Parent | Caring Families

The multi-role parent

July 31, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

The transition between children to teenager can be hard on the parent. You may not feel like you have a relationship with your child anymore. You have multiple jobs now as your child is a teenager.

Learn to connect with the person your teenage daughter or son has become. No longer does your daughter play with baby dolls, but there are still a lot of ways to connect with her. Your children may not be the young child you remember that do not let that prevent you from having a relationship with them.

Even though your child is no longer following your every move, they are working to balance their friends, family, school activities, homework, and a part time job. It is important for them to learn about responsibility and discipline. Instead of trying to help them, let them work though everything they have. You can still open your house to their friends, attend parent-teacher conferences, and go to their football games or school play. Learn to monitor how your children are doing without dictating what activities they do.

Creating rules for your teens can help both you and your teen. You are not a bad parent if you set house rules or expectations for their behavior. Set the rules and then make sure you talk to your teenagers about why they have a curfew or why their homework needs to be done before they watch television. Make sure your tv is also kid-friendly. Go to www.direct.tv for more information about kid-friendly packages.

Set an example of how you want your teenagers to live. Remember that they will be watching you every step of the way. This does not mean you cannot make mistakes, but you are role model in their life.

Filed Under: Families, Relationships Tagged With: Adolescence, Child, Parent

Teaching Your Teen How To Drive ? Useful Tips Below

July 7, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Image by MuseumofWorldCulture via Flickr

Being a full-time parent of a teenaged person can be a very stressful task. The fact that you have to teach your child how to drive is only going to increase the stress and pressure involved in parenting. Many parents have horror stories to relate about their attempts to teach their teenage children to drive.

If you want to avoid such complications, it is advisable to keep track of the following precautions and carry out the same when you begin your driving lessons.

The first and the most important step is to protect your teenager from injuries. Choose an empty parking lot that is not going to get filled anytime soon. Try lessons early in the morning or late at night. In this way, you can avoid accidents that may cause severe injury to your teenage child’s health or confidence.

Secondly, be ready for damage to your vehicle. Needless to say, it does not make sense to try and train your teenaged child in driving using your brand new sports car. If you can, borrow a used vehicle from your friend with a promise that you will repair any damage that takes place. An accident is inevitable. The best option is to cut the cost of the damage by using all measures and solutions possible.

Thirdly, never train your teenaged child alone. You will discover that your child’s lack of concentration drives you crazy. Simply having a cousin or friend at the back seat will encourage your child to focus harder. Remember, teenaged children are very competitive and will pay more attention if they fear that they may be bested by another teenaged person.

Filed Under: Parenting Tagged With: Adolescence, Child, Parent

Rules should not stop when your teen turns 13

April 14, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Parenting should not stop when your children become teenagers. Instead, the way that you discipline your children should help your teens learn boundaries and responsibility. When you set the rules, makes sure you sit down with your teenager and talk about the rules, why they have been set, and what the consequences are if they break those rules.

When you and your partner sit down to set the rules, make sure that both parents agree with the rules and are familiar with the consequences. If you show that both parents are on the same page, your teen would be able to weed his or her way out of the rules. Set rules about homework, friends, curfew, driving and dating.

When you are trying to set rules for your teen, it may be wise to make the rules with your child. You do not have to give up all control, but it will help the teen see that they have some saw in the rules, discipline and rewards. Do not be afraid to disagree with them, but if they do not seem helpful remember that you are still the parent and your final word is law.

Whether your teen arrives home an hour later or if you find out they are not doing well in school, do not wait to discipline your children. When you sat down and established the rules, you should have also established the consequences to those rules. Do not wait for your teen to come to you about breaking your rules.

Instead, go to them tell them you know they are not doing well and stick to the consequence. If your child is not doing well in school, you may need to rearrange your schedule in order to available to make sure your child does study and get homework done. Remember that positive feedback is also great in building confidence in your teen and having a relationship with them. If they are doing something right, let them know.

Filed Under: General, Parenting Tagged With: Adolescence, Child, Parent

Understanding Child Discipline

April 13, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Successful parenting depends on many factors and one of the most important factors is the discipline. Here, discipline does not mean that the parents need to be very strict with their children, it actually a way of helping the children to learn appropriate behaviors and make them to take good choices. Besides this, effective discipline always helps the children in mutual respect, self-control, and accountability. Through discipline, children learn to understand the rules and boundaries within their family as well as in the society.

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Discipline should be started in very early stages of the child development. This can be achieved only if the parents enjoy talking, cuddling, and holding their baby. Many researches have revealed that infants react to the human voices. Therefore, parents should talk to their child in very early stage and this helps to boost the child’s brain development. Also, talking with the child help them to learn about their parents tone and react accordingly.

