Elbow to Elbow - Extended Version

Use this to make your dinner times more fun! I sat between my two year old and four year old at dinner. One was chowing down and the other was hard to start on the process. I sang "Elbow to elbow" tapping elbows with my son on the left. Then I alternated with my daughter on the right. We ate and laughed! All four needs were met: eye contact, gentle touch, presence, and playfulness.

Here's the extended version for you to try...

Elbow to elbow 1 - 2 - 3.
Elbow to elbow you love me.
Elbow to elbow you're smiling at me.
Elbow to elbow you're laughing with me.
Elbow to elbow you're eating with me.

... you get the idea - tap, sing, repeat.

Enjoy!

I Love You Rituals at Playgroup

One of the most successful tools used in the playgroup curriculum I created are Dr. Becky Bailey's I Love You Rituals. This 16-minute presentation highlights the benefits and shares results from the playgroups using them. This presentation was originally made to the Florida Governor's Cabinet on Children and Youth in June 2009.

Plea For Public Playgroups

View more presentations from GiftedQuill.

Elbow to Elbow

My son is so cute when he sticks out his elbow for me to tap and says, "eh-bow?"

We started a ritual this week that leaves him asking for more.

As a toddler, I pull him on my lap or do this after a diaper change when he's laying in the valley of my legs (since I'm the diaper changing station).

Once you are facing your child, pull his or her bent arm to yours and gently tap your elbows togther. Sing, "Elbow to elbow, 1 - 2 - 3."

Then reach over and grab the other elbow to your other elbow and sing, "Elbow to elbow, you love me."

Hope this brings out the smiles and requests for more!

This could be a quickie while you're waiting in line somewhere. When you see other people smiling, share what you love about Dr. Becky Bailey and Conscious Discipline -- it could change their life.

Don't Let it Leak Out

Kids love silliness -- and if we stopped long enough we would realize how much we do too. Set the broom down and take the distant look off your face.

Serve your kids a snack. Sit down. Have a couple bites yourself.

Then take them to the floor, the couch, or even the bed.

Get ready to giggle!!

First talk about something you were talking about at snack time. Then talk about the food you ate. "Mmmmm. It was so yummy!" you say.

Then get a surprised look on your face. "Uh-oh, I don't want it to leak out."

Cover their ears. "Oh no. Better stop it from leaking out of your ears."

"Ah, wait. I have to cover your left eye. I don't want it to leak out there."

"Ooh, your arm pit. Wait. Stop. Don't let it leak out here."

You get the idea. Be silly. Name a body part and cover it up.

Remember, this gives them eye contact, gentle touch, undivided attention, and playfulness -- all of which lead to a more connected relationship and easier time with discipline. Plus, you're developing the frontal lobe which will help them later with time management, organization, prioritization, impulse control and empathy.

Tata, gotta go stop some leaks!

I Love You Rituals for All Ages

Watch this video posted by Dr. Becky Bailey two days ago. You'll see the importance these rituals have for any age.

NEW! Coral Reef I Love You Ritual

My daughter Cynthia is very creative. In the middle of a conversation about the coral reef on a lunch date we started playing this game. Half way through I realized we made up our own I Love You Ritual. Feel free to try it for yourself. Here's how to play.

Child puts their forearm on the table with their palm turned up and fingers curled to make a “coral reef.”

The parent makes up what kind of sea creature they are and “lives” at the reef acting the part.

For example, as a starfish Iput all five fingers out and lay still on her arm, under her hand etc.

Then the parent is the reef and the child has a turn to act like the starfish.

On my next turn I was a seahorse bopping through ocean and “caught” the reef with my curly tail (which was my pinky) and hung out at the reef for a while enjoying the view of the other fish.

Then the child has a turn being the seahorse.

Other ideas were an eel (put your pointer finger and middle finger together and slither through/under the reef);

a lobster (use your pointer and middle finger as the antennae to peak out from under the reef);

a crab (use your finger nails to tickle their hand and arm as you crawl around the reef).

The ideas are limitless and it’s a game you can take anywhere. This game meets the needs of a child for eye contact, gentle touch, undivided attention, and playfulness. It also passed the time semi-quietly while we waited for our meal in the restaurant.

Come to think of it we had a fish sandwich... LOL

Let's Talk: I Love You Rituals by Dr. Becky Bailey

To learn more about I Love You Rituals and Conscious Discipline go to Dr. Becky Bailey's site: http://www.consciousdiscipline.com