Parenting tips

Here are some tips on what I've learned so far from my own childhood and from being a parent myself.


Toys: Rampant consumerism has turned our children’s toy boxes into overflowing quagmires of broken and forgotten toys. Think about cleaning out that mess and having the kids help decide which ones will go to charity. They will find it much easier to find and enjoy what they have.

Inexpensive gift ideas
Go get your children a cheap set of encyclopedias from the thrift shop for 5 bucks.
You can get little golden books for 20 cents a piece. Garage sales are a great place to
Find dolls, stuffed animals, bikes, tricycles for reasonable prices. Take the kids let them spend their own allowance and teach them the value of a dollar.

Feeding kids:
Children can be picky. It’s frustrating when you prepare a healthy meal and your kids sit there and make faces at it. Here is the trick. Only give them a very small portion of new foods; maybe even one bite. For some reason kids can be overwhelmed by a giant pile of peas or green beans. Insist that they take one bite of each item on their plate. This may be tricky at first but the key is be firm and consistent. Once they take their one bite of the offending vegetable, casserole or whatever let them up from the table. If your child flat out refuses to eat what you serve just let them go to bed hungry. Don't worry they will not starve themselves and will eventually try the food you prepare.

Don’t give up! In a short amount of time even the most stubborn defiant children will take their one bite and move on. Eventually you can add more variety to their diet with minimal fit throwing and gnashing of teeth. This method will make family dinners, dining out and eating at a friends house much less difficult and stressful.

Everyone will comment on how amazing it is that your kids eat spinach and tofu.

Discipline:
Everyone has their own ideas on how to discipline children. I have found some techniques that really work.

Set rules: Write out the rules and put them in a prominent place. Even if the kids can’t read you can read them out loud and point to them as a reminder from time to time. Make the kids learn the rules and be able to recite them back to you:
For example:

Don’t jump on the bed.
Don’t hit
Don’t throw trash on the floor

Don't forget to set consequences:

Time out
Early bedtime
No computer games

Be consistent:
This is the most important rule of all. If you are not consistent, don’t enforce the rules and punishments all the time you will not be taken seriously and the kids will push you with ever increasing bad behavior until they get you to your limit. Don’t let it get that far.

Don’t be lazy: Keep your promises to them and they will give you very few worries as they get older. Oh yeah, they will also grow up to be well adjusted responsible adults.

Don't forget: Your kids eventually get to pick your nursing home.

Boundaries:

Kids want boundaries, it makes them feel safe and secure. This new age crap of letting your child explore and set his own boundaries is for the birds. Kids need parenting. That is why we are here. Children also need guidance, rules advice, help, nurturing and affection.

Play with your kids:
Yeah. I know you are tired and stressed from work but make some time to read a short book to your kids, play a game with them, look at their homework or eat a snack with them. They will remember the time you spend with them and it will go far in building their self esteem.

Make your kids take responsibility:
It is amazing to me how many kids never have to face the consequences for their actions. If your kid breaks a flower pot give them a broom and a dustpan and make them clean it up. Even if they are 4 years old at least make them help.
If your child breaks a neighbors window make them pay for the repair out of their allowance or with chores. When your child gets a note sent home for behavior at school make the child write an apology letter to the teacher.

Consistently doing these things will make your child think before doing stupid things.
Doing these things will pay off when you have teenagers making decisions about drugs, booze, sex and other scary things.

Let your child pay for their own toys:
If junior wants super alien tech commando with lava acid spray. Don’t buy it for him.

Tell junior how much it costs and what he can do to earn the money. Taking out the trash could pay a dollar, Sweeping could be 2 dollars etc… Don’t make it too hard, just enough So they know work brings money. Once they have the twenty bucks for their toy ask them if they still want a plastic toy for all that hard work. Chances are they will see the value of money and make a wiser decision than if they were just handed the cash with no strings attached.

If they still choose the plastic toy you will notice that it will be cherished and cared for much more than the ones that were given freely or on a whim. Only the things you work for are worth having and taking care of.

Make your child be responsible for cleaning their own room and managing their dirty clothes. Even if they don’t clean to your expectations it is good practice for when they move out on their own. It will teach them not to be a dirty slob who makes their spouse clean up after them ultimately leading to a nasty divorce and your kids and grandkids moving back in with you.

Parenting is work: You won’t be perfect but some effort in the places I’ve outlined can go a long way in making your kids lives happy and healthy…not to mention making the parents happy and healthy too.