How to start Earning money and the give to to your children the life they diserve

Project Breakthrough is the industry's first true step-by-step, most comprehensive video guided program specifically designed to help you:

1. Earn a commission online (real money) - even if you have never made a dime online before.
2. Understand how to do it over again so you never have to "depend" on anybody or anything. Take control of your future and write your own ticket.
3. Scale and multiply your income. How to go from making a single sale to earning potentially up to $20,000 - $50,000 or more per month!

WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN THE
Project Breakthrough MOVEMENT

If you are somebody who is truly hungry for success and seriously want to create a real breakthrough (financial and otherwise) for yourself and your family, but you don’t know how or where to start -- or perhaps you’ve tried to earn money online but failed over and over again -- then this is exactly what you need.

Here’s the plan:
First, let’s help YOU breakthrough and get you earning the kind of money you always wanted to make. Then TOGETHER let’s help millions of others!

Project Breakthrough is literally a movement and we invite you to become part of it today, because your breakthrough is literally just around the corner.

ALL IN AS LITTLE AS 14 DAYS!

Start Now 100%FREE

Read more ...

Why Parents Should Put Children Before Marriage

We live in an age when love, sex and intimacy seem to be many people's epitome of happiness. Yes, we seek other ways to find happiness and fulfillment, but the rate of divorce and the percentage of single parent families compared with two-parent families tells me that parenting is either of less importance to parents than marriage or that they are uninformed about the effects of divorce on their children. Parents who leave an unhappy marriage for the sake of their children are not in possession of all the facts or are misguided in their belief that divorce is in the best interest of the children. The best wisdom out there says that children of divorce suffer more than children of unhappy marriages.

Here are 7 reasons why parents should put parenting before marriage.

1. Children need two parents more than they need a perfect home
The influence of both a male and female parent on a child's development cannot be understated. A good mother, on balance brings a nurturing, protecting and comforting aspect to a child's life, while a good father brings his child stability, security and strength. Mothers tend to be more emotional, fathers more rational. Mothers tend to be more understanding, fathers more decisive. A good mother may offer her child a shoulder to cry on while a good father may show his child how to get up and move on.

Of course, a good parent possesses all these qualities and shares the responsibility for providing their child with all their needs. But it is in the nature of a male parent to provide a child with answers and solutions and direction while it is more inherent in a female parent to be protective of a child's emotional well-being and to be a good listener without feeling the need to give her child a logical solution to their problem.

Having both a male and female parent present in the home teaches a child how to explore and develop both the masculine and feminine aspects of their own character. In balanced adults there is a healthy presence of both male and female characteristics. In women, the balance will tend to be more feminine and in men, more masculine. If a child is to have the best chance to develop emotional stability then two parents are needed on a daily basis. Even the slightest change in the balance will have an adverse effect on a child's emotional and intellectual development.

2. A child has a right to be brought up by two parents
Marriage is a choice that two people make for themselves. It is rarely a selfless or altruistic act. People marry because they find someone who brings them happiness and fulfilment in life. Of course, there is also the promise to live to make the other person happy. Even though the phrase "for better or for worse" is still often said in the marriage vows, more and more this promise is being broken as married couples find it's a promise they are unable or unwilling to keep.

However, when a child is born into the marriage, it has rights which far outweigh the needs of the parents. Even though a couple desire to be fulfilled in their personal relationship with each other, a child has the right to be brought up by two loving, caring, selfless parents: parents who put their child's interests before their own.

Parents rarely make a commitment to their children when they are born, but children ought to expect that their parents will do whatever it takes to give them a stable, loving home in which to grow and develop. In a good parent, the rights and needs of their child will always come before their own, whatever the cost to themselves.

3. To be a parent is a moral obligation - not a choice
There is never a time as long as a parent and a child are living when they will not be connected. Even if estranged, a parent will always be the parent to their child. There is no divorcing a child. There is no saying to a child 'I'm sorry, I don't love you anymore, this simply isn't going to work'. But when two parents say that to each other, they are in some measure saying it to their child. Parents may put a spin on divorce by saying to the child 'it's better for you in the long run' but the truth is - it isn't. A child's perspective will be 'you don't love me enough to stay together and make your marriage work' - even if only subconsciously. While some may say 'I'm glad my parents split up - I couldn't stand the shouting', what would they have said if their parents had found a way to make the marriage work in order to keep the family home together? Or are they even aware of the effects that growing up in a broken home has had on them?

The love between a husband and wife can wane or even be extinguished, but the love of a good parent is unconditional and unmovable. A marriage can breakdown and be dissolved, but the love that a good parent has for their child can never be diminished and their commitment to their child can never be undermined or broken. The commitment that a parent has to their child is not one based on choice, it's one based on moral obligation. It would be even better if it were based on unconditional love. What lengths would a good parent go to to provide their child with the very best upbringing they could if they truly loved them more than themselves?

4. A child deserves and expects it
During their formative years, children depend upon both parents to show that they are committed to them. They need to see that they are loved and to know that their home is stable and secure. They need to know that no matter what storms the family has to face together, the foundations of the family home cannot be shaken. Children need the certainty that the love their parents have for them comes above their own personal happiness - that it indeed comes before their love for each other. When a parent puts a child's interests second to their own it will make their child feel unloved and second-rate. The child will begin to doubt their own worth and their value to the parent. After all, what kind of love puts someone else second?

If a child doesn't deserve a parent's unconditional and undying love then who does? Children are vulnerable and need protecting. Parents have a responsibility to give their child the best parenting they possibly can whatever the cost to themselves. A child has no reserves on which to draw to cover the emotional shortfall which results from growing up in a broken home. Parents, on the other hand should be prepared to go into emotional debt if they have to in order to make sure their child does not grow up emotionally poor or crippled.

5. Spouses can expect too much from each other, but children never expect too much from their parents.
Marriages are not perfect, neither are parent-child relationships. But a child deserves understanding, provision, support, affection, and security moreso than a spouse. After all, when two people get married, they make an agreement to love each other and provide for each other's needs. When a child is born, no such agreement takes place. A child simply grows up expecting all that's coming to them. When one person in a marriage fails to uphold their part of the agreement, the other has every right to withdraw their own part of the agreement. So often, when the love that one has for the other depends on what they 'get' out of the relationship, if they ain't 'getting' then the love dies. But this only works one way with a child-parent relationship.

When a child fails to be a perfect child, a parent cannot abandon them or withdraw their love from them. The child still has the right to expect to be loved unconditionally. Children owe nothing to their parents, but parents owe everything to their children. If a child fails to love a parent as they would like to be loved, the parent must go on loving their child nonetheless. The child has no debt of love to pay to the parent. But if a parent loves their child unconditionally, that child will grow up to love their parent too. If a parent fails to love their child more than themselves, the child will withdraw from the parent to a greater or lesser degree.

