5 Of The Best Unselfish Reasons Why Parents Should Have No Guilt About Scheduled Nap Times10/30/2022 To preface, I’m not advocating for sleep training or not sleep training. I think that is a decision entirely left to what works best for you and your family. This article is for those parents who perhaps did sleep train and abide by scheduled nap times and feel guilty about it. Or perhaps they are at the mercy of relatives offering unsolicited advice and critiques about why you feel the need to rush home, prolong family activities, and schedule events around your child’s nap times. As someone who is still adhering to my son’s scheduled nap times, I’ve sometimes had to justify why the hours from 1:30-3:30 are off-limits. I used to feel guilty, but now I no longer think twice when I say that we can’t because it’s my son’s nap time. To be fair, I try not to be rigid and if people can simply not change the time, or we have a really fun all day event, we will occasionally forgo my son’s nap. But 80-90% of the time, my son is getting his nap, and I don’t feel guilty or selfish about it at all. Here’s why. #1 I Need A Break |
Lauren Barrett is a multi-passionate mom working to help all parents become their best selves and build positive relationships with their kids through mindful parenting. She has a degree in deaf education and a Master’s in Reading Education. She is a high school teacher of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing by day, a cross country coach by the afternoon, a writer/author by her son's nap times, and a full time mom to an amazing toddler. Lauren is a 3x author of the Add One-A-Day 30 Day Challenge, children's book, Henry's Hiccups, and parenting guide Now What? Mindful Checklists for Life's Hard Parenting Moments, a blogger at Lauren Barrett Writes, and has been published on sites like A Fine Parent, Pregnant Chicken, Pop Sugar, Her View From Home, and Scary Mommy. She loves her faith, running, visiting MLB stadiums with her husband, chocolate, scrapbooking, pretending she would actually do well on the Amazing Race, re-watching The Office, listening to Bobby Bones, and helping out all moms. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, James, and son, Henry. Follow her on Instagram at @laurenbarrettwrites, and get her free guide on what to do during the middle of a tantrum. |
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ROUTINE:
Children like routines. This is for good reason! Routines have been found to:
- Lower stress
- Increase confidence
- And make them feel smarter.
REMAIN:
Remain loving but firm with boundaries. Kids become dysregulated when they feel like they are the ones calling the shots and controlling things. A confident mom will keep boundaries in check.
REASSURE:
Reassure your kids that ALL their feelings are valid, no matter how big they are. Reassure them they are safe and their feelings don’t scare you.
REFILL:
Refill your children’s attention cups with time-ins. Spend time each day with your kids for, at least a little bit of time, without any distractions.
REPAIR:
Repair when you made a mistake. Show your kids that you are human and that sometimes you yell and lose your temper. Show them that repairing is normal. Everyone messes up from time to time.
RESTORE:
Restore things back to order after your child has had a tantrum or hard times by teaching them strategies to use next time they have big feelings. I call these strategies greenlight strategies.
REST:
Take them to rest yourself. Good mothers know when to rest and know not to feel guilty about resting.
RECHARGE:
Good mothers recharge by going out with friends, exploring your passions, and reclaiming your Unicorn Space.
RESILIENCE:
Our children MUST learn how to be resilient in order to find success and overcome the obstacles they will face as a human. If we sweep in to save our children from every bit of difficulty, we actually do them a disservice. We send the message that when life gets tough, someone will always help you out of it and that failure is a scary and negative thing.
In reality, one of the best things we can do for our children is to allow them to struggle, as it provides the chance to reframe failure. Every hard moment or struggle is an opportunity to learn resilience!
In reality, one of the best things we can do for our children is to allow them to struggle, as it provides the chance to reframe failure. Every hard moment or struggle is an opportunity to learn resilience!
REDUCE:
Less is more has been my mantra in parenting lately.
There has long been the narrative that moms have to be tired, burnt out, and stressed, running around like a chicken with its head cut off (do people still use this idiom?). TV shows often depict a mom as being forgetful, clumsy, disoriented, and disheveled.
While motherhood is certainly hard, and there are days where we are surviving instead of thriving, the overall theme of motherhood doesn’t have to be this way.
Once we start to shift our mindset to less is more, we will start to see parenting to be more enjoyable. Reduce the number of toys, commitments, screen time, and clutter.
There has long been the narrative that moms have to be tired, burnt out, and stressed, running around like a chicken with its head cut off (do people still use this idiom?). TV shows often depict a mom as being forgetful, clumsy, disoriented, and disheveled.
While motherhood is certainly hard, and there are days where we are surviving instead of thriving, the overall theme of motherhood doesn’t have to be this way.
Once we start to shift our mindset to less is more, we will start to see parenting to be more enjoyable. Reduce the number of toys, commitments, screen time, and clutter.
READ:
Read to your kids. Reading builds knowledge.
RESEARCH:
Good moms do their research when it comes to parenting.
REFLECT:
Then, reflect. Not everything you see on social media and the internet is right for you and your kids. Reflect on whether what you learn is right for your family. Reflect on if what you are already doing is working. Reflect on whether you need a change.
RECORD:
RECALL:
Then, next time you encounter a hard parenting moment you can use your list to recall what works for your children. Good moms are constantly learning.
Lauren Barrett is a multi-passionate mom working to help all parents become their best selves and build positive relationships with their kids through mindful parenting. She has a degree in deaf education and a Master’s in Reading Education. She is a high school teacher of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing by day, a cross country coach by the afternoon, a writer/author by her son's nap times, and a full time mom to an amazing toddler. Lauren is a 3x author of the Add One-A-Day 30 Day Challenge, children's book, Henry's Hiccups, and parenting guide Now What? Mindful Checklists for Life's Hard Parenting Moments, a blogger at Lauren Barrett Writes, and has been published on sites like A Fine Parent, Pregnant Chicken, Pop Sugar, Her View From Home, and Scary Mommy. She loves her faith, running, visiting MLB stadiums with her husband, chocolate, scrapbooking, pretending she would actually do well on the Amazing Race, re-watching The Office, listening to Bobby Bones, and helping out all moms. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, James, and son, Henry. Follow her on Instagram at @laurenbarrettwrites, and get her free guide on what to do during the middle of a tantrum.
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Have you ever yelled at your kids and then felt guilty about it later? Weâve all done it. Our kid repeatedly does the same thing we asked them not to do over and over, so we snap. We see our kidsâ eyes bulge and swell with tears. We see the fear. They cower and run away.
Even though we might feel guilty, theyâve stopped doing what we ask them to do. So maybe yelling does work, we think. But, then our toddlers are back to throwing their toys the next day. And because we donât know what else to do, we yell.
But, in this blog, you are going to learn how printable checklists can actually help you reduce yelling. When you have the right strategies and tools at your hand, you wonât need to resort to yelling and the next time your kids irk you to no end. You can say goodbye to screaming at your kids because youâll know exactly what to do.
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Why Doesn't Yelling Work?
â
Sure, yelling works in the moment, but it isnât a long term solution. Why?
When we yell, what skills are we actually teaching our kids? None.
What we are teaching them instead is to get what you want, you need to instill fear in the other personâs eyes. Learning this can eventually lead our kids to value fighting and anger to get what they want and can lead to depression and anxiety in our kids.
Another reason why yelling doesnât work is when a toddler hears a parent screaming in long, angry systems, their brain starts to become dysregulated and they canât make sense of what Mom or Dad is saying. They are too young to process what is going on and they are overwhelmed by emotion. That and their lack of impulse control is why they are back to doing the same thing we asked them not to.
Finally, when we constantly yell, we are equating love to fear. For our kids, if they simultaneously fear and love their parents, they might search for that in a partner. And do we want them to marry someone they also fear? Absolutely not.
â
When we yell, what skills are we actually teaching our kids? None.
What we are teaching them instead is to get what you want, you need to instill fear in the other personâs eyes. Learning this can eventually lead our kids to value fighting and anger to get what they want and can lead to depression and anxiety in our kids.
Another reason why yelling doesnât work is when a toddler hears a parent screaming in long, angry systems, their brain starts to become dysregulated and they canât make sense of what Mom or Dad is saying. They are too young to process what is going on and they are overwhelmed by emotion. That and their lack of impulse control is why they are back to doing the same thing we asked them not to.
Finally, when we constantly yell, we are equating love to fear. For our kids, if they simultaneously fear and love their parents, they might search for that in a partner. And do we want them to marry someone they also fear? Absolutely not.
â
âWhy Do We Yell? â
But why do we, as parents, still yell even if we know it doesnât work and we feel guilty about it later?
For some, itâs because thatâs what our parents did, and we donât know any better.
For others, parenting is exhausting. At the end of the day, when we want something to stop, we just use what works right there and now and that could be yelling.
We donât have a well-stocked toolkit and guide that teaches us what to do instead. Parents arenât given a class on how to not yell at their kids. If they want to do that, they have to a.) Already know that yelling doesnât work and b.) Seek out research themselves. No one at the hospital tells them this stuff.
Letâs stop blaming parents for the lack of information and resources involving parenthood.
When we are in a tense situation where our brains are overwhelmed from the day, our kids are melting down and overwhelmed themselves too, itâs hard to think.
So we yellâ¦
And the cycle repeats itself.
â
For some, itâs because thatâs what our parents did, and we donât know any better.
For others, parenting is exhausting. At the end of the day, when we want something to stop, we just use what works right there and now and that could be yelling.
We donât have a well-stocked toolkit and guide that teaches us what to do instead. Parents arenât given a class on how to not yell at their kids. If they want to do that, they have to a.) Already know that yelling doesnât work and b.) Seek out research themselves. No one at the hospital tells them this stuff.
Letâs stop blaming parents for the lack of information and resources involving parenthood.
When we are in a tense situation where our brains are overwhelmed from the day, our kids are melting down and overwhelmed themselves too, itâs hard to think.
So we yellâ¦
And the cycle repeats itself.
â
What to Do Instead? â
So what do we do instead of always falling back on yelling and punishments?
