3 Parenting Tips For Children and 1 Safety Item

Parenting is such a joy most of the time. MOST of the time.  Other times, you probably feel like pulling your hair out. Don’t worry, you’re not alone!

To help you out we asked some experts on childrearing to give their opinions on the questions parents need answered. We asked the experts…

- How can I help my child make new friends? Some parents become overly concerned when their school aged child is more interested in spending time alone than he is in spending time with his peers.  Know that this is not uncommon, and that many children simply prefer alone time to social groups until they get close to the teen years. However, if you suspect that the reason your child is having problems making friends is because of a personality issue then you should start addressing it as soon as possible. Figure out what the problem is, whether it is because your child is bossy, hyper, cannot follow the rules or if the problem is poor self control.  One you determine if there is a problem, you will be close to a solution.

- How can I raise a child who follows the rules? Rules come in all shapes and sizes throughout the course of our lives.  Therefore, it is very important to teach your children from a young age that it is important to follow rules.  A good way to dissuade your child from following rules is to constantly break and complain about rules in front of them.  If you want to raise your child to follow the rules you need to be their number one role model.  This may mean stopping for more stop signs – but remember that when your child starts driving they will still be paying more attention to what you DO than what you SAY.

- How can I stay on top of trends? When it comes to fads and trends, the one consistency is change.  What your child is begging for one day, he will be scoffing at the next. As a parent, you will need to make sure that your child does not ‘fall behind the time’, while showing them that not every fad is worth following. It is important to be clear with your reasons when you tell your child that they cannot have a specific item. And, you need to make sure that you do allow your child to follow some fads that don’t pose a significant problem.  Some parents will give in and allow their children to wear some of the more questionable teen fashions, while other parents will give in on video game trends.  Still other parents will give their children the latest electronic devices.  Today’s big question is whether or not children should have their own cell phones, a trend that is increasing among pre-teens and teens alike.  It’s a matter of personal choice – but you will need to instill limits with your children right from the beginning.

- How would I know if my home contained lead paint? Any home that was built before 1978 could potentially contain lead based paint.  Intact paint that is not peeling in any location is most likely not a hazard, however if your home is older and has peeling walls you will need to be aware of the dangers of lead poisoning.  If you suspect that your home contains lead-based paint, you can request that a certified lead inspector perform tests to determine whether there is lead present and give you advice on what you need to do in order to keep your child safe.

Questions come with the territory when you’re a parent. So if you find yourself asking more questions then you know the answers to, you’re not alone. In fact, we were amazed by the number of questions parents came forward with when we asked them what was on their minds. Hopefully reading the answers to these common parenting questions has given you something to think about.

Tags: parenting questions, lead paint, childrearing, parenting