George Key asked:


Although parenting advice to kids and teems is difficult and many times ineffective, there are some tips in order to persuade them to stay away from tobacco. To increase the chances that your child does not start smoking, it is important that you begin to start sharing with your child the dangers of smoking as early as possible. Kindergarten is not too young to begin. It is often during this time that your child may be learning about basic safety in regards to drugs, strangers and fire. You speaking to them about smoking will fit right in.

It is believed that nearly 20% of adolescents smoke in the United States. This is an alarming figure and puts millions of adolescents, teens and their family’s at risk for smoke related diseases. To curb this, it is important for parents to take an active role in their children’s life. This means paying attention to them, spending time with them and being involved in their world. The Center of Disease Control believes that these simple acts will help your child overcome peer pressure and will enable them to say no to at-risk, dangerous behaviors. Speaking with children, no matter how old they are about the illnesses and dangers associated with smoking can help them to not ever start smoking. If your child has already started smoking, you should still remind them of the dangers, not allow it in your home and provide them with help and support when they express that they are ready to quit. If a family member or friend has suffered from some sort of smoke-related illness, be sure to discuss this with your children.

Having a child that smokes can be very distressing to a parent who understands the dangers of smoking. If your child is underage, do not allow them to smoke at all and especially not in your home or around you. Be sure to make sure that they understand the dangers of smoking, a field trip to the hospital to see patients that are hospitalized for smoke-related illnesses might be in order.

If your child is older and no longer lives in your home, you may not have as much control. However, you can forbid them from smoking in your home and when you are around. Also be sure to be supportive when they express an interest in giving up smoking.

Gareth Williams asked:


Parenting is a non-stop occupation. You never know when the next question or crisis will arise, so it’s a good idea to have some handy resources at the ready.

When we’re new parents, the first source we typically call upon is our parents, right? They raised us after all, and we turned out pretty well, didn’t we? But when considering the advice you get from your parents, remember that they might not be especially objective. Truth is, you might not be objective about them and their advice either. That, in fact, can make your parents one of the worst potential sources of parenting advice, because both sides are seeing things from what may be a less-than-objective point of view.

Next in line, we typically turn to our best friends and fellow parents, as well as professionals (family doctor, teachers, clergy, etc.). But these may not be the best resources for parenting advice either. Why? Because we may be looking at our relationship with them (especially our best friends) just as we did with our parents. We respect the relationship, or the title in the case of professionals, and, therefore, we may tend to automatically give credence to advice from these sources.

So, instead of automatically seeking and accepting advice from these traditional sources, here’s what I suggest doing:

First, when seeking advice on parenting from anyone, examine that person’s experience with children as well as with the particular issue on which you’re seeking advice.

Next, examine how that person relates to children, interacts with children, communicates with children, and what sort of value system that person has regarding the parenting of children. If it’s similar to your own, that’s a good foundation.

You might also seek out specialists (therapists, counsellors, etc.) and, if this is the case, you must again apply these same criteria:

- Is the professional/specialist honest, yet tactful with you and your children?

- Is the specialist objective, yet caring?

- Does the specialist have experience as a parent, or with your particular child’s issues?

And what about school-related issues? If you take your problem to a teacher or school counsellor, consider that you may be revealing more about your child or your family than you should. While I wouldn’t necessarily rule out such discussions or resource professionals, just keep in mind that you don’t want to bias a teacher in any way against your.

We all need parenting help and advice at some point. Just remember to do your homework on any source (i.e., consider and weigh the source), and proceed with caution and your own best judgment before leaping to accept any advice.

Bryan Burbank asked:


With a divorce rate of more than 50% in our country the chance that you will remarry and have step children is a pretty sure bet. It does not have to be the difficult situation it is portrayed in the movies and on television. It can be a rewarding and fulfilling with just a little effort. Like anything worthwhile you have to work at it. If you follow some of the steps below it may make for a much more pleasant family experience.

Get Free: Step Parent Advice

First, keep in mind that you are not the child’s real parent and that that they do have their real parent and you do not want to try and take their place. You must forge your own relationship and not try to replace an existing relationship.

How to: Get Divorce Help

Secondly, Start by establishing special things that you and the child can do together that you do not do with anyone else. Making them feel that they are needed for themselves and you are not just trying to be nice. For instance maybe you and the child can hang Christmas lights together and this can become your thing.

