One of life’s hardest challenges is raising a child. Use this article to become a better parent and a more confident person in general. You are already a good parent, but you can learn ways to do even better.
If you are an expecting mother, don’t hurt your checkbook by spending money on expensive nursery equipment. Many baby items can be purchased at discount stores like Wal-Mart or secondhand from thrift stores, for a much lower price than at a more expensive specialty store. You may also ask loved ones if they have unused nursery products.
Lay your child on the counter in the kitchen and lay a rolled towel under his neck; use the faucet water and put it on his hair and scalp. This can make hair washing fun and reduce the fear of getting water in his eyes or poured over him.
Transitioning between tasks can be challenging for preschool age children. Abrupt changes between tasks stress out preschoolers to the point of melt down.
Taking a break from your children every now and then is important. Get a friend or family member to take care of your kids, even if it’s only for a couple of hours. Parents that do not get personal or adult time away from children have higher levels of stress that magnify throughout the home.
If you have kids living in your home, you should never smoke inside the dwelling. You should even think about completely quitting smoking. The dangers of inhaling secondhand smoke are the same as those of smoking. Children who are exposed to second-hand smoke experience a higher incidence of respiratory issues such as asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia.
Establishing clear boundaries and using positive reinforcement will lead to happier, more well adjusted children. For example, instead of “no hitting,” opt for “only touch gently.”
When you are a parent, it is especially important to make time for taking care of your own needs. Take a few minutes every day to relax and rejuvenate, no matter what you have going on. This will make you less stressed and happier, which will benefit your children ultimately.
On a long road trip with young children, make regular stops to keep your children from going stir-crazy. You will have a far more pleasant trip if you take your time, with frequent breaks to relieve the tedium for everyone. Restaurants, parks and rest stops that have areas where your children can play, are ideal places to stop to let them run around a bit before continuing the journey.
Without the right information, it is hard to improve your child-rearing skills. Following this article’s advice, your skills can improve and you can be more confident with your decisions. Child-rearing is probably one of the biggest challenges you will face, but it is incredibly rewarding. You know you can make it!