⋆˚࿔⟡ˎˊ˗ cg qifrey headcanons ˗ˊˎ⟡࿔˚⋆
⟡ uses the nicknames “little one” “child” “my darling” “sweetness” “silly” “my little witch” “love” “sweet thing”
⟡ the type to see his little interact with a small animal and say “this little one quite reminds me of my little one!” and nickname them after that animal. “little bunny” “little bird” “little lamb” etc
⟡ very attentive, always aware of his little’s presence even when he’s not directly watching them. a gentle protector, he doesn’t invade their space but is quick to come to them when he’s needed, and he can tell that he is needed whether his little calls for him or not
⟡ big on parallel play, he loves to let his little do their own thing while he does his own thing beside them. he is adaptable and willing to provide whatever they need, whether it’s closeness or personal space
⟡ has a schedule for his little and doesn’t stray from it, strict breakfast lunch and dinner times. the type to ask his little what adventures they want to have at the top of each morning so that he can plan around it
⟡ knows the importance of tone and facial expressions, always uses a loving tone and keeps his expressions soft
⟡ he isn’t the type to offer physical affection such as hugs and carrying and kisses if he’s not asked, but he loves giving his little a good head pat and moving their hair away from their face and running his fingers through their hair. if he senses that his little could use a hug but is too shy to ask, he’ll kneel down and open his arms to them but never coaxes them if they don’t seem enthusiastic about it
⟡ as soon as they step foot out the door, he’s offering a hand for his little to hold and looking at them expectantly. even if they trail slightly behind him as they walk, he glances back to ensure they’re alright.
⟡ i don’t think he’s the type to buy his little whatever they want, he keeps in mind that in their little headspace they might choose something that looks fun but have no use for it later. he’ll ask what they intend to use it for, if it will make them happy, and remind them if they already have something that does the same function. but if his little says they’re positive then he’ll happily buy it for them.
⟡ loves encouraging his little to play pretend and humors them whenever they say things like “i’m a dragon/princess/knight!” responds like “why yes, my darling, you are the most frightening dragon/most elegant princess/bravest knight i have ever seen!”
⟡ he has rules but he’s very gentle about them, understanding that rules are in place for the good of his little, not so that a caregiver can feel a sense of control and power. he understands the delicate balance between being too strict and too lenient, and he takes his responsibility very seriously
⟡ if his little tends to be indecisive and feel pressure around making decisions, he’ll have a meal plan for every day so that he doesn’t need to ask his little what they want to eat and make them think too hard
⟡ loves to read bedtime stories to his little, or stories at any time of day, knowing how they find his voice soothing. he loves hearing them laugh when he uses voices for the characters and does onomatopoeias
⟡ handles meltdowns very well, shows a sense of urgency and care while not escalating the situation. he always wipes his little’s tears despite his distaste for being wet, not minding having his little cry into his shirt or wiping the tears away with his knuckles. he talks them through it oh so carefully and knows what little tricks to use to distract their mind
⟡ big on “emotional aftercare”, rewarding his little for getting through difficult moments without a fit and pampering them when they’re exhausted from feeling big feelings
⟡ coaxes his little into little space without truly meaning to, he just can’t help using caregiver language and treating them as something precious and delicate whether they are little or not. when they are in little space, he is content to let them stay that way for as long as they need.