Parenting Tips

The idea of a respectful child seems a little bit like an oxymoron; most kids are slamming doors instead of opening them for their elders. But part of this disconnect has to do with where children are developmentally – they’re still stuck in person purgatory with compromised communication and language skills. They don’t have the ability to express their emotions, so they scream them instead. This doesn’t mean your child is sure to grow up into a rebellious teenager before becoming an insufferable adult. There are plenty of ways to teach your children respect but the most important of all is to show them respect. Read more [...]

Gratitude isn’t always easy to express, no matter who you are. But children especially have a difficult time recognizing the things they’re thankful for. Part of this is because kids are preprogrammed to believe their world is ending if they eat cereal out of the wrong color bowl or if there is a hole in their ice cream cone. The other part of this is that gratitude is a muscle children haven’t yet developed. So, how to raise a grateful child? Thankfully (pun intended), there are several little ways that parents can help kids foster appreciation. And these little ways add up to something bigger. To start, try the following: Read more [...]

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 [...]