LINKS

The Family Birthing Center.

 

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

 

FDA website.

 

American Academy of Pediatrics Web Site.

 

TIPP: The Injury Prevention Program.

 

KidsHealth.org

 

Cincinnati Children's Hospital.

 

Dental Patient Services.

Parent's Guide to the Internet.

with amazon.com

1. Nurture your child's self-esteem.

Children start developing their sense of self as babies when they see themselves through your eyes. Your tone of voice, your body language, and your every expression are absorbed by your child. Your words and actions as parents affect your child's developing self-image more than anything else in his world. Consequently, praising your child for his accomplishments, however small, will make him feel proud; letting him do things for himself will make him feel capable and independent. By contrast, belittling your child or comparing him unfavorably to another child will make him feel worthless. Avoid making loaded statements or using words as weapons: "What a stupid thing to do!" or "You act more like a baby than your little brother!" Comments like these bruise the inside of a child as much as blows would the outside. Choose your words carefully and be compassionate. Let your child know that everyone makes mistakes and that you still love him, even when you don't love his behavior.

2. Catch your child being good.

Have you ever stopped to think about how many times you react negatively to your child in a given day? You may find that you are criticizing far more than you are complimenting. How would you feel about a boss who treated you with that much negative guidance, even if well-intentioned? The more effective approach is to catch your child doing something right, and praise him to the skies: "You made your bed without being asked - that's terrific!" or "I was watching you play with your sister and you were very patient." These statements will do more to encourage good behavior over the long run than repeated scoldings. Make a point of finding something to praise every day. Be generous with rewards - your love, hugs, and compliments can work wonders and are often reward enough. Soon you will find you are "growing" more of the behavior you would like to see.

3. Set limits and be consistent with your discipline.

Discipline is necessary in every household. The goal of discipline is to help children choose acceptable behaviors and learn self-control. Children may test the limits you establish for them, but they need those limits to grow into responsible adults. Establishing house rules will help children understand your expectations and develop self-control. Some house rules might include: no TV until homework is done, and no hitting, name-calling, or hurtful teasing is allowed. You may want to have a system in place: one warning, followed by consequences such as a "time out" or loss of privileges. A common mistake parents make is failure to follow through with consequences when rules are broken. You can't discipline a child for talking back one day, and ignore it the next. Being consistent teaches your child what you expect.

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