Tips on Parenting an Adopted Child

Parents who are having difficulties having children will ultimately desire to adopt a child. While there are some concerns regarding the originating family as well as the background, many couples have managed to create and forge a happy, strong family unit even without the bonds of blood.

Admittedly, adopting a child can be difficult, and we are not just talking about the legal requirements and all the paperwork that come with the adoption process. Orphans, foster, and homeless children may have emotional and trust issues, especially those who have been bypassed for adoption or have been transferred from one home or institution to another.

If you are determined to adopt a child and forge a last relationship, here are some useful tips that you should take into consideration…

1. Just because the child is not of your blood, you should avoid being detached from him/her. Neither should you neglect him/her. Be involved with their lives. For example, instead of just showing them how to use a fork and knife, you can take their hands and teach them how to use it. Help them in doing daily chores. In this way, even routine activities can be transformed into bonding moments.

2. Make time to play games or enjoy recreational activities with the child. You can invite the parents and kids of your neighbor and play team games. By working as a team to win games, you will help in strengthening the ties between you.

3. Show an active interest in the child’s hobbies and other activities that he/she likes to do. If the child is gifted in the arts, like drawing and handicrafts, encourage him/her by helping them buy the needed supplies. Do these hobbies together. Why not make a painting together which you can later frame and hang on the wall? If the child is interested in sports, play with them. You can even ask him/her to teach you, like for example you don’t know how to play basketball or swim.

4. Take time off. A lot of parents ultimately get caught up in the daily grind of earning a living that they neglect the emotional needs of the adopted child. Make it a point to reserve your evenings for playing with them or watching TV or helping them with their homework. For weekends, plan outdoor activities. It can be something as simple as a picnic in the park or you can take them shopping at the mall.

5. Let your child feel important and help build confidence and self-esteem. There is nothing an adopted child wants more than to have their adoptive parents need them. Let them help you with the household chores. You can also ask them to run errands for you at the convenience store or grocery.

6. If you should eventually have a baby of your own, don’t neglect your adopted child. Many poor children are brought back to the orphanage or other institution when couples have a baby. Once you decide to adopt, consider first and foremost the well being of the adopted child. Don’t just “throw” him/her away once you have a child of your own. Let your adopted help you in caring for the new baby and treat it as a sibling.

Learn more tips on how to become an effective parent to adopted children today!

 

 

Tips on Being a Good Stepparent

You have probably heard at one time or another from other people just how difficult it is to be a parent. But, it is certainly harder to become a stepfather or stepmother.

If you are about to marry someone who has a child or children, there may be conflicts as a result of your stepping into the shoes of a Mom and Dad they love. Many kids become resentful when their parents get a divorce and their Mom and/or Dad marry someone else. There is an even greater pain when their parents marry after a mother or father has passed away. Most children find it difficult to accept a new parent into their lives, especially if the one they had lost is someone whom they loved deeply. If you are going to be a stepmom or stepdad, you need to take the feelings of the child into serious consideration.

Here are some tips which can help you become a good stepparent…

1. Never pretend to be someone you’re not. A big mistake you can make is to try to be like the Mom or Dad who’s gone. This will only irritate the child. Remember that you cannot be a replacement for the parent they had lost, but you can be a brand new Mom or Dad for them.

2. Get to know the child prior to marrying your partner. It is not advisable to rush into a marriage with a partner who has a child/children. Take the opportunity to meet his/her children. As you ask about themselves and their interests, let them ask questions about you as well. Be prepared for some rude remarks and outright hostility. Instead of answering hotly, be very kind and polite and say that you they would give you a chance.

3. Never harbor expectations in the beginning. Some stepmoms and stepdads make the mistake in expecting that the child will warm up to them immediately. On the contrary, you should expect acts of disobedience and refusal to heed your advice. In some cases, these acts are intended to test you, to see how you’ll react and what you’ll do. Always be nice and polite toward the child, and show that you sincerely care about him/her.

4. Avoid complaining too much. Right from the start, problems with relating to the children need to be expected. You should never complain about these problems constantly to your partner and relatives (such as the kids’ grandparents). Ignore acts of mischief. For more serious problems, you should resolve all conflicts diplomatically. This does not mean, however, that you will tolerate misbehaviors from the child. If the child did a bad thing, be honest with him/her and tell him so. State clearly that his/her behavior upsets you and that you never expected such actions to be done by a boy/girl whom you’ve heard is well-mannered and behaved. If, despite all efforts to resolve conflict, the child refuses to cooperate, only then should you bring the matter up to your spouse.

