Parenting Tips

Is it okay to spank my child?

Spanking isn’t the best way to discipline children. The goal of discipline is to teach children self-control. Spanking may teach children to stop doing something out of fear. There are better ways to discipline children.

One good way for infants and toddlers is called “redirecting.” When you redirect a child, you replace an unwanted (bad) behavior with an acceptable (good) behavior. For example, if throwing a ball inside the house isn’t allowed, take your child outside to throw the ball.

With older children, try to get them to see the consequences of their actions and to take responsibility for them. For example, you can explain to your child that everyone had to wait for dinner because he or she didn’t set the table when asked. Explain that your child has to wash the dishes after dinner because he or she didn’t set the table before dinner.

How can I be a good parent?

There’s not just one right way to raise children. And there’s no such thing as a perfect parent or a perfect child. But here are some guidelines to help your children grow up healthy and happy:

• Show your love. Every day, tell your children: “I love you. You’re special to me.” Give lots of hugs and kisses.
• Listen when your children talk. Listening to your children tells them that you think they’re important and that you’re interested in what they have to say.
• Make your children feel safe. Comfort them when they’re scared. Show them you’ve taken steps to protect them.
• Provide order in their lives. Keep a regular schedule of meals, naps and bedtimes. If you have to change the schedule, tell them about the changes ahead of time.
• Praise your children. When your children learn something new or behave well, tell them you’re proud of them.
• Criticize the behavior, not the child. When your child makes a mistake, don’t say, “You were bad.” Instead, explain what the child did wrong. For example, say: “Running into the street without looking isn’t safe.” Then tell the child what to do instead: “First, look both ways for cars.”
• Be consistent. Your rules don’t have to be the same ones other parents have, but they do need to be clear and consistent. (Consistent means the rules are the same all the time.) If two parents are raising a child, both need to use the same rules. Also, make sure baby-sitters and relatives know (and follow) your family rules.
• Spend time with your children. Do things together, such as reading, walking, playing and cleaning house. What children want most is your attention. Bad behavior is usually an attempt to get your attention.

QuickCraft

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• Hundreds of activities and templates
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QuickCraft bundle pack includes:

• After School Care Printable Activities – For Children aged 4-13 years
• Carer’s and Parents Craft for the Home
• Christmas Craft Activities
• Dinosaur Printable Activities

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Healthy Eating

Whether you have a toddler or a teen, here are five of the best strategies to improve nutrition and encourage smart eating habits:

- Have regular family meals.

- Server a variety of healthy foods and snacks.

- Be a role model by eating healthy yourself.

- Avoid battles over food.

- Involve kids in the process.

Family Meals

Family meals are a comforting ritual for both kids and parents. Children like the predictability of family meals and parents get a chance to catch up with their kids. Kids who take part in regular family meals are also:

- more likely to eat vegetables, fruits and grains

- less likely to smoke, use marijuana, or drink alcohol

- less likely to snack on unhealthy foods

Teens may turn up their noses at the prospect of family meal not surprising because they’re busy and want to be more independent. Yet studies find that teens still want their parents’ advice and counsel, so use mealtime as a chance to reconnect. Also, consider trying these strategies:

- Keep mealtime calm and congenial – no lectures or arguing

- Allow your teen to invite a friend to dinner.

- Involve your teen in meal planning and preparation.

Stocking Up on Healthy Foods

Kids, especially younger ones, will eat mostly what’s available at home. That’s why it’s important to control the supply lines – the foods that you serve for meals and have on hand for snacks. Follow these basic guidelines:

- Work vegetables and fruits into the daily routine, aiming for the goal of at least five servings a day. Be sure you serve vegetables or fruit at every meal.

- Make it easy for kids to choose healthy snacks by keeping vegetables and fruits on hand and ready to eat.  Other good snacks include low-fat yogurt, peanut butter and celery, or whole-grain and cheese.

- Server lean meats and other good sources of protein, such as fish, nuts, beans, and eggs.

- Choose whole-grain breads and cereals so kids get more fiber.

- Limit fat intake by avoiding deep-fried foods and choosing healthier cooking methods, such as broiling, grilling, roasting, and steaming. Choose low-fat or nonfat dairy products.

- Limit fast food and low-nutrients snacks, such as candy and chips. But don’t completely ban favorite snacks from your home. Instead, make them “one-in-a-while” foods, so kids don’t feel deprived.

-Limit sugary drinks, such as soda and fruit-flavored drinks. Serve water and low-fat milk instead.

How to Be a Role Model

The best way for you to encourage healthy eating is to eat well yourself. Kids will follow the lead of the adults they see every day. By eating fruits and vegetables and not overindulging in the less nutritious stuff, you’ll be sending the right message.

Another way to be a good role model is to serve appropriate portions and not overeat. Talk about your feelings of fullness, especially with younger children. You might say, “This is delicious, but I’m full, so I’m going to stop eating.” Similarly, parents who are always dieting or complaining about their bodies may foster these save negative feelings in their kids. Try to keep a positive approach about food.

Don’t Battle Over Food

It’s easy for food to become a source of conflict. Well-intentioned parents might find themselves bargaining or bribing kids so they eat the healthy food in front of them. A better strategy is to give kids some control, but to also limit the kind of foods available at home.

Kids should decide if they’re hungry, what they’re hungry, what they will eat from the foods served, and when they’re full.  Parents control which foods are available to the child, both at mealtime and between meals. Here are some guidelines to follow:

- Establish a predictable schedule of meals and snacks. It’s OK to choose not to eat when both parents and kids know when to expect the next meal or snack

- Don’t force kids to clean their plates. Doing so teaches kids to override feelings of fullness.

- Don’t bribe or reward kids with food. Avoid using dessert as the prize for eating the meal.

- Don’t use food as a way of showing love. When you want to show love, give kids a hug, some of your time, or praise.

Get Kids Involved

Most kids will enjoy deciding what to make for dinner. Talk to them about making choices and planning a balanced meal. Some might even want to help shop for ingredients and prepare the meal. At the store, teach kids to check out food labels to begin understanding what to look for.

In the kitchen, select age-appropriate tasks so kids can play a part without getting injured or feeling overwhelmed. And at the end of the meal, don’t forget to praise the chef.

School lunches can be another learning lesson for kids. More important, if you can get them thinking about what they eat for lunch, you might be able to help them make positive changes. Brainstorm about what kinds of foods they’d like for lunch or go to the grocery store to shop together for healthy, packable foods.

There’s another important reason why kids should be involved: It can help prepare them to make good decisions on their own about the foods they want to eat. That’s not to say they’ll suddenly want a salad instead of french fries, but the mealtime habits you help create now can lead to a lifetime of healthier choices.