Even though good parents will fail their child in some measure, a child's expectations of the parents are always right - even if unrealistic. Good parents will always understand that they are not married to their child - they are inextricably connected and committed to their child and that a child has a birthright to expect unreserved love and commitment from their parents regardless of how much a child returns their parents' affections or lives up to their expectations.

6. A broken home results in a broken child
Somewhere along the way, when a child is brought up by one parent or by two parents who live apart, something in the child is lost or broken. Having two parents who could not find it in themselves to stay together to give them a stable home will have a detrimental effect on a child. It may not emerge till later in life, but a person from a broken home may find it difficult to make strong emotional connections with others. Statistics show that people from single-parent homes are less successful in life - even years afterwards - than those from two-parent families.

While parents may argue that they split up for the child's sake, in actuality, it's rare that divorce ever benefits a child. Growing up in a home even where parents are disconnected or in constant disagreement gives a child more stability and normality than growing up where they have to deal with the loss of the two-parent home. A child growing up in a broken home grows up grieving for the intact home where two parents are available on a daily basis to provide them with the moral, emotional and intellectual support essential to their development and nourishment. The best parenting cannot be done over the telephone or on weekends. The best parenting is done on a daily basis and in partnership with the other parent. No matter how parents try to justify divorce, it will nearly always result in a broken child.

7. Putting parenting first may save a marriage
Children should never be used as an excuse not to leave a marriage, but they can be the reason why a parent would stay in a marriage. The difference is that if a parent knows that to provide their child with a stable, loving and peaceful home in which to grow up will give them the best possible start in life, it may give them the resolve they need to work harder at their marriage than if they had not been a parent. Whereas, not leaving a marriage for the sake of a child is a mindset which can result in a parent putting too much responsibility on their child to bring them personal happiness.

If parents can proactively take steps to make a marriage workable so that their child has the home they deserve, they may find that their marriage becomes less of a disappointment. Focusing on the needs of their child and resolving to work at their relationship for the sake of their child doesn't necessarily mean that the marriage is false or a sham. It merely shifts the priorities of the marriage. Nor does it mean that the child carries the burden of keeping the marriage together. It merely requires a level of giving to the child that supercedes the parents' desire to take from each other. Providing a child with a good home is one of the best reasons two people can stay together.

Who said that romance or sex or a great social life are the only reasons to be married? Surely, providing a child with a loving home is as good, if not, a better reason for working at a marriage than all the others put together? The result of working at the marriage wouldn't be to prevent the pain of separation for the parents, it would be the enduring and immeasurable investment that they make in the well-being and personal development of their child. If parents can keep their child the focus of their ambitions and desires, they can find ways they otherwise wouldn't have done to make their marriage workable and as enjoyable as possible and thus provide their child with the parents and the home they deserve.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3643009

Read more ...

3 Games for Teaching Empathy: Turning Kids Into Caring Children

Empathy is the act of understanding and feeling what another is experiencing. It includes sympathy, compassion, and identification. We observe the feelings of another with our eyes and ears. We respond with our hearts.

Experts say empathy is the cornerstone of character. Let's find out how games can help you build empathy and character in your children.

First: Character Building with "Describe the Emotion"

When reading stories with pictures, ask your child to"Describe the Emotions" of the characters they see. Nap time and bedtime stories provide easy opportunities to help your kids observe and describe emotions.

Flip through the magazines in the doctor's office to find expressive pictures for your children. It will pass the time and help your kids have fun too.

Recognizing feelings with facial pictures is a good step toward building character through empathy.

Second: Building Character with "Spot the Feeling"

When you and your kids are watching TV, play the game, "Spot the Feeling." Tell your kids to "spot the feeling" during advertisements when they notice a character expressing an emotion. When someone answers, ask "How did you know?" Listen to and help them discuss their answers. Give high fives each time they identify and discuss a feeling.

By asking, "How do you know?" you're helping your children to think more deeply about the cues the character in the advertisement is displaying.

This is what we want our children to notice when they see a classmate, friend, or uncool child who is sad, upset, or happy. Realizing others have feelings is a strong step toward empathy.

Third: Character Building with "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall"

Take turns with your child and make faces that express different emotions. Facial emotions might include anger, happiness, sadness, fear, shock, shame, surprise, nervousness, upset, silliness, or gratitude. Use the rhyme, "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall":

"Mirror, mirror on the wall,

What's my feeling?

Make your call."

Give credit to answers that are close.

Ask, "How would you respond to someone with this facial expression?"

After your child gives some suggestions, it's your child's turn to say the rhyme, make the face, and ask, "How would you respond to someone with this facial expression?"

This game helps your child to think in terms of taking positive actions to respond to others' feelings. Imagine how this game could help your child support a bullied student, ask a child why he's crying, or figure out how to help a needy schoolmate.

Conclusion for Turning Kids into Caring Children

Kids love playing games with their parents. Why not have fun and teach them to care about others at the same time?

Start out with"Describe the Emotion" in storybooks and magazines. Use "Spot the Feeling" to access your children's wisdom in recognizing someone's feelings. Choose "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall" to teach your children to both identify feelings and help others in need.

Many experts name empathy as the cornerstone of character. Why not use games to build a solid foundation for empathy? If you do, you'll be turning your children into caring people with strong characters.

Jean Tracy invites you to view this video of her e-book - Character Building: Stories for Family Discussions promotes empathy in kids. Now available on Amazon.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jean_Tracy

Read more ...

Deciding at What Age to Give Your Child Their Own Cell Phone

Deciding at what age to get your child a cell phone is a decidedly 21st century parenting conundrum. I originally started writing this article with the full intention of doing the research for you and boiling it down to a simple number. That isn't going to happen. I can't make your decision for you. Every kid is different, every family is different. What I can do is present you with some information to make your decision an informed, and hopefully easier one.

What's everybody else doing?

Let's start with some numbers from a 2011 study conducted by Elizabeth Englander at Bridgewater State University. A surprisingly high 20% of eight year olds own their own phones according to the study. For 10 year olds the number climbs to 39% and dramatically to 83% for middle school kids. This study did not differentiate smart phones from other devices. It's also worth noting that this study was conducted among 20,000 children in Massachusetts. The difference between smart and dumb phones was not considered in this study. A recent SodaHead poll of 1,066 parents however, found 66% believing smart phones should be kept out of a child's hands until their 16th birthday.

Issues to consider:

It's important to know what kind of issues you need to thinking about when making the decision for your own kids. I found an article from Kevin Mercadante at parentingfamilymoney.com that did a great job of listing some of things you should be thinking about. Kevin decided to broke it down into a simple pro and con list that makes a lot of sense. Remember, this article is about giving you the best information to make this decision yourself.

reasons to wait...

