What Is A ‘Yes Day’?

“Can I have ice cream for breakfast?” 

“Can you tell me two stories today?”

There are very few requests that come from young children that warrant an immediate yes from parents. As a result of that, children hear ‘no’ more frequently than ‘yes,’ especially in the current pandemic situation. So, that is where the concept of ‘Yes Day’ comes into play. As you may have guessed by now, yes day is about saying yes to a child for one entire day. Recently, a movie by the name Yes Day was released based on a book by American author Amy Krouse Rosenthal. 

Intrigued much? 

In this article, we will cover:

• Benefits Of A Yes Day For Parents And Children
• Ground Rules That Children Must Follow On A Yes Day

Benefits Of A Yes Day For Parents And Children

Here are a few benefits of having a yes day for both parents and children

• Yes Day invokes a lot of curiosity and playfulness in parents and children
• Yes Day gives a chance for both parents and children to break out of the routine
• Yes Day may act as a reward for following the family rules for specified duration
• Yes Day allows children to take charge and parents to let go for a little while
• Yes Day fosters and strengthens the family connections by enhancing the bond between the family members

Ground Rules That Children Must Follow On A Yes Day

Children need structure even when they are having fun. As children may not understand the consequences of their demands on yes day, parents must set a few ground rules. Here are some ground rules that must be followed: 

• Yes Day date will be decided in advance and children will have to meet certain parental conditions before celebrating a Yes Day such as completing daily chores, eating vegetables, etc. 
• Safety First: Mom and Dad have the right to veto the idea if the activity poses any danger to the mental or physical health of the family members. 
  • For example:
    • Can I jump out of the window?
    • Can I play with the knife? 
• Children can only ask for things in the present. Children cannot ask for permanent things that cannot be reversed. 
  • For example:
    • Approved: Can I have ice cream for breakfast today? Can I jump on the bed today? 
    • Rejected: Can we get a dog? Can I stop doing the homework? Because the responsibility extends beyond yes day. 
• Children need to stick to the Yes Day budget given to them by the parents. They cannot ask for things beyond that budget. 
• Yes Day activities that involve tickets or travelling must be planned in advance. During the pandemic, children cannot ask for outdoor activities as it is unsafe. 

Parents should tweak these rules as per their unique family situation as they know their children best. Yes Day will certainly make parents and children happier and will bring them closer. However, at the end of the day, parents will decide what is best for the children.  

Will you consider giving your children Yes Day? Do you think your children will enjoy Yes Day? Is there anything that you would like to add to Yes Day? We would love to hear from you. Do leave your thoughts in the comments below. 

Reference:

Rosenthal, A. K. (2011). Yes Day!. United States: HarperCollins.