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

Cotton Ball Blow

My girlfriend said her toddler loves this one so I tried it at Grupo de Juego and a day care-setting playgroup I run. It was a hit at both places!

It's an excellent game to increase patience, waiting for a cue and understanding boundaries. I also encouraged the moms/care givers to use as many words as possible with tracking like Becky Bailey suggests in many of her games.

For the price of a cotton ball this sure gave us a great way to get eye contact, gentle touch, undivided attention, and playfulness.

I may just keep a cotton ball in my purse!

When and where do you use this game?

Here's a Little Bunny

With Easter being tomorrow, we've been teaching this one to all our friends at playgroup. We even did it in Spanish. My kids love being upside down in the bunny hole.

What do you think about making this a new Easter tradition for your family?

Walk and Stop

This was fun at our Career Exploration Day - Be a Pilot because we could add spinning like a helicopter or flying like an airplane. My almost-three-year-old was too shy to help with the demonstration and my infant was sacked out in his sling. Normally this activity elicits super grins.

This one is particularly helpful when we're standing in line somewhere with energy bottled up. It can be done stationary and with a softer voice if needed or it can be as loud and rambunctious as the setting permits.

When have you tried it and what was the result?

Row Row Row Your Boat

This "I Love You Ritual" has changed our family life the most. From the baby at 4 months old to my 4 year old -- they all love it! It's become a part of the night time routine with Daddy. And if he forgets -- the kids remind him they want to do it.

He's also added a level with "Hurricane."

What was a stressful time at the end of the day has now become something the whole family looks forward to.

How about you? When do you use this ritual? How has it changed your life?