Teaching your preschooler to dress himself can be extremely frustrating. However, it doesn’t have to be. Children between the ages of 4 and 5 years old can quickly learn how to dress themselves without too much frustration. There are some simple steps that should be followed so that your preschooler can effectively learn to dress themselves.

Generally mornings can be a time that is very chaotic and rushed. Most times, it is much easier to simply dress your preschooler, rather than allowing them the extra time to dress themselves. However, by learning to dress and undress them, they are not only learning independence, they are also working on improving their logical thinking and motor skills.

If you are at the point where you want to allow your child to learn to dress himself, you may want to allow for extra time. Therefore, if your mornings are generally a chaotic time, consider getting up a bit earlier. This will give both you and your preschooler that extra time needed, to allow him to dress himself, without the feeling of being rushed. It is important that you are there to assist your little one with getting dressed, without taking over and doing it for him.
When your little one is learning to dress himself, it is important that you keep in mind that it doesn’t matter what order he does it in. If he wants to put his pants on before he puts his socks on, it is ok.
In order for your child to master the skills involved in dressing himself, he will need the encouragement and opportunity to practice by himself. The more you allow him to dress himself and practice this skill, the better he will become.

Whether your little one is enthusiastic to take charge or simply uninterested, there are a variety of things you can do to make things simpler. Begin by purchasing simple clothing. Clothes such as overalls and pants with snaps, zippers and buttons can be set aside for special occasions. Pants with elastic waistbands and loose T-shirts are the best way to go in the beginning. If you have a daughter, consider purchasing slip on dresses with larger armholes or skirts with elastic waistbands. When purchasing socks, consider purchasing ones with fitted heels, this way, your child won’t have to try and figure out which way the sock goes on.

When your child is first learning to dress by themselves, consider purchasing clothes that are a size bigger. This is especially true if your little one is between sizes. You may want to let your little one practice with your socks, in order to get the hang of it. The larger the clothes, the easier it is for kids to get them on and off without assistance.
In order to lessen the stress of dressing routine, let your little one pick out what they want to wear. Preschoolers begin developing their own taste and personality and therefore will enjoy picking out their own clothes. Although your preschooler may come up with some extremely crazy combinations, he will quickly learn to associate the fun of picking out his own clothes with the pure satisfaction of putting them on.

One way of helping your preschooler pick out his own clothes, without it getting out of hand is to lay out two coordinating outfits. This way, he can mix and match between the different pieces, yet still feel like he made the final decision in what he chose to wear. Young children are often drawn to brightly colored clothes. This is generally acceptable, as long as the colors coordinate with one other. Therefore, pick outfits out that are easily interchangeable so that your preschooler will have an easier time attempting to match their clothes, while still displaying their own fashion sense.

Another struggling point for many preschoolers is learning to tie their own shoes. If possible, avoid the shoes with Velcro, so that your little one will learn how to tie his own shoes. This can be a very frustrating process for both parent and child. Therefore, be willing to try this in small steps. Do not overwhelm yourself or your preschooler.
There are a few tricks that will help your little one to learn to tie their shoes a lot easier. One of the most common tricks for teaching a preschooler to tie his shoes is the bunny ears method. Demonstrate to your child how to make the laces resemble “bunny ears”. Next, he will need to try and secure a knot through the bunny’s head. Make an X by crossing the bunny’s ears over. Then, pull one ear through the underside of the X and pull tightly. This example will help your child learn to ties his shoes on his own.

Another method is to pick up a book at your local library or book store on learning to tie shoes. There are books that have a shoe with laces so that your preschooler can practice learning to tie. The more he practices, the better and more efficient he will become. There are also some toys that can come with shoe strings so that your little one can learn to tie.

One of the most important things you need to remember when teaching your preschooler to dress himself and tie his own shoes is patience. Your little one will get the hang of this in his own time. Don’t push him into doing it your time. Before you know it, your child will be dressing himself without any assistance.