5. Take an active interest in the child. Make it a point to go to sports events or school activities where the child is participating in. Don’t take the initiative by introducing yourself to his/her friends especially if there is still friction between you. Let him/her be the one to introduce you. Also, don’t be intrusive. He/she will include you in his/her social life if he/she already accepts you.

6. Never implement major changes during the first few years of your marriage. If there is anything that kids hate is to have their stepmoms and stepdads making sudden changes to their homes or daily routines. For them, these changes mean that you are removing all traces of the parent they had lost. Do not change the interiors of the home for a year or two. When you want to make changes, make sure that you involve the child in the discussions and decision-making.

Discover other valuable advice on how to become a great stepparent today!

 

Tips on Making Picky Kids Eat Healthy Foods

There is nothing more bothersome – and perhaps irritating – to a parent than to have a child who is a picky eater. No matter what food they try to serve, their child refuses to eat it. Worse, some even go so far as to throw a tantrum if they don’t get the food that they like. Because of this, there is a great concern that their children is not meeting their daily requirements for the important nutrients needed in their growth and development which can only be obtained by eating a healthy diet.

If you don’t want to have your dining table turned into a battlefield during breakfast, lunch or dinner, here are some tips that will help you get even the pickiest of eaters eating healthily.

Stimulate your child’s appetite

You can never force a picky eater to eat if he or she is not hungry. If they are still feeling full, no amount of coercion or bribing will get you to eat their snacks or consume what you have set out on their plates. The best way to get around this dilemma is by not giving your child milk, juice or snacks one hour before a meal in order to stimulate the child’s appetite. If your child is hungry by mealtime, more likely, he or she will consume what you have served with less fuss.

Establish a routine

Another way by which you can get your picky eater to eat is by regulating their appetites. This is done by setting a fixed routine or schedule. You need to serve food at the same time daily. If you establish a routine, you are assured that your child will be hungry when he or she sits down at the dining table. Do not create distractions during mealtimes. Turn off the radio or TV set or keep their toys within reach. If you are worried about your child eating too much sweets for dessert, you should only serve cakes, pastries and other special desserts once or twice a week. Serve only healthy desserts like fruits on a mealtime basis. Also, never use withholding dessert as a form of punishment. This will give the wrong message to the child that dessert is a special treat and will end up craving for more.

Be a little sneaky.

Kids who absolutely hate vegetables will most likely not eat anything that looks green. Be a little sneaky by putting veggies and other much hated foods into your child’s favorite dishes. For example, you can chop broccoli and green peppers finely and mix them into the spaghetti sauce. If your child hates fruit with his/her cereal, you can either put fruit slices on top of his/her cereal or you can dice them and mix them well with the cereal flakes.

Introduce new foods at the right time

The best time to introduce new foods to picky eaters is when they are hungry or rested. Children try out new dishes by smelling and tasting them. One way to entice your child to eat is by preparing the food in a way that is appealing to them. For example, you can make fun faces with fruits and vegetables. You can also serve veggie sticks with their favorite dips.

Involve your child in food purchases and preparation.

Parents of picky eaters should consider bringing their kids along when they go out shopping for groceries. Let your child select the fruits and vegetables that he or she would like to eat. When you get home, let your child help you in preparing the dishes by rinsing fruits and veggies, grating ingredients, stirring sauces, and setting the table. The more involved the child is in the food preparations, the greater would be his or her inclination to try out the dish that he/she helped make.

Learn more useful tips on how to make a picky eater eat healthily today!

 

Tips on Car Seat Safety for Infants and Toddlers

In a report released in 2006 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it was found that the use of special booster seats in cars have led to the saving of the lives of 425 children below age 5. The report concluded that these special child safety seats helped in reducing the risk of death among infants by 71 percent and among toddlers by 54 percent.

It is not enough, however, that you have such a safety seat inside your car. You also need to know which type of seat is best for a particular age group and how to use them.

