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Parenting kids

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• When disciplining a child, criticize their behavior, not them.

• To keep laces in shoes, thread the first two holes. Then tie knots in the laces on each side. The knots will keep the laces in the shoes.

• Clean cuts and scrapes with a dark red washcloth so they can't see the blood.

• Say what you mean and mean what you say!

• Store bath time toys in a mesh draw string bag and hang it over the shower head to drip dry.

• When you take out a child and a friend, you should treat them alike even though they might not be yours.

• Have the children take turns doing the dishes in the evening after you've cooked for their allowance · When your kids are driving you crazy and you feel like you can't cope, find a dark quiet room to sit in for 10 minutes. Don't think of anything, just sit and gather yourself before you loose your mind and say things that you don't mean or will regret later.

• Learn to pick your battles with kids, don't sweat the small stuff.

• Meet your child's teacher before school starts or on the first day of school. Express any concerns you may have about your child's education.

• In the early evening, plan a regular homework time. Get involved and talk with your child. If they need help, give them your support.

• Read to your child every day. Take them to the library to pick out books to read. The night before, make sure backpacks are packed, lunches are made and clothes are picked out for the morning with shoes and socks.

• If you pack your child's lunch in a lunch box, freeze juice or drink boxes the night before to use to keep foods cold. By lunchtime, the juice or drink box will be thawed.

• Have kids do homework right after school.

• If your child/children ride on the school bus, make sure they have a safe place to wait for the bus, away from the street and traffic.

• Talk to your child everyday after school about their day. Ask questions to make sure they are not having problems.

• Cut out pictures of shirts, pants, shorts, undies and tape on the front of the drawers of your child's dresser. This way little ones can put away their own laundry! · Always listen to what your children say.

• Don't try & run your grown kids lives - just love them & enjoy.

• Stick with your word. If you say you are going to take the kids somewhere, then do it. If you tell them they are grounded then, don't let up. It shows the children later, just how much you really loved them.

• It takes patience and persistence to raise children.

• Give your kid(s) a watering can to play with in the bathtub and then use it to rinse their hair.

• Don't compare children. Treat them as individuals. · Teach children safety rules for being around animals.

• When your kids long pants become short, cut them off and hem into shorts.

• When you need something from your child, make eye contact and get down to their level. Turn off the television and look directly in their eyes.

• For your child's next birthday party, write the invitation on inflated balloons. Deflate them and put in envelopes. The recipient of the invitation will have to blow up the balloon to read it.

• Be firm with your grandkids if you are raising them.

• Make the kids go to the bathroom before they go to bed, whether they need to or not.

• When telling little ones about the facts of life, ask them what they have heard so far. You may not have to tell them as much as you think, or you can straighten out anything that needs it.

• Children learn by example. They absorb more than you know by watching you everyday. You should become aware of what you do day by day.

• Wrap new crayons with masking tape to help keep them from breaking.

• Hang a mirror at your child's eye level. Good grooming habits should begin early.

• When feeding your children cereal in the mornings before school, serve in cups instead of bowls. There is a lot less mess and then they drink their milk.

• When shopping for crayons, markers, clays, chalk, pastes, paints, ect., make sure they are nontoxic.

• All mothers of young children should always remember you don't have to be the "perfect" housekeeper. I have learned from experience that homes that are not "perfect" have a mother that enjoys her kids and the kids are very happy.

• Set up a homework center. Make sure that you have extra crayons and supplies needed to complete homework. Make sure it's not near a television.

PARENTING CONTROL - DISCIPLINING YOUR CHILD

Following are a few parenting tips that will be helpful to you when disciplining your child.

• What is more important for parents is to realise that teaching your child good values and virtues and disciplining him is something that is not only curtail and important but also will be helpful to him in the long run. Through discipline a child learns how to behave, to respect others and to follow rules and regulations. Discipline teaches children to be patient and composed, to cooperate and share. It teaches children to take care of themselves and makes them confident to face the world.

• When you discipline your child do not be too rude and harsh on him. Discipline is not a synonym for punishment. Discipline means showing children positive alternatives and an opportunity to see how their actions affect others. Be patient and wise.

• Establish fair, simple rules and state them clearly. This will help your child realise that he has to abide by the rules and if he doesn't he will have to face the consequences of his actions. Make the rules clear and simple for him to understand.

• While disciplining your kid always use words rather than actions. This is important because if you hit them then it is very much possible for them to think that this is the way it has to work and this attitude can make them aggressive and violent.

• Try to negotiate and discuss the problem instead of hitting or forcing your kid to do something. By this you will make your kid realise that he is an important member of the family and that he has a choice too rather than being forced into something.

• Don't be too nagging and dominating. Sometimes it is best to let go of small issues and leave your kid to himself. Give him time to sort out his own problems rather than being mad at him and doing things the adult way.

• Reward your kid when he does something good and praise him. Positive reinforcement is the best technique for encouraging desirable behaviour. Kids are unquestionably more motivated to do the right thing in order to get a reward and to avoid punishment. Rewards are not bribes; they are ways to show a child that she is doing a good job and you appreciate it.

