As a parent, we have all had those times when we are face to face with our kids and we realize that the next words can have a huge outcome on the situation. Whether you are facing a possible argument, a new fear, or a total meltdown, you know that what you say next matters. Sometimes when my daughter and I are facing off it almost feels like time freezes. I can glimpse the two roads ahead of me. One way leads to peace and happiness while the other leads to anger and frustration for both of us. I want to reach for the happy route more often, so I am always looking for ways to make parenting fun. Luckily, I had the opportunity to check out a new parenting book that is changing the way I parent and leading to more happy days.

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How to Make Parenting Fun

Parenting—Let’s Make a Game of It was written by Karen Thurm Safran. This book inspires parents to make life more playful through their parenting choices. The book is broken up into light-hearted stories which the author based loosely on her experiences parenting her kids. Each story is only a few pages long. They each highlight a specific example of the author using playful games to end arguments, get work done around the house, overcome fears, and avoid confrontations.

In the book, the author shows how this can be used in all kinds of situations. Whether she was using a game to get her picky toddler to drink more fluids, or using math and bar graphs to handle an oatmeal explosion in the kitchen, she shows how thinking outside the box can help the whole family to be happier and more helpful. While the stories are loosely based on her family, there are some that are taken right from her own experiences. Some of these even include postscript notations and updates from later on in life.

How This Book Changed My Parenting

Within a few chapters of this book, I was already inspired by the author’s creative approach to parenting. I found myself taking a step back when my daughter and I were heading towards an argument. She has been struggling with cleaning up her toys lately, and we were often arguing about it. After reading this book, I decided to try making it a game. I asked her which of us she thought would be able to pick up more toys. Her eyes lit up and she charged into cleaning, laughing and gleefully teasing me about how much she was cleaning. While we have still had occasions where she doesn’t want to clean and we butt heads, this has helped more often than not.

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I have found myself using this technique in lots of situations now. From cleaning up to avoiding small arguments, this change in mindset has definitely changed the way I handle daily parenting decisions. Plus, the stories in the book are just fun and inspirational to read. I definitely recommend this book for parents, whether new or experienced. You will not only gain a great perspective on parenting, but will get ideas for bringing more fun to your household.

Do you use a similar mindset in your home? Share in the comments below!