We need to have research-based and proven strategies that work in our toolkit. We need to teach kids skills for what to do when they get angry and want to throw or how to handle feelings of frustration and being told no.
Because, sure, we can provide consequences and yell all we want, but donât we want to teach our kids not to do the things they are doing that require yelling and consequences?
I call these Green Light Strategies. These are strategies that are setting our kids up for success, helping them build the skills to handle emotions, and shifting our parenting from playing defense to playing offense. Green Light Strategies will actually save you time.
I have 70+ of these strategies in my toolkit that I can pull out at any time for all types of hard parenting situations.
â
We need to have research-based and proven strategies that work in our toolkit. We need to teach kids skills for what to do when they get angry and want to throw or how to handle feelings of frustration and being told no.
Because, sure, we can provide consequences and yell all we want, but donât we want to teach our kids not to do the things they are doing that require yelling and consequences?
I call these Green Light Strategies. These are strategies that are setting our kids up for success, helping them build the skills to handle emotions, and shifting our parenting from playing defense to playing offense. Green Light Strategies will actually save you time.
I have 70+ of these strategies in my toolkit that I can pull out at any time for all types of hard parenting situations.
â
How to Use the Printable Checklists Framework?
â
But how do I remember all of them? I use the Printable Checklist Framework. That is choosing from a list of strategies that have been proven to work and then applying them to your family.
Through trial and error, consistency, and repetition, you test these strategies out for a couple of weeks. If they work, you write them down on a checklist, print out the checklist, and put the checklist in an accessible location.
When you have a hard parenting moment, you then reference the list and run down the checklist until something works:
The Printable Checklist Framework works because it makes you feel confident and calm that you have a whole list of strategies right in front of you that work!
You are no longer searching the depths of your brain to figure out what to do, only to cave and resort to yelling because you become so frazzled.
Instead, you have a checklist of protocols like any confident person in their profession (pilots, nurses, teachers, doctors).
â
Through trial and error, consistency, and repetition, you test these strategies out for a couple of weeks. If they work, you write them down on a checklist, print out the checklist, and put the checklist in an accessible location.
When you have a hard parenting moment, you then reference the list and run down the checklist until something works:
- You child wonât eat.
- Your child hits or throws.
- Your child always says no.
- Your child throws a tantrum.
- Your child wonât go to bed.
- Your child is scared/anxious.
- Your child wonât play independently
The Printable Checklist Framework works because it makes you feel confident and calm that you have a whole list of strategies right in front of you that work!
You are no longer searching the depths of your brain to figure out what to do, only to cave and resort to yelling because you become so frazzled.
Instead, you have a checklist of protocols like any confident person in their profession (pilots, nurses, teachers, doctors).
â
What is Now What?
But you might be asking what are these strategies and how do I find them? You can spend hours searching Instagram or reading blogs and listening to podcasts, but I have a guide that has them all in one place.
Introducing Now What? Mindful Checklists for Lifeâs Hard Parenting Moments.
There are 10 Modules. Each module has a variety of strategies with descriptions, videos, scripts, deep dives, and action steps covering all parenting moments that have left you wondering Now What?
You are ready to have strategies in your toolkit that you can access anytime when you are struggling to think of what to do next when you have a hard parenting moment:
*Module 1: My Child Wonât Listen (Greenlight Behavior). Now What?
*Module 2: My Child Is Whining (Yellow Light Behavior). Now What?
*Module 3: My Child is Hitting, Kicking, Biting, Throwing (Redlight Behavior). Now What?
*Module 4: My Child Wonât Go to Bed. Now What?
*Module 5: My Child is in the Middle of a Tantrum. Now What?
*Module 6: My Child Wonât Eat. Now What?
*Module 7: My Child is Scared/Anxious. Now What?
*Module 8: My Child Prefers One Parent. Now What?
*Module 9: My Child Gives Up Easily. Now What?
*Module 10: My Child Wonât Play Independently. Now What?
*Bonus Module: Some Thoughts on Screen Time
Youâll be able to implement the Printable Checklist Framework and be on your way to never yelling again (letâs be real, weâre human. It will never be 100% never yelling).
â
Introducing Now What? Mindful Checklists for Lifeâs Hard Parenting Moments.
There are 10 Modules. Each module has a variety of strategies with descriptions, videos, scripts, deep dives, and action steps covering all parenting moments that have left you wondering Now What?
You are ready to have strategies in your toolkit that you can access anytime when you are struggling to think of what to do next when you have a hard parenting moment:
*Module 1: My Child Wonât Listen (Greenlight Behavior). Now What?
*Module 2: My Child Is Whining (Yellow Light Behavior). Now What?
*Module 3: My Child is Hitting, Kicking, Biting, Throwing (Redlight Behavior). Now What?
*Module 4: My Child Wonât Go to Bed. Now What?
*Module 5: My Child is in the Middle of a Tantrum. Now What?
*Module 6: My Child Wonât Eat. Now What?
*Module 7: My Child is Scared/Anxious. Now What?
*Module 8: My Child Prefers One Parent. Now What?
*Module 9: My Child Gives Up Easily. Now What?
*Module 10: My Child Wonât Play Independently. Now What?
*Bonus Module: Some Thoughts on Screen Time
Youâll be able to implement the Printable Checklist Framework and be on your way to never yelling again (letâs be real, weâre human. It will never be 100% never yelling).
â
You deserve to have the tools to help you reduce yelling at your kids. You deserve to have a system that helps you stay calm and confident. You deserve to get back your time and energy. Print away!
â
Lauren Barrett is a multi-passionate mom working to help all parents become their best selves and build positive relationships with their kids through mindful parenting. She has a degree in deaf education and a Masterâs in Reading Education. She is a high school teacher of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing by day, a cross country coach by the afternoon, a writer/author by her son's nap times, and a full time mom to an amazing toddler. Lauren is a 3x author of the Add One-A-Day 30 Day Challenge, children's book, Henry's Hiccups, and parenting guide Now What? Mindful Checklists for Life's Hard Parenting Moments, a blogger at Lauren Barrett Writes, and has been published on sites like A Fine Parent, Pregnant Chicken, Pop Sugar, Her View From Home, and Scary Mommy. She loves her faith, running, visiting MLB stadiums with her husband, chocolate, scrapbooking, pretending she would actually do well on the Amazing Race, re-watching The Office, listening to Bobby Bones, and helping out all moms. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, James, and son, Henry. Follow her on Instagram at @laurenbarrettwrites, and get her free guide on what to do during the middle of a tantrum.
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Are you a new mom runner who wants to give running a stab? You have the cutest Hoka shoes. You purchased a matching running top and bottom? You bought a brand new running watch. You are all ready to go. There’s just one problem…
What do you do with your kid?
How do you get a nice, solid run in while having a kid in tow who doesn’t scream and dispute your steady flow?
As a mom who has been running with her son for over three years, I have quite a bit of experience with how to run with a kid. I’ve developed some foolproof ways to get kids to enjoy going on a run with you.
After doing your best to prepare your kid for the run ahead, I have 5 ways newbie mom runners can take their kids along for a run.
But first…
The Best Jogging Strollers…
Lauren Barrett Writes is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about these links in my disclosure policy.
# 1 Scavenger Hunt
To get my son excited about the run ahead, I implement a scavenger hunt. I’ll say something like this ahead of time…
“Ohh, I’m excited. We are going on a run. You’re going to be in a stroller. What are we going to find on our run? Can you think of some things?”
Then, we will rattle off all the things we might see…
I’m all about simplicity, so this is all I do, but if you want to get fancy, you can print off or doodle a list with pictures of all the things your kids can find. Then, they can check them off as they find them on the run.
While I’m running, I’ll check in from time to time to see what my son has found. I make sure I exhibit exuberance and toll out praise [link] for each item he finds to keep him interested and engaged.
“Ohhh! You found a mailbox. That’s so cool! Way to go.”
Kids love to feel important and that they have a job. Doing a scavenger hunt makes them feel like a vital member of your run.
“Ohh, I’m excited. We are going on a run. You’re going to be in a stroller. What are we going to find on our run? Can you think of some things?”
Then, we will rattle off all the things we might see…
- Mailboxes
- Dogs
- Birds
- Flowers
- Airplanes
I’m all about simplicity, so this is all I do, but if you want to get fancy, you can print off or doodle a list with pictures of all the things your kids can find. Then, they can check them off as they find them on the run.
While I’m running, I’ll check in from time to time to see what my son has found. I make sure I exhibit exuberance and toll out praise [link] for each item he finds to keep him interested and engaged.
“Ohhh! You found a mailbox. That’s so cool! Way to go.”
Kids love to feel important and that they have a job. Doing a scavenger hunt makes them feel like a vital member of your run.
# 2 End at Playground
I like to start and end a lot of my runs at playgrounds. It gives my child an incentive to complete the run with me.
I use First/Then statements to set up the playground.
“First, we will run. Then, we will go to the playground.”
I keep reminding my son about the playground during the run to get him excited. “Ohh, I just remembered that after the run we will then go to the playground. I’m so excited!”
You don’t always have to end at the playground. My son loves creek play, so we run on a lot of trails that afterwards lead to time playing in the dirt, sand, or water.
I use First/Then statements to set up the playground.
“First, we will run. Then, we will go to the playground.”
I keep reminding my son about the playground during the run to get him excited. “Ohh, I just remembered that after the run we will then go to the playground. I’m so excited!”
You don’t always have to end at the playground. My son loves creek play, so we run on a lot of trails that afterwards lead to time playing in the dirt, sand, or water.
# 3 Have Some Toys in the Stroller
Set your child up for success with a little grab bag of toys. My son likes to take his toy cars for rides.
But colorful doodling tablets, aqua doodles, and any other doodle type thing makes for a great toy to have along for the ride.
A quick note about giving kids screens while in a stroller, I’m a big proponent that a kid needs to learn to be bored and not entertained 24/7. Time in the stroller is a good way for them to learn about the world around them instead of being distracted.
BUT….