Next, Never try to compete with the child’s real parent, you will never win. They will always be loyal to their real parent, as they should be. As mad as you may be sometimes, don’t say bad or hurtful things about their parent in front of them. Always give their parent the benefit of the doubt. Never make yourself the good one and their parent the bad one.

Lastly, always make them feel a part of the family. If there are other children, make sure your treat all of them equally. If the child needs some space, give them some time to themselves. It is very hard for kids to all of a sudden have a new parent and at the same time have to share their existing parent with a stranger. Blended families can work just have patience.

Sarah Beldo asked:


The current economic downturn has taken a toll on many aspects of American life, from the way we spend our leisure time to our hopes for the future.

Unless they are very young, it is impossible to completely shield kids from the effects of a struggling economy on the family finances – after all, stories about job loss and foreclosure fill the headlines on a daily basis.

And, in fact, a lot of experts’ parenting advice says it is a good idea to be honest with your children about money – without going overboard.

For instance, you could explain that they may have to wait longer to get that expensive toy because – like a lot of other families – you have had to deal with a lot of extra costs this year.

The key is to be open with the little ones without being scary. Make sure you are explaining things at an age-appropriate level and reassure them soundly that they should not be worried.

Talking to your kids about financial struggles can be stressful, but there are also opportunities to use your parenting skills to yield some positive results.

For example, has there ever been a better time to show your children – firsthand – that sound economic behavior such as spending within your means and saving for the future has benefit? And that delayed gratification can actually be rewarding?

There is more to be cheerful about. Many have suggested that as a result of the recession, hands-on parenting skills will become the norm, with families spending more time together and enjoying inexpensive and creative activities.

Libraries, for example, have reported growing numbers of families using their services, particularly to attend story time and to check out DVDs and books.

And in a holiday season in which retail sales are dismal at best, sales of family-centered video games – such as those for the Nintendo Wii platform – are managing to grow, while traditional board games remain resilient.

It just goes to show that with good parenting skills and the right attitude, your family can grow strong enough to withstand any financial storm.

Anirban Bhattacharya asked:




Parenting is a vastly important function that’s required to be performed in order to ensure better upbringing of a child. It is necessary for parents to learn the right kind of parenting so as to make the child confident and to face the challenges of life strongly.

Approaching a parenting center would be a wise decision for parents where they will be guided in a right direction as to what are the best ways to up bring a child. The parenting center is completely dedicated to help parents in becoming a successful family guardian.

The parenting center helps with professional counseling, expert parenting advice, educational classes, children management information and co-parenting. Such assistance will help you to become a much more refined and managed parent to build a dynamic personality of your child.

It is a fact that all kids do not behave in a same way. Each kid has different behavioral patterns from the other kid. If some kids are sensitive by nature there are other kids who are aggressive and violent in behavior. The parenting center educates the parents about how they should tackle each child differently.

The parenting centers make you aware of the importance of listening, watching and learning while dealing with your children. The experts of a parenting center will give you parenting advice on dealing with child’s emotional, physical and mental development without building unrealistic expectations from them. Each child has his or her own capabilities, talents and interests. As per true parenting, it is not wise to force your child to become a doctor if he has an interest in painting. The parenting center will guide you to analyze your child’s interest and encourage your child in the same.

Also, one of the common problems faced in a family is communication gap between parents and kids. The experts of the parenting center will give you important tips on how to narrow down this gap in a healthy manner so that your child can express his or her emotions freely before you.

If parents are working, the best parenting advice will get in these centers is how to take some time out of your life so that you can spend some quality time with your kids. The parenting center also organizes camps, classes and work hours from time to time in which the parents can spend a dedicated time with their children.

Terri Akman asked:


We all want to be great parents who help our kids grow into respectable, kind, self-sufficient adults. If only there were a guide to teach us how! I asked leading experts for some parenting advice, and they insist that it’s easier than many parents think. Here’s the first step: present a united front in front of your children.

It is essential that both parents, or whoever the caregivers are, are on the same page when dealing with their children about consequences, rules, and expectations. “Kids are manipulative and they’ll take advantage,” says Marlene McDermott, Marriage and Family Therapist at Serenity Counseling in Palmyra.

For example, if one parent gives the child a month-long grounding, but the other parent cuts it to two weeks, the child recognizes that there is “wiggle room,” explains Marlene. “Clearly they’re not on the same page and the kid knows where the loophole is.”

