Monday, June 18, 2012

Tips To Choose Quality Day Care Center for Your Child

These days a number of families are there with both the parents working. Such families are very much concerned about their child’s proper care as both the parents go out for work. Child care centers are one of the best solutions in this regard. It has been proved by a latest research that about 70% of parents put their children in such places. Today such structures have been opened in almost every area to provide parents with a complete peace of mind regarding their child’s safety and care.

As a parent, it is one of your key responsibilities to ensure that your child is completely secure and happy in a child care environment full of enjoyment, learning, and development. Thus, choosing a child care center is undoubtedly a very big and important decision. No matter whether you want an in-home care, center-based care, or a preschool or any other, you need to follow some specific guidelines to ensure that your child receives quality and professional care. Below we have mentioned some tips that will help you in making such an important decision. These include:
 
 Quality of services offered

When it comes to your child’s care and safety, it becomes very important to choose a center that offers quality and reliable services. There are many centers that provide individualized attention to the child along with a chance to interact with other kids. Also, they arrange different play and learning styles, intellectual activities, etc. for a better growth and development of your child. It is good to choose one such child care school.

Budget factor

The second most important factor that should be considered is budget. No doubt, when it comes to your child care, you won’t mind paying extra amount of money. But keeping a clear picture of budget in your mind would save you from paying extra money.

Experience

Always find out for how long the child care centers has been in the business. Choose a place with right knowledge and experience in the child care domain. This ensures reliable and quality services.

Location

Location is another important factor that matters a lot. Choosing a center near a police station, hospital, fire station, etc. ensures quick access and response during any emergency.

These are some of the prominent factors that if kept in mind can help you make a fair decision regarding the selection of a quality child care for your kid. Internet provides innumerable options in this regard

First Birthday Party: Producing One For Cheap

When planning a birthday celebration, particularly a first birthday party, parents might spend hundreds of dollars. For all those on a financial budget, listed below are several ideas to produce a fantastic celebration without spending a great deal.

Party Items

It is definitely less costly to go with basic coloured party supplies, such as black napkins and white paper plates. If you purchase them at a normal food store, they have a tendency to be less costly than at the celebration supply store. Should you buy a themed character set of dishes and napkins, you have a small quantity at a high price. The majority of guests will not even recall the colour of the plates when remembering the party.

Accessories

Adorn with streamers and balloons to give the party room a joyful pizzazz at little price. Use streamers to incorporate a bit colour to the walls as well as to dangle from the doorways. These come in numerous colours and are relatively easy to set up with just a little tape.

Fill up the room with balloons in the party theme colours. These take up much space and provide the room a party ambiance. It's also enjoyable for young kids to play together. Balloons can be bought already blowup or you can rent a helium tank from any celebration supplies shop and blow the balloons up yourself. It all depends on your financial funds, your available time, and the size of your car. Mylar balloons are more expensive but tend to work for days, while latex balloons usually only last the day. Furthermore, you can have each guest depart with some balloons as a party favor, thus leaving you with a little less clean-up afterwards.

Splurge on a birthday a flag with your child's name. If you're tech smart, you can produce one using your computer. Or if you're fine with crafts, you could make your personal special banner using poster board and fresh paint.

Food

Plan to have the event in the mid-afternoon. This makes it easy to have snacks as refreshments rather than planning a full meal with the higher expense. Using larger packed items rather than individual items can save on cost. For example, make use of a large tote of chips and put in a big bowl rather than buying small individual bags for each guest.

Other Activities

Pinatas for kids are an excellent choice that serves numerous functions. They may be a point of interest for the accessories. They may be employed as an exercise for the kids to enjoy. Fill up the pinata with covered candy plus some inexpensive cheap toys and you've got your party favors. 

For all those on a constrained budget, it is possible to still create a memorable first birthday celebration with some creativity and organizing.

Baby Toys and Health effects

Generally parents do the shopping with small baby in a market so in small age baby have started to recognizing colours and shapes in little age. Some parents are passionate to do shopping for their baby before birth of the child. It is good enough because after baby born, parents occupied with lots of essential thing and look after child only. Before purchasing the toys online or from a shop consider for important things. Parents should know the harmful chemicals come in toys so it is most recommended go with trusted branded toys only

Monday, May 21, 2012

5 Rules for Teaching Your Kids Respect

If you've been searching for a truly powerful way to teach communication skills to your kids, now is the time to make it happen. The family meeting shows your children how. Look inside for 5 important rules.
Let's pretend your kids, Jack and Jessica, bring up the problem Jack's having with the bully next door. As a family, gather around the table to discuss it .The family meeting rules will help you.

First Rule - Listen with Respect:

Children are taught to listen without interrupting. They must repeat what the speaker says before they offer their thoughts.
Let's say your Jack is afraid of the neighbor boy. He's big. He's loud, and he makes fun of Jack in front of all the other children. He calls Jack “shrimp” and “fatso.” Jack runs home in tears while all the kids laugh at him, except Jessica. She runs home to be with Jack.
Imagine Jack actually listening to Jessica's ideas about the bully. Jack will even prove it by repeating her thoughts.

Second Rule - Speak with Respect:

Jack and Jessica will get the practice they need to share their thoughts clearly and with few words. They must avoid hogging the spotlight too.
Can you see Jessica, your chatterbox, give a brief explanation of her thoughts? As parents, you guide your children to listen, take turns, and follow President Franklin Roosevelt's advice, “Be sincere, be brief; be seated.”
Consider pointing to a sign which says: “Listen! Repeat! Be brief!” You'll never need to nag when they break the communication rules. You'll just point to the sign.

Third Rule - Discuss Issues Respectfully:

Let's say the bully teases Jack every day. The bully's behavior and Jack's response are the issues.
Give every family member a turn to express what they know about the bully. Find out what they think needs to be done. You'll learn important information.
Watch Jessica as she silently looks at Jack while all the members listen to him speak. You've taught her to be respectful by letting him finish his thoughts.

Fourth Rule - Vote for the Best Solutions:

Each member offers respectful solutions. This keeps each member feeling involved and caring. Discuss each person's idea. Vote for the best solutions.

Fifth Rule - Offer respectful commitments:

Each member shares a specific promise to make the bully situation better. They're respectful because they''re sincere. The commitments are written down to review the next week.

Conclusion ~ Communication Skills, Respect, and Family Meetings:

How do the above rules teach your children respectful communication skills? Kids keep quiet while another member speaks. They learn to listen. They briefly repeat in their own words what the member before them said. Then they take their turn to speak. They express themselves with few words. How respectful is that?
Of course, you will need to decide whether to step in or let the children handle the problem. Maybe you'll talk with the bully or with his parents. Maybe the school authorities will need to help. It's your decision.
Can you see how the family meeting teaches your children family unity too? They'll feel bonded within the family and protective of each other. They won't want their sibling bullied by another kid. The family meeting promotes their love. It teaches them to become confident communicators too.

The Anger Scale: Teach Your Kids Now or You'll Be Sorry

The Anger Scale Can Help Your Kids Reduce Rage ~
When Daniel heard he couldn't go on the Hammer at the amusement park, his eyes bulged and he shouted, “That's not fair!”
“The sign where you got the ticket says you have to be at least 4 feet 10 inches tall to ride. I'm sorry,” said the ticket taker.
Hearing that, Daniel began kicking at the man and screaming, “You're a fat pig!”
As Daniel's dad struggled with him, the security guard came over and said they'd have to leave the park if the parents couldn't get their son under control. Because Daniel never did get under control, the whole family had to leave.

