accidentally crossing into carnal territory is simple to do when your little doubles as your significant other. this post is for anyone who needs some extra help keeping their spaces purely platonic.
☆ intimacy | you do not need to be physical to be intimate. emotional ties are easily formed in partners through relaxation, sharing of experiences, & open expression.
• talk in-depth about future goals
• be vocal about supporting their choices
• openly discuss fears &/or desires
• share stories about your childhood - a great way to connect is through your roots. some may find this the fastest way to develop emotional intimacy.
• ask how they’re feeling & how their day was
• sit close while watching shows or movies
• color beside each other instead of face to face
• tuck them into bed or put them down for a nap
• help them with their studies
• give forehead or cheek kisses (if comfortable) - your little may not like the physical approach so always remember that consent is still valid.
☆ nicknames
• lemon drop or cupcake
• cookie monster or cocoa
• teddy bear/graham
• bumblebee or butterfly
• little miss/mr. - some may hear this as degrading. please only use with a positive tone.
• daisy, buttercup, daffodil - almost any flower can be/has been turned into a cute nickname.
• tater tot
• peanut
• snuggle bunny/bear - lots of animal names are used in explicit slang. please be weary of crossing into unwanted territory when choosing these terms.
• ninja
• big hero
• sunshine
• darling or sweetie
• kiddo or buddy
• personal - let them come up with their own or use one from their childhood that they loved.
☆ rules | guidelines should always be agreed upon by both partners. if your rules conflict with adult responsibilities, they should always be excused; do not force rules outside of their designated space.
• no talking back
• outside voices stay outside
• always tell the truth
• no naughty words
• say “please” & “thank you”
• finish homework/chores before playtime
• clean up after yourself
• be respectful to others
• smile & laugh often (reminder)
• always take care of yourself (reminder)
• be safe at all times - accidents do happen & this, like the above two, should not be punishable.
☆ rewards
• later bedtime or extra story/movie
• new stuffie, pacifier, blanket - spoiling is up to the caregiver, but a price limit is suggested if this is a go-to bonus.
• candy bar - for littles who have difficult times in stores or public places.
• dinner of their choice
• exempt from chores
• spontaneous trip to the park or playground
• token economy - if a prize for every good behavior is out of your reach, tokens are a great system. every time your little one follows a rule, a token is given. every time a guideline is broken, two are taken away. after your little has collected a certain amount of tokens, they are presented with their reward.
• praise - often forgotten, praise may seem like a small payment, but it’s one of the most heartwarming.
☆ punishment | like rules, all forms of discipline should be agreed upon by both parties & should never be enforced if they interfere with work, school, or other adult responsibilities. we all have aggressive tendencies, but punishments should also never be given out of anger.
• earlier bedtime
• social media blackout - have your little log out of sharing networks for the day. this should only be done for time-waster apps/apps without a daily purpose.
• no electronics, video games, television, etc.
• no dessert/sweets - very common for littles who refuse to eat their veggies.
• seven minute time out - can also be replaced with a seven minute workout if your little one can’t sit still for very long.
• writing lines
• dollar in the naughty/swear jar
• talk it through - if your little is not acting up because of regression then always sit them down & ask what’s bothering them instead of taking a negative approach.
☆ domination | remember that domination as a caregiver is not a form of empowerment, but the taking away of simple choice or tasks. your little should not feel threatened by control, they should feel cared for & protected.
• hold their hand in public - do not pull, only use this method to keep them from wandering off.
• choose their outfit if your fashion sense is similar
• open doors, hold their umbrella, pull out their chair - abandoned methods of making anyone feel cared for & allowing you to feel helpful.
• have them walk on the inside/protected side of the sidewalk
• use their little nickname outside of the house (with permission)
• “please stay close/by me” - do not get upset with your little one for straying. this should only be said in a caring tone, allowing your little to feel protected.
• choose their bedtime stories or movies
• hold their bottle as they drink • draw them a bath - coming home to a warm or lush-ed out bath is a nice gesture. this can suggest expecting them fresh & clean or reassure that their stress level is on your mind.
• fix their appearance (with permission) - move hair out of their face, straighten out their jacket, etc.
• order their meal after they’ve decided what they’d like