remember what is good in our lives, and that we are grateful for even the smallest of things. This can be during a dinner conversation or before bed.
3. Make a good deed calendar. Use it in the holiday months as a countdown or year-round to inspire kids to pay it forward every day.
4. Teach them to "work" for a reward. I'm sure we've lost track of how many times our kids ask for a new toy or something fun. The next time your little one wants another hour of screen time, how about telling them to complete a household chore before getting the reward? Receiving a reward after work always makes the treat feel more well-deserved.
5. Integrate gratitude with holidays and special days. Thanksgiving and Christmas aren't the only holidays that are all about gratitude. Other days where it's equally important to teach kids the meaning of the holiday and how they can be grateful for it include Veterans Day and Memorial Day are teaching opportunities for kids to be grateful for service members.
6. Model saying "please" and "thank you." There's no substitute for good manners. Regularly using words like "please" and "thank you" gets little ones to remember to be grateful while demonstrating respect to others.
7. Gratitude goes both ways, so make sure to say "thank you" to your kids. As parents, it's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day and forget to show appreciation to our little ones. So when they do something kind or follow directions, remember to say "thank you." It may seem like a small gesture, but they will know you're grateful.
9. Look for the positive in even the most difficult situations. It's easy to focus on the negative, especially when a situation doesn't go our way. Helping kids focus on the positive (even if it's a small positive) will go a long way in helping them feel grateful in life, even during difficult times like we are experiencing now.
10. Send notes of gratitude. Don't reserve your "thank you" notes for birthday gifts and holiday cards. Teach your kids the importance of gratitude by having them write a note or draw a picture for a special person each month. This could be a grandparent, a neighbor, a teacher or a community member.
11. Turn holiday gifting into an opportunity to give back. With the holidays approaching and kids making their wish lists of toys, try making a new kind of list. Have your kiddos write down a few gift ideas they'd like to give to others. So rather than focusing simply on the getting, it's also about giving. Check out also these gifts that give back with every purchase.
12. Gift experiences not gifts. Kids who get tons of presents for holidays might not appreciate it when another one comes along. Gifting experiences like museum memberships or a special day with mom or dad can be something they remember long after that last toy gets chucked under their bed.
13. Create a gratitude jar. A mason jar is the start of this fun activity the whole family can participate in. A few times a week have everyone write down what they are grateful for. Then, have a special night where you read them all aloud.
14. Try out Turkey on the Table. This one is specific to Thanksgiving but is a fun way to get the flood of gratitude going. The feathers of this festive turkey are things that each family member is grateful for. You add them in the weeks before Thanksgiving and then read them aloud after dinner. Check it out here.
15. Discuss "needs" versus "wants." This one's more for the older kids but you can get the discussion started even at younger ages. Thinking about what we need to survive versus everything else can help kids to be grateful when they get those little "extras."
17. Write down a reverse bucket list. Instead of focusing on things they want, have kids write down things they have done and loved. This shift in focus will reframe this time of year away from all the wants.
18. Be a grateful parent. Kids learn from observing. There's no better way to demonstrate gratitude than for you to show how much YOU are thankful in life.
Veterans Day can be a tricky one to explain to the kiddos: their natural curiosity can lead to questions you may not be prepared to answer or questions for which the answers might seem frightening. (What is war? Will we go to war?) So we’ve come up with a few facts about Veterans Day for kids to help.
For families with active or retired military members, Veterans Day can take on a very significant meaning. But not everyone knows what it really represents or how to explain it to children. Unlike Memorial Day, which honors members of the military who died in service (click here to read more about the story of Memorial Day), Veterans Day honors those who have served in war (and are therefore veterans of the war). Many, many veterans are alive and well today and deserve their special day!
Start with Facts about Veterans Day for Kids
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Veterans Day is November 11th, every year. (It is often observed as a legal holiday the nearest Monday to this date.)
Can you write the number 11? What about the word November?
If it’s always on the 11th, does it fall on the same day of the week every year?
What day does it fall on this year? (Hint: it’s Friday)
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A veteran is someone who served in the military.
Have you heard of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard? This is the military. The military is part of our government and is made up of people who have agreed to join the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard, in order to become part of this branch of the government. They are trained for many situations, including emergencies at home. Their goal is to protect people who live in their country (and elsewhere).
Do you know the difference between these different branches and what special skills or equipment they use? (As in airplanes, naval ships, etc.),
Draw a picture that might represent what the different branches of the military specialize in.