The Problem with Excessive Anger:

Excessive anger leads to rage. Rage can keep your child out of activities; hurt his reputation, his social skills, and his life.
How Rage Hurts Your Child:

1. Angry kids are avoided by classmates.
2. Children who rage gain a bad reputation.
3. Kids who rage risk becoming abusive adults.
4. Children who rage harbor ugly thoughts, feelings, and behaviors throughout their lives.
5. Kids who rage lessen the possibility for their own future happiness.
Tantrums can hurt you too:

1. Your kid's rage can deafen your reasonable mind and get you boiling.
2. If you respond to a tantrum with a tantrum, you reduce yourself to your child's level.
3. Your rage makes you look foolish and fuels more blow-ups from your child.
How the Anger Scale Can Help You:
Use it on yourself at a time when you're not angry. Look back at the last time you lost control. Practice changing your anger in that situation to mere frustration. When you make the change, you'll know how to help your child.
Never give yourself permission to be out of control by saying, “I couldn't help it.”

The Anger Scale ~ How to Teach Kids Now

When your child is in an even mood, ask him if he's willing to learn how to control his anger. If he says “Yes,” ask him to list the ways his anger hurts him, like:

1. I get in trouble.
2. I get too mad.
3. I don't have friends.
4. I don't get to do things I want to do.
5. Everybody thinks I'm bad.
Tell him you have a method that will help him. Show him this Anger Scale.

The Anger Scale:

Draw a “zero to ten point” scale. At the zero end of the scale, write “No Anger.” From numbers four to seven write “Frustration.” At the numbers eight to ten, write “Anger/Rage.”
0----1-----2------3------4--------5-------6--------7-------8------9-----10

No Anger = 0
Frustration = 4-7
Anger/Rage = 8-10

In situations where we don't get what we want, feeling frustrated (4-7) is normal.
Feeling No anger isn't realistic.
Rage that expresses out-of-control thoughts, feelings, and behaviors isn't normal or realistic either.
Frustration falls in the middle of two extremes. With frustration we are able to reason and think of better ways to handle disappointments.

Parenting Exercise for Changing Rage to Frustration in Kids:

Tell him the goal is to bring his anger down from the 8-10 range to the 4-7 range. Ask him to vividly imagine the last time he had a temper tantrum. Make sure he feels the anger he had at that time.
Ask, “Where is your anger on the Anger Scale right now?” (It should be high.) Say to your child, “Think about what happened that made you feel so angry. Close your eyes. Feel the anger. Then bring that angry feeling down to the 4-7 range.” Wait a bit to give your child time to do it. Then say, “When you've reached the frustration range, open your eyes.”
Ask your child, “Where is your number on the anger scale now?” (It should have moved downward.)
Then ask, “How did you do it?”
Some kids may say, “I don't know.” If so, say, “Guess.”
Typically, your child brought the number down by changing his thoughts because extreme negative feelings come from extreme negative thoughts. Tell your child to use this special scale whenever his anger feelings are getting out of control.

Conclusion for the Anger Scale ~ Teach Your Kids Now

The Anger Scale teaches how to visualize rage and bring it down to a reasonable level. When your child is consistently able to bring it down to frustration, he'll have a better reputation, he like himself better, and have a real chance for a happy life. So use the Anger Scale now. You won't be sorry later. In fact, you'll be glad you did.

Build Character and Motivate Kids with 3 Little Rhymes!

Raising motivated kids with character-building rhymes can be powerful. Why? Positive rhymes motivate but negative thoughts irritate.
Today you'll receive 3 motivational rhymes, 3 brainstorming one-liners, and how to teach self-talk rhyming to your children.

Your Child's Lead Ball and Chain

Imagine your child carrying a lead ball and chain into school, relationships, and chores. Negative thoughts are that ball and chain if your child thinks:

1. I hate school.
2. I hate those kids.
3. I hate chores
Children learn to try simple tasks, give up on hard ones, and complain. Such a ball-and-chain attitude becomes a habit and poisons their young minds. No parent wants this for their children. What can be done? Keep reading.

How Self-Talk Rhymes Build Character

Positive 2-line poems help your children keep trying. These rhymes become the seeds that grow into strong “can-do” minds. They become the self-talk in your child's daily thinking and they build character.
I taught this rhyme to my granddaughter:

“Hip, hip, hooray,
I tried today!”
Now she automatically says it aloud and gives me a high 5 whenever she tries something difficult. It tickles me inside to see her enthusiasm.

3 Self-Talk Rhymes that Motivate and Build Character

1. Some kids complain about homework. They don't realize that successful kids don't like it either. The difference is that positive thinkers don't give up. If you have a complainer, consider turning him around by often repeating aloud this self-talk rhyme:

Doing homework can be fun,
When I've tried and when I'm done.
This rhyme paints a positive picture of effort and completion. It could help unlock that ball and chain that complainers often drag throughout their lives.
2. Some children fight with siblings, neighbor kids, and classmates. They lack social skills and use fighting to get their way. Here's a rhyme that when repeated often, might help them loosen their ball and chain:

I don't argue and I don't fight,
Getting along is what feels right.

This poem creates positive feelings and motivates kids to get along. With it you can discuss ideas for making friends.
3. Other children hate chores and drag their feet like a ball and chain. They hope their parents will do the work for them. Sometimes their work is so sloppy that parents take over. This poem, when repeated often, could help:

When I put away my toys,
It makes for tidy girls and boys.
This rhyme promotes organizational skills when parents point out that being tidy helps finding toys later.

The Motivational Key for Building Character

When kids repeat positive rhymes, those rhymes become the thoughts that mold their attitudes throughout their lives. The key is the repetition inside their heads. It shapes their character too.
Your Parenting Action Step At dinner give your family a one-liner to rhyme. Explain that the second line must be positive and easy to say and remember. Members can work together in creating the rhyme. Post the rhyme on the refrigerator
. For the next several dinners ask:

1. Who used the rhyme?
2. What was the situation?
3. Has everyone had time to speak.
From then on, repeat the rhyme aloud whenever you need it so your children hear you. This will encourage them to keep using it for themselves.

3 One-Liners for Family Members to Rhyme


1. Say “Excuse me, Thank you, and Please,”
2. My body and mind are very strong,
3. When I go to bed and rest,
Have fun as your family comes up with the second line for each.

Conclusion for Self-Talk Rhymes that Motivate Kids

Teach this fun method to your children. You'll be building character in their thoughtful minds and loving hearts. And remember:

Building character is fine,
When you teach a self-talk rhyme!

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Video Games and Your Kids: A Review by Carrie Lauth

 Like many parents, I'm concerned about my kids not spending too much time in front of a screen. Whether that be television, computer, or video games. One reason for this is because I have seen how screen time interferes with other, more important activities like reading, spending time with family, helping around the house, etc.

It seems that boys in particular have a hard time accepting limits around gaming. Since I have two sons, I didn't want any part of the constant fighting over the video game system between themselves and refusing to accept boundaries and limits that I see in other families. I've also observed kids missing sleep and even social interaction with peers because of spending too much in an artificial world, with detrimental effects.

Video Games and Your Kids gathers current research, science and data about why parents should be concerned about their kids spending excessive time playing video (and computer) games. Rather than being the greatest invention since the baby wipe, video games aren't always just harmless fun.

For one, video games are highly addictive. In fact they are designed to be so - marketers call it the "sticky factor". The longer the child plays, the better in their estimation.

Secondly, video games have negative effects on the body and the brain - not only do video games contribute to a sedentary lifestyle but they also retrain the brain and the way it thinks. This has deleterious effects on how a child learns and their ability to learn outside the game.

Parents sometimes believe that video and computer games are "educational" but the evidence does not support that assessment. In fact, some studies point to the opposite effect and have shown a correlation between computer games and decreased vocabulary.

