Our parents were far from perfect. Now that you are a parent you probably realise that you also are far from perfect. Learning from other parents is key to being a good parent, so we’ve supplied you with some answers to a variety of parenting dilemmas.
When bringing a new baby home from the hospital, accept a little help from friends and neighbors. Friends can help by preparing a dish that you can keep frozen for a quick meal. Neighbors might be willing to chip in with a couple of errands or housekeeping duties. Taking advantage of the extra help will give you some rest and bonding time with your new baby.
Spend time with your children. While there has been a movement in recent years for parents to focus on “quality time” with their children, most children simply want “quantity time”. Even if you’re not doing anything, your child enjoys being around you – savor it. In addition, spending time interacting with young children is vital to their intellectual development.
If you have children in your home and you have a fireplace, make sure to get a fireplace or hearth gate. Thousands of children are injured each year from fireplace accidents. These injuries could have easily been prevented if the parent had taken safety precautions and gated off the fireplace.
If you are a savvy mother that likes to do home haircuts, this tip may help you succeed in a great home hair cut. If you are cutting bangs, just cut the hair that reaches the outside of the outer corners of the eyebrow. It will make it easier for you to cut them straight and even.
Talk to the school about those heavy text books your child is expected to carry back and forth between school and home. Despite efforts by the medical community to alert them, many schools remain apparently oblivious to the potential dangers of children carrying loads that are too much for them physically.
Don’t badmouth yourself in front of your children. The habit will pass on to them, and when you first hear your child call themselves “dumb” or “ugly”, you’ll be mortified. Speak highly of yourself, your spouse, your other kids, and everyone else. It will cause your child to be more positive, and that will benefit them throughout life.
Once in a while, give your young child the option to do extra chores for a little money that he can use for anything he likes. The amount of money does not really matter, but this will teach him the fact that money can be earned by working for it, and that he can save it to buy something he likes. Having his own money will give him a sense of empowerment.
Children often want to be our “little-helpers”� in the kitchen while we are cooking dinner. Take some pots and pans, along with a wooden spoon and a rolling-pin and let your little one bang to his hearts content. Encourage him by telling him how helpful he is being, and how you love when he helps you cook. This should entertain him long enough for you to whip up dinner.
Being a parent means that you need to take responsibility for your children. When your child is around their grandparents it is important for you to make sure that you are still the one that guides and disciplines them. You should not let your parents take over the responsibility of parenting your child.
Educate yourself on how to disagree the right way. Disagreements between you and your partner are going to happen. It’s just part of life. But one of the toughest things children can see is loud and inappropriate fighting going on between the adults in their lives. It’s important to learn how to disagree properly with your significant other to keep your child out of very awkward situations.
To foster an environment where reading is encouraged, make sure a child is surrounded with books from a young age. For infants, have books with mirrors and textures that they can enjoy without language skills. For older children, have books with lots of pictures, and read to them often. A love of reading is formed very early, so it’s important to always create a reading environment.
If your child is being bullied, talk to them about it. Have family members share their own experiences with bullying and how they handled it, and make sure to support them unconditionally. Also contact the school and see what methods are in place for teachers and staff to help the situation.
When a child is very young, it is easy for parents to be overbearing and exhaust themselves by spending too much time with the child. It is important that parents remember to take breaks to keep their energy high. It can help the child become more independent if the parents are not always hovering around. Taking breaks can also help the parents be more positive and refreshed when they spend time with the child.
While the needs of children often must come first, it’s important as a married parent to make your marriage a priority. There are many benefits for children whose parents have a healthy marriage. They are more likely to attend college, have a better relationship with both of their parents, and are emotionally healthier and more stable.
Positive Parenting
Positive parenting is a great practice to follow because it allows for structure and discipline for the child. Parents that practice positive parenting methods focus on the good things that their child is doing rather than the negative. By doing this, parents build up the self esteem of their child, as well as promote a positive environment for everyone.