Expense. A clearly important factor. There are ways to moderate it through different phones and plans, however the best conceived ideas combining kids, cell phones and saving money are at best a tough balancing act. Take a prepaid plan with limited minutes, and the child can have them used up before he ever has a need to call you. I've known people who have taken prepaid or very limited plans, only to convert them to something more generous a few months later. They're kids, so we have to have flexibility built into any plan, and that will cost extra.

Cell phones aren't toys. As a rule kids tend to be casual about their possessions and instilling a sense of responsibility can be a challenge. The younger they are, the more difficult this will be. But to a child under ten just about anything is a toy. Not only will they drop it, toss it and play catch with it but they'll find a way to use it for everything but its intended purpose.

Distraction. The younger children are the more easily they get distracted. And while they already have plenty of distractions in their lives, cell phones add an extra dimension: they're portable! Not only will your child be distracted when sitting in front of the TV or computer, but his phone will be a constant traveling companion that will keep him occupied when he should be doing other things.

Theft and loss. We all lose things, we all have items stolen from us. But like it or not, kids lose them quicker, and seem to live in a world crawling with sticky-fingered peers. Yes, there are insurance plans to help cover this, but a child can test the limits of just about any plan you have. The younger your kids are, the more likely they are to lose their phones, or have them stolen. This is a strong argument against providing phones for very young children.

Proper use. Now that cellphones are so common, they've also become an issue in school. Use of cellphones in school is usually handled by confiscation. At my kids' schools, they can retrieve the phones at the end of the day on a first offense, and after that only the parent can get them back. The younger the child, the more trips you'll need to make to the front office to retrieve a confiscated phone. I'm certain detentions are meted out after a certain number of confiscations. The point is, your child needs to be able to comprehend and apply proper judgment on when and where to use his phone.

reasons not to wait...

Keeping tabs on them. As each year passes in a child's life they venture farther from home and for longer periods of time. As normal as this may be, as parents we still need to know where they are, especially when they're young. Cell phones are a critical way of maintaining a connection when kids out of sight.

Safety and emergencies. It should be enough that cellphones can give you immediate contact with your children in a crisis, but they do even more. If you have young children and you've ever taken them to Disney World you'll appreciate this point quickly. No matter how careful you are, kids have a way of getting separated from their parents, especially in crowded places. But if they have cell phones you'll be able to find them quickly, and just as important, it will eliminate the panic that can set in when they disappear. Ever since we got cell phones for our kids, trips to the park, the mall and yes, even Disney World, aren't nearly as scary.

Social factors. This shouldn't be a factor, but it's a major consideration for your child. As kids are getting cell phones at increasingly earlier ages, social factors become real. No child wants to be one of only three kids in her class who doesn't have a cell phone. And worse, those cell phones "need" to be of a certain type, and carry socially desirable features to make the cut. Like it or not, the social component will be a factor in your cell phone choice sooner or later. My guess is sooner...

Health Concerns

You may have heard stories about a radiation risk from wireless devices. I always assumed this wasn't much of a concern, but what do the experts say? The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission asking the commission to reconsider it's radiation standards for children. AAP President Dr. Robert Block, wrote that children "are not little adults and are disproportionately impacted by all environmental exposures, including cell phone radiation." The National Cancer Institute's website includes this message on the issue: "in theory, children have the potential to be at greater risk than adults for developing brain cancer from cell phones." Of course children aren't going to be spending much time with a cell phone pressed to the side of their heads, they'd rather be texting.

Some parents have expressed worries over eye strain and even long term eye damage. The AAP doesn't seem very concerned about the issue. "Probably much ado about nothing,' said the chair of their ophthalmology section, Dr. James Ruben. There infact seems to be little evidence of any increase in vision problems related to cell phone use among children and young adults.

So now what?

I'm not an expert or a parent of a 'tween' but this is my article, so forget what I said in the first paragraph. You're getting a number. I think most 6th graders are ready for a phone, though I'd limit them to a non smartphone. From what I understand, it's pretty common for parents to show up at 5th graduations with phones for their newly minted 'tweens.' I think this makes a lot of sense. And if we are giving phones away at graduation, I'd save the smartphone for middle school graduation.

For more information on this topic contact the author or visit http://maximusionsult.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Owen_J_Sutton

Read more ...

Supportive Way to Criticize Your Child

In order to build a healthy and balanced relationship with your children, sometimes you have to know when to set out firm rules, when to intervene in case of misbehavior, but, also, when to constructively criticize them if the situation asks for it. Many educational psychologists believe that repetitive harsh criticism should be avoided because of the negative effects it can have on the child's self-esteem. However, constructive criticism is essentially different.

Parents need to learn how to criticize their children in a manner that it supportive, encouraging and motivational. But how can parents openly discuss sensitive, yet urgent issues with their children, without hurting their feelings?

· Be in control of your emotions

Some parents tend to get carried away by all the possible negative scenarios that they can think of as a result of what their child has done, and can act in an irrational and harmful way. For example, if you catch you 12 year old smoking a cigarette that you accidentally left unfinished in the ashtray, a healthy way of dealing with this would be to talk it through with him/her in a calm, relaxed manner. Screaming, shouting or physical abuse are obviously part of a reprimanding and punishing approach, thus should be avoided. What you want to do is to rationally highlight the consequences of your child's actions long-term and discuss them thoroughly (i.e. studies show that addiction is formed due to exposure to addictive behaviour or substances; as long as you do not try it out, the chances that you develop addiction get slimmer by the day).

· Remember to balance out the negative with the positive

Children have a frail emotional structure that can be easily unbalanced if they feel unappreciated. As a parent your duty is to find a healthy way to support your child while being honest and truthful about what you think he/she has done wrong. If your child fails to pass a test at school, resist the temptation to start an argument about him/her not having spent enough time studying; but rather point out that while you appreciate his/her effort, maybe it is time to devise a new, more efficient learning strategy.

· Deal, forgive, forget and encourage

Dealing with problems when they surface is the first step to not fostering frustration and to avoiding stress from building up. The second step though is learning to wholeheartedly forgive your child and forget about the incident. The last stepping stone is to encourage change for the better on a daily basis. Having an understanding attitude towards your child's mistakes will motivate him/her to come to you for advice and support in the long-run. Both of you will enormously benefit from constructive criticism if given without being biased by past issues.

Abigail Simmons is Author of Positive Parenting Secrets Book. She has helped many parents solve their parenting problem using her practical positive parenting techniques. To learn more about her parenting tips and techniques, please visit http://www.101ParentingResources.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Abigail_Simmons

Read more ...

Love Your Children Right Now - Urgently, Intently and Purposely

I am a huge James Bond. When I say huge, I mean gargantuan. I'm the guy who doesn't wait for the cable networks to run a marathon, I run my own marathon. I purchased all the movies when they were first released on videotape. My family purchased all the movies for me when they were released on DVD which I no doubt am convinced that they occasionally regret.

