Purpose
To ease the care responsibilities of others through small acts of preparation in everyday life, and to strengthen cultures of solidarity and sharing in public spaces.
What need does it address?
- Helping caregivers navigate public spaces more comfortably
- Creating opportunities for children to play and connect
- Enabling collective responses to unexpected needs
- Making everyday acts of solidarity more visible
How can it be practiced?
1. Carry a few things that can be shared.
Consider carrying not only what you need for yourself, but also a few items that might be useful to someone else.
For example:
- Colored pencils or crayons
- A coloring book
- Stickers
- A storybook
- Small toys
- Wet wipes
- Tissues
2. Offer them when a need arises.
If you notice a parent having a difficult moment or a child who seems bored in a café, park, waiting room, or while traveling, you can offer to share something you have with you.
Sometimes even a few crayons can give a parent a moment to breathe and create an opportunity for a child to play.
3. Expect nothing in return.
The purpose of this ritual is not to lend things or create a sense of obligation. It is simply about sharing a small form of support when it is needed.
4. Make the ritual your own.
Bringing something to share does not have to be limited to children’s needs.
You might carry an extra umbrella, phone charger, menstrual product, bottle of water, notebook, or another small item that could be useful to someone else.
What matters is creating a little more room for care in everyday life.
Things to consider
- Offer support rather than assuming what someone needs.
- Respect people’s boundaries and consent.
- Make sure the items you share are clean and safe to use.
- Rather than carrying this responsibility alone, invite others to develop similar rituals.
The Ihtimam Perspective
Ihtimam Rituals offer practical ways to strengthen care relationships in everyday life. However, lasting solutions to the invisibilization of care require changes not only in daily practices, but also in organizations, policies, and systems.
For more structural approaches, explore the Care Policy Recommendations Tool:
Shared by
This ritual was shared by Hale Acun Aydın, one of Ihtimam’s Co-Nurturers.
Ihtimam Rituals is a living collection of care practices developed by individuals, communities, and organizations in their everyday lives. You can contribute to this collective archive by sharing a ritual that strengthens care relationships in your own daily life.