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Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
15 Wonderful Ways Parenting Gets Easier as Your Child Ages
Yes, parenting does get easier. Sometimes it feels natural to share the tough parts of parenting — or rather, those parts just come spilling out in trying moments. But countless things get easier and more enjoyable in parenting as your child ages. Keep these things in mind when you're deep in the trenches of newborn days or pre-teen hormones. Breathe a sigh of relief; those hard newborn days are behind you. Though you may miss the sweet baby snuggles, there's so much about toddlerhood that actually makes parenting easier. Nothing strengthens you quite like those early newborn days when sleep is an elusive unicorn. As your little bundle of joy reaches their first birthday and toddlerhood, you'll find those sleepless nights are no longer quite as endless as they feel. You may not ever experience that magic moment when parenting is suddenly easy. Rather, as you look back over time, you'll see how many parts of the journey have decreased in difficulty. Having a cuddly little baby around Christmas can be fun. But it can also be overshadowed by constant feedings and utter exhaustion. As your little one's personality blooms in toddlerhood, watching them behold the wonder of every holiday becomes a true gift parents can cherish. Is there anything as anxiety-inducing as a new mom as trying to decipher your newborn's cries? Is she hungry? Is he overtired? Many of those questions start to fade as toddlerhood approaches. Partly because you are a seasoned parent tuned in to each sound your child makes, and partly because your little one can now use some words, hand signals, or gestures to communicate their needs and wants. Bye-bye terrible twos and three-nagers, it's time for school. Whether you choose a traditional school setting or a home education, you might be surprised by how much of your life you get back when your child starts school. When you're dreaming of toddlerland in those early baby days, nothing sounds as relaxing as casual pretend play. But after a few rounds of playing bakery, you realize how exhausting pretend play is for an adult. The good news is that as your child starts school and makes friends, they'll have plenty of friends to play games with. If you're missing those playful times of toddlerhood, try looking forward to other ways you can spend quality time together, like family game nights or sporting events. By the time your little one steps through the door into their first day of kindergarten, they'll be confident and practiced when it comes to going potty. All the hard work you put into potty training your toddler, from chasing them around to helping wash their hands, will pay off when you can officially point them to the bathroom and let them, well ... go. Whether you chose to breastfeed or use formula, feeding babies was a full-time job. That transitions into quite a bit of snack-making in the toddler years. But once your child is of school age, you can be much more hands-off during meal times. At this stage, you'll be in charge of three square meals a day. But you won't have to do the feeding and clean-up will be minimal. Even snack time is easier when they can open the pantry and grab the Gold Fish crackers themselves. Once you're past the toddler stage, loading the kids up for an outing is significantly easier. You no longer have to think about diaper bags, car seats, potty stops, or potential blowouts — and we don't mean tires. Your kids can grab their own coats, buckle up, and enjoy the ride. Between the amount of space sacrificed for baby items and the instant messes toddlers make, it might feel like your home is never clean. Once your kids reach school age, though, cleaning gets a little easier. Not only do you have more time to devote to the task, but your children are more than capable of helping out or keeping your family's rules about being tidy. As kids get older, they will start to accumulate lots of things, from collections or special toys to sports equipment and art projects. At this age, though, you can try having discussions and working together when deciding what to declutter. Hello, independence! Seeing your little one grow into a (mostly) self-sufficient teen might bring up some mixed emotions. But you can count on some of your parenting responsibilities easing up as you step into this new season as a family. Sure, your teen may come to you with trigonometry questions from time to time. But the days of spending hours at the dinner table working through a math problem together are typically gone. At this point, your teen can call up a friend or approach a teacher on their own to ask for help with academics. Short of renting a car, your teen can do most things by themselves now. You don't have to make their lunch, wash their clothes, or even drive them to soccer practice. It might be