By Dr. Caron Goode

One of most frustrating stages of toddlerhood can be when a child learns to master the word “no.”

Between the ages of 15 and 30 months, a toddler begins to realize that he is a separate person from his parents; a person who has his own will and his own mind. As this realization sets in, a child begins to discover his independence and begins to practice asserting this independence to all who will listen. It’s this stage of development that is usually marked by a child singing a seemingly continuous chorus of a loud and proud “no.”

Although on the surface it may seem that the child is being defiant and difficult, a young child who is constantly saying “no” is in a monumental phase of early childhood development. When parents aren’t coached to recognize this stage for what it is, the result can be frequent power struggles between parent and child.

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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.

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by Stacey Schifferdecker

We usually think of peer pressure as being a problem for teenagers, but peer pressure is a fact of life for all of us, no matter what our age. At a recent school book fair, I overheard one child urge another to “Just put it in your bag” about the .45 cent eraser the first child did not have money to buy. Probably, neither child really thought that taking the eraser would be stealing, and they just needed to be gently reminded that taking something that doesn’t belong to us is wrong. But by taking steps now to teach your children to deal with peer pressure, you can give them the skills they will need as teenagers (and adults!) to withstand peer pressure.

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The choice to hire a babysitter is no longer an easy one for parents. It is no longer appropriate to simply trust just anyone with your children. It is essential that you hire an individual that can allow you the comfort of knowing that your child is being properly cared for, and one that your child will be content with. Here, you will learn about the best methods to utilize when seeking care for your child. You will also learn how to compose an effective checklist for the individual that you will eventual hire to sit with your child.

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Sharing is Caring - Teaching our children to share can be one of the most challenging things to teach, and perhaps one of the most important things we can teach out kids. Younger children tend to think everything is theirs. One way to help teach sharing is to start donating to children’s charities. As the holiday season fast approaches, Thanksgiving and Christmas are opportune times to teach our children about sharing and caring for others who are not as fortunate. They can also learn that they can donate more than just money. It is also a good idea to donate new or gently used things, like toys, clothes books, or time.

In addition to teaching children to share, it helps them learn the value and satisfaction that comes with helping others. Decide as a family how often to go through things and pass on nice things that the family no longer needs. The items should be in good shape.

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Halloween is a little over a month away. Autumn is a fun season for little ones, because it means going on hayrides, painting pumpkins, and of course dressing up for Halloween. It is especially fun for small girls to dress up for Halloween, especially because there are many costume ideas to choose from.

Toddler Girls Love to Have Their Face Painted

Moms, do you remember back when you went to a fair or a theme park. Chances are, you liked getting your face painted, and little girls are the same way. There are many wonderful face painting kits that you can choose from either in the children’s section of your local book store, a costume shop, or online.

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Having to leave your child on a business trip can be rough on your child and yourself. Newborns can be fussy customers with strong preferences regarding formula, pacifiers, swaddling, sleep and other daily fundamentals. Rarely, however, does a newborn give much thought as to who is holding him. Sure, he or she feels safe and warm with mom or dad, but chances are that they are perfectly content to curl up in Aunt Maddie’s arms.

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One key to parenting is understanding. A toddler is a wonderful and fun little being. One of my kids just went through that phase and another one is just entering it. What joy they can be. They entertain, frustrate, and exasperate but you cannot help loving them! Their expressive faces, their busy hands, and the sound of their feet running can bring joy to a parent’s heart. The problem appears when it is time to discipline them. There are several reasons why toddlers can be so challenging. It is hard to control a natural curiosity for the world around them. In fact, as long as they are not hurting themselves or others such curiosity should be encouraged. Once they start walking and able to get to the wonderful objects they could only look at, the problems begin. They want to explore and handle the items formerly out of reach. The two top reasons it is hard to discipline and manage a toddler is; they are finally able to move around freely on their own, and they are learning to control their hands and learning motor skills.

