Practical Matters from Parenting Magazine

Raising a healthy family

Breakfast Tips from real moms:

My tip for breakfast success is to always sit down with them. It gives them a sense of importance and they see mommy doing it to so they learn by example

We only offer healthy choices . Our kids still feel they are in control of what they are eating, but we know that every choice is a good one

I use popsicle molds to make yogurt and fruit popsicles. My daughter is so excited to have a popsicle for breakfast and when paired with a whole grain cereal, I can be sure she’s getting a balanced start to the day.

Write a will – right away! If you do nothing else, name guardians for your child. Review your choice every few years.
Save for college. It may be as simple as giving up your morning coffee and bagel. A typical American family earning $60,000 a year could send a child to a four-year public university by saving as little as $4.42 a day.
Take lots and lots of pictures. For an ideal close-up, get down at your child’s level and let her face fill the frame. Experiment with candid shots, and remember that you don’t need to make her smile for every photo.
Create a master calendar. Assign a different color marker to each family member (let kids pick their own), and record everyone’s activities and appointments.
Be your best. Right now, your child thinks you’re the greatest person in the world, perfect in every way. You’re not of course, but you’re a powerful figure in his life. Strive to be a great role model
Give yourself a break. Being a parent means making mistakes. Don’t beat yourself up about them. Learn and move on. Teach your children to do the same.
Create rituals. Once a week, do something as a family: Take a walk in the park, have pancakes for dinner, play charades. Everyday customs and traditions strengthen family ties, which in turn nourish a sense of caring and respect.
Show your affection. Begin and end each day with “ I love you” and give tons of hugs and kisses.
Learn to apologize. One of the most important things you can say to your child is “I’m, sorry. I messed up” You’ll teach him/her honesty, responsibility and justice
Foster responsibility. As soon as your child is old enough, give him small chores – putting napkins on the table or matching socks in the laundry. He’ll learn what it means to be a part of a community.
Trust your gut. In 1946 Dr. Spock wrote, “ The more people have studied the different methods of bringing up children, the more they have come to the conclusion that what good mothers and fathers instinctively feel like doing for their babies is the best after all”
Practice patience. Don’t watch the clock or tap your foot or contantly chide your child to hurry up. Instead, kick back, live in the moment. Go with the flow, and soak it all up.
Let go of the guilt. Bad or glad, mad or sad, proud or ashamed – its not the fact that Mommy works that accounts for a child’s response, but how the parents feel and act about it themselves.”
Seek Support. An old African proverb says, “it takes a village to raise a child. Seek others that can help.
Laugh a lot. If your guiding principle is to take “laugh” over “cry” a lot you’ve got the right attitude. Use humor to defuse power struggles, enforce rules and impart life lesson
Be a booster. “Make sure you praise your child for worthwhile accomplishments and encourage him to make his own decisions. Even if he occasionally makes a wrong one” Let him know he has your complete confidence and backing.

On disciplining:

Set clear rules about pushing, hitting, sharing, lying and whatever else is most important to your. Make sure your child knows them inside out
BE firm. Your child craves limits. Without them, her world is scary and out of control.
Act immediately. When a kid breaks a rule, impose a consequence right away, If you wait too long and your child may forget what he did wrong.
Don’t spank. Most child development experts agree this is not a good way to discipline kids
Try Time Outs. Give a time-out of one minute for each year of a child’s age And make sure its no fun. Opt for the bottom step, not the toy-filled bedroom.
Catch your kid being good. Don’t think of discipline only as what you do when your child acts up. A big hug or quick “Good job!” when he does something right is the best “discipline” of all
Stop yelling. A tall order for sure, but screaming intimidates children and rarely works. Try this the next time you’re tempted to shout: close your eyes, take a deep breath, and count to ten. Or 20,30 or 100 if that’s what it takes
Ban bad-mouthing. Kids aren’t born to hate – they learn it. Don’t tolerate mean and nasty remarks of any kind. Help your child discover the positive traits in people, and teach her to focus on these.

Good Times With Our Children:

Dig into your past. Think of your own childhood and recall which toys, games, music, and books you loved best. Introduce them to yourrrr own kids and relive your youth.
Take vacations. You don’t need to blow your savings on extravagant trips, but try to budget in a least one yearly family getaway. Memories will last for a lifetime.
Trim a tree. Make or buy a special ornament for each of your children every year. For Christmas. By the time they’re grown, you’ll have quite a collection.
Join your friends. Go to a Hanukkah party or a Chinese New Year gala. It’s a joyful way to teach kids about the global village they’re growing up in.
Encourage creativity. Stock a costume box with hats, old clothes, and accessories buy basic musical instruments. Fill a drawer with art supplies.
Back to the basics. No parent can buy every new gadget and gizmo on the market. But make sure you have plenty of building blocks , balls, puzzles and arat supplies. They’re so easy to share and lots of fun to play with.
Embrace nature. Sometimes we just get too busy in our schedules and need to slow down. Explain the great outdoors and learn to explore with your child – It’s a great way to help them learn how to take care of the environment and the bonus is – good ol’ fresh air.
Start a birthday tradition:
Bake the same great cake or serve your child his/her favorite meal year after year. In our house: we serve breakfast in bed on that special day!
Raise your hand. Try this game when you’re standing in line at the grocery store or waiting for food at a restaurant. Play raise your hand if you like…pizza, dogs, Sponge Bob, whatever. Just keep throwing things out. Anyone can play, and everyone finds it endlessly entertaining.

Finally, FIND the joy in life – Allow yourself to have fun, be fun and enjoy your children. This will give them the greatest sense of well-being – knowing they are loved and appreciated.

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