Bullying is a phenomenon that children often have to deal with and as parents it is up to you to help them cope with it and overcome the fear of bullies. Bullying is seen to occur in schools and colleges across the world and if not treated and addressed early on, it can have devastating effects on child development. The child becomes weak and unable to stand up for himself/herself in life.

Bullies are usually people who have deep insecurities and bully others in order to face the insecurities. They look for weak people, preying upon them because it makes them feel strong and powerful. Usually soft spoken and weak children become targets that bullies pick on.

Let us deal with this topic in a systematic manner. The following are a few pointers parents can follow helping them address the problem of bullying. Let us say your son, named Jack, gets bullied everyday in school and comes home sad and crying, lamenting always that he does not like the children who bully him. Here is what you can do:

1) Ask Jack the names that the bullies call him. Then try and explain to him that name-calling can not really hurt him. There is an excellent story in this regard: once there was a sage who lived in a hermitage in a forest with his disciples. One day, when he was giving a sermon explaining the ancient scriptures, a lady came into the sermon and started abusing the old sage accusing him to be a fake. At this the old man just kept silent and quiet, having a slight smile gracing his face. The lady left and the furious disciples asked the sage why he did not say anything to the lady. The sage told them that she had come to give him some gifts, and since he did not like the gifts, he did not take the gifts. The gifts were her harsh words. The sage remained calm and equipoise resuming his sermon as if nothing had happened. You can explain to Jack that he does not have to accept the gift of the bullies.

2) Explain to him what is happening, that they pick on him because he reacts when he cries. And they feel good and continue.

3) The magnet theory. Likes attract. Opposites move away. If he were to become strong and confident like them, they will no longer bother him.

4) Make a chart, putting up smiley faces whenever he does not react. Reward him for this.

5) Discuss with him how he overcame bullying. Tell him you are proud of him.

6) Ask him how long it takes the bullies to find new prey.

Asthma symptoms which can affect child development include difficulty in breathing, excessive coughing, and heavy feeling on the chest. Asthma is usually prompted by some allergic reactions from the surrounding allergens of the victim.

Some people do not know that they have asthma or some have discovered the condition as early as they were kids. Kids suffering from asthma can be heart breaking for parents who seem helpless with the condition.

They can only watch their kids struggle breathing until intervention is given. Intervention usually involves an inhaler and medication, both are detested by kids. Parents must find a way to help their kids understand the implications of asthma treatment.

Asthma can disappear over the years as an individual grows but they are only inactive and not totally cured. After severe asthma attacks, victims usually have little or lesser mild attacks after depending on how they can recover and take care of themselves. But aside from the medical implications, asthma have some other effects to its victims, especially the children.

Parents cannot predict what can trigger asthma disease in their child. The disease is a life time medical condition and can happen at any age. During childhood most especially, children are susceptible to asthma attacks because they do not know what they are doing that can activate their asthma. This can be a factor in limiting what they can learn and experience as they are being taken care of carefully so they will not have asthma attacks.

This could mean that affected children cannot play in the fields or outdoors like any normal kid in the block or they have to be constantly under supervision when they are doing activities that can provoke their asthma. Social interaction with other kids is important in a child’s social skills development and this might suffer because of preventive measures from asthma being done by the parents for their kid.

Having asthma attacks can also hinder them from learning from different environments as they have to be enclosed in clean and dust-free locations all the time to keep them from suffering from asthma. They cannot have pets and their food are prepared separately or selectively. This could give the kid a hard time in understanding and adjusting to the special treatment that they are receiving from people around them.

So what can parents do to prevent their kids from loosing out too much from social, educational, or recreational activities? You can ask a community health nurse clad in Dickies Scrubs or other medical suit in your local health office department for information and helpful tips. They will usually refer you to a public hospital pediatrician to help you with possible medical measures for asthma in your kid. A doctor in Landau 7502 does not look only professional in helping our your kid but he can also instruct with practical tips in managing asthma attacks.

The development of any child is the parent’s most concern. Having the right information can be your weapon in battling asthma. Minimizing asthma attacks can help your kid enjoy a normal and fun childhood that they will be grateful for, thanks to your efforts.

Alright, it is almost that time of the year. You know, time to get the kids out of the house. You want your children to have fun. You want child safety to be in the forefront.

You want your children to have an educational experience. Most of all, you want your children outside. For older children it is easy. That is, if you can get the controllers out of their not so tiny hands. But let’s begin with the little ones, specifically, those children ages 12 to 24 months. Most children 12 to 24 months will have fun just by being outside and exploring their environment.

Educational experiences are not necessarily limited to those experiences involving wires, cords and high-tech gizmos. For example, a child can improve his or her motor skills and balance by riding his or her cow or ladybug wheelybug. Moving forwards, backwards, sideways and round and round, a child’s spatial development and awareness improve as he or she moves around on his or her wheelybug. And all of this is achieved without motors, batteries or controllers. Sandboxes are another great example of a low-tech, non-motorized mode of educational entertainment. In addition to spatial awareness and motor skills, the sandbox is a wonderful forum for social development and creative play. Sand, a little water, a shovel or spoon and a lot of imagination is all that is necessary for a day of creative learning.

Baby dolls are another low-tech educational toy and are great for promoting nurturing in both boys and girls. Baby dolls can be feed, bathed, dressed, kissed and hugged. Baby dolls listen and understand what we adults do not. Baby dolls are loved and love unconditionally. Children can also learn the names of body parts, clothing and activities while playing with their baby dolls. All that is needed with a baby doll is imagination and creativity and, perhaps, a stroller for your child’s baby doll so that both your child and your child’s baby doll can enjoy the outdoors.

Simple push along walkers are good for outdoor entertainment. Push along walkers assist in improving balance. Children can walk behind their push along walker with a comfortable and “safe” feeling while at the same time exploring their environment. Again, this educational toy is run not on batteries but, rather, on toddler power. As you can see, physical education can begin at a very early age and may begin your child on a pattern of healthy living that will follow your children into adulthood.

Child education is basically a process that leads to mental and psychological growth of a child. Apart from leaning the academics a child learns various other things like team work, table manners, sharing, unity, teamwork. A school is a form of institute for a child; some say parents are the first teacher for the child however I feel teachers are the second parents for children. Since kindergarten a child is handed over to the teachers and teachers nourish him and bestow him with the love support and good habits.

Parents on the other hand are responsible for the overall development of the child; they play a very important role in the socializing process of the child. Right from the bed time stories to the behavioral habits parents play a very important role in making a child a responsible citizen. A successful teacher always has a keen ear on parents. Such teacher normally asks the parents about the behavior of the child, his habits and activities and behaves accordingly to him; she is responsible for his growth and development and thus tries to bring out the best in him. She is always alert with the cultures and family values of the child and thus tries not commenting or passing any judgment on the parenting styles. She thinks widely and makes sure that at any moment she may not hurt the mind of the child. Communication is best medium to solve problems. A successful teacher is always ardent at talking to the students and solving their problems, she is always approachable by almost every child of the class. Instead of blaming the child for not completing particular thing or being incapable of working on particular project or achieving bad grades she tries to find out the reason behind child’s failure or incompetency.