At the initial stages, a child start crying to get the response and parents should train their child to understand the times when they will be cuddled or held. The training always begins with talking along with some action. Parents should deliver their commands very calmly and in the same tone, also parents should let their children know when they are serious. Parents should encourage their child to make only good choices and make them understand that all actions bring consequences. Planning healthy family activities and spending good time with the children is very important for a child’s growth.

Filed Under: Families, Relationships Tagged With: Child, Child development, Parent

Parent and teen relationships – more than just disagreements

March 21, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

With voices raised, tempers flying and doors slamming shut, it may seem like your relationship with your teenager will never be the same. Unfortunately, you are probably right. Your teenager is trying to find out whom they are. Instead of letting the arguments win, wave the white flag. Do not let the disagreements or fights you have with your teens prevent and damage the relationship you have with your teenager.

You do not have to give up on your disagreements especially if you were right, but remember that teens are going through growing stages. Not only are they changing physically, but they also are developing emotional and mentally. If the fight started because of an idea or a person issue they feel strongly about, talk to them about why they are passionate about it. If the argument was about on the rules, talk to them, but you are the parent and you make the decisions.

Even if the conversation maybe hard at first, try and practice talking with your teen. IF you do not think you have anything in common, your teen will notice that. Instead, try to talk to your teens about everyday stuff. Show an interest in their life. You do not have to solve their problems or give them advice. Many times, teenagers actually do want to talk to someone about their day or any problems they have. Make it easy for them to talk to you by giving them the opportunity to do so. If they are not getting advice from you, they will find help from other sources.

Filed Under: Counseling, Parenting Tagged With: Adolescence, Parent, Talk radio

Parents are the key to preventing their teens from driving under the influence

March 13, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Various studies over the years have shown that parents can indeed help prevent their teens from driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances. Parents can help by talking to their children about the risks and establishing a relationship with their children. Even if you do not think your teens listen to you when you talk, you may be surprised what your children will decide when they are put into situations when they have to make important decisions.

Teens are at risk for being involved in a car accident because either they drove drunk or the driver was drunk. In a study called “Unsafe driving by America high school senior,” they found that 30% of seniors had driven after drinking at least two week prior to the survey. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that alcohol related driving fatalities decreased 58% from 1991 to 2009. The research looked specifically at reports of incidences involving those less than 21 years old.

Various studies have found that teens do indeed listen to their parents. In a study called The TRU Study in 2006, they found that 57% of teens said family was the most important thing in their lives. Family bet out friends and school influences. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found from their National Survey on Drug Use and Health Illicit Drug Use conducted in September 2008, that teens who parents talk to them about drug and alcohol use are more likely to remain drug-free than whose parents do not talk to them about the risks.

Do not let your children learn about alcohol or drugs at school. Sit down and talk to them about the risks and your expectations. Give them the support they need to make the right choice.

us studies over the years have shown that parents can indeed help prevent their teens from driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances. Parents can help by talking to their children about the risks and establishing a relationship with their children. Even if you do not think your teens listen to you when you talk, you may be surprised what your children will decide when they are put into situations when they have to make important decisions.

Various studies have found that teens do indeed listen to their parents. In a study called The TRU Study in 2006, they found that 57% of teens said family was the most important thing in their lives. Family bet out friends and school influences. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found from their National Survery on Drug Use and Health Illicit Drug Use conducted in September 2008, that teens who parents talk to them about drug and alcohol use are more likely to remain drug-free than whose parents do not talk to them about the risks.

Do not let your children learn about alcohol or drugs at school. Sit down and talk to them about the risks and your expectations. Give them the support they need to make the right choice.

Filed Under: Care, Parenting Tagged With: Adolescence, Driving under the influence, Parent

How To Identify Child Who Is On Drugs And Alcohol

February 28, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Kids are always going to be a step ahead of their parents, unless the parents make some proactive steps to control the kids. There are several parents who do not have proper parental control and this ends the life of the kids. There are some kids who could have been stopped easily if the parents had made the needed changes in lifestyle. So, it is in the interest of the parents and also for the health of the child that the parents need to make sure that the kids are not into drugs and alcoholism.

There are several methods that the parents can use to identify if their child is on drugs and or alcohol. The first thing that the child has to do to make their parents confident on them is to come home early. If the child is not able to come home early due to various engagements, the parents have to make sure that the allowance that the child is getting is not too much that it can pay for drugs or alcohol. Even if you are not giving a lot of allowance to the child, the parents should have a strict vigil on their money because there are many seemingly normal kids who started stealing money from parents to cope with their alcohol and drug needs.

