Tips on Parenting

According to Dr. Spocks, Parenting is about choices. To decide what's best for your child, you will always be well served by stepping back and thinking about these tough questions before making a decision.

Parents don't have children because they want to be martyrs. They have them because they love children and want to raise their very own, esp. when they remember being loved so much by their own parents when they were little. Taking care of their children, seeing them grow and develop into fine people, gives most parents -- despite the hard work -- their satisfaction in life. It is a creative and generative act on every level. Pride in wordily accomplishments usually pales in comparison.

1. Play with your children
2. Take Charge. Children crave limits, which help them understand and manage an often confusing world. Show your love by setting boundaries so your kids can explore and discover their passions safely.
3. Eat at least one meal as a family each day. Sitting down at the table together is a relaxed way for everyone to connect -- a time to share happy news, talk about the day, or tell a silly joke. It also helps your kids develop healthy eating habits/
4. Don't clip you child wings. Your toddler's mission in life is to gain independence. So when she's / he's developmentally capable of putting her / his toys away, clearing her plate from the table, and dressing herself / himself, let her / him. Giving a child responsibility is good for her / his self-esteem.
5. Read books together everyday
6. Get your kids vaccinated
7. Acknowledge his strong emotions. When your child's meltdown is over, ask him "How did that feel?" and "What do you think would make it better?" Then listen to him. He'll recover from a tantrum more easily if you let him talk it out.
8. Say "I love you" whenever you feel it.
9. Schedule daily special time. Let your child choose an activity where you hang out together for 10 or 15 minutes with no interruptions. There's no better way for you to show your love.
10. Be the role model. Kids learn by watching their parents. Modeling appropriate, respectful, good behavior works much better than telling them what to do.
11. Avoid food fights. A healthy child instinctively know how much to eat. If he refuses to finish whatever food is on his plate, just let it go. He won't starve.
12. Live a little greener. Show your kids how easy it is to care for the environment. Waste less, recycle, reuse and conserve each day. Spend an afternoon piking up trash around the neighborhood or planting some flowers.
13. Always tell the truth
14. Talk about what it means to be a good person. Start early, when you read bedtime stories, for example ask your toddler whether the character are being mean or nice and explore why.
15. Don;t try to fix everything. Give young kids a chance to find their own solutions. When you lovingly acknowledge a child's minor frustrations without immediately rushing in to save him, you teach him self-reliance and resilience.
16. Keep the tube in the family room. Research has repeatedly shown that children with a TV in their bedroom weigh more sleepless, and have lower grades and poorer social skills. PS. Parents with a TV in their bedroom have sexless often.
17. Know when to potty train. 
18. Remember that discipline is not punishment.
19. Don't raise a spoiled kid.
20. Explain to your kids why values are important. The simple answer, when you're kind, generous, honest, and respectful, you make the people around you feel good. More importantly, you feel good about yourself.
21. Let your kids place an order. Once a week, allow your children to choose what's for dinner and cook for the
22. Trust your mommy guts. No one knows your child better than you. Follow your instinct when it comes to his health and well-being. If you think something's wrong, chances are you're right.
23. Give appropriate praise. Instead of simply saying "You're great", try to be specific about what your child did to deserve positive feedback. You might say, "Waiting until I was off the to ask for cookies was hard, and I really liked your patience."
24. Encourage daddy time. The greatest untapped resource available for improving the lives of your children is time with Dad -- early and often. Kids with engaged fathers do better in school, problem-solve more successfully, and generally cope better with whatever life throws at them.
25. Savor the moments. Yes parenthood is the exhausting job on the planet. Yes your house is a mess, the laundry's piled up, and the dog needs to be walked. But your kid just laughed. Enjoy it now-- it will be over far too fast.
26. Don't accept disrespect from your child
27. Show your child how to become a responsible citizen. For example, Rather throwing a candy wrapper  in the street try to put it in your pocket and throw it later in the garbage. You are being a good example of a responsible citizen not only to your environment but also to his good character.
28. Keep in mind what grandmom always say. Children are not yours, they are only lent to you for a time. In those fleeting years, do your best to help them grow up to be good people.