Mom's Diary #1: How I Turned Toothbrushing Battles into Moments of Laughter By Luna Lisowski •

It's no secret that kids often resist basic hygiene tasks or everyday household chores. Brushing teeth? A classic battleground. But what if I told you that my kids now race to the bathroom every evening after dinner to brush their teeth without me even asking? They even say thank you when they get new toothbrushes or toothpaste – without any prompting from me. Unbelievable, right? I was in shock myself. I have to say, it wasn't always like this. There were days when getting them to brush even once a day felt like a major victory ("Don't judge"). Now they do it automatically and – I dare say – with enthusiasm and fun. So, what changed?

Playful Parenting

Playful parenting doesn't mean constantly being carefree or shirking responsibility. It's a versatile approach that helps you connect with your children, understand them better, and transform everyday tasks into enjoyable or at least manageable experiences. Here's how this principle was applied to the toothbrushing dilemma in our home.

A Fresh Start

In our household, the bedtime routine used to be my partner's responsibility. However, brushing teeth became a major source of stress for him and the children. It was often skipped or "forgotten" to avoid the associated difficulties. We decided to make a change: I took over full responsibility for toothbrushing to remove the negative associations linked with my partner.

You know how a change of scenery can reduce stress? Sometimes, simply changing the person performing a task is enough.

Playful parenting during toothbrushing – making it fun!

After taking over, I spiced up toothbrushing with playful energy.

And here's how it went:

• I turned it into a fun game:
  • "First one to the bathroom gets to tickle the last one!"
  • "First one finished brushing their teeth gets to choose the movie for tonight!"
  • And if bad breath was still present after 15 minutes, there was a small reward: 10 minutes of tickling from the tickle monster! These little competitions created excitement without serious rewards or punishments (don't worry, I never tickled anyone for 10 minutes).
• And here's another great idea for anyone who likes to be silly:
  • Blowing bubbles from toothpaste foam.
  • Splashing water and making funny faces – it just puts you in a good mood!
  • Competing to see who can spit water the farthest or make the strangest faces in the mirror.

These playful moments transformed the chore into a shared experience full of laughter.

Finding the Balance

You might be wondering: Does this not take forever? Surprisingly, no. These small changes only take a few extra minutes and significantly reduce the drama and resistance. We don't do it every night – about 2-3 times a week is enough to keep the momentum going. Whenever we notice them pulling back, we increase the playfulness to re-engage their interest.

Being playful doesn't mean shirking responsibility or overexerting yourself. It's about injecting humor and lightheartedness into everyday moments to make them more enjoyable for everyone involved.

One last point

Toothbrushing battles are a thing of the past in our home. Through playful parenting, we've transformed a dreaded chore into a time of laughter and connection. If you're struggling with similar challenges, I encourage you to infuse your routine with a touch of playfulness. You might be surprised by the results!

Yours,

Luna