Parenting Tips - Encouraging Good Behavior

The first step to better discipline is to learn to encourage good behavior in your child. It is much easier to reinforce good behavior than to have to try and change bad behaviors. Here are some tips for encouraging better behavior:
Reinforce good behavior by offering praise when he does well and learn to pay positive attention to your child. Children seek approval for the things that they do, especially from their parents. Let your child know if he is following the rules or has done something, or made an effort to do something that you wanted. Give him a hug, kiss or smile if he has been sitting quietly, completes a chore without problems, or is playing cooperatively. Also give verbal signs of approval, such as ‘Great Job,' or ‘I like it when you…' Be sure to comment on specific behaviors or actions.

Give him choices. This allows your child some feeling of independence. For example, offer a choice between setting the table or taking out the trash.

Make good behavior fun. Your child is more likely to comply if he is enjoying himself. For example, say ‘let's see who can pick up the most toys.'

Establish a reward system to promote good behavior.

Have-Some-Fun Playrooms

Kids will love these fantasy play areas designed just for them.

KIDS MENU - BANANA WRAP

Banana Wrap

1 8-inch flour tortilla
2 To 3 Tbsp peanut butter
2 To 3 Tbsp grape jelly
1 sm Banana, peeled

Place tortilla on a paper towel. Microwave 10 to 20 seconds on HIGH until the tortilla is soft and warm. Spread with peanut butter. Top with grape jelly. Place the banana near the right edge of the tortilla. Fold up the bottom fourth of the tortilla. Bring right edge over the banana and roll-up.

Parenting Tips - How Do I Stop My Toddler from Biting????

Biting adults or other children is a common behavior in most toddlers and increases when a child is tired or frustrated. It is important to not overreact when it occurs, instead treatment consists of teaching your child that it is not acceptable behavior.

Some steps to take when your child bites include:

• Immediately look him in the eye and give him a loud and firm 'NO.' You may also move him to another area for a time out. Let him know that it is never all right to bite another person because it hurts.
• Supervise your child closely when he is with other children, so that you can distract him or interrupt any behavior that may lead to biting.
• It is important to not overreact and never bite your child back. Biting him back or physical punishment will just reinforce that it is okay to hurt others.
• Give him lots of praise when he controls himself and doesn't bite.

Adorable Adam and Lily

My beloved kids Adam Iskandar (3+ ) and Lily Yasmine Adriana (2) having fun in pool...

KIDS MENU - Yummy Chicken Noodle Soup

PREP TIME : 10 Min
COOK TIME : 20 Min
READY IN : 30 Min

INGREDIENTS :

1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
4 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth
1 (14.5 ounce) can vegetable broth
1/2 pound chopped cooked chicken breast
1 1/2 cups egg noodles
1 cup sliced carrots
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large pot over medium heat, melt butter.

2. Cook onion and celery in butter until just tender, 5 minutes. Pour in chicken and vegetable broths and stir in chicken, noodles, carrots, basil, oregano, salt and pepper.

3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes before serving. ENJOY!!!

Parenting Tips - When Should You Start Potty Training?

Most children begin potty training sometime around 18 months to three years of age, so yes, if he is otherwise growing and developing well, it is probably normal that a 2 1/2 year old does not want to use the potty.

Although many parents feel like 3 years is a magic age by which their child must be potty trained, that is not always the case. A recent poll on keepkidshealthy.com showed that almost 25% of kids weren't potty trained until they were 3 1/2 or 4 years old.

Even in an older child, it is important to look for signs of readiness before you begin potty training, including:

• staying dry for at least 2 hours at a time
• having regular bowel movements
• being able to follow simple instructions
• being uncomfortable with dirty diapers and wanting them to be changed
• asking to use the potty chair
• asking to wear regular underwear.

You should also be able to tell when your child is about to urinate or have a bowel movement by his facial expressions, posture or by what he says. If your child has begun to tell you about having a dirty diaper you should praise him for telling you and encourage him to tell you in advance next time.

Even if your child isn't totally ready to begin potty training, you can still get him a potty chair and have him decorate it with stickers and sit on it with his clothes on to watch TV, etc. to help him get used to it. Whenever your child shows signs of needing to urinate or have a bowel movement you should ask him if he wants to use the potty or take him to the chair and explain to him what you want him to do.

Only keep him seated for a few minutes at a time, don't insist and prepared to delay training if he shows resistance. Until he is going in the potty, you can try to empty his dirty diapers into his potty chair to help demonstrate what you want him to do.

Another good techniques is modeling, where you allow your child to see family members or other children using the toilet, and using observational remarks. This involves narrating what is happening and asking questions while potty training, such as 'did you just sit on the potty?' or 'did you just poop in the potty?'

Things to avoid when toilet training your child are beginning during a stressful time or period of change in the family (moving, new baby, etc.), pushing your child too fast, and punishing mistakes (treat accidents and mistakes lightly). Be sure to go at your child's pace and show strong encouragement and praise when he is successful.

Enjoy Reading!