Effective Parenting Skills "Be The Worlds Greatest Mom Or Dad"

Do you strive to be the best Mom or Dad ever, just to be dissappointed when your child doesn't notice that you did something great. Like the time you spent weeks tracking down the toy that they just had to have for Christmas, only to have her open it and say, "Oh, I wanted the blue one." Sometimes it's exhausting to be the worlds greatest Mom or Dad, so maybe you need some help in.
"How To Become The Worlds Greatest Mom or Dad Without Putting Yourself To Wit's End In Raising Happier Highly Successful Children"
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Booster Seats For Older Children "At What Age Are They Old Enough For Seat Belts"

If you have ever watched a child in a car, that is too small for a regular shoulder seat belt, they will almost always pull it off their shoulder and place it behind them. It is never tight enough to hold them in case of an accident and isn't doing much good. This is why booster seats were designed. The problem is that just because your child is to big for his forward facing safety car seat, he is still not quite tall enough for the lap and shoulder belts to fit him. They weren't made to. Your child should ride in booster car seats until his ears can reach the top of the seat. This is usually about 4' 9" in height and between ages 8 and 12 yrs. of age. A booster car seat are made to lift the child up, so that the regular seat belts will lay correctly on your child and hold them tightly.

Booster Seats For School Aged Children

Booster seats are to be used for older children who have outgrown their regular forward-facing car safety seats. There are ways that you can tell whether your child has out grown his car seat and is ready for a booster seat.

• He has grown tall enough or has reached the weight limit for a harness. Your manual for your car seat will specify what those limits are.
• When your childs shoulders are above the very top slots of their car seat. The shoulder straps should be at or above her shoulders.
  

There are two kinds of booster seats, which are High-back and backless booster seats. They do not come with harness straps, booster seats are to be used with the lap and shoulder belts in your car. They usually come with a plastic clip or guide to help you correctly use them. Make sure to read the manual for directions on how to install them properly.

Installation Tips

1. You must always use a lap and shoulder belt with your booster car seat. It is not safe to use them with only lap belt.
2. When using a booster seat, the lap belt should lie low and snug across your child's upper legs.
3. The shoulder belt should cross in the middle of your child's chest.

Warning

If your car does not have shoulder belts, do not use booster car seats. You will need to use a forward facing car seat. Another option is a travel vest. Some of them can be use with only lap belts. You must check the manual on each one, as they are all different.

Make sure your child does not tuck the shoulder belt under her arm or behind her back. This leaves the upper body unprotected, putting your child at risk of severe injury in a crash or with sudden braking. Never allow anyone to share a seat belt.

Do not use safety car seats that have been in a moderate or severe crash.

No one seat is the best or the safest. The best child safety seat is the one that fits your child’s age and size. It needs to be correctly installed, fit well in your vehicle, and be used properly every time you drive.

Making Toothpaste: A Fun Activity for Kids

Are you looking for a fun activity that might be educational, too? Looking for a fun way to get kids to brush their teeth? Are you looking for just a fun activity? If you answered yes to any of those questions, then you might want to try your hand at making toothpaste.

Materials Needed:
bowls
baking soda
salt
water
food flavoring extract
spoons
sandwich bags

Place baking soda, salt, and water in separate bowls. Assist the children in placing 4 teaspoons of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 teaspoon of water in individual sandwich bags. Add a drop of food flavoring extract, such as peppermint, mint, or orange. Let the children mix their own toothpaste in the sandwich bags.

This activity is appropriate for children aged 6 and up. Always be sure to provide adult supervision. Whether you are a parent or a teacher who would like to utilize this activity, please also make sure that none of the children are allergic to any of the ingredients used in making the toothpaste.