A successful parent on the other hand always takes the note of the suggestions the teacher has given. Such parents try to interpret on their own the suggestion given by the teachers and inculcate it in the upbringing of the children which in turn result in their growth. Over pamper or temper both results in the under development of the child. Over pamper makes the child over confident that results in the underdevelopment of the child while over temper makes the child under confident which may result in the mental turmoil of the child which also results in the underdevelopment of the child.

Stacia Tauscher remarkably said “We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today.” A child is hope for tomorrow however one should never forget that his today shapes his tomorrow. The amount of pressure and mental trauma the child faces results in his underdevelopment and spoils his tomorrow. A joint venture of parents and teachers helps shaping the child’s future, his development and enhances his intellect. A child nurtured under such successful parents and teachers bestows the best in him.

In concrete operations Piaget states that the child can assimilate a great number of facts and apply rules of action to behavior, games, math, and grammar. He or she can think and reason logically with factual material, but more advanced thought processes that require abstract concepts are not yet possible.

With the coming of concrete operations, a child’s moral development moves to a new level called instrumental exchange. Now he or she can understand and comply with a requirement of equal benefit between two people. His or her moral attitude centers in fairness-you scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours. Generally, children, or indeed many adults, raise the cry “It’s not fair!” when they personally have been offended, but rarely when they have benefited from the unfair situation. Life is rife with unfairness, and learning to deal with unfair situations is vital to a calm and serene attitude. The parent or coach or teacher may be able to point out some benefit that will compensate for the apparent inequality even though the child would not understand it alone. “Your reward will come later.” “You still have a chance next time.” With this kind of encouragement he or she can still anticipate a good outcome to a bad situation.

In the area of ego development Erik Erikson emphasizes the conflict between industry and inferiority. This stage seeks to build competence. It is not a question of skill in school, but of effort. Not every child is gifted in math or science or music, but every child must put forth the effort to learn all he or she can. In this endeavor a child learns to value hard work and rejoice in producing a good product. The school environment offers the opportunity to practice his or her competence and perfect the level of industry required to achieve it. Competence is difficult to achieve for a child who is smarter than average and finds school work easy. To achieve competence, the child needs a challenge and the encouragement to rise to meet it.

James Fowler calls this stage of faith development the Mythic-Literal Stage. Consistent with the other areas, the child is interested in things that are real and concrete. They are drawn to stories of victorious heroes and fair maidens, David slaying Goliath, and Deborah leading armies in battle. Applying spiritual concepts is too long a jump at this age, but they can identify with the heroes and place themselves in tough situations and envision the outcome. They may envision it as they want it to be, rather than entertain any negative vibes.

In this stage they still want to belong to the family and culture. They still seek the security of the place they know best. Stepping out into the future will bring challenges to the family structure and belief system. Building a firm foundation of competence through industrious effort will help them face the next stage.

The author has a Master’s Degree in Psychology form the University of Texas at Tyler. She has six children and eleven grandchildren. He interest center around her family, church, and writing.

Sometimes it is not always easy for a parent to recognize if a child is behaving appropriate or not. Every issue that presents itself is unique unto that child, the circumstances, and the behavior as a response. Children are learning everything for the first time and it is our job to help them through the learning process as objectively as we can. This can sometimes be hard to do objectively as every parent has individual hopes and expectations of their own.

I believe that everyone has different styles of behavior and that sometimes parents are bias as to what kind of behavior they expect of their child. This does not indicate a reason for child punishment and behavioral problems children display are not always what some parents make them out to be. We as parents, and as people are flawed by our very own nature. Everyone agrees with this principle and we must recognize that our own tastes and preferences can sway our judgement of our childrens behavior.

Not everything can be registered in simple right and wrong terms. People are not that linear in nature. Human beings require depth and understanding, especially when it comes to parenting and child hood. We are all involved in a great learning process that never ends.

This is a very common problem. A parents reaction to certain behavioral problems children exhibit can be unnecessary and unjustified. It can only serve a purpose as more classified as a matter of opinion. By not fully identifying with the nature of the specific behavior, parents might feel it is not right simply because they do not like it. There only motive is to change them and make them go away simply because they do not like them. This is wrong in so many ways that it is child punishment enough, in and of itself.

It is very much like an actress pushing her shy child into public performance. Or a sports loving father shoving his book smart son on to the playing field. How would we feel if someone told us our style is wrong. This is exactly what happens when parents apply their own expectations and standards of behavior to their child regardless of the situation or characteristic of the child. It is unfair to place these kinds of standards of behavior on the childs’ character. Certainly, no punishment should be distributed in any case of character indifference.

For a child punishment is something to attribute to misbehavior and is meant to guide them. It is something that comes as consequence when you make bad choices and act on them. An example of behavioral problems children exhibit that are of serious importance are more specific in nature and cause. For instance trouble focusing for a length of time or processing thoughts clearly, not that they chose the color orange instead of blue. It will be something that they have no control over that will clarify the difference between true misbehavior or unrealistic expectations.

Maybe the behavior problems children act out are not problems at all. At least not from the child perspective or standpoint. Some things are often, easily misinterpreted and no one is to blame. We need to be a little more patient and lot more understanding when trying to parent positive, confident children. This will help go a long way between connecting with your children and building trust.

Always try to keep these things in mind when judging a child behavior or considering child punishment. Whether or not, the behavioral problems children react with, are considered as being good or bad, they can always be identified as natural first. Always use positive child punishment where ever possible. Something progressive and productive so that the child benefits from the punishment unknowingly. Practice encouragement when good behavior is demonstrated as well.

You will absolutely love how other parents glare and comment on how well behaved and mature your children are. Learn step by step instructions on how to build the relationship that will make your child enjoy good behavior. Effective strategies that work 21 days to great behavior.

Stop bad behavior, defiant outbreaks and tantrums quickly and effectively.Learn what true Behavior Problems Children express and how to interpret them correctly to turn misbehavior into great behavior.

An Unhealthy Society
Thanks to rising cases of childhood obesity it is fair to conclude that we live in a society where the strategies, techniques and methods taken by parents in raising healthy children are being severely questioned. Unfortunately, an unhealthy society can only be created by people who are following unhealthy practices. The truth is, unhealthy food choices are being made all too conveniently, and this can be accredited to an increasingly frantic and fast paced working environment. Constraints on time, inexpensive and plentiful fast foods restaurants and the incessant onslaught of media perceptions and advertisements have seriously affected our diets; especially our children.

Childhood Obesity
By now we should be quite familiar with the term “childhood obesity”. It’s a severe medical diagnosis interferes with the process of raising health children. A child is considered to be obese when they are well over their normal weight based upon age and height. Childhood obesity is a troublesome health issue because the additional pounds are usually precursor to serious health issues such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes in children. The only solution for this problem is to improve or completely change the child’s eating habits and incorporate appropriate exercising regimens for children.

Raising healthy children in a society that isn’t too concern about everyone’s health can be extremely difficult; however, there are options and choices parents can take to prevent their children from becoming a statistic in the childhood obesity crisis.

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Proper and balanced nutrition is crucial to normal child development.

Children need to obtain a balanced diet that should include plenty of vegetables, legumes, fruits, cereals, lean meat, fish, poultry, milk, yoghurt, cheese and water. Nutrients can largely be grouped into macronutrients(carbohydrates, protein and fat) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals).