If in case there are any rapid changes in the behavior of the child, then it should point to the child being into drugs. The major change in the child will be that the child will start becoming a loner. This is because many of the alcoholics and drug addicts like to be alone. Other than this, the child may also start losing his or her temper. This abnormality is another sign of the child being into drugs and alcoholism. If any of these changes are noted in the child, then it is a sure sign that the child is into drugs or is into alcoholism. There are different methods of dealing with this. Direct confrontation is one method. The other method of counseling can be used by the parents.

Filed Under: Families, General Tagged With: Alcoholism, Drug, Parent

The Different Styles Of Parenting

February 26, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

There are different styles of parenting that can be seen. Each of the parents will be using one of these methods. Many parents use a combination of the parenting styles that are mentioned here. There are some right methods of parenting that need to be followed. This will help the child to be on the right path. If the parents are not able to follow the right method of parenting, then the child is likely to start becoming a rebel. This will cause further problems.

The first type of parenting is the authoritarian form of parenting. This is the form in which the parent is like a dictator. The parents will start acting as if the child is under their control completely and order the child to do things immediately. If there is any delay in the child doing what has been ordered, then the child will be punished. This is the common form of parenting.

The other common form of parenting is the opposite extreme to the authoritarian form. In this method of parenting, the child is allowed to do what pleases the child. There is no control by the parents. This kind of approach from the parents will make the child do what he or she thinks is right. This can lead to a lot of problems, finally ending in severe stress.
The right method of parenting is a mix of both the extremes. There are times when the parents should give adequate freedom to the child and there are times when the child needs to be controlled. The parents should make the right choice at the right time. This will help the child to be normal and the parents will also be able to have a control on the kids. The parents should also be consistent in their approach. For the same mistake, the parents should not try to use the authoritarian method once and the other approach on the next time. This will give out wrong signals to the child. When this parenting style is followed by the parents, then the child will be good.

Filed Under: Counseling, Families Tagged With: Family, Parent, Parenting styles

The Right Method Of Disciplining Your Child

February 22, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

There are various methods that are used by parents when they would like to discipline their child. Some of these methods of disciplining are not really the ones that should be followed by a parent. When these methods are followed, the child will rebel and there will be more problems on the hands of the parents than what they set out to solve.

Spanking the child is something that should not be done without very strong reason. There are many people who believe that spanking is right and there are others who are equally strong in their claim against this. The truth is not known because there seems to be some benefits while there could be some disadvantages too.

Even if you do spank your child, then you should tell the reason for spanking the child. The reward system, where you give a reward to the child when he does something right is the best method that can be used to make your child do the right things. Even if you do not give him a reward and punish him when he does wrong, then you are not telling him what he has done right and instead only pointed out the mistakes. This is not the right thing to do. So, reward the child when the child shows good behavior and this will reinforce the behavior in the child.

This is one of the best methods in which the parents can discipline their child right from a very young age. This method that is used in the disciplining of the child will do many good things and the child will grow up to be a very considerate person. Though there cannot be a right method that can be followed for each and every child in the same way, there are certain things that parents need to learn before they start disciplining their child.

Filed Under: Families, Relationships Tagged With: Child, Parent, Reward system

Monitoring Child Activity

February 21, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

There are many PC Tools available for parents to use in order to monitor their child’s activity. These are important tools in helping families maintain a healthy online experience while being at home. This purpose of these types of software are intended to help parents see what their child is doing online so that they can help protect their children. Many find this to be no more than spying, an invasion of privacy for the child. This could not be further from the truth. There are things that are in the world that children just simply cannot be exposed to, and they do not understand the harm that can come from predatory people.

If a child is being sent mean messages online, things that hurt their feelings or publicly embarrass them, this is considered bullying. According to federal law, this is a crime. The offending child would be punished. Now switch the roles and make it the offending child that is being monitored. If a parent sees this behavior occurring from their own child, they will have the tendency to stop it, and tell their child why the behavior is wrong. If a child is being approached by a predator online, a parent can step in and educate their child on why they should be wary of certain topics or people online. Monitoring is not a matter of morality, rather a matter of parental responsibility.

There are repercussions, however, in monitoring a child’s activity online. First, parents may be shocked or hurt by what they see their child engaging in. Two, parents may overuse the information found and embarrass the child, or overstep their bounds by making certain information public. It is best to use good judgment when information is found by parents, as this could be a matter of trust between children and parents.

Filed Under: Counseling, Families Tagged With: Child, Parent, PC Tools (company)