Video games can also lead to a reduced attention span and reduced ability to deal appropriately in social situations. Video games can also lead to eye and vision problems, headaches, sleeping difficulties, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Kids who spend a lot of time gaming even develop poor posture and shallow breathing.

Interestingly, the authors aren't totally opposed to video games but remind parents that they must be very careful about their use. This book is helpful to a parent as it gives us research to back up those gut feelings we have. Allowing a child to have unrestricted access to video games is a bad thing. It also gives you some pointers from these experts on how to spot video game addiction and how to get help for your child - and even yourself or a spouse if you are the ones with a problem.

Carrie Lauth is a homeschooling, work at home Mom of 4 and the mom behind http://www.naturalmomstalkradio.com/blog. Read more of her opinions on parenting books and other products at http://www.naturalmomstalkradio.com/blog/reviews

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

3 Highest Appraised Positive Parenting Tips That Are Certain To Deliver You An Easy Home Life!

Are you currently struggling to balance your family responsibilities along with all of your other chores? If this causes you to bear expression difficulties with your children, the next 3 positive parenting tips should greatly aid your dealings.

Only a few fast beliefs just before we move on. We see that being a guardian could be the most difficult event in the world. That's not in doubt. These, or just about any instructions or support you obtain from this post or it's links, have this exact issue in mind!

The very first positive parenting tip to keep in mind is in the case if a juvenile does not conduct himself or herself in a manner that you think is respectful, you must question yourself, are you currently delivering a model of your attitude that you are demanding of them? It is one event that is imperative, not to mention you can not underestimate this.
If you get quite busy in life, at intervals it's no trouble to fail to remember to do this. We just need to call to mind that it is unfair to expect our kids to act one way, while we act in a way that is inappropriate.

An additional, nevertheless every bit as critical a factor to bear in mind is really an extension of the first tip. If you desire your children to respond in a responsible way, you should always set a proper example, as we just pointed out. However, this really is very much easier uttered than actually done. It might be difficult to keep in mind to do all this only because we so often are so per-occupied with our every single day lives, that we don't see that you'll uncover small ones who're constantly watching us!

One of your best ways to get this done is to be clearly sure you stop for a minute just before you over-react. This way, you will be able to train yourself to be absolutely sure that you simply get the time to double-check whatever you will say or do. It is so crucial to complete this due to the fact, just about each event we say and of course do, will of course be repeated back again.

The final positive parenting tip we would like to deliver you today, is about parents' occasional inclinations to come down sternly on their kids. This is actually a topic which should be presented into many posts. However, in regards to the purposes of this succinct article, we want to present this little bit of advice.

If you are going to say something harshly, hostile, or in an extremely lecturing way in regards to the little ones, ask yourself this one single question. Would you say this specific event to your quite finest friend? When the reply is no, then do not say it to your youngsters. So, in a similar way which you simply stop just before you say, not to mention do anything you do not desire your sons or daughters to say and of course do, it should be a great technique to perform which each time you see yourself beginning to speak out severely in the direction of one of your kids.

Healthy Parenting Skills Are Worth Learning

You'll know all too well that parenting is a difficult job if you have children. But still, there are certain measures parents can take to help ease the many difficult and trying times. Becoming educated on the best ways of handling certain situations is the first key step to take. Whilst we do understand that each and every child has an individual personality, the behavior exhibited by any child isn't new. However, the new thing is your behavior and how you respond effectively. This article will offer some very useful tips on how to sort the issues in a positive way.

Children and adults alike will run into a similar difficulty which has to do with recognizing who they are and being okay with that. Children that grow up need to have strong and structured parents that give them a pathway or road map to follow as they get older. We want to raise our children in a way that allows them to feel loved and accepted, not criticized and judged. Unfortunately, there seems to be too little of that in this world. So you can give your child a most wonderful gift by simply letting him or her feel they are accepted. Love and recognition are powerful tools that you can use as a parent to help mold your children in the best possible manner. Children raised in this manner will have a more outgoing personality that will allow them to make friends much more easily. Peer pressure is something every child comes across and is exposed to, and the effects of it cause many different issues for parents. A big part of this all depends on your child's personality and what kind of relationship you have with him or her. Open communication can be very good for assisting your child. Knowing what is going on in your child's life is important, otherwise you will have no idea of what's wrong or how you can support them. During the teen years your child will start learning how to become independent, so the job of handling peer pressure becomes a lot harder. So, naturally the opinions of peers is very powerful.

Childhood obesity can result in difficult parenting situations if the child is enduring ridicule and harassment at school. Children can be immensely cruel to each other when they want to be, and this can result in a scarred adulthood. From the beginning you should try to stop your child from getting obese, as this is the ideal situation. This means that you need to ensure your child appreciates the situation and understands why it isn't healthy at all. But parents must be responsible role models by setting good examples for their children. It is difficult to counsel your child about obesity if you are also overweight.

So let's face it, some parenting problems will be a lot more difficult to deal with than others. But the good news is there are very many areas of support and education available. Getting a referral for a professional from the doctor may be something you should do if the situation warrants it. Parents must fully appreciate the fact that they're not doing everything alone, there is good quality information out there.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Choosing children's sun protection clothes

   by Kids And Outdoors

Sun-protection is so important for our youngsters to be able to guard them from melanoma in adult life. The significant source of skin cancer is an excessive amount sun and exposure to it is drastically decreased with some type of UV protection.

Since most dangerous skin cancers are preventable with the help of Ultra-violet protection gear or sun block lotion, there is no excuse to cause the children unnecessary danger through sun burn. UV protective clothing will be lab tested and may give a coverage to at least UPF 50 or higher.

Motivation – 10 Parenting Mistakes You Must Avoid with Your Kids

By Jean Tracy, MSS

Motivation is difficult when your kids won't try. Some parents get so frustrated that they try unpleasant methods which crush motivation and discourage character. Inside you'll learn 10 parenting mistakes you must avoid.

1. Praise Kids Only for Their Successes.

Parents who praise kids only for their successes:
  • Create anxious perfectionistic kids
  • Discourage kids from trying unless they have a guarantee of success
  • Lessen kids' ability to handle setbacks

Parenting: You Don't Have to Be An Expert to Guide Your Children's Character

By Jean Tracy, MSS

If you want your children to become a people of character with a crystal clear conscience and free of emotional pain, keep reading. Find out how conversations help your kids build character.

Kids Don't Respect Parents Who Lack Character

If children hear their parents say one thing but hear them gossip, yell, see them drink too much, or act the opposite of their good advice, kids won't take their good advice seriously. They won't respect their parents but they might walk in their same footsteps.

Character Building: How Parents Choose Self-Esteem over Outbursts

By Jean Tracy, MSS
If you're a parent and you'd like to choose self-esteem over outbursts, it can be done. Self-esteem builds character. Outbursts tear it down. Keep reading to find easy ways to build self-esteem.
“There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One is roots; and the other is wings.”
~ Hodding Carter

Choose Words that Promote Self-Esteem in Your Child

5 Parenting Mistakes: How Kids Learn to Disrespect You

By Jean Tracy, MSS

Did you know kids learn to disrespect parents who are too kind? If you already treat your child like a princess, you know what I mean.Let's learn the mistakes and then the solutions leading to character.
I remember a young teen in my family counseling practice, who told me what she thought of her mother.
“I hate that..." She used the “B” word. Then she muttered, “She's such a wimp.”
Her mother complained, "I don't know why she treats me like this. Since she was little, I've given her everything she wants. BINGO!

