Posted in Kids

5 Reasons Why Yoga For kids Is Important

Posted on by Tim Connolly

“Yoga is the fountain of youth. You’re only as young as your spine is flexible.~ Bob Harper ”

Yoga is becoming increasingly popular around the world. More people have an understanding of the benefits it brings to its practitioners, and given that there are so many variations there is a type of yoga for everyone, but what about kids? Is yoga for kids something we should even consider teaching—especially at a young age? Are there preferable ways to get children interested in this discipline? Is there any benefit of getting kids into Yoga? The answers to all of these are a huge yes!

Why is yoga important for kids?

As a yoga enthusiast myself I don’t need much convincing about it being healthy. But, why should I bother trying it out on my child? Isn’t it just the same for him to do any other type of physical activity, especially one that doesn’t seem to require as much attention as yoga? Well, it is precisely the “attention” we must give it, that makes yoga for kids so ideal. In fact, it’s the basis for the entire calming nature of yoga. That attention, is really the focus on calm.

1. Physical activity

It is easier to form healthy habits at an earlier age than trying to modify them later, so starting children in yoga earlier in life will increase their chances of adopting it as a permanent (and even preferred) activity over time. Technology has brought with it a more sedentary life, and children are not immune. It is therefore extremely important to encourage physical activity. Yoga for kids has the advantage of being very adaptable. Even children that dislike or have difficulties in more active sports can benefit from it.

2. Calming of the mind

We also need to remember that yoga has not only physical components but also mental ones. Young children will start by focusing only on the physical aspects but over time and almost in an unconscious manner, yoga has a calming and relaxing effect over their minds as well. By the time they can understand more about meditation they will find it effortless.

3. Increases concentration

When a child practices yoga he tends to place his eyes on different parts of the body in order to achieve the asana.  This action in itself increases concentration and develops the capacity of the brain to focus. This will naturally improve other areas of the child’s life (like academics) without the need for outside pressure. Clarity of mind is achieved through concentration and therefore, intellectually, the children can reap the benefits of yoga.

4. Proper breathing

Another beneficial “side effect” of yoga for kids is the development of their lungs and proper breathing. 

A young child does not need to be instructed on how to breathe, they find the proper and natural rhythm while doing the asana, while an adult might need more coaching because we somehow have become disconnected from our natural physicality. With yogic breathing the lungs increase their oxygen intake and children tend to keep this capacity throughout life.

5.Confidence

Yoga can also help children be more confident and strengthen their willpower. When learning the different positions and while perfecting them over time children learn that there is merit in trying and that perseverance is key to achieving goals. This is something most people need more of in this modern “instant reward” era.

Just think of all the instances where, with a push of a button, you get something (like feedback on your latest selfie)! We all need to strengthen our inner will and learn to stick to what we want even if we have to fall (literally) and pick ourselves up again and again.

And as if all of this was not enough, we also cannot forget the overall long term health benefits that yoga can bring to children. The circulatory system is stimulated and it helps encourage blood flow to areas of the body that are further from the heart. This purifies the system and encourages healthier cells. Yoga for kids could therefore potentially improve (or prevent altogether) many illnesses.

When is the right time to start yoga for kids?

So now that we know that yoga for kids is a great idea, when and how should we start teaching it to them?

It is important to have in consideration that the body of a very young child has different proportions than that of an adult and therefore some asanas might need to be modified or postponed for a later time. Also, children need to be able to understand and be willing to follow certain directions.

For most children, a good age to introduce them to yoga is around 7 years old. They are generally excited about doing things they see you do, and they are starting to be more interested in socializing which can help in a class setup as well.

The best way to start children at yoga is to do it through play.

There are game ideas online in which the child would take up the different positions and start to familiarize themselves with the asanas.  You can also use stories or choreography to music. After you understand the idea behind how the games and the stories work, you can even create your own together!

Final thoughts

Yoga for kids gives them the opportunity to create a healthier, calmer, and happier life for themselves. It’s a gift I found on my own when I was older and a gift that I will not wait long to share with my son. Do you want to learn more about How to make a kids volcano then please follow my blog and send your questions in the comment section.

Posted in Parenting

Role of Parents in Child Development – 6 Parenting Tips

Posted on by Tim Connolly

Being a parent—a good parent—is a concern that most of us go through. The role of parents during a child’s earliest years is the single biggest influence in shaping the child’s personality. The way parents involve themselves with children closely influences their development.

” One of the most important things we adults can do for young children is to model the kind of person we would like them to be ~ Carol B. Hillman ”

When kids are growing up, it becomes a parent’s responsibility to give her an environment that helps her grow into a mature, sensitive and confident person.  It is often seen that many parents go to extremes either by being extra loving or by being a hard disciplinarian. Either way, it is the child that suffers and may lose her self esteem. Loss of self esteem leads to lack of confidence and in the future, she might not be able to handle life’s challenges successfully.

