How can I celebrate the successes of parenthood? Many parents do not take the time to celebrate the things that they are doing right as parents. This is important, because everyone needs to be recognized. Take a few minutes to look in the mirror and reflect on how far you have come with your children. And, thank yourself for a job well done, because no one benefits from well-raised children as much as the parents.
How can I become comfortable using a babysitter? First-time parents particularly become uncomfortable at the mention of the word. However, everyone needs an occasional break from parenthood and babysitters are often necessary to make it happen! Ask for recommendations from friends and neighbors and even your church, and feel confident knowing that if someone else is willing to entrust their children’s welfare to a babysitter – you can too. Start small, using a new babysitter for an hour while you run to the grocery store. Increase the time that you will be away gradually and watch how your children interact with the sitter. Over time, you will become more comfortable leaving your children with a babysitter.
How do I decide whether to let my child sleep with me? The decision of whether or not to allow a child into the parental bed for night-time sleeping is a completely individual decision. Just know that once you begin to allow your child into your bed, they will be much less inclined to fall asleep on their own. Therefore, decide early whether you are willing to sleep with your child every night. Some parents have discovered that infants in the parental bed make nighttime feedings easier. However, others have determined that putting the infant’s bassinet near the parents’ bed has the same effect.
What are some ways I can make my child’s room enjoyable for me? Many new parents forget that they will be spending a lot of time in their infant’s room. Therefore, decorate the room for your tastes and with a décor that is welcoming to you. If you place a comfortable rocker with soft pillows and a warm blanket in the room, you will find it a lot more enjoyable than if it contains only a crib and dresser. Realize that you will spend time in this room when changing your baby, putting him or her to sleep and even when he or she is sick.
How can I teach my child to be a good sport? Nobody likes a sore loser. The best way to teach a child to be a good sport is to practice good sportsmanship yourself. If you are overly competitive, your child will pick up on this and emulate your behavior. If your child is going to play organized sports, be realistic about your expectations and never yell or scream at an official that you think was unfair to your child. Be consistent. If you see your child do something that is not sportsmanlike – correct the behavior and discuss it with your child after the game or activity has ended.
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How can I teach my child what to do in case of fire? Fire safety is one of the most important things that a child should learn from a young age. The first thing to tell your child is “stop, drop and roll”. This mantra will stick with them throughout their lifetime. Second, you should teach your child that if there is a fire they need to get the attention of ANY adult by yelling “Fire” and not “Help”. Finally, teach them to get outside and to run to a neighbor’s home to call 911. Arranging a meeting place where you can check to see that all family members got to safety.
How can I teach my child what to do in an emergency? Teaching your young child to dial 911, and explaining repeatedly that the number is only for use in a serious emergency is a good start. Older children will understand that they should only call 911 if their parent is unconscious or they are alone in the home. In addition to knowing how to call 911, even young children should learn their home address and phone number along with the full names of their parents. Remind your child that staying calm in an emergency is the most effective way to make clear judgments, but keep your own expectations realistic and know that children will panic. If you are leaving your child alone for an extended period of time, ask a trusted adult to check in on them occasionally.
What should I do to keep my child safe around water? All children need to know about the dangers of water and drowning. If you have a backyard swimming pool, put up a fence and raise the ladder if possible. A pool alarm is inexpensive and takes only a few minutes to install. Never allow your child to swim, or be near water, alone and be sure to teach them about the buddy system. These are lessons that will stick with them through their life and allow them to always be safe around water. Finally, enroll your child in swimming lessons. Neighborhood pools and schools often provide these. Knowing how to swim is the best defense against drowning or being injured in the water.
How can I keep my child safe around a hot tub? More and more families are installing hot tubs in and around their homes. Because of the shallow depth, many people overlook the importance of covers. Don’t make this mistake. Use a cover with a lock every time you get out of the hot tub. When children use the hot tub, it is important to let them in the water for only a few moments at a time, because the elevated water temperature can be dangerous for young bodies and lead to burns or dehydration. As with all dangerous household items, keep your hot tub chemicals under lock and key, because they can be very harmful if ingested or spilled.