The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity may have caused parents to be extra careful when considering the amount of fats to include in a child’s diet. And with the constant bombardment weight loss and ‘thin = beautiful’ messages from the media, children are exposed to image problems at a much younger age. The reality is, for a growing child, fat is an integral part of a child’s diet as it:

1. provides a concentrated form of energy for their growth and development

2. essential fatty acids such as omega-3 are necessary to maintain regular functioning and structural integrity of cells in the body and the brain.

3. is required to deliver certain Vitamins around the body

Two of the most frequently seen nutritional deficiencies now seen in children are iron and calcium.

Iron Deficiency

Children need to absorb an average of 1mg of iron per day for regular growth. However, since only about 10% of iron is actually absorbed by their bodies, they will need to consume about 8-10mg of iron per day. Iron deficiency in its mild stages usually remain asymptomatic but if prolonged, you may see you child become increasing lethargic, out of breath, losing appetite and having headaches. Therefore, it is important to know which foods are rich in iron sources. There are 2 types of iron found in foods:

• Haem iron are found in red meats and chicken
• Non-haem iron are round mostly in fortified cereals, eggs, legume, wholegrain bread and some vegetables. To improve the absorption of non-haem iron, it is a good idea to combine these foods with those high in Vitamin C, such as citrus fruits and juices.
• too much iron can lead to constipation and black or grey stool so iron supplements should be handled with caution unless advised by your doctor

Calcium deficiency

Calcium needs for children are particularly high due to growth in their skeletal tissues. Children ages between 4-8 yrs need about 700mg per day, rising to 1000mg per day for those aged 9-11yrs. Over two-thirds of children do not receive the amount of calcium they require on a daily basis.

• Milk and milk products are the highest sources of dietary calcium for young children
• Vegetables such as tofu, legumes and green leafy vegetables generally are quite high in calcium.
• Vegetables low in oxalate provide better absorption of calcium such as bok choy, Chinese cabbage and broccoli.
• Nuts and seeds (sesame seeds, almonds and brazil nuts) also add calcium to the diet (as well as being low GI)

1. Learn to recognize hunger. Do you recognize when you’re truly hungry or do you eat out of boredom or because the clock says it’s time to eat? If you can recognize hunger and teach your children to do the same thing, they’ll be more likely to avoid eating except when truly hungry.

2. Get moving! Many people think you have to run a marathon or spend hours a day working out to be fit. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, studies have proven that being active even in small ways can help you maintain normal weight. Have you told your child to stop fidgeting? Well, fidgeting actually burns calories.

There are small things you can do that will help you be a fitness role model. Take the steps at the mall rather than an elevator or escalator. You can also park further away from the store instead of driving around looking for a close spot; this will allow you to walk a little bit. By working up to 45 minutes of activity a day, you’ll be amazed how much better your entire family will feel.

3. Limit screen time. Many children have their own computer or television in their room. This encourages them to spend time watching someone else be active rather than being active themselves. You may want to move the electronics out of their bedroom and keep them in the common areas of the home so you can limit how much time they spend in front of them. Encourage them to roller skate, ride their bikes, or do some other physical activity instead of staying in front of a screen.

4. Eat your meals together. Cooking your meals and eating them together at home will allow you to control what your children are eating and how much. Plan your meals out for at least a week so you know what to buy to avoid getting junk food. Prepare fresh meals rather than processed foods; they’re more nutritious and better quality.

5. Speak positively about being fit and healthy. If your children hear “I dread going to work out” they’ll think exercise is something to be dreaded and avoided. Instead, if they hear how much you’re looking forward to going to work out, they’ll see exercise as something good and positive which will make them more likely to enjoy it.

These are five ways to be a fitness role model to your children. Obviously there are other ways, but by starting with one or more of these you’ll be able to change your home and your family for the better. Don’t underestimate the role you play in encouraging your children to be healthy. Why not get started today?

Dehydration happens when your body loses more fluids than what it is taking in. This could be caused by sweating or sickness, but it can be dangerous to your body. Since your body cools itself by sweating, you can understand how important staying hydrated is. Staying hydrated is important no matter what time of year it is; however, it’s even more important during warmer weather.

You may not even realize you’re getting dehydrated, especially if you depend upon your sense of thirst to guide you. The fact is you can start becoming dehydrated without feeling thirsty. Rather than waiting until you sense thirst, you’ll want to drink plenty of water before, during, and after summertime activities or when the temperatures soar.

To stay hydrated you’ll want to keep a bottle or glass of water handy. If you’re physically active, you’ll want to drink approximately ten ounces of water every half hour or so. Having the water readily available means you’ll be less likely to forget to drink it. You can add lemon or lime juice to your water to make it more palatable.

Eat fresh fruits and cold snacks to help keep your body cooler. Try putting grapes in the freezer and enjoying them when the weather becomes warm. Strawberries, peaches, oranges, and watermelon are also good choices to refrigerate and keep handy when you know you’ll be outside.

There are a number of ways you can stay cooler:

* Plan activities when it’s cool outside. The hottest part of the day is normally between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. so you may want to avoid going outside during those hours. If you must be outside, try to find shady areas for your activities or play in water; don’t forget to drink plenty of water to replace the fluids you’ll lose in the hotter temperatures.

* Wear lightweight cotton fabrics. Loosely fitting clothing that is light colored will also help you stay cooler. Darker colors will soak up the sunlight and make you hotter, so you may want to avoid them if you can.

* Keep your feet cooler by wearing footwear that will allow them to breathe and won’t trap sweat. Don’t give up protection and support when needed, however. Even though you can wear sandals with many summer outfits, they aren’t appropriate when playing sports.

Pay attention to what your body is telling you. If you become weak, dizzy, or thirsty, it’s time to take a water break. Get out of the direct sunlight and find some shade. Knowing how to stay cool and hydrated means you can keep active no matter the temperatures outside.

Posture can be defined as the way in which you carry yourself or the position of your limbs in regard to the remainder of your body. To maintain good posture, you want to be aware of how you sit, stand, and walk to ensure your back is healthy and free of pain.

Poor posture can be caused by a number of factors. Obesity, pregnancy, weak muscles, high-heeled shoes, poor working environment, and laziness are a few contributing factors to poor posture.

Maintaining a good posture takes a conscious effort, much like any other habit. If you do something often enough, even standing or sitting straight with your stomach sucked in, it will become second nature and you won’t have to think about it.

Besides getting rid of back pain, having proper posture can also affect the other joints in our bodies. If you slouch while seated, your back, knees, and neck may hurt. If you let your posture go while driving, it could actually be a contributing factor to an accident because you won’t be able to see properly out the rearview or side mirrors.

Your back is the workhorse of the body. Not only is it involved in nearly every movement we make, it is central to balance and keeping our head on straight, so to speak. Backaches and injuries are some of the most common complaints when people visit doctors or when they call in sick.

If back pain is causing you problems, you’ll want to discuss it with your doctor. They may recommend a physical therapist or medication. You may also want to consult a chiropractor to help you correct bad posture.

Take time to be aware of how you stand, walk, sit, and lift. If you relax too much you may get lazy and begin slouching instead of keeping your spine straight and stomach pulled in. Keeping your posture intact helps strengthen the muscles along the spine and can help reduce or eliminate back pain.