bittersweet, but it's a parenting moment you have more than earned. Want a date night? Well, that works since your teen is already out for the evening. Longing for a weekend away? Your tween will have a blast sleeping over at a friend's house for a few days. Once your kid grows into a mostly self-sufficient teen, your child care costs go way down and eventually disappear altogether. There's going to be some nervousness — on your part and theirs — when they finally pass their driving test. Sure, this milestone comes with unique stressors like safety concerns, insurance expenses, and finding that perfect first car. But, it's a milestone you greatly benefit from. Once your teen is driving, you can kick back while they take themselves to school, pick up a few groceries for you, and help with shuttling their siblings to extracurriculars. By now, you've put in the long days and all the hard work. You now have an adult child with their own life and unique contributions to society. These are some of the things that feel easier once you're past the teen years and acting more as a life coach to your adult children. They're grown up, out of the house, and no longer relying on you for every need. It's a rewarding, though difficult, moment for any parent. It might feel strange at first, but this hands-off approach to parenting is going to grow on you. You'll have days of missing the baby snuggles or the early morning conversations with your pre-schooler. But you'll trade those for moments of sitting back and watching all your hard work pay off in your child's adulthood. This season also brings moments when your adult child will make some decisions differently than you hoped. Even though it's difficult, try to see this as an opportunity to embrace your child's individuality or to help them learn a tough lesson that will serve them later on in life. Empty nest? More like a reason to redecorate! The playroom, the teen hangout, and your son's bathroom that never felt entirely clean make way for the home you've always wanted. Don't worry, your kids will come back to visit and compliment your new style. You raised a whole human being. That's a pretty big accomplishment. Now that your child is an adult, you get to trade those hard days of discipline and reinforcement for sitting back and basking in the pride of bringing up a wonderful person. They say the best part of having children is getting grandchildren. There's a reason parents seem to morph into entirely different people once their first grandchild comes into the picture: grandchildren change everything. They'll be one of your greatest parenting rewards and help you relive some of those precious moments you shared with your own babies. Once your child has children of their own, you get to teach them everything you've learned as a parent. Keep in mind that they may want to do a lot of things differently, though, and that's okay. Try to respect and support their parenting choices even if they're different from yours. There's a whole new dynamic at play when your kids become adults. There's a world of space for parents to recognize some of their parenting mistakes — and kids might see the ways their behavior might have been less-than-desirable as teens. While every parent and adult-child relationship has unique challenges, as you grow closer to your kids, learn who they are becoming as adults, and engage in genuine (sometimes vulnerable) conversations, your adult kids might also become some of your best friends. This parenting gig is never truly over. Our kids won't be kids forever, but we'll be parents for the rest of our lives. Seeing kids grow up might be bittersweet, but make no mistake: your children will always need you.
Forbes
7 days ago
- General
- Forbes
The 24 Best Toys For 3-Year-Olds, According To A Mom Of Toddler Twins
As a mom to 3-year-old twin boys, I'm in the thick of toddlerhood and trying to find toys that they'll actually play with for more than five minutes. The best toys for 3-year-olds are engaging and fun, and they support their desire to learn and become independent. Toys like the Melissa & Doug Wooden Cool Scoops Ice Creamery and the Brio World Farm Railway Set help them build language and fine motor skills as they play pretend and make sense of the world around them. The best toys for 3-year-olds are engaging and support their rapid development. ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTO: RETAILERS 'A good toy for a 3-year-old is one that grows with the child and adapts to their learning over time,' says Elizabeth Fraley, the founder of Kinder Ready, a kindergarten readiness program. 