No part of this article may be copied or reproduced in any form without the express permission of More4Kids Inc © 2008 All Rights Reserved

by Jennifer Shakeel

As a parent, we want to do all we can to help our children. We want to see them succeed, feel as though they belong, have high self esteem and desire to achieve their dreams. When your child suffers with ADD/ADHD encouraging them to dream, and to strive for greatness can be difficult. They may be feeling alone, unconnected and frustrated. While you try to encourage them, sometimes it just isn’t enough. So here is a list of famous people who have Attention Deficit Disorder and are among the best in their field or industry.

Famous Inventers and Great Minds:

• Alexander Graham Bell – He invented the telephone
• Leonardo Di Vinci – A famous artist and inventor
• Thomas Edison – His teachers told him he was too stupid to learn anything!
• Albert Einstein – Physicist – Did you know that Einstein was four years old before he
  could speak, and seven before he could read

Athletes:

•  Michael Jordan – The Greatest Basketball Player EVER!
• Magic Johnson – A great basketball player
• Terry Bradshaw – Sports Announcer and former Football quarterback
• Bruce Jenner 

Actors:

• Will Smith – A man that can do it all, rap, sing and act – He IS Legend!
• Bill Cosby
• Tom Cruise
• Kirk Douglas
• Jim Carrey
• Tracey Gold
• Whoopi Goldberg
• Robin Williams

Musicians/Composers/Artists:

• Beethoven
• Mozart
• Van Gogh

They Changed our World:

• Abraham Lincoln
• Henry Ford
• Andrew Carnegie
• Walt Disney – he was fired by a newspaper because his boss told him he “had no ideas”
• John F. Kennedy
• Winston Churchill – he has to repeat the sixth grade
• Anna Eleanor Roosevelt
• Orville and Wilbur Wright

Now, try to imagine your world without these people, the contributions they made, how they have made life better, easier or more enjoyable. There are many authors, entrepreneurs, architects and so forth that have ADHD. That did not stop anyone of these people from achieving their dreams, and while they are in a class of their own, it is not because of the ADHD that they stand alone, it is because of all they have achieved.

The simple fact that these people achieved what they have in their own fields has to make you wonder, is Attention Deficit Disorder really a disorder or a gift. There are researchers that have posed that very quandary. It is not uncommon for people that have been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD to also be incredibly creative, and that helps them excel and succeed in what they want to do in life.

Please do not underestimate the capabilities of your child and don’t let them do that either. Sometimes what it takes is to let them see someone that is or was in the same situation as they are and succeed in spite of it. The best gift they could’ve gotten may very well be the fact that they have ADHD. You my child are not alone, you are in fact surrounded by and bound for greatness.

Biography 
Jennifer Shakeel is a writer and former nurse. As a mother of two incredible children, I am here to share with you what I have learned about parenting. One of my children has ADD, our journey of learning to come to terms with the diagnosis and figuring out what works best for us has been a challenge and a joy. Our son was diagnosed about two and half years ago, and we have had our ups and downs, joys and sorrows. If I can just offer you one day of hope or one idea that may work to help you and your family then I know that my purpose has been fulfilled. 

No part of this article may be copied or reproduced in any form without the express permission of More4Kids Inc © 2008 All Rights Reserved

Being or becoming a successful parent to your children is much more than just making sure they are fed properly or that they get to school on time. It's more than simply making sure your child is safe and behaving good. Being a successful parent also means raising kids without guilt in their lives. It includes nuturing your childs emotions. Guilt means to feel bad about something that was said or done in the past. To a certain extent, the past can be used as a tool to motivate improved behavior. This is because learning from the past serves a useful purpose. But guilt is not learning from the past.

The real feeling of guilt means to be immobilized in the present over something that has already occurred. It is a negative and confidence-crushing feeling. Guilt is a tool used by adults to make other people feed bad. We tend to use it more on children because we think that it is a good way to control their behavior. I understand that your intention is merely to control your child and put a halt to whatever they are doing that is causing trouble, but using guilt can cause more internal and external social problems within you child for years to come.

Whatever the intention of adults may be when they are reinforcing feelings of guilt in children, it presents only negative manifestations. Such negative manifestations include panic, fear, introversion, sleeplessness, shame, lack of initiative, and loss of self-esteem.