How can I keep my child safe on the playground? Never allow your child to use playground equipment that is in need of repair. And, unless the equipment is placed on a base of mulch or rubber padding of at least 12 inches there is a significant risk of injury resulting from falls. Never leave your child alone at the playground, because if they should become injured you need to be there to assist them. Teach your child that pushing other children on the equipment is absolutely unacceptable, and do not allow other children to push your child either.
How can I keep my child safe when playing inside? You should never allow your child to run in the house because injuries can occur due to stairs and falls. And many parents have made a clear distinction between indoor and outdoor toys in order to avoid children throwing balls and other objects in the house. If you allow your child to play hide and seek inside of the house, make sure that they understand that freezers and refrigerators are off limits, along with other potentially hazardous locations such as storage closets that are used for chemicals or cleaning products. Have plenty of indoor friendly toys, games and activities available for young children in order to keep them safe inside your home.
What should I do to keep my child safe from poisons? The first rule of thumb for parents is to keep cleaning products and other chemicals out of the reach of children. This may be on a high shelf or in a locked cupboard. It also means not using your medicine cabinet for medication storage. Keep medications out of the view and reach of children at all times. Have the poison control number handy by every phone in the house in case of accidental ingestion, and never induce vomiting until you have spoken with a professional.
How can I keep my child safe when there are firearms in the home? The best option is simply to not have firearms in the home. But, if you must have them you should always keep them in a locked cabinet. Keep ammunition locked in a different location and NEVER tell your child where it is kept. Teach your children about firearms, and the dangers that they pose. Be honest with your child, because curiosity results in more firearms injuries than anything else. Toy guns are a bad idea, and if your child asks for a BB gun, dart gun or other firearm toy – tell them no.
What can I do to teach my child to leave houseplants alone? There are many varieties of houseplants that are poisonous to children and animals, so be aware of what types of plants you are growing in your home. If you know that a specific plant is dangerous, keep it well out of the reach of your child. Knowing what is growing in your home is important, because if your child should eat a piece of your plant and become ill – you will need to tell the poison control center or pediatrician exactly what the child ate that made them ill.
How will I know when it’s time to move my toddler out of his crib? Once they reach 30 inches tall, children should be moved out of their crib and into a bed. This is a safety concern, because taller children are prone to falling over the edge of crib rails. If you are worried that your child will fall out of a bed, use a guardrail. There are many options available, and the best is a rail that slides between the mattress and box spring for stabilization. Another option is a toddler bed, which places your child just a few inches off of the floor.
How would I know if my home contained lead paint? Any home that was built before 1978 could potentially contain lead based paint. Intact paint that is not peeling in any location is most likely not a hazard, however if your home is older and has peeling walls you will need to be aware of the dangers of lead poisoning. If you suspect that your home contains lead-based paint, you can request that a certified lead inspector perform tests to determine whether there is lead present and give you advice on what you need to do in order to keep your child safe.
How can I prevent staircase injuries? The best way to prevent your child from falling down stairs is to keep them away from the top. You should have a door, or locking gate in place on all staircases when your child is young. Teach your child to navigate stairs correctly as soon as he or she is crawling in order to make sure that they know how to go up and down should they find themselves on the stairs. Don’t allow your children of any age to run in the house, otherwise an accidental stair fall could result.
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Television today is still a “baby sitter” both for adults and preschoolers. When people are bored or simply want to rest, they watch TV. Some are not really interested to watch at all. They need the TV to put them to sleep. As soon as you turn it off, they wake up.
With the remote control, watching TV can be a dizzying experience. I get confused with what characters go with what plot. What with that mysterious hand switching channels during commercial breaks, you find yourself following several shows at the same time. Sometimes you have to shout, “stop!” and confiscate the remote control. “Please decide which program you want and stick to it”.
