Parenting doesn’t come with a manual. It is a continuous process that demands your focus and energy to varying degrees. Sometimes, you nail it. Sometimes, you break down. But, you don’t give up. You continue to learn and unlearn.
Each year brings a new parenting trend – a few fade away and a few create lasting impressions. As we bid adios to 2023, let’s see parenting trends that are likely to rule 2024.
Mindful Parenting
Mindful parenting refers to being aware of your interactions with children and paying conscious attention to them while staying attuned to your feelings. It enables you to reduce your parenting stress and conflicts with your children. 2024 will witness an increasing number of parents will be exploring and embracing mindful parenting practices for the overall well-being of their family.
Raising Mindful Children
Teaching mindfulness to your children is the best gift you can give them in 2024. It aids immensely in their physical, emotional, social and cognitive development. It also enhances their focus and makes them compassionate and emotionally resilient. There are simple mindfulness activities such as nature walks, journaling, etc. that you can incorporate into your children’s routine in the New Year.
Milestone Celebrations
You know about celebrating your children’s first step, first tooth, first word, and so on. This celebration is usually restricted to taking photos or videos. Going forward in 2024, you will see some parents trying innovative ways to celebrate these firsts. They will organise mini parties (for example, tooth-shaped cakes or cupcakes) or create keepsakes (for example, memory boxes, handprints/footprints preservation, tooth pendants).
Inchstone Celebrations
Some children such as those with special needs experience delays in their developmental milestones. Parents of these children will focus more on celebrating little wins such as the first sound, first hand or leg movement, first grasp, first smile, etc. They will cherish these inchstones as a way to milestones.
Gender Neutral Names
As the acceptance of non-binary people grows in society, parents will become more open to giving gender-neutral or unisex names to their newborns. A few examples are Alex, Jackie, Anmol, Krishna, Kirti, etc.
Experiential Learning
An increasing number of Indian parents are realising the drawbacks of our country’s education system which is primarily focused on academics and rote learning. Hence, parents will now look for schools or programs that give equal if not more importance to experiential learning through field trips, picnics, art & craft, dance & music, theatre, cultural activities, interactive modules, etc.
Is there any parenting trend you would like to let go of or bring back in 2024?
