Child-rearing Tips To Help Make You A Better Parent
No parent has all the solutions to daily problems that arise. The following tips will help you deal with challenging situations that may arise from time to time.
Parents who have a teenager that is beginning the college selection process need to make sure that they do not try to influence their child to go to the same university that they did. When teenagers feel pressured and controlled, they will often times rebel and do the opposite of what they are supposed to.
Don’t let your child leave for school without reflective tape on his backpack. Put this tape on his clothes, too, for extra protection. This material also comes in velcro strips which makes it easy to put on and take off. Retro-reflective materials, whether Velcro or tape, make children more visible if they’re walking prior to sunrise or after dark. No matter what time of day it is, wearing reflective materials draws drivers’ attention to your children’s presence and makes road accidents less likely.
Don’t smoke at home when you have kids. Even better, quit smoking. Secondhand smoke is as damaging as actually smoking. Children who breathe second-hand smoke are more likely to develop asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis or other respiratory issues.
Establishing clear boundaries and using positive reinforcement will lead to happier, more well adjusted children. For example, instead of making a rule against hitting, make a rule that only allows hugging.
To best care for your children, you should care for yourself too. No matter how busy your day is, be sure to take a few minutes for yourself to get your energy back. Your children will feel happier if you are feeling your best as you care for them.
When traveling long distances with young kids, be sure to stop and take lots of breaks. Most people want to get to their destination as quickly as possible. This can be very tempting, but it can lead to a lot of avoidable fussing from children. Allow your kids to burn off that extra energy by stopping at parks, family-friendly restaurants and outdoor play areas.
Children love independence, so give them their own little jobs to do while you are cleaning the house. Have your child help you unload the dishwasher. Kids love to be helpful with the laundry, and can help you fold, or pass you items to be folded. These mini-chores will help your child learn independent living skills and help you at the same time.
As an adoptive parent, you should expect to answer certain questions as your child grows. It is natural for an adopted child to want to know about his biological parents, and the person they will ask is you. When discussing his or her biological family, you must never lie. In the end, this could lead to anger and resentment.
You must come to terms with the fact that not every child will be social and outgoing. Children can be very shy, and it does not mean that anything is wrong. If you see that your child is not exhibiting any social interaction, you may want to intervene. If that is the case, visit with their doctor to see if there are any issues that you might not be aware of.
Every parent needs advice every so often; after all, children don’t come with instruction manuals! Every now and then, you will be faced with a situation that you will not know how to handle. Hopefully the bringing up a child tips you’ve read in this article will help you through times when being a parent throws challenges your way. Look for new opportunities to try your new methods!