New Year, New Adventures!

New Year, New Adventures!
🎉 Starting 2025 Strong Together

Hello Dads!

A brand-new year is approaching, bringing opportunities to strengthen bonds, create memories, and navigate life’s challenges with confidence. As always, we’re here to help you start the year with a toolkit of tips and ideas. Let’s make 2025 a year to remember!

📚 Back-to-School Boost
As the holiday glow fades, the return to school can be overwhelming. Help her get back into the swing of things with these strategies:

1. Reflect & Reset: Spend time talking about her goals for the next half of the school year.

   ☕A simple chat over hot cocoa can inspire confidence and focus

2. Fresh Supplies: Treat her to fun, new school supplies. A planner or colorful pens can make heading back to class more exciting.

    🎒 Here’s a link to cool $7 Crayola Erasable Colorful Highlighters.

3. Pro-Tip —>Morning Routine Practice: Start easing into the school wake-up schedule now to avoid last-minute chaos next week.

👗 Winter Wardrobe Wins
The chilly months are here! Keep her stylish and cozy with these ideas:

• Layering Basics: Help her mix and match long-sleeve tops and sweaters with jeans or leggings.

• Cute Accessories: Look for knit hats, fuzzy socks, or mittens in her favorite colors.

• DIY Scarf Craft: Spend an afternoon making a no-sew fleece scarf together—it’s easy and gives her a one-of-a-kind piece she’ll love!

  Link to the DIY video: ❄️🧣 No-Sew Fleece Scarf

📬 Dad DM
“My daughter is nervous about starting a new activity this year (dance). How can I help her feel confident? She is worried she will be behind as she is joining after some of the girls have already started.”

Thanks for reaching out, it's awesome you’re supporting her! I had a similar experience growing up and being scared of not being good enough at dance class. Here are some of the general ways I would suggest to approach the situation. 💖Focus on reminding her that starting something new, like dance, can feel intimidating, but learning something new is exciting:

💃 Validate Her Feelings: Acknowledge her concerns with something like, “It’s totally normal to feel a bit nervous, especially when others have already started. Everyone learns at their own pace, and you’re going to do great!”

🌟 Prepare Together: Practice basic moves at home or watch beginner videos to help her feel more confident before class.

👋 Talk to the Teacher: Try saying, “My daughter is excited but nervous about starting dance since some of the girls are ahead. Do you have any tips to help her feel more comfortable?” Teachers are usually great at helping new students feel included.

🎉 Celebrate Her Bravery: After her first class, say something like, “I’m so proud of you for trying something new! It takes a lot of courage, and you should feel really good about yourself.” Your encouragement will mean the world to her!" (P.S. you could also take her to get ice cream and celebrate.) 😊

🎉 Family Fun Activity: 2025 Activity Bucket List
Kick off the new year by making a bucket list together!

What You’ll Need: Poster board and markers.

1. Talk about what you each want to achieve or experience in 2025.

2. Write out and decorate ideas on your board!

3. Display them somewhere special as a daily reminder of your dreams! (Maybe the refrigerator?)

   🩷Some Ideas —>

   • 🚗Take a road trip.

   • 🍪Try a new hobby together.

   • 🎶See a concert or show.

   • 🏞️Plan a camping or hiking adventure.

   • 👩‍🍳Learn to cook a new dish.

✨ “What was the highlight of your day?”
Taking a moment to ask your daughter, “What was the highlight of your day?” can be a simple yet powerful way to connect and help her focus on the positives. Here's how you can implement this:

Make It Routine: Incorporate the question into your daily schedule—whether it’s during dinner, the car ride home, or right before bed.

💪 Here’s to an Incredible 2025!
Thank you for being an inspiring dad. Every small act of care you give creates a lasting impact. Let’s keep growing together this year!

Warmly,
Payton & Justina