A veteran is someone who served in the military during war.
The military is trained to fight in wars. Have you heard of war? What do you think it means?
Before you launch into the explanation of war, you can let kiddos know that for most countries, and especially in more recent times, world leaders negotiate before declaring war.
Know Your Kids
If your children are sensitive or very young, getting into details about war should be handled accordingly. While we aim to tell our children the truth, there’s no need to keep them up at night in fear. Focus your discussion on the veterans who have served in war and why it is important that we honor them on this day.
Here are a few reasons:
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You probably know one. Mom, Dad, Grandpa, Grandma, aunts and uncles, neighbors: chances are there’s a veteran in your life. Got a photo of the vet? Show your kids. Putting a face on the concept will help kiddos connect with it.
Regardless of how you feel about war or specific wars, the fact remains that the men and women who have served during war times did so with honor and bravery. Talk about being brave. What does it mean? Why is it important?
Showing gratitude. This is an excellent chance to show kiddos how to honor their country’s history and elders, and how to be kind. For great ideas on how to thank a veteran, check out this story.
Little ones can be tricky to buy for. Well, unless you have our guide to gifts for toddlers
They’re not babies, and they’re not quite little kids. Our 18-24 month littles are at a special age where they’re exploring everything, eager to learn, and ready for anything. So, if you’re having trouble coming up with presents for them, you’re not alone. We’ve rounded up some of the best gifts for toddlers this season to make your job as Santa much easier.
There are puzzles, sweet stuffies, and even enchanted silk scarves. Of course, there are also the classics like a play barn, a soft baby doll, their first tea set, and Mickey even makes an appearance. Combining well-known characters and some new friends, we made sure there’s something for every kiddo on our list. We’re pretty sure you won’t have to look further than this list to create a magical holiday. Read on for our picks for gifts for toddlers.
LeapFrog Build-a-Waffle Learning Set
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Their favorite breakfast will easily become their new favorite toy that teaches them colors, numbers, and following directions.
Their favorite friends are all cozying up to their bedtime stories on these absolutely darling pajamas. They're created with Little Sleepies' famous Lunaluxe Bamboo.
It's a stroller and a trolley. Made of handwoven rattan, little ones just need to flip the lid and they can go from strolling their stuffed animals around to doing the shopping.
Stapelstein Stepping Stones are the original play 'stones'. They're soft, stackable, sturdy, and can be used in a ton of imaginary ways to get your little one's creativity flowing (plus, they're really convenient to use as seats, stools, or steps). Available in Original Rainbow or Pastel.
This starter DUPLO set pulls off a holiday gifting hat trick: It's a building toy, a vehicle (and we all know how much toddlers love pushing around anything on wheels), and it helps introduce them to numbers.
Sarah's Silks is all about open-ended play. Tactile toddlers will love the lightweight, floaty fabrication that lets them create and play for hours. These Mini Playsilks grow with them, long after they're done playing.
The best thing about silicone toys? They're dishwasher-safe and quiet! We love a great kitchen set for open-ended imaginative play, especially when you're trying to get stuff done in the kitchen and your mini-me wants to join in.
The Play-Doh Ride-On Activity School Bus includes 3 cans of Play-Doh, 10 numbers stamps, 6 shape cutters, and 1 roller. Just lift up the ride-on seat to reveal the play set.
This baby koala is so precious. Made from natural Peruvian cotton yarn, not only is it soft and collectible; it's heirloom-quality, so they'll have something to treasure for years.
Your little one will love this cute vintage-style music player, complete with rainbow light show, music, and color call-outs (not to mention headphones).
Remember those old-school bright cardboard bricks? They got an update with Bricklettes. They fit into your home's decor and the starter set of 10 is great for kiddos who have just started stacking.
All the products listed are independently & personally selected by our shopping editors.
If you buy something from the links in this article, we may earn affiliate commission or compensation. Prices and availability reflect the time of publication.
In the midst of preparing for a family feast each year, we’ve also wrestled with how to talk to our kids about Thanksgiving. We want our children to learn from and do their part in changing the inequality in their world, and perpetuating the Thanksgiving story we were taught in elementary school runs squarely at odds with that mission.
But, it can be hard to know how and when to start having the true story of Thanksgiving conversation with kids. So first, remember that we don’t need to nail this by the time the turkey hits the table. This is ongoing and important work to do all year round. Following are a few ideas and resources that are helping our family to lay a foundation that, we hope, will help our kids respect and respond to real history in a way that supports a better future.
