My family is currently all revved up because we are going to have a new family to our extended family. My sister is having her second child in November. We are currently helping her to prepare for the baby’s arrival. My dad and my sister’s husband are busy doing up the baby’s room while my mum and I are helping my sister to buy the necessities for the baby and helping her to come up with a schedule. The schedule contains timing and person to perform household chores.
Another important preparation that we are helping our sister is to help her prepare her six-year-old daughter for the arrival of her baby sibling. This preparation if critical because as a six-year-old child, she does not understand that a baby needs almost 24/7 of the parents’ attention. Hence, she is not able to appreciate why the other family members are adjusting their lifestyle and revolving their lives around this little one. She may also misunderstand that her parents do not love her anymore because they have shifted their focus and attention to her younger sibling after the baby is born. Also, she may not fully understand that what it means to be a big sister and what she needs to do for this new role.
My mum and I help our sister to prepare our niece in the following ways. Firstly, we buy some activity books relating to “Big Sister” topic and use these activities books to communicate to her of her new role and what she changes she is expecting to see. We also keep assuring her that her parents will still love her as much as they love her now. Through these engaging activities, she can better understand our messages conveyed to her and is excited about her new role and the arrival of her younger sibling.
Secondly, when we are buying the necessities for the baby such as the milk bottles, diaper bag and so on, we involve our niece and get her to pick the design and colour of her choice. By involving her with these shopping sessions, she feels that she is included and is playing an important role to welcome the new family member.
Lastly, my sister and I are shopping for a big sister gift which we will present to my niece on the day the baby is born. The internet is a treasure trove containing new big sister gift ideas which provide us with good reference as to what to buy for her. As she loves doing craft, we have decided to purchase a six-month art and craft subscription. She will thank her younger sibling for buying her this fantastic present that allows her to unleash her creativity and do up a craft to her imagination. From the parents’ practical standpoint, this gift provides our niece with something to look forward to with a surprise delivered to her doorstep monthly. It also frees up some of the parents’ time when she is busy doing up the craft.
We are positive that with this preparation, our niece will be looking forward to and celebrate her younger sibling’s arrival with her parents.
More info: mammothgiftideas.com