Admittedly, my fanaticism for 007 goes well beyond movie ownership. I'm the guy who has watched the movies so many times that I quote the lines before the actors themselves which generally infuriates anyone watching with me; another reason why my marathons are usually viewed by me and me alone. I'm the guy who once tried to drink martini's shaken and not stirred just to emulate 007. I said tried but I just can't acquire a taste for James' drink of choice. I am the guy who works each day with the dream in the back of his mind that I will someday get to travel to all the exotic locations that James has visited and of course drive an Aston Martin.

We Have All the Tine in the World

Well the other evening, as I was flipping through channels and realized that there was nothing interesting on TV, I thought now was as good a time as any to have a mini James Bond marathon. I began the night watching one of my favorite Bond movies, On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

For other Bond Fanatics, I know this movie features an unusual James Bond. George Lazenby plays an emotional and eventually married James Bond. Many of the 007 Nation hate this depiction but this post is not meant to argue the authenticity of Mr. Lazenby's portrayal of Bond. Rather, this post is about the final scene of the movie and the movies theme song, We Have All the Time in the World, performed by the great Louis Armstrong.

In the final scene, it turns out that James and his new bride, Tracy - contrary to the movie's theme song - did not have all the time in the world. All James and Tracy would have would be a wedding and a reception. Before James and Tracy could drive off into the sunset and enjoy their honeymoon, Tracy was gunned down during a drive by shooting. While I have seen this movie and this scene far too many times to mention, I found myself a bit more choked up than normal. I think that I was choked up a bit more this time because I contemplated what would fathers, parents do differently if we knew as the actress who played James' wife, Tracy (Dianna Rigg) that our role as fathers, as parents would not be extended for another scene. Even if you are not a father or parent, I wonder what you would do differently if you knew you would not be a part of the next scene of the movie you were starring in; the movie called your life.

Tomorrow Is Not Promised

I am convinced that in a nation that prides itself on and extols for any and all who will listen its "religious" beliefs, we do not completely grasp or to be blunt - have a clue about how to live out the meaning of the most obvious scripture. For example Matthew 6:34 states "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Instead of applying this scripture to our lives, living in the moment, living for the day that we have, living each day to its fullest potential, most of us live our lives as the theme song of On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Most of us live and even love as if we have all the time in the world. Too many of us spend so much time worrying about what might happen tomorrow that we completely miss out on today.

The Numbers 2; 107; 6,420; 154,080; and 56,000,000

According to The World Factbook, approximately 2 people die every second. This means that 107 citizens of the world die each and every minute of each and every hour. Think about that number for a second. One hundred and seven is the size of a marching band. Six-thousand, four hundred and twenty people die each hour. That means in the time that it took me to write this post 6,420 people are no longer with us. Six-thousand, four-hundred and twenty is a number larger than the students who attend many colleges and universities. One hundred, fifty-four thousand and eighty is the number of people who die each day and is a number which is greater than the population of many U.S. cities. To put 154,080 people in perspective envision the number of people watching an NFL game at three different stadiums disappearing from the face of the earth all at one time. Fifty-six million is the number of people who die each year. Yes, fifty six million people which is approximately twenty percent of the entire U.S. population die each year.

To put these staggering numbers in perspective, picture one hundred and seven parents who found something more important to do than live a life that included loving their children with urgency, intent and purpose. Imagine six-thousand, four-hundred and twenty parents who consistently promised to leave work on time so that they could spend time with their children and family but time and again found themselves working and leaving the office late. Imagine one hundred, fifty-four thousand and eighty parents who rarely if ever sat down to share a home cooked meal with their children and who routinely left their children alone to find something to eat like fast food and prepackaged goods. Imagine fifty-six million parents who are so busy being busy that they miss parent teacher conferences, their children's extracurricular activities and so many other things.

Live and Love Now

Unfortunately for so many children and parents the aforementioned scenarios are neither imaginary or make believe. Far too many of us, live our lives consumed with concerns for tomorrow and driven by the belief that as Louis Armstrong sung - we have all the time in the world. As the final scene of On Her Majesty's Secret Service plays out, a police officer drives over to James and Tracy's car to see if he can be of assistance but Tracy who has been shot is already dead. James lovingly embraces Tracy and somberly utters the regrettable untruth "we have all the time in the world."

Fathers and mothers alike, I implore you to learn from Bond... James Bond. You don't have all the time in the world. Forget tomorrow! You only have the present to show your children how much you love them and how just important they are to you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nathaniel_A_Turner

Read more ...

When Single Parenting Is Best For Your Child

In the process of creating a safe and happy family environment, parents play the lead role. It is with their care and attention, devotion and commitment, unconditional love and sacrifice that an empty lifeless house is transformed into a dream nourishing haven for their children. Unfortunately, studies show that more couples with children decide to separate or divorce, adding yet another generation of single parenthood to the family tree.

Many modern day parents resort to counseling or family therapy in order to make their relationship work for the sake of the children. But there is no success guarantee in the long-term. Others will peacefully agree that separation or divorce is actually in their children's best interest. All in all, a single parent usually chooses this path because he/she wants to avoid going through certain painful or difficult situations every day:

1. Physical or verbal abuse

An abusive home environment is not healthy either for the children or the mistreated parent. Children can adapt to a variety of situations, but they should never be exposed to maltreatment, abandonment or verbal abuse. In such a case, it is of no surprise why a parent decides that he or she would be better off raising the child/children on his/her own. The children would no longer have to live in fear, and they could finally have a normal life as a family.

2. Addictions

Addictions take up to one year to fully develop and it is common knowledge that an addicted individual will stop at nothing when it comes to fulfilling his/her needs. That person will resort to hiding, stealing, lying and a number of other dishonest means, without taking into consideration long-term consequences. Again, such an individual can destroy lives and break up families. The other partner, or the victim, will eventually give up the struggle, deciding that the better thing is single parenting.

3. Lack of interest in family life

When a father prefers a job that involves a lot of travelling or late office hours, and when he is at home does not engage in playing with the children or doing anything for the family, for that matter, a red flag is signaled. This scenario is often found in homes with dysfunctional family dynamics where there couple has communication and intimate problems. Other symptoms include fighting on a daily basis, crying, menacing that eventually lead to separation and single parenting.

Abigail Simmons is Author of Positive Parenting Secrets Book. She has helped many parents solve their parenting problem using her practical positive parenting techniques. To learn more about her parenting tips and techniques, please visit http://www.101ParentingResources.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Abigail_Simmons

Read more ...

Step-Ladder Approach to Help Anxiety in Children

The step-ladder approach for the treatment of anxiety is medically known as graded or hierarchical exposure. It's one of the 'behavioural' components of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and it's useful to know about when encouraging your child to address their fears.