Build a Foundation for Knowing & Respecting Native Peoples
Start by teaching children real stories and truths about Native and Indigenous peoples, both from the past and the present. The more our children can be curious and aware of people for their strengths and rich history, the more they will push back on stereotypes and absorb the real history in a way that makes them compelled to act.
Here are a few easy ways to do this, even with very young children:
Learn about the people who live or used to live on the land in your area. Use an app like native-land.ca to find out which people live/lived and which languages are/were spoken on the land on which you live. Search for “native people from {city, state or region}” or “indigenous people from {city, state or region}. Then, look for historically accurate accounts of how those people thrived, being aware of the limitations of the perspective of whoever has created them.
Read books that help children come to know about Native peoples and prepare them to push back against stereotypes. For starters, check out this list of 15 beautiful picture books by Native authors about Native protagonists assembled by veteran Tinkergarten Leaders Erika McLemore, who is Creek-Seminole, and Cholena Smith-Boyd of the Shinnecock Indian Nation. As you select more books on your own, consult a reputable resource like Dr. Debbie Reese, a researcher focused on the representation of Native Americans in children’s literature. Through her expert advice, my family has learned how to pick books that are about specific tribes or Native peoples, avoiding the kind of generalizations that lead to stereotypes.
Incorporate Native history into everyday outdoor play. As you are walking in a forest or along a river in your area, share something you’ve learned about the Native people who live/lived and what makes/made them special as a group or society.
When you feel your kids are ready, work with them to question and point out the mismatches between the accurate history and the often perpetuated Thanksgiving Story. To start:
Get to know the true story of Thanksgiving story yourself.PBS Kids offers wonderful resources for parents and educators on how to approach Thanksgiving with authenticity. These resources also help us parents better understand, for ourselves, the story of the people we call Pilgrims, their interaction with the Wampanoag people, and the full history of the holiday we’ve come to know as Thanksgiving.
Don’t be afraid to share with children that there is more to the story. It’s important to help them understand that the familiar story that has been shared for a long time is over-simplified and, as such, can even be hurtful to whole groups of people as well as the allies of those people. One way you can present the disparity to kids is, that although there was a feast between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag, it happened during a time of terrible cruelty and unthinkable loss to the Wampanoag.
Seek out additional tools for learning. This New York Times article has helped us use both age-appropriate resources and inquiry to start engaging our kids in conversation about Thanksgiving. For example, it has encouraged us to help our kids ask “Who is telling the story, and what is their perspective? How is this story different from other accounts and facts that we now know?”
Focus on Gratitude
While it’s essential that we help our children become more attuned to inequality and injustice, telling the true story of Thanksgiving doesn’t have to undermine our practice of sharing gratitude. You can even kickstart an annual gratitude tradition that’s respectful of Native history. Once you learn about the original caretakers of the land you live on, it becomes easy to express thanks for all they’ve done to preserve its natural beauty as part of Thanksgiving.
Be sure to help kids reflect on what they’re grateful for in their day-to-day lives, too. For many years, our family has focused our Thanksgiving on expressing thanks for our family, our health, our earth, and whatever else feels authentic to our kids. We engage in rituals like building a tree of thanks to make this even more concrete for them, and fun for us. This has extended far beyond Thanksgiving for us as well, helping us use simple rituals to develop a gratitude practice as a family and improve our own mental well-being in the process.
However you choose to celebrate this holiday, remember that while we cannot change history, we canmake our children alert to who is telling and what needs to be told about the story. It’s the only way our kids will learn to do their part to make sure better stories are written in their time.
After 18 years as an educator, curriculum developer and school leader, Meghan has her dream gig—an entrepreneur/educator/mom who helps families everywhere, including hers, learn outside. Today, Meghan serves as co-founder and Chief Learning Officer of Tinkergarten, the national leader in outdoor play-based learning.
If there’s ever a group of people who deserve to be called unsung heroes, it has to be teachers. These individuals nurture and care for our kids every day, all while helping them learn the skills to be productive in school and life. May 2-6 is Teacher Appreciation Week, so you may wonder how to say thank you to your kiddo’s teacher. Here are 15 compliments for teachers your family can give out every day.
1. Thank you. Sometimes those two simple words are good enough.
2. You care about your students.Judi Holst, a Language Arts teacher at Rocky Heights Middle School in Colorado, said the best compliment she received from a student was that she genuinely cares for her students’ lives and all the things that involve being in middle school.