Parents, Here Are 5 Mistakes You Must Avoid:

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Benefits Of Children Getting Enough Sleep

Everyone believes sleeping is essential, however it is among the first things we take off our ‘to do’ checklist. You will have to reconsider making sleep a priority given it affects a great number of parts of your life. Additionally you want to lead by example for your children. A child getting the right amount of rest is essential for healthy development.

Friday, May 11, 2012

10 Ways to Keep Your Child's Brain and Body Healthy

Raising children isn’t easy. As parents, we are expected to do a lot of things for our children to insure their safety and wellness. Sometimes, it’s tough to know what is right for them, and what isn’t. After all, they have technology available to them that we never had. They also have a lot more distractions than we did. They are consumed with stuff! These things in life don’t always scream "hey, this is really going to hurt them later on down the road!"

So what are the essentials in life, in order to raise a happy and healthy child? I wanted to make a list of the most important things to remember, since life is so busy. I wanted to show parents that simple is best, sometimes, and raising a child in this day and age doesn’t have to be so difficult.

Here is a list of ten things we need to do with our children, to make sure that they will be well- adjusted, and to give them the best chance at life, when they become adults.

Requisites About Being a Parent

I am just absolutely sure every family has heard the expression, " it certainly is not easy to be a mom or dad". Nearly no person at any rate is eligible so as to be a mother or father once individuals first grow to be one. Merely via trial and error do people turn out to be superior parents and raise ones own children perfectly. To bring up youngsters very well, one wants to contemplate several factors that contribute when it comes to the development of your little one, even to the point of the games and toys kids play with.

How to Help Your Child Achieve Better in School

"If you want it seriously enough, you'll soon find a way to get it". A common saying that is easy to understand but how easy is it to actually do what it says?

One of the problems young parents face is that of helping their young kids achieve well in school. Many parents are aware that their children would need a little extra help but some of these parents are either not educated enough themselves, are too busy, or have not got the resources to give their children that extra push.

Helping Your Baby Through The Teething Process

When a baby begins to go through the teething process it can be very painful for them and very frustrating for you as a parent trying to provide some relief.

Most babies usually start teething around the age of 6 months. Typically, the two lower front teeth will come in first, followed by the two top front teeth.

The Four Parenting Styles

The following article offers some insight to those involved in the wonderful world known as Parenting.

There are just as many parenting styles as there are a number of parents. Experts believe the parenting styles fall into 4 different and identifiable styles: authoritarian, indulgent, authoritative, and uninvolved.
Let's examine this more closely. The first parenting style is that of the authoritarian parent. These parents are like army commanders. They prefer to issue commands and orders to their children and fully expect their children to carry out their orders without questioning them. Authoritarians do not welcome nor appreciate any feedback from their children. They live by set and defined rules in a structured environment.. These children as we now know, are generally considered to have an unhappy nature about them. Boys generally exhibit hostile behaviour when dealing with frustration, whereas girls tend to give up easily when faced with difficult situations. Both the boys and girls however, tend to perform better in school due to their disciplined upbringing.

Essential Abilities You Need To Have As A Parent

 Parenting isn't easy and there are some very important skills that you either already have or need to develop as you go along. May parents just raise their kids the same way that they themselves were raised and this is not something that always yields the best results. In this article we are going to look at some of the most important skills that each parent needs to have.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Summer's Coming: What Are You Going To Do With Your Kids?

The weather is warming up quickly. Summer camp registration is well underway. Before you know it, the pool will be open and it will be time for the beach, picnics and barbeques. It won't be long before your kids come home from school shouting, "School's out for summer!!"

Maths Tuitions - The Best Solution for Kids Who Are Struggling With Maths

Classes conducted in the school are not always enough to help your kids get through in their exams. This is especially true with maths, as many kids find it hard to keep up with the ongoing maths lessons in the class. However, there is no point in blaming the teacher, who is faced with the task of tending several students during the short period of the class. Hence, maths tuition can be the only solution, particularly if the child is struggling even with the elementary concepts.

Electrical Safety for Kids

If you're going to learn about electrical safety for kids, you should know the dangers of damaged or faulty electrical cords. Have you ever wondered why appliances have cords with a rubbery coating?

The rubber coating is actually an insulating layer that keeps the electricity trapped inside. An insulator is like the opposite of a conductor. A conductor lets electricity travel through it, whereas an insulator doesn't.
An appliance cord has both a conductor and an insulator. The conductor is on the inside, letting electricity from your wall socket reach the appliance. The insulator is on the outside, trapping the electricity within the cord and protecting you from electrical shocks.

Tips on How to Keep Kids Safe

Baby-proofing one's house is a huge ordeal, but many people do not go beyond what the book says and consider other dangers as well. In reality there are lots of issues both in and outside the home that offer risks most parents are not willing to take if they find out about them. Even simple tasks like getting in and outside of the car can be dangerous if using products improperly, and knowing about the issues helps people change to avoid huge mistakes.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Advice for a Healthful Baby

It is never too early to keep your baby’s heart healthy, and there are numerous little things that you can do just that. Probably the most critical things you should do is fill your pediatrician in on any heart problem history the family may have. You know that smoking may be bad for you lungs and heart, so naturally you don’t smoke around your baby.

Best Advice For Breastfeeding in Public

The advice on breastfeeding seems to flow thick and fast. Please forgive the pun. Some advice is often quite prescriptive; particularly to new mothers in the beginning, from well intentioned and busy midwives. Often the best advice comes from other Mums who have been there recently and learnt from their experience. Forums such as ‘mumsnet’ are often invaluable sources of frank and honest advice. If you read just some of the posts, the main thread of advice that comes through is; relax, take the prescriptive advice with a pinch of salt, let baby take the lead a bit and don’t get stress about it! After all, the alternative is far from the end of the world!

How to Help Your Anxious Child

How long will child anxiety last? When my daughter started having anxiety and then panic, I kept hoping it would last just a few weeks...then months...then a year. I am a psychologist so I knew what was happening but as a dad my expectations were all over the place like any parent. Having your expectations way off can make this journey more excruciating than it is already.

Real Food, Real Kids, Real Love: 10 (surprising!) ways to raise a healthy eater

Almost nothing troubles us more than what our kids will (or won't!) eat.

Whether you fear you are raising a carb-junkie, picky eater, or veggie-phobe, the root of that parental fear is all the same: that somehow, we can CONTROL our kids' tastes if only we have the right advice and food on hand. So then we invest: in advice books, cookbooks, kitchen gadgets (slap chop, anyone?), and most notably in our time, stress, and energy. We kill ourselves in the kitchen, guilt ourselves over 'failures', and chide our partners and relatives for undermining our carefully thought out-efforts. Sound familiar?

The truth is, all kids are different. Just like they mature and grow at different rates, so do their palates.

Understanding why your baby is crying

Often times, when a baby is crying they are trying to communicate their needs, which requires your assistance. It can be frustrating as a parent trying to identify what the baby's needs are. The majority of times, a baby cries because the diaper needs to be changed. Outside of this, it may be more difficult to understand what other factors can be at play. However, pay attention to the little signs your baby is giving. Doing so will make your job as parent much smoother.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

4 Ways Of Keep Your Baby Healthy

I am sure being a new parent you have heard all type of advice on how to take care of your baby, some wanted and some not. Everyone has advice on what to do whenever your child is well, but here are some ways to keep baby from getting sick.

As new parent you ought to be prepared to take your baby to pediatrician frequently. Many doctors want to see the baby monthly for the first six months and then once every 8 weeks until the baby is a year old. This allows the doctor to monitor the baby's growth and one of the best ways to keep your baby healthy. During these visits vaccines could be given. It is important that you keep the doctors schedule of appointments. These visits will significantly help to keep your baby healthy for a lifetime.

