All Teaching Parenting Skills Blog

Children Decongestant - Nature’s solution

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:35:02 +0000

Children Decongestant - They need not be sticky, uncomfortable and cold. They need be hot, wet and messy. In fact they need not be some sort of sprays to stick into their nostrils, or some liquid they have to take.
Here are some of methods you can use to help them out.
1. A mixture of Euchalyptus and Peppermint Oil. You need to add these to a base oil like grapeseed or sweet almond oil. Rub some onto their chest area and behind their neck. If their nose is blocked, apply some on the nostril area as well. This will keep them comfortable for the night
2. If they feel uncomfortable with these essentials oil (children can be very difficult especially when they are sick), you can also burn pure oil in their bedroom (use the correct utensils of course)
3. Prop up their pillow will help them with the congestions as well.

Actually, although these are simple, they are very effective.

For More
Teaching Parenting Skills

Solve your childs sleep problems

admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:18:52 +0000

Solve your childs sleep problems is really not an easy task
Here are some of the tips I would try.
1. Understand your child’s sleeping pattern. Sometimes, children just cannot have afternoon naps. While others need one to have a better night’s sleep.
2. Sometimes, more is OK. Like the first point, don’t be too afraid of letting your child have a nap in the afternoon. Being too tired may hamper a good night’s sleep.
3. Is your child sensitive to any kinds of food that would make his stomach ache?, bloated, give him too much energy ( chocolates are a big nono)
4. Music Helps. Please be sensible, no pop or rock music, this may further excite the child
5. Do not over-excite the child. Laughing or crying too much can lead to nightmare. Their nightmare IS OUR NIGHTMARE.
6. Drink a cup of hot milk. This helps soothes her.
7. Aromatic Oils do help as well. Especially the ones for calming the nerves and relaxing. You could either put some on their temple or burn some in their room.
8. Make sure room is at a comfortable temperature. Too cold or hot is bad
9. Make sure room is ventilated.

For more…
Teaching Parenting Skills

Cooking with your kids - Training Tips

admin — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:34:17 +0000

Cooking with your kids. This can be really fun if you plan for it.
The key word here is planning for this activity. I often cook with my kids around me. They are more than happy to help out wherever possible. Now that my eldest daughter is seven years old, I am beginning to train her to do more chores, cooking being one of them. Of course, like any other learning, we must plan for it.
1. Make sure the attitude is correct. Never treat anything as too difficult or not fun from the beginning. For example, washing up; doing dishes
2. Even though I said the above as the first rule, sometimes we have to face reality. Sweeping the floor is probably less glorified than making a salad. Cleaning the mixing bowl is probably going to be less fun than baking a cake. We need to keep it as a package.
3. Make sure they complete the entire chore. Never let them get away with incomplete work, especially in the kitchen, this can because dangerous
4. Safety First. Dedicate the first few lessons to safety.

For more tips
Teaching Parenting Skills

Refugee Runs - My daily trips to school. John’s adventure

admin — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 14:52:21 +0000

Refugee Runs - My daily trips to school has turned into a roller coster ride somewhat…

My eldest daughter just recently started school and has a “little” difficulty waking up in the morning even though we send her to bed by 8:45pm at night. To top that off, since the school is between work and on the same route as my other daughters I also drop the other 2 at the day care centre.

Here’s how my adventure starts every morning.
1. There is a huge traffic jam just outside my daughter’s school every morning. Since there are more than 1 school in that area, I have to park about 2 blocks away and walk her to school
2. Second heartburn. my youngest daughter walks like a penguin at this point. She is not the most graceful runner to say the least. I have to carry her.
3. Bags are about 10kg. Well i lie, but even the kid’s school bag starts to feel heavy after the first block. Let alone having to carry it
4. My daugthers have no sense of urgency. They haven’t figured out what late means yet. Why is daddy is such a hurry. Oh look, what’s that by the roadside. AMMMMMMEEEEELIE!!!
5. I tell you, everyone within my route knows my daughter’s name. They have been introduced. Trust me on this.
6. I am sure Sister Mary Anne of the Immaculate Conception is going to have a word with me one of these days and it isn’t going to be about my patience or what a cool cat I am .
Here’s the picture every morning.
I use my baby-ergo carrier to carry the youngest, 2 school bags in one hand, the other hand pulling my 2nd daugther while my eldest daugther is about 100m behind checking out the flowers by the roadside. Me, in my office wear, running for 2 blocks because the school bell will be ringing anytime, and I’m yelling “AMELIEEEEE hurry up” every 10 steps.
Lord, I prayer that tomorrow, they’ll be earlier, there won’t be a traffic jam, I’ll have a good car park, that’s not asking too much is it?

For more…
Teaching Parenting Skills.