3. My kid wants to learn more about XYZ. Nothing excites a teacher more than hearing that a student wants to learn. Have your kiddo verbalize that desire for knowledge. It will make the teacher’s day.
4. My kiddo came home and tried to teach me what they learned in your class. George Bartuska, an Engineering/Aerospace teacher at Central Florida Aerospace Academy of Kathleen High School in Florida, said the best compliment he received was from a parent who shared with him not only how much their kid enjoyed his classes, but also how they’ve come home and explained some of the activities or classroom discussions.
5. My kiddo is always excited to come to class. If a teacher knows students are excited to be in school, they realize they’re doing a good job.
6. You are what our family needs. Lynn Thedell, a preschool teacher in San Diego, was told by a parent that her class was exactly what their family needed when they were having a difficult time with their kiddo.
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7. We appreciate you. You can always say “thank you.” But telling a teacher you appreciate them expresses a different level of gratitude.
8. You helped my kiddo understand this differently. Teaching is not only helping kids understand new concepts, but it’s also helping them reexamine how they think. That recognition is sometimes even more powerful, which is why this is one of our favorite compliments for teachers.
9. Thank you for connecting with my kiddo. According to the National Education Association, the best teachers care about the relational aspect of teaching, along with imparting knowledge. Let them know you recognize the effort they’re making.
10. Thank you for respecting my child as a person. This may seem like a simple idea, but you may be surprised how many kids don’t feel like their teacher has respect for the people they are.
11. You’re a great sub. Shannon Giles, a substitute teacher in Indiana, said receiving that compliment meant the world to her. If you have a favorite substitute, don’t forget to tell them you appreciate them and think they’re awesome too.
12. You make learning fun. Not everyone likes school. If your kiddo is having fun during the day, your teacher is doing something right.
14. You helped my child when I couldn’t. It could be that they got them through a tricky unit. It could be that they were able to help your child see the future. It could be they helped deal with a school bully. As parents, we can’t be there for everything, and it’s important to let other adults know when they’ve helped you out.
15. My kid still talks about your class. Even though teachers may see hundreds of kids throughout their careers, you better believe there’s a place in their hearts for all of them. To know they have a place in your kid’s core memory is a wonderful compliment for teachers.
Toddlers are hardwired to have a favorite parent, but love has nothing to do with it
My three-year-old won’t let my husband get her ready for bed. You know, that fun phase when your toddler prefers one parent? Only I will do. Cute, right? You may be imagining some mommy-and-me cuddles, footie pajamas snuggled into the crook of my arm while we read our favorite stories and sing silly bedtime songs. Not quite! Instead, picture this: I send her with her dad to get ready for bedtime, while I take a break to watch my favorite show. It’s called Washing the Dishes—I binge it every night. But about midway through, I have to go rescue them both and finish her bath (and her brother’s, who’s in the tub, too), get them dried and dressed, teeth brushed and jammied up, as only I’m permitted to do. When it’s all done, all I want to do is lie horizontally and stare at the ceiling.
Being the preferred parent for every task, every time, is hard, especially when you’ve worked or parented all day. And for single parents, it’s hard when you’re somehow managing to do it all nonstop (more on this further down). You’re depleted, and odds are good that you still have a day’s worth of work ahead of you when they finally go to sleep. It’s not your child’s fault. It’s not your partner’s fault. It’s just the way it is right now, and you’re torn between loving the honor and drowning in your child’s constant need for your help.
What is toddler favoritism?
Toddler or parental favoritism is when a little kid only wants to spend time with one parent and will mostly only allow that parent to take care of their needs. And they aren’t subtle. They can be so forceful in their preference that not getting mom or dad can lead to tantrums and physical resistance.
Why do toddlers have a parental preference?
For a number of reasons. Toddlers are constantly trying to assert their independence and this is one way to do so, much like how they choose a particular lovey as their favorite (and we hope you have at least three backups stashed away!). They also tend to develop a preference for the parent who more routinely does things for them, and this preferred parent can change over time—like when a new baby joins the family and your firstborn starts spending way more time with the non-birthing parent.
Favoritism is actually also a survival tactic for kids. “Children, especially ones under the age of 5, are reliant on their primary caregivers for survival and unconsciously act on this when they insist on only accepting help and nurturing from one parent,” says Sarah Alperin, a child behavior expert. “Of course, it’s not personal, though it can be really hard not to take it that way when you’re the parent who’s shut out.”
