Mi Choza De Nipa

From Focus on the Family All children whine when they get tired or bored. Adults do it, too. But some children whine so much that it becomes like fingernails on a chalkboard. Children who whine constantly are not always doing it to annoy you. They are usually just looking for a way to get attention, or to get what they want. Crying and whining worked when they were little, so they still do it. Parents are often so annoyed by it that they give in — which only adds to the problem later. When children whine, say to them firmly: “You know that’s not how we ask for things. If you want something, speak in your nice voice. Then I can understand you.” When they do, praise them for speaking clearly. Above all, keep your own whining in check, since children learn by example. With a little time, every home can be a whine-free zone. From TODAY, Voices - Wednesday, 08-Sep-2010 ----- Related articles by Zemanta How to Help With Homework: Ending the Daily Homework Hassle (brighthub.com)...

From Focus on the Family Having trouble remembering what your teenager looks like? Maybe it’s time to rein in their busy schedules and preserve a little family time. With all the activities available to children these days it’s easy for families to lose touch. Children are so busy with sports , art lessons, ballet and dozens of other extracurricular activities that many families can’t remember the last time they sat down for a meal together. But family times are important to a child’s development and as parents, it’s our job to see that they get scheduled. Why not pick one night of the week as a regular family night? Maybe you could go out to dinner — somewhere away from phones and other distractions — and use the time to relax and reconnect. Try going on a hike or a picnic together. Or maybe you could just set up chairs in the park. Whatever it takes to keep the family unit together and well connected. But if you don’t put it on the schedule, it may never happen. Put a fa...

From Focus on the Family Have your children learned to take responsibility for their actions? Better yet, have you learned it? It is amazing how often we blame others for the things that happen to us. And it is not just a problem with children — I know a lot of adults who can’t seem to accept guilt when things go wrong. But part of growing is learning these five key principles of responsibility. We’ll call them the five “As” of accepting blame. First, admit when you do something wrong. Everyone makes bad choices and the first step in overcoming them is being honest about it. Second, apologise for how your transgression affected others. Make it right if you can. Third, accept the consequences of your actions. And don’t expect others to pay for your mistake. Fourth, ask for forgiveness. Just because you’ve apologised, don’t assume that others have forgotten how you hurt them. Fifth, alter your choices in the future. Decide now how you plan to do things differently the next time...

By Dr Bill Maier It’s the little things that make children feel special. Things that take almost no time and effort but add up to great memories for their future. Give thanks for every member of the family, for each child by name. Say something like, “Thank you Jinghui, for the way you light up a room when you walk in. We’re so blessed to have such a bright and joyful child.” Speak blessings into your children’s lives through your words and see how it affects their self-worth. The next time you take a trip in the car or walk to the MRT station, ask each child to share their favourite things about their brothers or sisters. Take turns talking about what makes each child unique and special. You’ll be doing more than building your children’s self-image; you’ll be teaching your children how to love and appreciate each other. It isn’t difficult to make children feel special. It just takes a little extra creativity. From TODAY, Voices - Tuesday, 27-July-2010 ----- Related ...

By Dr Bill Maier Looking for some creative ways to make your kids feel special? Here are some ideas to consider. Every year on your child’s birthday, write a letter telling them how much they mean to you. Mention specific ways that they bring joy and laughter into the world. Write about their gifts and talents, and how you believe that they have a bright future. Then keep all the letters in an album and present it to them on their 13th birthday. How about keeping a journal for each child? Write down those funny or bright things they say each day. Make sure you include long passages explaining how much you love them. Then pass the journal on to them when they leave for university or move out of the house. These are just two great ways to bless your children . And you’ll be giving them memories that they’ll treasure forever. From TODAY, Voices - Monday, 26-July-2010 ----- Related articles by Zemanta Children Who Need Help - Two - (socyberty.com) Praise You In This Sto...

By Dr Bill Maier What do you do when you love your child but cannot seem to get along with him? All of us have days when our children grate at our nerves. With some parents, however, those days are the norm. We all love our children dearly but sometimes their personalities are so different from ours that we clash with them at every turn. Begin by reminding yourself that they are not trying to drive you crazy on purpose. They merely think differently. Children are created with a unique set of gifts and qualities, and these things make them who they are. Some of the very traits that you struggle to deal with when they are four years old may catapult them towards great things later in life. Instead of trying to change your child’s personality, learn to embrace it. Even if you do clash in the process. From TODAY, Voices - Wednesday, 30-June-2010 ----- Related articles by Zemanta Rob Asghar: Generation 'N' for 'Narcissist': Pushover Parents and the Kids ...

By Dr Bill Maier There’s a reason why mother birds push their babies out of the nest. If she didn’t, some of them would never leave. A lot of grown children are the same way. When they’re 15, they’re chomping at the rein to grow up, but then 25 comes around and they’re still hanging around the house. There’s nothing wrong with letting grown children stay, as long as you’ve taken the time to define some important ground rules. First, the arrangement must be mutually agreeable. Let them know that having a key to your door is a privilege, not an eternal right. And second, they need to take on the role of an adult. Tell them they’re welcome to live in your house, but only as an adult boarder. They should be expected to take care of their own cleaning and expenses. Treating grown kids like children only stifles their growth and maturity, and that’s not good for anyone — especially your child. From TODAY, Voices - Friday, 04-June-2010 ----- Related articles by Zemanta 5 review...