Keeping your baby's environment as clean as possible is the second thing you can do to keep your baby healthy. Observe a baby for some time and you will see that they're always rubbing their eyes and nose, and in addition they put their hands in their mouths frequently. So it is very important that before anyone touches the baby their hands need to be clean.

Dust can take the time a baby's delicate lungs, so you should keep the baby's room as clean and as dust free as possible. You should also be mindful with what you clean the nursery. Some household products may be harmful to baby's lungs. In the event you still can smell the cleanser once you are done cleaning, that is a good indication that you should not use that in the nursery. There are various steam cleaners that allow you to clean and eliminate bacteria but not use chemicals that could be harmful to baby. Something else to keep in mind is that stuffed toys are cute, but they also accumulate a lot of dust. Therefore keep plush toys to a minimum and keep them washed and clean.

Day care is a must for many babies and toddlers, so ensure that you ask about the centers cleaning and sick policies. Some questions you might ask might be – how frequently are the toys cleaned, is there diaper changing stations, and do employees wash their hands immediately after changing each diaper. Additionally, you will want to find out the policy about sick children. It really is difficult to miss work, but you do not want to bring a unwell child to daycare and expose the rest of the children to the illness.

One of the best ways to continue to keep baby healthy is feed him properly. Breast milk is packed with nutrients to help improve your baby's immune system. But don't worry if you're formula feeding, just seek out formula that is DHA and ARA fortified. When baby moves to solid, plant based foods provide nutrients that guide improve the immune system. You also need to include protein in baby's eating plan. Keep away from giving little ones snacks which are full of sugar since they can break down the baby's immune system.

And the final thing you can do to assist baby's immune system is to reduce baby's stress. Yes babies have stress. It's stressful to a baby when they are hungry, when their diaper needs changed or just daily learning and growing. Little ones cry to inform you they need something and crying is stressful for a baby, just as it is when you cry. Picking up baby to comfort him and discover what's wrong is a good thing. Don't get worried about spoiling him if you pick him up whenever he cries.

Babies also detect your stress. I realize that it's impossible to get rid of all the stress of everyday life. However you are able to change how you handle that stress. Find a way to eliminate the stress before spending some time with your infant. Both you and he will be more healthy for your effort.

Prevent Childhood Obesity - Is It Possible?

We are all quite aware of the growing concern of obesity in our children today. Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions in our society, and we've all heard the various statistics regarding this growing trend. But what really are the childhood obesity facts and what are we prepared to do about them?

Plain and simple these are your childhood obesity facts: our children are consistently eating too much of the wrong foods, and have become the most inactive generation in the history of our society. This is not a genetic problem (which is not to say that there are some adults and children that have a genetic and hormonal predisposition to obesity), this is for the most part a behavioural problem, and behaviours can be changed.

Think about it, is it really necessary for our children to be ingesting the vast quantity of refined sugars, processed foods, and hydrogenated fats that they do every day. Foods and beverages that are consumed in such large quantities that their bodies cannot process and eliminate at the rate that these foods are consumed. And because our children are not 'moving' any more, the results are inevitable: skyrocketing obesity rates, an alarming incidence of type 2 diabetes in children, a significant increase in childhood behavioural problems, with low self-esteem and a rise in depression rates.

These are your childhood obesity facts! The question has to asked, why are we allowing this to happen?

It certainly is not because of a lack of education or knowledge about what the proper foods are and what constitutes a balanced diet: complex carbohydrates (fruits, vegetables, whole grains), adequate proteins, and the right amount of good fats. And we all have an idea of the benefits of exercise both from a physiological and psychological level. We may not know the specifics but we know the generalities. The information and knowledge is at our fingertips, more available and accessible to us than at any time in our history.

Our problem lies in our habits and behaviours. How can we prevent childhood obesity? Change our behaviours. It sounds so simple, yet why don't we? Because changing our habits, changing our behaviour is the most difficult thing we do in our lives. We resist change, we are creatures of habit, with the same thoughts, and the same patterns of behaviour day after day. This leads to complacency and comfortable laziness, and we pass this on to our children.

Yet we must change for our children's sake. All change begins with awareness. Once we become aware of our behaviours and the consequences of them, we can begin to make conscious choices to change our behaviour and the behaviour of our children. And yes it is a greater challenge in our society today than in past times. It is so much easier to grab a quick dinner from a fast food chain and spend hours interacting with friends on some social media network.

But if we are to change these childhood obesity facts, conscious choices must be made for our children. Behaviours can change, and when they do, the results will change, and the growing trend toward childhood obesity will change as well. Change begins with a decision to change, and that choice is ours.

The Importance of Play in a Child's Life

It’s true that education is like a building block for a child’s future. All parents dream for a better career for their child’s life. Everybody wants their child to be doctor, engineer and wants to see them in high posts. In this cut throat competition children get pressurize with their activities to the extent that they don’t get spare time for their own entertainment. Teachers also keep the child busy during the holidays by giving them assignments and homework. Earlier children used to play with their siblings. So, the children easily got a play environment at the home. However, now the time spent by children in playing was very less as compared to the past two decades. Parents should understand that play is an important activity and they should not deprive their child from this opportunity.

Enhancing Your Kids’ Cognition Through Music

Cognition is defined as the mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience and the senses. By this definition, we can say that cognition plays an important role in how each one of us learn concepts and apply what we learn in real life. Not only do we limit learning in concepts rather it encompasses life’s lessons and important values. Because of this, concerned parties, including parents have ventured this arena and experimented on how to impart important lessons to others especially their children so as to reach their maximum potential.

And it doesn’t come as a surprise to learn that one of the most enjoyable activities of humankind actually helps in the development of essential cognitive systems. This activity is music making and/or music training. Listening to music passively helps in the brain development but recent research puts more weight in making music or playing musical instruments as boosters of cognitive development. The activities included here are composing music, reading music, analyzing, arranging, notating, and creating music. Accordingly, compelling evidence supports the hypothesis that these activities, collectively known as musical arts, may provide a positive, significant and lasting benefit to learners.

The essential cognitive systems developed in making music include reasoning, creativity, thinking, decision-making and problem solving. Neural firing patterns are activated and synchronized resulting to orchestrate and connect multiple brain sites. This results in the increase of the brain’s efficiency and effectiveness. Many research literature and academic articles are available explaining more about Music and the Brain.

Monday, May 7, 2012

Happy And Well-Adjusted Children – Three Essential Tips For Parents

Helping your teenager adjust to this stage of life is a valuable experience for the entire family. There is really nothing quite like the degree to which the entire family dynamic can change during these years. This can be a laborious task to overcome for all concerned. Unexpectedly, out of the blue your teen stands before you as if a stranger. At some point you begin wondering whether your judgment is questionable given the reaction from you child. Every day chats may take a fall. Listen to your heart – things aren’t as bad as they might seem.

        There are many possible outcomes and adverse impacts that an inconsistent atmosphere can have on a child’s mind. Anxiety will definitely rear its ugly head within your children if you are not consistent. You will end up with perplexed and troubled children if you rule your home unpredictably.
By being unpredictable, you will cause your kids to be nervous and confused every moment of the day. The child that suffers from stress and anxiety will begin to show those feelings through behavioral problems.
A child that is subjected to derogatory comments from anyone is being harmed on a psychological level. Such comments can last a lifetime, and be very damaging, especially when it is made by one of the parents. A child is totally dependent on the parents for learning everything, including how to be accepted, and how to love. Children grow up with self-esteem until it is taken away from them, usually by parents. Negative behaviors by parents affect their children, no matter who they are directed at, and the children may never get over it. A parent is supposed to be the protector of the child, but in many cases the parents behaviors cause fear in the child.