Your parenting will be successful only when your child learns to face even the hardest of life’s challenges with calm and poise. And once a problem is solved, she must learn to move on.

Here are a few tips on the Role of Parents in Child Development:

1. Let Her to be Herself

Since each soul coming to this earth has its own identity, do not assume that your child will be your image. As a parent, embrace your child the way she is and do not be judgmental to every action of hers. For instance, you are a chirpy person and your child is an introvert, do not push her too hard to make her like you are. Let her be herself and give her time to unfold herself and learn the environment around her.

2. Do not Hold your Child back at Every Stage

As a parent, we often tend to feel that we know the best for child and try to control her life based on our experience and previous notions. You want to protect her from any forthcoming failure in every new action she does. However, whenever trying to guide her, keep in mind that she is still learning, experimenting and exploring life.

A young branch takes on all the bends that one gives it.

Let her make her own decisions, actions and get results. This is the only way she can learn life’s lessons that would help her handle real life situations even without you. Do not hold her back to save her from any presumed failures. But yes, while she is learning to explore life, be there for her in a silent way and whenever she needs you, extend helping hands. When an opportunity comes her way, show your confidence in her abilities. If you show doubts, she will also be unsure of her abilities.

3. Let her Choose Actions over Worries

A child definitely learns by example and you can set the best example for her. So, whenever you face difficulties in your life, what do you think is the best way out? Is it to worry about the future or to take action to solve the problems? Learning something new yourself is a great way to model the learning process for your child.

The role of parents at this stage is to teach your child to forgo worries, stay calm in tough situations and take the necessary actions to solve the issues. And your child will be a stronger person from whatever negative or positive experiences she takes away with her.

4. Respect your Child’s Feelings

Whenever a child reflects some negative or bad feelings over an issue, often parents jump to squash that feeling. But let me tell you, this is the worst thing that you can do to your child because she will never learn to recognize the kind of feelings she has or to cope with them.

The right way is to accept her feelings—whether bad or good—and let her come out of them in her own way. It is the emotions in a person that guide him or her to take either the right or the wrong actions. What you can do is to give her a hug or listen to her calmly to let her vent out feelings.

This is very tough for a parent to let her child go through emotionally tough times, but believe me she will learn to handle them gracefully and with maturity.

5. Let Her be Accountable for All Her Decisions and Actions

Allow your child to take accountability for all her decisions and actions. Do not come to her rescue every time she feels stuck. Gradually, she will learn to make decisions that she can handle with her own abilities. Moreover, it will help her be realistic about her strengths and weaknesses.

Later on, when she grows up she will have a sense of autonomy and peace of mind with every action she takes. In other words, she will grow into a mature and confident adult.

6. Discipline Her to Teach her Not to Punish Her

Your behavior has a strong bearing on your child’s behavior. Though it is important to discipline her, it is also important that while disciplining her, focus on teaching her—not punishing. Whenever she demonstrates bad behavior, it is for you to stay calm and show self-control. Do not shout at her or spank her. Try to understand why she did this and what her feelings were. Handle the situation in a way that your child gets a lesson for the next time.

Conclusion

Our approach towards education can largely motivate them to take up their own educational journey as well. The role of parents in the child’s development process constantly evolves but what continues without change is the fact that parents are the child’s learning models! Do you want to learn more about the Mothers day ideas for your wife then please follow my blog and send your questions in the comment section.

Posted in Parenting

Understand your Child’s Emotions – Intelligent Parenting

Posted on by Tim Connolly

As mammals, most human beings don’t have to make an attempt to love their offspring . . . love flows naturally. Why then are some parents so cruel to their own children?

Some spank their children; others scold and scream instructions most of the time while still others seem to stop them from doing anything and everything under the sun.

Then there are the critical and judgmental types who insult their children and criticize them for the slightest error made in private as well as in public.

While following such an authoritarian style of parenting, they forget to bother about something they should be focusing most closely on: their child’s emotions.

The Impact of Authoritarian Parenting

With advancements in neuroscience, it is now known with certainty that key neural circuits and pathways get formed in the brain during childhood experiences that shape a child’s personality—sometimes irreversibly so—for better or worse. This is why it is so very crucial to focus on a child’s emotions and not consider them insignificant or unimportant.

A child’s emotions and innermost thoughts all through their life can be influenced positively or negatively according to the quality of parenting the child receives during childhood.

It’s Under-Construction, Silly!

The main challenge that all parents face in dealing with children is due to the developing brain in children that causes them to act the way they do. By the time, a human being is 7 years old, his or her brain only reaches up to 75% of its completed form as it exists in adults.

Parents, however, expect their children to act the way adults do in most situations without understanding that children’s brains don’t work the way adults’ brains work because they are still “under construction.” It’s like expecting a frog to sound like a parrot and scolding it for not being able to deliver what you want. Quite ridiculous, is it not?