When you use guilt as a way to prod children of any age into doing or acting how you want them to, or to feel bad for something that is already over, you are taking a huge step to helping them become anxious thinkers. Anxious thinkers are filled with the physical manifestations of anxiety.

Although using guilt on your children will grant you the temporary quick-fix to a troubling situation that your son or daughter is causing, this guilt is felt within the child and works fast to internalize feelings of anxiety. Have you ever played the “feel bad game” with your child? Most of us have at one point or another. To an adult it is very innocent and with no harmful intentions, but to the child it the start of guilt and worry.

A very basic example of a “feel bad game” is when you pretend to cry or pout with your three-year-old and force her to give you a kiss because she cannot stand to see you feeling bad. Congratulations, you have just introduced a high feeling of anxiousness to her mind by creating what may seem like a harmless game to you. Your child has then learned very quickly that she has not choice over whom she kisses because she is to give attention to whomever is making her feel bad in life. Is this how you want your kids to make all of their decisions as young teens and then adults?  I hope not, I know I don't. Parenting can be very challenging at times and part of good parenting is understanding what we do and say can affect our children, not only now, but as our children grow up and become adults.

Do you have a shy child and what can you do to help your child overcome his or her shyness? As a young child I was extremely shy and know how it can carry on throughout childhood and into adulthood. Shyness can be a difficult problem, especially for a child. Whether the shyness is a result of an inner problem or simply not wanting to participate in conversation, you can help your toddler overcome shyness.

If your child has an exuberant personality but tends to shy away from strangers, there really is nothing to worry about. However, if your toddler seems to have behavioral problems, becomes angry or fearful, then shyness is a cover for something more problematic.

More often than not, children are pushed into situations they are uncomfortable with; either having to kiss a stranger invited to the home; or having to seem more outgoing that he or she actually is can ultimately force the toddler to become more withdrawn and akin to a turtle, end up putting their head back into their shell. In order to help your toddler overcome shyness, don’t make a point of it. Do not treat them any different than any other child. Think of your child as quiet and reserved, and refer to him or her that way if asked by others. There is nothing wrong with this assessment, and the manner in which you treat your child will not overstate the obvious, but allow them the room he needs to find their own way.

Shy children are also fearful of strangers. If you take your toddler to a friend’s home, let them bring along a blanket or a toy. It is a familiar object which, to the toddler, represents home – which they view as safe. It can also be used as a way to communicate between the toddler and the stranger. The point is not to force your child to have to say or do anything – just be. Eventually as they see your response to strangers appear comfortable and happy, they will follow suit. Often shy children become introverted, and it takes a lot to draw them out. To this end, invite children to your home to play with your toddler. They will feel safer at home, and the children may help your toddler to open up in ways adults can’t.

Help your toddler overcome shyness by not doting on them, but by giving them a great deal of love and support. Do not make an issue out of their shyness, nor force them to become involved in situations which frighten or make them uncomfortable. Eventually they will find his way in time, and be able to communicate and come out of that shell. They just needs to find their own  niche; and once they doe – all will be well. Remember, children need to progress at their own pace. While one sibling may be outgoing and friendly, another may be just the opposite. The key is not to make allowances for one; but to treat each child equally.

It’s never too early to teach your little one to enjoy music. Kids love to sing and dance to their heart’s content.
Most children have a heap of natural musical ability. How you nurture it is the key to whether your child’s musical ability will continue to grow.
These days, parents are so anxious to give their children the “upper hand”, enrolling them in dance at age 2, soccer by age 4, and music lessons shortly thereafter. While this may appear to make your child well-rounded, in some cases you are doing more harm than good. Preschool children should certainly be exposed to good music but in a less formal setting than private lessons. You can find a wealth of different activities more appropriate to the mind-set and attention span of a 3 or 4 year old.