The educational benefits of this activity include engaging students so they will apply math concepts such as measuring, counting, and critical thinking. Some sample questions to ask the children: How many teaspoons did you use all together in making the toothpaste? Does the salt and the baking soda taste the same? How does the toothpaste taste? A variation of flavoring extracts can also be used. The kids could compare the different flavors, and then graph accordingly. Whether "Making Toothpaste" is used as a family activity or a classroom activity, its overall objective remains the same: to have fun. So, regardless of the reason why you might choose to use this activity, please remember to have fun with it.

Protect Your Childrens Eyes

Modern living is imbalanced and parents need to make extra efforts to protect the eyes of their children. Most children spend 3-5 hours a day staring at a computer screen, either surfing the internet or gaming. Children watch movies, play video games, watch hours of uninterrupted television and hardly ever go out doors or give their eyes a chance to focus on distant objects.

In fact doctors who treat children are finding an alarming increase in eye sight weakness and other ophthalmic problems like red eyes, irritations, and so on. There is a new problem, computer vision syndrome and 25-30% of children need corrective eye wear before they are even six years old.

Protect the eye sight of your kids; consider some of the following tips:

1. Always place things like televisions and computers at appropriate distances. Surf the World Wide Web for recommendations by experts.

2. Ensure that the child has a comprehensive eye exam every year the exam should include near-point and distance testing.

3. Teach the child the importance of splashing clean water on the eyes. This will removes any dust or bacteria.

4. Use soaps that are not harmful to the eyes.

5. Never allow children to use sunglasses or magnifying glasses that are not of good quality. Any eye wear or use must be optically safe.

6. If the child is going to be traveling or out in the sun for long hours, it is best he or she wears a cap that shields the eyes or wears sunglasses. The sunglasses must be bought from reliable manufacturers. Check the internet for high quality sunglasses at low prices. Before you buy a pair for a child check with the doctor whether the glasses should be prescription or non prescription.

7. Ensure that the child does not spend the whole day viewing close objects . Take the child for a drive, to the park, or beach. Teach the child the joys of watching birds fly, clouds float in the sky and so on. It will naturally exercise the child’s eyes.

8. Restrict television viewing and computer time to a minimal. Encourage the child to enjoy outdoor activities. Hand held computer games to strain the eye.

It is our duty to bring up kids in the healthiest way possible. Include in the child’s diet vegetables, fruits, and fish; things that protect the eyes and prevent wear and tear. Read up on foods that are beneficial to ophthalmic health and are rich in vitamins A and C and beta carotenes. When buying children eye wear ensure that you buy only “top” quality glasses.Modern living is imbalanced and parents need to make extra efforts to protect the eyes of their children. Most children spend 3-5 hours a day staring at a computer screen, either surfing the internet or gaming. Children watch movies, play video games, watch hours of uninterrupted television and hardly ever go out doors or give their eyes a chance to focus on distant objects.

In fact doctors who treat children are finding an alarming increase in eye sight weakness and other ophthalmic problems like red eyes, irritations, and so on. There is a new problem, computer vision syndrome and 25-30% of children need corrective eye wear before they are even six years old.

Creative Disipline For Your Kids

I’m no child expert, but I have been a mother long enough to know what works and what doesn’t. Sometimes, as parents, we inflict more harm than good simply because we feel angry, tired, or frustrated. Thinking about effective disciplining practices BEFORE they are needed can help save you and your children a lot of heart ache later.

How do we battle whining or undesirable attention-grabbing behavior? Lengthy car trips, long waits in the check-out lane, or doctors’ office waiting rooms – wherever boredom sets in, watch out! My children require a great deal of input in a day. Usually, we travel with one or two board books or coloring books to pass the time at doctor’s offices. Singing songs or reading a story can help make car long trips seem shorter. Frequent rest stops to stretch little and big legs alike help reduce irritability.

We recently took a two-week vacation to the beach. After thirteen days of fun, my four-year-old was grappling with feelings of loss and sadness that our vacation was nearing an end. When she told me that she didn’t like this day, I suggested that we change the day to a new one. We ran around our beach chairs three times, tumbling in the sand with peals of laughter. It helped lighten her mood and mine too!