That was supposed to be final but what’s this switching channel again? “Mom, there are commercial breaks!” would be the excuse. Today’s TV imports still have family-oriented shows and the rest are soap operas, game shows and their local counterparts which include slapsticks or tearjerkers, noontime variety shows, movie personalities’ song and dance, and movie Dom’s gossip sessions.
Read more in my article here: http://www.childcareonly.com/parenting/from-first-day-at-school-to-encouraging-interactionmore-parent-questions-answered/
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Television today is still a “baby sitter” both for adults and preschoolers. When people are bored or simply want to rest, they watch TV. Some are not really interested to watch at all. They need the TV to put them to sleep. As soon as you turn it off, they wake up. With the remote control, watching TV can be a dizzying experience. I get confused with what characters go with what plot. What with that mysterious hand switching channels during commercial breaks, you find yourself following several shows at the same time. Sometimes you have to shout, “stop!” and confiscate the remote control. “Please decide which program you want and stick to it”.
That was supposed to be final but what’s this switching channel again? “Mom, there are commercial breaks!” would be the excuse. Today’s TV imports still have family-oriented shows and the rest are soap operas, game shows and their local counterparts which include slapsticks or tearjerkers, noontime variety shows, movie personalities’ song and dance, and movie Dom’s gossip sessions. These are the kinds of shows very young children are exposed to. Most of these are shown at times when kids are awake and those of school age are already home. Programming leaves much to be desired.
Read more in my article here: http://www.childcareonly.com/parenting/kids-and-tv/
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How can I help my teething child? Teething is one of those things that most first-time parents fear. A teething child will spend time going back and forth between cranky and miserable and this definitely takes a toll on both the child and the parents. To ease the pain of teething, consider giving your child a cold, wet washcloth to suck on. This will ease the pain and distract the child. Most pediatricians advise that you stay away from numbing agents, which can reduce the suckling instinct and reduce the amount that your child will eat while they are teething. If your child is running a fever, or has a runny nose, it is probably a sign that something else is happening because these are not signs of teething.
What should I do to teach my young child about money? Open a bank of your own! This gives you the ability to teach your children about money management without giving your child cash that they can spend frivolously or lose. The process is simple. Set up a spreadsheet on your computer that will serve as the bank register. Give your child an old checkbook, or make up some checks with the child’s name on them. When your child wants spending money, they will ‘withdraw’ it from their account. At the end of every week, you will ‘deposit’ your child’s allowance into the account instead of handing the child cash that can be lost or misplaced. This is a great way to keep track of your child’s spending habits and to ensure that your child isn’t losing money or spending it all on things that you would prefer they didn’t have. Read more in my article here:
http://www.childcareonly.com/parenting/dealing-with-teething-money-playdates-disagreements-and-readingphew/
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What can I do to make sure my child is eating healthy? It is easy to make sure that your pre-schooler is eating healthy because you’re responsible for all of their meals and snacks. The difficulty begins when your child starts school, and you no longer have control over what they are eating and when. If you start teaching your child how to make healthy food choices from an early age, you are setting your child up for a lifetime of healthy eating habits. Keep plenty of fruits and vegetables on hand for healthy snacking, and restrict refined sugar as much as possible from day one.
How should I deal with a picky eater? Young children will frequently become picky eaters, or go through phases where they want to eat only specific types of foods. This is really nothing to be concerned about. These phases tend to come and go and unless they last for an extended period of time there is little chance of them becoming problematic. As long as your child is healthy overall and is within a normal weight and height range, your pediatrician will most likely tell you to just wait out the phase and not worry. Pay attention to what your child is eating over the course of a week or month, and you are likely to discover that she is eating a healthy diet in the long run.
Read more in my article here:http://www.childcareonly.com/parenting/getting-kids-to-eat-healthy/
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How can I deal with a child that is shorter than other kids his age? Children all grow at different rates and there always seems to be that one child who is behind the others. If your child comes from a family of normal height, it is most likely just a matter of delayed growth so rest assured that he will catch up eventually. If there are existing medical problems, or hormonal deficiencies, it is possible that your child will remain short. You should talk to your pediatrician to have tests done if you have concerns about your child’s size.
