Rediscovering GustoChild MannersChild Care HomeStay HappyMusic flow in FamilyMen & Women RelaxHow to handle your angerRomantic wavesRoutine workHome HealParent’s BehaviorHow To Deal With Child’s TemperPardon, for good healthChild’s HealthKnowing your teenageBeware from odd stuffFeeling of belongingnessMatch up with the four B'sEmergency plan-kitChecks for your dineAwareness of SparkleOvercome exam stressBrighten up your lifeWay to HappinessAre you a Mobile Addicted?Get aware of Green EffectGerm Free HomeLine Up Your CharacterBoost Up Your ChildStay Close to your ParentsOvercome The Parental Problems Kids: Get Rid from Nasty HabitsEnhance your Child SpeechCheck-Ups would ease your Married LifeDon’t Kill your RomanceSexual Behavior Sex LifeCope up your Social AnxietyTraits of TriumphAdult Child RebelsMarriage zapperTeen SexCompatibility in Stepping Relations Craving for ForeplayNotorious Girl Revealed
Match up with the four Bs
The four Bs—brushing, bathing, breakfast and bedtime— occupy prime position on every parent’s checklist for a ‘happy day’. Use your smarts, and it’s no sweat, really. Experts also agree.
The key to a smooth morning lies in waking them in time and gently. Understand that until the age of six, children are unable to comprehend the consequences of not following a set routine.
Here are some tips on how to sail through the four Bs every day:
Brushing
Making sense of it
How to deal with it
Forcing or dominating to get your way with your child, isn’t a good idea. If you want to convince your child to brush first thing in the morning, you should lead by example, with love and positive reinforcements,” says Kevin. Make brushing a family affair. If your child connects to it as ‘happy family time’ it will work. You have to give her time to relax and make up her mind. Mentally prepare her the night before and let her get used to the feeling of having a brush in her mouth. In time, she will learn the technique and enjoy it. To accomplish this B, ensure you wake your child gradually in the morning. Get kiddy brush and low foam toothpaste.
Quick tip
Don’t obsess about brushing.
Brush your pearls
Bathing
Fiercely independent for his age, three year-old Jackson can’t seem to get enough of his bath.
Child psychologists point out that bath time is a child’s medium for creativity. Logical explanations about time constraints and schedules don’t make sense to kids. Resist the impulse to forcibly bathe your child or excessively reason with him.
How to deal with it
Respect and encourage the child’s sense of independence. Do not impose your sense of right and wrong on him, say parenting experts. Let your child find his own reason for getting out of the bath faster. Education consultant feels that a leisurely night bath is one way of circumventing the problem. A warm bath is a soother.
Quick tip
Relax. Children have a way of picking up and responding to parental tension. If you’re stressed about bathing her, chances are she will be too. The more stressed a child is, the less she is likely to cooperate. If you shout at her to complete these chores, chances are that she will grow up into an adult who yells and screams to get things done.
Breakfast
TV during meals takes away a child’s involvement with eating. But resist the urge to force feed. And stop threatening her with consequences: Experts point out that most parents today, tend to fuss unnecessarily about feeding their child. According to them, 1200 to 1800 Kcal per day is enough for 2-to 6-year-olds.
How to deal with it
Cooking, planning and eating her favorite breakfast with her will make this activity more enjoyable and rewarding. If your child still refuses, remove the plate.
Quick tip
Use creativity in serving up breakfast. Games like ‘fastest eater wins a candy’ can motivate your child to finish his glass of milk. Telling him little stories about the importance of food for good health is also a good idea.
Bedtime
Children love spending exclusive time with parents. Whether you are a working parent or not, makes no difference. They realize that bedtime is when they can have the parent all to themselves, without any distraction. They want to make the most of it by staying awake as long as they can. When we force them to sleep, they see it as a check on their independence, and rebel.
How to deal with it
Children generally require 8 to 10 hours of sleep at night to get up fresh the next morning, say experts. Start bedtime early and keep a margin for tantrums. Always make it look like going to bed is your child’s decision, not yours. Instead of barking orders, offer choices. The age-old techniques of story telling and cuddling with the lights off generally works well.
Quick tip
A lifestyle change may be in order if you want your child to sleep and wake on time every day. You need to follow the same routine as her, even on weekends.