Learn exercises that will strengthen your back muscles as well as those in your stomach. You’ll have an easier time maintaining good posture if your muscles are in shape. Strengthening the abdominal muscles, particularly, can aide your back as well.

Children are often told to “sit up straight” or “don’t slouch.” What may seem like a trivial thing to them may actually go a long way to helping them avoid back pain in the future. So, Mom, stick to your guns and keep encouraging them to have good posture. And don’t forget to model a good posture for them; pay attention to maintaining your posture, too.

Create a central calendar

Think about the activities you and your children are involved in that require you to be out of the home. Placing these items on a central calendar that can be viewed by everyone will help you know when you have to take the children for practices or to visit their other parent if you are divorced.

You may want to use color coding to make your calendar more functional. By assigning each person a color, everyone will be able to see when activities are planned and whether there is room to add another. Having a central calendar will also help you learn to say “no” when you simply can’t fit anything else in your day.

Ask for help

You’re only one person so don’t feel bad if you have to ask for help. If the ex-spouse is involved in your children’s life, be sure they are helping when necessary. You can also ask from help from the grandparents, aunts and uncles, or friends if there are two activities planned for the same time. You can’t be in two places at once, so you’ll need help if you don’t want to let one child’s activity slide.

Do your best to be organized

Besides having a central family calendar, it helps to be organized in your home so you can easily find items that are needed. If your child is always losing their homework, designate a special place for their book bag at the end of the day. Then go through their assignments to ensure they’re done and returned to the book bag before your child retires.

Having an in-box for papers you need to sign for your child will also help you be more organized. You can also immediately transfer any important dates onto the family calendar so you don’t forget about them.

Delegate to others

Your children may be without one of their parents but that doesn’t give them a free pass for helping around the house. Asking and expecting your children to help you may seem like two totally different things, but it’s important for your children to pitch in with household chores. Not only will they help you, which will make you less stressed, but they’ll also be learning life skills they’ll need when they strike out on their own.

Learn to say “No”

This one tip, saying “no,” may seem like an obvious time management tip you can follow as a single parent. However, many single parents have a hard time telling anyone no, especially their children. You’re not doing anyone any favors by saying “yes” to every request, though; in fact, you’re doing yourself a huge disservice. You’re allowing all of your time dictated when you need time to take care of your own needs as well.

No one doubts that single parents have a more difficult time than dual parent homes. These five time management strategies for single parents can be used with good results. Not only will you be more organized, you’ll also be able to take much-needed time to meet your own needs as well as those of your children.

Full-body breathing

Deep breathing, or full-body breathing, is considered to be one of the best ways to lower stress. Breathing deeply sends oxygen throughout your body and encourages the brain to calm which allows the body to relax. This is a great way to de-stress that won’t cost more than a little bit of time and effort on your part to master.

Stop your temper from flaring up

Failure to control anger can be detrimental to emotional and physical health. In fact, anger can result in additional stress you may not want, whilst controlling your anger can help you de-stress and relax. Learning to not take things personally can help anyone control their anger which will result in their being less stressed.

Head massage

If you’re stressed you may end up with a pounding headache. Although many people instinctively rub their temples to reduce tension and eyestrain, learning more about head massage or finding someone trained to give them may be one way to turn down pressure in your life.

Think positive

You may have been instructed to “think positive” on occasion. Positive thoughts and self-talk can actually reduce stress by focusing on good things rather than bad. Some researchers claim optimists will live longer, have better health, and have less stress. Try it today and see if it’s true for you.

Get some exercise

Exercise is a tried and true method to reduce stress. Not only is exercise good for you physically, it also releases endorphins which will improve your mood and outlook. Exercise doesn’t have to be strenuous to do your body good - a daily walk outside can do wonders to relieve stress and help you feel better.

Find something to laugh about

It’s been said that laughter is the best medicine, and it seems science has proven this fact. Laughter reduces stress and exercises the internal organs. The effects of laughter can also remain after you’ve stopped laughing. Find a silly movie and laugh away; it does your body good.

Keep a journal

Writing out things that frustrate you helps reduce stress as well as give you clarity of thought. If you’re able to see a situation clearly, you’ll feel less stressed about it. Grab a pen, some paper, or your computer, and feel the stress ease away.

Meditate

Meditation has long been used to combat stress. It also helps with physical pain and enables you to feel more peaceful. Spending fifteen minutes in meditation can calm the mind and help you re-focus when you have to return to your normal day.

Take a bubble bath

Women have this relaxation technique mastered, but the benefit of bubble baths isn’t only for women. If you’re overtired and stressed, time in bubbles can do wonders to restore peace to your mind and reduce the effects of stress on your body.

Get plenty of rest

If you’re not sleeping well, it’s not unusual to feel stressed. Lack of sleep can also lead to a short temper, lack of concentration, and physical tiredness. Sleeping will help reduce stress, and re-charge your mind and body for what the day holds in store.

Life can be stressful, but there’s no reason you can’t use these ten tips to turn down the pressure. You can use them individually or in combination for added stress-reducing benefits.

Sibling rivalry

Sibling rivalry is often the source of much fighting between brothers and sisters. It may start before the new child is born because the older child already feels like their place in the family is threatened. The main reason why children fight is that they feel the need to compete for your attention and they may seriously resent having to share you with someone new. As your children get older, the fighting may continue but you can be assured they do love one another despite the tension.

Different temperaments

You know no two children are alike, even twins, so your children’s different temperaments may be part of the cause of their fighting. One child may be laid back while the other is overly dramatic. You may have one that’s clingy with your or your partner while the other is independent and wants to try everything on their own. The difference in their temperaments may cause resentment. For example, the child who is clingy may seem to get more of their parent’s attention, which in turn leads to disagreements.

Different personalities

Similarly, personality differences may also be part of the reason your children fight. Your outgoing, rambunctious child may need a friend to pal around with. If your other child is more studious, there are going to be personality clashes. Try to encourage your children to meet in the middle and do activities both will enjoy.

Jealousy

Quite often jealousy is the biggest reason children fight. One feels they don’t have the attention of their parents like their sibling, so they feel the need to fight for attention and affection. Of course, you can tell your children that you don’t have a favorite until you can’t speak anymore, but jealousy is a strong emotion to overcome.

Competition for parent’s attention

It is possible that your children feel the need to compete for your attention. To combat this tendency, and make for a more peaceful home, you might want to plan special “dates” for each child. Depending upon the number of children you have, you could plan one day a month that you or your partner spends a specific amount of time with just one child. Switch up where your partner takes the rest of the children while you go someplace with one. Be sure each child has their own “date” time with either you or your spouse so they don’t feel slighted. It may reduce the fights right away.

What can you do when your children fight? Set ground rules about disagreements long before you’re faced with children fighting. Be sure they know hitting and calling names is not allowed; anyone doing these things will face pre-determined consequences.

If possible, don’t get involved unless you think there might be bodily injury. Intervening may create other problems and your children won’t learn the important skill of conflict resolution. Wait and see how they’re able to work out their problems on their own. You might be surprised at the solutions they come up with.

Children are going to have conflicts; it’s inevitable. When you ask yourself or others “why do my kids fight?” remember it’s part of growing up. They’re learning to stand up for themselves, express themselves, and further develop their personalities.

