Building You Child’s Self Esteem

It’s often been said that children learn what they live.  So if you’re looking for a place to start helping your child build positive self esteem and self value, then you should show them your positive sense of self and strong self esteem.  Be positive when you speak about yourself and highlight your strengths. This will teach your child that it’s okay to be proud of their talents, skills and abilities. 

Your child also benefits greatly from honest and positive praise.  Find something about them to praise each day.  You could even give your child a task you know they can complete and then praise them for a job well done after they’re finished. Show your child that positive acts merit positive praise.  Read more

“Because” Just Isn’t the Answer

Children are inquisitive by nature.  When they are younger, it’s usually because they want to better understand something.  When they are older, it’s because they want to better understand why you think something is important and why they should also feel the same way.  Regardless of their age, it’s imperative that when setting forth the rules and expectations in your home, your child understands there is no room for questioning the rules you set forth and the consequences of breaking the rules. 

Younger children usually do not understand a lengthy explanation of why it’s important that they be home from their friend’s home at a certain time or why they aren’t allowed to play ball in the house.  But the one thing they do strive to do most of the time is to make their parents proud and happy.  So when a young child asks “Why?” or “Why not?” when they are told they can’t play with something or someone or why they have to obey a rule you’ve set forth, simply explain to them that “because it makes me happy when you follow the house rules and do what I have asked of you.”  You should avoid using the term, “Because I said so,” as that only adds to the child’s frustration and confusion. Read more

Actively Listening to your Child

Communicating with our children can be a difficult task at times.  We feel like they’re not listening to us; they feel like we’re not listening to them.  Good listening and communications skills are essential to successful parenting.  Your child’s feelings, views and opinions have worth, and you should make sure you take the time to sit down and listen openly and discuss them honestly.

 

It seems to be a natural tendency to react rather than to respond.  We pass judgment based on our own feelings and experiences.  However, responding means being receptive to our child’s feelings and emotions and allowing them to express themselves openly and honestly without fear of repercussion from us.  By reacting, we send our child the message that their feelings and opinions are invalid.  But by responding and asking questions about why the child feels that way, it opens a dialog that allows them to discuss their feelings further, and allows you a better understanding of where they’re coming from.  Responding also gives you an opportunity to work out a solution or a plan of action with your child that perhaps they would not have come up with on their own.  Your child will also appreciate the fact that maybe you do indeed understand how they feel.  Read more

Proven Ways to Create a Perfect Family Budget!

by Gen Wright

It is frustrating to see how hard it is to do a budget and realizing that with one wrong purchase, you can actually ruin the entire thing. But it doesn?t have to be that way. It can actually be a great way to keep track of your family’s expenditures and help you evaluate the things that you spend the bulk of the family’s earnings on.

Create your own budgeting tool or find a program to do it for you?just make sure it suits your lifestyle.

Having a budget, you can well establish and regulate your funds better, and be able to set and achieve your financial objectives. From this you will be more realistically able to make advance decisions as to how you want your money to work well for you. Read more

Parenting ~ 11 Tips for Character and 2 Recipes for Selfishness

by Jean Tracy, MSS

 

Inside you’ll find 11 parenting tips for raising children with character and 2 recipes for selfishness. Find out how your moral compass is the gateway to a better character and a happier life.

 

First Selfish Recipe:

None of us want our children to grow up selfish. Yet some parents try to better their children’s lives by giving them too much. They shower their kids with gifts even when their kids fail at school. These parents long for gratitude but they don’t get it. When they realize they’re drowning their children in a sea of selfishness, it’s almost too late. Read more