If screens keep your kid quiet and help you get in your run, and your run makes you a better person and mom then by all means USE.THE.SCREENS.GUILTFREE. It won’t ruin them.
Looking to wean your kids from screens, start here
But colorful doodling tablets, aqua doodles, and any other doodle type thing makes for a great toy to have along for the ride.
A quick note about giving kids screens while in a stroller, I’m a big proponent that a kid needs to learn to be bored and not entertained 24/7. Time in the stroller is a good way for them to learn about the world around them instead of being distracted.
BUT….
If screens keep your kid quiet and help you get in your run, and your run makes you a better person and mom then by all means USE.THE.SCREENS.GUILTFREE. It won’t ruin them.
Looking to wean your kids from screens, start here
# 4 Take a Bike Along
Not a fast runner or a long distance runner? Take a bike along with you and go to a flat trail. Run while your kid bikes. I’ve done this before.
I’ll run a teeny bit ahead of him, turn around to meet him again, and repeat.
This doesn’t work if you want to go more than 2-3 miles. Your child, especially a younger one, will wear out. But, I have done this practice, and it does work.
I’ll run a teeny bit ahead of him, turn around to meet him again, and repeat.
This doesn’t work if you want to go more than 2-3 miles. Your child, especially a younger one, will wear out. But, I have done this practice, and it does work.
# 5 Give a Choice
It’s easy to want to bribe your child into getting into the stroller, but I advise against this. You can read why here.
Beth of Days With Grey offers this advice on her Instagram.
Beth says this, which I love, “Do what you enjoy with your kids by your side. It may look different, but we can make it work by giving choices.”
Beth of Days With Grey offers this advice on her Instagram.
- Stick with your plan → you are going to go on your run.
- Validate your kid’s feelings if they don’t want to go with you. → “I understand you don’t want to run right now, but this is important to me.”
- Offer your kid a choice with something that is a yes for you and win for him. → “Grab a lollipop or your chips, and I’ll meet you in the garage to hop in the stroller.”
Beth says this, which I love, “Do what you enjoy with your kids by your side. It may look different, but we can make it work by giving choices.”
Running (or exercising) will look different with your kids, but it doesn’t have to be impossible. We just need to adapt and be a little bit flexible.
And as always, go back to your greenlight strategies to get your kids more likely to agree (or at least not whine so much) about going for a run with you.
Learn how to implement these strategies with my parenting guide Now What? Mindful Checklists for Life’s Hard Parenting Moments. Try it for free here.
And as always, go back to your greenlight strategies to get your kids more likely to agree (or at least not whine so much) about going for a run with you.
Learn how to implement these strategies with my parenting guide Now What? Mindful Checklists for Life’s Hard Parenting Moments. Try it for free here.
Lauren Barrett is a multi-passionate mom working to help all parents become their best selves and build positive relationships with their kids through mindful parenting. She has a degree in deaf education and a Master’s in Reading Education. She is a high school teacher of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing by day, a cross country coach by the afternoon, a writer/author by her son's nap times, and a full time mom to an amazing toddler. Lauren is a 3x author of the Add One-A-Day 30 Day Challenge, children's book, Henry's Hiccups, and parenting guide Now What? Mindful Checklists for Life's Hard Parenting Moments, a blogger at Lauren Barrett Writes, and has been published on sites like A Fine Parent, Pregnant Chicken, Pop Sugar, Her View From Home, and Scary Mommy. She loves her faith, running, visiting MLB stadiums with her husband, chocolate, scrapbooking, pretending she would actually do well on the Amazing Race, re-watching The Office, listening to Bobby Bones, and helping out all moms. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, James, and son, Henry. Follow her on Instagram at @laurenbarrettwrites, and get her free guide on what to do during the middle of a tantrum.
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Were you a runner before you had kids? Or maybe you are a new mom looking to get into running?
Either one you are in the right place.
As a competitive runner before I had kids, it was shocking how much running changed for me once I had my son and became a mom for the first time.
I had to let go of the idea that running was going to look the same as it once did, at least for this season of my life.
But, I also knew that running is important to me. It grounds me. It’s my stress reliever. It’s my free therapy. It’s my time to think and decompress. It’s my exercise. Running makes me a better mom and an overall better human.
So, with all that being true, I knew that I had to continue running. For the sake of my physical and mental health.
But, how do you get started with running as a new mom when life looks so much different now?
I have 8 tips to help you out.
Either one you are in the right place.
As a competitive runner before I had kids, it was shocking how much running changed for me once I had my son and became a mom for the first time.
I had to let go of the idea that running was going to look the same as it once did, at least for this season of my life.
But, I also knew that running is important to me. It grounds me. It’s my stress reliever. It’s my free therapy. It’s my time to think and decompress. It’s my exercise. Running makes me a better mom and an overall better human.
So, with all that being true, I knew that I had to continue running. For the sake of my physical and mental health.
But, how do you get started with running as a new mom when life looks so much different now?
I have 8 tips to help you out.
1. Just Start
The hardest part to committing to get back into running is the starting process. So I say pick a day to start and just start.
Mark this day on your calendar with a big X. Put it in your planner. Set a reminder on your phone. Tell your family.
And then just make like Nike and just do it.
Mark this day on your calendar with a big X. Put it in your planner. Set a reminder on your phone. Tell your family.
And then just make like Nike and just do it.
2. Start Small
But start small. If you try to go out and run the same amount of time and distance that you used to, you’ll get burnt out and are more likely to fail.
When I say start small, I literally mean start small. Like go out and run for 1 minute. That’s it. You’ll be able to cross it off. You’ll be able to say that you did it and accomplished something.
Anyone can run for a minute. This small win will make you more likely to go out and do it again because you know that you can.
So, the next day go out and do 2 minutes. The next day, 3 minutes and so on. Just adding one minute more a day won’t seem so daunting.
Also, don’t run every day. It will be too much at first. I recommend 3-4 times a week. Even now, I only do 5 days a week.
You did it!
When I say start small, I literally mean start small. Like go out and run for 1 minute. That’s it. You’ll be able to cross it off. You’ll be able to say that you did it and accomplished something.
Anyone can run for a minute. This small win will make you more likely to go out and do it again because you know that you can.
So, the next day go out and do 2 minutes. The next day, 3 minutes and so on. Just adding one minute more a day won’t seem so daunting.
Also, don’t run every day. It will be too much at first. I recommend 3-4 times a week. Even now, I only do 5 days a week.
You did it!
3. Make Running Routine
Try to run at the same time each day, so your kids and family know what to expect - whether you’re running with them in a stroller, leaving them behind with a spouse, or having them tag along with you on a bike.
A routine will also help you. If you mark it on your calendar everyday and schedule things around it since running will be a non negotiable and rigid, you’ll be more likely to get it done.
A routine will also help you. If you mark it on your calendar everyday and schedule things around it since running will be a non negotiable and rigid, you’ll be more likely to get it done.
4. Stretch
You may be wondering how stretching will help you get started running, but it will. Here’s why…if you stretch after you run, you won’t be so sore the next day. If you aren’t so sore the next day, you will want to run again.
So stretch before and after. Trust me. Your body will thank you.
So stretch before and after. Trust me. Your body will thank you.
5. Have a Script
Talk to your kids about how you are going on a run beforehand. Be upfront and honest with them, especially if they are at the toddler age, but even when they are still babies to help them understand from a young age and to get yourself in the habit of feeling good about going on a run.
“Running is very good for my mind. It helps me be calmer, not yell, and think better. It’s kind of how you feel better after watching your favorite show or playing your favorite game.”
Stick to the script and then just go.
“Running is very good for my mind. It helps me be calmer, not yell, and think better. It’s kind of how you feel better after watching your favorite show or playing your favorite game.”
Stick to the script and then just go.
6. Just Leave
In the same vein as our tip up above, you are going to be honest with why you are going on a run. Then, you are just going to leave. You aren’t going to ask for your children’s permission to go on a run. “Can Mommy go on a run?” N.O.P.E.
If you already set up this run with the family, you’re not going to stick around to placate protests and whines telling you to stay. Or to soothe a baby that might be crying for you (unless he’s hungry and needs you).
You’ve already done your job. Your job is to prepare your kids, show empathy for their feelings, and validate them. Your job is not to fix how they will feel or react to your going on a run.
When you come back, thank your child for playing independently while you did something very important to you.
If you already set up this run with the family, you’re not going to stick around to placate protests and whines telling you to stay. Or to soothe a baby that might be crying for you (unless he’s hungry and needs you).
You’ve already done your job. Your job is to prepare your kids, show empathy for their feelings, and validate them. Your job is not to fix how they will feel or react to your going on a run.
When you come back, thank your child for playing independently while you did something very important to you.
7. Tell Them a Story
Kids like stories. They can relate to them. Tell a story about a Mommy who went on a run and then had all these magical powers because she went. She could play so much. She laughed a lot. She had SO MUCH energy. She was unstoppable.
8. Try Fair Play
Having trouble finding time to go on a run? Try Fair Play. Fair Play is a system that helps partners with kids divide up the household responsibilities in a way that is fair. It allows space for each partner to find time to engage in self-care and exercise.
Everyone in the relationship deserves and needs this card. Work with your partner to carve out your times.
Everyone in the relationship deserves and needs this card. Work with your partner to carve out your times.
With these tips, you, new mom runners, can get started on your running journey. Pretty soon you’ll be running (and drinking) at all the brewery run clubs in your area and making all kinds of running friends.
Who knows you may even sign up for a race!
Want more actionable tips to deal with life’s hard parenting moments? Try Now What? Mindful Checklists for Life’s Hard Parenting Moments.
Try before you buy for free today.
Who knows you may even sign up for a race!
Want more actionable tips to deal with life’s hard parenting moments? Try Now What? Mindful Checklists for Life’s Hard Parenting Moments.
Try before you buy for free today.