Household planners can be made from nearly anything, but three-ring binders seem to work best for many families. Purchasing a binder with a clear pocket on the front and back will allow you or your children to create a colorful or pretty cover for it. Choose a 1-inch, 2-inch, or 3-inch binder to meet your family’s needs.

After creating the binder itself, you’ll want to have the following items on hand to fill the household planner:

* 8 1/2” x 11” calendar (purchased or one you print for yourself)
* 3-hole punched dividers with pockets
* 3-hole punched dividers with tabs
* 3-hole punch

Decide which categories you’ll need in your household planner. Common categories include calendar, finance, contacts, school, medical, manuals, planning, insurance, automobile, warranties, favorite recipes, and take out menus, among others. Use the categories that will work best for your family and make a tabbed divider for each category.

Print off blank contact pages which include name, address, telephone, and cell phone numbers. There are many sources online which offer this type of file to print out for free. You can also find blank calendars to print off to include in your home planner.

Find papers that have accumulated in your family – notes from school, old calendars, take-out menus, etc. – and determine which category they’ll fit into. Three-hole punch them and place them behind the tab they belong to. Smaller items that can’t be punched can be placed in the dividers with pockets to keep them from being lost.

After you’ve found papers with important dates on them, transfer those dates to the calendar you have or have printed out. You may want to color code your family so you can see at a glance which person in the family has activities on a particular date. Don’t forget to write down standing dates such as birthdays and anniversaries so you can plan for them.

Not sure if you’ve paid a bill for the month? Having a schedule of all bills owed, when they’re due, and when they’re paid behind the finance tab can make that problem a thing of the past. The household planner is also a good place to put all bills as they come in so they’ll be available when it comes time to pay them.

Meal planning is another task that can be made easier by having the household planner. You can create monthly meal plans and store them in the planner. Don’t forget to include a blank shopping list in a sheet protector which can be written on with a marker or India crayon and reused each shopping trip.

When you figure out how to create your own household planner, you may find actually putting it together can be fun. Be creative and make your planner something you and your whole family can use. Of course, after your planner is made and you’ve used it for a while, you may wonder why you didn’t put one together sooner.

Take time out to pursue your own hobby or interest. Nearly every parenting book will espouse the need of parents to pursue some of their own interests to avoid burn-out. Perhaps you played a sport before becoming a parent. Being active will keep you healthy, show your children how to be healthy through activity, and increase endorphins in your body which will improve your mood.

Include your children in your hobby. Maybe you loved to roller skate as a teen. It may be time to take up skating again. Get skates for the whole family and everyone can have fun together.

Maybe your interests lie in another direction. Are you fixing up a room in the house? Children can learn how to help with do-it-yourself projects as well. They generally like painting even if they can’t reach the ceiling. Why not let them help? You’ll be able to share your interest with your child and get more accomplished at the same time.

Give yourself a time out. This might be associated primarily with disobedient children, but time outs can be a great idea for helping you to de-stress, which can definitely improve how you feel. This can also help you be a better parent because you’ll be calmer and more able to handle your children.

How do you know when you need a time out? Here are some indicators:

* You might talk louder
* You may clench your teeth
* You may feel your heart race
* You may feel your muscles tighten

If your children are safe, try leaving the situation. You can also ask another adult to keep an eye on them until you’ve cooled off. Go to your room or the bathroom where you can be alone for a few minutes. Take some deep breaths and then call a friend to help you talk thing through before returning to the stress-causing situation. When you’ve calmed down, you’ll be able to handle the situation better.

It’s important to realize you can’t do things for others – whether partner, children, or boss – if you’re tired, worn out, and frazzled. The old saying goes, “If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” That may apply to parents in general, so do what you can to make yourself happy. Experts agree a happy parent equals a happy family.

Although morality is often defined in terms of religion, it is much more than a religious concept. Morals are also defined by society, philosophy, and conscience. They are the center of how people make ethical decisions.

What can parents do to ensure their children learn morals? Here are some suggestions:

* Be a good moral role model. It’s often said that when children are involved more is caught than taught. This means they’ll watch what you do, how you act and react to situations, and how moral you are to learn morality. By being a good role model, they’re more likely to follow your positive examples rather than ones you may not be proud of.

* You expect your children to be honest, so model honesty before them. You’ll have a hard time convincing your child honesty is important if you tell someone you can’t be somewhere because you’re sick. This sends a mixed message to your children, and may make your child think honesty isn’t as important as you say.

* Respect others. Children may begin treating others the way they see you treat those in your life. If you’re disrespectful your children may disrespectful.

* Know your own morals and values. Think about the things and people that are important to you. Use those as the basis for how you make decisions and as the starting point to determine the things you do.

* Do what you can to help your child develop a sense of their own worth: a strong sense of self. By having self-esteem, your child won’t have to get the approval of their peers. Instead, they will be able to make rational choices based on their values and self-worth.

* Help your child learn to think for themselves, which will allow them to make wise decisions rather than depending on the influence of others to make them. With the various external influences today – peers, television, movies, and songs – you want your children to know how to think on their own.

Children and teens that learn to make their own decisions and stand on their own two feet are more likely to do the right thing. They may also stand up for the underdog if they see someone being mistreated. Having strong moral principles will help your child make the right decisions.

Ultimately, as the parent, you have the most influence on your children’s moral development. Help them establish good self-esteem, to think for themselves, and model morality before them. They’ll see how important morality is to you and will follow in your footsteps.

1. Use adult language. Speak to your baby in real words to give your baby a better understanding of how to talk rather than making up words or nonsensical sounds.

2. Talk directly to your toddler. Look at them while you talk. Spend time talking to them; ask them questions even if they don’t have a very big vocabulary.

3. Be sure to tell them what you’re doing. If it’s time to change their clothes for bedtime, tell them. “Off with your shoes. Remove your pants and shirt.” Repeating this each time you change them helps them learn to use labels for their clothing.

4. Read to them as often as possible. Picture dictionaries can introduce them to new words. Point to the pictures in the book and name each one. Read simple stories using expression in your voice for the different characters. Your toddler will love it!

5. Try not to talk or mumble to yourself which can confuse your toddler. They may begin to think that words are meaningless if someone isn’t responding when you talk.

6. Play repeating games with your toddler. Start out with simple words. Point to a toy they like and say “toy.” Ask them if they would like the toy and then ask them if they can say “toy.” If they try, praise them whether they can say the word or not. Then give them the toy. Repeat with other things they point to and indicate they want.

7. Leave the television off as much as possible. Parking your toddler in front of a TV for a short while won’t hurt them, but leaving them there for hours can. In fact, some experts have determined that watching television earlier than age two can be a contributing factor to developing Attention Deficit Disorder. If you can’t be with them physically, put them somewhere safe and let them play with their toys.

8. Be patient. Babies all learn at different rates so don’t get too discouraged if your toddler doesn’t learn to speak as quickly as another child. It may not seem like it, but your toddler will be talking when they’re ready. Of course, then you may wish they didn’t talk so much!

9. See the doctor. If you think your toddler is way behind their peers in speaking, you may want to see your child’s pediatrician. They will be able to test your toddler to see if there is a physical reason for them not speaking. If there is a problem, they will be able to give you the best advice for getting your toddler past the problem.