• Parents always have the option of using natural consequences to drive home a point and discipline the child without using force or hard means. Natural consequences help children learn to take responsibility for their actions and help parents realize that the long-term gain will be worth the short-term discomfort. For example, the 8-year-old who is refusing to eat what you made for dinner and is adamant can be told to eat what is offered or nothing. One night without a full meal will not deprive the child nutritionally in the long run, but it will teach him that there are limits to sudden impulses and he can cannot always get things his way.

• Parents should work hard to frame things in a positive way rather than negative way. Using " no " always is not a very good idea. It doesn't help a child learn what will get her a "yes." Positive statements teach children what is appropriate. It is not enough to tell a child what not to do; you should also teach them a better alternative.

• The last important thing that you have to remember is that treat your child with respect. Make him realise that you love him and he can turn to you if he needs anything. Don't let him feel lonely and depressed. Try to understand him and love him.

PARENTING EDUCATION

At the center of parental involvement in children's education is a working parent-school partnership that includes positive parent-teacher communication.

Today, parents play an integral role in schools, particularly public schools. Parents' participation in their children's education is driven by financial dictates, by legal mandates in the form of school councils and by research showing that parental involvement makes a difference in children's educational successes. Assisting in classrooms and the school library, supervising children on the playground and organizing supplemental educational activities have been added to the more traditional PTA/PTO functions.

However, despite increased parental involvement, parents' roles still are not clearly defined in many schools, and parent-teacher relationships often remain challenging for both parties. Here are some steps you can take to build a positive working relationship with your child's teacher:

• Set the stage. Introduce yourself to your child's teacher as soon as possible.

• Tell the teacher whatever you believe is important for him or her to know about your child. Teachers usually welcome this information.

• Let the teacher know that you are available and open to talking about your child and any issues that may arise. Find out the best time for contacting the teacher if you have questions or concerns.

• Attend school functions, such as back-to-school gatherings and curriculum presentations. This lets teachers know that you are interested and that you care about your child's education.

• Offer to help the teacher on a regular basis, with a special project or on a field trip. This supports the teacher, involves you with your child's educational experiences and gives you a chance to see 'education in action.' With a bit of creativity, working parents can carve out a role for themselves, supporting classroom activities outside regular school hours.

• Be aware of the many challenges teachers face today as they manage changing educational practices, full-inclusion models and increased parental involvement. Be open-minded and learn about new educational practices. Ask questions, attend school-sponsored informational events, talk with other parents and do some related reading. This allows you to have informed opinions and connect with your child's learning experiences.
  
  When there's a problem:

• Address concerns as they arise.

• Set aside a mutually acceptable time to discuss concerns. Try not to solve problems that deserve careful attention 'on the run' (such as at drop-off or pick-up time).

• If you request a meeting, briefly state your reason to the teacher so he or she can prepare. You should expect similar consideration if the teacher raises a concern.

• Express yourself clearly and calmly, using 'I' messages (rather than accusatory 'you' messages) when talking with a teacher. Describing situations and being specific often lead to mutual understanding and clear strategies for moving ahead.

It is common for two people to have different perspectives on the same situation. When this happens, it is important not to give up. Remember, in most cases, your child's teacher is trying to do the best he or she can. If necessary, the school principal or guidance counselor should be available to assist you.

These few steps can go a long way toward fostering open and respectful parent-teacher communication and enriching your child's education.

TEACHING KIDS TABLE MANNERS

It is very important for your kids to learn table manners. This might be a tough job because they wont like to be governed at the time when they eat but teach them when they are young. Tell your kids that table manners are more than about proper eating; it's about being kind and considerate of others. Also, tell them although you know that they are smart and nice, other people will judge them on how they appear. Having proper table manners is one way people judge others, and they wouldn't want people to think that they are ill mannered and don't have etiquettes, do they?

Whether in a restaurant or at home, here are some basic table manners to teach kids:

1. Eat with a fork unless the food is meant to be eaten with fingers.

2. Don't stuff your mouth full of food, it looks unpleasant, and they could choke sometimes.

3. Chew with your mouth closed and don't make chomping sound. No one wants to see food being chewed up or hearing it being chomped on. This includes no talking with your mouth full.

4. Don't make any rude comments about any food being served. It will hurt someone's feelings.

5. Always say thank you when served something. Shows appreciation.

6. If the meal is not buffet style, then wait until everyone is served before eating. It shows consideration.

7. Eat slowly, don't gobble up the food.

8. Don't reach over someone's plate for something; ask for the item to be passed to you.

9. Don't pick anything out of your teeth, it's disgusting. If it bothers you that bad, excuse yourself and go to the restroom to pick.

10. Always use a napkin to dab your mouth, which should be on your lap when not in use. Remember, dab your mouth only. Don't wipe your face or blow your nose with a napkin. Excuse yourself from the table and go the restroom to do those things.

11. When eating at someone's home or as a guest of someone at a restaurant, always thank the host and tell them how delicious it was, even if it wasn't. Show your appreciation.