Active Parentingkids | Active Parenting

How to Be An Active Parent During the Busy Holiday Season

Elise Peck — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 15:45:53 +0000

Many parents are busy working too much throughout the holiday seasons to take enough time to be an active parent in their children’s lives. It is important during the holiday season we find time in our busy schedules to sit down with our children and see how they are doing whether it is at dinnertime or before bedtime.

Other ways you can be an active parent throughout the holiday season is to take a day you have off, make Christmas cookies with the children, and just have some holiday family fun. If your not a great baker maybe ice skating, skiing, sledding or building a snowman is more your thing to do with your children on your day off. It does not matter what you do on your day off with your children, but it does matter that you spend as much time with them as you can doing something you all enjoy doing as a family.

I know my family always enjoyed making donuts on Sunday mornings throughout the holiday seasons. Making donuts and hot chocolate and having breakfast together as a family in them, morning with our grandparents was one of my best memories. We would laugh, tell stories about our weekly activities, and make new memories together. It was a time we all looked forward to at the end of the week.

Now I am not saying you have to make donuts and spend Sunday mornings together, but picking a time a few times a week with the family is the best way to be an active parent throughout the busy holiday seasons.

What are the benefits of introducing your kid to music

Ravi Clab — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 12:56:45 +0000

If you are concerned about keeping your preschoolers occupied with a good thing other than toys, then consider introducing her to music. Music can keep her entertained for a long time. At the same time, it will help to grow and nurture many positive traits in her.

If you can select some good music to play around you, both of you will have a good time. It will enhance your mood instantaneously and you will have fun with your child as you can dance together with the rhythm of the music.

Over and above this, the advantage of introducing your child to music is really extraordinary. The modern study on the effect of music on the children has shown that the kids that are exposed to music are good learners. Exposure to music in an early age helps your kid’s learning faculty, because, music has shown to develop those parts of human brain which are known to be used for learning languages. Music also is known to cultivate creativity and independent thinking faculty of the kids. They learn to have fun and a relaxed attitude as they are introduced to music. As a result, these kids are less prone to stress.
Try to develop in your kid a taste of music. It will entertain her and do a lot of good in the years to come.

Take Time Out

Mercedes Burt — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 17:15:41 +0000

Parenting is a hard job. It is made even harder when parents, especially mothers, have to work and be away from their children. That separation makes it difficult to focus and often causes guilt in the parent and separation anxiety in the child. Most time it can’t be avoided. In times like today, when the economy is struggling and the recession is just starting to easy two incomes are usually necessary. So what do you do when that guilt starts to gnaw at you? You make time. Yes, you have to work. But it is also important that your child know that they are love and valued. The time could come from anywhere. Cut TV time, wake up earlier and definitely get try to squeeze every last second out of the weekends, holidays and other days that you might have off. Lastly, take a day off every now and then. Call in sick, play hooky and sneak off with your kids. Make a day out of it and have fun. Money is important. It helps provide food and shelter for your family. In the end though, the time you take with your family will be more important than any meal, gift or dollar could ever be.

Homework Tips 1

Crissi Enger — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 22:58:29 +0000

Now that I have three of my children in school, I am back into the daily routine of doing homework or checking homework. I have one in 9th grade and one in 1st grade. Quit the gap, however motivating them to do their homework never changes. One advantage I do have is that I home schooled my oldest from 2nd grade through 6th grade, so there was a lot I learned from her teachers during that time. She was in Odyssey Charter School, which was a homeschooling/distance education program. A teacher came to our house once a week to meet with my daughter one on one and go over her homework, questions, and the coming weeks assignments. Great program, just after having three more children, homeschooling became a bit more difficult and she wanted to start going to school dances, sports, and after school activities. All said, the transition was easy and what I learned during that time still helps now.

* Set up an area that they can do their homework in. Whether that is their bedroom with a desk or the kitchen table after school, have an area reserved for them to study and complete their assignments. Somewhere without clutter and distractions.

Teaching the Value of Life Develops a Good Teenager

Heber Lozano Pacheco — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 13:03:40 +0000

Kids need to learn about having a purpose in life. It will help if you are in a religion. But then, if religion is not your thing then you can try getting involved in some sort of self improvement organization and when your kid is old enough, you can get him in there. See how your kid will improve and reward him for every progress that he makes.

You should also know who your kid’s friends are. Try to find out who they are and what they are like as individuals. If you do not approve of their character then simply do not allow your child to hangout with them. It is crucial that you start doing this when your child is still young so that he will easily get used to you screening out the people he hangs out with.

The most important thing that you should to is to spend as much time as you can with your children. The more you spend time with them, the stronger the relationship you will develop with them. Having a good and strong relationship with them is very important especially during their teenage years which is when they will begin to rebel. If you can develop a strong bond with your kid then there is always hope that we will become a good teenager.

