What to Know Before Becoming a Parent

As commonplace as parenting appears from a distance, you would be amazed at how much you don`t know, until you become a parent and begin to struggle with certain things. We have compiled some tips that will help you become a better parent and not have to struggle with what every novice struggles with. These tips will help you find parenting much easier. Keep reading!

6 Tips that Will Make your Parenting Experience Easier

Connect

Dedicate at least 10 minutes of your time each day and title it with your child`s name like “Esther`s Time”. Do this with every child if you have more than one. This is not the only time you should attend to your child, however, you should focus on them fully at this time. You may have them pick the activities you do during this time. You may also be the one to pick. Better still, you two might want to alternate the decision on what to do. Make sure that each child`s siblings are busy, and your phone is away during this time that you`re connecting with them.

Control your Emotions

There are situations that may make you lose it. Please don`t. So whether it`s bad grades at school, refusal to eat dinner, temper tantrums, be calm. Taking a deep breath and stepping away to calm yourself may just be a better approach. Don`t be that parent who yells at their children, as it`s not safe for their psychological wellbeing.

Don’t Shut Down Conversations

Pay close attention to what your child says, and don`t be quick to ask them to shut their mouth. So when they have heightened emotions and say they hate a particular subject or teacher, or they don`t want to see a particular relative again, be sure that there`s really something going on. You may close the door on finding out what the child is really feeling by making a trite remark like, “You will go to school; now do your homework.” You may say instead, “You sound like you really don’t like science; I`d like that you tell me about it.” That way, your child feels safe opening up to you on that issue and even more.

Manage their Emotions

You will need to help your children manage their emotions, as it is just natural for them to have emotional roller coasters. Even adults do. So your children will definitely need to cry sometimes. Managing their emotions is not about getting them to stop crying. You will need to teach them that those not-so-great emotions like anger and hurt aren’t forbidden; they just have to be better managed. Acknowledge their frustrations and irritations also. You will need to employ compassion and empathy, many times. And above all, teach them to manage their emotions in various situations.

Avoid Power Struggles

It is not your duty to always show that you are in charge. You are already. Just be in charge without putting it to their faces. If they say they don`t want dinner, it`s not time to force them to eat; they probably really don`t feel like it. If they say they don`t feel like going to school, don`t try to show that you can make them do anything you want them to do. Investigate their decisions tactfully and know the reasons for their choices.

Don’t Take Things so Personally

Ensure you don`t attack back when your child lashes out at you. Yes, you will be tempted to, however, resist the temptation to do so. Instead, try making them understand that they don`t have to transfer their aggression to people. Such a time is a perfect opportunity for a class on anger management.

Parenting and Life Changes

You Will Watch Loads of Kids` Shows

You may not realize that this is happening, however, it actually is. Everything around you begins to change, gradually, particularly the shows that you watch. From your Netflix suggesting more children`s shows to your YouTube recommending more of such, and them your cable TV usually tuned to them, welcome to the life of parenting.

Your Pet is no Longer your Major Concern

All of a sudden, you`d realize that your pet is no longer the center of attention because human babies have come through.

Talking to your Friends About your Children Becomes a Norm

They`re part of your life already, and you will talk about them often. You will catch yourself talk about your children with friends that don`t have any yet, and you may feel bad about this, however, it is entirely normal. You will always want to talk about your children and their progress. So you just may find yourself spending more time with friends who also have children and can relate.

7 Amazing Facts About Toddlers

• Guiding toddlers through their years of rapid development can be challenging, as they are just beginning to discover themselves. Let`s explore some tips that you may find helpful.
• Toddlers would usually have a kind of language explosion when they are one. At this stage, they know about 70 words. By 18 months, they learn a new word every two hours. Get ready for the drastic improvement in communication.
• Toddlers will only use a few of the words they understand, however, may still appear as talking much.
• Language development isn’t the same for all toddlers, as some learn phrases before words; others may go without new words for weeks, and may eventually have a sudden burst much later.
• You should start reading to toddlers early, to help them in their independent reading later in life.
• Toddlers do a lot of picky eating, and it can be frustrating, however, entirely normal. Keep introducing new foods and be patient with them. You will eventually discover what they love to eat, and what they don`t.
• They will put everything in their mouth, and that too is perfectly normal. They are only exploring the world, and as funny as it may sound, they do so through all their sense organs.

12 Interesting Facts About Teenagers

• The general puberty sequence in girls is usually in the order of breast development, growing pubic hair, growth spurt, menstruation, and growing armpit hair.
• The puberty sequence in boys is genital development, pubic hair growth, a general growth spurt, ejaculation, voice changes, then facial and body hair growth.
• Studies show that about 20 percent of teens will experience depression before they become adults.
• There are more teenage girls who wish that their parents communicate better with them than there are teenage boys.
• Teenagers whose parents regularly talk about the dangers of drugs are about 40 percent less likely to abuse drugs than those whose parents don’t.
• Most girls have their first vaginal discharge in the form of menstruation which continues in a monthly cycle, while boys experience their first discharge through a wet dream.
• Back in the 1900s, girls began puberty when they were 15, however, these days, puberty begins at age 10.
• 1 in 9 high school seniors has tried synthetic marijuana.
• Teenagers who drink alcohol are 50 times more likely to take cocaine than those who don`t drink.
• Many children have heightened peer pressure during puberty.
• On average, a number of young people have their first sex at age 17.
• A teenage girl’s self-esteem is linked to how she views her body shape and weight.