When a kid sees that one parent is more available than the other, they fight to keep it that way because connecting and having their needs met is so crucial, so they go where they get the most consistent results. This is called ‘hierarchies of attachment,’ in which kids unconsciously rank their caregivers based on who has been around the most. As their memories improve and they experience more with all caregivers, they become more comfortable with both parents and less rigid about who they want in their corner.
Should you be concerned if your toddler prefers one parent?
According to experts, this phenomenon isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It can be a sign of a healthy relationship between a child and both parents. “Favoring or excluding one parent is your child saying, ‘I can choose you right now because I know my other parent will be there for me regardless’,” says Lydia Mays, Ph.D., founder & CEO of See Beautiful. “Child favoritism and exclusion ebb and flow through not only the toddler years but also into childhood.” And guess what? It’s even expected during a time of uncertainty, anxiety, or stress. Toddler parents learned this all too well in 2020.
How to handle your kid only wanting mom or dad
So what do you do? How do you parent one, or even multiple kids, when you’re constantly being tapped to provide care and reassurance for your “barnacle child?” (We’re not being mean. We didn’t make up that term. It’s a thing.) First and foremost, the parent who is not preferred needs to play it cool. “When parents take it personally, children know and begin to sense parental insecurity,” Alperin explains. “Any insecurity a child senses in a parent will signal them to push them farther away in an attempt to seek a more competent and capable caregiver. What children seek and respond to the most is consistency, safety, acceptance, and connection.”
There are also ways to help foster connection between your kiddo and their less-preferred parent. Mays suggests the following ways to help the less-chosen parent swing the pendulum back toward shared parental choice—and avoid hurt feelings and total burnout:
For the “Barnacle Parent”:
Pass the fun baton: Divvy up roles and let the “less-chosen” parent tap in for the things your toddler loves to do most!
Be gone: When you’re physically away from your child, it provides opportunities for your toddler to have reconnecting and relationship-building time with the other parent.
Handoff: When your child is leaning heavily on you for support and the other parent is home, hand off the toddler’s need to the less-chosen one (e.g., “Mommy can’t right now, but Daddy can help you” or “Daddy’s busy right now, but Papa is free to do that with you.”)
High praise: Give compliments to the other parent in a way that your child can see the wonderful things that person is doing, too. For example, “Mommy makes up the best bedtime stories!” or “Daddy’s dinner is always my favorite. It’s so delicious.”
For the “Less-Chosen Parent”:
Have thick skin: It makes perfect sense that feeling snubbed by your toddler would be tough, but this action is only because you’re doing a great job and your child trusts you and knows you’ll be there for them. While hard, it’s a healthy phase for your child. Try not to get your feelings hurt. Be patient, understanding that withdrawing or showing frustration could further strengthen the attachment between your child and the “barnacle parent.”
One-on-one: Take some time to establish new one-on-one routines and traditions.
Love hard: Consistently affirm your love for your child and reassure him of your presence and the joy you experience being part of his life every day.
For parents navigating this alone:
Your goal will be to bolster your child’s independence and confidence. Atlanta psychologist Ellen Berman, Ph.D., notes that “single parents are in a unique relationship with their children, in that they must find ways to balance the family responsibilities in age and developmentally appropriate ways, often more so than dual-parent households.” To encourage your “barnacle baby’s” independence, focus on:
Routine: During the day, when kids know what to expect and when, they’re more likely to take on new responsibilities without feeling overwhelmed.
Advance planning: Odds are, you’re juggling a million tasks at once. When your child needs your attention, it might help to be prepared with a re-direct (if you’re unable to help right then) or with a set time during your day when you can help.
Prioritizing sleep: There’s no doubt that you’re burning the candle at both ends. Make sure you’re giving yourself time to recharge and remember that your child’s frustration at sometimes having to take a number is greatly magnified when they’re tired, too.
At the end of the day, this phase won’t last forever, and we promise you’ll get through it. Whether you’re constantly being chosen to do all the things, or never—or perhaps you have no choice and are the only option for doing all the things—you’re likely doing it very well, and we see you. Keep up the good work, and in the meantime, check out these children’s books, which might help spread the love.
