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Healthy Habits for Rebellious Teenagers

May 20, 2011 by
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Whether your teen is beginning to act out or you want to prevent this, it is important to set healthy habits for your child. This can be a dangerous time for their development. Here are some tips to help you deal with these stressful factors.

An important beginning is realizing the effect of environments. Communication with your child is essential, as a meaningful relationship will be needed for either side to be trusted. Establishing this trust will hopefully enable you, as well as your teen, to feel comfortable with the responsibilities that come with greater age in these years.

Encourage your child to participate in healthy activities. Perhaps there are sports or clubs at your child’s high school that he or she will enjoy. These can be great opportunities to meet friends and have a healthy outlook on all things school-related.

Also, look for ways teens to stay active in their free time. If your son enjoys playing poker with his friends, think about getting a couple of professional poker tables for the basement, as this could be a safe and fun place for them to hang out. Work on building healthy habits such as this, especially in relationship to activities, to protect your child without being overprotective.

Of course, this is not an exhaustive list of ways to curb rebellious tendencies from your teen. It is certainly a process that needs to be met with sincerity. Work on your relationship with your teen foremost, and spend some time evaluating how other factors play a role in your teen’s development

Filed Under: General, Teenage Tagged With: , ,

Important Milestones in Five to Seven-Month-Old Babies

March 20, 2011 by

As a new parent, you will be amazed at how quickly your baby grows and changes. Once you make it past those first few months of endless feedings and late-night diaper changes, you will really be able to watch and enjoy your child as he grows and learns and his personality begins to develop.

Babies who are five months old are very aware of their environment and the people they interact with frequently. At this age a child will begin to pay attention to tiny objects, so you will need to be diligent about keeping small food pieces, small toys and other items out of baby’s reach. Children at this age learn about things by putting them in their mouths, and you don’t want your baby to choke.

Five-month-old babies are also beginning to understand cause and effect, so select toys like stackable blocks that will let them really explore this concept. Teething also often begins at this age, so be prepared for some crankiness and lots of drooling!

Once your baby is six months old, he should be able to hold a bottle, sit up easily without much support and make some two-syllable sounds. Babies at this age are also able to reach for and grab items that are beyond their immediate grasp, so again beware of what is near baby to avoid choking dangers.

Seven-month-old babies are usually ready to begin feeding themselves small finger foods. There are several products on the market made especially for this stage in baby’s development; or you can experiment with something simple and healthy like plain Cheerio’s cereal. At this age your baby should also be able to play the classic game peek-a-boo!

Filed Under: Children, Teenage Tagged With: , , ,

Calming Common Childhood Fears

March 16, 2011 by

Every child, at every age, will experience fear at some time. In fact certain fears, such as separation anxiety, are practically a milestone of development. Even so, there are things you can do to calm a fearful child at any age.

When your child is an infant, he or she can become frightened by simple things, such as a loud noise or a new face. To help, establish a routine for your child’s life and stick to it. Keep things in your baby’s life predictable, and offer a lot of love, kind touches and encouragement. This will help your child develop a sense of trust.

Preschool-aged children are often afraid of new people, new places and new experiences. Also at this age imaginations tend to run wild, and it can be difficult for them to tell the difference between what is real and what is imaginary. At this age, you can’t reason with your child or talk them out of being afraid. The best thing to do is to try to turn what they are afraid of into a different emotion. If your child is afraid of the dark, make up fun activities you can do in the dark to distract him.

In elementary aged children fears are often based on things happening in real life. A child who hears about a house fire on the news might develop a fear of his own house burning down, for example. In this case, try talking to your child to uncover what he is afraid of. If he has a hard time expressing his thoughts, ask him to draw a picture to help illustrate his emotions.

Filed Under: Children, Parenting, Teenage Tagged With: , ,

How to Deal with a Moody Teenager

March 9, 2011 by

All teens will go through a “moody” phase. In some children, you will barely notice a difference in their behavior while others will seem to be a completely different person. How, as a parent, can you handle this change in your child, and help him or her through it?

By building a relationship based on trust with your child.

For starters, the most important thing you can do is take the time to really listen to your child. Your teen is beginning to try to understand himself, the world, and how he fits into it. These are weighty issues. By being available and lending an ear – without offering judgment or complaint – you can help your child work through his issues and understand that he can trust you.

It’s also important that you respect your child’s increasing need for personal space and privacy. While every good parent knows they have to keep tabs on their child’s friends and activities, you also need to show your child you understand that he is becoming more adult and needs time to himself.

