What are we teaching our children?

I stood back listening to a few neighbors talking to one another by the playground a few days ago and I was amazed. These mothers had their children close by listening to them bad mouth just about everyone in their lives.

What made me even more amazed than that was the shock and surprise these women showed when one of the children called another child a foul name (and, no, I am not referring to the word chicken). How did the child hear such a thing? I wanted to shout back at the "ladies" and let them know that what was coming "out of the mouths of babes" was none other than what just came out of their own mouths!

Instead I wrote an article on teaching children hate. You can find it here.

Healthy After School Snack Ideas

My kids get home from school and go straight to the kitchen for a snack. Some days I wonder why they serve lunch so early. After school snacks should compliment your child's diet. Healthy after school snacks can be quick, easy to make and tasty. Some of my kids' favorite after school snacks are listed below. READ MORE....

Pregnancy Planning Tips for Expectant Fathers

Once you decide to have children there are many things to decide. Both parents, expectant father and expectant mother, should be comfortable with the choices that are made involving the birth of their child. That being said, expectant mothers by nature have more say in many areas than expectant fathers do. I have covered a few areas that expectant fathers should go over when planning pregnancy and the birth of their child in this article.

Once you have decided you are ready for an addition to your family you need READ MORE....

Parenting Tips: Road Trips with Children

Taking long road trips with children can be difficult. During the past three years I have moved from Utah to Texas, from Texas to Oregon, from Oregon to Arkansas, and from Arkansas to Oregon. Each trip took us several days to get to our destination. Then there are the shorter trips we have made where we were only going 50 miles. When you travel with children you need to be prepared. READ MORE....

Attachment Disorders Start During Childhood

Children with attachment disorders have difficulty trusting anyone. Attachment disorders lead to other psychological problems including antisocial behavior, mistrust, poor empathy skills, poor peer skills, and behavior problems. People with attachment disorders have difficulty 'fitting in' in society.

Forming a secure attachment is a complex process READ MORE....

Healthy Snack Ideas for Toddlers

Toddlers need to have healthy snacks between meals. Toddlers are at a stage where they are learning eating habits that will stay with them throughout their lives. Healthy snacks help your toddler to get into a habit of eating healthy foods. If your toddler learns to avoid certain types of foods he will most likely continue to avoid those foods as he grows. Teaching your toddler good eating habits early in life is important for his health. Healthy snacks help your toddler grow properly. READ MORE....

Parenting Tips: Talking to Your Child About Sex and Puberty

Most parents don't look forward to talking to their children about sex and sexual development. Some parents never do talk to their children about sex and sexual development. If parents don't step up and take responsibility to teach their children about sex and sexual development, their children will find out somewhere else. Children who do not get the opportunity to have their questions about sex and sexual development answered by a responsible adult often have an increased curiosity of the subject.

The Birds-and-Bees Speech... READ MORE....

Parenting Tips: The Terrible Twos

Your toddler has started having frequent temper tantrums. His mood swings are as predictable as yours were when you were pregnant with him. The most frequent thing uttered by his sweet lips is 'NO'. Welcome to the Terrible Twos.

The terrible twos can start anytime after your child's first birthday. READ MORE....

Fostering a Strong Work Ethic in Children

When you found out you were going to have a baby you started to dream about how your child was going to turn out. Dreams of your child's future probably included your child being successful and having a strong work ethic. Raising children with a strong work ethic doesn't happen by chance. Parents need to teach their children work ethics by example.

The first thing you need to do to foster a strong work ethic in your children is READ MORE....

Emotional Development of Infants

During the first two years of life babies go through many developmental changes. The first two years of life experiences are much of what defines who we become. Emotional development from birth to age two can be broke down into small stages.

First Month READ MORE....

Have a Bedtime Routine with Your Toddler

After a day of running to keep up with an always on the go toddler, most parents look forward to bedtime. Getting your toddler to look at bedtime as a blessing is not as easy. If bedtime for your toddler has become dreaded, you need to set up a bedtime routine. Starting a simple bedtime routine while your child is young and sticking to it keeps bedtime from being a nightmare. READ MORE....

Discipline vs Child Abuse

Disciplining your children is not the same as child abuse. Parents should not fear being arrested for disciplining a child in public. It is a parent's job to discipline their child, in public and at home. The difference between child abuse and discipline is not only intent. Intending to teach your child to behave doesn't give you the right to cause bodily harm.

Child abuse is harming a child physically or emotionally. READ MORE....

How To Stop Your Toddler's Temper Tantrums

Spinning out of control like a Tasmanian Devil on caffeine, your bouncing baby boy can tear up your house in the time you takes to answer the telephone. As the latest toy your toddler had to have bounces off of the back of your head you might wonder why you decided to become a parent. The temper tantrums your toddler throws are enough to make you want to call out, "Calgon, take me away!" Unfortunately for stressed parents around the world, shouting for Calgon only works in commercials.

Toddlers want attention and will settle for negative attention if it is readily available. READ MORE....

Living with your Adult Child and Spouse

Watching your children struggle is difficult, even when your children are adults. Part of parenting is letting your children experience the natural consequences of their actions. Adult children are still your children, but they are also adults. They need to be treated like adults.

Adult children moving back home with their parents has become a common occurrence anymore. Living so close to your adult children you can expect some aspects of privacy to be lost. READ MORE....

Twenty Ways to Make Your Child Feel Loved

Recently I was asked for ways parents can make their children feel loved. I came up with this list of twenty ways to make children feel loved. READ MORE....

Teaching Children Not to Lie

Children do not automatically know to tell the truth. Children must be taught how and when to be truthful. Children often lie to increase their chances of getting something they want. Children lie to avoid getting punished. Sometimes when children lie they are just stating how they wish things were.

We, as parents, need to remember that telling the truth is actually counterintuitive. READ MORE....

How to Get Your Child to do Chores

Children who learn how to do chores become more responsible adults than those who didn't have responsibilities. Getting your child to like to do chores is harder than getting your child to do chores. Most children do not like doing chores.

Having your child do chores not only teaches your child responsibility, ... READ MORE....

Potty Training Made Easy

All parents at one time or another look forward to the day they no longer have to change dirty diapers. Potty training is a big step in your child's life. For some potty training is easy. For other children potty training is a struggle. My daughters were all potty trained before they were 28 months old. Two of them were potty trained before they were two. My son was two before he finally caught on.

After helping to potty train not only my children but many foster children I have some tips to make potty training easier. Potty training is a learning experience for you and your child. I have two rules that will help speed the learning process. READ MORE....

How to Tell the Difference Between Reasoning with a Child and Commanding a Child

What is the difference between reasoning with a child and commanding a child? Reasoning and commanding are common parenting approaches. Reasoning with children helps develop analytical thinking. Commanding children teaches them the parent has power over them.

Commanding parents often make hurtful comments when... READ MORE....

A Parents Guide to Keeping Lines of Communication Open

One of the most important things for a parent to do is to open lines of communication and keep these lines open. Children who feel they can go to their parents with their troubles are usually better adjusted than those who do not communicate well with their parents. During stressful times children should feel they are able to go to their parents.

It is never too early. READ MORE....