Children’s books for relationship reconnection with Dad:
From parenting hacks to tips to get us through the tough parenting days, TikTok delivers
You either love TikTok or you hate TikTok, but if you fall into the latter, hold up for just one second and hear us out. Yes, TikTok is sometimes questionable, but there are some real gems of wisdom and advice that we’ve seen on the video platform and have personally tried out—resulting in some rock-star parenting moves. So if you aren’t too sus of TikTok parenting advice, check out these tried-and-true favorites below.
Kids who respect different worldviews and love all kinds of different people are just two good things that come from being socially aware
Raising children who feel good about who they are, love all different kinds of people, and respect different worldviews is still not mainstream. The good news is that parenting is our greatest social activism because we can influence our children to be more socially aware and compassionate. We can expose them to different environments, cultures, and people, give them opportunities to learn in collaborative settings, and help them find opportunities to serve others. These things will help our children develop the soft skills that they need to be more successful in life and ultimately transform the culture of our society. Here are five specific reasons why being socially aware matters.
Kids who are socially aware will develop and display greater emotional intelligence
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A child who is trained to be socially aware can empathize with the perspectives of others, listen empathically and display vulnerability. These are the skills that comprise emotional intelligence. According to Salovey and Mayer (1990), emotional intelligence is a “set of skills that contribute to the accurate appraisal and expression of emotion in oneself and others, the effective regulation of emotion, and the use of feelings to motivate, plan, and achieve in one’s life.” Research suggests that emotional intelligence may be a greater predictor of success than IQ, so these skills are important to the growth and development of your children. Children who can imagine what others are going through will be better able to perceive, use, understand and manage emotions, which will ultimately serve them in learning and achieving their goals.
Kids who are socially aware will be better prepared to be leaders
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Being socially aware means that you understand how to react to different social scenarios, and you can adapt your interactions to achieve the best results in any situation. A child who develops the sophistication to read people and situations will be able to gain friends, influence people, and motivate and inspire others. According to renowned executive coach, Maren Perry, it is great to have a strong understanding of your skills, values, and emotions and to be able to focus and manage your emotions, “However, outstanding leaders balance this self-focused drive with a healthy amount of empathy and organizational awareness to leverage others to accomplish more than they can alone.”
According to the book Emotional Intelligence 2.0, while self-awareness “involves looking inward to learn about yourself and understand yourself, social awareness is looking outward to learn about and appreciate others.” This is a reciprocal process of learning that involves understanding yourself and understanding others to greater and greater depths. A child will learn to appreciate their personality and individuality as they learn to authentically respect the experiences and perspectives of others. They will develop the ability to see themselves more clearly and evaluate themselves through introspection. Essentially, as a child learns to step outside of their own experience, they will learn how to be critically self-reflective as well.
Kids who are socially aware are more likely to practice gratitude
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According to the Character Lab, gratitude is "appreciation of the benefits we receive from others and the desire to reciprocate." To be grateful, you need to be aware of the benefits you receive from others and understand how to reciprocate appropriately. Gratitude is a social and emotional learning skill that is built from in-person interactions, meaningful discussion, and reflection.
Gratitude is associated with many positive outcomes including more satisfying social relationships and decreased distress and mental illness. There are four components to gratitude, as identified by UNC-Chapel Hill’s Raising Grateful Children Project:
Noticing: Did someone do something nice for you? Did someone give you something or take you somewhere fun?
Thinking: What are all the reasons you’re thankful for this? Why do you think someone did something nice for you? Does this mean something to you?
Feeling: When you think about these special things or people, how do you feel?
Doing: What can you actively do to express your gratitude for this person, place, or thing?
Social awareness supports a grateful attitude in children because they learn to be humble and appreciative as they consider the perspectives of others.
Kids who are socially aware can persevere and find greater purpose in life
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Finally, research has also shown that individuals with greater social awareness and higher emotional intelligence perform better on cognitive tasks and are better able to overcome frustration when faced with challenges performing these tasks. Perseverance comes from a growth mindset. A child who approaches learning with humility and open-mindedness is going to be more resilient in their processes. This combination of compassion and resilience will support children in finding and achieving greater purpose in their lives through strong relationships, flexibility of thought, and persistence toward their goals.