Final thoughts on a child’s emotions

So, the next time you feel like reprimanding your child for dropping the glass of water on your spick-and-span floor, think twice. Did the child drop the glass intentionally or by mistake? Was the child simply being mischievous due to boredom?

When you reflect on the incapacity of the brain of a child to regulate her impulses and try to understand the reason behind the behavior, you will feel compassion instead of anger. That’s the beginning of intelligent parenting.

This is far more humane than the commonly witnessed harsh and insensitive style of parenting. Just like a child’s nutrition, physical well-being and education are important responsibilities for parents; so are a child’s emotional needs and emotional well-being that deserve equal attention and focus. Understand and focus on your child’s emotions.

Do you want to learn more about the Managing your wife’s emotions tips then please follow my blog and send your questions in the comment section.

Posted in Kids

4 Reasons Digital Literacy Skills Are Important for Kids

Posted on by Tim Connolly

Discover why digital literacy is of utmost importance

Technology is everywhere. From smartphones and apps to laptops and social media, technology has become a permanent fixture in kids’ lives. But in the quest to equip them with latest gadgets and gizmos, are parents and educators really showing them how to use these devices effectively and responsibly?

The growing number of cyberbullying incidents, combined with public shaming, sexting and a variety of other online perils, suggests that the answer is no. Instead, technology use has at times become a free-for-all online. Kids roast one another, make inappropriate posts and sometimes show a lack of judgment.

In fact, according to a Norton Online Family Report, nearly 62 percent of children worldwide have had a negative experience online. Meanwhile, four out of ten of those experiences have involved something serious like cyberbullying or being contacted by a stranger. And 74 percent of kids with social media accounts have experienced something unpleasant or mean. Yet, despite these facts a quarter of teens report that their parents have no idea what they do online. This should never be the case.

Instead, parents need to view technology and the Internet as a digital playground or highway. And just as you would not let your kids go to the playground or drive a car without some ground rules, the same is true for technology and the Internet. Parents need to be sure that kids are using these tools safely and responsibly.

Why Is Digital Literacy So Important?

Most schools now have BYOD (bring your own device) policies. So the need for digital literacy has become increasingly important. No longer is technology use limited to the home, but has quickly morphed into an always-connected mindset. What’s more, kids will be using technology, the Internet and social media in college and later in their careers. For this reason, kids need to become digitally literate. Here are the reasons why.

Making digital footprints is easy. With every post to Instagram, every Tweet and every blog post, kids are leaving behind a digital footprint. These marks they leave online are easy to find by teachers, coaches, college admissions offices and future employers. But are your kids’ footprints what you hope they would be? The only way to make sure they are leaving good footprints and not ones they will regret later is by teaching them how to use social media and other online platforms to create a positive online reputation.

Curating content is an important life skill. One of the most important aspects of digital literacy is the ability to curate content. In other words, what pieces of content are your kids posting, sharing and interacting with online. Every article, photo and video that they post, share or comment on says something about who they are. Be sure they learn how to manage and curate content. Additionally, kids need to be able to distinguish between quality content and questionable content. Teach them importance of verifying information before they assume it is true or factual. This is especially important before they post or share it.

Knowing the full potential of technology breeds success. Anytime kids get a new piece of technology, work with them to learn all the ins and outs of the device. For most kids, there is a big difference between what they do with their smartphone or their computer and what they could be doing. Teach your kids how to use technology in ways that will benefit them in school and in life. Knowing how to explore technology and experiment with what it can do makes it easier to embrace the next piece of technology that they come in touch with. In the end, technology becomes something fun to learn about and not something frustrating because it is new or unfamiliar.

Technology is not going away. There are some parents that think the best way to deal with the influx of technology is to prohibit their kids from using it. Instead of becoming familiar with the things available to their kids and learning alongside them, they would prefer to stick their heads in the sand and pretend it doesn’t exist. But that isn’t the real world and it is not helpful to your child. The best time to teach your child how to use technology, especially social media and other online platforms is while they are still under your roof and you can guide them as they learn the ins and the outs. What’s more, there are some surprising benefits to social media use.

What Can You Do to Help Your Kids Become Digitally Literate

Allow them to experiment with online tools. As much as technology might be scary or confusing for you as a parent, you need to allow your kids to experiment with using it, especially while they are under your supervision. Expecting your children to know how to manage social media as a college student is unrealistic if they have never used it before. Consequently, be sure you slowly introduce your kids to the various tools available to them online.

Show them how to use technology responsibly. Digital etiquette is one of the most important skills you can teach your kids. Make sure they not only understand your online rules and safety guidelines, but that they also know that they need to think about each and every stroke of the keyboard. For instance, even liking a post where someone is being bullied communicates to the others that your child condones the treatment and is in agreement with the bully. In general, your kids should treat others the way they want to be treated. What’s more, their posts and photos should be positive and appropriate.