This treatment approach can be applied to many common childhood anxieties such as the fear of separation, fear of sleeping alone or fear of social situations. It can be used to help anxiety in children (and adults) of all ages.

To make a start, imagine a simple step-ladder with several rungs. Decide on the final goal (this task becomes the top of the ladder), then determine what an easy starting point might be (this becomes your first step). Next, work out what tasks might serve as intermediate steps with each situation a little bit more challenging than the last as you get closer to the top of the ladder.

When planning your child's step-ladder, it's important that the leap between steps isn't too daunting. If the jump from one step to the next seems too great, consider how you might break it up into a few smaller steps by creating variations based on what it is your child does, how long for, where they try it or who they're with.

This step-by-step approach allows your child to practise coping with their anxiety in manageable doses. In this way, your child also experiences successes along the way which builds up their confidence and sense of mastery.

Here are a few hints to improve your chances of success:

1. Let your child decide what tasks they add to their ladder. If you do need to help with this, make a few suggestions from which your child can choose. As much as possible, your child needs to feel like they're an active, motivated participant in this process as this makes it more likely that they'll stick with it.

2. Teach your child some strategies for managing their anxiety before you start. An example might be slow relaxed breathing, or a simple message to think about, for example, "I'm safe and this worried feeling will go away" or "I'm okay and my Dad will be back soon". It's a good idea to plan and practise these strategies with your child before starting so that they know what to do as soon as they start to feel worried.

3. Encourage your child to try to stay in the situation until their anxiety has passed. Anxious feelings don't last forever. In fact, our bodies can only maintain high levels of anxiety for a matter of minutes (rather than hours) but if your child always leaves the situation while they're still feeling anxious, they may never learn this.

4. Wait until your child has mastered one step on their ladder before moving onto the next. This might take one attempt or it might take twenty before a step is no longer considered anxiety provoking. It's always best to work at your child's pace.

5. Reward success. This doesn't need to be something expensive or chocolate-coated... Praise, letting your child know how proud you are, suggesting they call a grandparent/close adult to share news of their success or spending some special time together are all great ways to reward your child.

6. Be a good role-model. Children learn so much from us. If they watch us panic each time a dog approaches, they'll soon be doing the same. Consider what you say and how you behave when you become anxious. Sometimes we need to be as brave as we'd like our children to be!

Dr Kaylene Henderson
MBBS FRANZCP Cert C&A Psych

Dr Kaylene Henderson is a Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist and Founder of Little Children Big Dreams which provides online help for children who are afraid of the dark or scared of monsters - http://www.littlechildrenbigdreams.com/

Little Children Big Dreams offers personalized printable stories and parent guides to help children beat their fears of monsters or fears of the dark and sleep better at night. Parents visiting the Little Children Big Dreams website will also find Dr Kaylene Henderson's blog providing free access to Child Psychiatry tips and information - http://www.littlechildrenbigdreams.com/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr_Kaylene_Henderson

Read more ...

Getting Rid of Lice in Children

Head lice are wingless parasitic insects that live, feed and breed in human hair. They feed on very small amounts of blood drawn from the scalp. Head lice infestation is most common in children aged three to 12, and it affects girls more often than boys. Although the human head louse is not dangerous because it does not spread any diseases, an infestation is bothersome and highly undesirable. Lice are contagious and their bites may lead to inflamed and itchy scalp. Continuous scratching can lead to further skin irritation and infections.

In getting rid of lice in children, watch out for the first signs of an infestation. An adult louse is usually tan or a grayish white and is approximately the size of a sesame seed. Lice eggs, known as nits, have a brown, tan, or yellowish appearance and are extremely tiny. However, they can be seen with the naked eye. Lice typically lay these eggs close to the scalp, on hair shafts.

Although treating a case of head lice is relatively simple, it requires some amount of tenacity. There are many over-the-counter-medicated shampoos, lotions and creams for kids available at most drug stores. Ask your physician for a recommendation, or for a prescription medication. Most medicated treatments attack the lice and nits and do little to nothing for the itching. Itching typically subsides within a few days.

Since these treatments are essentially pesticides and contain harsh chemicals, it is extremely important to use the product responsibly and in a safe manner. Pay close attention to the directions and use only as instructed. Using the product excessively on a child's hair can lead to harmful side affects. Keep in mind that a treatment or product may not completely rid the scalp of lice and nits. This may be because the lice have become resistant to that medicine. After completing the treatment, it is advisable to comb through the hair with a fine-toothed comb regularly for a few days to get rid of remaining lice and nits.

Preventative measures should be taken after successful treatment. Be sure to wash all clothing and linens in hot water (130 F). Items that cannot be machine-washed, such as plush toys and stuffed animals, should be stored in airtight bags for about 2 weeks. Thoroughly clean hair brushes, combs, hair ties, etc., in medicated shampoo or by rubbing alcohol for about an hour. This is a very effective way to get rid of licepermanently.

To control the spread of lice, it is recommended, especially for children, to avoid sharing hair brushes and other accessories with their classmates. They should also avoid close contact with their classmate's scalp and hair (head-to-head contact). Every few days, it is a good idea to look through the scalp and hair of all family members if a family member has been in close contact with someone who has recently had lice.

Do you have bed bugs? Can you kill lice with Lysol? For more information on common pests and parasites, check out our site.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eskay_Isis

Read more ...

My Child Is Always Angry - What Can I Do?

How many times have you wondered why your child seems so upset? Does she seem to burst out in anger at a drop of a dime? You know it's more than just hormones but you are at a loss about what the cause can be. If you think you've thought of everything and nothing seems to be improving her mood, there may be a couple of things to look at more closely.

• The angry outbursts and behavior may be a coping mechanism to cover up the stress of peer pressure at school. When kids feel the pressure from friends but try to "stay cool" around them, it's only a matter of time before they explode. Where do they explode most often? Where they are most comfortable, which also equates to home, for many kids.

• Hormonal changes are real and should be dealt with accordingly. If your teenager is the one doing the angry outbursts, it may very well be due to hormones and definitely should not be handled from a negative stand-point. If you approach your changing child with criticism or irritation, you will most likely get that, and more, back. This is a time you really need to have compassion on your child. Remember, you were there once, and what was most helpful was having someone to listen. Maybe that's all your child needs now.

• If your son or daughter is really struggling with wanting to express their frustrations but feels unable to, due to trust issues or whatever the cause may be, you will definitely see anger. Think about it. You know when kids are at school they tend to act differently. They act as if everything is OK. They need to keep the "cool" persona going. They won't always bend their friend's ear to talk about something they feel is a real issue. Most importantly, if it's an issue where they need guidance, sometimes the last thing you want is another child who is the same age telling them what they should do. This is a good time to make sure your child knows they are free to express themselves and speak without being criticized.

