Raising children may seem easy, but most people can tell you from experience, it is not. Also, not everyone is meant to raise a child. However, with the proper parenting skills, even the most seemingly unable person can raise a child successfully. This article discusses the six stages in parenting and the tips and tricks to completing each stage successfully, resulting in a wonderful child. So, do not think that you are incapable of being a good parent because parenting will be a breeze after you read the following valuable information.
To become a better parent, give yourself a break from time to time. Everyone needs a little adult only time and allowing yourself to enjoy it will make you a better parent. This time just for yourself will help to alleviate stress, and make you feel like a more well rounded individual.
It is common for preschoolers to resist transitioning. Abruptly switching activities can lead to melt downs for young kids who need time to transition between tasks.
Just like other relationships you may have in your life, communicating is the key to connecting with your child. By letting them know you are interested in what they have to say, they will feel like they can trust you. By you communicating with them, they are more likely to respect you.
If you have multiple children, keeping up with all of their prescriptions can be quite a challenge. Walgreens and other chain pharmacies offer iPhone and smart phone apps that allow you to scan the bar code on your child’s prescription medication and access information on fill dates, directions and refill status.
Use your smart phone to help you keep track of your child’s diaper changes and feedings. You can download an application that will keep a record of what you do with your child. This is particularly useful during visits with your pediatrician; they may need to know specific details regarding your child’s routine.
Use your smart phone to entertain your child. You can download a variety of applications and games that will leave your child mesmerized. This is particularly useful if you need to complete a chore or make dinner for your family. Letting your child play with the phone should give you a nice stretch of uninterrupted time to accomplish your goals.
If you have a hard time getting a young child to understand and complete a task, you should try to give shorter and more precise instructions. If the instructions are too long, the child may have difficulty grasping all the concepts. Also, if the instructions are vague, the child might just ignore the instructions altogether. Keep it short and to the point.
An important part of parenting is the setting and enforcing of clear boundaries. Consistency is critical, so once a line is drawn on a particular behavioral topic, the consequences for crossing that line must always be upheld. By following this course of action, your child will have predictable rules under which to operate, and will always be aware of what is acceptable and what is not!
If you are trying to keep track of your baby’s feedings, nap cycles, diaper changes and many other things, try locating one of the great apps that are available for smart phones. It will make it quite simple to keep track of the many things that a baby needs during the day.
Make sure you’re encouraging good habits from the beginning. Whether it’s hygiene or behavioral habits, you want to encourage your child to learn the right behaviors right from the start. It’s much easier to teach a child good habits right away than to try and get them to unlearn habits to learn different ones.
If your child has a hard time settling down for bed, try white noise. You can use a dedicated white noise machine, a radio tuned to static, or even apps from your mp3 player or cell phone to create soothing background noise. Playing a relaxing song or CD on loop can also put your child to sleep.
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.
One of the best things you can do for yourself as a parent is to create a support network. From moms’ or dads’ groups to friends, family, co-workers and community groups, having other parents to talk with and share the ups and downs of parenting makes the experience even sweeter. You can glean valuable advice from others who have been there.
Choose what you reveal to your children wisely. If a family is having money issues, it’s not necessarily beneficial to tell a 3 or 4 year old child Sometimes children will find themselves to blame for problems that are plaguing the whole family. On the other hand many may feel resentment over being coddled or shielded from the truth. Making judgment calls on important family information is absolutely vital to raising a child in a non-toxic environment.
Effective parenting involves praising children when they exhibit good behavior. Your children crave your attention above all else. If being well-behaved does not get their parents’ attention, they may try acting out instead. Parents who fail to give attention to their children when they act in a positive way are actually encouraging them to behave negatively.
When you tell your kids you are going to do something, then do it. If you show your children you aren’t consistent with what you say you are going to do, they will learn to ignore what you say. This can lead to problems such as your children not trusting you.
Parenting can be a hard thing to do. I mean, you are responsible for how another human being turns out. Do not let raising a child scare you. Just remember the six stages of parenting and apply the tips and tricks we provided you along the way. Do not worry, you will be excellent at parenting in no time!