Lauren Barrett is a multi-passionate mom working to help all parents become their best selves and build positive relationships with their kids through mindful parenting. She has a degree in deaf education and a Master’s in Reading Education. She is a high school teacher of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing by day, a cross country coach by the afternoon, a writer/author by her son's nap times, and a full time mom to an amazing toddler. Lauren is a 3x author of the Add One-A-Day 30 Day Challenge, children's book, Henry's Hiccups, and parenting guide Now What? Mindful Checklists for Life's Hard Parenting Moments, a blogger at Lauren Barrett Writes, and has been published on sites like A Fine Parent, Pregnant Chicken, Pop Sugar, Her View From Home, and Scary Mommy. She loves her faith, running, visiting MLB stadiums with her husband, chocolate, scrapbooking, pretending she would actually do well on the Amazing Race, re-watching The Office, listening to Bobby Bones, and helping out all moms. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, James, and son, Henry. Follow her on Instagram at @laurenbarrettwrites, and get her free guide on what to do during the middle of a tantrum.
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Exciting news! I wrote, copyrighted and published a parenting guide, Now What? Mindful Checklists for Life's Hard Parenting Moments, and it is available.
This is my latest passion project that I’ve been working on for almost a year.
What is Now What?
- A 180 page PDF parenting guide to life’s hard moments with your kids.
- Helps you build a checklist of what strategies work for you and your family, so you can access them anytime.
- Now What? recognizes that every kid is different and not every strategy works all the time.
- Here's a sneak peak of what you will find in Now What? Mindful Checklists for Life's Hard Parenting Moments
*Module 1: My Child Won’t Listen (Greenlight Behavior). Now What?
*Module 2: My Child Is Whining (Yellow Light Behavior). Now What?
*Module 3: My Child is Hitting, Kicking, Biting, Throwing (Redlight Behavior). Now What?
*Module 4: My Child Won’t Go to Bed. Now What?
*Module 5: My Child is in the Middle of a Tantrum. Now What?
*Module 6: My Child Won’t Eat. Now What?
*Module 7: My Child is Scared/Anxious. Now What?
*Module 8: My Child Prefers One Parent. Now What?
*Module 9: My Child Gives Up Easily. Now What?
*Module 10: My Child Won’t Play Independently. Now What?
*Bonus Module: Some Thoughts on Screen Time
What Do You Get?
- 10 Modules with strategies
- Videos for each strategy
- Descriptions of each strategy
- Scripts
- Action steps
- Printable Checklists
- Links to expert sources
Who is this for?
Parents, grandparents, caregivers, teachers of kids ages 1-7, but the ideal age is parents with kids ages 1-4 years old.
But I strongly recommend parents with babies ages birth to 1 to get it in order to get a head start.
But I strongly recommend parents with babies ages birth to 1 to get it in order to get a head start.
What is the Price?
$49.99.
Why Did I Create This?
I remember when I first had Henry, and it was sometimes hard to remember what to do when emotions were high.
So I wrote down the strategies that worked and the next time I had a similar moment, I would run down the list until I found what worked.
That’s what I want for you!
- Crying
- Overwhelmed
- Frustrated
- Loud noises
- Lack of sleep
So I wrote down the strategies that worked and the next time I had a similar moment, I would run down the list until I found what worked.
That’s what I want for you!
- To choose from 70+ strategies in an user friendly PDF guide
- Test and try what works
- Write it down and print it out
- Access it anytime that you have a hard moment.
FAQs
1. I'm pretty busy. Will I have time to do this course?
Of course! I've designed this handbook for busy parents in mind because I'm a busy mom myself. You can take each module at a time. The strategies are short. The videos are short. Use the strategy for a few days. If it works, write it down. Bam you're on your way to success. Also remember these strategies will actually save you time.
2. What if not all the strategies work?
They won't! And that's not because you're doing anything wrong. All kids are different. All moms are different. All families are different. Not every strategy will work 100% of the time. THE PURPOSE IS TO MAKE A CHECKLIST OF WHAT WORKS FOR YOU BY CHOOSING FROM OVER THE 70 STRATEGIES I OFFER. Some of the strategies in the modules I have used and now I don't. Some of the strategies I have used, stopped using, and now use again. Some of the strategies I have used consistently. Try them out, give them a chance, and if they don't work, don't add them to your list. Maybe you can revisit them later. Maybe you won't.
3. Okay, but how much time will I have to actually spend doing the course?
The course is self-paced, with about 30 minutes worth of content per module So, I’d say, schedule about 3-4 max. A small price to pay to build save you time in the long run and to build confident, calm families.
4. What ages is this for?
Ages 1-7. BUT I highly recommend buying even if you have a kid under 1, so you can be prepared. And hey, some of these strategies even work for tweens and teens.
5. Why should I be a member of the Insider's Scoop?
You get weekly emails that explore aspects of parenting. You can ask questions. You'll be part of a small community and won't get lost in the shuffle.
Of course! I've designed this handbook for busy parents in mind because I'm a busy mom myself. You can take each module at a time. The strategies are short. The videos are short. Use the strategy for a few days. If it works, write it down. Bam you're on your way to success. Also remember these strategies will actually save you time.
2. What if not all the strategies work?
They won't! And that's not because you're doing anything wrong. All kids are different. All moms are different. All families are different. Not every strategy will work 100% of the time. THE PURPOSE IS TO MAKE A CHECKLIST OF WHAT WORKS FOR YOU BY CHOOSING FROM OVER THE 70 STRATEGIES I OFFER. Some of the strategies in the modules I have used and now I don't. Some of the strategies I have used, stopped using, and now use again. Some of the strategies I have used consistently. Try them out, give them a chance, and if they don't work, don't add them to your list. Maybe you can revisit them later. Maybe you won't.
3. Okay, but how much time will I have to actually spend doing the course?
The course is self-paced, with about 30 minutes worth of content per module So, I’d say, schedule about 3-4 max. A small price to pay to build save you time in the long run and to build confident, calm families.
4. What ages is this for?
Ages 1-7. BUT I highly recommend buying even if you have a kid under 1, so you can be prepared. And hey, some of these strategies even work for tweens and teens.
5. Why should I be a member of the Insider's Scoop?
You get weekly emails that explore aspects of parenting. You can ask questions. You'll be part of a small community and won't get lost in the shuffle.
Testimonials
Here are what other parents and teachers are saying about Now What? Parenting Guide:
"Module 4- the Sleep module I learned the most from- I feel the strategies in this module were on point and give guidance on what the parent needs to do to set up a successful sleep environment. It did not focus on what the child needs to do. Because we can't control a child's behavior, only our own. so the focus needs to be on what WE can do rather than on how we can control others."
"I really learned a lot from the module discussing green light choice. As a mom and a teacher these strategies would be used several times throughout the day!"
" From toddlers to lower elementary students would gain a lot from this guide."
"Early childhood centers and elementary teachers would benefit from this guide."
"As an early childhood provider I found this course informative and useful. I would recommend this course to my colleagues as well as fellow parents."
"The guide was so easy to follow."
"I actually enjoyed all of the modules and gained valuable information."
"The Checklist format was useful, and focusing on the idea that some will work for your child and some won't, so choose those you want to use, and try them for two weeks. Also the idea of having it written down somewhere to help in the moment they are needed is great."
"Module 4- the Sleep module I learned the most from- I feel the strategies in this module were on point and give guidance on what the parent needs to do to set up a successful sleep environment. It did not focus on what the child needs to do. Because we can't control a child's behavior, only our own. so the focus needs to be on what WE can do rather than on how we can control others."
"I really learned a lot from the module discussing green light choice. As a mom and a teacher these strategies would be used several times throughout the day!"
" From toddlers to lower elementary students would gain a lot from this guide."
"Early childhood centers and elementary teachers would benefit from this guide."
"As an early childhood provider I found this course informative and useful. I would recommend this course to my colleagues as well as fellow parents."
"The guide was so easy to follow."
"I actually enjoyed all of the modules and gained valuable information."
"The Checklist format was useful, and focusing on the idea that some will work for your child and some won't, so choose those you want to use, and try them for two weeks. Also the idea of having it written down somewhere to help in the moment they are needed is great."
Try for Free First
Lauren Barrett is a multi-passionate mom working to help all parents become their best selves and build positive relationships with their kids through mindful parenting. She has a degree in deaf education and a Master’s in Reading Education. She is a high school teacher of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing by day, a cross country coach by the afternoon, a writer/author by her son's nap times, and a full time mom to an amazing toddler. Lauren is a 3x author of the Add One-A-Day 30 Day Challenge, children's book, Henry's Hiccups, and parenting guide Now What? Mindful Checklists for Life's Hard Parenting Moments, a blogger at Lauren Barrett Writes, and has been published on sites like A Fine Parent, Pregnant Chicken, Pop Sugar, Her View From Home, and Scary Mommy. She loves her faith, running, visiting MLB stadiums with her husband, chocolate, scrapbooking, pretending she would actually do well on the Amazing Race, re-watching The Office, listening to Bobby Bones, and helping out all moms. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, James, and son, Henry. Follow her on Instagram at @Lauren Barrett, and get her free guide on what to do during the middle of a tantrum.
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I was pleasantly surprised with Minneapolis in the state of 10,000 lakes. Minneapolis sure did have a lot of lakes itself.
I tagged along for my husband's on-sight work trip to Minneapolis from a Monday to a Thursday. While most of his days were full of meetings and networking with his coworkers, I had ample time to take full advantage of the city and explore on my own. Here's what I did and what I liked...
I tagged along for my husband's on-sight work trip to Minneapolis from a Monday to a Thursday. While most of his days were full of meetings and networking with his coworkers, I had ample time to take full advantage of the city and explore on my own. Here's what I did and what I liked...
The Logistics
- We flew from RDU Airport to MSP Airport and arrived to Minneapolis around 1:00 local time.
- We took a quick 15 minute Uber to The Marquette Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton located in the heart of downtown.
- We stayed in Minneapolis for 3 nights and roughly 4 days
Day 1
After checking into the hotel and unpacking, we ventured into the indoor shopping plaza with an outdoor feel located attached to our hotel for some lunch.
Lunch was Sotti, a Mediterranean style fast-food restaurant and it was delicious for being fast foodish.