• Sometimes children just need to speak to a counselor. As parents, we always feel that if we get to this point in the road, we have failed. That's not the case. Sometimes an outside person is the perfect person for your child to speak to, at least initially. The counselor will have no biased opinions and will be a listening ear. This can get the ball rolling for more productive communication between you and your child as they learn to open up.

These are a few ways to get you started in helping your child start to view his or her world differently. I'd love to be able to teach you how to do more!

Learn ways to help you child cope with anything in life. This has brought me great results with my children as well as others' children. Visit Http://Teach-Children-Self-Esteem.info.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shanyn_Coblentz

Read more ...

How To Introduce Your Child To The World Of The Internet

The internet has become a way of life for many families around the globe and millions more are yet to be introduced to the usage of the internet. Soon every child will have to be introduced to the world of the internet as soon as they go to kindergarten. Like television, the internet has to be introduced responsibly by parents to their little ones. This is because there are particular pitfalls that have unpleasant consequences if children are not properly guided in the usage of the internet.

There has already been many cases of children being lured by unscrupulous individuals and mercilessly exploited and even murdered. There are also many bad things that children can learn to do through the internet if not carefully introduced by their parents, teachers or any one in charge of bringing up a child.

Here in South Africa, people have been warned to be careful of picking up plastic bottles that have their caps closed. Some children have been reported to have poured a small amount of drain cleaning liquid into a plastic bottle and then closed its cap tightly, and leave it lying around to be picked up by unsuspecting persons. Once a person picks it up and shake it just slightly, it explodes, leading to scalded hands and face, lost nails and burned clothing. Some people have already been hospitalised with serious injuries from such deadly booby-traps.

One child who was caught putting such a booby trap next to a park bench, confessed to have learnt how to make this type of bomb over the internet.

Some children have also been lured to certain places around their cities only to be kidnapped, then abused, or harmed in some way. Other children have disappeared only to be found that it was through the internet that they were lured by their stalkers. Many more have been bombarded with pornographic, and other unwholesome images that have stolen their young innocence and thereby warped their young minds. Responsibly introducing your child to the internet is the key.

Other people have opted not to introduce their children to the world of the internet altogether. But this is useless. The internet has become a learning tool for millions of children and is soon going to be a way of life for every child around the world.

The thing to do is to give proper guidance instead of sticking our heads into the sand as the proverbial ostrich does. Like the bicycle, the swimming pool, electricity, or walking in a traffic clogged city street, children have to be introduced responsibly to the internet so as to survive in our highly technical world.

Retired English and History teacher. Self development enthusiast and affiliate marketer. For more, visit my website at: http://mphojanelebokoinformationexplosion.com/page_7.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mphojane_Louis_Leboko

Read more ...

Helping Your Children Deal With Your Divorce

It's no secret that parents divorcing can be a source of trauma for the children involved. They love both parents, and they want their family to stay together. Even if they've seen arguments between their parents, they may not understand why the parents don't love each other any more. They may suffer from worries that if the parents fell out of love with each other, they might fall out of love with their children, too. Even though you are feeling the stress yourself, you have to be there for your children giving them hope, love, and understanding. By doing so you give them more security during this troubling time and the reassurance they will need to come through it a stronger person.

Don't worry that your children are going to be permanently scarred by your divorce, because if you handle it correctly, there's no need for this to happen. Allow them the freedom to love both parents. Never try to turn them against your soon-to-be-ex-spouse. They need both parents and the ability to see each of them without fearing they're being disloyal to either. Keep your own worries to yourself. Your children don't need to share them with you, and trying to unload your burdens onto their shoulders is both unfeeling and a disregard for what's in their best interests.

When your child returns from a visit with their other parent, resist the urge to question them all about their time there. Show interest in what they did, but never try to snoop by putting them in the middle. In the same way you don't want to denigrate your spouse to the children, you probably don't really want to hear remarks that your spouse said about you or know if he or she never mentions you at all. Probing too deeply can only end up hurting everyone and making the situation more acrimonious.

Keep everything in your lives on as even a keel as you possibly can. Don't change your parenting style. Your children need you to be the same person you've always been for them. Don't introduce major changes in their lives, either. Although some things may have to change, such as your getting a job and taking them to day care, keep routines as regular as you can, don't move to a new place unless there's absolutely no way to avoid it, and maintain the environment they've always known. Take the middle ground which means that you shouldn't spend all your time around them crying and moaning, nor should you try to assuage guilt on your own part by showering them with gifts.

Encourage your child's interaction with the other parent. Make every effort to allow visitation, and let the child call their other parent with information about school events or big things that happen in his or her life. If, in spite of your best efforts you are seeing negative behaviors popping up, be sure to seek assistance from a counselor, because you don't want these actions to continue or to worsen. By using every trick in the book, you should be able to bring your children through the dark period following your divorce and back into a normal, healthy childhood.

Get free marriage advice and discover the source of your problems instead of dealing with the symptoms: how to stop a divorce or click here to learn how to save your marriage now.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristie_Brown

Read more ...

My Child Is Always Frustrated - What Can I Do?

If your child is always frustrated and nothing you suggest seems to help ease it, there may be some things you haven't thought about. When we see our kids frustrated, immediately we tend to get defensive or we want to fix it. We don't always stand back and notice that we aren't the ones who are frustrated. It's our kids and we want to help them learn valuable coping skills.

• When kids are overly emotional- any emotion, really, they have the tendency to "clam up" after their initially frustration, anger, etc. We want to teach our kids to use their words. Yes, this is what we teach them when they are really young but somehow as they get a little older they seem to forget again! Share your coping skill stories with them. Explain how there was a time when you felt the same way and share what you did. Kids love to hear examples.

• Karate is a great activity to get into if the child has aggression, self-confidence or frustration issues. They learn to become self-disciplined and feel good about themselves. This is wonderful because as time goes on, they become less and less hard on themselves in areas that aren't that important. The "little stuff" doesn't seem to affect them as much.

• Check your community or even your child's school to see if they offer children's coping skills classes. These often have very energetic, happy teachers that lead the children into learning how to handle their emotions but do it in such a way that the kids really want to keep going back!

• As a parent, reach out and take a class to learn how to cope, yourself. This way you will be empowered to help your child as he faces his struggles. You will be well equipped for your own life situations that arise, as well. Your investing your time learning these valuable skills will benefit many of those around you.

• Be sure your child understands that it's OK to show how he feels when he's around you. Just being able to "vent" creates a safe-place for your child and he or she will know they can come to you no matter how they feel. This is a priceless gift to you and them.

These are a few ways to get you started in helping your child start to view his or her world differently. I'd love to be able to teach you how to do more!

Learn ways to help you child cope with anything in life. This has brought me great results with my children as well as others' children. Visit Http://Teach-Children-Self-Esteem.info.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shanyn_Coblentz

Read more ...

