Enjoy Your Children and Parenting! » Parenting

A Popular New Drug Among Teens

admin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 01:54:55 +0000

There is a new drug called “K2″ which is popular among teens. It has also been called “genie” or “spice”. It’s legal in most of the United States and is packaged as incense or bath salts. It’s not difficult to find for purchase, it’s sold in head shops, magazines and online. This drug can be more than 15 times more powerful than marijuana and cannot be detected in a drug test. Nationwide there have been more than 500 hundred calls to poison control centers this year about the drug. Side effects can be tremors or full blown seizures and the DEA is currently researching what is in the drug and making a claim of whether or not it can be categorized as a controlled substance. This is something that parents definitely need to keep on their radar and talk to their teens about the dangers of engaging in this drug.

Be Patient With Your Children

admin — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 22:16:04 +0000

Sometimes you want your kids to grow up as much as they do so that they can take on doing things themselves. Every child reaches milestones at their own pace and you as the parent just need to nurture them and be patient with them as they explore their world. you may find that she is very shy and timid when you drop her off at preschool the first time, but after a while she won’t be able to wait to get there and play. Your job is to teach your child to be effective, capable and independent and they may not get there on your time line. Teaching your child to be brave and try new things is great, just be sure to allow them a chance to feel things out and be comfortable with taking the next step.

Summer Safety Tips for Your Children

admin — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 21:50:56 +0000

Summer is a time when kids are outside playing most of the day, older kids go to the mall or hang out at friend’s houses. How can you help keep them safe while they are out and about as well as having a good time during their summer vacation? I have some tips to share. Prepare your child for the possibility of getting lost and what they can do. Pick a meeting place and a time to meet in case they do get lost. have them find other families with children to get help. If they are at an amusement park have them find an employee to get help. They should be aware of strangers and know not to approach a car if they don’t know who is driving. It’s smart for your kids to hang out with at least one other friend when traveling to their destination. If your child is old enough to be home alone, be sure they know the emergency phone numbers. Call to check in periodically to make sure everything is going ok. Your child can have a safe and fun summer vacation while observing these few tips.

The End of the Toddler Napping

admin — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 21:19:19 +0000

When your child reaches the age of about 3-4 there’s a good chance that naps will begin t be a thing of the past. If you’re a parent like me that works from home, no more naps means I have to get creative. Your child may not have entirely given up the nap but he or she may have days where the nap just doesn’t happen. If you are beginning to see that your child is having a “no nap” day , relax. Have her stay in her room with books to look at. Let her pick out a few toys to bring in her room with her. Put a digital clock in her room and tell her that she has to stay in her room until the clock reads “2:00″. Even if your child doesn’t nap anymore it’s a good idea to create some down time in the middle of the day so there’s less chance of grumpy or whiney encounters.

Knowing a Child’s Temperament

admin — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 22:36:57 +0000

Parenting a toddler can be a challenging task, but knowing your child’s temperament can really help with things don’t seem to be working. I’ve noticed lately that my three year old really needs a routine or he doesn’t pay attention or gets upset if something goes a different way than he thought. In seeing this about his personality I can see how staying with the routine as much as possible is beneficial, but prepare him for changes that might come up. He needs to understand that plans can change, but that things will still turn out ok. He likes to know that he can count on things to go a certain way. Reasoning with toddlers can be tough so being sensitive to their feelings and trying to redirect them to something else like changing the current activity or taking a break can be helpful.

Stressed Parents Can Mean Stressed Kids

admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:40:49 +0000

All parents have had the stage with their child when they seems to be throwing tantrums more frequently and you can’t understand why they are so upset. If you are stressed at home, your child very well maybe be reacting to that stress by acting out, getting upset or having a tantrum. There is a kind of symbiotic state where all of your energy gets wrapped up into each other. It i so very important to take care of your well-being so that in turn you will be taking care of theirs. Try having a relaxing slow-paced day. Allowing for some down time will create more of a stress-free day. “Recognizing Stress in Children” by Dr. Krill talks about what can trigger tantrums, some possible causes and signs.

Tips for quick Health Family Meals

admin — Tue, 18 May 2010 21:06:39 +0000

Now that the weather has gotten better and the sun is out the motivation for cooking can really slow down. You want to be out enjoying the day, not slaving away in the kitchen or going grocery shopping. Saving time is a big deal but so is eating well. Keeping the family fed is one of the most time consuming parts of being part of a family. We could all use some help if we get home late, or when we just need a mental break from keeping the family fed. Parent hacks has some great lists; quick and easy meals, time-saving meal preparation ideas and meal planning and grocery shopping. You are bound to find some excellent help with these time saving family meal tips that will also help your sanity!

Signs of Anxiety in Your Child

admin — Fri, 14 May 2010 21:06:33 +0000

Anxiety can often go unnoticed in children, because it is a disorder that is internalized in contrast to disruptive disorders like aggression or ADHD. Parents need to be aware of physical complaints or ailments that are psychological in nature. An example would be in your child says he has a headache or stomachache but shows no organic or medical cause for these symptoms. They may in fact be experiencing anxiety. Cognitive behavioral therapy regards anxiety as a three part issue, psychological (body), cognitive (thoughts) and behavior (often avoidance). Normally psychological symptoms of anxiety include muscle tension, stomachaches, shallow breathing and restlessness. If you believe they are in serious danger take them to their pediatrician. However, one way to determine if the issue may indeed be anxiety, see if any patterns exist; when do they have these complains or physical symptoms? Is it before school or bed time? Paying attention and being aware of these encounters will help in determining if your child is suffering from anxiety.

Honor Your Children and They Will Honor You

admin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 19:57:38 +0000

The best way to teach your children to honor you and others is to be a good model. No one is perfect but if we are mindful about building trust, love and respect you will be honoring your family. If you are attuned to your child’s needs over time they will learn that they can rely on you and that you will be there for them. There are some steps you can follow in order to develop a secure relationship with your child. Be consistent with them, they will begin to understand that you mean what you say. Respond to them when they are trying to communicate, if you’re busy let them know and that you will be with them in a moment. Take them seriously if they have concerns about something, never mock or tease them. When they are in need of you give them your full attention. You are their best teacher, honoring them and giving them your respect will teach them to do the same for you and others.

Parents Encouraging Bad Behavior

admin — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 20:39:52 +0000

There are many parents that use material things in order to get good behavior from their children. It seems that many of these parents try to make up for not being available enough to spend time with their children, so they are left to entertain themselves. Parents that use this tactic are often surprised when their child is not wanting to learn or misbehaving at home and school. This teaches them that they don’t need to behave unless they get something out of it. Children need to be taught that good behavior is not something to get something for, that it is expected. They need to understand that school is their job and that the teacher is the authority. The real world does not work that way and it only harms them in creating disrespectful and incapable adults later in life.