We spent the remaining hours before dinner relaxing and getting ready.
A shuttle picked us up around 6:00 to take us to Birch's on the Lake, a gastropub and brewery specializing in seafood and New American fare, located just right out of the city on Long Lake.
Dinner here was really the highlight of the day. My husband's company had arranged for an all-inclusive, already paid for four course meal with an open bar.
Appetizers and drinks started the cocktail hour portion of the night and then we were led into the dining area for a seated family style meal of salads, fried chicken, ribs, risotti, mashed potatoes, and an option of cheesecake or chocolate cake for dessert. After dinner, we drank some more on the patio outside and watched the sun set over the lake.
Dinner at Birch's was really quite the event and highly recommend putting this restaurant on your list of places to dine in Minneapolis.
I went to bed as soon as I arrived back to the hotel, for I was really stuffed.
Lunch was Sotti, a Mediterranean style fast-food restaurant and it was delicious for being fast foodish.
We spent the remaining hours before dinner relaxing and getting ready.
A shuttle picked us up around 6:00 to take us to Birch's on the Lake, a gastropub and brewery specializing in seafood and New American fare, located just right out of the city on Long Lake.
Dinner here was really the highlight of the day. My husband's company had arranged for an all-inclusive, already paid for four course meal with an open bar.
Appetizers and drinks started the cocktail hour portion of the night and then we were led into the dining area for a seated family style meal of salads, fried chicken, ribs, risotti, mashed potatoes, and an option of cheesecake or chocolate cake for dessert. After dinner, we drank some more on the patio outside and watched the sun set over the lake.
Dinner at Birch's was really quite the event and highly recommend putting this restaurant on your list of places to dine in Minneapolis.
I went to bed as soon as I arrived back to the hotel, for I was really stuffed.
Day 2
I woke up early to make the most of my day entirely alone and up to my discretion.
Breakfast was at People's Organic, located in the attached mall. I got the steel cut oats, and it was all right.
After a quick trip to Target to get some supplies for the day, I headed a few blocks away to catch the metro.
*A quick note about the metro. It was pretty easy to navigate. I purchased a ticket for $2 to be able to ride unlimitedly for two hours, but I never had to show my ticket. On the way to my destination, there were no problems. On the way back, I felt uncomfortable, not necessarily unsafe per say, but highly uncomfortable. A lot of what I assume were homeless or drug addicts were onboard with some questionable behavior, including one guy leering at me. Being the only woman onboard, I was ready to get off. But overall, the metro is a cheap and easy way to get around.*
I took the metro to Minnehaha Park. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. I took a walk to Minnehaha Falls, rented a quad bike from Wheel Fun Rentals and rode it around the park for an hour, and finally ended my time at the park by eating lunch hand drinking a beer at Sea Salt Eatery, located inside the park.
After a quick pitstop back to the hotel, I changed into my bathing suit and headed by Uber to Lake Harriet where I ordered ice cream from Pickles and sunbathed on one of the lake's two beaches.
My last adventure for the day was dinner and beer at Pryes Brewing Company located near the Mississippi River in the Warehouse District. I ordered the Riverside beer and the goat cheese pizza, both which were delicious and refreshing.
After a jammed packed day, which I mostly spent entirely alone, I went to bed early.
Breakfast was at People's Organic, located in the attached mall. I got the steel cut oats, and it was all right.
After a quick trip to Target to get some supplies for the day, I headed a few blocks away to catch the metro.
*A quick note about the metro. It was pretty easy to navigate. I purchased a ticket for $2 to be able to ride unlimitedly for two hours, but I never had to show my ticket. On the way to my destination, there were no problems. On the way back, I felt uncomfortable, not necessarily unsafe per say, but highly uncomfortable. A lot of what I assume were homeless or drug addicts were onboard with some questionable behavior, including one guy leering at me. Being the only woman onboard, I was ready to get off. But overall, the metro is a cheap and easy way to get around.*
I took the metro to Minnehaha Park. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. I took a walk to Minnehaha Falls, rented a quad bike from Wheel Fun Rentals and rode it around the park for an hour, and finally ended my time at the park by eating lunch hand drinking a beer at Sea Salt Eatery, located inside the park.
After a quick pitstop back to the hotel, I changed into my bathing suit and headed by Uber to Lake Harriet where I ordered ice cream from Pickles and sunbathed on one of the lake's two beaches.
My last adventure for the day was dinner and beer at Pryes Brewing Company located near the Mississippi River in the Warehouse District. I ordered the Riverside beer and the goat cheese pizza, both which were delicious and refreshing.
After a jammed packed day, which I mostly spent entirely alone, I went to bed early.
Day 3
I woke early again to do a run near the Mississippi River by Mill Ruins Park and across the Stone Arch Bridge. I had an avocado, egg, and tomato toast for breakfast at Dunn Brothers Coffee.
Afterwards, I rented a bike from Nice Ride. Nice Rides are located all throughout the city. All you do is download the app, scan the barcode on the bike, grab and go, and return to any location throughout town. I rode the bike all along the path by the river and it was a really enjoyable ride. I had the bike for about an hour, and the entire trip cost me $8.25.
I had a quick shower and then wandered down to Target Field for a Twins day game at 12:10. James was able to meet me at 1, and we had another MLB ballfield down. I had delicious street tacos for lunch at the ballpark. The game was pretty uneventful, but we liked the stadium.
After the game, James had more work events to attend to, so I made my way to Caribou Coffee to read and have a few snacks.
For dinner that night, plus ones were able to attend dinner. We had an outside dinner at Owamni by the Sioux Chef, a restaurant specializing in Indigenous cuisine. The restaurant was located near where I ran and biked earlier in the day and featured views of the river. The food was beyond good. Again, we had an open bar and a multi-course meal of bison meatballs, gazpacho soup, and some type of potato and trout dishes. 5 stars for me.
We hung out by the hotel bar afterwards and then called it a night.
Afterwards, I rented a bike from Nice Ride. Nice Rides are located all throughout the city. All you do is download the app, scan the barcode on the bike, grab and go, and return to any location throughout town. I rode the bike all along the path by the river and it was a really enjoyable ride. I had the bike for about an hour, and the entire trip cost me $8.25.
I had a quick shower and then wandered down to Target Field for a Twins day game at 12:10. James was able to meet me at 1, and we had another MLB ballfield down. I had delicious street tacos for lunch at the ballpark. The game was pretty uneventful, but we liked the stadium.
After the game, James had more work events to attend to, so I made my way to Caribou Coffee to read and have a few snacks.
For dinner that night, plus ones were able to attend dinner. We had an outside dinner at Owamni by the Sioux Chef, a restaurant specializing in Indigenous cuisine. The restaurant was located near where I ran and biked earlier in the day and featured views of the river. The food was beyond good. Again, we had an open bar and a multi-course meal of bison meatballs, gazpacho soup, and some type of potato and trout dishes. 5 stars for me.
We hung out by the hotel bar afterwards and then called it a night.
Day 4
We were technically checking at 11, but we had the whole day until our flight. I started out with an early run and then a bagel breakfast at People's Organic again.
We showered, packed up our luggage and Ubered to the Mall of America in Bloomington, near the airport. If you aren't into shopping, the Mall of America is still a sight to see. There's a whole mini theme park plus an aquarium, comedy club, escape room, Crayola Factory, and many more novelty exhibits and shops. We ended up eating lunch at Crave, and then I got two of the best cookies I've ever had at Baking Betty's. They were goat cheese and jam and a sea salt nutella. You can order online, and I'm thinking of doing that.
We headed to the airport, thus ending our trip to Minneapolis.
We showered, packed up our luggage and Ubered to the Mall of America in Bloomington, near the airport. If you aren't into shopping, the Mall of America is still a sight to see. There's a whole mini theme park plus an aquarium, comedy club, escape room, Crayola Factory, and many more novelty exhibits and shops. We ended up eating lunch at Crave, and then I got two of the best cookies I've ever had at Baking Betty's. They were goat cheese and jam and a sea salt nutella. You can order online, and I'm thinking of doing that.
We headed to the airport, thus ending our trip to Minneapolis.
Overall
I really enjoyed Minneapolis. The city is easy to get around, whether you are taking public transportation, renting a bike, or walking. The weather was pretty nice in the summer. The food was good. And there was plenty to do.
If I had more time, I would have visited Lake of the Isles and rented a kayak with Paddle Share, a unique concept of simply reserving a kayak and then grabbing it from a locker. I also would have loved to explore more of northern Minnesota and visited one of its bigger lakes.
Overall, Minneapolis gets an A.
If I had more time, I would have visited Lake of the Isles and rented a kayak with Paddle Share, a unique concept of simply reserving a kayak and then grabbing it from a locker. I also would have loved to explore more of northern Minnesota and visited one of its bigger lakes.
Overall, Minneapolis gets an A.
Lauren Barrett is a multi-passionate mom working to help all parents become their best selves and build positive relationships with their kids through mindful parenting. She has a degree in deaf education and a Master’s in Reading Education. She is a high school teacher of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing by day, a cross country coach by the afternoon, a writer/author by her son's nap times, and a full time mom to an amazing toddler. Lauren is a 2x author of the Add One-A-Day 30 Day Challenge and children's book, Henry's Hiccups, a blogger at Lauren Barrett Writes, and has been published on sites like A Fine Parent, Pregnant Chicken, Pop Sugar, Her View From Home, and Scary Mommy. She loves her faith, running, visiting MLB stadiums with her husband, chocolate, scrapbooking, pretending she would actually do well on the Amazing Race, re-watching The Office, listening to Bobby Bones, and helping out all moms. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, James, and son, Henry. Follow her on Instagram and get her free guide on what to do during the middle of a tantrum. |
Toddler tantrums are inevitable. I have talked about this before.
And there are lot of strategies out there on how to handle tantrums, but did you know that there are different stages to a toddler's tantrum and not every strategy works at every stage?