10. Love them as they are. If you put too much pressure on them to talk before they’re ready, it could do more harm than you realize. It’ll happen, just wait and see.

Try not to stress out about whether your toddler is talking or not. Unless your doctor gives you a reason why they won’t, you can expect your toddler to begin talking when they’re good and ready. Until then, talk to them, read to them, and keep on loving them!

Let’s face it, having a gym membership is no guarantee that your fitness goals will be reached. In fact, having to pack up and drive to the gym makes it harder to stick with a new exercise program. If you’re able to create a home gym, you’re much more likely to adhere to the program and be a success.

If you’ve already bought an annual membership, it may be a good idea to take advantage of it as much as you can. Head out to the gym to see what machines are there. The trainers at the gym will be able to teach you how to properly use each one. After you’re comfortable using the machines at the gym you’ll have a better idea of what machines you’d like for your home gym. This will also ensure that you’re using any equipment you buy properly and that you can teach others to use it correctly, too.

Perhaps there are others in your family who would benefit from losing some weight or getting healthier. Setting up a home gym would be much cheaper than paying for an annual gym membership for each family member, especially if you’re unlikely to actually use it.

Set up any exercise equipment you buy in a specific location where it will be out of the way but easily accessible to those who want to use it. Not only can you or other family members shape up, everyone can improve their health as they lose weight.

Of course, most exercise equipment is not designed for children, so you’ll want to be sure that children never use it on their own. There should always be an adult supervising, to ensure they’re using the equipment safely and properly. In fact, to be sure children don’t use the equipment without your permission you may want to keep it in a room you can lock.

Design your home gym so you can do all exercises without a spotter unless your partner intends to work out with you. You can still include a treadmill, stationary bike, rebounder, dumbbells or bands, rubber mats, and possibly a television with DVD player to be able to work on aerobic exercises, as well.

You’ll definitely want to do more than weight training; you’ll want to include aerobic exercise, too. This can be done with an exercise video, or by walking or running outside. Try to choose exercises that you enjoy and that you know you’ll do no matter what the weather outside.

No matter which equipment you choose for your home gym, remember it won’t do you or anyone else in your family any good if you don’t use it. You can get your weight back under control as well as help lower your blood pressure and reduce problems associated with some diseases like diabetes. And it will help you feel better.

Read on to find out what mothers the world over consider as the answer to the question, “what qualities should a good parent possess.”

Patience with a capital “P” heads the list. You are going to have to call upon hitherto untapped resources to find the patience to deal with day to day circumstances that arise when raising children.

Let your children know how much you love them and never be backward to demonstrate the love you have for them. This will teach them to express their feelings and emotions and help them grow into caring individuals.

Pay attention to what your children are trying to tell you. Listen without judging and try to understand the reasons behind their actions. Talk to them without getting angry and frustrated and they will talk back to you. Your children need to feel confident in coming to you with their problems; they need a listening ear and someone to guide them when they go off track. If you rant and rave you will only succeed in pushing them away from you and you can bet they are not going to come to you when in a crisis.

Make time for your children, set aside family time that is totally devoted to them. Take the time to get creative when planning family activities and make sure that you include their personal favorite activities as well. Every one is always busy and has plenty to do but that will not work as an excuse. Your children need and deserve your attention – give it to them!

Treating your children with respect means they will in turn respect you, your authority and your decisions. While they may not always agree with your decisions, especially when it restricts television or telephone talk time, they will respect what you say. This is the best way to encourage obedience.

Learning to laugh and stay cool in situations where you would rather explode is an excellent quality to have. This provides a calm and stable environment for the children.

Keep personal disagreements with your spouse separate from the children and never interfere when one parent is doing the correcting. Time enough to discuss it with your partner behind closed doors if you do not agree with something.

When you consider what qualities should a good parent possess, the list is seemingly endless. Hopefully this article will help you get started.

What is the role of a parent in the old fashioned context was for the father to take on the authoritative role of provider and protector and the mother to nurture. We would be hard pressed to maintain this concept in a society such as ours. Both parents work and more often than not single parenting seems to be the norm.

Children need to know and accept that parents are in charge. Raise your children on love and teach them the art of respecting people. Honesty, truthfulness, sincerity are virtues you can inculcate in your child with the right kind of upbringing. Teaching your child morals and values in life is not something that is picked up as your child grows, rather something that is taught from the knee high stage onward.

What is the role of a parent? It certainly isn’t a dictator! Authoritative parenting requires parents to be firm in raising children, rearing them on love and warmth, teaching and guiding, avoiding harsh discipline and being clear in what they expect from the child, yet flexible when necessary. In order to be a good parent you have to walk a fine line between overindulging and overbearing in your treatment of children.

Families that make the effort to have family time sessions, share information, fun and laughter at mealtimes, and participate in the decision making will continue to strengthen the bond that binds. There is a very popular saying, “Families that pray together, stay together.” I would like to stretch that to include those families that share and care build an interdependency and oneness that continues to grow over time. Treat your children with respect and they will learn to respect you. If you have older children, involve yourself in their lives without intruding. Smaller children are easier to manage, get them involved even in your shopping activities and weekly cleaning and you will find they make willing helpers.

Children need to feel loved and wanted and that is the main focus of what is the role of a parent in a child’s life.

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However, it only takes a small amount of dedication to keep your forward momentum, and the best place to start is at home.We all need to do our part to ensure that the Earth is healthier when we leave it than when we came on board, and your kids should be no exception. If you want to leave your children a cleaner planet, then part of your commitment to the cause has to revolve around giving them the skills and knowledge to continue on that journey as they grow.

Starting can be as simple as teaching them to throw cans and bottles in the recycling bin.
This is a great first lesson in environmental protection for kids who work well on a rewards system, because taking those cans to a recycling center can offer instant gratification. If your child has a strong sense of sympathy for those in need, you may be better off having them recycle clothes, toys, and shoes instead.

Millions of needy families (children, in particular) depend on thrift stores for these items and your child can feel good about giving his clothes and toys to an underprivileged peer who might otherwise go without.This way, your child is doing something good for both the planet and for humanity.And if you’re really into recycling, rubber-soled shoes can be donated to an organization like Nike to be turned into turf for playgrounds (www.nikereuseashoe.com).

But if your child seems bored by recycling or feels like you’re lecturing, just turn them on to one of the many eco-friendly websites that cater to kids with information, interactive games, and ideas for Earth-friendly activities.Most kids will enjoy websites that offer engrossing activities, like Recycle City (www.epa.gov/recyclecity/mainmap.htm), which has games that teach about the positive results of recycling, The Green Squad (www.nrdc.org/greensquad), which offers great ideas for kids to implement at school, and Kids’ Planet (www.kidsplanet.org), which has all kinds of animal facts and games. And sites like Planet Pals (www.planetpals.com) even offer fare for web-savvy kids (they’re on Facebook and Twitter). There’s a little something for everyone, and you won’t have to spend a lot of time searching to find sites that engage your kids in the eco-friendly cause.

Finally, as they get older, you can teach them to purchase green products, from clothing to food to solar-powered backpacks. The sooner you start teaching them about the benefits of recycling, re-using, and homemade or sustainable products, the more likely they are to form habits that will carry into their adulthood and ensure a new generation focused on keeping our planet green.