Image by Graela via Flickr By Dr James Dobson Sometimes being a good parent requires the skills of a detective, decoding the messages behind your child ’s actions. The most successful parents have the skill to see through the eyes of their child. Unless we master this, we may react in a harmful way. For example, when a two-year-old screams and cries at bedtime, one must find out what he’s communicating. If he is genuinely frightened by the dark, the appropriate response should be different than if he is merely protesting about having to go to bed. A child’s defiant actions may be asking the question , “Are you in charge or am I?” Or your child’s antagonism may be saying, “I feel unloved now that I’m stuck with that screaming baby brother – Mum used to care for us; now nobody wants me – I hate everybody.” Perhaps the toughest task in parenthood is to recognise the difference between these two distinct motives. That’s why raising children is such a lofty skill that can never be r...

Image by michaelgoodin via Flickr By Dr James Dobson Many people have a hard time saying they are sorry to anyone, let alone their children . Although it is difficult to do, apologising when we are wrong provides opportunities to teach valuable lessons to our sons and daughters. I remember a time when our children were young and I was weighed down by the pressures that made me tired and irritable in the evenings. One night, I was especially grouchy and short-tempered with my 10-year-old daughter. After going to bed I felt bad about the way I had treated her and I just felt like I needed to apologise to her. I did so before she left for school the next morning. My daughter put her arms around my neck and said it was okay. Most children are very resilient and eager to reconcile. Asking them for forgiveness shows that you are human, with flaws and imperfections. It also creates an atmosphere wherein conflict and frustration can be resolved. From TODAY, Voices - Thursday, 15-Apr...

Image via Wikipedia By Dr James Dobson Considering how expensive and difficult it is to be a good parent, many people wonder these days why anyone would want to even have children . I’m reminded of a woman whom I met a few years ago. Her hair was a mess and the black circles under her eyes revealed a state of utter exhaustion. As she stumbled past me with seven youngsters, I asked: “Do all those children belong to you? Or is this some kind of picnic?” She replied: “They’re all mine and believe me it’s no picnic”. The woman is right. Parenthood is an assignment that demands everything we can give it. And to do the job right requires some sacrifice and maybe even a few tears. And yet nothing worth having comes cheap. Speaking as a father, there’s never been a greater moment in my life than when I gazed into the eyes of my newborn daughter and son. What could be more exciting than seeing those tiny human beings begin to blossom, grow and learn? And what reward can be more mean...

Image via Wikipedia By Dr Bill Maier Kids don't always tell us when something is bothering them. That's why it's important to watch for those little red flags. Any time a child's behaviour changes, it's a good sign that something different is going on in their life. It could be a problem at school, like being picked on by a bully. Or they could be having nightmares, or other unsettling events. One mother noticed that her 12-yearold girl suddenly developed separation anxiety . The behaviour seemed to come out of nowhere, so the mother knew instinctively that something was wrong. I told her to have a heart-to-heart talk with her daughter, and to try and draw her out. Children don't always share their problems, so it's important to let them know that it's safe to tell us when something — or someone — is bothering them. Just talking through a struggle is often the best way to fix it. From TODAY, Voices – Wednesday, 26-Aug-2009

Image via Wikipedia From Dr James Dobson The ideal environment for your child is not one devoid of problems and trials. Your child needs the minor setbacks and disappointments which come his way. A tree which is planted in a rain forest is never forced to extend its roots downward in search of water . It can be toppled by even a moderate wind. By contrast, a mesquite tree planted in a dry desert can only survive by sending its roots more than thirty feet deep into the earth, seeking cool water. But through this adaptation to arid land, it becomes strong against all assailants. This illustration applies to our children as well. Those who have learned to conquer their problems are more secure than those who have never faced them. Our task as parents then is not to eliminate every challenge for our children; rather it is to serve as a confident ally on their behalf, encouraging them when they're distressed, intervening when the threats are overwhelming, and above all, giving the...

Image by carf via Flickr By Dr James Dobson Do you want to see what kind of men and women your children will grow up to be? Take a look in the mirror. A wise man once said: "The footsteps a child follows are often those that the father thought he covered up." How true that is. There are facts we can pass on to our children and skills we can teach; but how our children really learn is by watching us and observing our every move; by absorbing what we do and who we are. Someone once said: "Values are not taught to kids; they're caught by them." They're picked up routinely through the subtle influences of simply being together through the day. A poem by Herbert Parker sums it up best. He said: "To get his goodnight kiss he stood beside my chair one night, and raised an eager face to me, a face with love alight. And as I gathered in my arms the son God gave to me, I thanked the lad for being good and hoped he'd always be. " His little arms crep...