Spring is winding down and summer is on its way. There’s no time like the present to get out and about and see great art. Did you know you can enjoy family-friendly art without spending a single cent all while enjoying fresh air? Portland is known for its next-level street art so we put together a list of murals and walls throughout the city that has some of the most inspiring art to be found. Read on for where to go on your Portland street art tour.
photo: by Annette Benedetti
People’s History of Hawthorne
Located on the corner of SE Hawthorne and SE 49th on the Eagles Lodge, this beautiful mural represents the best of the area and is a dedication to the neighborhood and community. It includes representations of historical figures and mythical figures that are said to have shaped SE Portland. Look closely and you will catch a glimpse of the individuals you see roaming the neighborhood. Artist, Chris Haberman painted this piece in 2012/2013 and your littles will love standing among the neighborhood folk while you capture an image of them hanging out in this vibrant depiction of their beloved hometown.
4904 SE HawthornBlvd.
Artist: Chris Haberman
Online: portlandwild.com
Rhinoceros Mural Wall
Located on SE Morrison street just east of SE 12 outside of There Be Monsters, this life-like mural is a community favorite. It was painted in August of 2015 by artists Josh Keys for the annual Forest For The Trees mural event. Your little animal lovers will love leaning on this friendly looking beast and the resulting photos will be unforgettable.
1308 SE Morrison St.
Artist: Josh Keys
Online: turningart.com
photo: Carrie Uffindell
Women Making History in Portland
Painted in 2007 for the now defunct In Other Words Feminist Community Center, this 18-foot by 60-foot acrylic painting by Robin Corbo honors amazing women who’ve influenced – or are currently influencing – the city. Think community activists, native artists, educational advocates and more.
Commerce, education and the outdoors dominate this mural, which was relocated to the western wall of New Seasons in 2015. Look closely and you’ll also see various mythological symbols scattered throughout, including a winged hat, an olive branch necklace and a lotus staff. Behind the young student is the Woodstock motto translated into Mandarin, in honor of the elementary school’s immersion program.
4500 S.E. Woodstock Blvd
Artists: Designed by Mark Lawrence and painted by Heidi Schultz. Reproduction by Dan Cohan and Christo Wunderlich.
Online: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodstock_Mural
photo: Carrie Uffindell
Attitude of Gratitude
You’ll be hard pressed to find a more dynamic mural than the one SolTerra’s headquarters: a 70-foot tall woman, hands clasped in gratitude, with over one thousand living plants for her hair. Check back to see it flourish and change each season.
This 100-foot composition at the Portland Musician’s Union Local 99 celebrates our city’s thriving music scene and heritage in vivid color. Jazz, classical, bluegrass, rock ‘n’ roll, hip hop, reggae and rhythm & blues — all showcase the power of music. Find it on the building’s south wall, facing the parking lot.
325 N.E. 20th Ave.
Artists: Isaka Shamsud-Din, Joe Cotter, Baba Wagué Diakité, Hector Hernandez
Online: portlandwild.com/art/86
photo: Carrie Uffindell
Ladies Up Project
Morrison Place’s retail center is home to seven murals and counting. This ongoing, multi-artist project (also in collaboration with PSAA) only features works by local female-identifying artists and artists of color. Images range from a bold tiger to messages of unity. Look for the murals along S.E. Alder St.
1401 S.E. Morrison St.
Artists: Tatyana Ostepenko, Salomée Soung, Amaranta Colindres, Isis Fisher, Kyra Watkins, Sunny Beard, Angela Saenz and Laura Medina
Online: pdxstreetart.org/articles-all/ladiesup
photo: Carrie Uffindell
Community Cycling Center Mural
There’s no better – or more iconic – mural in the city that celebrates Portland’s bike culture. Covering the western wall of the cycling center’s retail shop, the vibrant piece portrays a whimsical parade of unicycles/bicycles/tricycles, costumed kids, hot air balloons, happy pets and more.
One of Portland’s oldest murals, its message of Black pride and empowerment is as important today as when it was painted in 1989. On the north wall of the Portland Covenant Church, Martin Luther King Jr. is surrounded by other notable faces, including Nelson and Winnie Mandela, South African playwright Selaelo Maredi and Muslim leader Elijah Muhammad.
4046 N.E. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
Artists: Isaka Shamsud-Din, Paul Odighizuwa, Charlotte Lewis and Kathy Pennington
Online: portlandwild.com/art/view/75
photo: courtesy of Portland Street Art Alliance
A Place Called Home
When airport travel is safe again, you won’t want to miss this sweeping 150-foot mural, located in Portland International Airport’s north pedestrian tunnel. All of what makes the Pacific Northwest great is on display here, from native peoples and natural wonders to farmers markets and local musicians.