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If this is the first time your child is off to a day care or preschool it can be a nervious time not only for the child, but the part as well.  This is a time when both you and your child will face the issues of separation and independence. These are very normal feelings, but it is also a very important stage in your childs development.  A child that is at the age of four or five years old will probably go off without much difficulty, but many children under the age of three have a very hard time with leaving their parents. Here are some ways to help make the transition a little easier.

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It makes common sense, but optimistic people enjoy better health, a longer life, and have less stress than a pessimistic person. An optimistic person will also achieve more in their life than a pessimist. You can subtly influence your child toward optimism. Optimism and healthy self-esteem can be taught and will help your child throughout their life.

How do you raise an optimistic child? There are several important ways to help your child learn to be an optimist. Help them to focus on their successes. Self-esteem and optimism can be learned and you can help your child while they are young. Give them simple jobs to do and praise them when they succeed. Even small children can help with simple chores and experience success when they are finished.

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If your child bites it can be a parenting nightmare, especially if your toddler bites another child. The first time your child bites someone you probably were appalled that they could do such a thing! The good news is that some children go through this phase and most of the time it is a temporary problem. Believe is to not, biting is a common problem found in many preschools and daycares.

But first of all, it is import to understand why toddlers or babies bite. Many times they will bite because they want to relieve the pressure in their gums while teething. They may also think it is a fun game to play with mommy and daddy. Preschoolers often bite because they have not learned how to handle or cope with stress or do not have the verbal skills to communicate what is wrong with them. Biting is very upsetting to everyone and if you do not deal with it while they are young it may continue, as they get older. That is the last thing you would want to happen. There are a few hints and tricks you can use to help your biting child cope with stress and emotions in another way. Here are some ideas to help stop your childs biting habit.

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Good parenting is not only about when you are physically with your children, but it is also making sure they are in a safe environment when you are not there. If you are a working mom and don’t have the benefit of family or friends to watch your child, it often becomes a necessity that you enroll your child in a daycare center. While you may be understandably leery, here are some tips for choosing a daycare provider which will help in alleviating some of the fears you may have. 

• Check out the daycare centers in your area, either on line or by calling.
• Find out if there are any vacant spots so you can enroll your child.
• Ask where they are located and their hours of operation.
• What is the cost?
• Ensure the daycare provider is licensed. 
• Ask how many children are currently enrolled in the center, and their ages. 
• Ask if they supply meals to the children.

The next series of steps you take are very important. Visit the daycare center and check on the following:

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If your child does not belong to a day care, or go to a pre-school and you are worried about your toddlers social development , you may want to consider a mommy and toddler group. This is also a great way in which moms continue the all important bonding with their toddlers, as well as having their child experience being with other toddlers, is through mommy and toddler groups.

There are a number of groups which you and your toddler can join. One of which is at a library or checking your local community to ascertain if they have any similar groups you can join.

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It’s official. The weather is getting warmer, the birds are chirping and you don’t have to search high and low for boots and gloves. The stores are filled with shorts and bathing suits and suntan lotion! So why not get out and have a mini-celebration with your favorite people- your children!

1. Plant something special! Have your child pick out a special tree, plant or perennial for your yard or for your patio. Read about what helps it to grow. Learn with your child how to take care of it. Re-plant it if you like in a special pot that you shop for with him or her. If you plant it in your yard, do it in your child’s name. If possible, play some spring songs on a cassette or compact disc player while you are planting! Be sure to add a plant marker!

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Ahh, bedtime, for many of us parents who are raising children under the age of five, tends to be the most dreaded part of the day. And this is often for good reason because unless a toddler is extremely tired, he will totally resist going to sleep. This problem may be more troublesome to deal with if your little child has older brothers or sisters who tend to stay up later at night. Your child is bound to want to stay up late so that he does not “miss out” on anything that his siblings may be enjoying. And because those feelings are understandable, there is no harm in granting some extra stay-up privileges for your child. However, it is important to keep in mind that children this age need at least ten hours of sleep each night. A good nights sleep usually translates in a good day for our son. Here are some tips and guidelines that may help make the process a little bit easier.

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