Having children and caring for them is one of life’s most exciting and fulfilling adventures. Following is some advice to aid you in the art of bringing up a child.
If you are expecting a little one soon, resist the temptation to spend all of your money on baby products. You can purchase high quality baby items at discount stories. An even better deal would be to find hand-me-downs from friends or family members.
Think about what message you are sending your child! You will want to gain the trust of your children.
While it is important to spend time with your kids, you always need to set aside some time for yourself. Occasional time alone will help you maintain your own identity.
Children of all ages who walk to school should be wearing retro-reflective materials on either their clothing or backpack. You can find reflective Velcro strips you can attach to clothing. Your child will be visible to drivers in the darker early morning and late afternoon hours.
No two children are exactly alike. One child may respond to one way of discipline that may completely fail with another child. You may have to find different ways to punish the child, and come up with new reward systems. Do not try to follow a cookie cutter format when raising your children, instead experiment to find what works best for them and you.
When a child is teething, put sour vegetables, like pickles, in a hollow, mesh teether. While other methods of relief do work, your child is more likely to continue gnawing on an item if there is a taste involved. Your child will have more relief from teething pains as they continue to use this teether.
When your family rules are termed with positive vocabulary, it reinforces peace over conflict and encourages your children to coexist. Instead of saying “Don’t hit your brother,” say, “Touch other people gently.”
If you are about to become a stepparent, make sure you realize that it can be a long time before your stepchild gets along with you. The child may still have dreams that his parents will get back together. Try to be understanding and eventually the two of you can build a unique bond.
Kids want to appear independent, so letting them do tasks while you clean can help boost their confidence. Even very small children can take on one small part of a more complicated task, such as sorting silverware when you empty the dishwasher. Children enjoy helping with laundry so let them fold towels or socks. Small tasks help them feel like they’ve being independent, and they’ll be helping you out at the same time.
By removing all junk food from your house, you are encouraging healthy eating. If you don’t have any nasties like candy, fruit snacks, or Doritos in your house, your child won’t bug you about them. Consider these items as special treats that are reserved for certain times of the year, such as Halloween and Christmas.
If a child suffers from ADD, ADHD or other behavioral conditions, one thing that a parent can do to help is keep the child occupied. Children that have these disorders tend to have more energy than they know what to do with and are more likely to lose control if they are not kept busy enough throughout the day. Make sure that your child’s daily schedule includes some physical activity, too, such as an hour of playtime at the park or an hour of bike riding.
This article should give you a good start on your way to becoming a good parent. Of course, your mileage may vary. Parenting is different for everyone. There is no single “right way” to do each thing. Use common sense when you aren’t sure which raising a child tactic you will use. Children grow up before you know it, so take the time to enjoy your children during this exciting time.