Enjoy Your Children and Parenting!

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 ...

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We are always hearing about how the internet can be detrimental to children if we don't have some rules and consequences in place. The internet can be a very helpful and useful tool. Kids today are very tech savvy and pretty much "plugged in" to technology these days. With that in mind there are several web sites that offer alternatives to traditional study aids such as flash cards and multiple choice quizzes. Kids can access these tools wherever and whenever they want on their own time and many cost very little or nothing at all. These study aids are for students that range in age from 7 years old to the teenage years. These sites represent a dramatic evolution in ...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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If you're looking for some family fun here's a good travel idea; make your own city guide. If you're on a budget this can work really well and you'll get to know your home town better. Staying within  a 50 mile radius of your home will allow you to save money and help out your local economy. Before summer comes start making a list of attractions you really like to see so when summer is finally here, you have your own travel guide to work from. During your trips take photos, hold on to keepsakes you found, and keep a travelogue. At the end of the summer you can create a book to remember all of the fun times you ...

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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 ...

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I recently read about a book called "The 5 love languages of Teenagers" by Gary Chapman who talks about how important parental love is for a teenager's emotional, intellectual, social and spiritual development. He makes a point that all teenagers are different and they all respond differently to various ways that parents communicate love. In Chapman's book he explains the five languages of love; words of affirmation, physical touch, quality time, acts of service and gifts. He also offers advice on how to break down destructive patterns and forge constructive paths.  parents will learn that even though teens want independence, they need responsibility. This looks a like a great resource for how to better communicate with your teen.

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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 ...

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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 ...

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As our standard of living grows and we become accustomed to more comforts in life, our kids can also be affected and they can tend to think they are entitled to certain things. There are ways to avoid this scenario, it just takes a little work on the the parents' part to enforce. Anything that a child can do for themselves, let them. Parents don't realize that if you don't let your child do for themselves when they can that they are actually making them incapable. They need to understand that the world is not at their beck and call and that they will need to take care of themselves as they get older. You should not have to keep ...

More about: Are You Raising an Incapable Child?