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 oes your child want to watch the same
movie over and over again? Are you tired of reading the same book every
single night? Have you memorized every song from their favorite CD? Yes, repetition
is the name of the game with young children! They like to know what comes
next; Children thrive on routine because it is safe.
Even the
things your children complain about and beg you to change - like play time,
bedtime and curfew – must be kept consistent for as long as it is age
appropriate. As boring as it seems, consistency translates into
reliability. Trust me, your child wants to know just how reliable you are.
Of all the things that you maintain
constant in your home, perhaps the most important is cause and consequence.
As adults we are forced to understand this concept if we want to maintain
jobs, secure loans or even avoid jail. It is a good idea to teach your
children the importance of abiding laws.
In your home,
YOU are responsible for law enforcement! The sooner you and your children
understand this, the sooner you will have a peaceful household.
Before you lay down the rules though,
there are 3 easy steps you must take:
First,
pick your battles wisely. There are certain things simply not worth
fighting about and that varies from family to family. Too many rules become
hard to reinforce so chose the ones that are truly important to you. For
instance, if your child hates to get up in the morning, an early bedtime
may take precedence to eating her vegetables.
Second,
make sure your children understand what the rules are. Be clear about what
they are and are not allowed to do and what the consequences will be should
they break these rules.
Third,
the punishment must fit the crime. If you are unreasonable when
establishing cause and consequence you won’t be able to be consistent.
Telling your child that he can’t watch television until he finishes his
homework is perfectly reasonable. Telling your child he can’t watch
television until he graduates from high school may not be as easy to
reinforce.
Once your rules and consequences have been
discussed and posted where the children can see them often, the most
important thing is to stick to your own words. Your children will test your
commitment by pushing their limits and ignoring the rules. Like most
parenting issues, this will only work if you lead by example.
Children as young as two can be held
responsible for helping to put toys away, bring empty cups to the kitchen
and putting their shoes on the proper shelf. Having a job at home promotes
a sense of belonging and increases self esteem. Get your children involved
as soon as possible and keep your part of the bargain by being consistent.
How much stability you should expect from
your children is directly related to how much consistency they anticipate
from you.
Whether it is praise or reprimand, your
response to their actions should be prompt and unfailing. As children try
to figure out the world around them, it is your job to make it easier for
them to navigate through the rough spots.
Make sure your children
know that they can count on you 100% of the time!
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House
Rules Suggestions
We use soft voices when playing inside
Hands are for
hugging, not hurting
We take care of
our belongings
We are polite to
each other
We
take turns
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SUGGESTED
READING
March
is National Women’s History Month! Take the chance to teach your children
about the amazing contributions that women have made to the world
throughout history and remind them that they too can play an important
part in our future.
Girls Who
Rocked the World
By Amelie
Welden
You Want Women
to Vote, Lizzie Stanton?
By Jean Fritz
I Could Do
That!
By Linda Arms
White
The Paper Bag
Princess
By Robert
Munsch
Are You My
Mother?
By P.D.
Eastman
A Mother for
Choco
By Keiko Kasza
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"A PARENT ASKS"
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Q: What is the best
way to discipline my children when we are in public?
A: When your children
act out in public you end up in an awkward position; you don’t want people
around you to think that you are a pushover who allows your kids to
misbehave but you also don’t want to come off as the out of control parent
on isle five.
Here are a few tips on how
to avoid turning your trip to the store into a disaster:
Do not wait until you are in
public to let your children know what is expected of them. Before you leave
the house, don’t forget:
·
Let your kids know where they are going,
what they will be doing and how long it will take.
·
Be clear about your rules: No wondering off
in the store; Use your inside voice while we shop; Keep your hands to
yourself.
·
Offer a reward for good behavior: If you
follow these rules you will be allowed to have a treat on the way home.
·
Explain the consequences: If you break any
of these rules there will be no treats.
Once you have laid down the
basics, the real secret will be to follow through with your promises.
Don’t hand out treats to screaming children, don’t forget to reward good
behavior and stick with the time table you designed. By keeping shopping
trips short you allow your children a good opportunity to show off some
good social skills!
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"PARENTS WANT TO KNOW"
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Spring
Craft Idea
Here’s a
project that is easy, celebrates nature (April 22nd is Earth Day), the
children will enjoy and it makes a great gift on Mother’s Day!
You
will need:
·
Two different kinds of seeds (beans,
tomatoes, etc)
·
Plant Soil
·
Plastic Spoons
·
Egg Cartons
Instructions:
·
Remove the tip from an egg carton. Then, fill
each pocket in the egg carton with plant soil.
·
Plant the seeds in the 12 pockets. Be
creative with patterns!
·
Make sure the egg carton gets plenty of
light, and water the seeds regularly.
·
Enjoy!
A Parent’s Prayer
Anonymous
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray my sanity to keep.
For if some peace I do not find,
I'm pretty sure I'll lose my mind.
I pray I find a little quiet,
Far from the daily family riot.
May I lie back and not have to think
About what they're stuffing down the sink,
Or who they're with, or where they're at
And what they're doing to the cat.
I pray for time all to myself
(did something just fall off a shelf?)
To cuddle in my nice, soft bed
(Oh no, another goldfish--dead!)
Some silent moments for goodness sake
(Did I just hear a window break?)
And that I need not cook or clean
(well heck, I've got the right to dream)
Yes now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray my wits about me keep,
But as I look around I know,
I must have lost them long ago!
The Parent Line: Free statewide phone line for parents and
others caring for children. Call for support, encouragement, information,
and ideas about handling behavior or about community resources. Mon-Fri 8
a.m.-6 p.m. and Sat 9 a.m.-1p.m. O'ahu Ph. 526-1222. Neighbor Island
parents call toll-free: 1-800-816-1222.
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SAFETY WORKS
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SAFE
SLEEP
Suffocation
is the leading cause of fatal injuries among Hawaii infants age 0-12
months. Many sleep-related infant deaths occur from suffocation when
infants were sleeping in a face-down position.
YOU
CAN PRECENT SLEEP RELATED DEATHS
·
Place infants on their backs to sleep,
even for naps
·
Place infants to sleep in safety-approved
cribs with firm mattresses
·
Keep the car and home smoke-free
·
Keep pillows, soft comforters, and stuffed
toys out of the sleep area
·
To prevent overheating: Do not overdress
infants when they sleep
For more
information, please visit www.safesleephawaii.org
This
information was brought to you by Safe Sleep Hawaii and Hawaii State
Department of Health.
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