PARENTING 101

Of course this is individual & everyone's different! This is just meant to inspire or help those who are having difficulty. Hang in there's it's the toughest job you'll ever LOVE!

To Do:
- Research, Read parenting books, Look up issues you have or may come across on the web, subscribe to a parenting magazine - in other words - BE INFORMED!
- Take a CPR class
- Be an involved parent, know your kids friends parents, volunteer with sports, organizations & at school.
- Keep an open dialog witht he teacher
- If your child is stuck with something, make a chart! Ex. shy child (Chart to earn stickers. Like a sticker for talking to someone new, calling someone on phone after school etc. After say 25 stickers - child get's a prize or treat). This has worked for me for my shy daughter & to help get my son to read!
- If child is having trouble with subject - make flashcards.
- Read to your kids & when they're old enough - let them read nightly before bed. They'll think they're staying up late, but you know it's a way to start them on the habit of reading.
- Cook healthy & encourage healthy choices
- Organization is key to a smoothly run household
- STICK to your guns! If you say something - stick to it, or the kids will never believe you next time you tell them something.
- Model good behavior yourself. Say please & thank you. Treat your kids the way you'd like to be treated.
- Don't hit your kids, spank your kids etc. This wouldn't teach anything positive. I've never hit my kids & they're INCREDIBLE kids. We were never hit as kids & people used to call my mom for advice. If you hit the kids, they'll learn to be sneaky. They'll learn to hide what they're doing wrong instead of learning not to do something wrong simply because it's the wrong thing to do.
- Kids are not perfect. IT takes time to learn. The objective is to get them to a point where they know how to be nice people, considerate & productive. Learning takes time. It's a process, not immediate. They'll get it, have patience.
- Make sure your kids are groomed, dressed neatly, get a good nights sleep & eat healthy. This will affect their self esteem & temperment. It's not costly to dress kids nice. Look for sales, shop consignment etc. Ask a friend for hand-me downs! Take the best care of them you can.
- Eating dinner as a family is a time to talk. Ask them what was good about their day & what was bad. This is a simple way to get them to open up.
- If you're divorced, cooperate with your ex. Being nasty & withholding information, phone calls, Not cooperating only hurts your kids. If you're hurt or angry at your ex. putting the kids in the middle will only hurt your kids.
I'm divorced & I'd say to the person who behaves this way - GROW UP. Life happens, life is hard, your kids deserve better!!
- Keep a schedule. Kids thrive on it!
- Give them responsibility for their age.
- Find opportunities to teach them. Find ways! There are so many opportunities. Look for them.
- Kids don't need soda & tons of candy. Those are reserved for special occasions. They're not good for them & if they don't get used to them, they won't like them.
- Don't let the kids be spoiled. If they have a temper tantrum, don't give in to them. Tantrums are kids being a brat. If they're having a tantrum because they're tired or hungry, that's different. If they're having it because they're not getting their own way, tell them " too bad". Don't be afraid of your kids. Be strong & don't give in. Others will respect you for this & your kids WON'T BE BRATS!!!
- Kiss your kids, hug them & tell them you love them frequently! Obvious huh?? Take the time.
- Notice your kids talents & go with it! If your kids isn't good at soccer & doesn't like it, don't force it. He/she probably has some other great talent. Each child is an individual, nourish their own unique talents.
- Teach honesty, kindness & charity. Explain that smoking/drugs are for weak people. Do they want to be weak? Explain there are people less fortunate & do charity yourself so they can see you helping the world & not being self centered. This is modeling great behavior for your kids to see. When they're old enough to help with charity work, get them helping! It won't hurt them to help others, but will help their character.
- I'll add more when I think of more!!! Best of luck.

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