If I had a dime…

Bonny Harper — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 19:21:21 +0000

If someone gave me a dime for every time I’ve said the words “Didn’t I tell you not to do that?” I think I’d be pretty well to do by now. It doesn’t seem to matter what time of day it is, where we are, who I’m with. My kids are bound and determined to get in trouble. Last night, for example, I tell my 8 year old (again) that she can’t take drinks to her room. So she decides to sneak a cup of water in there from the bathroom sink. What happens? Naturally, she spills it INTO her computer. Lucky for her that’s one heck of a computer and it survived, but the monitor didn’t. I made her wait for a full 24 hours before I’d hook our back-up monitor into her computer. Some might say that 24 hours isn’t long enough, but for this kid it was.

Sometimes I wonder if they do it on purpose. I’ll tell the girls to stop rough housing, and the next thing you know we have a black eye or boo boo, scratch or bruise. Its all fun and games until someone loses an eye, I’ve told them a million times. They’re so focused on doing the opposite of what I say, I am almost afraid to tell them not to do anything! Maybe next time I’ll egg them on, and rather than encouraging them, it will make them finally listen and obey. At least they try to be sneaky about it and don’t just flat out disobey right in front of me, as if they weren’t scared of me. I know some parents with kids like that and it always drives me nutty.

The God Parents

Mercedes Burt — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 23:41:01 +0000

Choosing God parents for you child can e a daunting job. You want to choose the best people for the job, the ones you can count on when you need a helping hand. At the same time you do not want to hurt anyone’s feelings. Yes it is very daunting indeed. Still your kids are the biggest priority so choosing God parents is not to be taken lightly. These two people are likely the two who will have to take responsibility for your children in the unfortunate case that something should happen to you or your spouse. The best recourse is to sit down and plan carefully. Choose your top five pairs and then go through the pros and cons of having them as God parents. Take your time. Real friends won’t mind how long it takes. After you’ve narrowed it down do consult your candidates to see if this is something that they are interested in being. It is a great honor, but not everyone is up for the huge responsibility. Once you are confident that you have made the right choice be sure to let everyone know so that there is no confusion. Send the new God parents a note thanking them for being there for you and your family. Invite them to the christening and into the lives of you and your children. If you have chosen the right people you will now have a strong support system for your growing family. Congratulations.

Parents Just Don’t Understand

Mercedes Burt — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 03:55:38 +0000

Parents just don’t understand. The Fresh Prince himself uttered those words and I am sure plenty of parents once felt the same way. Now as parents they are making their kids feel the same way. It is a cycle no doubt, but does it have to be a never ending one? I don’t think so. It seems that so many things get lost in translation in today’s culture, but we can change all of that. The key is communication. Tell your kids a much as you can about when you were there age. Tell them about some of the mistakes you made back then. They need to hear it. Not only will they learn from them but they will respect you all the more for being human instead of just a super mom or dad. That’s what we all need. To be human to each other. To seem like you are above what they could ever be will only hurt your child in the long run. Level with them, be honest with hen and respect them. After all you do expect the same from them. You have to give in order to receive. Isn’t that a golden rule? Well it is about time we live by it and change every thing in the process.

Foster Parenting

Mercedes Burt — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:23:55 +0000

Foster parenting is a very rewarding thing to do First of all and most importantly it gives a unfortunate child somewhere to go. That however is just the beginning. The benefits are endless for both the foster parent and the child. Even your own children if you have any can benefit. The children, just like any others, need love, kindness and attention. They’ve most likely been through a lot, but thankfully you have stepped up to the plate.
As a foster parent your duties are to take care of and protect the child until he or she is returned to their original home or a permanent adoptive home. This can take any where from a few months to a few years Along the way you will come to know and love each child that enters your home. The feeling most times will be mutual.
Remember, these kids have been through a lot so they need all the patience you have. If you do not have a lot of patience this is not a good idea. Take your time and think it through. If you have what it takes that’s great, you can change a child’s life and yours too in the process.

summer bonding with the kids

cotton yuson — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 04:29:13 +0000

summer vacations are great for bonding and touching base with your kids. before you complain non-stop about the scorching summer heat, think of what would the coming rainy days be like when it comes – boring indoors, computer games and not to mention that it would be back to school for many kids. soon as summer ends, there will be less time for you and your kids to enjoy the outdoor and other physical activities. so while it’s hot, go out and do some fun time with your kids.

one great suggestion is to take the kids and the family out on an outing. water splashing and playing is a great exercise which your little ones will surely enjoy. the beach is really inviting but if its too far, you can find a pool where you can take your family on an excursion.

summertime is also a great time to visit themeparks such as ocean adventure and ocean park. the kids can learn a lot from these places and enjoy watching different sorts of marine life. after this adventure you can grab yummy cold treats that are just perfect for the hot weather.

mom’s can also prepare home made cold treats for their kids and family to enjoy while they hole up and watch old family videos or play kid games.