Be sure they know their rights (and respect the rights of others) online. Kids have a right to feel safe online. If someone is cyberbullying them or harassing them in some way, they should tell a trusted adult. As a result, equip your kids with some general guidelines on how to handle cyberbullying should they experience it.

Likewise, they should treat others with respect online. Aside from not cyberbullying, one way they can do this is to respect everyone’s right to privacy. For instance, they should not share information, photos or videos about another person without their permission. They also need to respect the work other people share online. This means that downloading music, videos, papers, books and so on without permission is not acceptable. It is also unacceptable to hack into other people’s social media accounts, impersonate others online or send spam.

Teach them how to stay safe online. Never allow your kids to be online without first talking about online safety. Set some general guidelines to protect your kids from cyberbullying and discuss the ins and outs of social media. It’s also important to follow the age guidelines of online accounts you want to establish. There is a reason why kids have to be thirteen before they can have a Instagram account. Do not bend the rules. You are not setting a good example for your kids when you do. Instead, adhere to the established rules and then create some of your own.

Improve your digital parenting skills. Before you can instruct your kids on appropriate use of technology, the Internet and social media, take a close look at your own behaviors. How much time do you spend online? Do you make rude comments online or share off color jokes? Understand that your use of technology influences your kids’ behavior. If you want your kids to follow a certain standard, be sure you are following that standard as well.

Remember, the goal of teaching digital citizenship is to empower kids with the skills and the knowledge they need to navigate the world today. They not only need to understand that they have a responsibility to conduct themselves appropriately online, but they also need to understand how they can use technology to benefit them and those around them. Technology is not just a tool for posting pictures and viewing videos, but can be used to create a presence that helps them get into college or find a job.

Do you want to learn more about that how much money should i save for a baby then please follow my blog and send your questions in the comment section.

Posted in Discipline in kids

Discipline Your Child’s Behavior, Not the Emotions

Posted on by Tim Connolly

Kids can be overly dramatic by nature. To adults, their emotions seem irrational and completely out of proportion with the situation. But, that’s OK. 

They’re allowed to feel whatever they want—even if you don’t feel the same way they do. Of course, that doesn’t mean they can behave however they want. 

Correct your child for breaking the rules, hurting other people, or behaving socially inappropriate. At the same time, let her know it’s OK to feel angry, sad, scared, excited, or whatever other emotion she experiences.

Avoid Minimizing or Denying Your Child’s Emotions

Kids who believe, “I shouldn’t feel sad,” will go to great lengths to avoid grief. But that’s not healthy. Grief is a healing process.

Similarly, kids who think, “Being mad isn’t good,” may paste on a smile and refuse to speak up for themselves. In actuality, anger isn’t bad. It’s how kids choose to deal with their anger that can lead to healthy or unhealthy choices.

The goal shouldn’t be to change your child’s emotions. Avoid saying things like:

  • Quit being so over dramatic.
  • Don’t get so mad over something so small.
  • Stop crying or I’ll give you something to cry about.
  • You’re freaking out over nothing.
  • Don’t be a baby.
  • Stop worrying about such a silly thing.

Separate the Emotion from the Behavior

Differentiate between what your child does and how she feels. Anger is a feeling and hitting is a behavior. Sadness is a feeling and screaming is a behavior.

Rather than convince your child not to feel certain things, teach her how to deal with uncomfortable emotions. For example, proactively teach anger management techniques. Show your child that feeling angry is normal, but throwing a temper tantrum isn’t healthy.

Build Your Child’s Confidence in Dealing with Discomfort

Sometimes parents think that raising a mentally strong child is about raising an unemotional child. But that’s not true. Mentally strong kids recognize their emotions and then, choose healthy ways to cope with those feelings.

Teach your child that she can handle uncomfortable feelings, like anxiety. When she’s scared to step up in front of the whole school at the spelling bee, she’ll be willing to give it a try if you’ve given her the skills to face her fears.

If, however, you send the message that anxiety is bad, she may avoid doing things that cause her to feel anxious.

Similarly, show your child that uncomfortable emotions are a part of life. And sometimes, you have to behave contrary to how you feel.

For example, talk about how you still treat others kindly, even on days where you feel grumpy. Show your child that on days where you feel sad, you still go to work. Make it clear that sometimes, you have to get things done, even when you don’t feel like it.

Teach Your Child to Manage Her Emotions

When you teach your child that her emotions are OK and that she can find socially appropriate ways to deal with those emotions, you’ll likely see a big improvement in her behavior. Here are some ways to help a child gain insight into her feelings:

  • Label your child’s emotions. Teach your child to name her feelings so she can begin to develop a better understanding of her emotions. Say something like, “It looks like you’re feeling really disappointed that we aren’t going to the park today.”
  • Teach healthy coping skills. Proactively teach your child how to cope with discomfort in a positive manner. Show her that she can color a picture when she’s sad or that she can play outside when she’s angry.
  • Show your child that she can have some control over her feelings. If she’s in a bad mood, talk about how certain behaviors—like sulking in her room—are likely to keep her stuck in a bad mood. Explain how other choices—such as playing a fun game—could cheer her up.
  • Discipline your child for inappropriate behavior. If your child breaks her brother’s toy when she’s angry, give her a consequence. Make it clear that she won’t be punished for her feelings, but she will be given consequences for breaking the rules.
  • Don’t allow your child to use emotions as an excuse. If your child says she can’t do her homework because she’s sad, don’t allow her to get out of doing the work. With rare exception, hold her accountable for her behavior. Rare exceptions may include things like dealing with a death in the family or another family emergency.

