What are Inchstones? (And How to Celebrate Them)

A new parenting trend has taken root, celebrating inchstones. If you are asking yourself "What are inchstones," you are not alone. When building a house, the finished result is typically what people oooh and aah over. Very rarely do people take time to celebrate the foundation being built, the walls going up, the paint being put on. It's the final result that brings the most excitement. This is often true in life as well. We have grown accustomed to celebrating significant milestones:

• A first birthday.
• Learning how to walk.
• Going to kindergarten.
• Driving a car for the first time.

These moments are ingrained into society as ones to look forward to. Yet, more and more parents are ditching the sole focus on milestones and instead deciding to celebrate inchstones in their child's life. Have you heard of this new parenting trend, or are you asking yourself: "What exactly are inchstones?"

Much like building a house, reaching significant milestones in life takes time and effort. Inchstones are the small steps that each child takes to reach those milestones. Inchstones are an important part of child development and can be thought of as laying a solid foundation for thriving. Celebrating inchstones has become a new parenting trend, where parents memorialize their children's small steps toward progress.

Although celebrating inchstones is a new, fast-growing parenting trend, the concept has existed for some time. Parents of children with special needs have been celebrating inchstones in their children's lives for decades. This concept motivates their children and shows the kids that their parents are paying close attention to the progress they make every day. No matter how long it takes to reach a milestone, those everyday moments and the effort children put in deserve to be celebrated.

As we go through our daily lives, it's easy to overlook the effort our children put into learning a new skill or reaching a new developmental milestone. However, when you celebrate inchstones, it becomes easier to pay attention. When a parent shows joy and enthusiasm about their child's progress, the child becomes motivated to keep going. This concept has become a new parenting trend that allows all families and parents to celebrate their children and live in the everyday moment.

Sometimes, life becomes mundane. Doing the same things over and over every day makes it easy to lose the magic of life. Yet, choosing to celebrate inchstones allows families to find the magic again. In addition, it allows parents to show appreciation for each child's continuous small efforts toward meeting goals.

Further, inchstones can be a means to help parents develop a deeper bond with their children. Choosing to pay attention to the effort your child is putting into progress and then celebrating is a great encouragement and motivation. It also allows parents to pay deeper attention to each child's progress.

More pros that come with celebrating inchstones include:

• Celebrating small victories parents may otherwise miss.
• Allows parents to focus on positive connections.
• Children feel encouraged and supported.
• Celebrating inchstones may take pressure off children as they focus on smaller steps instead of giant ones.
• Children thrive and flourish when they feel supported and seen.
• Encourages growth mindset within children.

Although there are many positive aspects to celebrating inchstones, there may also be a few cons. Parents are often very busy with work, school, and additional commitments. With the busyness of everyday life, parents may feel unnecessary pressure to celebrate every little moment, which can stress families.

Also, sometimes, celebrating every tiny step can blur a child's focus, instead of motivating them. If this happens, it can lead them to stop wanting to reach for the "bigger picture." Lastly, milestones are milestones for a reason, and there's just something magical about celebrating them. If every small step is celebrated lavishly, it can lead to burnout and the magic being zapped from significant milestones.

However, there are ways to celebrate inchstones and milestones in your child's life without feeling burnt out or stressed. The celebration of inchstones does not have to be a big to-do. Instead, they can be small intentional actions that show your child "Yes, I see your effort, I am so proud of you." Not every inchstone has to have a huge party. Here are some ideas to help you celebrate inchstones and not break the bank!

When your child reaches an inchstone that you know should be celebrated, try one of the following ideas to celebrate.

Acknowledge your child's effort by being enthusiastic and cheerful. "I saw the effort you put into your stretches and balance over the last few months. Now, you can stand on one foot for 30 seconds! What an achievement. I'm so proud."

It's easy to forget all the everyday moments as we grow older. Keeping a scrapbook of small and big moments can be a fun way to look back on life. If your child has a specific goal they want to reach, start a scrapbook or photo album to capture those small moments.

Journaling is another way to keep track of those inchstones and celebrate. Keep a record of the steps your child achieves as they work towards specific goals. Additionally, the journal can be a simple place to record fun memories, such as when your child spoke their first sentence and what it was. Another fun idea is to gift this journal to your child on their 18th birthday or the eve of their wedding day.

Celebration jars are a fantastic concept and are easy to make. All you need is a jar and paper. Record each time your child reaches an inchstone on a slip of paper and place it in the jar. Don't forget the date and age. Before you know it, you will have a full jar to reflect on and reminisce.

Another way to celebrate inchstones is to create a celebration board. Do you have an empty wall in your home? Use a corkboard or blank wall to display those small everyday moments. Did your child learn to ride a bike without training wheels? Take a picture and hang it up on the celebration board! What about the first time they cooked a meal all on their own? These little moments can be easier to remember when they are displayed for all to see.

Celebrating inchstones does not have to be a big to-do every single time. A simple way to celebrate is to record a video and send it to friends and family. Did your child grasp a toy for the first time? Did they learn a new dance? Record it!

Most children are happy with simple celebrations. If your child just achieved an inchstone and you want to throw them a more significant celebration but not too big, try making them a special lunch or dinner. It doesn't have to be fancy. Let them choose a recipe from a cookbook or pick their favorite meal.

Sometimes, inchstones deserve a party, but it doesn't have to be huge. Throw a small party, invite family over (or keep it household family), bake a cake, and blow up some balloons. These simple decorations and acts are fun for the whole family.

Kids love rewards. A simple way to celebrate inchstones is by creating a reward chart or box. This works exceptionally well if your child has a specific goal they are working towards. Put in homemade coupons, like 'movie night" or "stay up a half hour later." These ideas can cost nothing, yet they are fun motivators for children.

Inchstones can be virtually anything you deem a small step toward progress. Every day, children put in effort towards development that sometimes goes unnoticed. When your child works extra hard at a task, paying attention to that progress can motivate them and bring you joy as a parent. Inchstones are any small efforts; some examples include:

• Holding their head up for the first time.
• Learning to tie their shoes.
• A half birthday.
• Commando crawling for the first time.
• The very first word or sentence they read.
• Losing their first tooth, or second, or third.
• The very first time your child draws a picture.
• Picking up a piece of food for the first time.
• Standing on one foot.
• Walking in a straight line.
• Learning how to jump.

Whether a child has special needs or not, inchstones are worth celebrating. When we, as parents, acknowledge the hard work that children put into reaching developmental milestones, it is beneficial for both kids and parents.

For parents, it brings us out of the mundane of life and allows us to live in the moment. After all, life can be fleeting; the days may be long, but the years are short. Before we know it, our kids will be grown and out the door. When we take the time to pay attention to all the progress our kids are making, it brings us to a place of enjoyment and happiness.

Additionally, our children may become more motivated and develop a growth mindset, which will benefit them as they navigate their adult lives. Not to mention, children are instinctively motivated by positive reinforcement. Therefore, the next time your kid comes home and says, "Guess what, I learned to spell a new word today," or "I jump roped for the first time," don't be afraid to clap your hands and say, "Wow, you must feel so proud of yourself." After all, everyone loves their efforts to be seen and appreciated.