The Dangers of Ignoring Reading Difficulty in Children

Many children struggle a little when they start to learn to read but time and good teaching helps them to overcome those initial difficulties. However, if by half way through his first year, your child can't recognize around one hundred common, short words then he may be experiencing difficulties. Don't disregard the signs as the dangers of ignoring reading difficulty in children can be traumatic and far reaching.

Embarrassment and Frustration

Reading difficulty in children brings out all sorts of emotions; embarrassment because they look foolish in front of their class mates and frustration because no matter how hard they try, they just can't get the words out and reading aloud in class becomes a trial.

School children being what they are, children with reading problems will be teased and even bullied by their class mates, and may end up in trouble by trying to fight the bullies.

Teachers and parents of these children see an apparently intelligent child who doesn't seem to be trying to learn to read, so they are labelled "lazy" or "careless" or "stupid". This adds to the child's frustrations because he is trying so hard, but he just can't live up to adults' expectations.

Anxiety and Anger

Children with reading problems can become anxious and withdrawn if nobody recognizes that they have a genuine difficulty. Because these children expect to fail, they will become anxious when faced with a new situation which involves participation in school work.

Reading difficulties can also lead to an unstable temperament. Teachers and parents think the child isn't trying, class mates think he's stupid and he can do nothing about it, so he becomes angry and starts to lash out at those closest to him such as parents or siblings.

Self-Esteem

A child who is unable to read properly will have difficulties with any other school work which requires reading. As he gets older there will be more and more subjects which require reading skills, such as history and geography to name but two.

A child with normal reading abilities will develop his own self-image during his school years and in general, it will be a positive one leading him to believe that all things are possible and that the world is his oyster.

Children with reading problems will begin to feel inferior to their school mates and siblings who can read fluently. Constant failure will lead to feelings of low self-esteem and a reluctance to make an effort because doing so doesn't make any difference. Their view of the future will be a dim one and they won't expect to succeed in life.

The Consequences

The dangers of ignoring reading difficulty in children can result in any or all of the above emotions for the children, and many of them fail to complete school because it seems so pointless, and of those who do graduate from high school very few go on to further education.

If you suspect that your child is having difficulty reading, do seek help while he's young and don't let him develop into a frustrated and angry adult.

There are excellent online phonics reading programs to help resolve reading difficulty in children and you can find the best ones on this website, Start to Read.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ella_McGinley

Read more ...

What Happens When 'Mr Perfect' Isn't Always (Perfect)

"Our child is 'Mr Perfect' so whatever goes wrong makes him angry. Before he was just screaming, now he is shouting "Don't take it, it's mine; I won it, you lost; I was first."

He wants to be the best and most of the time when others create competitions such as who will be first by the door or who will jump further, he gets frustrated when he loses. Then he shouts that he won, not the other child, he cries and we don't know why he is taking it so seriously.

He's just learned how to ride a bike but he is not as fast as other children his age, so he was getting really upset. When others were just passing him he was shouting that he is faster and they are slow, that he will throw away their bikes into the bin."

When I consult on situations like this, it flags up a number of things for me and I want to share these with you to help you begin to see WHY this behaviour is coming about so that we can begin to figure out how to help:

Self- awareness is a deficit of autism that many struggle with and this can be improved. But as you may be aware: solve one issue and another arises. When a child's self awareness improves it can mean that they start to see differences between themselves and peers and begin to notice that their abilities differ also. The repercussions of this means that it can shake their competence levels and make them more competitive in certain situations.

Essentially this comes down to feelings of incompetence; if we feel good at something then we want to do more of it. Let's face it, no one likes to feel like they are not good at something and this applies to children too, if not more so.

If we are feeling incompetent at something we want to make ourselves feel better. There are various ways to go about this:
• This particular child has chosen to use his language to put others in their place that he is first / better / winning / winner etc. This will help to affirm to himself that he is competent.
• Sometimes you will find children 'give up' on trying to achieve something if they have come to the decision that they will never be any good at it, they avoid trying, avoid the activity altogether.
• Some children will create resistance around the activity so that it becomes difficult to engage them in the interaction and that eventually leads parents or guides to give up because they don't know how to handle it.
• Some children will create their own static situations as a replacement for any activity or interaction they don't feel competent in.
• Some children will make it an obsession of theirs to become an expert at it and will not leave the activity alone until it is mastered.

What can we do to help in these situations?

I find that having the groundwork in place makes a huge difference to how this is approached. You must come to understand that something like this has developed over a period of time and it will take many, often hundreds or more, interactions to help change this by learning through experiences.

• Develop competence - always have this in mind, you always want to be developing your child's competence in whatever it is they are doing. You can do this by guiding them and scaffolding to support them.

• Discuss differences - help your child to understand that everybody is different; everyone has different strengths and weaknesses. Discuss yours and help them identify theirs.

• Spotlight process not product - when the true focus of interactions are on the process rather than the end product, being a winner or the best gets put aside; it is not as important as participating and enjoying the time spent together.

• Reassurance - give your child reassurance that where they are at is just perfect for them, that they are learning at a great speed and some things take time and practice. Tell your child that they are doing really well, give useful feedback. Praise the effort not the result.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elisa_Ferriggi

Read more ...

Does Your Child Have Friends?

We all value the reasons for having friendships and research shows that healthy friendships and relationships improve quality of life, prevent depression, anxiety, isolation and loneliness. Naturally this is something we want for our children and of course, from our own experiences of what value and importance friendships have given us, we want the same for our children.

Why do children with autism find it so difficult to develop friendships?

This is because friendships are based on the deficits of autism (experience sharing, episodic memory, self awareness, flexibility, and dynamic intelligence).

• True and lasting friendships are about sharing experiences with one another.
• Forming and reliving episodic memories with one another is a common occurrence through friendships.
• Understanding you well enough to not upset another person or feel offended by a friend's comments or actions is required for friendships.
• Being flexible enough to know that there are no specific rules in friendships. There are different levels and types of friendships that vary in how you communicate, how you see each other, how often, when, where and doing what etc.

When I speak to parents during their complimentary initial consultation one of the many goals that parents have for their children is "I just want him/ her to have friends!" Because of the social 'skills' required for children to make friends, most children on the autistic spectrum find it difficult to do this. I need to inform you that although it might be useful to equip children with tools, tips and tricks to making friends, most of the time it just is not enough. For true friendships and friendships that are maintained, it requires developing the foundations of relationships first.

The first relationship (with parents) is the most valuable and a foundation for all other relationships. This is why we should spend time establishing, strengthening and supporting that guiding relationship to begin with, before we even consider bringing in peers to interact with.

• Helping children to become familiar with sharing experiences with others is one of the most useful things to focus on during interactions; this can be done through your interactions by shifting the focus from the task to the process.

