It is often said that being a parent is the most rewarding career. As true as this may be, there are a lot of ups and downs and sometimes you just need a bit of good advice. This article will give you that strong cup of wisdom that you need in order to govern your children as best as you can.
When you have an infant, it is important that you keep an eye on your child at all times. At this stage in their life they cannot take care of themselves. Without keeping an eye on them they could get away with something that could injure them or possible kill them. For example,they could put something in their mouths and obstruct their esophagus.
Do not put work above your child. Of course it is necessary to work in order to support yourself and your family, but if you are never around, your child is going to feel like you are a stranger, which will make them not want to trust you or be close to you.
It is vital for parents to remember that children reach milestones at different ages. Parents feel like there is something wrong with their child if they don’t do things by a certain age, such as walking or talking. However, if your child is way past due for certain things, such as walking or communicating, take them to the doctor for testing.
Although most medication labeling states dosages according to age in years, you should consult your pediatrician if your child falls within those age ranges but is significantly heavier or lighter than other kids his or her age. Children metabolize certain medications much differently than adults, and dosing based on weight is more likely to deliver a therapeutic amount of the active ingredient.
Teach your child through example. You cannot successfully teach your children right from wrong if you are constantly doing the things that you tell your child are wrong to do. They are bound to follow your lead so keep you actions and words in check when those little eyes and ears are upon you.
Making bath-time fun will encourage your children to have good hygiene. Make sure you have plenty of bath toys for your child to play with. A variety of toys will keep them from getting bored too easily. With color changing bubbles, and water markers, your children will want bath-time to last all night!
Of course you want to bundle your little one up all toasty-warm in the winter, but be careful not to over-heat her. As parents, we tend to want to layer our kids to death every time they step out into the cold weather. Keep in mind how warm you would be, stuck in a car seat in long-johns, sweatpants, and a snowsuit. Although this may be proper attire for sledding, it might be a bit much for a ride to grandmas in the heated car.
If your child has a hard time settling down for bed, try white noise. You can use a dedicated white noise machine, a radio tuned to static, or even apps from your mp3 player or cell phone to create soothing background noise. Playing a relaxing song or CD on loop can also put your child to sleep.
Allow your child an appropriate level of independence. For example, when your child is ready to walk to school by himself, consider whether or not it is reasonable and NOT whether or not you feel comfortable with it. You’ll never be totally at ease with letting your child do things on his own, so just relax and let him have some leeway.
A great tip to help you become a better parent is to show your child the same respect that you want from him or her. You’re not likely to be respected by your child if you demand respect all the time and you aren’t respecting your child’s boundaries or ideas.
Cooling down over-the-counter child medications can make them more palatable for your kids. When you child refuses to take the medicine he or she needs it’s easy to get tremendously frustrated. The disagreeable taste of over-the-counter liquid medicines can be ameliorated with a little cooling. Put OTC syrups in the fridge or freezer to make them tastier to your children.
For better parenting performance, you should remember that your life as a parent and as a worker are not separate. If your job tends to give you stress, avoid taking that stress out on your children at all costs. When a parenting situation tempts you to be angry or disappointed, keep in mind the other stressful factors in your life that may contribute to your attitude.
No matter how busy you are, make the time early on to be directly involved in your child’s education. In the short term, this will help socialize them and improve their confidence. In the long term, it will improve their school performance. Science, math and reading are equally important, so don’t weigh one more heavily than another.
Listen to your kids. Beyond just trying to make excuses and complain about stuff, they do try to tell you things. If you are listening to them you can correct a lot of issues before they get out of control. They need to feel like they can talk to you and that you will actually listen and not just hear what you want to hear.
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.