You can also establish a trustworthy relationship by showing your teen you have confidence in his decision making and abilities.  Work on solving problems together, and give credence to his ideas. Teach your child that you think he is smart, and that his thoughts have merit.

By following these simple steps you will earn your teen’s love and respect, build a relationship based on trust, and be able to help him through any moodiness that arises.

Filed Under: Children, Teenage Tagged With: , , ,

Planning a Tea Party for Mother’s Day

February 18, 2011 by

Mother’s day is a special day for all members of a family. Your children will want to celebrate this special and memorable day with you. If you have very small children, why not plan a mother and daughter tea party? A festive gathering such as this can bring together all of the mothers and daughters of your family, friends and coworkers. To plan a tea party, use your imagination. Put up creative decorations, serve delicious treats, and pick out your favorite music. You can even increase your children’s enjoyment by dressing them in kids costumes.

How to Plan a Tea Party

A mother’s day tea party can be as simple or as elaborate as you would like to make it. If the weather is nice, you can host the gathering in your backyard. An indoor party will be preferable if the weather is unpredictable. Once you have the location set, you’re ready to plan the rest.

Flowers help to make all occasions festive. Choose your favorite flowers of all color varieties. Roses and lilacs are good options. Place the flowers on tables, near entryways and on shelves away from the reach of small children.

A tea party is not a tea party without a wide assortment of teas. Earl Grey and English Breakfast teas are good options for adults. For children, offer herbal tea varieties such as chamomile and peppermint tea, and juice.

Tea sandwiches and crackers and cheese are possible options for finger foods. Small cookies and fruit tarts will also make the children happy.

Entertainment and Kids Costumes

Speaking of making the children happy, dressing them in kids costumes adds a fun element to the festivities. Mothers and daughters can dress in similar costumes to reinforce the bond. Also choose your favorite pieces of music to uplift everyone’s spirit and maybe even inspire everyone to dance after they’re done with tea and cookies.

Filed Under: Parenting, Teenage Tagged With: ,

Coping with Teen Rebellion

February 16, 2011 by

T​he teenage years can be a frustrating and confusing time in the lives of both the teens and their parents. Some teens will experience personality changes, mood swings and temperament that makes them nearly unrecognizable. Parents who are unable to understand the very real mental, emotional and physical changes that are responsible for this are typically unprepared to help their teens adapt. It is important to understand that in addition to the internal changes your child is experiencing, he or she is also being introduced to new ideas and concepts every day. Your teen may feel awkward and uncomfortable much of time, and peer pressure may become a dominant force in his day to day life. While his first few years were marked by his desire to please you, he is now beginning to develop a personality of his own.

T​here are still ways to encourage growth and change in your child’s outlook and attitude without losing him to the darker side of rebellion. Let your teen know that you expect him to begin making some of his own decisions, but that just as in the adult world, those decisions may have repercussions. Start discussions about topics in the news, morality and legal issues, which will give him an opportunity to explore his own thoughts and ideas on the matters at hand. Keep in mind that extreme grooming, dress and hygiene issues may arise with teens, and try your best to keep your perspective. Dyed hair, odd hairstyles and styles of clothing may be part of his trying on new personae until he finds one that truly fits. Do your best to be open minded, without relinquishing your duties as a parent, and you and your child will be able to weather the harshest storms of the teen years.

Filed Under: Parenting, Teenage Tagged With: ,

Why is Baby Crying?

February 8, 2011 by

T​here is very little in the world that is quite as distressing to new parents as the sound of their children crying. However, newborns have no other way to communicate, so crying will quickly become a common event in the lives of new parents. There are several reasons why babies cry; learning each of these and identifying the source of your baby’s discontent will help you learn his or her specific cries for each type of issue. Most babies will cry differently when hungry, when irritated and when they need to be changed. You will soon learn what these sound like and will be able to recognize them easily.

W​hen your baby is crying, especially within the first few months, hunger is the most likely culprit. In addition to crying, your child may be mouthing his own fist or turning his head to the nearest object and nuzzling it. If he has fed recently and still appears to be hungry, he may need to have some very watered-down cereal added to his diet. Check with his pediatrician if this is advisable for your baby. The need to have his diaper changed is the next most likely suspect. Some babies will cry almost immediately after soiling a diaper, while others may not be too bothered until the related sensations become uncomfortable.

Y​our baby will also cry when he is tired. It is a common misconception that babies will sleep when they need to. Unfortunately, it is easy for new parents to allow a baby to become overstimulated, which will cause him to have trouble unwinding and drifting off to sleep. You should have a quiet area for your baby where you can sit and hold him without bright lights, noise or other voices. That should allow the baby to relax enough in order to fall asleep. One other crying reason is discomfort; if nothing else is working, check for a temperature, rash or a need to burp.