• Guiding children to help regulate their own moods, emotions and feelings as well as share this with other people (and knowing when it is appropriate and when it is not) is also helping to lay the foundations for friendships.

• Accepting changes, and being flexible enough to accept when things go differently to expectations and as well as to contribute ideas to the situation and relationship can make a difference in the quality of the friendship. For many children this is a very slow and gradual process depending on their level of flexibility.

• The friendships that are sustainable and true are those that are equal in participation and effort. You may have already experienced a friendship that didn't feel equal, it may have felt more hard work, like you were doing all the giving or maybe all the taking and it wasn't enjoyable. Children need to learn to take responsibility for their own actions and contribute to interactions as an equal partner.

Suppose we taught friendship skills to children with autism as a list of rules, this might be how it would look (I made this up):

1. Always say 'hello' to your friend.
2. Contact your friend once a week.
3. Ask your friend if they are OK?
4. Share your food with your friend.
5. Check that your friend wants to play the same game as you or do the same thing together.
6. Have a laugh and enjoy being together.
7. Always say 'goodbye' to your friend.

Now take a moment to think about how and when these rules might NOT work, be taken literally and what are the multiple responses that could come from any one of these rules. This is where the dynamic intelligence is required; we cannot control what response other people give us and so we need to be flexible enough to be able to respond to them no matter what they are. If we were to follow these rules or a similar set of rules, the interaction would become very static, unnatural and may feel staged to the other person, who would soon lose interest in that relationship.

How do you teach children to develop friendships then?

We spend time on addressing these core deficits to help the child develop in a more typical way and through the guiding relationship with parents, and then siblings and then extended family to develop their competent episodic memories of relationships. This is a process and because it is working on the underlying issues, it takes time. When the time comes and the child is ready, this becomes a more natural progression where friendships are not forced, or hard work, but form more typically. Once parents understand how this is developed, the need for them to want to have friends becomes a goal that you work towards and they also begin to not just settle for an artificial friendship but can see the doors open for true friendships.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elisa_Ferriggi

Read more ...

Dare to Communicate With Your Child

Conventional wisdom says that a child usually communicates using his vast imagination, and as a parent you try to discern what message your child is trying to convey. Slowly as you try to rationalize your child's apparent inquisitive behavior and to prove certain things that he would not understand at his age.

Every single day both parents and child seek an opportune time to bond with each other. It is a kaleidoscopic endeavor in communicating with your children and there's nothing more exciting than to hear them telling their own story.

Allow me to share with you this noted hearty conversation between my wife and our son:

Our son: "Does God love music? I know, I'll pray and ask Jesus." (Then our son prayed and returned shortly to confirm that God said yes.)

My wife: "Yes indeed God loves to hear every child's prayer and you should be thankful for all His blessings."

Our son: "Why is there a big shining star in the picture?"

My wife: "It is the Star of Bethlehem which led the three Magi to the birthplace of baby Jesus."

Our son: "Oh, I know, God wants to say 'good job' because it had a picture of a star."

You could easily pinpoint from these perspectives that a child's determination is based on what he sees and hears. In this way, you are giving your child enough leeway to express himself with confidence; cognizance of how to conquer fears, and how to satisfy dreams through his imaginative intellectual play.

On why there should always be stories to tell with your child is a fun way of getting to know him better. On how your child perceived information is how deep your understanding and adjusting to events will be tested.

Your child has his own logic to explain situation. There was one moment when my wife has to convince our son that the game is called "hide and seek" and not "hide and see" (as what our son believes). Our son explained that when playing the game, he was tagging every searched friend by saying, "I see you." And that was how our son arrived to call the game as "hide and see."

A child's play is always accompanied by imagination--where he would usually create a story, assign characters to act in (just like watching a great shadow puppetry act), and try to create the impression of moving humans (of why they are there and how they would think and act). It is impressive to see that a child has his own way of using creativity.

You should try to limit your child's use of screen media and electronic toys. Instead, take the advantage of letting your child play outside with other children of his age and mingling with them will teach your child the art of interaction. Once more, share with your child the good old days playing on traditional games that he might be interested in exploring.

Child shows interest in art. He starts making a straight line, a circle, or any shape that his uncontrolled hands could go so far. And through his imagination he can be able to interpret his drawings.

Go invest in art supplies that your child may see and use for his creativity, and at the same time building and enjoying each other's imagination. In setting free a child's imagination is aiding his dreams to come true.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Noel_Nicolas_Villarosa

Read more ...

Always Kiss Your Child Goodnight

They are so sweet when they are sleeping. I used to go into their rooms and just look at them. My sister who is also in recovery told me how she would kneel down and pray at their sides for them while they were sleeping. I got that idea from her and started doing that as well, especially when we were struggling to communicate, or they had a test the next day that they were stressed about.

Kiss your child goodnight even when they are sleeping reminds me of how important bedtime ritual is to the routine of life for small and school aged children. Each night start the bedtime ritual at least 30 minutes before you want your child in bed to sleep. Children need lots of sleep. Nine or ten hours at the very least. The younger the child the more sleep they need. We would start with baths, pajamas, reading and then prayers, tucks and kisses. Sometimes they would fall asleep during the story, but usually not.

Sometimes they would need monster spray because they were scared. I would take a can of aerosol and spray the closet and under the bed. We would talk a moment about their fears and I would tell them that now they were protected. I would help them call on our ancestors to be on guard that night for the childhood imagined monster and leave them and go get myself ready for bed. Before I would lay down I would go in one more time just to look at them and to make sure that they were asleep.

For many of us as children in our own homes, there was no bedtime ritual. For many of us chaos ruled and children were forgotten. Being a parent is a new opportunity to learn to parent yourself and your children. All of the 12 Step lessons and teachings can easily be applied to parenting. Choose a bed time ritual and stick to it. Your children will come to love it and they will look forward to it. Go shopping together for the books that you will read. Choose pillow cases that they will put on their own pillows and see each night when they go to bed. Bring joy to the evening rest time.

Do not allow ego or angst to creep in just before you are ready to slumber for the evening. Take your grateful heart to the evening ritual so that you are emotionally available to your child. Many children will be challenging, asking for water or food. Put a glass of water by the bed and tell them that breakfast will soon be here. If they complain of illness or colds tell them that their bodies are magic and can heal themselves overnight (which is true). Tell them to imagine themselves well and to sleep with this faith. Kiss them goodnight and tell them how much you love them and tell them what blessing that they are to the Universe.

Clean and sober parenting may seem like an afterthought for those who work 12 Step Programs, but it should be the first priority after one's own self care. Our children watch us, they believe that we have all the answers and that we love them with all our hearts. We must be intentional about raising the souls that have been entrusted to us by the universe. Love and forgiveness take effort. Apply your program to your parenting.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eleanor_R

Read more ...