Guest post by Sarah of Maxi Dress Mania where you can find maxi dresses for your body type.

Gone are the days when we thought that playing does not promote learning and that children should not play so much.

There are different kinds of toys which have been designed to help children learn new things. It is very important that you give your children these educational toys which would make them intelligent and skilled. There are toys which can be in the form of party costumes. These are very helpful because these help your children to think wild and get into an imaginative world.

When kids put on the costumes of their favorite characters they start to role-play and act like them. In the process they are learning how to be creative and learning how to imagine things. Boys usually want to dress up like superheroes and girls love to become princesses and fairies. As parents you should get good quality costumers for them from time to time.

You might not be aware but kids costumes for fun learning are a great chance to make your kids confident, responsible and independent. They also learn the essence of integrity when they transform using the kids costumes for fun learning.

When kids wear costumes they feel more confident because they start thinking of themselves as heroes and heroines. They feel more confident to perform in the stage because they feel highly of themselves when others call them by those respected character names.

You can ask kids to write and direct their own plays by wearing kids costumes for fun learning. You should do this often because you would be encouraging them to become more self sufficient. In the process they learn a lot of skills like thinking, problem solving, controlling situations etc.

You should give the option to the child to make his decision regarding kids costumes for fun learning. This way they would know how to take decisions. You should not ignore this because tomorrow they would be able to take bigger decisions in life just because you let them choose today. By giving them the freedom to choose you are making them more independent. Also give them freedom to choose what role they want to play when they are wearing kids costume for fun learning.

Feeling good about yourself simply means liking or believing in yourself and your abilities. It is developed as we love and care for our children which reinforces their importance in our lives. They see themselves through our eyes as they grow. Having a supportive and loving family will help them develop and maintain this vital self-worth.

The following are things parents can do to encourage children to feel good about themselves:

1. Tell your child that you love them often and sincerely. Let them know how glad you are about the person they’re becoming.

2. Spend time with your child. Listen to what they have to say. Support their dreams by being an active participant in their life. Your presences show their importance because time is a precious commodity.

3. Expect their best without expecting perfection. You can expect their best effort in school; however, accepting a lower grade as their best is important if they have worked hard for that grade. No one is perfect; expecting perfection damages their self-esteem rather than encouraging it.

4. Take an interest in your child’s schoolwork by being supportive. Help them with homework but don’t do it for them. Support after-school activities or volunteer at events in which they participate.

5. When helping your child with schoolwork, try to focus on more than the areas they’re struggling with. Give them the opportunity to show you their strengths. This will bolster their confidence before tackling something they may not be well-versed in yet.

6. Encourage them to have friends over. Make their friends feel welcome and take an interest in them. Allowing your child’s friends in your home also lets you see what type of influence your child’s friends will have on your child.

7. Children want to feel they have something to contribute. Expect them to help with family chores at their level. Younger children can fold clean clothes or set the table for dinner. Older children can do chores which don’t require your supervision. It’s also important for your child to be responsible for cleaning up their own messes, including keeping their bedroom clean.

8. Ask your child to help you with something. With all the new technology today, they’re probably better than you at some skills. Getting their help on a project requiring technology could whet their appetite for a new hobby as well as helping you with something important.

9. Allow your child the opportunity to fail. Children learn problem-solving skills by having to figure things out for themselves. If you solve your child’s problems, they won’t learn these skills.

10. Celebrate their achievements and successes. Encourage them with positive reinforcement. Be sure, however, that your praise is genuine as children are able to tell the difference between genuine praise and platitudes.

Children, like adults, want to know they are accepted and appreciated by those they love. Following some of these suggestions, you can learn how to encourage children to feel good about themselves. Once you’ve learned, don’t forget to put the suggestions into practice and watch your child’s self-esteem soar.

Sportsmanship can be defined as the way you conduct yourself suitably to all participants in sports. Included in this idea is playing fair, striving to do one’s best, and losing gracefully. If these are qualities parents want their children to display, why is it there have been newscasts from around the world of parents acting just the opposite?

Your children may wonder why good sportsmanship is important. You may be wondering how to instill good sportsmanship in your children from an early age so it will be evident as they get older and need it.

Most children instinctively want to win and considered to be the best at everything. Unfortunately, the desire to win may cause some children to display poor sportsmanship rather than good. You might want to use some of these tips to help your child learn how to be a good sport.

When children are preschoolers their parents may have a tendency to let their children win. Although this is usually done from a parent’s love for the child, it can give them the impression that they can win at any game because they won against their parents. The better choice might be to teach your child how to play a game and then “let the chips fall as they may.” They might actually learn more about the game, and being a good sport, by losing at an early age.

If they complain and whine about not winning, let them know how much practice it took for you to become good at the game. You could also offer to play with them whenever they like, as long as you’re not in the middle of something else, so they can get better at the game and possibly beat you in the future.

Model good sportsmanship while watching sports on TV or in person. Cheer for your team, of course, but make positive comments about the opposing team. Say something about the good defense or how well the team works together. This teaches your child to enjoy the game, be a fan of one team, but respect the players on the other team.

Encourage your child and praise them when they show good sportsmanship, no matter what the game. If they’re not quite the good sport, acknowledge and address the negative behavior. Good sports play fair and follow the rules. Children need to understand the difference between being a good sport or a bad sport; your praise for positive behavior will reinforce that knowledge and entice them to choose the higher ground.

As a parent, you want your children to play fair. When you teach your child to be a good sport, remember they learn a great deal by watching you. If you’re a good sport, your children will be more likely to follow suit.

A frequent point of contention between divorcing parents is the set of rules that their children are expected to follow. Usually, while married, parents come up with a set of rules to which they can both agree. But in the event of separation, each parent may prefer to change the rules a bit for when the children are with them.

Overall, this is a bad idea. While it is ultimately up to the parent to enforce rules, having two different sets of rules is generally bad for the children. Here are a few reasons why this is so:

* Having to adjust to a different set of rules each time a child visits the other parent is difficult. They might get confused about which rules apply where, and that could get them in trouble.

* Children may resent the parent who enforces more restrictive rules. These rules might be in the child’s best interest, but he still feels that he’s being treated unfairly because they do not apply when he is with the other parent. This often leads to conflict between parent and child.

* A difference in rules can cause added conflict between the parents. Not only does this produce more stress in the adults, it also hurts the children. Even though the parents are separated, seeing them fight is not good for the children.

* Children need a sense of stability. This stability is lessened when their parents divorce. But being subject to the same rules at both households gives them some semblance of security.

Agreeing on the Rules

When you come to the decision to get a divorce, the first thing that’s usually discussed is who will get the children and how visitation will work. It’s also important to discuss the continuation of rules early on. Parents often assume that the other parent will keep the same rules, but that doesn’t always happen. This is especially true in households where the rules are flexible or not well defined.

For best results, rules should remain the same as when the parents were together. But children who are experiencing a state of transition may need to have their rules revised. For example, a child who is ready to start dating will need rules that weren’t necessary before. In such circumstances, the parents need to discuss the prospective new rules ahead of time and do their best to come to an agreement on them.

Having the same rules at both homes makes things easier for parents and children. It makes for less conflict and greater uniformity. While a divorce is not by nature a pleasant experience, maintaining a consistent set of rules can make it less unpleasant.