Begin at Home

What your little one hears at home on your stereo or radio will largely shape his/her musical choices and also influence his/her singing abilities.
Little children should listen to kid’s music. Simple tunes with easy-to-memorize words are the best songs for children. You know them. You grew up singing them. Twinkle, Twinkle. Mary Had a Little Lamb. Comin’ Round the Mountain. Buy CDs that contain songs designed especially for preschool age children. Encourage your child to sing along. Sing with them. Buy small rhythm instruments and play marching band. Bring the CDs along on car rides to keep your child entertained. You’ll find that exposing them to age-appropriate songs will help them develop not only a love for singing but also a good singing voice.
Try not to let your preschooler sing along to the latest Christina Aguilera or U2 songs. Imitating rock singers encourages improper singing technique and could put your child at risk for vocal chord damage later in life. Avoid the Broadway Belter style as well. Most Broadway song lyrics are inappropriate for little ones and boast extensive ranges that result in poor and out-of-tune singing. They’ll reap many more benefits from singing time-honored children’s favorites.

Classes Outside the Home

If you’re looking for some musical activity in which to enroll your child outside the home, check out the many programs that involve both parent and child. One of the best and most well-known is Kindermusik. Developed in Germany in the 1960s and adapted to serve American families in the 1970s, Kindermusik is now offered in more than 35 countries. Their philosophy is founded upon the beliefs that “music nurtures a child's cognitive, emotional, social, language, and physical development” and “every child should experience the joy, fun, and learning which music brings to life.” The Kindermusik program accommodates learners from newborn to 7 years old and provides activities that can be enjoyed and reinforced at home.
If you don’t have a Kindermusik program in your area, seek out other “Mommy and Me”-type programs that encourage parent involvement in your child’s music education. They usually involve learning simple songs, coordinating creative movement with these songs, and playing rhythm instruments.
Stay away from programs that promise the impossible. For example, one popular east coast kid’s “gym” offers a music program that includes ½ hour group keyboard lessons for 3-year olds. Don’t waste your money. Unless your child is the next Mozart, he/she will have neither the attention span nor the motor skills to reap any benefits from such lessons.

Every child is different, and develop at different rates. I just look at my sons and can tell the difference instantly. It is important to not judge your children diiferently just because one may develop faster or slow than the other, or try to judge your child based on something read in a book or magazine. They are general guidelines. A judgement or inadvertant comment may hurt a child emotionally.  Toddler development is something that every parent is concerned with, whether they are first time parents or veterans. A problem arises when parents become obsessed with toddler development, and begin to analyze their children’s development too closely. Such scrutiny can result in undue concern and anxiety, and the magic of watching their child grow and develop is lost. There are numerous publications designed to help parents track their toddler’s development, but they should be used only as a guide, since everyone develops at a different rate.

An Ambiguous Subject

Toddler development, while different in every child, has general guidelines that a large percentage of children follow. This pattern is found in many parenting resources, but if your child doesn’t follow the guidelines perfectly that doesn’t mean he has a problem. First, the term “toddler” applies to children in a broad age range that have already achieved a number of developmental milestones. Many toddlers by the age of two should be able to walk, run, point out a few objects, recognize many other objects when pointed out to them, talk a few words, and babble frequently in unrecognizable sounds. They should have improved dexterity and be able to put objects in bins or buckets, and some development of fine motor skills should be evident. Again, these are simply guidelines and not hard and fast rules.

Should You Be Concerned?

In some rare cases, the development of a toddler can actually be impeded by a mental or physical disability. These disabilities may be evident from the beginning, or may appear when the child is older. Toddler development issues can range from a simple learning disability such as difficulty with reading or transposing numbers and letters, to something more serious like autism or Aspergers Syndrome. Less severe disabilities can be treated with medication or a modified learning technique. In other cases, parents may have to adjust their lifestyle to accommodate a child with severe disabilities. If you do have cause to be concerned seek help from your health care professional.

Getting Help and Support

There is plenty of information available on the internet and in books and magazines about developmental delays and problems, but the only way to get an accurate diagnosis is to visit your doctor. If your toddler does have developmental issues, you should not feel alone; there are plenty of parents going through similar circumstances. Check in your area to see if there are support groups available where you can share your concerns and frustrations and possibly get some new ideas about how to handle your toddler.