In today's blog, I'll break down each stage of a toddler tantrum and what you should do at each stage. You'll be on your way to calmly handling any toddler tantrum even when they pitch a fit for wanting to eat with the green plate instead of the red plate even though at first you did give them the green plate, but they said they wanted the red plate.
And there are lot of strategies out there on how to handle tantrums, but did you know that there are different stages to a toddler's tantrum and not every strategy works at every stage?
In today's blog, I'll break down each stage of a toddler tantrum and what you should do at each stage. You'll be on your way to calmly handling any toddler tantrum even when they pitch a fit for wanting to eat with the green plate instead of the red plate even though at first you did give them the green plate, but they said they wanted the red plate.
Stages of a Tantrum
Like any good book, a toddler's tantrum follows the same elements of a plot.
First, we have the BEGINNING or EXPOSITION. This is when the reason for the tantrum is introduced. Now, sometimes the tantrum can end before it even started.
Maybe on this particular day they are able to handle it. Maybe you prepped for this kind of thing, and your toddler takes it in stride. That's great! Although this tantrum would make for a very short and boring story, we are thrilled as parents that a toddler was able to happily and healthily move on.
Second, we have the RISING ACTION. The reason for the tantrum is introduced and now our toddler is starting to process what just happened. There might be some reasoning, begging, whining, pouting, stomping, crying, but it isn't all out, although it is ramping up to be.
Again, a tantrum might be stopped somewhere along the line of the rising action.
But, if it is not, we are lead to the CLIMAX of a toddler's tantrum. This is the point where our toddler's brain is totally dysregulated. They can't think clearly. They can't reason. They might not even be able to form sentences. This is an all out meltdown.
Finally, our toddler is going to start to calm down in the FALLING ACTION. This can take a while depending on the intensity of the climax. Again, in this stage they might try to reason with you or beg you. They, might have also gotten all their emotions out and be completely depleted.
Lastly, they will reach a RESOLUTION where they are back to their normal selves and they are able to move on with life.
So, now that we know the 5 stages of a toddler's tantrum what do we do during each stage.
THE BEGINNING OF A TANTRUM
Some common reasons for a tantrum are the following:
- Hunger
- Holding a boundary
- Something unexpected
- Lack of attention
- Wants something
- Frustration
- Transition
- Tiredness
To help a toddler healthily handle those reasons, I like to use a lot of GREENLIGHT STRATEGIES throughout my day.
While greenlight strategies will never totally reduce the number of tantrums a toddler has, they will help reduce them.
Also, remember this. All kids have tantrums. You are not a bad parent if your toddler is having a tantrum. Tantrums are healthy. They are your toddler's way of saying he needs help and this is an opportunity to help him.
But how do we help?
THE RISING ACTION
During the very beginning of the rising action, you want to CALM YOURSELF FIRST. If you aren't calm, you aren't in control. Your toddler is. And toddler's do not like it when they are in control. They really don't.
The second thing to do is HOLD BOUNDARIES. If boundaries aren't held, the tantrum is over and your toddler realizes he can cry harder and longer to get what he wants for next time.
Third, you are going to VALIDATE FEELINGS, VALIDATE THE MAGNITUDE OF THOSE FEELINGS, and use the magic phrase "YOU DIDN'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN."
If the tantrum is still ramping up, you can try strategies such as MAGIC BREATHS - where you both model how to breath and help your toddler take deep breaths. You can use SIGN LANGUAGE to help your toddler calm down. You can also become a BROADCASTER.
Hopefully, those strategies work, but if not, you've reached the CLIMAX.
THE CLIMAX
Dun, dun, dun. You've reached the CLIMAX. Sit back and enjoy with some popcorn because one of the best strategies is to LET IT RIDE.
The CLIMAX isn't the time for trying to ask questions or reasoning or lecturing. Nothing is totally computing and making sense in your toddler's brain.
The best thing to do is just be there. Reassure your toddlers that they are safe, you are here for them, you love them. Nothing is worse for them than feeling like Mommy and Daddy can't handle their emotions.
If my son lets me, I hold him during this time. I MODEL DEEP BREATHS - I don't ask him to though. I might continue using SIGN LANGUAGE or BECOMING A BROADCASTER. But mostly, I just hold and rock him and repeat my own mantra if I'm having a hard time with the tantrum.
I wish you the best and remember your toddler isn't doing this to be bad.
THE FALLING ACTION
Much like in the RISING ACTION, we are going to apply the same strategies but work a little backward. I really like to do some REDIRECTION or CONNECTION WITH HUMOR during this stage.
And, continue to hold those boundaries because our toddlers might try to ask again for something you said No to.
THE RESOLUTION
Our toddlers are back to normal. Now, is the time to teach, repair, scaffold, lecture in a calm, nice way without any guilt or shame.
For every family, this can look differently. The strategies listed above are some of my favorites. They are GREENLIGHT STRATEGIES. We use these strategies to help our kids learn what to do the next time the same problem that caused the tantrum arises.
We are setting ourselves and our toddler up for success!
For every family, this can look differently. The strategies listed above are some of my favorites. They are GREENLIGHT STRATEGIES. We use these strategies to help our kids learn what to do the next time the same problem that caused the tantrum arises.
We are setting ourselves and our toddler up for success!
NOW WHAT?
Not sure what some of those strategies are above or how to apply them?
In my Module: My Child Is In the Middle of a Tantrum. Now What? I break down each strategy with a description and video. I also provide scripts on what you can say. Get it for free here. Or sign up below
In my Module: My Child Is In the Middle of a Tantrum. Now What? I break down each strategy with a description and video. I also provide scripts on what you can say. Get it for free here. Or sign up below
You can also take a deeper dive into Greenlight Strategies and more in my parenting guide: NOW WHAT? MINDFUL CHECKLISTS FOR LIFE'S HARD PARENTING MOMENTS.
Lauren Barrett is a multi-passionate mom working to help all parents become their best selves and build positive relationships with their kids through mindful parenting. She has a degree in deaf education and a Master’s in Reading Education. She is a high school teacher of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing by day, a cross country coach by the afternoon, a writer/author by her son's nap times, and a full time mom to an amazing toddler. Lauren is a 2x author of the Add One-A-Day 30 Day Challenge and children's book, Henry's Hiccups, a blogger at Lauren Barrett Writes, and has been published on sites like A Fine Parent, Pregnant Chicken, Pop Sugar, Her View From Home, and Scary Mommy. She loves her faith, running, visiting MLB stadiums with her husband, chocolate, scrapbooking, pretending she would actually do well on the Amazing Race, re-watching The Office, listening to Bobby Bones, and helping out all moms. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, James, and son, Henry. Follow her on Instagram and get her free guide on what to do during the middle of a tantrum.
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Country Roads Take Me Home....
West Virginia is my home state and it really is a beautiful state. It has a lot to offer.
In my quest to visit all of the National Parks in the US, I knew New River Gorge National Park, America's newest national park, had to be on the top of my list.
This summer of July '22 I made that happen. With my mom, dad, aunt, cousin, and two kids, including my own, we traveled to New River Gorge National Park and experienced some breathtaking views, thrilling rapids, fresh mountain air, and the best activities to do with kids there.
It is truly so important to take kids outside and into nature.
Read on for 5 of the best activities to do with kids while visiting this park.
West Virginia is my home state and it really is a beautiful state. It has a lot to offer.
In my quest to visit all of the National Parks in the US, I knew New River Gorge National Park, America's newest national park, had to be on the top of my list.
This summer of July '22 I made that happen. With my mom, dad, aunt, cousin, and two kids, including my own, we traveled to New River Gorge National Park and experienced some breathtaking views, thrilling rapids, fresh mountain air, and the best activities to do with kids there.
It is truly so important to take kids outside and into nature.
Read on for 5 of the best activities to do with kids while visiting this park.
#1. Stay at Adventures on the Gorge
Adventures on the Gorge is a mecca for kids. You don't ever have to leave the resort and already it has some of the best activities for kids.
We stayed in one of the cabins called Lost Paddle. It has a master bedroom with a king sized bed and bathroom. Upstairs in the loft area has two double beds, a pull out chair (perfect for a small kid), and a bathroom. The living room has a pull out couch and some nice sitting chairs. Plus there is a fully stocked kitchen. Outside has a hot tub on the deck and a fire pit and grill down below.
The cabin alone was fun for kids by doing activities like playing in the hot tub, digging in the mud, and making a fire to roast s'mores.
But the rest of the resort was the best.
For starters, the pool, Canyon Falls, is right on the rim of the New River Gorge with incredible views of the New River Gorge Bridge.
The 3,000 square foot pool has a kiddie splash area, waterfalls, and an upper and lower pool with a huge surrounding deck and a snack bar. You could spend a whole day there.
The rest of the resort has four other dining options: Sweet Java Falls, a coffee and pastry shop; Chetty's Pub, a restaurant with burgers, beers, and wings; Smokey's on the Gorge, more of an upscale restaurant with premiere seating on the deck with spectacular views; and Rendezvous River Lodge which you can rent out.
In addition to dining, there are family activities such as disc golfing, aerial activities (zipline and tree treks), paintball, and a playground that our little kids loved.
Adventures on the Gorge definitely tops the list as the number one place to stay and explore with kids.
We stayed in one of the cabins called Lost Paddle. It has a master bedroom with a king sized bed and bathroom. Upstairs in the loft area has two double beds, a pull out chair (perfect for a small kid), and a bathroom. The living room has a pull out couch and some nice sitting chairs. Plus there is a fully stocked kitchen. Outside has a hot tub on the deck and a fire pit and grill down below.
The cabin alone was fun for kids by doing activities like playing in the hot tub, digging in the mud, and making a fire to roast s'mores.
But the rest of the resort was the best.
For starters, the pool, Canyon Falls, is right on the rim of the New River Gorge with incredible views of the New River Gorge Bridge.
The 3,000 square foot pool has a kiddie splash area, waterfalls, and an upper and lower pool with a huge surrounding deck and a snack bar. You could spend a whole day there.