Sibling rivalry is another issue that requires effective discipline. Oftentimes, children need to gain distance from their negative feelings. When my two and four-year-old were at odds one day, I asked them for their help. Suddenly, I had two quarrelling children that I didn’t know what to do with. I asked them if they could help me toss them out the window. We took two imaginary kids, hoisted them out the ground-level window, and dusted our hands of them. It worked! They immediately began playing nicely together.

Acknowledging that children have control of their own feelings and actions can be very powerful. Our time-out chair is placed away from any toys or books in the living room. The children know that if they misbehave after repeated warnings, they’re destined for the white chair. Often it is enough to simply ask them if they want to sit on the time-out chair or stop their behavior. They are made aware of their power to influence the situation.

A heightened form of discipline is sending the kids to their rooms. I never leave them in their rooms for more than a few minutes. Asking them why they were punished helps clarify the situation for everyone. Oftentimes my four-year-old is so wrapped up in her feelings that she isn’t aware of what she is doing. Explaining why she was punished gives her an added understanding of what went wrong and how to avoid such behavior in the future.

Listening to her response is just as crucial. As parents, we often forget that children need to be heard, no matter how trivial it may seem. Parental explanation and listening are key factors in building a mutually respectful relationship. Your child won’t listen if you don’t.

Discipline means teaching or guiding. We all need a little guidance every day. Being creative and loving about it can help you have the relationship you want with your child, and you’ll have fun doing it, too!

For more ideas about positive parenting: Click Here!

Start Your Own Kids Cooking Lessons

Did you ever want to teach your kids to cook but don't know how to start? Or are you too afraid of the mess in the process? Getting your child involved in the kitchen and learning to cook can have long lasting effects on their self esteem, their eating habits and their connection with their family. It's an opportunity not to be missed. Different age groups can handle different tasks in the kitchen. Start by evaluating where your child is for skill level and get them involved in cooking. There is no time like the present!

3-6 years old kids are best at helping and assisting an adult while cooking. Stirring, mixing, creating and adding premeasured ingredients are all good tasks for this age group.

7-11 years old kids are good at simple 6 or less ingredient recipes, no bake recipes, using a microwave and preparing food for an adult to cook.

12-15 years old can learn to use a sharp knife for cutting, cooking in the oven or stove top, baking bread, pies, cookies or cakes are appropriate tasks for teenagers.

16-18 years old can do all other tasks listed and are at an appropriate age to learn to cook main dish meat recipes, explore and create and have fun with theme recipes. Preserving food and learning to shop economically will help them when they are out on their own.

So go ahead and get your kids involved with cooking just ignore the extra mess and enjoy the time bonding with your family.

Teach Your Children to Respect You

The most important value you will ever teach your children is: to respect their parents. And since you cannot pass anything on that you don’t incorporate yourself, you will have to start by first respecting your children. If they don’t feel treated like a human being, worthy of respect and love, deserving of your attention, then their cooperation will be in short supply. First, you show them respect. Second, you teach them to respect you. So how to go about this in practice? What to do if your children complain about the food, insult you because you’re picking them up from the gym 10 minutes too late, or if they don’t want to clean up their own mess? Let’s have a look at these situations one by one:

1. Are the kids complaining about the food? Do you hear a “bwerk” when they see what’s in the casserole? Well, you are no fool, are you? You just spent one hour in the kitchen preparing that meal. Before cooking, you spent one hour at the grocery store buying the food. Before that, you spent many hours on the job, earning the money to pay for that food. So you now start asking yourself, “Did I not give enough of myself for this meal?” Yes, you did! You do not owe it to them to prepare a warm meal every day. But you do owe it to yourself to get some respect from those for whom you make all these efforts. Enough is enough! You did your part of the deal, now it’s up to them. Teach your children to say “thank you” for every meal. If they have no “thank you” on offer but only muster a “bwerk,” then you are not making dinner for at least two days! Soon they’ll be begging you for a warm dinner, and God knows they will be very grateful when they finally get one on the third day! Never continue delivering a service that is not appreciated. You’d be a fool to do that! How does it feel to be toiling away behind the stove, all the while fearing your efforts and goodwill won’t be appreciated? This is no way to live! If they appreciate neither your efforts nor your cooking, then make them go without for 2 or 3 days, and see what happens.

