Tags related to tag parent
Saturday, October 21. 2006
Shells Parent Hacks Core Dump
Jonnays Note: Shell posted a bunch of hints and tips to Parent Hacks, or a site that was linked there, and I thought I would cross post it here as well, cause they are that good.
I get an empty journal book for the child every year. I tape or glue memory stuff in there like pamphlets from the zoo, birthday cards, swim lessons certificates etc. I put the dates on them and the dates on important things that happened that year. The rest of the book is open for the child to fill. It is a keepsake and teaches the child to keep a journal or sketchbook which is an important skill at any age.
There is nothing like opening a present on Christmas Eve. A taster for the next morning. I get my kids Christmas pajamas that they can open on Christmas Eve so they are festive for the morning.
Instead of making bottles up ahead of time, I put the powder in a bottle, then when it is time for baby to have bottle, just add warm water. You don't have to keep the bottles in the fridge or cooler, and you don't have to heat it up.
I have a sure fire way of getting a child to sleep through the night at a very early age. Pick a simple short book (Sandra boynton is great) and make that the last thing before you put the child in bed and only at night, never for nap. Do this from a very early age, I started at 3 weeks. This book becomes the cue for bedtime. The child knows what to expect. We did this with my daughter since she was 3 weeks old till she was about 1 1/2. She has always been a great sleeper.
When my kids would fight or have a hard time learning something I would tell them the special bedtime stories. I would change their names just slightly and tell them a story about these kids. I would change the details slightly about the issue they were dealing with. They would get involved in the story and I would ask them questions about how the kids in the story should deal with the issue. They would come up with solutions looking at it from an outsider point of view, which is easier to do without having the emotional aspect to deal with as well. They were able to see both sides. Then I thought these were the last thoughts in their heads before they went to bed so maybe it would sink in. It really seemed to work.
Making bottles ahead of time can be a hassle. I found if I used the gravy maker from Tupperware it was much easier. It has markings on it for the water. Close it up and shake and put it in the fridge.
Instead of babyproofing everything, I leave stuff on the shelves and tables within reach that is adult only but safe and not breakable. When baby starts to play with the items at an early age I teach them no. I say no, that they aren't allowed to play with it and remove them from the temptation. It is almost enough to drive you crazy for a long time, but if you stick to it, they learn at a very early age. I can take my daughter anywhere and people don't have to start moving things as soon as the child walks into their house.
When the child shares I make a big deal out of it. Tell them how wonderful it is that they are sharing with plenty of clapping. They learn that sharing is not something to get upset about, but rather it is something fun that makes everyone happy.
I have a hard time bathing the child in the bathtub. I get a backache leaning over. When the baby is small enough, till they are about 1 or even more, I bath them in the kitchen sink.
When feeding baby I give the baby a spoon of their own so they learn how to use it early.
Don't hide the small arguements from the child. Do it without anger and let them see the resolution as well so that they can learn how do deal with negatives.
Remember that the child is not doing whatever it is that is making you angry "to you" or to be bad. Try to understand "why" they are doing it. For instance, if the child is throwing food on the floor they might be doing it cause it made a really neat sound. This doesn't mean that they are allowed to do it, but it will help with the way you deal with it without anger.
Say please and thank you, sorry and your welcome on a regular basis. You won't have to spend alot of time teaching your child this, they will pick it up from watching you.
I find that if they child has boundries they are much happier. They don't have the skills or the need to make decisions. However, flexibility is just as important. Sometimes, they need to feel that they have a say in what is going on.
I get an empty journal book for the child every year. I tape or glue memory stuff in there like pamphlets from the zoo, birthday cards, swim lessons certificates etc. I put the dates on them and the dates on important things that happened that year. The rest of the book is open for the child to fill. It is a keepsake and teaches the child to keep a journal or sketchbook which is an important skill at any age.
There is nothing like opening a present on Christmas Eve. A taster for the next morning. I get my kids Christmas pajamas that they can open on Christmas Eve so they are festive for the morning.
Instead of making bottles up ahead of time, I put the powder in a bottle, then when it is time for baby to have bottle, just add warm water. You don't have to keep the bottles in the fridge or cooler, and you don't have to heat it up.
I have a sure fire way of getting a child to sleep through the night at a very early age. Pick a simple short book (Sandra boynton is great) and make that the last thing before you put the child in bed and only at night, never for nap. Do this from a very early age, I started at 3 weeks. This book becomes the cue for bedtime. The child knows what to expect. We did this with my daughter since she was 3 weeks old till she was about 1 1/2. She has always been a great sleeper.
When my kids would fight or have a hard time learning something I would tell them the special bedtime stories. I would change their names just slightly and tell them a story about these kids. I would change the details slightly about the issue they were dealing with. They would get involved in the story and I would ask them questions about how the kids in the story should deal with the issue. They would come up with solutions looking at it from an outsider point of view, which is easier to do without having the emotional aspect to deal with as well. They were able to see both sides. Then I thought these were the last thoughts in their heads before they went to bed so maybe it would sink in. It really seemed to work.
Making bottles ahead of time can be a hassle. I found if I used the gravy maker from Tupperware it was much easier. It has markings on it for the water. Close it up and shake and put it in the fridge.
Instead of babyproofing everything, I leave stuff on the shelves and tables within reach that is adult only but safe and not breakable. When baby starts to play with the items at an early age I teach them no. I say no, that they aren't allowed to play with it and remove them from the temptation. It is almost enough to drive you crazy for a long time, but if you stick to it, they learn at a very early age. I can take my daughter anywhere and people don't have to start moving things as soon as the child walks into their house.
When the child shares I make a big deal out of it. Tell them how wonderful it is that they are sharing with plenty of clapping. They learn that sharing is not something to get upset about, but rather it is something fun that makes everyone happy.
I have a hard time bathing the child in the bathtub. I get a backache leaning over. When the baby is small enough, till they are about 1 or even more, I bath them in the kitchen sink.
When feeding baby I give the baby a spoon of their own so they learn how to use it early.
Don't hide the small arguements from the child. Do it without anger and let them see the resolution as well so that they can learn how do deal with negatives.
Remember that the child is not doing whatever it is that is making you angry "to you" or to be bad. Try to understand "why" they are doing it. For instance, if the child is throwing food on the floor they might be doing it cause it made a really neat sound. This doesn't mean that they are allowed to do it, but it will help with the way you deal with it without anger.
Say please and thank you, sorry and your welcome on a regular basis. You won't have to spend alot of time teaching your child this, they will pick it up from watching you.
I find that if they child has boundries they are much happier. They don't have the skills or the need to make decisions. However, flexibility is just as important. Sometimes, they need to feel that they have a say in what is going on.
Wednesday, October 18. 2006
The world will overflow with Plush.
We had Kris and Karen over tonight, and we all came to this conclusion: The eschatological scenario that we need to worry about the most is not environmental, or nuclear, but rather a variation on the Grey Goo Scenario where the earth is eventually consumed by stuffed animals.
Seriously. As parents, we were commenting on how we were absolutely inundated with plushies, and how we were not the only parents who said so. In fact, every parent we know says the same thing. Usually along with words like: 'garbage bags', 'yearly purge', 'blight' and even 'scourge'. What can you do with these things?
Seriously. As parents, we were commenting on how we were absolutely inundated with plushies, and how we were not the only parents who said so. In fact, every parent we know says the same thing. Usually along with words like: 'garbage bags', 'yearly purge', 'blight' and even 'scourge'. What can you do with these things?
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