'Ideal toys spark curiosity and engage multiple senses—visual, auditory, tactile, and kinesthetic—supporting holistic development.' Open-ended toys that spark creative play and educational toys that support their rapidly developing brain are ideal, too. Our top picks support a wide range of developmental areas in 3-year-olds and cater to various interests. Many of the toys on our list have also been put through the wringer by my three young kids. Amazon Educational Insights Design And Drill Take-Along Toolkit Most 3-year-olds adore copying anything they see their parents and caregivers do, which means they'll love pretending to drill with this 66-piece set. It also helps develop their fine motor skills as they pick up and place the bolts. In addition to pretending to drill, you can work on counting, pattern recognition, sorting and many other educational skills as they play. Amazon Magna-Tiles Safari Animals My 3-year-olds have this Magna-Tiles set, and the included animals really help inspire their play. Polina Shkadron, a neurodivergent therapist and child development specialist, explained that building materials such as magnetic tiles can help with visual-spatial skills, motor planning, problem-solving and cognitive flexibility. Whether it's in addition to a set they already have or their first introduction to Magna-Tiles, this set is ideal for 3-year-olds who are learning to build and play creatively. Amazon Melissa & Doug Wooden Cool Scoops Ice Creamery The Melissa & Doug Wooden Cool Scoops Ice Creamery practically has it all when it comes to creative real-world play. My 3-year-olds transform into ice cream shop workers, taking orders, creating cones, accepting payment and calling out ready orders. 'Children are naturally drawn to replicating adult activities and tasks. Practical life experiences created through play and toys help children develop self-discipline, problem-solving and planning skills—vital for lifelong learning,' says Fraley. This is a toy that all three of my kids consistently gravitate towards. Amazon Tonka Classic Steel Mighty Dump Truck Dump trucks are a classic for a reason. Kids enjoy pushing them around, loading them up and dumping their contents. With sturdy steel construction (and a lifetime guarantee), you won't need to worry about your 3-year-old being too rough on this dump truck. Whether they're hauling toys around the living room or dumping rocks in the back yard, it's sure to provide years of fun play. Amazon Brio World Farm Railway Set A classic wooden train set like the Brio World Farm Railway Set allows 3-year-olds to create their own play world. 'Wooden train sets are also excellent for coordination, motor skills and spatial orientation,' says Shkadron. This 20-piece set includes a wooden track, a barn, magnetic train cars and more. To create larger tracks, add on a Brio World Expansion Pack . My kids have been playing with Stapelstein sets for years. They remain a favorite toy—and they still look brand new. From stepping stones to pretend bowls to hats, I can't count the number of ways my kids have used this toy. They're super lightweight yet sturdy, and they stack nicely when it's time to put them away. My 6-year-old loves to play with them too, so they're definitely a staple piece (no pun intended) to invest in to support long-term play. Amazon Little Tikes Easy Score Basketball Set This pint-sized basketball set is ideal for toddlers who are starting to learn about playing cooperative sports. Dr. Jessica McCarthy, a licensed clinical psychologist, explains that kids this age are developing social skills and have a high need to engage with others. Learning to play a sport together can help support this. The adjustable hoop grows along with them, and the balls are soft, reducing the likelihood that someone will get hurt from a rogue shot. Amazon Avenlur Palm 5-in-1 Outdoor and Indoor Playground Playset What I like most about this climbing and slide set is that you can set it up indoors or outdoors, giving your toddler a place to climb and get their energy out even on days when they're stuck inside. In addition to a slide and a climbing wall, it has an integrated tent where they can hide, read a book or create a cozy playspace. The durable wood construction helps ensure it's safe and sturdy for your toddler, too. As much as my 3-year-olds enjoy playing with the Nugget Play Couch , they enjoy playing with the Nugget Chunk even more. It's a play ottoman that's made of two smaller circles, a larger circle and a hoop. Whether they're rolling around in the hoop, hopping from circle to circle, or lounging around, they play with their Chunk nearly every day. The foam is nice and dense and the fabric is machine washable, so it holds up well to lots of play. 