Many expectant and new parents are worried and believe that they will not be able to learn to recognize why their babies are crying. Believe me, if you put your mind to it, within a very short period of time, usually no longer than a week or two, you will usually be able to recognize […]
In Grandma’s day it wasn’t unusual to hear that the right hand was the “angel’s hand” and the left, the “devil’s hand”. Few people today are so thoughtless, but right-handed parents might look closely at such tools as ladles, butter knives and can openers and even certain toys before they label left-handed children awkward. A
One thing that parenting has taught me is just how angry I could get. I never understood child abuse until I had children. No, I never abused my children, but I could understand the feelings. Letting out your angers and frustrations on your children is wrong and unfair. Just recall for a moment how you
It’s important to look upon punishment as corrective, not retaliatory. You want to educate your child, not get even with him or her. • The form of punishment should be appropriate for a child’s age and behavior. For example, many feel that a child over a certain age (perhaps seven or eight) should never be
Older babies and toddlers are often early wakers, and, unfortunately for parents who are slow starters, the children are usually bright-eyed, full of conversation, and raring to go. Or worse, some wake up cross and irritable. Parents who like to sleep a bit later than their children often take turns getting up early, so at
Separation anxiety, the fear that an infant experiences when he is away from a mother or a primary caretaker, usually begins at around six or eight months and peaks at about a year and a half. It’s a normal part of development that your child recognizes his own being and that of others. In fact,
Are you coping with fatigue from a new baby? Well, cut your expectations of yourself in half. The immaculate home, the gourmet meals, and the beautifully organized schedule that you’ve prided yourself on aren’t as important right now as taking care of your baby and yourself. • Use paper plates and take-out meals for a
Over half a million children in the United States are estimated to be currently taking the drug Ritalin for hyperactivity. While many experts claim the drug helps children succeed in school by calming them down and reducing their distractibility, there are growing concerns that the disadvantages of using Ritalin may far outweigh its advantages in
If you’re going through a divorce, I’m sure you’re trying to keep your child’s life as constant as possible with his friends, at school, and on teams, and I’m also sure you’re helping him talk about his many hurtful feelings, but are you addressing the issue that will have the greatest impact on his long-term
“Time-out” is the best discipline available for the irrational behaviors of young children. It’s especially helpful for behaviors that can’t be ignored, such as harmful or disruptive behaviors. “Time-out” means isolating your child in a boring place for a few minutes. “Time-out” has the advantage of providing a cooling off period for both you and
