How to Become the Cool Aunt You’ve Always Wanted to Be

When handed your first born nephew or niece, you probably won’t be able to stop the sigh of delight from leaving your lips. Everything about them is so tiny and adorable that you feel this overwhelming urge to protect them against the big evil world. The affection only grows in your heart as you slowly notice that the baby has your sibling’s features. At this moment, you might realize that you will do everything for this little creature.

The status of an aunt is a given but being a cool auntie? That’s a right reserved only for a few lucky ones, so you have to try hard to gain the respect of your nieces and nephews. As the cool aunt, you might want to buy them presents, share stories from your childhood, get involved in their hobbies, and indulge them from time to time. 

Unfortunately, you may face fierce competition with your other siblings and become the cool uncle or aunt. But don’t worry, below you’ll find some helpful tips that will help you secure this title for yourself. Read on!

Buy Them Presents 

Kids love presents, so why not use this fact to become a cool auntie? Your nephew or niece will undoubtedly appreciate your generosity, and their parents maybe a little less appreciative if you go overboard and spoil the kid too much. Also, you don’t want to be the one who buys them expensive toys when their parents are struggling financially because it may lead to awkward situations.

Being a cool aunt you should give the best possible presents. Please make a list of your niece or nephew’s hobbies, and then check the latest trends among kids their age. For example, you might purchase a figurine from a popular animated movie or video game they wanted. You don’t have to spend much yourself either; you can often find a good deal on websites like https://couponninja.com/. Just make sure that your present is appropriate for their age, and you have your sibling’s consent.

Be Their Friend 

Being a cool aunt shouldn’t mean being an authoritarian figure. You should be a friend to your nephew or niece and create a positive relationship where you can spoil them from time to time. 

You can participate in their favorite pastimes and try to be as good at it as they are. For example, if your nephew is obsessed with baseball, learn the basics of this sport and, if possible, try to play some games with him. If your niece loves drawing, help her with her pictures and ask her to teach you how to draw something.

Share Your Childhood Stories

If you don’t have much experience in sports or drawing, you can still be a fun aunt by telling them funny stories about yourself. Your nephew or niece will surely enjoy hearing about all the crazy things you did when you were younger. Some of the best stories involve adventures, danger, and forbidden territory, and the more exciting it is, the better. 

You can also tell them about the pranks you used to pull on your siblings without having to fear that your niece or nephew will dare try the same. However, remember that the stories shouldn’t be entirely fictional. The children appreciate hearing true stories from their relatives more than you think.

Encourage Them To Be Independent

One of the most important things that you should encourage your nephew or niece to become independent, doing everything for them may seem like a cool thing, but it will make them feel like they always need other people’s help. A cool aunt should let them discover their potential and encourage them to try new things even if they fail.

Make sure that you don’t intervene before their parents if they get into trouble. Never underestimate their parents’ abilities because they protect their children from any dangers. All you can do is support them in their decisions. 

Make Them Feel Special

It pays off to make your niece or nephew feel special. One of the best ways to do this is to give them the proper attention. Spend time with them, listen to what they say, and remember their stories and interests. Also, have some fun with them by doing something out of the ordinary. When you do something special for them, they’ll remember it for a long time. 

What is more, when you have some nice words for your nephew or niece, tell them so. Complimenting someone makes them feel good about themselves and more confident about the future. Let them know how proud you are of them and their achievements in life. Be sure to make an effort to notice their positive traits so that you can praise them for that. This will show them that you care about their well-being as a person, not just as a family member.

Indulge Them From Time to Time

Being a cool aunt means spoiling your nephew or niece from time to time. There are times when you may want to buy them a toy, take them to the movie theater, or treat them to ice cream. If you don’t spoil them from time to time, you’ll be just like the other grownups in their life.

However, you shouldn’t spoil them too much. It would be best if you remembered that parents have to deal with the consequences of your actions so try not to bend the rules too much for them. If it’s bedtime, you might allow them to stay up a little longer, but don’t do this every time. The same goes for cookies before breakfast. Make sure to talk to their parents to see if it’s okay to skip some of the rules.

Conclusion

Being a cool aunt is an honor, which means caring, intelligent, and wise. You can inspire your niece or nephew to appreciate life in the right way and become good citizens of the world.

You can create a unique bond with your nephew or niece just by sharing your stories, participating in their hobbies, and being there for them. It doesn’t matter if you’re the youngest or the oldest sibling, and what matters is that you’re able to take care of yourself and maintain a positive relationship with your nephews and nieces.