Be Patient

As your child grows up, she’ll gain better control over her emotions. But that doesn’t mean she won’t struggle throughout her grade school and teen years. Childhood can be an emotional roller coaster.

Look for teachable moments to coach your child. And be prepared to work on managing your emotions better. Your child will learn a lot about emotions by the way you respond to obstacles, difficult people, and setbacks.

Do you want to learn more about that how to prepare for a baby financially then please follow my blog and send your questions in the comment section.

Posted in Discipline in kids

The Difference Between Punishment and Discipline

Posted on by Tim Connolly

When it comes to correcting your child’s misbehavior, there’s a big difference between punishment and discipline. While punishment focuses on making a child suffer for breaking the rules, discipline is about teaching him how to make a better choice next time.

What Is Punishment?

Punishment instills a penalty for a child’s offense. It’s about making a child “pay” for his mistakes. Sometimes, the desire to inflict punishment stems from a parent’s feelings of frustration.

At other times, it stems from desperation. A parent may feel compelled to yell, spank, or remove every privilege a child has ever had in an effort to send a clear message that his behavior better change “or else.”

Punishment is about controlling a child, rather than teaching the child how to control himself. And most often, punishment changes the way a child thinks about himself.

A child who endures serious punishment may begin to think, “I’m bad.” Instead of thinking he made a bad choice, he may believe he’s a bad person.

Authoritarian parents are most likely to punish kids. Punishment, like a spanking, is meant to inflict physical pain and suffering. Other examples of punishment may include forcing a teenager to hold a sign that says, “I steal from stores,” or calling a child names.

Problems With Punishments

Punishments don’t teach children how to behave. A child who receives a spanking for hitting his brother doesn’t learn how to resolve conflict peacefully. Instead, he’ll be left feeling confused about why it’s OK for you to hit him but it’s not OK for him to hit his brother.

Punishment also teaches kids that they are not able to be in control of themselves. They learn their parents must manage their behavior because they are not able to do it on their own.

Harsh punishment can cause kids to dwell on their anger toward the person inflicting the pain, rather than the reason they got in trouble. So rather than sit and reflect on how he can do better next time, a child who is forced to sit in the corner for hours may spend his time thinking about how to get revenge on the caregiver who put him there.

What Is Discipline?

Discipline teaches children new skills, such as how to manage their behavior, solve problems, and deal with uncomfortable emotions. Discipline helps kids learn from their mistakes and teaches them socially appropriate ways to deal with emotions, like anger and disappointment.

Discipline techniques include strategies such as time-out or the removal of privileges. The goal is to give kids a clear negative consequence that will help him make a better decision in the future. 

Discipline takes an authoritative approach. Healthy discipline involves giving kids clear rules and consistent negative consequences when they break the rules.

Consequences are also time sensitive. So while punishment may involve a parent removing all electronics indefinitely, discipline might involve taking away the TV for 24 hours when a child refuses to turn it off. 

The Benefits of Discipline

Discipline is proactive, rather than reactive. It prevents many behavior problems and it ensures kids are actively learning from their mistakes.

Many discipline techniques involve positive approaches, such as praise and reward systems. Positive reinforcement encourages good behavior to continue and provides kids with clear incentives to follow the rules.

Discipline also fosters positive relationships between parent and kids. And quite often, that positive relationship reduces attention-seeking behavior and motivates kids to behave. 

While discipline allows for appropriate amounts of guilt, it isn’t about shaming kids. And that is crucial. A child who feels good about himself is less likely to make poor choices. Instead, he’ll have confidence in his ability to manage his behavior. 

Do you want to learn more about that how much money should you save before having a baby then please follow my blog and send your questions in the comment section.

Posted in Discipline in kids

6 Techniques to Discipline Your Toddler

Posted on by Tim Connolly

As in most parenting situations, there is no one-size-fits-all method of discipline for toddlers. The more discipline tools you have at your disposal the better. Parents of toddlers may find that the more they rely on one single method, the less effective that method becomes. Try some of these techniques and pay close attention to your child’s reaction. Be as consistent as possible, but remain flexible when your method of choice isn’t working any longer.

Redirection

You can use all the passion and energy your toddler is putting into misbehavior and use it for good. For example, if your toddler is throwing sand at a playmate, you can remove him from the sandbox and offer a ball instead. That way, your toddler is still doing something he wants to do (throwing) but you’ve turned it into a positive instead.

