In the United States today, people far and wide are celebrating. It is Independence Day. It is a day to honor the country and how it has evolved into what it is today - a free and democratic society. It can also be a day to celebrate independence on another level…the independence of our children.
Do you ever have that feeling that no one is listening to you? That feeling usually happens for me when I say magical phrases like, “pick up your toys” or “brush your teeth”. Good listening skills are not something we are all born with; they are an acquired skill. Here are several ways to teach your child to be a good listener:
Goodness knows that my older son is a schedule-kid. He thrives on routine and repetitiveness. He also has a tough time handling transitions or change, typically when he isn’t prepared for them. Here are some tips we use to make transitions easier.
I have several friends who will tell me over and over that their child simply does not respond to time-outs. I always ask about their time-out when they tell me this, and more often than not, I find that the concept of “time-out” is simply misunderstood and not used effectively. Follow these steps in order to provide a positive learning experience for your child through time-outs.
For the past week or two, I’ve published little snippets of discipline strategies as ideas or even reminders for us all. With summer here (and school out), I’ve found myself needing to re-evaluate our “game plan” at home and set some ground rules. Being consistent and clear in directions, and providing meaningful and effective consequences can establish the groundwork for a good, solid relationship with your child. It is equally important to give your child plenty of praise. Catching them being good, and letting them know about it, can be just as effective, if not moreso than many other forms of discipline.
My older son has always come across as more mature than his years. He talked early, walked early, and essentially he grew up around adults, not children. So, his mannerisms and speech tended to lead people to believe that he was actually older than his age. However, when others would treat him as older, he was incapable of handling it, and justifiably so. We learned early on that it was essential to interact and discipline him at his age level. Alloting consequences for behavior fell into this area.
“Keep It Simple, Sweetie!” It is a message I’ve tried to honor in my parenting through the years. However, my interpretation of “keeping it simple” hasn’t always been the best.
Children are much wiser than we often give them credit. They pick up on our moods, even when we think we’re covering them well. They are often able to read into what is being said, and they can tell when the “in charge” person means what he or she says. And that is the key to good parenting: mean what you say.
