Parenting: The Challenge » Parenting Skills

How to Talk to Your Children

admin — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:18:18 +0000

The words you use to speak to your children and discipline them are very important. You want to be able to be a nurturing, teaching parent and not shame them and influence a low self-esteem. More than you know, children pay attention to what you say to them and how you say it. Make sure you use positive words for discipline and praise like “you can”, “do your best”, or you can behave in a better way”. Using words like this can instill confidence and empower them to be the person they want to be.

How to Get Things Done with a Toddler

admin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:25:32 +0000

Toddlers take up so much of your time, with the feeding, changing, teaching, and playing it can be hard to get things done like house cleaning or work. Make the most of their nap time in order to achieve these chores. You will also want to take this tim for some relaxation for yourself as well which is important so you can re-energize for when your toddler is up! If your child no longer takes naps you can enforce “quiet time” have them stay in their room or somewhere where they cane play quietly with books and toys, letting them know that they will need to occupy their time alone for a little while. It’s important for children to learn to play alone at times. Sometimes you may even get them involved to help you with house chores or running errands, try to make it fun and allow them to bring a toy for the journey.

Balancing Parenting and Housework

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:18:12 +0000

It can be tough to get all the house chores done where you’re juggling children at the same time. It doesn’t have to be a complete nightmare. First letting go of perfection will be a huge help. if you like things to be just so, no one else will want to help you, you’ll have to do it all. let your children help you with the chores and be patient and forgiving of their work. They may even find it fun. You’re also teaching them a good work ethic that they will use as adults. Some task may have to be done by an adult and they may need to wait for your attention which is fine. They need to know they are not the center of the universe. Enforcing quiet time is a good way for them to learn to play alone and for you to get some things done. There will be times when you’ll need to let go of the agendas you have set and spend time with your kids that’s the most important.

Dining Out With the Kids

admin — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:05:10 +0000

It’s possible for families to avoid chaos during an evening out to eat but following a few guidelines. Schedule the outing around your child’s own schedule. It’s not advised to go if they’ve missed a nap or it’s close to nap time. Consider the type of environment you’ll be in, is it noisy? Is it kid-friendly? Prepare them before getting to the location, that they will need to stay seated at the table during the meal. Include them into the conversation at the table. Bring a bag of things for them to do in case they get bored, like washable markers, small books, stickers and some snacks in case they don’t like the food being served. Also acknowledge their good behavior and let them know how much you enjoyed spending the time with them.

Keeping Your Children Safe on the Internet

admin — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:05:20 +0000

The internet is something my parents never had to worry about when I was growing up. Now that I have my own child I try and find good ways for him to be safe while using it. My son is only two but already he knows how to use the computer and the ipod touch. I would advise against letting your kids have a computer in their room, keep it in a central location. Monitor the time they have on it. If you’re worried about them accessing certain sites, set up parental blocks so they can only go where you specify. Talk to your kids about what sites they like and what they want to do on the internet. Online safety is very important and needs to be taken seriously.

Teasing Kids Can be a Helpful Parenting Skill

admin — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:54:40 +0000

There is new research that suggests fathers that are able to be a kid once in a while is a good thing. Teasing children in good fun while playing games can actually teach how to show affection and deal with conflict. It could be a video game and playful wrestling. As long as it’s good-humored fun and they can identify when the teasing turns to bullying. This type of teasing play can benefit their social, physical and intellectual development.

Support Your Child’s Potential

admin — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:54:14 +0000

This a great article about how to nurture your child’s potential. It is the parents responsibility to to provide an environment for empowering their children to become all that they can be. This article provides five ways to do this. Assurance, encourage, challenge, equip, and trust. Children need to be assured that you believe in them and need encouragement about their strengths and talents. It is important to challenge them and help them reach their potential. Parents need teach them the skills that they will need to achieve that they want to be. Make them understand that they will make mistakes, but that they will learn from them and apply them to their next endeavor.

When Children Ask Difficult Questions

admin — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 19:43:09 +0000

When your child gets to the age where s/he questions everything, it can’t be difficult to give them an answer, especially if you are not prepared! How do you deal with this? Children are naturally curious about the world and look to you their parent for guidance. Be as honest with them as you can, don’t lie to them. They are more likely to come to you as they grow older if you are honest with them from the beginning. You don’t need to explain a long drawn out answer, just keep it simple and to the point. If you don’t know the answer to their questions, tell them so and have them help you find the answer together.