When is tickling your toddler OK and when could it be unwelcome or confusing to a child? Here is how to gauge your child’s response to being tickled and tips for bonding while keeping boundaries in mind. A Misleading Response Most kids giggle or chortle in response to being tickled, but that doesn’t mean that they are necessarily enjoying the experience. Humans laugh when being tickled as an automatic response, much like sneezing....
While these differences can be complementary at times, they can also lead to conflict. What should you do if you disagree on discipline strategies as parents? Reasons for Disagreements Most couples differ at times when it comes to discipline. For example, parents often disagree on when to intervene with a behavior. One parent may believe that a child should not be given reminders if they don’t do their chores on time....
Depending on their age or interests, your child might incorporate elaborate props and join with friends in assuming complex roles in a story; or they might quietly imagine simple scenarios that require no dolls, toys, costumes, or other people at all. It’s adorable to see kids playing these games, but what you’re witnessing when you see your child in the midst of dramatic play isn’t just something cute. Dramatic play is actually important to your child’s development, supporting intellectual and verbal skills....
Helps Kids Manage Anxiety Believe it or not, kids don’t want to be in charge. They often test limits just to make sure that their caregivers can keep them safe. When adults offer positive and negative consequences, kids grow and learn. Kids who have overly permissive parents often experience anxiety because they have to make adult decisions. The lack of guidance and the absence of leadership can be very unsettling for kids....
Grandparents must understand that these decisions aren’t something that parents are doing to the grandparents. It’s something that they are doing for the newborn and for themselves. They are creating a protected period for forming a family unit. Grandparents may not understand such decisions, but they should at least grant that the parents are acting out of the best of motives. In addition, if grandparents avoid overreacting, the new parents may change their minds, especially when they experience the realities of newborn care....
These chores, in particular, top the list of calorie-burners and strength-builders: 1. Painting and Household Repairs Some fixes are best left to the pros, but in most cases, you can probably handle prepping and painting a room. Kids can help, and are usually motivated to do so if they’re working in their own rooms! You’ll feel this one in your arms, shoulders, and chest, and depending on the type of job you’re doing, even your back and legs (so, pretty much all over)....
As a parent coach or volunteer, you can help your team grow closer with bonding activities like these. Ideally, you should limit participation to team members and chaperones (at least most of the time). Having other parents and siblings along changes the dynamic and doesn’t help the team develop tight bonds. Team Bonding Outings Take team members to see sporting events in their chosen sport, at the high school, college, or semi-pro level (since those are more affordable than professional events)....
As your child gets older, the benefits of reading continue to grow. Reading with toddlers introduces literacy concepts, such as grammar and phonics, and boosts brain development. Most of all, reading is a special bonding time for parents and children. Especially for young babies, almost any book will do! But these beloved titles are good additions to baby’s first library. At least some of them should be sturdy board books so that your baby can handle them (and chew on them)....
Sometimes rewards won’t be necessary once a child is able to see the task as a manageable one. However, avoid the reverse: don’t say things like, “If you worked harder, you would do better.” Another creative approach to homework is to link it to interest. For example, a dull math worksheet can be the decoding assignment of an astronaut’s space mission to Mars. Unless the work is done correctly, the mission will fail....
We rigorously tested 13 pack and plays in our Verywell Testing Lab in New York City, with a clear winner emerging as our overall favorite: the 4moms Breeze Plus Portable Playard. Following the lab test, one of our testers took the 4moms Breeze Plus out for real-world testing. Over the course of six months, she used it at her in-laws’ house for her daughter to sleep in when visiting the grandparents....
The five points in the name are the spots where the harness webbing attaches to the car seat. Two of the points are at each shoulder, two of the points are at baby’s hips, and the final point is where the harness buckles between the baby’s legs. Learn more about five-point harness car seats, including how and when to use one. How to Adjust the Shoulder Straps On almost every car seat, there are ways to adjust the height of the shoulder straps....
Empty nest syndrome refers to the feelings of sadness and loss some parents experience when the last child leaves the family home. Although it isn’t an official clinical diagnosis, the problem is still very real. Parents with empty nest syndrome experience a deep void in their lives. They often feel lost. They may also struggle to allow their adult children to have autonomy. Some couples experience higher levels of conflict when one or both partners have empty nest syndrome....
Though it may be tempting to use a pre-written birth plan that you get from a friend or find on the Internet, it is best to go through the process of drafting one that is unique to you. Examples can be helpful in getting you started, but copying them word for word can lead to you including things you’re not even sure you want or need. Use these topics as inspiration and add any other ideas that come up as you go....
To discipline a child with ADHD, try to set your child up for success. Break down complicated tasks into small, actionable steps. Encouragement is helpful so stay positive. Try to let smaller infractions go as you focus on the larger goals. Kids with ADHD may have trouble sitting still, completing tasks, managing impulses, and following directions. These discipline strategies can be instrumental in helping a child with challenging behaviors to follow the rules....
Causes of Teenage Mood Swings There could be a number of things fueling your teen’s emotional roller coaster. Knowing what goes on behind the scenes of a mood swing could help you and your child better manage them. Hormonal Changes Mood swings during adolescence can partially be blamed on biology. Significant hormonal shifts that occur during puberty can affect mood. As teens mature, they commonly experience increased irritability, intense sadness, and frequent frustration from these chemical changes....
If you are the parent of an infant, you probably know how stressful the whole experience can be, and how quick you may be to second-guess every little thing about your newborn’s behavior. Why did my baby startle like that? Are babies supposed to make so many strange sounds? Is that just a sniffle…or something else? And what about baby hiccups? Babies tend to hiccup very frequently, many times a day....