Distraction

Distraction is similar to redirection but instead of focusing on similar activities, choose activities that are unrelated to or opposite of the behavior your child is exhibiting. For example, if your child is picking at a loose strand on the living room rug and you’re afraid he’ll unravel it, you can set up a finger painting activity in the high chair. This gives your toddler something fun to do and you time to fix or remove the rug for later repair. This method works best with behaviors that are not always inappropriate, but that you or others might find annoying. It’s not the best method for more serious behaviors or repeat offenses that need more work.

Ignoring

Ignoring can be hard to pull off, but it can be extremely effective. There are times when drawing attention to the unwanted behavior has the effect of making it worse.

For example, if you don’t normally swear, but happen to do so one day and your toddler repeats it, let it go. It probably won’t happen again unless you make a big deal about it.

Or if siblings are arguing but no one is getting hurt, you should try not to get involved so they can work on their problem-solving skills together.

You can also put an end to many temper tantrums if your toddler realizes you’re not going to give back the same volatile reaction. Always make sure she’s safe and then ignore the behavior in question.

Natural Consequences

A bit of inconvenience and discomfort can be a very effective teacher and is in no way abusive if you use common sense. Let your child experience the consequences of his actions whenever you can. Do not spare your child every sadness or try to make things too easy. Watch carefully for these teachable moments—most of the time you won’t even have to lift a finger for it to work. Just reinforce verbally: “I asked you to get your toy several times and you didn’t, so now it’s at Grandma’s until next time.”

Not-So-Natural Consequences

It doesn’t have to be natural to be effective, but be careful. Make sure your toddler is starting to put together cause and effect on his own first. Some parents don’t like this method because it feels like punishment. Look at it more like getting a speeding ticket. There’s a rule there and if you don’t follow it, you have to pay a fine and may even lose your privilege to drive. It doesn’t take long for kids to learn this. Just be fair and consistent.

Use “If-Then” statements. “If you take your brother’s toy away from him then you will have to leave the playground,” or “If you keep throwing rocks at the window then we’re going inside.”

Remove privileges or toys if this motivates your child. “You cannot watch Dora today until you get dressed.”

Time Out

Time out can be effective as a way for your toddler to regroup when having a tantrum. It can also help him stop misbehaving or start behaving in ways you’d like. The main goal is to help him learn how to control his own behavior and this method can be quite effective.

Use when your child is outwardly exhibiting anger or is out of control. Say, “I can’t understand you when you are yelling,” or “I understand you’re angry, but you need to calm down.” Then physically lead your child to a time-out area, allowing him to rejoin you when he’s regained control.

You can also use brief periods of time out after giving your child a warning about his behavior and, in time, he will learn that your rules are important and he will make better choices.

Do you want to learn more about that how much money to save before baby then please follow my blog and send your questions in the comment section.

Posted in Parenting

Dads are more involved in parenting, yes, but moms still put in more work

Posted on by Tim Connolly

On Jan. 21, in a collective demonstration of historic proportions, millions of women marched in Washington, D.C. and other cities around the world in support of key policy issues such as reproductive rights, equal pay for equal work and support for balancing work and family.

These marches demonstrated the empowerment of women and a widespread commitment to ensuring that women’s rights are furthered – and not eroded – by policymakers. But policy is not the only arena that affects women’s freedoms and well-being.

If equality begins at home, how much progress has been made toward equality in parenting?

The day after the march, The New York Times published an article that described a scene in Montclair, New Jersey, showing what happened when women were absent from town. The article narrated how women’s absence resulted in empty yoga classes, Starbucks cafes populated by men and hapless fathers struggling to juggle children’s weekend schedules.

In other words, as its critics pointed out, the article reinforced the outdated notion that mothers are the primary parents and fathers are (at best) mere helpers and incapable of caring for children independently.

My research focuses on the sharing of parenting between mothers and fathers in dual-earner couples – a group that is most likely to hold gender egalitarian beliefs. In this group, successfully balancing work and family makes some degree of shared parenting necessary.

My research and that of others shows that even though significant progress has been made toward gender equality in parenting, more subtle inequalities remain. Many fathers – even those in the households most likely to have progressive views on parenting – have not achieved equality with mothers in key areas.

Men’s parenting time has increased, but women’s has too

It is true that today’s fathers are more involved in parenting children than ever before. Over the past half-century, fathers in America nearly tripled their child care time from 2.5 hours per week in 1965 to seven hours per week in 2011.

But, over this period, women’s parenting time too has increased – from 10 hours per week in 1965 to 14 hours per week in 2011. This has resulted in a smaller but persistent gap in the time mothers and fathers spend on parenting.

This gap starts in the earliest months of parenthood. Using detailed daily records of new parents’ activities, my team’s research has shown that working mothers take on a greater share of the child care burden for a new baby than do fathers. In fact, new mothers allocated twice as much of their available time to routine child care activities than fathers.