This rule is important always….from the tiniest problems to the largest issues. If you tell your three year old that he cannot have candy at the grocery store, but then your husband buys him a treat, he will learn at a very young age how to manipulate one or the other of you. You must establish the ground rules together so that he doesn’t figure out how to “work” the system.

While a disagreement over something as small as a piece of candy seems trivial, it’s the pattern of showing a united front that ultimately matters. When he’s 16 he sneaks his first beer, he can’t think that one parent will let him off the hook while the other has made the rules against drinking clear.

McDermott urges parents to agree on general rules of the house and make every member aware of them. If you don’t agree, work out differences behind closed doors, away from the child and then return with an answer. “Never let the kid see that and always present as a united front,” she says.

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Chris Lowrey asked:


Oh, to remember the days of young love… The twinge you were feeling when getting ready for your date. The anticipation of the kiss.  The emptiness when you were apart.  The giggles over their little habits.  The comfortable silence. 

 

Then the silence.

 

Of course your marriage evolved into a much more meaningful state. And, the dedication and loyalty that you have now doesn’t even compare.  The love has enriched and strengthened. 

 

There truly is no comparison.  Marital love is above and beyond more rewarding and comforting.  And, in a family, of course the kids come first, in most things you do.  But, wouldn’t it be nice to mix in some excitement as a couple?

 

The best parenting advice anyone can give or receive is:

 

Keep your marriage alive and well

 

The majority of parents recognize the need for “together” time.  Most even attempt at making the ‘night out without the kids’ a serious thought and often an attempted gesture.  A few absolutely commit to ‘alone’ time.  Does it always help?

 

Not necessarily.  A night out on the town with your significant other is important, no doubt.  But, too many times parents fall into the ‘okay, now what’ trap.  Out to dinner, you have caught up on the kids, shared the office gossip or complaints of the day, discussed the weather and soon run out of things to talk about.

 

Instead of a dinner date, once in awhile, plan an adventure.  Pick something one or both of you have thought of doing but never dedicated the time or money for.  Maybe you have always wanted to fly in a hot air balloon, rock climb, learn to ballroom dance, join a cooking class, take a ride on a dinner boat, go deep sea fishing or anything else that might suit your fancy.

 

The actual event is truly the least important aspect.  What really matters is that you both are planning and preparing together.  And, you are soon creating a memory and an additional connection.  Life can become very routine.  Don’t let your marriage. 

 

 

So, parenting tip 101:

 

Figure out something exciting to do.  Plan it together.  Do it together.  And, remember it together!  Keep the relationship fresh. 

 

The adventure does not need to cost a lot of money nor does it need to require a lot of time.  The actual adventure can be running through the park, without stopping.  That might mean jogging together around the block for several weeks in preparation.  It might also mean taking the kids to the Grandparents and biking that 30 mile trail you have longed to see outside of car windows. 

 

The whole idea is to put some excitement back into your lives.  Remember what it is what like to actually have fun together and enjoy each other’s company.  Laugh together. 

 

Your family unit may focus on the family at every free moment you have.  Your parenting style may not always have room for the married couple.  But, you must make time.

 

Families are all about love and commitment.  Isn’t that a great lesson to teach your children?  Making time for yourselves, as a couple, is truly a gift to your children.  They see their parents happy.  The household is happy.  What a blessing!

Paul Banas asked:

Many fathers live a well-rounded healthy lifestyle with regular workouts that involve their kids. First-time dads who think a new baby will interfere with their exercise schedule need not sacrifice their workouts but do need to supplement their parenting skills to include exercising with their kids. The trick here is to come up with kid-friendly routines. These routines are equally rewarding and also help in establishing healthy habits among children.

In an interview to the Associated Press, Heidi Hill, author of Fit Family: The Infant, Toddler and Preschool Years ( Vitesse, 2008 ) explains how parents can hike, bike, run, and even kayak with their kids. Heidi and her husband, Tom have put this into practice by trying out many of these sports with their two daughters, aged 3 and 5 each. ”At the get-go, a lot of it can be miserable. You really have to persevere and know that you’re teaching a lifestyle.”, says Hill.

In the beginning, dads could try to fast walk with a jog stroller or jog alongside their kids as they bike. The key lies in using the right equipment that is not too clunky. A trail-a-bike is a one-wheel option that can be attached to the back of dad’s bike.

Workouts are a great way for dads to bond with their kids. As kids grow older, the positive effects of having family workouts increases exponentially. Dads need to listen to some good parenting advice by self-educating themselves and planning the workout in advance to make the experience fun for the entire family.