Filed Under: Parenting, Teenage Tagged With: , ,

How to Proceed if You Suspect an Addiction with Your Teenager

February 6, 2011 by

An addiction can become an extremely difficult struggle in someone’s life. Certainly this rings true for teenagers, as they are indeed in a tough time developmentally and can be exposed to negative influences. As these can involve alcohol, smoking, and dangerous drugs, an addiction in a teenager can occur within any family.

Avoiding these influences is of course desirable. As a parent, having an open and honest relationship is a great start, where you can hopefully set a good example and be there should they need help. Within the context of a family these dangers may be undermined; however, it doesn’t always occur, unfortunately.

If you suspect that your teenager may be dealing with some type of addiction, taking action is essential. It doesn’t matter which stage the addiction—if there is an addiction—is in; getting help is a must for the well-being of your child.

Talking to your child is one step. This can have varying levels of success and you might need to be a judge regarding how your child reacts, in terms of telling the truth or speaking about it at all. Taking your child to a mental health professional, or even seeing one yourself in the beginning to talk about your concerns, is also a good idea. If you have contact to individuals that are close to your child, then take advantage of them; do what you can to get to the root of the situation.

In some situations action may need to be taken. There are valuable rehabilitation centers that can help treat your child before it is too late. You could consult one, such as MichaelsHouse.com, for instance. Whether or not your child actually has an addiction, take whatever steps necessary to help you teenager through his or her difficulties. Consult professional help immediately if needed.

Filed Under: Parenting, Teenage Tagged With: , ,

Delegating Your Parental Responsibilities

December 10, 2010 by
"Duty" by Edmund Blair Leighton
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Juggling parenting duties can be quite a lot to deal with for those moms who work full-time jobs. Trying to manage a home, take kids to their various activities, cook, clean and work a job can eventually take a physical and mental toll on a person. By delegating certain responsibilities to other members of the family, moms can find a break and a much needed respite from the daily chores that forever awaits them.

The children can help with household chores on a daily basis. If they are old enough and mature enough to be trusted, allow them to do several things including dishwashing, taking out the garbage, light cooking and general cleaning. By spending a few minutes with them teaching them how to do these things right, you can free yourself to focus on other areas of responsibilities.

To keep the delegation list clear and everybody focused on what they need to do, create a poster board with columns that outline what each person’s duties are. You can also position a place on the board to be checked off as each duty is performed on a daily basis. Use a dry erase board with markers to make the list board low maintenance and reusable.

As the children become more efficient in completing their tasks, you can begin to add more responsibilities to their list as they are able to handle them. This frees up your duties even more, and gives the kids more experience in helping out around the house. Reward them when they do a good job with things like extra television time, extra outdoors playtime or even a sleepover for a consistent job well done! They will learn to associate hard work with reward, and also learn to appreciate consistency in their lives. You will be glad that you took the extra time out to train them as you enjoy your more stress-free life.

Filed Under: Parenting, Teenage Tagged With: , ,

Your Teens First Date

December 8, 2010 by
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Your little ones do grow up fast! It seems like only yesterday they were playing with their toy trucks and baby dolls, and already they’re talking to you about boyfriends, girlfriends and dating. Where did the time go?!

Are They Ready to Date?

Every parent worries and wonders if they’re teenager is actually ready to start dating. There is a lot of concern of course when this stage comes around, but only the parents know for sure if they’re child is ready for the dating world.

- Is she/he mature enough to start dating?

- Do they fully understand the "facts of life" and how their actions are consequential?

- Do the parents know the teens boyfriend/girlfriend well enough to trust them alone?

- Does the teen understand the danger in mixing alcohol and driving?

Give Them the Dating Rules

Just like they got the rules when they were going to sleep-overs or parties, you should still give them the rules for the dating scene. Rules vary depending on what works for your household, but some things are standard:

- Make sure they understand that there is to be no drinking and driving, especially if they’re an older age and have access to both of those

- Make sure they have cash with them in case of emergencies. They need enough to get transportation back home in case there’s car trouble, accidents, etc.

- Establish a curfew time for them, especially if they’re new to dating. Set the time according to their age and maturity level. Make it clear that there are consequences if the curfew is broken.

Just Have Fun!

Yes, parents do stress over their child and dating, but try to relax and encourage your teen to have fun and enjoy themselves. This time of life is very special, and you want to make sure they have a great time.

Filed Under: Teenage Tagged With: , ,
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