        Children need to be uplifted, so make your remarks positive. When you try to understand your children, and encourage them, they will respect you forever. If a person wants to be a good parent, then they need to give their children enough support so that they won’t think there is something wrong with them every time they make a mistake. The way to learn is to make mistakes, and then learn by your mistakes, that is what growing up is. We all have our natural talents and abilities, but very often a child will try something for which they are not the best talented at doing. Parents who have been giving their children positive encouragement, while they have been growing, will have the best chance of impacting them.
Being a healthy parent is defined by some positive, common sense guidelines that you must complete. Because of this there’s a high chance that you will make some mistakes in your judgment, but providing you learn from it it’s not a problem.

Monday, April 30, 2012

Children are great

Thinking back to when you was a kid did you ever realized how awe inspiring you were, what a wonderful vision, your center and steadiness. What a time of existence to recall. During that time frame of essence we are so special and basically God like. The time we do things, grown-ups think it is youthful. What a time, we as a grown-up now fear to be.

When you are a kid, you are to be viewed not listened to. We picture you are a tyke that has no advanced not realizing that a little person has improved within the womb of a mother. For example, a kid knows the fathers voice from within of the mothers womb, ever thought around then of life commencement the eyes may appear to be shut but still creates a development when the father speaks.

Several days in the past, I realized how persevering single kids might be. As squirts, we do what we are not permitted to do and when we develop into a grown-up, we quit doing those things. Why do we quit doing those things? Some of the time we are prevailed upon by certain things around us which have moulded our direction of behaviour and the things we do in existence, we have been shown by our guardians, our companions, surroundings, TV, radio etc… This has modified our God such as behaviour that limits us from doing what we suspect. The steadiness and center in us has gone as a grown-up. How about we remind us how steady and centered a youngster might be. Final week a mother went in the laundrette with her several kids. What happened is that they reminded me of my youth behaviour which I recognize surprising. I would be able to enlighten you a small story regarding that. When I was small, we utilize to have a small radio in our home in the late fifties, which I cherished so far when the radio could play. I utilize to surmise that there was a human head within of it. I had a desire to open it to see the head but assuredly my mother or father could evacuate me from the radio telling me to sit down. I could sit down for a few seconds then afresh, do a reversal to the same radio and I could inch toward getting smacked when doing it a few times but, that never stopped me from doing it which reminded me that the youngsters that go into the laundrette have the same aspects as I did when I was a kid. The little people went into activity whenever they went into the laundrette. They were playing with the laundry machines, touching and looking at the attire go adjust and adjust. Even though they were confined from touching it, they still carried on. What this piece is attempting to indicate, is that when we develop into mature people, we lose that instinct concerning center and in-susceptibility that was in us as a youngster. No matter what sort of business you do, you need to uncover the squirt in you that will make you center and diligent.

At the downturn of the economy, this is the chance to center and stay tenacious as a considerable measure of folks give up their dreams.

No matter the scenario you are in your business, don’t give up. Getting a load of how this economy is at this day and experience, it is the chance to endure and stay centered.

Beyond Supermom: How Being

If you're a mom, I wonder what comes up for you when you hear the phrase "super mom". How about: "oh brother, that is definitely not me?" Or perhaps a craving to be closer to the ideal mom you think you "should" be? Or frustration and rolling of your eyes as you imagine a mom who seems to have it all together? Perhaps with other moms you like to pretend you have it all together, or you talk about the ones who do. The truth is, no mom, no woman has it "all together" and once we can be real about that, we can support each other authentically AND feel more confident about our flawed selves and imperfect parenting.

I've struggled on and off my entire life with the alternating wish to "be liked and looked up to" with the awareness that I wanted to "be real". I think Motherhood brings out the best in us, but also all of our insecurities. This self-doubt can even start with pregnancy when we read books to prepare for parenting and find that "the experts" have completely opposing opinions! You quickly figure out that depending who is judging, you'll either be a wonderful mother, or a terrible mother when you make any decision about parenting!

As a therapist and life coach, I have worked with hundreds of women who struggle with anxiety and insecurities. I see that girls often "lose their voice" or identity and confidence around middle school and a similar thing can happen with women when they become moms. They may feel confident in work and other relationships, but their sense of self can be shaken and they doubt themselves and their abilities as a mom.

Many women have sat in my office struggling with guilt and self-doubt that is exaggerated by their belief that "other moms wouldn't do this/think that/forget things." Critical thoughts may intrude on a peaceful day at the park: "I can't believe I forgot to pack snacks and wipes. How could I be so stupid. I know all the other moms have their bags packed with everything they need all the time. It is probably obvious that I really don't know what I am doing!" Or later as your kids head to school and into adolescence, you face more complicated issues and the self-doubt can continue to creep into your thoughts. On my personal journey, I have alternated between wanting to feel "all together" and look OK on the outside, but also feeling drawn to reassure and encourage others that not one of us is perfect. I'm glad to share stories of how I'm certainly not and I love that there are so many books out now for moms that expose the myth of perfect parenting!

What I have learned over and over in my own life is that my identity is not made up of "what I do and what I accomplish" as much as "who I am". It was scary, but freeing for me in high school and college to figure out who I was beyond outside awards and achievements. The same can be true for us as parents. I invite you to consider how you can find freedom by stepping away from external measures of success and acknowledge who you are as a parent. This can be a gradual and life-long process, but you can learn to trust your instincts as a mom. We certainly need advice and support along the way, but I believe you are uniquely suited to parent and love your child.

To have more confidence, I encourage you to stop comparing yourselves to other moms. We all have our areas of strengths and struggle and if we are feeling inadequate, we often don't know the whole story of the other mom. I invite you to recognize your strengths more than your struggles and to let go of any "shoulds" that don't feel authentic to you! The great news is that when we relax about who we really are - imperfections and all - we feel more freedom to be the best mom we can be for our children. We can work on the areas of struggle without beating ourselves up and therefore we'll be more calm, more authentic, and more confident.

When you think of the moms with whom you love spending time, do they exude an aloof supermom persona? Probably not! "Being real" helps us connect! It helps us get the support we need as well as offering encouragement and reassurance to other moms. My hope is that you can let go of any strong negative reactions to the word "supermom"....that it won't bring up guilt, pressure, resentment or scorn, but perhaps it will just be the thing you use say in fun as you lift a 3 year old high in the air, or leap for a basketball with your teen, (feel free to put your own image here!) "Here I am! SuperMom!"

Some Good Ways To Correct Inappropriate Behavior in Kids

There are lots of ways to correct bad behavior in kids. For example, you can examine on age-appropriate improvement, select your words wisely, lead by example, praise good behavior, and involve the entire family.