'My kid has been using this since her toddler years, and it's still a huge hit on playdates several years later—it's regularly used as a table, a chair and a hiding nook," says Esther Carlstone, Forbes Vetted editor and mom of three. Amazon Micro Kickboard Mini Deluxe Scooter This scooter grew with my daughter from the time she was 2 until she was about 5, and now my 3-year-olds use it, too. The lean-to-steer function makes it easy for kids to learn how to ride the scooter, and it's just the right size for little ones. One of my favorite things about Micro Kickboard scooters is that they're built to last, and the brand sells replacement parts at affordable prices in the event you do need to replace something. Amazon Step2 Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table If your 3-year-old can't help but splash in any water they see, they'll certainly enjoy playing in a water table. This is our pick for the best water table because it's durable, nicely-sized and full of fun play features. My kids have been playing with this water table for years, and it's a great way to provide sensory input and keep them cool during hot weather. Amazon Fat Brain Toys Bilibo By Moluk Looking for an open-ended toy that provides sensory input and encourages creative play? Bilibo might be your winning item. It's so basic that it almost doesn't look like a toy, which is a big part of its appeal. Just like kids can turn a cardboard box into almost anything, they can find so many ways to play with Bilibo. They can sit and spin in them, use them as stepping stones, take them outside for water play or anything else their imaginations can think up. 'This is one of those bizarre-looking toys that lasts for years through multiple kids, cousins and friends—it's used most often in our house as a helmet or to spin around in,' says Carlstone. Amazon Mudpuppy 25-Piece Floor Puzzle Large floor puzzles are great for 3-year-olds since the oversized pieces areeasier for little hands to handle, and they allow little kids to move around rather than stay sitting in one spot. According to Tara Donatiello, a registered play therapist, puzzles can help with brain development for 3-year-olds. This 25-piece puzzle is available in various themes: construction site, dinosaur park, farm friends, forest school, garden bunnies and rainforest. Amazon Lego Duplo Town Truck And Tracked Excavator Set Lego Duplos are great for 3-year-olds because they're bigger than traditional Legos, making the pieces easier for toddlers to build and work with. This themed set includes two figures, construction vehicles and accessories. Many of the experts we spoke to recommended building toys like Legos to help with motor planning and visual-spatial skills. As a former teacher who studied literacy education, I will always recommend books for kids. Reading can be fun, and it doesn't have to mean sitting still through a whole book, which can be hard for many 3-year-olds. With this Backyard Explorer book, kids can learn about nature, go exploring and improve their literacy all at the same time. Donatiello recommends using the included magnifying glass or getting a pair of binoculars to encourage nature exploration. Amazon Hand2mind Numberblocks One To Five Wooden Blocks Inspired by the hit show Numberblocks , little ones can play and build while they work on learning their numbers and early math skills. This block comes with 15 blocks that are color-coded so they can work on counting, adding and subtracting within five. When they need a break from learning, they can simply play with them as traditional blocks. There are so many things I like about this game: it doesn't frustrate my 3-year-olds, there are multiple levels of gameplay to engage older siblings, it's funny and it helps develop gross motor skills and coordination. They also learn about turn-taking, patience and cooperation along the way. The simple game tasks kids with feeding the monster his questionable meals, including toenail toast and booger chili. The catch: they have to balance the food on a spoon as they walk it to his mouth. It never fails to elicit laughter from all three of my kids. Amazon Play-Doh Blooming Flower Garden Play-Doh is a classic for good reason—it's calming and fun for kids to manipulate the dough, and there are just so many ways to play with it. This particular set is flower garden-themed, and comes with a garden box, flower mold, a spade and more. Because 3-year-olds love to imitate what they see in everyday life, this set provides a way for them to do that without destroying the plants in your garden. Toddlers enjoy coloring, and if you want to prevent their masterpieces from ending up on your walls, try channeling that creative energy into a toddler coloring book. This is one of the best coloring books for toddlers thanks to large and simple pictures that are easy to color in. Shakdron explains that drawing can help kids transfer their thoughts to paper, which can even support their future written expression. If you pick up a coloring book, don't forget to grab some chunky toddler crayons , too. If you're going on a trip or just need something for your toddler to play with that won't make a mess, pick up a Water Wow pack. It's one of my go-to options to entertain my 3-year-olds. Each book comes with a water pen that kids can use to magically color the pictures in the book. In addition to being mess-free, it's also re-usable; kids can color the pages again and again