What should I do to stop my child’s lying? Young children do not know the difference between right and wrong and fantasy and reality. So, why would you expect them to know the difference between the truth and a lie? The best way to handle lying is to start at a very young age, impressing upon your child that the most important rule is that they always tell you the truth. You should explain to your child the reasons why lying is a bad behavior – and never let your child go unpunished when you catch them in a lie. It is important to be consistent, and to let your child know that lying is NEVER acceptable. And be sure to reinforce this by setting a good example. You can’t expect your child to listen to you if you’re caught in a lie! Read the rest of this article in the Parenting section.
Read more in my article here: http://www.childcareonly.com/parenting/common-parenting-issues/
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How can I talk openly with my child about death? The first thing to remember is that death is a part of life, and that everyone will experience loss and grief at some time. Generally, children who are of school age will have an understanding that death is permanent, however pre-schoolers and younger children may not quite get that their loved one will never come back. You must always be honest and open when discussing death, and more than anything else you need to make sure that your child understands that he or she should and can talk to you or another trusted adult about their feelings at any time.
How do I tell my child that someone has died? The most important rule of thumb is to BE HONEST. Never tell your child that their loved one is sleeping – or they will expect him or her to wake up. And, never tell your child that their loved one is “taking a trip or journey” because they will await a return. Unless you are honest and open, there is most likely going to be a delay between your child learning about the death and the onset of the grieving process.
What can I do to help my young child face the fear of death? It’s not uncommon for young children to be frightened by death because they do not understand the process. When you are open and honest, it should help to alleviate some of this fear. When explaining death, tell your child that the deceased was so old that their body stopped working, or that they were sick or injured and their body stopped working. Spare them the details, because they won’t understand and the details can be frightening to them. Once the reality sets in, it is very likely that your child will ask you if you are going to die too. A good way to answer is to explain that everyone will die eventually, but that most of the time people do not die until they are very old.
How am I best to handle the death of my child’s pet? Chances are that if you have had your pet for some time, your child is very attached to the animal. Remember that just because your pet is not a person, it is still very possible for your child to have developed a strong attachment. When the pet dies, your child is just as likely to suffer from grief as they would be if a loved one had died. Be open and honest with your child – regardless of his or her age.
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The common cold is something that all children will experience and in spite of advancements in medicine they have not yet found a way to prevent it. However you can cut down on the number of colds your child gets by helping them to be as healthy as possible.
Statistics show that a child may catch a cold about 8 times a year and will normally last about a week. There are approx 200 know cold viruses, but the most common one is known as the Rhinovirus. They have not been able to come up with a vaccine for a cold due to the number of viruses that can cause it.
The cold virus is easily spread by sneezing and coughing and kids don't understand about germs and what they can try to do to avoid them. The cold virus can also be picked up easily by touching a contaminated object and then touching their own nose or mouth. Once they've been exposed to the cold virus they will develop symptoms in 2-3 days. There are medicines on the market that help your child feel better while they have a cold but they don't actually cure the cold.
If you take the child to the doctor and get a prescription be sure to follow the recommended dosage. Decongestants can help reduce the swelling of the nose lining while antihistamines will help to dry up the runny noses and reduce the sneezing. If they are also experiencing headaches or muscle pains you can give them acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Be sure to give them lots of liquids and be sure to include some hot drinks and food as this helps to ease their sore throat, coughing and helps to clear out the mucus. Chicken soup really does help to treat a common cold. Other options could be to use a humidifier or put them in a steamy shower. You should keep them in bed the first couple of days of a cold to give their body time to rest and fight off the cold.
The way to help your child stay well is to feed them a healthy diet, get adequate sleep and exercise. These things will help to build up a good immune system and your child won't get sick nearly as often.
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