The rest of the resort has four other dining options: Sweet Java Falls, a coffee and pastry shop; Chetty's Pub, a restaurant with burgers, beers, and wings; Smokey's on the Gorge, more of an upscale restaurant with premiere seating on the deck with spectacular views; and Rendezvous River Lodge which you can rent out.
In addition to dining, there are family activities such as disc golfing, aerial activities (zipline and tree treks), paintball, and a playground that our little kids loved.
Adventures on the Gorge definitely tops the list as the number one place to stay and explore with kids.
#2 Go on a Hike
Get off the mainland and take your kids on a hike for an activity.
Adventures on the Gorge had an easy path that went around the resort that my son loved being "the leader" on.
Want to go on a hike with a more scenic views of the gorge? Try Endless Wall Trail or Long Point Trail. Both are around 3 miles which is the threshold for little kids.
The hike up the Endless Wall Trail is easy for kids to navigate, but once you get to the top, there are steep drop offs if you want to take in the view. If you are nervous about this, either keep the kids on the main trail with another person and then switch as both of you look out the vista or strap them into a backpack.
However, if you stay on the main trail, there are no steep cliffs.
Adventures on the Gorge had an easy path that went around the resort that my son loved being "the leader" on.
Want to go on a hike with a more scenic views of the gorge? Try Endless Wall Trail or Long Point Trail. Both are around 3 miles which is the threshold for little kids.
The hike up the Endless Wall Trail is easy for kids to navigate, but once you get to the top, there are steep drop offs if you want to take in the view. If you are nervous about this, either keep the kids on the main trail with another person and then switch as both of you look out the vista or strap them into a backpack.
However, if you stay on the main trail, there are no steep cliffs.
#3 See Waterfalls
There are about 9 total waterfalls in the whole park, but we only went to one, and it was such as great activity to do with little kids.
We went to Cathedral Falls which is right off the road.
Kids can literally play in the shallow waters before the falls all day. My son had a blast turning over and piling rocks. Such a good sensory activity.
We went to Cathedral Falls which is right off the road.
Kids can literally play in the shallow waters before the falls all day. My son had a blast turning over and piling rocks. Such a good sensory activity.
#4 Go Rafting
Okay, so little kids might not be able to do this. Most trips you have to be 12+.
But this was too good not to do. Keep the little kids at the pool with a designated scaredy cat and sign up for this trip.
We did the 1/2 day run on the New River and had a blast. We booked through Adventures on the Gorge.
There will be 8 people + a guide in one raft, and we probably went through 8 or more Class III rapids. The tour guides were funny, and we got beer on the bus ride back.
If you're adventurous, do this! But also my 61 year old Mom did it (no offense, Mom), so it isn't too strenuous.
But this was too good not to do. Keep the little kids at the pool with a designated scaredy cat and sign up for this trip.
We did the 1/2 day run on the New River and had a blast. We booked through Adventures on the Gorge.
There will be 8 people + a guide in one raft, and we probably went through 8 or more Class III rapids. The tour guides were funny, and we got beer on the bus ride back.
If you're adventurous, do this! But also my 61 year old Mom did it (no offense, Mom), so it isn't too strenuous.
#5 Swim in the Lakes
We didn't do this one, but if we had an extra day, we would have.
Head on over to Summersville Lake where you can swim, boat, fish, or rent kayaks.
A great day trip for little kids.
Head on over to Summersville Lake where you can swim, boat, fish, or rent kayaks.
A great day trip for little kids.
Overall, I have three takeaways about New River Gorge National Park.
1.) Don't sleep on West Virginia. It's beautiful. The people are great.
2.) Take your little kids out in nature.
3.) The New River Gorge National Park has lots of great activities for little kids.
1.) Don't sleep on West Virginia. It's beautiful. The people are great.
2.) Take your little kids out in nature.
3.) The New River Gorge National Park has lots of great activities for little kids.
Lauren Barrett is a multi-passionate mom working to help all parents become their best selves and build positive relationships with their kids through mindful parenting. She has a degree in deaf education and a Master’s in Reading Education. She is a high school teacher of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing by day, a cross country coach by the afternoon, a writer/author by her son's nap times, and a full time mom to an amazing toddler. Lauren is a 2x author of the Add One-A-Day 30 Day Challenge and children's book, Henry's Hiccups, a blogger at Lauren Barrett Writes, and has been published on sites like A Fine Parent, Pregnant Chicken, Pop Sugar, Her View From Home, and Scary Mommy. She loves her faith, running, visiting MLB stadiums with her husband, chocolate, scrapbooking, pretending she would actually do well on the Amazing Race, re-watching The Office, listening to Bobby Bones, and helping out all moms. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, James, and son, Henry. Follow her on Instagram and get her free parenting checklists. |
Having lived in the Triangle area for almost 11 years now (Raleigh and Garner), I’ve visited a fair share of parks in Wake County, and in the last 3 years I’ve really ramped up our visits.
My son was born in 2019. The Pandemic hit in 2020. I’m also a teacher. So we’ve used those times when everything was shut down and the summer to explore all the Greenways and parks in Wake County. As an outdoor mom myself, I really want my son to be an outdoor kid.
I’ve gathered my list of the 11 best parks for Triangle area families to explore. I’ll list the parks and what they have to offer. The list is in no particular order.
My son was born in 2019. The Pandemic hit in 2020. I’m also a teacher. So we’ve used those times when everything was shut down and the summer to explore all the Greenways and parks in Wake County. As an outdoor mom myself, I really want my son to be an outdoor kid.
I’ve gathered my list of the 11 best parks for Triangle area families to explore. I’ll list the parks and what they have to offer. The list is in no particular order.
1. Marla Dorrel Park - Cary, NC
I know I said that I didn’t put these parks in any order, but this might take the number one playground in the Triangle area.
That’s because it has one key word: shade. Almost the entire park is covered in shade which makes it perfect on a hot summer’s day.
Also, the park is conveniently located next to one of Cary’s many Greenways, so if you wanted to take a walk too, you could. It connects to another playground, MacDonalds Woods Park, too.
On the weekdays, this park doesn’t get crowded at all. In fact, we’ve almost had the park to ourselves a couple of times. My son played in the park’s gigantic sandbox, and I read a book. It was perfect.
The playground is divided into three big sections and every section is great in my opinion. One section seems to be for smaller children. The middle section is more for older kids even though my son (3) enjoys this section when it isn’t crowded. The last section seems to be for kids of all ages. This section has the sandbox, swings, and a very accessible musical playset.
There is also a section with a little hill with a dragon feature in it and a green space for kids to run around.
The park also features:
That’s because it has one key word: shade. Almost the entire park is covered in shade which makes it perfect on a hot summer’s day.
Also, the park is conveniently located next to one of Cary’s many Greenways, so if you wanted to take a walk too, you could. It connects to another playground, MacDonalds Woods Park, too.
On the weekdays, this park doesn’t get crowded at all. In fact, we’ve almost had the park to ourselves a couple of times. My son played in the park’s gigantic sandbox, and I read a book. It was perfect.
The playground is divided into three big sections and every section is great in my opinion. One section seems to be for smaller children. The middle section is more for older kids even though my son (3) enjoys this section when it isn’t crowded. The last section seems to be for kids of all ages. This section has the sandbox, swings, and a very accessible musical playset.
There is also a section with a little hill with a dragon feature in it and a green space for kids to run around.
The park also features:
- A basketball court
- Skate park
- Picnic shelter with restrooms
- Multiple picnic tables
- Public art
- Misting garden (LOVE THIS!)
2. Jack Smith Park - Cary, NC
I really like this park for its splash pad, but the overall park does lack shade (Can you tell shade is important to us? Haha).
The splash pad gets turned on mid-May and is free to the public. The splash pad does have tables with umbrellas and a large wall with an overhang for parents to hang out. Restrooms and changing areas/showers are nearby.
The rest of the park features a playground with slides, swings, climbing areas, and those animal seesaw things.
There are also picnic shelters, a dog park, a climbing wall, greenways throughout the park, and public art on display such as the whirligigs, and Suffolk sheep grazing in the fields.
The splash pad can get crowded, so go early to claim your table.
The splash pad gets turned on mid-May and is free to the public. The splash pad does have tables with umbrellas and a large wall with an overhang for parents to hang out. Restrooms and changing areas/showers are nearby.
The rest of the park features a playground with slides, swings, climbing areas, and those animal seesaw things.
There are also picnic shelters, a dog park, a climbing wall, greenways throughout the park, and public art on display such as the whirligigs, and Suffolk sheep grazing in the fields.
The splash pad can get crowded, so go early to claim your table.
3. John Chavis Memorial Park - Raleigh, NC
Newly renovated Chavis Park, for short, is really nice. It’s just what a downtown city park needed.
The views of downtown are great.
My one complaint is that there is very little shade, and it can get HOT in the summer.
The park is centered around the community center which has programs and classes and has a gym, second floor track, and fitness center. The community center opens up into a nice outdoor terrace that overlooks the downtown, the water feature, and playground. Visitors can lounge in the many chairs and tables located throughout the balcony. Again, shade is limited.
Go down the stairs and you get to the water feature. This water feature reminds me of something you would see in downtown NYC. Water basically squirts from the ground to create different size fountains. Kids have fun running through it.
The playground has rubber safety surfacing. The playground includes areas for ages 2 to 5 years and 5 to 12 years, and several features are inviting for teenagers and adults. The playground has adult exercise equipment, a skywalk climbing feature, and nature play elements.
The rest of the sprawling park has an outdoor track, the Historic Allan Herschell Carousel (look up hours because it’s often closed), baseball fields, multipurpose fields, and many places to rent out (meeting rooms, fields, reception hall, picnic shelters, and more).
The views of downtown are great.
My one complaint is that there is very little shade, and it can get HOT in the summer.
The park is centered around the community center which has programs and classes and has a gym, second floor track, and fitness center. The community center opens up into a nice outdoor terrace that overlooks the downtown, the water feature, and playground. Visitors can lounge in the many chairs and tables located throughout the balcony. Again, shade is limited.
