🧩👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Tough Parenting Trends - Tips On What To Do

Today’s Issue: Tough Parenting Trends; Fun Easy Holiday Celebrations; = 1 cup of coffee.

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👋🏽 Parents Are Harder Than Kids: Ugh. Parents can be the WORST. If you’ve worked in ECE long enough, you see parenting trends come and go. One child arrives practicing “gentle boundaries,” another is on a screen detox, and a third has been told they’re fully in charge of their body, schedule, and snack choices. Meanwhile, teachers are just trying to get everyone to sit for circle time without negotiating a peace treaty. ECE classrooms became the front lines of parenting trends.

New parenting trends are making older generations ANGRY. The top 8 can be found 👉👉👉 HERE!!

Quick Reader Poll

🎒Welcome to the Modern ECE Classroom

ECE centers are less “drop-off and go” and more “parenting philosophies collide before 9 a.m.” None of this is bad parenting (maybe), but it makes it trickier for ECE leaders to navigate. ECE programs do more than ever, often without a new line item in the budget.

What’s going on now?

• Big feelings, tiny bodies — and lots of coaching to go with them

• Screen habits coming to school, even when screens don’t

• Academic pressure way earlier than expected

• Parents who want partnership… and daily updates

Welcome to ECE in the age of evolving parenting — where flexibility is required, patience is tested, and coffee is not optional. ☕️

👇‼️ We wrote an article about how to navigate this web of parental complexity. 🕸️ Click to learn more BELOW👇‼️👇

🌍 The Festival of Lights & Kindness Week

A Joyful, Inclusive Holiday Celebration for ECE Centers

The week of Christmas can feel joyful and chaotic, especially where families celebrate many different holidays (and some don’t celebrate at all). Instead of focusing on one tradition, ECE centers are embracing a bigger approach: celebrating light, kindness, family, and togetherness, values shared across cultures and religions around the world.

Welcome to The Festival of Lights & Kindness Week!! It’s a flexible, inclusive holiday experience that meets children where they are.

🕯️ Day 1: Light Around the World

Many winter holidays use light to represent hope, warmth, and togetherness — including Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali, Lunar New Year, and winter solstice traditions.

Activities:

• Decorate paper lanterns, stars, or suns

• Use battery-operated candles or string lights for a cozy classroom glow

• Briefly dim the lights and talk about how light helps us feel safe and happy

Simple Language for Kids:

“Families use light to celebrate in different ways.”

🤝 Day 2: Kindness & Giving

Kindness is a theme that connects nearly every holiday tradition.

Activities:

• Create a Kindness Chain where each child adds a link showing a kind action

• Practice kindness throughout the day (helping a friend, sharing toys, using kind words)

• Read a story about helping others or friendship

Simple Language for Kids:

“Being kind is something everyone can do.”

🎶 Day 3: Family, Food & Celebration

Families celebrate in many different ways — with music, food, stories, and time together.

Activities:

• Dramatic play: pretend holiday kitchens, family gatherings, or celebrations

• Art activity: draw “My Family Celebration” (no specific holidays required)

• Music and movement with songs or instrumental music from different cultures

• Optional classroom parade or dance party

Simple Language for Kids:

“Every family celebrates in their own special way.”

We live in an incredibly awesome, diverse community. Let’s celebrate by sharing common values that kids and families can be a part of! If needed, mix and match for 1 - 2 days!

The Internet is a Playground:

🗓️ On this Day in History: In 1888, Vincent Van Gogh cut off part of his left ear with a razor while staying in Arles, France. He documented the event in a painting titled Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear. Lend me your...ear?! 🦻🏻

💕 Games: Find the hidden words.

🥰 Aww: You go ahead. I’ll hang out here.

YOUR VOICE COUNTS

Is there a topic you want more info on or want to share a funny story? Then let us know! Shoot us a quick email at [email protected]. This newsletter is for you, and well, you should have a say, don't’ you think?