Every child is completely different. Even if you have already raised three children, don't think that the fourth will be the same way. What works on one child may be completely ineffective on the next. This includes rewards as much as punishment. Despite this, be sure to remember the techniques that you have used.
Don't come up with a "one size fits all" idea of discipline. When disciplining your children, realize that they all respond differently to correction. While a time-out might be what one child needs in order to comply, that same method might not work for another. Find what each child responds best to: time-outs, confiscating toys, or extra chores, and then run with that.
Praise your children often! If you 'catch' your child doing an appropriate behavior, tell him how proud you are. Children love positive words and praise. Hearing kind words will help your child to feel good about himself and will cause him to continue trying to do good things to receive more praise.
Do not try to introduce the bottle to a normally breastfeed baby who is hungry. A hungry baby will not understand what the bottle is for and will reject it immediately because he at this point only associates food with the breast. Get the baby used to the bottle when they are not hungry so that they can learn that it provides food as well.
A great tip for any parent is to demonstrate consistency and follow-through in all interactions with children. Parents who continually issue the same commands and potential consequences and fail to see them through will likely end up with children who are unwilling to listen or behave. Standing by your statements will teach kids to pay attention and regularly do what you ask of them.
Consider teaching a young toddler or older infant signing. Even if you don't use special "baby sign", toddlers will have an easier time communicating with their hands than with their words. This is an especially useful technique if you have a toddler with a language delay, as it provides them with a channel for communication.
Preschoolers often have a difficult time with transitions. Switching abruptly from one task to another can often be very stressful and result in melt downs. So the next time your child is playing, give them a five minute and one minute warning before telling them it's time to clean up their toys.
As you buckle your child into his or her car seat, you should check to ensure that the shoulder straps are snug - not tight enough to cause red marks or indentations, but not loose enough that the child could wiggle out of the harness. To check whether or not the shoulder restraints are too loose or tight, try to pinch the straps together above the buckle. You should not be able to pinch them together.
Don't come up with a "one size fits all" idea of discipline. When disciplining your children, realize that they all respond differently to correction. While a time-out might be what one child needs in order to comply, that same method might not work for another. Find what each child responds best to: time-outs, confiscating toys, or extra chores, and then run with that.
Praise your children often! If you 'catch' your child doing an appropriate behavior, tell him how proud you are. Children love positive words and praise. Hearing kind words will help your child to feel good about himself and will cause him to continue trying to do good things to receive more praise.
Do not try to introduce the bottle to a normally breastfeed baby who is hungry. A hungry baby will not understand what the bottle is for and will reject it immediately because he at this point only associates food with the breast. Get the baby used to the bottle when they are not hungry so that they can learn that it provides food as well.
A great tip for any parent is to demonstrate consistency and follow-through in all interactions with children. Parents who continually issue the same commands and potential consequences and fail to see them through will likely end up with children who are unwilling to listen or behave. Standing by your statements will teach kids to pay attention and regularly do what you ask of them.
Consider teaching a young toddler or older infant signing. Even if you don't use special "baby sign", toddlers will have an easier time communicating with their hands than with their words. This is an especially useful technique if you have a toddler with a language delay, as it provides them with a channel for communication.
Preschoolers often have a difficult time with transitions. Switching abruptly from one task to another can often be very stressful and result in melt downs. So the next time your child is playing, give them a five minute and one minute warning before telling them it's time to clean up their toys.
As you buckle your child into his or her car seat, you should check to ensure that the shoulder straps are snug - not tight enough to cause red marks or indentations, but not loose enough that the child could wiggle out of the harness. To check whether or not the shoulder restraints are too loose or tight, try to pinch the straps together above the buckle. You should not be able to pinch them together.