When considering time spent in child care plus time spent in housework and working for pay, the birth of a baby increased mothers’ total workload by 21 hours per week. In contrast, fathers’ total workload increased by only 12.5 hours per week. This represents a 70 percent greater increase in workload for women compared to men.

These differences cannot be explained away by differences in paid work hours or breastfeeding.

Mothers face intense parenting pressure

So, the question remains, why hasn’t fathers’ greater involvement substituted for mothers’ involvement, thus reducing the parenting burden on women?

What has happened is that middle-class families now follow the norm of “intensive parenting,” which dictates that parenting should be child-centered, guided by expert advice and costly in terms of time, money and emotional investment in order to produce the most successful child possible.

Picture modern parents scouring bookstores for the latest parenting manual and preschool math workbooks, fretting over their toddler’s picky eating habits and overloading their weekly schedules with children’s activities and playdates. This pressure to parent intensively does not fall equally on middle-class mothers and fathers, however. Because motherhood remains an idealized role, it is mothers who experience the greatest pressure to meet these unrealistic parenting standards.

Mothers who feel intense pressure to invest heavily in their children may also be reluctant to give up control over parenting. What ends up happening is that fathers spend less time in sole charge of their children. Research on parenting time shows that women are in sole charge of their children for nearly one-third of their time whereas men only for about 8 percent of their time.

Thus, even fathers who are highly involved coparents may experience parenting primarily in the company of children’s mothers and more rarely on their own.

Mothers do more multitasking

Another area in which subtle, persistent inequality exists is multitasking – especially doing several unpaid work activities (e.g., housework and child care) at the same time. Do you want to learn more about the teaching money management then please follow my blog and send your questions in the comment section.

Posted in Parenting

Top 5 Healthy Habits for Children

Posted on by Tim Connolly

There are good habits and bad habits, but these five healthy ones are keepers!

You do all you can think of to prevent your child from coming down with a cold or an upset tummy — from feeding her balanced meals to scrubbing the floors she plays on. But that’s only half the battle: She has to learn how to keep herself healthy. And there’s plenty of lessons to teach her: Start by explaining that germs are responsible for the yucky feeling she gets when she’s sick. Then instruct her on healthy habits. You’ll have to demonstrate these hygiene lessons over and over, but pretty soon she’ll be able to grasp them — and follow through on them (at least most of the time!). So what are the most important lessons to start with? The top-five healthy habits for children are:

HEALTHY HABIT #1: Give Hands a Good Scrub

Hand washing tops the list of healthy habits children should learn for one simple reason: Doing it often — and doing it right — prevents the spread of germs that can cause the flu and other infections. That’s a lot of sore throats, runny noses, and just-plain-ickiness a child can avoid simply by stepping up to the sink, especially at key times: before eating or heading to the playroom with a friend (this will keep germs on shared toys to a minimum), after coming in from playing outside, and after sneezing, coughing, petting an animal, or using the potty.

What’s more, even a baby can start to pick up on this all-important healthy habit — by watching as you wipe off her hands; and then, when she’s old enough to follow simple directions, by mastering these hand-washing how-tos:

  1. Use warm water and soap.
  2. Make lots and lots of suds; bubbles trap germs.
  3. Scrub for at least 20 seconds — about the time it takes to sing the ABC song or “Happy Birthday” twice through (at normal — not breakneck! — speed).
  4. Rub fronts and backs of hands, and between every little finger: Friction is as important as soap and water for getting little mitts clean.
  5. Rinse thoroughly, so that every single germ goes down the drain.
  6. Dry hands on a clean towel or air-dry them.

HEALTHY HABIT #2: Do the “Sleeve Sneeze”

What’s next on the list of healthy habits for children? When your kid feels an “achoo” coming on and there’s no tissue in sight, show him how to let loose into the inside of his elbow, rather than into his hand or the air. This way germs won’t wind up on his fingers — 80 percent of germs are transferred through touch — or spewed out into the air. This healthy habit applies to coughs as well — and to you too, so be a good role model whenever you sneeze sans tissues.

HEALTHY HABIT #3: Toss That Tissue!

Once your child has mastered the fine art of nose-blowing, get her into the habit of disposing of dirty tissues right away, rather than leaving them lying around on a table or the floor: Some bacteria and viruses can live for several hours outside the body, so getting rid of tissues is another healthy habit for children to learn. Make sure there’s a trash can in every room your child spends time in or teach her to flush yucky tissues down the toilet.

HEALTHY HABIT #4: Don’t Share

Certain items can harbor germs and other icky things, so your child will have to learn that some things are not meant to be shared. Explain to your child that while it’s nice to let pals play with toys, there are things he should keep to himself — namely combs, brushes, and hats (sharing these items is the number-one way lice spread from kid to kid); toothbrushes; cups, forks, and drinking straws; whistles, horns, and other objects you put your mouth on (good luck with that one!); and, of course, tissues.