Whether you find it amusing or appalling, the last thing you want is for your child to say a swear-word at the wrong time. And most parents agree that swearing is a horrible and offensive habit that they don’t want their kids to develop. So what do you do when your child starts cursing? Here are a few tips.

1. Don’t overreact. If you make a big scene when your child utters a dirty word, there’s a good chance that it will reinforce the behavior. He could use the word again when he craves attention, or he might decide that it’s a good word to use when he wants to get under your skin.

2. Do your best not to laugh. Whether you truly find it amusing or just giggle nervously, this could also cause a repeat occurrence. Your child will see that he made you laugh, and he might use the same word again when he wants to be funny.

3. Avoid confronting your child about swearing when he does it when angry or upset. This will only add fuel to the fire in most cases. Work through the problem at hand, and discuss the bad language at a calmer time.

4. Watch your own language a little more closely. Kids often pick up curse words at home, and if you use them frequently, they are more likely to think it’s acceptable to do so themselves.

5. Take your child’s age into consideration. Children who are just learning to talk usually do not realize that swear words are bad. So scolding them when they use them serves little purpose. In many cases, if you just ignore it, they won’t say it again.

6. If your child has more developed language skills, a calm and simple explanation of why they shouldn’t swear will often solve the problem. If you tell them that a word is not nice, there’s a good chance that they will cease to use it.

7. Older children who know that swear-words are bad may need to be disciplined when they use them. Depending on their age and the circumstances, time out, suspension of certain privileges or grounding may be appropriate.

8. Consider the context of the swear-word. Calling someone a bad name is much more hurtful than swearing because you tripped and fell. Both should be discouraged, but make sure the punishment fits the crime.

9. When you slip and say a curse word, apologize. Doing so will set a good example for your child.

10. Offer more acceptable alternatives to swearing. There are plenty of words in the English language that are not so offensive. You could even encourage your child to make up his own silly expressions to use instead of curse words.

These days, few kids get through childhood without saying a single curse word. When your child swears, don’t take it too hard. As long as you make it clear that such words are unacceptable, the chances of your little angel developing an incurable potty mouth are very slim.

-Make a list
Trying to keep a running list in your mind of what needs to be done can tax your sanity. Early in the game - as in months ahead - take some time to sit down and make a comprehensive moving plan, complete with details. Then your mind can rest and you can see what has been done, and what you still need to do.

-Purge your house of unnecessary items
There is a reason why people have moving sales. Both packing and unpacking are made easier when there is less stuff. You don’t have to have a moving sale if the notion seems daunting. You can give your items to a charity or give them away online. Some charities will even come to your house and pick up your stuff.

-Organize
Whether you are packing and moving your own items or hiring movers, be sure the boxes are well labeled. Consider specific boxes for special items, especially those things that will be needed right away: cookware, special children’s toys, bedding, etc.

-Call ahead and have utilities ready
Arrange to have the utilities turned on and in your name on the day you move in. Nothing adds to stress like not having running water or electricity, and trying to make phone calls to get the utilities turned on when there is no phone service hooked up.

Moving with children

-Make lots of special visits to the new house with the children
Before actually moving in, take your children to visit the new house as often as is practical. Take a picnic and eat on the floor or in the yard, or bring a special toy reserved only for the new house. Consider a homecoming party when you do move in, where the children each get a special gift that signifies their new home. Talking about the party you are going to have will give children something to look forward to.

-Encourage participation
Children feel insecure when they feel something is happening to them without any input. While children may not get a choice in when/where you move, letting them participate in as many aspects of the move as possible will help them feel empowered and view the move in a more positive light. Allow them to help paint their new room, for example, or pick paint colors (narrow it down to two or three colors you can live with before letting them choose!). If children get to participate, they will gain a sense of ownership of the new house.

In time, your family will settle in and your new house will become home.

Children aren’t immune to anger, either. Anger is, after all, a completely natural emotion especially for child development. Our job as parents is not to prevent our children from ever getting angry. In order to do that, we would have to cater to their every whim, and that would be doing them a disservice. Our job is to teach them how to properly manage their anger. Here are five ways we can do that.

1. Set a good example. When you find yourself getting angry, strive to handle your emotions in an appropriate manner. Yelling, screaming and getting violent aren’t things we want our children to do when they get mad, so it’s important that we don’t do them, either. Calm yourself down in a way that you would want your child to calm down when angry, and he will usually emulate your actions.

2. Talk to your child about his feelings. When you see that he is angry, ask him to explain why. Sometimes it might be such a silly reason that by the time he gets done explaining it, he will realize that there’s nothing to be angry about. If he does feel that he has a right to be angry, talking it out will help him calm down and find a solution to the problem.

3. Encourage your child to let his anger out in an acceptable manner. When we’re really mad, sometimes we just need to release some of that negative energy before we can move on. Your child could hit a pillow, run laps around the house, or pound on some Play Doh for a while.

4. For children who are old enough to write, a journal can be helpful. When they get mad, they can write about their feelings. Once they’re down on paper, it’s easier to work them out rationally and let them go.

5. Sing with your child. Singing might be the last thing he wants to do when he’s angry, but it can help diffuse the rage. Help him make up a song about being angry, and have him sing it when he’s upset. This provides an appropriate outlet for his feelings and lightens the mood a bit so that you can effectively work out the problem.

Seeing our children angry can be difficult. But it’s important not to give in just to calm them down. Teaching them how to deal with anger will serve them much better in the long run.

1. Get the children’s new rooms ready first

Have a box marked with your children’s special toys, and unpack those immediately in the child’s new room. Move the big furniture in and unpack their bedding and other bedroom accoutrements first, and get the room set up right away. Then, your children can occupy themselves with some of the fun details, such as unpacking their other toys, finding places for things, and so forth. Let them decide some of the details about the room, such as where their toy box will be or what color you are going to paint the room.

2. Plan a “new house party”

Yes, it’s another thing to plan, but in the end it can help lift some of the stress. Tell the children about the party and let them help you plan it. Have a picnic among the moving boxes or out in the yard, or pick up food from their favorite restaurant. You could even pick up a cake or box of cupcakes for a celebratory treat.

3. Get to know the people who will be a part of your children’s lives

Many of us are too busy to get to know our neighbors, but it’s a necessity if you are moving to a new area with your children. Introduce your children and exchange contact information, and encourage play dates with new kids.

Your children’s teacher will be a very important influence, so visit the new school and arrange a meeting with the teacher before the first day of class. If possible, establish contact with the school and teacher before the move.

4. Keep some routines where possible

Children love routine, and nothing disrupts it quite like a move. Try to maintain some of the family habits, such as movie or board game night, and try to establish a daily routine similar to the one in your old house. Go to bed and get up at the same time as usual, and don’t try to stay up late unpacking. It also helps to prepare the same sort of foods in the same way - “comfort food” is comfortable for a reason: it’s familiar!

5. Relax and don’t be in a rush

Of course you want to be unpacked and settled as soon as possible; but slowing down and taking the time to talk, creating a calm atmosphere and establishing comfortable routines will make things easier in the long run. If your moving boxes are clearly labeled, you can unpack what you need right away and take your time with the rest.