2. Are the kids insulting you just because you’re ten minutes late when picking them up from the gym? Then stop picking them up from the gym for a few times! Make it clear to them that they have to appreciate your effort of taking them and picking them up. Don’t start an argument with them, for that doesn’t work. Don’t keep explaining time and time again that they should respect you, but rather show them by taking action. If they are unable to see the difference between the important facts (you are there to pick them up) and the unimportant facts (being ten minutes too late), then let them feel the difference. Next time around, simply don’t take them to the gym, so they will become aware of the difference and learn to appreciate what you are doing for them. Don’t settle for being treated like a slave. You are worthy of respect! Show them what it means to be a person who respects himself. Respect yourself and others will respect you.

3. Are the kids complaining that “there is nothing to eat” in the house, while the kitchen cupboards are bulging with food? What they mean, of course, is that THEIR favorite food is not available in large enough a quantity. Do your kids have this kind of complaints? Okay, here’s what you do: stop going to the grocery store for a while. That way the kids will have to first finish all the food in the fridge and in the cupboards (or go do some household shopping themselves, also an enlightening exercise). This also makes for an economical cleaning up of all those half-finished packs of crackers, biscuits, cheese, and the like. Then comes the next phase where there really is “nothing” left in the cupboards. Now is the time to go to the grocery store, and you can bet on it that they will appreciate the new arrivals! They will feel like there’s “so much to eat,” while in fact there’s less food than when they were complaining there was “nothing to eat.”

4. Are the kids putting tons of ketchup on their food, continuously ignoring your warnings to be more economical and eat healthier? Stop arguing about it, for that doesn’t work. Instead, stop buying ketchup all the time! For example, buy one bottle of ketchup per month and clearly tell your children that they’ll have to do with this one bottle for the whole month. When the bottle is done, it’s done, till next month comes around. If necessary, buy a bottle for each child and label it. That way your children will learn to regulate their “ketchup behavior.”

5. Are the kids ignoring your orders to put their shoes in the designated place? Do they go on leaving their shoes all around the house? Tell them this will be the last warning, and that from now on, any shoes found scattered around will be “launched” into the back yard. And then, stick to your promise! I had to do this once with my sun’s basketball shoes: I launched them outside. As it happened, that night it was raining cats and dogs. The next morning he cried, “What do I do now? My shoes are all wet!” I said to him, “Sun, this is your problem.” Believe me, I had to do this only once! Once your children know that you will do as you say, then you won’t have to do it. They will respect your word!

6. Are your children’s rooms a mess? You want the mess to be cleaned up? Don’t do it yourself! Your teenagers should clean up their own mess! So instead of arguing about it, tell them that they have to clean up their room before dinner on Saturday. That way you are giving them plenty of freedom to chose their own timing. Come Saturday evening dinnertime, go check if the room is tidy. If not, then there is no dinner for that child. After all, this was the deal: room to be cleaned BEFORE dinner. They can still clean their room right there and then, and have dinner when they’re done, but as long as the room is not clean there is no dinner. You could also say, “You clean your room and after that you can go out with your friends.” Be consistent and do as you say.

This is where many parents stumble when dealing with their children: they argue too much. They go on explaining the same thing dozens of times. Do you really think the kids didn’t understand what you were saying? If you have said something two times, then that’s enough. After the second time, you should ACT and not TALK. Don’t argue with them! Never argue with a child. You are the parent, you are the one who decides. You can negotiate with your child, but don’t feel you need to explain yourself. Kids have much more energy than you do, and sooner or later you will give up (or give in) because your energy is spent while theirs is not. They know that and they will win the battle! Don’t get tempted to go into endless discussions with your child. Learn to act after the second warning. Be consistent! That’s the only way to get respect.

