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Home should be a place where children feel truly comfortable about talking freely about their likes and dislikes, their friends and their feelings. Parenting children in an atmosphere with open communication, will help both the parent and child feel more comfortable during life’s ups and downs. This secures both parent and child and creates a safer family environment

If you notice a change in your child’s behavior, have a heart-to-heart talk. Find a comfortable place where you won’t be interrupted and talk with your child in a concerned and nonthreatening way. Ask teachers and school administrators if there’s a problem at school and, if so, ask them for help.

Here are some strategies for promoting good communication with your children and an… Continue Reading

To succeed in school, parents need to be involved in their children’s learning. It’s important to be involved early, and it’s important to stay involved. Learning the skills for success takes place at home as well as at school. Here are some of the things that parents can do at home and at school.

At Home

* Ask questions about things your children are learning and doing, and encourage them to give you lengthy answers.

* Keep books, magazines, and newspapers available. Use them yourself to show you value learning, too.

Have paper, pencils, crayons, and washable markers handy. This encourages children to practice writing.

Watch TV with your children, and talk with them about the things you like and don’t like about the shows. Be sure to… Continue Reading

When you learn science you build on what you already know. Children need to start learning early, at home, so that they have a firm base of knowledge to build on when they get to school. As parents, what’s important is that we share the knowledge we have with our children. Science is in everyday activities: cooking, washing dishes, growing plants. So, look around the house and out the windows and see that science is everywhere.

Here are some things you can do:

* Ask your children questions: How do you think the clock works? Why does a bird make a nest and what is the nest made of? How does electricity help us every day?

* Have children look at what’s happening around them and… Continue Reading

Math is a very important part of life. We use math to set an alarm clock, buy groceries, keep score or time at a game, wallpaper a room, or wrap a present. We all need math in the world of computers and electronic communication. It is important to encourage children to think of themselves as mathematicians who can reason and solve problems.

Here are some things you can do:

* Show your children that you like numbers. Play number games and think of math problems as puzzles to be solved.

* From the time your child is very young, count everything. When you empty a grocery bag, count the number of apples. Count the number of stairs to your home.

* Put things into groups. When you… Continue Reading

When it comes to homework, it’s common for some children go through many developmental stages before they arrive at the acceptance stage of doing homework. Parenting children who refuse to do homework can be difficult. Below are ten successful steps that parents can use to help end the homework battle.

1. Set a daily schedule for homework and put the schedule where you will see it often. The best schedule and length of time will depend on your child.
2. Pick a well lit, fairly quiet place for your child to study. Make sure that necessary supplies are on hand and, if it is possible, let your child decorate their space with their favorite handmade artwork.
3. Remove distractions such as the television… Continue Reading

Are you a parent who’s having a difficult time getting your teen to sit down and have a conversation with you? Does your teen avoid your questions? Do you only get a one or two word answer or short comments from your child? Well, you are not a parent who is facing a rare situation. Many parents are searching for methods or strategies to get their child to open up with them. This article will provide you with some ideas to get your teen talking.

Parenting children, especially teens, requires patience and creativity. One way to get your teen taking is to use open-ended statements and questions. For example:

“So, you’re getting a “D” in math and, uh…” “So, tonight you are going… Continue Reading

Morality and Parenting

Part of our education as we grow and develop as human-beings is to establish a set of beliefs. Many of our beliefs and character traits pivot around our moral values. One of the benefits of raising children is not only passing on our family history and cultural beliefs, but moral beliefs, as well. Children, as early as the age of two, begin to understand the concepts of right and wrong. This article will help you, the parent, with some beginning talking points to begin discussing moral values with your child.

Possible Topics to Discuss:

• Your child sees cheating occurring at school.
• Your child witnesses drugs being sold at school.
• Your child finds some money or a valuable item

Does your parenting philosophy include the responsibility of having to make uncomfortable decisions for your children and family? You are not alone as a parent or an adult when it comes to feeling uncomfortable in telling someone, especially a child, “No.”

More and more parents are searching for a way to tell their child, “No.” Saying “no” is important. Numerous youth surveys indicate that children expect adults to say “no.” Here some considerations that parents need to make while considering telling their child “no.”

Tell your child that some of your answers will be “yes” and some answers will be “no.”

Tell yourself that it’s okay to tell your child “no.”

Enter… Continue Reading

Child do not want us to judge them; especially in a manner that compares them to other children. Successful parenting involves developing a relationship that includes open, positive conversations with your child.

Ask your child how he or she feels about the situation that you are discussing before you state your feelings or present your opinions.

Strive to keep your voice tone neutral and accepting. Be descriptive, rather than critical.

Descriptive example: “I heard you swear, what’s going on?”

Judgmental example: “People swear because they are not smart enough to select a better word.”

Descriptive example: “I see your wearing that beer shirt again. “The school does not allow it and neither do I.”

Judgmental example: “Kids who wear shirts like that turn into drug… Continue Reading

Discuss with your child that you feel he or she is at a developmental stage in life capable of making “this” decision. Take time to discuss the decision that is being considered, what they feel the outcome will be and what options are available if the decision is correct, or incorrect. Helping your child list options on paper, discussing pros and cons and select options that are safe and have some chance to succeed is important.

Many parents worry too much about helping their child make a decisions that will always lead to success. Decisions making that leads to failure can be appropriate and meaningful as long as the child is not placing him or… Continue Reading