Mealtime

Times have changed and some things for the better and some for the worse. My grandfather forbid his children to talk at the table. This is not a good practice, in my opinion. I am sure he had his reasons, but I can’t think of any for myself or my family.

Mealtime should always be enjoyable. This is where the family sits down and has a good meal, and good conversation. What is not good about eating and discussing the events of the day. This is where parents can really get to know their young ones, and teenagers. One good topic is school, what they learned, and what they did. You can talk about friends, and teachers.

I found it is probably better to let them start talking, and then we as parents have to pay close attention, and be sincere in how we respond. Never get upset at the table. Make it a safe zone where family can discuss anything.

Your 18 Month Old

By 18 months your toddler has the ability to run you ragged. At this stage he/she has the ability to say a few words (hopefully nice words), he is not only walking but may be running. There is no fear at this age, so you have to watch them without letup, this is where mothers develop eyes in the back of their head. This is interesting, they will be able to jump. My 18 month old grandson just learned to jump, he is so proud of himself. I have heard a child that jumps is a happy child, I don’t know, but he is always laughing when he is jumping. At this age he will be able to understand two part directions, so this is a good time to get them started on listening and responding, if they don’t get it show them how to do it. It is a great time to make puzzels, and start toilet training. I have long timed believed there is a window of opportunity for toilet training, and if you miss it, you won’t get the chance again, too soon.

Spending time is the best way to get close to your kids

Getting close to your kids actually requires spending some quality time with them through their years of childhood. If you are not able to devote ample time due to work related engagements, then try to make sure that whatever time you get to spend with them is filled with joy and fun-filled activities. This way, the kids will grow fond of you, and remember your association with them in context of happy and enjoyable times they had when you were around.

This problem of lack of time is common in families where both the parents are working. Because they seldom get time to spend with their kids due to their work engagements. That’s why it is important for parents to define their priorities clearly. No financial gain can substitute the precious time you need to take out from your daily hours to spend with your children. The formative years of kids essentially need the company of parents for growing into healthy individuals.

Birthday Week

I think its so fun to tell your kids its their birthday week rather than just a birth DAY. This way you have an incentive to celebrate for an entire week, perhaps for even two weekends! No, it doesn’t have to be expensive or even extravaggant. But its a great way to show your child you care. Here are some tips you can use to make your kids’ birthday week special.

1. Cook his favorite meal one night.
2. Play a round of mini-golf.
3. Go swimming in the local pool.
4. Go out for pizza one night.
5. Make homemade cupcakes.
6. Open a different present each day instead of all at once.
7. Have one bigger party on his actual birthday or the weekend.
8. Visit the zoo.
9. Take a road trip to a natural place like the mountains or to a lake.
10. Tell him everyday a little more about how he used to be as a baby and show him photos as a newborn.

Simple Joys

Does your little one makes you smile? I’m sure they do. Are they growing to be a good child? Well, I hope so.
As a parent I’m sure we are all proud of our child most especially when they do good things to others. Little acts of kindness and generosity that they learn from you. The innocence in their acts does also make us smile once in a while. These can also be our life’s simple joys.
Who will not be happy and feel proud to her little boy who shares his food to other child? Who won’t feel good if you see your princess helping an old lady to stand? The actions that our child does may be small but it has a big impact on their personality as they grow.
Maybe now we often smile when they show a little stubbornness but if we don’t correct them as early as now they will grow with that attitude. So if you want to continue having the simple joys that your child is giving you now try to inculcate with him good values and character. Be a good example also to them.

Ready to be parents?

Are you ready for parenting; not medically, but in true sense of the world?
I wonder how many of us would say yes as an answer to this question.

We are born as babies. We play around as kids. Grow as teenagers. Marry to be Man & Woman. Give birth to become father and mother. All this happens in the natural course of time. But to become parents involves more than just time.

It requires shouldering the all important task of putting the best moral values in the tender young heart of the child. It requires imbibing the best routines and habits for a healthy and disciplined personality. It requires placing the head rightly upon those young shoulders, but also giving ample space for listening to the honest opinions of a compassionate heart.

Being parents requires commitment and patience. And most importantly, It requires the will to make a life grow; not on our terms, but on its own terms, in its own way.

More care on children

Active Parenting is what most parents would aspire to do. However, with today’s demand on the parents to provide for the family, many families today are two-income families. After bringing the children into the world, we work hard to provide them the material needs. There seems to be lesser time spent to meet their emotional and psychological needs. The development of our children seems to fall into the hands of their teachers, coaches, even friends…and some have even entrusted it to their domestic helpers. As parents, though wanting to be active has been reduced to only actively providing for their material needs
Who has a time-table for our children at home? In school, there is a time-table to let the students know which subject will be taught that day and time. Managing time in school is not a problem. It is when your child comes home, throw his uniform for washing, and then time is slowly wasted away. Just before he jumps into bed, he suddenly remembered that he has an assignment to be submitted tomorrow morning. The assignment was given to him a week ago. Frantically, he shouts to you for help, digging into his pile of books to look for that assignment. Very soon the mum and dad are involved sitting with him late into the night to help him finish that assignment.

ALL ABOUT ACTIVE PARENTING

Active parenting may also manifest by showing genuine interest in your child’s activities within the home and in school. Such could be achieved by attending school PTO meetings, in which parents find out about their child’s activities, performance, and behavior in school. It is also an essential venue to consult with teachers and about your child. By showing interest in their lives, you’re giving your child the assurance that he/she is important to you, and that he/she is loved.
Family outings, likewise, are great opportunities to bond and learn with your child. You can take your child to a trip to a museum or national park where there are tons of things to discover together. Your children will appreciate the time you spend with them, and it also helps build relationships in an entertaining and educational way. Before going on a trip, though, the decision on where to go or what to do should come from both parent and child.

What to do when kids fight?

There can be n number of reasons that can cause kids to start a fight between them. Usually, they are regarding sharing of toys, or riding the other’s bi-cycle, or eating a piece of other’s pudding or cake, and other little and innocent reasons, which only kids have. If your kids indulge in frequent fights and are always quarreling with each other, then there is definitely cause of concern. However, if the altercations are not that frequent, then I do not see any need to worry too much about.

It is also important that elders should usually distance themselves from such fights and let kids sort out things on their own. It is only when the issue gets physical and the matter comes down to exchanging blows that the parents can step in finally, and call a truce among kids. Moreover, it will also be wise to not side with anybody and remain neutral when such altercations take place between kids.

Signs of overload

Children involving in extra curricular activities may be due to peer pressure or the concern of building a resume to get into a good college. At times, the parents force the child into extra-curricular just to keep them occupied. Too many extra-curricular activities can however lead to overload.

The indications for overload include the child feeling tired, exhausted or depressed, not enjoying the activity they once loved, lower grades in school, and starting to develop ailments like joint pains, headaches or stomach aches.

An active extra-curricular schedule can also negatively affect friendships and a child’s social life, which would have a bad impact on the child’s personality.

Extra curricular activities should ideally be scheduled one at a time, and the second activity started only when the child has acquired a fair level of competency in the first activity and is ready to multi-task. The activity the child undertakes should also be appropriate to the child’s age.

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