Big Sister Duties - Nice Job

admin — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:10:17 +0000

Big Sister Duties - Nice Job. Big sister duties are generally well received even though sometimes it may be a little over-whelming for the little one.
I have 2 big sisters at home. Both of them are a joy when it comes to taking care of their little sister. The thing is she knows it and takes advantage of both her big sisters. However, as parents I believe that if you get the eldest right, everyone else will almost fall into place.
Here are some of big sister duties
1. Fetcher or Mommy’s helper. Fetch something for the little sister. (a glass of water, pyjamas etc) just about anything that is not dangerous
2. Teacher. Teaching younger sister to read and write. Here again, it depends on the age of the sister.
3. Candy Supervisor. Sometimes I like to make sure that they share and will willingly give their younger siblings things that they like very much. So, this is a method to test them.
4. Sleeping Companion. - Our girls sleep together and are companion for night time.
5. Story Teller - Tells stories when mommy or daddy is out and babysitter is a poor story teller
6. Comforter - When little sister is scolded or punished by mommy or daddy
7. Sparing Partner - Within limits. much to the dismay of parents.
8. Playmate - This is the fun part
9. Path Finder - Big sister will always show you the ropes in any new environment.

For more
Teaching Parenting Skills

Nocturnal Babies have grown up - They don’t have to be Nocturnal Kids

admin — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 01:47:04 +0000

Nocturnal Babies have grown up - They don’t have to be Nocturnal Kids. We need to teach the children to sleep early.
So how do you make your child sleep early?
1. Plan ahead of time. Very often parents are the ones who delay their children. This is especially true because parents are tired out towards the end of the day
2. Prioritize Sleeping Early. This may mean not watching the 8pm news, reading the newspaper or any other relaxing activity until the children are in bed. Trust me, you’ll enjoy yourself more once they are in bed
3. Parents to sleep earlier too. Lights out for everyone is a good way to encourage your children to also sleep early
4. Keeping it consistent. Unless its a major holiday like thanksgiving or christmas, try to keep all exceptions to the minimum.

Above all, both parent needs to be united and work together on this.

For more:
Teaching Parenting Skills

Plan Parents Plan - Efficient Parenting

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:10:55 +0000

Plan Parents Plan - Efficient Parenting. I often wonder how many mothers feel like they have not achieved anything at the end of the day?
Lots of mothers always complain that they feel they haven’t done anything thoughout the day aside from the daily chores that they do. This is partially due to the fact that these mothers don’t plan out or prioritize what they need to do. And as a result “failling to plan” is planning to fail.
Here are some tips on how to plan as parents especially if you are a home maker.
1. You need to make a list of what you want to achieve every two weeks. - List them down and track them everyday
2. Rank the list in order of importance to you
3. For every item, write down what completion looks like. That way, all your tasks are not open ended. There is an ending
4. Task them out into bite size events. That way, you can be motivated by small successes
5. Celebrate Completion. Don’t fill your day up 100%. Do what’s achieveable.

More Efficiency:
Teaching Parenting skills

kids punishment - Ways to discipline them

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:52:49 +0000

kids punishment - Ways to discipline them. What is the best way to discipline them and make it stick>

People have written many books and articles on disciplining your child. How to punish them, I don’t think we need to figure out new methods on how to punish them, but I would like to say that there are times, punishment does not equal discipline. Discipline does not equal punishment as well.

I would like to view Discipline as a more preventive and punishment is like fixing it when its broken. Here are some forms of discipline which you may ore may not know.

1. Learning Piano or Martial Arts. - Whether is practicing scales or karate moves, these are also learning discipline.
2. Adding Responsibility - Taking out the trash, Washing the car
3. Abstaining for Candies or even meat - This is a very good way of training self control. We can internalize these
4. Cleaning the house
5. Joining a uniformed society - scouts, boys/girls brigade.

For more
Teaching Parenting Skills

Fast Food for Kids - Myth or Miracle?

admin — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:15:44 +0000

Fast Food for Kids - Myth or Miracle?

I often wonder if the food served to us really food or doing us more harm?
When we talk about fast food, we often think about the food chain where we get “food” within 15 minutes of the time we order. They all usually have one thing in common, highly unhealthy. Although I must say that these days, they are more sensitive about the quality of food they serve. The amount of fat and carb have been well defined.

Even then, I really question the type of oil they use, reused deep fried oil cannot be too healthy.

Here are some of the ways we can avoid fast food.
1. Bring Your Own - It is very easy to pack a sandwich to go. If you short of time, go to the nearest shopping market and purchase some basic items to go. - it may not be so “glamorous” but itwill definitely be cheaper and healthier.
2. Plan your outings - Bring a picnic basket
3. This is a golden rule. What you never have you never miss. If you haven’t started your kids on fast food. DON’T.
4. If they need to go, why not eat elsewhere and just go for an ice-cream?

For more information

Teaching Parenting Skills

Missing my sister

admin — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:03:37 +0000

Missing my sister - Ever wondered why when your children are together they squabble, fight, fuss and complain, yet when they are apart, they miss each other?

I often wonder the very same thing. Now that my youngest daughter can communicate, she often have fights with her closest sibling. This is because, the play a lot together. Therefore, chance of “miscommunication” is a lot higher.

I then realize, children fight because of miscommunication, more so, when you’re learning to communicate, chance are, you would read wrong signals or give wrong signals. That’s why it always seems like the youngest one is bullying her sister. In actual fact, she is just learning the art of communication. Explaining to her solves the problem. Also, explaining to her older sister grants her that additional ounce of patience. As adults, we spend most of our lives communicating to others, sorting communication out at an early age can be a real advantage.
Separating them ,will not solve the problem but will create more. The fact that they are quarrelling means they are sharpening their communication and negotiation skills. We need to be the facilitator not the judge

For more

Teaching Parenting Skills