Parenting: The Challenge

Sometimes it can be a fight to get your kids to brush their teeth and you don't want it to be a power struggle. You want to start early enough that it becomes a routine so that big problems don't develop later on.  Have them be involved in the process of picking out their own toothbrush and the toothpaste. You may even want to get a sand timer so they know how long they should be brushing. Help them out when they brush showing them how by brushing your own teeth, most kids like to do what you are doing. You may want to put a rewards system in place to encourage them and get them excited about brushing their ...

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Facebook just keeps growing and more parents are allowing their teens to create an account. It can be a challenge understanding how the privacy settings work to be sure that private information about your teen does not go out into cyberspace for all to see. The default settings that facebook puts into place are probably not good enough at keeping the privacy of your teen. You want to talk to your teen about the possible dangers of being online and what they can do to protect themselves and keep what they consider to be private out of public domain. There is an excellent article on how to use these Facebook settings in order to be sure that everything is set ...

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It's fairly normal for teens to experience angst but when is it considered depression? I recently read that an estimate 20% of teens will experience depression at some point before they reach adulthood. 20-40% will experience more than one depressive episode within two years and 70% will have more than one depressive episode before they reach adulthood. Those figures are staggering! Know the symptoms of depression in teens; fatigue, changes in weight or eating habits, loss of interest in activities they normally enjoy, feelings go hopelessness or worthlessness. Many teens are under a great deal of stress and are going through hormonal changes and are moving into becoming independent. The best thing you can do is be there for your ...

More about: Teen Depression or Just the Blues?

Privacy among the younger generation could be a different version than yours. With all of the social media outlets and cell phones teens and even tweens are posting candid photos and private messages. many times it's posted publicly for friends which means strangers may have access to them as well. Many times children don't understand how public their postings actually are and don't pay attention to privacy setting online. It's important to talk to them about the possible consequences of posting these things on the internet or even sending things through their cell phone. Talk to them about the information they are sending and to whom, they need to be aware of privacy settings that they have control over so ...

More about: Are Your Kids Too Public?

There isn't much instruction in schools for how to manage money. This is an important skill for teens to have to prepare them for the real world. Many just get credit cards and many haven't learned about personal finance management and can end up with a credit score that could hurt them for many years. Here are a few tips about money to keep in mind when talking with your teen; let them know that they should really think before buying, not buying on impulse. Be a good role model by having them see you save. If your teen gets an allowance, talk to them about saving, spending and donating it. Another way to teach them about money is for ...

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Anyone that's ever had more than one child or has siblings knows they can have a hard time getting along. There are a few things that you can do to encourage them to play nice and get along., Treat them fairly don't ever lead them to believe that you like one better than the other. Teaching kids how to handle their emotions is a good practice. When siblings push their buttons they can learn not to respond in a negative way. Create opportunities for positive play, know when not to put them together in a situation that can create a conflict or fight. Let them work out their fights and disagreements, they need these important skills and not always run ...

More about: Help Siblings be Best Friends Forever

Whether it's your first baby or the second or third, the relationship with your partner can go through changes. If it's your first abby, get in as much couple time as you can before it comes. If this isn't your first baby and you have someone who can sit for you, plan some nights to get away just the two of you. After the baby arrives, take some time. Make sure you ask for help when you need it and communicate your concerns.  It's important to have some time for the two of you after the kids are asleep whether it be watching a movie, having dinner together or having a bath together. There will be sacrifices but if you ...

More about: Relationship Changes After the Baby Arrives

Going through a divorce is painful for everyone not just the parents involved. Children need to know that they will still have some solid things in life that won't change. Assuring them that the divorce is not their fault and that both parents love them is key. There will be changes and if you explain to them what those changes are and how they might be affected they are adaptable. It's important that you share the facts about the situation without making either parent the "bad guy". Allow them to share their feelings and upset with you about what is happening. Most of all try and maintain continuity of their daily routines. Co-parenting is no small task but do your ...

More about: Being Consistent with Your Children Through a Divorce

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.

More about: How to Talk to Your Children

I came across an interesting blog post where this grandmother talks about being at a play area with her grandson. Rules of proper behavior while playing were posted all over the area and she noticed that two little girls were not following them. She made an interesting point about how letting kids bend the rules or not follow them when they are young can lead to issues later on when they become teenagers. If they didn't have to follow the rules when they were young, why would they think they should when they are in their teens? Check out her parenting post to read more.

More about: Following the Rules