Many parents are understandably nervous and unsure of whether they are good parents or are going to be good parents. Raising a child or having a new child can be one of the most stressful things that a person might have to deal with during their life. This article will alleviate some of those concerns by offering advice on how to be a better parent.
In order to have a proper developing toddler, it is important that they get many hours of social interaction. A great idea to get this done is for them to enter a preschool. This way, they can meet other children their age and build their knowledge basis at the same time.
Prepare your child for a lifetime of safe street-crossing behavior. Always hold hands, look both ways, and then look both ways again when crossing a street or walking across a parking lot. Starting early will instill the importance of this responsible in your child, keeping them safe and sound as they walk to school or accompany you to the store.
Make sure your swings and mobiles use plugs over batteries. When you have twins you are using two of everything and that will include double the batteries. Save yourself the extra cost by only buying or registering for items that you can plug in so that you won't have to take out a mortgage for batteries.
Use common household items to keep your child entertained. Items such as empty paper towel rolls, pots and pans, empty boxes and old clothing, can easily occupy a child's imagination without a lot of financial investment. As an added benefit, children encouraged to use their imagination in play, are often more successful at problem solving as they get older.
Establish a relaxing, fun bedtime routine to help ensure your child a good night's sleep. When a child is having fun playing, or excited about what he is doing, it's a real mood-buster to hear the dreaded words, "Bedtime. Right now!" Instead, try to wind down the evening with a 15 minute warning, followed by a bedtime snack, tooth-brushing, or maybe a few minutes of cuddling on the couch. An interesting, funny, or happy bedtime story is the perfect end to your child's routine, as it gives him some alone time with you and helps him relax on his way to dreamland!
Treat your child the way you'd want your parents to treat you. If you hated it when your child screamed at you, your child will, too. Talking in a calm, rational manner is more likely to get you heard than screaming. Show your children how you would like them to behave when they are angry.
How to cope with negative peer pressure? A significant issue for many parents with children starting school is how to deal with negative peer pressure. Ideally, a balanced picture of self worth or self esteem can fend off peer pressure for your little one. Unfortunately, sometimes situations may arise that require more immediate solutions. In these cases, if the parent or child is unsure how to resolve the situation, there are hotlines available to give advice that are accessible 24 hours a day.
Don't badmouth yourself in front of your children. The habit will pass on to them, and when you first hear your child call themselves "dumb" or "ugly", you'll be mortified. Speak highly of yourself, your spouse, your other kids, and everyone else. It will cause your child to be more positive, and that will benefit them throughout life.
Make use of online video conferencing to build your children's relationships with relatives who live far away. By scheduling regular calls with grandparents, aunts, and uncles, your child will become familiar with their relatives and not be timid around them when they come to visit in person. Your child will be able to enjoy the relationships despite the distance.
Never assume that your children will just "learn it at school". If your children learn about drugs, sex, and alcohol at school, they will not be learning them with your morals in mind. This will also teach your children that you are not the person to turn to when they are faced with important life issues. Your children will be more likely to engage in these behaviors if they do not learn them at home.
Respect your child's privacy. This is especially important in the teen years. If your child knows that you respect them, they will be more likely to come to you with problems. A child also needs to feel a sense of security in knowing that some matters don't have to be shared.
Be firm, but fair, when carrying out discipline. Sometimes a child will try to test you to see you will really carry out a discipline if he disobeys you. When that happens, carry out the discipline as you had warned him about. He may protest and whine about it, but he will learn from this experience that you mean what you say.
Part of parenting is teaching life lessons through fun activities. One way to do this is to get creative in the kitchen. Allow your child to select and use cookie cutters to cut nutritious food into fun shapes. Let them enjoy a shark-shaped grilled cheese sandwich with their low-sodium tomato soup. This makes eating nutritious food fun and teaches your child good nutritional habits.
Unknowingly, parents can teach children bad eating habits. If you want to teach good eating habits, one way to do so is to reward you child with attention, not food. Display your love with kisses and hugs rather a big slice of pumpkin pie with whipped cream. If you offer sweets as rewards, your child will begin to think that sweets and desserts must be the best food because that is what they get for positive behaviors.
Being a parent can be very stressful. Many parents are also insecure of their parenting abilities. The best fix is to learn how to be a better parent and hopefully this article has done just that. Learning to be a better parent can also be a great source of confidence.
08 May 2013
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