Let us take a look at the child safety seats that are currently available in the market…

Infant Safety Seats

If a parent does not take the necessary steps to secure an infant’s safety inside a car, catastrophe can happen in the event of a car crash. According to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the immaturity and fragility of a baby’s head and neck makes them very susceptible to serious injuries resulting from whiplash and impact trauma. It is the recommendation that babies be secured in a rear-facing infant seat, so that his/her upper body will be in a more stable position in the event of a car crash.

Infant safety seats come with a base that is installed in the car. You just simply detach the seat from the base and use the handles to carry the baby around. A rear-facing infant seat is recommended for babies 1 year of age and below and weighing at least 20 pounds, although there are some models that can accommodate a weight of 30 pounds.

Toddler Safety Seats

Although a toddler may be bigger than an infant, his or her body is still not strong enough to withstand strong impacts and collision resulting from car crashes. While it is still preferable that a toddler uses a rear-facing seat, parents can now opt for a convertible safety seat, wherein you can turn the seat so that it can face front or the rear. There are specifications for each model, but the age range for most convertible safety seats is 1 and 4 years old. Make sure that you read the instruction manual that comes with the safety seat carefully. Usually, you will need to change the toddler safety seat to forward-facing when your child reaches 40 pounds in weight.

Booster Seats

Booster seats are recommended for children before they reach the height of 4 feet nine inches (which is around 8 years old). Some cars have harness-style seats which you can convert into booster seats just by taking off the harness. You can also purchase a separate booster seat, which is attached to the car shoulder or lap belt.

Special Considerations

There are special considerations that you need to take note of aside from the car safety seat.

1. Regardless of whatever type of safety seat you use, all children below 13 years old should be seated at the back seat of the car.

2. Know how to use the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system of your car. This is a system of hooks and restraints that make sure that child safety seat is secured to your car. You should know how to release the LATCH system in the event that you do get into a car accident and you need to get your baby out of the safety seat.

 

Learn about infant and toddler car seat safety today!

 

Benefits of Parenting Classes

In the past, it was unthinkable for most parents to take parenting classes. Back then, it was the firm belief that parenting cannot be taught within the four walls of a classroom. Loving and nurturing a child is an instinct that all humans possess, so parenting is something that is already deeply ingrained.

However, life and family values were simpler back then. In our current tumultuous age, the family unit is under assault from an environment that is rife with violence and questionable morality. Even children are changing because of what they see on TV and on the Internet. Also, problems which did not exist in the past – bullying on an unprecedented violent scale, drug abuse, and domestic abuse – are now an almost daily occurrence. Because of these and other factors, parents want to be well-equipped when it comes to caring for their children. What better way to get the knowledge on how to be a good parent than through parenting classes.

Previously, parenting classes were merely prenatal classes to prepare the mother – as well as her husband – for the time when she is about to give birth. Now, parenting classes are not just limited to first-time parents. There are parenting classes that cover basic skills, such as breastfeeding, feeding, infant/child nutrition, parenting styles, caring for children with special needs, and help in raising teens. There are also specialized classes for special case families, such as parents with anger management issues, problems with bullying (both physical and cyberbullying), alcoholism and substance abuse, domestic violence, rape, and dealing with children with gender issues.

Whatever type of parenting class you choose, there are many benefits that you can derive from them. One of these benefits is being taught about the various parenting styles. Sometimes, parents can be too strict or too lax when it comes to taking raising their kids. While experts say that it is best to strike a balance between the two, this is easier said than done. Parenting classes will teach you how to take the positive points from each of these styles and adapt them to the particular personality quirks of each child.

Another benefit of parenting classes is that it will address issues pertaining to the health and well being of the child. These would include good nutrition, exercise, introducing a healthy lifestyle to the child at a young age, immunization, and other health issues.

As was mentioned earlier, there are parenting classes that will address special needs. A spouse and a child who have been victims of abuse can find support in such classes. On the other hand, the abusive parent can be taught the necessary techniques to control his/her anger. Parenting classes are invaluable to couples who are planning to adopt a child. It is equally important to a man or woman who will soon become stepparents.

Perhaps the greatest benefit of parenting classes is that it helps to instill confidence within the parent. After attending such classes, they feel that they are more capable of dealing with the many challenges that come with parenthood. Parenting classes are also a great way to meet other parents, so that you will get the benefit of their years of experience and expertise in raising their kids.

Learn more about the benefits of parenting classes today!