Parenting Tips

As well intentioned as it may be, giving your children the world sets the stage for them to become spoiled brats (which comes with its own set of challenges). This is especially true if you buy your kids things simply because they beg, whine, and demand; you want to reinforce positive behaviors, not “why did I have children?” ones. So, how to unspoil a child? There are several ways you can do this, including: Read more [...]

Parenthood is the hardest role on the planet, with moms and dads constantly on-call and their children prone to backtalk and tantrums. But it’s the most rewarding and important one too. And that means we must try to do the best we can no matter how chaotic it gets. Yes, even if we run out of wine. Naturally, this is easier said than done, but it’s not impossible to improve your parenting game and learn how to be a better parent. In fact, minor things can make a major difference, including the following: Read more [...]

Ah, parenting mistakes – if the average mom or dad had a dollar for every time they screwed up, they could pay for their child’s college degree with cash. The truth is it’s impossible to be a perfect parent, but that doesn’t mean we don’t try to get as close to perfection as we can. One way to do this is by avoiding the most common parenting mistakes, including the following: Read more [...]

While we might not admit it, moms and dads love to be needed; it’s motherhood and fatherhood job security if nothing else. But the end game of parenting is not to have our children rely on us forever. Rather, the goal is to push them out of the proverbial nest in hopes that they will fly (and stop asking for money). Setting our children up for this type of success starts early; often, independent adults start out as independent children. So, how to raise an independent child with the right values? The following tips may help: Read more [...]

Santa Claus brings us presents. The Tooth Fairy assures that we floss. The Easter Bunny offers baskets of candy. And, perhaps, that’s why we believe in them. Yet, despite all this wonderful stuff (especially you, Cadbury Crème Eggs), the most important thing we can believe in is ourselves. Yep, confidence is one of the greatest gifts we can have and one of the greatest gifts we can pass on to our children. So, how to raise a confident child? Start with the following: Read more [...]

As parents, we want our kids to do well in school, behave, and turn into decent human beings. But, perhaps more than anything, we also want them to find happiness. It’s true that some form of this can be found inside candy wrappers and at the bottom of soda cans but raising a truly happy child involves much more. And, of course, it’s well worth the effort - a happy child is a kind and confident child. Lay the foundation for joy and watch everything else fall into place. So, how to raise a happy child? How do you put a smile on your child’s face short of grabbing a Magic Marker and forcibly drawing one? Start by embracing the following: Read more [...]

Acknowledging your child for every little thing they do (great job putting on your socks or look at you, chewing food like a big girl!) takes away its power. Making the praise about you (I think this or I’m proud of this) puts your child in position where they’ll look for your approving words constantly. And never praising your kiddo at all, of course, makes your child worry that nothing they do is right. The secret is to find a balance firmly in the magic middle. So, how to praise your kids the right way? Start with the following: Read more [...]

Yelling at our children isn’t something most parents want to do, but it happens. Some of us yell on a once-in-a-blue moon occasion; others yell so much the neighbors think we’ve taken up yodeling. But whether it’s rare or frequent, yelling is largely ineffective (and possibly damaging). Learning how to stop yelling at your kids can not only save your kids’ self-esteem, but it can save your vocal cords as well. Read more [...]