Tooth Brushing

Have any of you questioned how to brush your young child's teeth?  Well, I remember questioning my doctors when my children were small on this subject.  No matter what age your child is, it is important to keep his or her mouth clean and healthy.  Use a damp cloth to clean your infants gums until they are old enough to use children's toothpaste (approximately 3-4).  Here is a great resource from Parenting on how to keep your child's teeth clean and promote good dental hygiene.

http://www.parenting.com/article/an-age-by-age-guide-to-toothbrushing

Family Time

One of the most important things you can do for your kids is plan time together.  It does not have to be activities that are expensive and break the bank.  There are lots of things you can do with the family that are inexpensive.  Family game night is a popular activity that does not cost a thing.  You can also plan a meal together and let the kids help.  And, craft activities from household items are always a hit.

With summer just around the corner, my mind keeps drifting to dreams of a beach vacation with the family.  For many of us that might not be possible; so why not have a beach-fun day at home. 

Break out the baby pool, buy a small bag of sand, gather some scoops from the kitchen for sand play, put on the swimming suits, and don't forget the sunscreen and towels.  You can even hide a few seashells in the sand if you have any lying around the house and let the kids look for shells.  If you don't have shells, try hiding pebbles.  Don't forget a little lemonade, and you will be all set for a cheap day of beach fun with the kids. 

I did this activity with my family frequently when the kids were smaller and they loved it just as much as going to the beach.  As long as they can play in the sand and interact with mom and dad, kids are happy and satisfied.

Discipline

Discipline is always a difficult subject for parents.  There are diverse views on discipline that range from corporal punishment (hitting) to never saying "no" to your child.  But, what is the best way to discipline? 

To start off, we must address the idea of corporal punishment.  It is never "o.k." to hit your child.  I realize that most of us have grown up in homes where, if we misbehaved, we were forced to choose our switch or maybe there was a paddle with our name on it; but that does not justify hitting our children.  What most corporal punishment promoters do not realize is that every time a child is hit the child loses
self-esteem and it even affects their brain development.

The other extreme is not allowing your child to realize that "no" is an active word in society.  Children who are never told "no" will be in for a big shock when they enter school and work.  A good alternative to presenting this type of discipline is to not use  negative words; present the correct behaviors to a child rather than telling them they are "bad."

So what should I do to punish my child? 

One suggestion would be the use of "time-outs."  This form of punishment has been popularized by a television show and has become a well-used form of punishment.  Giving the child time to reflect on his or her behavior will help instill self-discipline within your child.  This form of punishment will not harm your child's development. 

Another type of discipline that can be use is taking away privileges.  My kids will attest to the fact that this is a great encourager of good behavior.  If they are not permitted to watch their favorite television show or play that special video game for a set amount of time, they will remember the experience the next time they think about acting out.

These are much better alternatives to corporal punishment and can be effective in assisting with discipline in any family.