Parenting Tips and Ideas

It’s the weekend and in much of the country the weather is a bit cold.  What better way to spend a couple hours together than by going to see the new Disney movie, Bolt.

My wife and I took the kids to see Bolt in 3-D today and it was a great experience.  The movie is filled with comedy that both adults and kids can appreciate as well as a good storyline for an animated feature.

If your kids are anything like mine, they love an opportunity to go to the movies.  Keep in mind, the 3-D ticket price is generally a couple dollars higher than the standard film.  In my opinion, it’s well worth the extra couple dollars per person.

Take some time this weekend as you prepare for the holidays to take your kids out for a special treat of Bolt.  It’s a great family movie and I don’t believe you’ll be disappointed.  My favorite character was definitely Rhino, a lovable hamster with a great sense of humor.

That is not the question.  How to discipline or not to discipline is the question.

There’s no faulting the common belief in older America that a lack of discipline is spoiling a generation of children.  In the same breath though, there is much discipline given out that shouldn’t be as well.

In today’s world, full of a failing economy and the worries that come along with it, stress is at an all time high for many families across America.  There are many times where children are yelled at or punished for things that deserve no more than an understanding parent that can communicate with words in a respectful and guiding way.

Our job as parents is to help our children be prepared to meet the world head on and come out a winner.  Instilling confidence, love, patience and understanding along the way.

What does your method of discipline instill in your children?  Does it teach them to react in anger when a problem happens?  Does it teach them to focus on the problem and allow it to determine how they act? Or, does it teach them to look at problems and determine a solution rather than dwell on the situation?

Together we can prepare our children to meet problems head on with a calm tongue and clear mind.

Time that you spend with your children does not automatically correlate into quality time spent with your children.

The activities that we engage in with our children can do wonders beyond building the parent child relationship.  This is not a post that will jump all over television, although I do believe it needs to be turned off more in most homes in America.  Watching television together can be an enjoyable experience for everybody involved if you still communicate during the show and don’t allow the brain drain effect to kick in.

There is so much to do though that will help you children discover who they are and what they like.  Take them on a hike.  Go out to dinner.  Go for a walk in the park.  Play on the playground… and I mean play.  Don’t sit on the bench while your kids play.

I wasn’t priveledged to have a father around a lot while I grew up.  I taught myself how to swim in a small, little pool.  I understand the imporatance of having a loving parent around.  Without my mother, I would be nowhere.

Don’t miss out on the wonderful years of your kids lives.  Take the time to make it quality, not just time.

In this technological age, kids are using computers and video games at an astounding rate.  My youngest daughter was playing games online when she was 3 years old.  That might not seem like a big deal, but it was to me.  She understood where the browser icon was on the desktop, what favorite link to click to get to her favorite place, and even how to navigate and find the game she wanted to play.

This is great and I think it will only benefit our children as they grow up.  However, one area that should be focused on is reading.  This area isn’t only just for kids, but parents too.  In a 2007 Associated Press-Ipsos poll, it was found that one in four adults read no books at all in the past year.

One of the very best things a parent can do for their young child is reading to them.  Even infants enjoy being held and hearing your calm voice.  The technology mentioned above can help with reading, but so much more is derived from opening the pages of a book with your child.

As your children get older, you can turn off the T.V. set and read a book together.  Reading can inspire the imagination and create an interest in reading that will stay with them throughout their life.

Reading will not only have educational benefits for your kids but it will create an opportunity to bond emotionally to your child without outside interaction.  Don’t miss out on an opportunity to instill the wonders of reading in your child.