Go down the stairs and you get to the water feature. This water feature reminds me of something you would see in downtown NYC. Water basically squirts from the ground to create different size fountains. Kids have fun running through it.
The playground has rubber safety surfacing. The playground includes areas for ages 2 to 5 years and 5 to 12 years, and several features are inviting for teenagers and adults. The playground has adult exercise equipment, a skywalk climbing feature, and nature play elements.
The rest of the sprawling park has an outdoor track, the Historic Allan Herschell Carousel (look up hours because it’s often closed), baseball fields, multipurpose fields, and many places to rent out (meeting rooms, fields, reception hall, picnic shelters, and more).
4. Pullen Park - Raleigh, NC
This might be my son’s favorite park, and it really is a gem. My only complaint is that it can get really, really crowded, which means that you have to keep a close eye on your kids at the playground.
Pullen Park is dubbed an amusement park and looks like one as you walk in. You can really make a day out of this park by renting a pedal boat, riding the carousel, riding the train, and riding the little mini boats that go in a circle. Stop for lunch at the cafe. And then stroll over the bridges and walk alongside the pond and view Japanese inspired trees, resting at the many benches or picnic areas
There are four areas to the playground:
Pullen Park is dubbed an amusement park and looks like one as you walk in. You can really make a day out of this park by renting a pedal boat, riding the carousel, riding the train, and riding the little mini boats that go in a circle. Stop for lunch at the cafe. And then stroll over the bridges and walk alongside the pond and view Japanese inspired trees, resting at the many benches or picnic areas
There are four areas to the playground:
- Swing Area: (All ages) 10 traditional belt swings for all ages, 1 preschool full-bucket seat swing, 1 accessible molded bucket swing, and 1 tire swing
- School Age Climb and Slide: (5-12 years old) 2 universally accessible slides, 6 climbing opportunities, 1 see-saw, and 1 shade structure
- Sand Play: (2-12 years old) 2 sand diggers, 1 accessible sand digger, 2 shade structures, 1 playhouse, Music making equipment and stage, and 1 accessible spring platform
- Preschool Playground: (2-5 years old) Enclosed by a positive barrier of fence and vegetation, 3 slides,1 preschool full-bucket seat swing,1 accessible molded bucket swing, 1 see-saw, stepping stones, and 2 shade structures
- Tennis courts
- Athletic fields
- Arts Center
- Theatre in the Park
- Shelters and Rentals
- Stage and event lawn
- Aquatic Center
5. Lake Benson Park - Garner, NC
We really like this park. Although it is very closeby to our house, I still would probably visit if not.
The park has three separate playgrounds and a gigantic field where you can catch people playing flag football, frisbee, or tag on a nice day.
There is a trail that runs throughout the whole park. Some of it is paved and the other is not and in the woods. Some of the trails connect to another park, White Deer Park, which makes the list too.
There are shelters for rent and a place where you can rent kayaks or motorized boats which we have done twice and enjoyed. My only wish was that the park had a little beach where we could have docked the boats or my son to have played in the sand.
However, the park does have some good community events such as the Easter and 4th of July events.
The park has three separate playgrounds and a gigantic field where you can catch people playing flag football, frisbee, or tag on a nice day.
There is a trail that runs throughout the whole park. Some of it is paved and the other is not and in the woods. Some of the trails connect to another park, White Deer Park, which makes the list too.
There are shelters for rent and a place where you can rent kayaks or motorized boats which we have done twice and enjoyed. My only wish was that the park had a little beach where we could have docked the boats or my son to have played in the sand.
However, the park does have some good community events such as the Easter and 4th of July events.
6. Lake Crabtree Park - Raleigh, NC
This park is close to being at the top of my favorites. It has everything my son loves - a beach near the lake, trails, and a playground.
It has a lot of things I love too - hiking/walking trails, boat rentals, and I even took my SUP out on the lake.
Other features include:
It has a lot of things I love too - hiking/walking trails, boat rentals, and I even took my SUP out on the lake.
Other features include:
- Gardens
- Open play areas
- Picnic shelters
- Restrooms
- Fishing
- Educational programs
- Bicycling/mountain biking trails
- Bike skills area
- Boating
- Volleyball
7. Peach Road Park - Raleigh, NC
This park is severely underrated, and I doubt many people in the Triangle Area know about it. While it is a humble neighborhood park, which was located right next to my old neighborhood, and doesn’t have the features of the much larger parks we already talked about, it still is a nice little gem.
For starters, it isn’t crowded. Secondly, if you are like me and try to take your kids to diverse parks in order for your kids to play with and see kids of different races, this park is located in a mostly Latinx community and has a cultural center with classes and programs.
The park also has three courts: basketball court, handball court, and futsal pitch (a fast-paced variant of soccer). It also has a multipurpose field.
There are two playground sections. One is for kids ages 2-5 and the other is for ages 5-12. I believe there is a sand pit.
While the kids play, parents can utilize the adult fitness stations.
Lastly, there are some really cool artwork and murals throughout the park.
Don’t sleep on this park.
For starters, it isn’t crowded. Secondly, if you are like me and try to take your kids to diverse parks in order for your kids to play with and see kids of different races, this park is located in a mostly Latinx community and has a cultural center with classes and programs.
The park also has three courts: basketball court, handball court, and futsal pitch (a fast-paced variant of soccer). It also has a multipurpose field.
There are two playground sections. One is for kids ages 2-5 and the other is for ages 5-12. I believe there is a sand pit.
While the kids play, parents can utilize the adult fitness stations.
Lastly, there are some really cool artwork and murals throughout the park.
Don’t sleep on this park.
8. Buffaloe Road Athletic Park - Raleigh, NC
While the playground isn’t the main feature of this park and really isn’t anything special, I like this park for its unique indoor water aquatic center. It has three waterslides, a lazy river, lap lanes, and a wading splash pad area for little kids. It really isn’t that expensive to get in either.
Other than that, the park has lots of baseball fields, a dog park, and an outdoor track.
Plus, it’s conveniently located next to a number of Greenway access points.
Other than that, the park has lots of baseball fields, a dog park, and an outdoor track.
Plus, it’s conveniently located next to a number of Greenway access points.
9. Millbrook Exchange Park - Raleigh, NC
This park has a lot to offer: community center with gymnasium, fitness center, programs and class; tennis courts; dog park; shelters; basketball courts; playground; and baseball and softball fields.
But why we love the park is mainly for its pool. There is an indoor section opened year round where my son took swimming lessons once. Then, the outdoor part is a wading pool and sprayground that is opened seasonally. In the summer, you can bounce back and forth from the indoor, big pool to the outdoor wading pool.
But why we love the park is mainly for its pool. There is an indoor section opened year round where my son took swimming lessons once. Then, the outdoor part is a wading pool and sprayground that is opened seasonally. In the summer, you can bounce back and forth from the indoor, big pool to the outdoor wading pool.
10. Laurel Hills Park - Sassafras All Children’s Playground - Raleigh, NC
Laurel Hills Park has a community center with gym, dance studio, classes and more plus numerous shelters, fields, and courts.
But the main attraction is the Sassafras All Children’s Playground, the creme de la creme of playgrounds.
Taken straight from its description…
The 3.5-acre site includes a playground for children of all abilities and provides a variety of play experiences. The new playground increases the available activity area considerably. In addition to conventional play equipment such as swings and slides, the playground also features unique elements including basketball court with adjustable hoop height, accessible elevated decking, and a pair of 50-foot-long zip-lines.
Warning: It does get crowded.
But the main attraction is the Sassafras All Children’s Playground, the creme de la creme of playgrounds.
Taken straight from its description…
The 3.5-acre site includes a playground for children of all abilities and provides a variety of play experiences. The new playground increases the available activity area considerably. In addition to conventional play equipment such as swings and slides, the playground also features unique elements including basketball court with adjustable hoop height, accessible elevated decking, and a pair of 50-foot-long zip-lines.
Warning: It does get crowded.
11. Knightdale Station - Knightdale, NC
Go for the Splash Pad. Stay for the cute barnyard playground.
I love the Splash Pad. It’s conveniently enclosed, so you don’t have to worry about little kids wandering away. There was a shaded spot for me to sit and watch my son play. I brought snacks and we had a great time.
The playground was cute and had some unique features.
We didn’t explore much else of this park, but you don’t really have to.
I love the Splash Pad. It’s conveniently enclosed, so you don’t have to worry about little kids wandering away. There was a shaded spot for me to sit and watch my son play. I brought snacks and we had a great time.
The playground was cute and had some unique features.
We didn’t explore much else of this park, but you don’t really have to.
Honorable mention - White Deer Park - Garner, NC
This is a sleepy little park located across from much busier park, Lake Benson.
But this park has a natural playground and an actual playground plus a nature center and Greenway trails.
I think this park is great if you’re looking for kids to connect with nature.
But this park has a natural playground and an actual playground plus a nature center and Greenway trails.
I think this park is great if you’re looking for kids to connect with nature.
I hope this list inspires you to get out and enjoy all the parks and recreation the Triangle Area has to offer. They are great places for families to explore. Have fun!
Read More - Why I love Raleigh
Read More - Why I love Raleigh
Lauren Barrett is a multi-passionate mom working to help all parents become their best selves and build positive relationships with their kids through mindful parenting. She has a degree in deaf education and a Master’s in Reading Education. She is a high school teacher of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing by day, a cross country coach by the afternoon, a writer/author by her son's nap times, and a full time mom to an amazing toddler. Lauren is a 2x author of the Add One-A-Day 30 Day Challenge and children's book, Henry's Hiccups, a blogger at Lauren Barrett Writes, and has been published on sites like A Fine Parent, Pregnant Chicken, Pop Sugar, Her View From Home, and Scary Mommy. She loves her faith, running, visiting MLB stadiums with her husband, chocolate, scrapbooking, pretending she would actually do well on the Amazing Race, re-watching The Office, listening to Bobby Bones, and helping out all moms. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, James, and son, Henry. Follow her on Instagram and get her free parenting checklists. |
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