Homework Tips For Kids & Teens

Homework has been a perennial headache for kids and teens as well as for their parents. Following are some tips to make homework time more effective and enjoyable for all concerned.

1. No TV. As a general rule, kids should not watch TV while doing their homework. It might be a good policy to have the television turned off any time it's time to do homework, depending, of course, where the television is located.

2. The radio is OK. Contrary to what many so-called experts recommend, actual studies have shown that having the radio on a child's or teenager's favorite music station can actually help him learn better.

3. Set fixed hours. There should be a set schedule for homework. This way, the youngsters can arrange their schedules and make sure they get their homework done every day. It's also a great way for answering those comments. "I'll do it later, after I've finished whatever," which is a standard line among kids when asked if they've finished their homework. You may want to set a standard time for supper and family discussions, followed by study time. If the student doesn't have other commitments and gets home reasonably early from school, some homework can be done before supper.

4. Set telephone rules. As a general rule, kids should not be allowed to use the telephone during those hours when they are supposed to be doing their homework. However, sometimes it becomes necessary to use the phone, say, for confirming homework and the like. In these cases, the parents should set a fixed number of minutes for discussing school-related matters so the kids can get back to their homework right away.

5. Create a good study area. First, designate an area where it would be ideal for your children to do their homework, usually in their rooms. Set up this area to make it conducive for studying by putting proper lighting, an area for studying supplies such as pencils, pens, paper, books, and other essentials and make the area free from distractions. It might be a good idea to set up a bulletin board there as well.

This is a good resource of something to help your child do better in school. Teach them memory skills that make learning easier. This is ideal for all middle school and elementary age children. If they are struggling to go from C's to A's or if they are fighting to go from F's to C's, this can help.
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What Kids can learn from the Martial Arts

Martial Arts are becoming more popular as the years go on and they do provide us with the skills that we need in order to protect ourselves form others. However, when it comes to kids and Martial Arts, some parents are wary of whether or not a Martial Arts school is for them. How do you know if your child will like the school and just how do you know it will teach them all of the right things?

Martial Arts and What They Teach Our Kids
There is a misconception that Martial Arts schools teach our children to fight. Obviously all Martial Arts consist of some kind of physical activity, but it is purely taught so that our kids can protect themselves against harm. In a world packed full of danger it is always a good idea to get our children to be able to look after themselves. At the end of the day there is only so much a parent can teach their child but once they get out into the open world, they are literally on their own. That means that they need to be able to protect themselves and Martial Arts schools do help them to do that.

Now, there are obviously going to be some kids who just want to cause trouble. However, generally Martial Arts are only learned by those who are serious about the practice. All Martial Arts require some form of focus and kids who are just out to cause trouble and fight all the time will not be able to stick with Martial Arts for long. Martial Arts schools never teach children to fight. If anything they teach the opposite, as using the skills that you have learned through Martial Arts to just simply fight, is opposed.

So just what are Martial Arts schools teaching our children then? Well, they teach them to look after themselves, to stay focused, to have a higher self confidence and overall to keep calm. There is definitely nothing sinister going on and Martial Arts classes are extremely safe to leave your children in. You just have to make sure that you find a good school. Do not get sucked in by the many fake Martial Arts schools out there.

Overall Martial Arts schools are good for our kids and they do not teach anything dodgy. If you do have a child enrolled in a Martial Arts school and you are not particularly happy with the attitude they are developing, then you should really consider swapping schools. It is all a matter of doing your research and finding one to suit you and your child. You should eventually find one and you can rest safe in the knowledge that your child is bettering themselves and learning to become more protected against the world.