April brings attention and awareness to the prevention of Child Abuse. Local Early Childhood Areas and Child Abuse Prevention Boards are promoting #GreatChildhoods. There are so many experiences, interactions, learning opportunities, and people that go into developing #GreatChildhoods, but nothing quite as important as the roles that parents have.

I love to bring you new ideas for forming #GreatChildhoods, using everyday #SimpleActs to show children you care. These are a few of my new favorite ideas.

• Breakfast in bed – As parents we hope this will happen to us one day, but imagine how much happier our children will be when they get the opportunity to eat smiley-faced pancakes or green eggs and ham in bed!

• Family Movie Nights – Whether you snuggle up indoors, or create an outdoor theater, family movie nights make the best memories. Flavor popcorn with Jello packets, and pick out your favorite family movie enjoy the show.

• Conversation Starters – research popular family conversation starters and learn more about family at the kitchen table. You will be surprised just what your learn.

• “Parents Place” Restaurant – Turn the dining room into a pretend restaurant called, “Parents Place” and serve a silly menu. For example, spaghetti disguised as squiggly worms, or frog’s eyes, pretending to be grapes.

• Playground Hopping – Spend a family day all together from one playground to another! Pack a picnic and make an entire day out of it!

• R.O.A.K. – Take an entire day and dedicate it to some random acts of kindness! Your kids are sure to remember a day full of serving others! The opportunities are endless.

• Surprise Grandparent Day – Surprise your child with a “grandparent day” where they get to spend the day with their grandma or grandpa doing something special. (This is a win-win for everybody!)

• Late Night Star Gazing – Surprise your kids by waking them up in the middle of the night just to cuddle in a big pile of blankets and watch the stars! This could be even more magical if you planned it around a meteorite shower or lunar eclipse! Invest in a family telescope, and see what you can find.

• Positivity Rocks – Paint several rocks with inspirational words and leave them at random places for people to find. This is a great way to spread love and kindness.

• Lemonade Stand – Make a lemonade stand together using a couple crates. The money earned can be used to fund a special trip or given to a person or organization in need.

Think about those childhood memories that created #GreatChildhoods for you. What was one #SimpleAct that had an impact on you?

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Carrie Kube is a director for Iowa River Valley Early Childhood Area Board. All thoughts and opinions expressed are that of the author and not the board and/or its community partners.