Does it make you desire to scream in disappointment each time your child gets difficult? Are you questioning your parenting abilities when your child behaves abominably at play dates while the other children seem to sit around just like little angels? Worry not, for these are typical challenges that all parents face. Here are some ways to correct undesirable behaviors in children:
  1. Evaluate age-appropriate development :- When measuring your kid's behavior, it is not very accurate if you compare your child to other children. In fact, it is advisable if you graph your child's improvement against set standards instead. Read more books on kid education and then try to learn a little bit more about child psychology, to ensure that you will learn how to approach the behaviour troubles you are dealing with. For example, it does not make sense if you'd address young children like you'd troubled teens. Most undesirable behaviors in children are a result of their inability to voice out their frustrations, so they go to other ways to get some attention.
  2.  Select your words correctly :-A great way to make sure that you obtain the message across will be to use age-appropriate language. When conversing to your children, steer away from using complicated terms and try to utilize the right tone, so that they'll know what you are saying. Utilize simple phrases like "Do not do that" rather than "I forbid you from touching that". In some cases, all it requires is a stern look, so test out several strategies. If you're a mother or father of more than one child, you might realize that different kids respond to various treatments differently. This is especially true when they are younger. 
  3. Lead by example :- It doesn't make sense if you halt your kid from executing something, but you go along and do the same thing in front of them. If you're trying to educate your child never to litter, set a leading example. Your kids imitate you, and their behavior is really an extension of yours. So, if you're trying to educate your child to live right, you need to first start doing so yourself. This creates an atmosphere where your kids learn how to accept things the way they are simply because you've already set a good example of good behavior from the beginning.
  4. Reward excellent behavior :- The common saying says that you should never bribe your kids for good behavior, but you can always praise them upon great behavior. In case you're going for a household party and your child behaves superbly, perhaps have him an ice cream cone on the way back and be sure to praise him for behaving so well in the party. In this manner, your child learns to associate good behavior with good remarks and approval and will, therefore, seek to keep doing so. Children are easily shaped when they are still young, thus begin these early.
  5. Involve your entire family :- Children are wise with regards to sensing who they could push the limitations and lines with. Hence, if you want to use proper discipline, you involve and talk to the rest of the family. All your initiatives will be wasted if you're strict with your child, but grandma allows him to have dessert prior to dinner. In this way, your child learns that the boundaries could be pushed and modified depending on who's setting them, which is not good for them in the long run.
Taking care of children is a never ending activity, and it's only through true love that parents can form and shape the lives of their children. Show them this, and you'll be able to have a positive impact on your kids.

Are Your Parenting Methods Unable You? - A Parent Coach Advice

As parent coach, children age our tactics of parenting should alter with them. Have you found that your parenting abilities appear to be failing you? Has your child changed? This young, respectful, effectively behaved per-adolescent has changed over night! Now combative, hitting, arguing and you are at your wits finish! As our children transition from per-adolescents to adolescents of their life, parents are typically concerned with disciplining their adolescent. Children become more challenging as they grow up, they have a tendency to turn into uncontrollable. A parent's first response is to attempt to control the youngster.
Facing kids who are moving by way of those preadolescence and adolescent years, our tendency is often to end up responding to them in really controlling methods. We speak to them as if we have control over them, and we do not. We make the very same mistake with younger young children, but typically we get by with it for years.

Do We Control Our Young children?

The bottom line is that we do not control our young children. The far more that we end up falling into the trap of attempting to control them, when we do not have control, the far more we wind up in futile battles and constant struggles.

Let's assessment what it sounds like when you're genuinely trying to control your children, and it's not working. It could sound like any of these comments:

* "Cut that out."
* "Put that away."
* "Put that down."
* "Stop hitting your brother."
* "You're going to eat every little thing on your plate."
* "Clean up your room."
* "Do your homework."
* "Get off the phone."

You notice the theme. You're responding and talking to your youngsters as if you did have control.

As adults, do we like to be talked to in this way? Obviously not! And neither do your youngsters.

So what's the option?

The option is always to shift your focus from controlling your kids to controlling the environment. This is a vital distinction that shifts your focus from the illusion of having control over your children (because you do not) towards the reality of what you do control...your environment.

In fact, you control every little thing that your youngsters genuinely care about. You control whether or not the electricity works, whether there's a Tv or cable within the home, whether or not the vehicle goes to soccer practice, whether the phone works, and even what food is within the refrigerator. You control every little thing that they care about.

So instead of attempting to focus on controlling your kids, I encourage you to focus on controlling the environment in response to your children's selections. In the event you maintain your focus here, you'll be able to now control the consequences to every single selection! Your kids then begin to learn from the consequences of their choices.

Revolutionize Your Parenting

This approach can totally transform your parenting, as it gets you out of the world exactly where you use lots of words to attempt to manage behavior. Words will not teach the lessons you need to teach. Consequences will. And you control all the consequences that are truly important to your children.When you make this fundamental shift inside the way which you parent, there's a world of additional methods and approaches that will make life even better. 

I encourage you to use this idea as a beginning point, and ignore all the several voices on the market that are encouraging you to repeatedly speak to your kids when dealing with dilemma behaviors. Of course, when dealing with an occasional moment of upset, speak with your children. But, when you are struggling via a pattern of tough behavior, keep in mind to enjoy reality...and focus on control of the environment...not your kids!

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Honest Parenting

WHICH ROAD DO I HAVE TO TAKE TO REAR A GOOD CHILD?
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All throughout the parenting process, you'll find yourself thinking and even daydreaming about things like wonderful times you will spend with your child, but you have to put that one on hold just for now. Not that it's not proper to dream bout your child's future, its just that things happens differently in real life. 

THE PROCESS OF BEING A NEW PARENT.
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Parenting skills are something that you must become skilled at and it is basically earned. At the time conception, your gratifying job as a parent finally begins. 

HERE ARE THE PROCESSES THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW TO BECOME SKILLED IN PARENTING. 
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To find out answers to solving your parenting issues, you can talk to another parent whom has actually gone through that same situation with their before. There are parenting forums that are available online nowadays and some are equipped with online chat options. There are many websites about parenting and you can find nearly all solution to every type of situation out there. Try to look at how other parents have ended their issues and what their solution was and try to see if that may actually work for you.
PARENTING IS A NEVER-ENDING JOB. 
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Just because now that your child is taller than you doesn't mean that they are more matured and ready for anything that this world can offer them. To raise a child into being a good adult definitely takes a commitment (life long that is). Parenting is the most underpaid job ever and you do not even earn anything from being a parent. There is a time where the fine line of parenting is nothing but wide, smooth and straight, that is when you know exactly what to do. Parenting never stops, whether you realized it or not. 

TEACH YOUR KIDS SELF-RELIANCE 
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This would make them have fond childhood memories or in a way heal your own emotional wounds by giving your children all of these materialistic things, you are interfering with your child's development unconsciously. By giving acceptance, abundant love and affection to your child, they tend to be kinder, charitable and best of all responsible as opposed to those whose parents acceded to their every whims and materialistic demands. True independence is the only precious gift that you as a parent can actually give to your child. A strong integrity and well developed self-esteem stretches beyond any possession and approval of their peers. 

GET MORE COMPLIANCE FROM YOUR CHILD.
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By showing your feelings towards your child - Often times when you start to show compassion towards your child and reflecting back what or how they are feeling is helpful for gaining cooperation from your child. To be able to get to the next place with your child, make it fun - If your child is the type that has troubles with changes and becomes oppositional, you can ask him/her to hop like a kangaroo to the door, or even have their favorite thing waiting in the car for them thus providing cooperation from you child. A example of positive communication is, when your child asks "Can I watch TV now?" If your initial response to allowing your child to watch TV is "No, you can't watch TV right now, try saying, "You can watch right after dinner". 

COMMON CHILD AND PARENT PROBLEMS.
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Though, children do not realize that not all parents can actually afford to pay high prices for their children clothes and shoes, I know that your own child won't take that into consideration, he/she wants to be just like the others, and often say that if others have it, why can't they have it too. Going out alone is just not an option for children any more. There is no use in going back down your memory lane (your own school days) if you want to try to help your child with their homework, you'll just probably find yourself lost and unable to understand the child's homework, since all of the teaching methods have changed since your were last in school. Plus, by being a active parent in your child's school system you will learn about their behavior while at school. 

MAKE MEMORIES WITH QUALITY FAMILY TIME.
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All that you should is change the way that you think, this can be achieved with simple steps with just a bit of planning and forethought. 