once they dry. Amazon Best Choice Products Kids' Outdoor Wooden Sandbox After my kids outgrew their smaller sandbox , we got the Best Choice Products Kids' Outdoor Wooden Sandbox for our backyard, and I've been so happy with it. It's large enough for multiple kids to play, and it looks nice in the yard. It also has a lid that folds open to become benches for kids to sit on while they play. The sandbox comes with a bottom liner to help keep the sand clean and promote drainage. Ever since we upgraded to this larger sandbox, my kids have been playing in the sand much more, making the purchase well worth it. Amazon KidKraft Large Wooden Play Kitchen Play kitchens will always be fun for little kids. Donatiello says they 'can foster problem solving skills and social development, as well as help toddlers develop a sense of independence.' This adorable wooden kitchen includes a sink, a microwave, a stove, an oven, a refrigerator and more. It also has lights and sounds for even more interactivity. It's a larger play kitchen with sturdy wood construction, so it will last your 3-year-old for years. If you're short on space, a smaller play cooktop is really fun, too. Nearly all of the toddlers I've met are inexplicably attracted to bubbles. While blowing bubbles is fun, it can get tiring pretty quickly. One of my favorite toys to pull out of our garage when my 3-year-olds are getting bored is a bubble machine. Fill it up, turn it on and they have endless bubbles. A Toniebox is a screen-free audio player that plays songs and stories, all completely controlled by your child. They simply place the figure they want on the box, and it begins playing. This starter set comes with various Paw Patrol figures. From Stitch to Blippi , there are a wide variety of other figures to choose from, too. You can even get a blank figure to record your own stories and songs for your toddler to listen to. 'This is hands down the toy my toddler played with most frequently. It was essential for road trips and quiet time and still gets used to this day,' says Carlstone. At Forbes Vetted, we curate a wide range of gift guides for kids, including the best toys for 4-year-olds and the best swing sets . We take time to test, review and thoroughly research the toys and products we recommend. The author of this article, Alicia Betz , is a mom to three, including twin 3-year-olds. She has personally tested over half of the toys on this list with her kids. She stays updated on the newest toy trends and product releases, and frequently covers products for toddlers, including the best toddler bed rails and the best toddler car seats . , is a mom to three, including twin 3-year-olds. She has personally tested over half of the toys on this list with her kids. She stays updated on the newest toy trends and product releases, and frequently covers products for toddlers, including the and the . The editor of this article, Esther Carlstone , is also a mom to three and an experienced parenting journalist and editor who has tried out dozens of toys designed for toddlers, including many with her own kids. She's covered everything from the best subscription boxes for kids and the best baby floats . , is also a mom to three and an experienced parenting journalist and editor who has tried out dozens of toys designed for toddlers, including many with her own kids. She's covered everything from the and the . We interviewed a variety of child development and toy experts to help inform our picks: Polina Shkadron , a neurodivergent therapist and child development specialist; Elizabeth Fraley , founder and CEO of Kinder Ready, an LA-based education program focused on kindergarten readiness and private school preparation; Dr. Jessica McCarthy , a licensed clinical psychologist, clinical neuropsychologist and certified New Jersey school psychologist; and Tara Donatiello , a registered play therapist. What Toys Should A 3-Year-Old Be Playing With? A 3-year-old should be playing with toys that are developmentally appropriate, fun and spark their creativity and imagination. Many 3-year-olds love imitating adults, so toys like play kitchens and tool sets are fun. 'The best types of toys for 3-year-olds are those that foster imagination, creativity, and exploration. At this age, children's brains are growing rapidly and making millions of new neural connections every day. Engaging in play that fosters this cognitive development is crucial,' says Donatiello. Are Legos Good For 3-Year-Olds? Legos are great for 3-year-olds, particularly Lego Duplos, which are larger and easier for younger kids to build and manipulate. Traditional Lego sets with smaller bricks are typically better for older kids. What To Get A Kid Who Has A Lot Of Toys? One of my favorite things to get a kid who has a lot of toys is a consumable gift, like an arts and crafts set. Another good option is an expansion of a set they already love, such as more train tracks or magnetic tiles.
