Ways To Be A Good Parent

We've assembled our all time favorite nuggets of advice from our board of advisers in one excellent article which will have a profound effect on your entire family.

Boost Brainpower & Physical Activity

Teach your baby to sign. Just because a child can't speak doesn't mean there isn't a lot that she'd love to say. Simple signs can help you know what she needs and even how she feels well before she has the voice to inform you -- a great way to decrease frustration. Keep the tube in the family room. Research has repeatedly demonstrated that kids with a TV in their bedroom weigh more, sleep less, and have lower grades and poorer social skills. P.S. toddlers using a television in their bedroom have sex less often. Get kids moving. The most recent research indicates that brain development in young children could be connected to their activity level. Place your baby on her belly many times a day, let your toddler walk instead of ride in her stroller, and create opportunities for the older child to get plenty of exercise.

Know the Best Strategies to Praise

Give proper praise. Rather than simply saying, You're great, attempt to be certain about what your kid did to deserve the positive feedback. You might say, Waiting before I was off the phone to ask for cookies was challenging, and I really liked your patience. Cheer the fantastic stuff. When you notice your child doing something helpful or nice, let him know how you feel. It's a great way to reinforce good behavior so that he 's more likely to keep doing it. Gossip about your kids. Fact: What we overhear is a lot more potent than what we're told directly. Make praise more effective by letting your kid capture you whispering a compliment about him to Grandma, Dad, or even his teddy.

Be a Fantastic Role Model

Be the role model your children deserve. Children learn by watching their parents. Modeling proper, respectful, excellent behavior works much better than telling them what to do. Fess up when you blow it. Here is the very best way to show your child how and when she needs to apologize. Live a bit greener. Show your kids how simple it's to take care of the environment. Waste less, recycle, recycle, and save each day. Spend an afternoon picking up trash around the area. Always tell the truth. It's the way you desire your child to behave, right? Kiss and hug your partner before the children. Your marriage is the sole example your kid has of what a romantic relationship looks, feels, and sounds like. Therefore it's your job to set a fantastic standard. Respect parenting gaps. Support your spouse's basic approach to raising children -- unless it's way out of line. Criticizing or arguing with your spouse will do more harm to your marriage and your kid 's sense of safety than if you accept standards that are distinct from your own.

Health Advice All Parents Must Follow

Get your kids vaccinated. Outbreaks of measles and other diseases still happen in our nation and throughout the world. Shield that smile. Encouraging your child to brush twice a day with a dab of fluoride toothpaste will guard against cavities. Be vigilant about safety. Babyproof your home thoroughly, and never leave a child under 5 in the tub . Ensure car seats are installed properly, and insist your child wear a helmet when riding his scooter or bike. Listen to this doc. If your physician thinks your child 's fever is caused by a virus, don't push . The best medication might be rest, a lot of fluids, and a bit of TLC. Overprescribing antibiotics may cause medical problems for the child and raise the odds of producing superbugs that withstand therapy. Keep sunblock beside your kid's toothpaste. Apply it every day as part of the morning routine. It'll behave as natural as brushing her teeth. Put your baby to bed drowsy but still alert. This helps your child learn how to soothe himself to sleep and averts bedtime problems down the line. Know when to toilet train. Search for both of these signs your child is about to use the potty: He senses the urge to feces and urine (that differs from understanding that he's gone), and he asks for a diaper change.

Always Say I Love You

Enjoy your kids equally, but treat them distinctively. They're individuals. Say I adore you whenever you feel that, even if it's 743 times a day. You just can not spoil a child with too many mushy words of affection and also many smooches. Not possible. Remember what grandmoms always say. Children are not yours, they are just lent to you for a moment. In these short years, do your best to help them develop to become good people. Savor the moments. Yes, parenthood is the most exhausting job on Earth. Yes, your home is a mess, the laundry's piled up, and the dog has to be walked. But your child just laughed. Love it today -- it will be far too quickly.

Don't Stress About Dinner

Serve a food again and again. If your child rejects a new dish, then don't give up hope. You may have to offer it another six, eight, as well as 10 days before he eats it and decides he likes it. Stay away from food fights. A healthy child instinctively knows how much to eat. If he refuses to finish whatever food is on his plate, just let it all go. He won't starve. Eat a minumum of one meal for a family every day. Sitting down at the table together is a relaxed way for everyone to join -- a time to share joyful news, talk about the day, or tell a ridiculous joke. It also helps your children develop healthy eating habits. Let your children put an order. Once a week, let your kids to select what's for dinner and then cook it for them.