This post contains a sponsored inclusion of Brainiac but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board. We only recommend products we genuinely love.
"When ‘yes days’ became popular a few years ago, I remember thinking how I couldn’t wait for my then-infant to be old enough for one. Fast forward three years and another kid later, and I finally got the chance to live out this milestone. I recently went on a work trip, and when I returned (relaxed and recharged), I set out to plan a day full of kid-centered fun to celebrate my return. However, before planning our yes day, I honestly hadn’t considered the consequences of giving a toddler and preschooler full reigns for a whole day. Thinking about those possibilities gave me a sliver of anxiety.
It’s not entirely controversial to say that kids in the 2 to 4-year-old range have tiny dictator tendencies. Toddler parents already get bossed around daily, so saying yes to every request they make could have catastrophic results (i.e., “No, honey you can’t have five slices of cake”). I mean, from a purely biological standpoint, kids that young have zero impulse control. So, this was my challenge: How can I offer my kids a day where all their wildest dreams come true while staying within the realm of reason?
After chatting with my husband, we decided to give the kids preapproved options rather than a green light to chaos. We chose activities and fun snack options they already love or regularly ask for—that way, they felt like they were in charge (and we wouldn’t lose our minds). The next day, we presented our kids with our plan, and here’s what they chose to do on their yes day:
Ate their favorite treats
Possibly the most important part of a toddler’s day: the snacks. My kids can’t go an hour without requesting a new snack or “special treat.” They’re especially nuts about fruit gummies and juice, but we try to avoid those since they’re usually packed with sugar. However, I recently got new fruit snacks and juices from Brainiac that ended up being perfect for our yes day. Brainiac specializes in snacks that are packed with brain-boosting ingredients, and my kids already love their applesauce pouches, so I knew they’d be ecstatic about these fruity treats. I stockpiled my purse with their three different Fruit Snacks and Juice Squeezers flavors to offer throughout our day.
The first time I pulled them out, their eyes went as wide as saucers. “Juuuuice?!” they both exclaimed simultaneously. My son chose Berry Smart Lemonade, and my daughter chose Super Fruit Punch. They finished every last drop and then moved on to their Tropical Tango and Sour Apple Fruit Snacks with fervor. I’m sure they thought they won at life that day, but in reality, it was me who felt victorious. Brainiac juices and fruit snacks contain nutrients that support brain health like Omega-3s and Choline, no artificial colors or flavors, and no added sugar—so I’d call that a total mom win.
Took a trip to the bookstore
We had a variety of activities for them to choose from, and the bookstore was the very first one they picked. As a lifelong reader myself, I can’t deny I was just as excited as them to head to our nearest Barnes & Noble. The kids love to read (well, more like stare at the pictures or ask us to read since they’re not literate yet), so we let them pick two books each. They spent a good hour and a half browsing the children’s literature section, and we did our best not to rush them. It was so wholesome to see them engaged and excited about the titles they chose.
Rented mall car strollers
Our nearest Barnes & Noble is connected to a mall, and on our way out, the kids noticed those rental car strollers. They both immediately started begging to take a ride in the mini cars. My first instinct was to say no so we could move on to our next activity. But then I remembered that the whole point of a yes day is to let them enjoy the little things that excite them. And hey, they were pretty cheap to rent anyway, so why not? We spent the next hour “racing” through the mall and hearing their giggles fill the air. It took a little convincing to say goodbye to the cars, but they talked about that experience the rest of the day so it was well worth the $5.
My first instinct was to say no…But then I remembered that the whole point of a yes day is to let them enjoy the little things.
Made friendship bracelets
At our recent work retreat, our team made the cutest friendship bracelets together, and I left that experience feeling inspired to do the same with my kids. My 2.5-year-old is still too young to play with small beads, but my son, husband, and I were able to make bracelets together while she took her midday nap (and I made one for her as well so she wouldn’t feel left out). We set up his little bracelet-making station, showed him how to add beads to his string, and gave him total creative freedom. I did have to help him add the letters for his name seeing as he was about to spell “Teho” instead of “Theo,” but aside from that, he chose all his beads and was very proud of the fact. My daughter was equally excited to sport the bracelet I made her, and they’ve both been wearing their bracelets every day since.
Did a kid-led Target run
Our family is big on Target runs, so I was not surprised when they requested this for their final activity—with the caveat that we only visit the toy section. My husband and I knew how quickly that experience could derail, so we set a rule of only picking one medium-sized toy each (cue my son retorting with, “No, two! ✌️”). After a short debate, they begrudgingly agreed. So, we headed to Target, grabbed them petite vanilla bean scones from Starbucks (we’re on a cake pop cleanse over here), and spent an hour finalizing their toy picks. We narrowly escaped a tantrum or two—as expected with small kids—and then went back home to play with the winning items.
All in all, I’d say our yes day was wildly successful and taught me a lot about the importance of slowing down. They chose activities that we normally do anyway, but with the emphasis that absolutely no rushing be involved. It made me realize that my kids don’t need anything crazy to be happy, just our undivided attention is enough.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Steph Alleva Cornell, Branded Content Editor
Since becoming a young mama in 2020, Steph has found joy in creating beautiful yet relatable content surrounding the raw realities of motherhood. She believes showcasing both the wonders and struggles of being a parent helps other mothers understand that they are not alone in their journey.
This post contains a sponsored inclusion of Brainiac but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board. We only recommend products we genuinely love.