HEALTHY HABIT #5: Flush and Flee

Now for some potty talk: While it’s tempting for a child (particularly a toddler who’s in the middle of toilet training) to want to watch the precious products of her efforts swirl away, it’s not such a great idea to encourage her to do this. With every flush, droplets of water containing minute particles of whatever was just deposited (yes, that means pee, poop, or vomit) spew into the air. Not only could this geyser of germs land directly on your kid, it could settle on nearby surfaces. So if you want your children to pick up this particular healthy habit, show them how to put down the lid (carefully, of course — a mashed finger isn’t any more fun than a tummy ache that can result from the type of bacteria lurking in the toilet.).

Do you want to learn more about the money management for children then please follow my blog and send your questions in the comment section.

Posted in Kids

Ways to Encourage Good Habits in Children

Posted on by Tim Connolly

Parents can help their children develop healthy habits early in life. This will bring lifelong benefits. As a parent, you can encourage your children to learn good habits that may include good social skills, good manners and also help them evaluate some of their food choices and physical activity habits. It takes time to acquire a habit, so parents need to be patient with their children. Repeating a behavior or action on a daily basis will help your child inculcate it more promptly.

Here are some tips and guidelines to get you started.

Be a Role Model:

One of the best ways to develop good habits for children is by setting a good example yourselves. Your child learns by watching your everyday behaviors and habits. Hence it becomes important for you to exhibit the best so that he imbibes the same.

Good Manners:

It’s never too early to start finding good habits for children. Encourage your child to use phrases like Thank you, You’re Welcome and Excuse Me. Teaching them these phrases at a young age will help them make them a part of their lifestyle.

Physical Activities:

Physical activity is more than just organized sports. It can include everyday activities like walking the dog, planting a garden, playing tag, building a snowman, and even household chores like sweeping or shoveling the driveway.

These days children spend a lot of time indoors in front of the television or playing video games. Children who are not active enough are at a higher risk of developing chronic diseases. Encourage your child to stay physically active by letting them choose the activities they enjoy. This could be swimming, biking or just running outdoors. Staying physically active as a child will eventually become a part of them as they grow older.

Encourage Family Bonding:

Family time is extremely important for a growing child. Plan times for everyone in the family to get moving together. Take walks, ride bikes, go swimming, garden or just play hide-and-seek outside. Everyone will benefit from the exercise and the time together.

Set Strong Ground Rules:

As a parent, it is extremely important for you to set down rules for your children. Now is the time to make a routine and time table. Set out fixed hours for playtime, homework and screen time. Try to make a flexible routine and don’t be too strict while allocating time for study and play. Keep adequate time for playing as play helps in both physical and mental development.

Encourage A Healthy Diet:

Probably the most important aspect of growing up is to encourage your child to make healthy food choices. Your child will adopt good habits if they start early. Educate your child about the importance of having a nutritious diet and encourage them to read food labels. The whole family will learn what is good for their health and will be more conscious of what they eat. It’s a habit that helps change behavior for a lifetime.

Reward Your Child:

It is a great idea to reward your children for their good behavior. This will keep them motivated and will help them maintain their best behavior at all times. However, a key point to note here is to avoid rewarding your child with materialistic things like chocolates or an hour of TV. Find other ways to celebrate good behavior. Make the rewards intangible – a hug, a word of appreciation, etc.

You can reward your children with good experiences. This will help them learn that happiness lies in enriching experiences rather than worldly possessions.

Stay Involved:

No matter how busy you may be in your day to day work and chores, you must make it a point to be involved in your child’s life. Make sure you are updated about how their day was, the kind of friends they have, and how they are doing at school. It is a great idea to have a short chat with your children after they come back home from school – it will also keep you updated of your children’s emotional status.

Family Dinners:

Family dinners are an excellent way to inculcate the habit of healthy eating in your children. If the family sits together for dinner, your children are less likely to consume unhealthy foods and will be more in touch with the family. It also nurtures the feeling of bonding in them.

Encourage Reading Books:

Reading out stories to your child from a book makes a significant difference. Good literature has an effective way of inspiring children to behave in a correct manner, to follow a code of discipline, and to maintain a positive outlook in life. A habit of reading will be great in the long run for your child’s intellect as well.

Be Realistic With Your Expectations:

Encourage children to learn from their mistakes. Setting realistic goals and limits are key to adopting any new behavior. Small steps and gradual changes can make a big difference in your habits over time, so start small and build up. As parents you have to realize that all children learn at their own pace.

Children do not like to hear what they cannot do, so tell them what they can do instead. Keep it fun and positive. Everyone likes to be praised for a job well done. Celebrate successes and help children and teens develop a positive self-image in the process.

Do you want to learn more about the money management guide then please follow my blog and send your questions in the comment section.