THE FOLLOWING TIPS ENSURE THAT YOUR FAMILY TIME WILL BE STRESS FREE AND WILL ENSURE THAT YOU WILL MAKE YOUR FAMILY MEMORIES LAST FOR A LIFETIME:
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> Also, there should be a timeout for issues that have been brought up earlier and the issues should be continued at a later time which is another solution for enjoying stress memories. 

> Design your dinner table to be a little more festive, avoid the usual setting of a bouquet of flowers. 

Parenting Teens Without Losing Your Mind

It is just part of parenting teens to feel shut out and worthless as a parent, right? This is not the case. Most children (remember, teens are still kids) need a firm parental hand on their shoulder. While most of the time they will make good decisions based on what you have taught them through the years, other times they will struggle endlessly with peer pressure. The first thing that you need to do as a parent is to take a step back and then make your move.

Take A Step Back

Parenting teens is no easy task. The first thing that you need to do, no matter how angry you are, is to take a small step back and realize what is really happening with your teen. To do this, you need to realize what they are facing. They are facing peer pressure, constant rejection from friends and are usually struggling with their self image. They are under a lot of stress and do not need you to add to it.

Make Your Move

No matter what you see when you take your step back; you need to react to it. If you are thinking that you do not need to worry about your child because they will make the right choices, you are welcoming their pain. Instead, you need to pull them aside when they are having trouble and talk to them in a frank yet understanding way. For example, if you suspect that your child is doing drugs, sit down with them, tell them what you think is happening and offer to help them to get them back on track. No accusations, no pressure, just you being a parent.

Realize that all children make mistakes, even teens. The mistakes teens make are just bigger and more life threatening than those that toddlers make. Yet, parenting teens means being a parent to them. Realize what is happening to your child. Realize what you need to do about it. Forgive them for making the mistake and help them to get out of it. You will need to do this type of parenting for as long as you have teens.

Tips For Creating A Balance Between Your New Baby And The Job

Having a baby and a career is doable, nonetheless it can be challenging. If you're not organized it can seem as if you, your husband and the baby are in perpetual motion. The first thing you should know is that as much as you attempt and organize that something will invariably come up to disrupt her best laid plans. So learning to go with the flow will certainly be a big help. 

The way you do things will have to change and you should embrace that change. Several ladies don’t consider the change that occurs in your work environment when you have a baby. Prior to having a baby you were able to put in long hours at the office and then even go home and finish up projects. While you occasionally will probably be able to work extra hours that can not be the norm. I am not saying you career is doomed, I basically am saying you will need to change the way you do things and locate yet another method to get things carried out. 

Both mom and dad need to be on board with career changes. Dad and mom who must adjust the way they get things at work, to ensure that they are both home to take care of the baby and household chores. This needs to be a discussion that you've just before baby is born. And there should be buy-in and from both parties. 

An additional discussion that the parents will desire to have prior to the baby is born is about the organizations and superiors they work for. Is your workplace family friendly? It makes since to know what you companies policies are on family issues and how your boss feels. Knowing these things ahead of time will allow you to navigate these waters less complicated need to a family scenario arise. 

Your family will be unique, and so will the choices you make regarding work and family. Quite a few individuals could disagree with your selections, but they're your options and you should do what’s appropriate for your family. You'll also should be flexible. You might discover out after the baby is born that you need to modify your options or change course totally and that's okay. Finding balance takes some time. 

The bottom line is that juggling work and family is tough. But discover a system that works for you and you'll do great.

After School Program - Recreational Vs. Educational

So, your child is beginning to get restless and make you restless. He has got more time than is good for him, and you are now considering after school programs - anything that will keep him busy for a few life-saving hours! Most after school activities can be broadly classified into three - recreational, educational and society-oriented. The last bit usually comes in when your child is already a bit grown up and can voice his own interests.

Educational activities aim at furthering the knowledge of your child. His general awareness, his understanding and his memory are targeted and he is given various techniques that will help him improve one or all of these. Programs such as intensive memory training and speed mathematics are educational after school activities. There are academic programs that will go over your child's homework and class work and help the child gain more in-depth knowledge in the various subjects. Thus academic programs have a definite edge over the fun and games, especially if parents feel that their child has a lot of catching up to do.

Recreational activities include sports and games, fine arts, painting etc. The main thrust here is to have fun. Of course, classes become more competitive as the child climbs up the ladder. Many sport events, competitions, stage performances etc are held to encourage the child. 

When we compare the merits of the two kinds of activities, I believe that the recreational programs have more meat. Firstly, children do not enjoy learning unless they themselves feel curious about something. Most academic programs are standardized courses that are not too flexible. They have a general purpose and a well laid out methodology. After a number of hours at school, the child may feel bored. Further study may overwhelm him and make him feel frustrated. Burnout is very much a possibility here.

Recreational programs provide a welcome break from the monotony of learning and studies. The mental challenge and the physical exertion make the child feel a renewed zest and a pleasant sense of fulfillment. Group activity teaches him social skills, discipline and patience. It is a proven fact that children involved in extra curricular activities get better grades than others. Sometimes closing the textbooks and playing a game may be the best way to handle your studies.

Whatever program you choose for your child, regular evaluation is the key to success. You will have to measure the child's progress. If progress is unsatisfactory, shift your child out of the program. The child should also have the freedom to reject an activity if and when he feels bored with it. Generally, programs that combine the educational with the recreational are best suited especially for younger children. This way, children can have fun while they learn.

How to Adjust Your Baby's Natural Sleeping Rhythm

Day sleeping is similar to eating, every child is different. Develop a schedule based on what you see in your baby, and once that schedule naturally forms, try to stay to it. You have to bend your schedule around your child's if you want consistency. In other words, if your baby usually goes to sleep at 7:30 P.M., don't take her to a class that starts at 7:00 P.M. or leave for the mall after 6:00 P.M. Plan your day around baby's sleep schedule, and both of you will be much happier because you'll soon fall into a predictable rhythm. 

A lot of mothers get upset that their babies can be so fussy at certain times of the day. I say, "Get used to it and deal with it!" Most of this frustration stems from the fact that Mom has not taken the time to get to know her baby's natural rhythm, and she has tried to make her baby work around her own schedule. Just because you can wake up at 6:00 A.M. to get ready and go to work doesn't mean your baby can adapt to your schedule. It might not be convenient for you to put baby to bed at 7:00 P.M. and wake up with her at 4:00 A.M., but you're only asking for trouble if you plan a big gathering that doesn't get started until after 7:00 P.M., and then get frustrated that your baby is so fussy. Of course she's fussy¡ªshe's tired, and it's past her bedtime! 

The good news is that sleep schedules change quickly. The first ten days will be a lot different than the first ten months, and the routines won't really stop changing until your child is done with her naptimes. By two months, your child will be physically capable of sleeping through the night without being fed. By three or four months, most babies (but by no means all) should sleep either through one nighttime feeding or through the entire night. At that point, you can be a little bolder about letting him cry. It's your job to help distinguish between naptime and bedtime so that junior can begin to get a feel for what's going on. To do this, create a new ritual for bedtime¡ªgive baby a bath, sing a special song, darken the room, give baby a special toy or blanket. Do something that signifies this is different from a typical nap¡ª and stick with it, but remember to keep it manageable, timewise. 

Just remember: You're the mother. You are in charge. If baby starts to sleep more during the day than the night, it's your job to get him turned around. Get him up from his afternoon nap, play with him a little more vigorously before you put him down so he's extra tired and ready for nighttime, and feed him a little extra. You may have to help your child find an acceptable sleep rhythm.