Parenting Tips

Do you have a child between the ages of 5 and 9? That special season is a time of enormous growth and development and can be a whirlwind to observe. I am privileged to be parenting my fourth elementary-age child. Here are some of my favorite 10 parenting tips for early school-age kids.

1. It’s a big world.

The first few years of school are exciting and stressful. Learning how to listen to adults besides mom and dad and being on their own for several hours each day is a tremendous leap forward in a child’s life. As a parent, keep in mind this transition your child is moving through and be patient and understanding.

2. Give them your confidence.

A child this age often will doubt his abilities. Sometimes he will verbalize this lack of self-confidence; sometimes it stays his little secret. You can help him by sharing your own confidence in his abilities with him. Be matter-of-fact about his talents and express your utter confidence in him, even if you have your own set of concerns.

3. Be interested.

What is your child learning about school? How did recess go? What is her favorite part of school? What is bugging her? Staying interested in your child’s daily life goes a long ways towards establishing a healthy on-going relationship.

4. Friendships count.

An elementary-age child is learning a lot about friendships. What works and frustratingly, what doesn’t. They are also learning that families operate differently; what is a vital rule in your own family may not matter at all in another family. Learning that people do things differently is an important lesson at this stage.

5. Talk values.

This is the age to solidify what values are important to your family with your child. Ideas such as:

- We are kind. Why is this important?

- We are fair, even when others are not.

- We tell the truth, even when it gets us into trouble.

These important concepts MUST be cemented in your child now if you want him to live by them when he gets to the teen years.

6. Don’t overload.

In this day of multiple after school activities, it’s easy to pile on too much for the average primary-schooler. Her main ‘job’ is school, so give adequate time, space and support to homework. Once that is finished, free playtime is important at this age as most kids spend several hours a day sitting at a desk and being quiet.

7. Family time is a priority.

Daily dinnertime together, a weekly game night, chores done as a team, a quiet time reading or enjoying music together, playing sports as a family; any of these ideas and many, many more are great ways to foster a sense of family in your home. Make sure you make together-time a priority.

8. Celebrate the team.

Kids this age need to know they are a part of something bigger than themselves and the family structure can fill that need beautifully. Worshipping, playing and working together are smart ways to build your family’s strength for the years ahead as well as enjoy each other today.

9. Have a family ‘thing’.

Drawing on parenting tip #8, decide on a fun hobby the whole family can enjoy and jump right in. You can bike, go camping, build model trains, raise bunnies, volunteer in your community, or investigate the stars together. Trust me, nothing will build family memories easier or better than a shared family hobby.

10. Teach personal responsibility.

This parenting tip is vital for your child’s long-term well-being. And it’s simple enough to instill. Chores, homework and learning new skills like musical instruments or sports activities are excellent ways to teach your school-aged child more and more about being responsible for himself and his possessions.

Now you have 10 parenting tips for elementary-age children. Each one of these tips has been time-tested in my home and thousands of other homes over the years. These parenting tips work…but only if you PUT them to work with your family. Enjoy your family more by taking the guesswork out of parenting. Establish these simple guidelines and reduce your parenting stress load today.




By: Colleen Langenfeld

A new baby in the house means a whole lot of fun. On the flipside, it also means a whole lot of work. In the case of twins, this means not just double the fun but also double the work.

Here are some tips especially meant for parents of twins:

• Work as a pair: Generally, one of the parents—typically the mom, but it could be the dad—takes over the majority of parenting chores. With twins however, it often becomes necessary for both parents to share duties more or less equally.

• Alternate between both: Do not go in for an arrangement where each spouse looks after chores related to only one of the twins. Alternate, so both parents get to handle both of the twins.

• Determine a schedule: Juggling ’sleep, eat, and play’ routines for two new babies can be both, chaotic and exhausting. Getting your twins accustomed to a fixed routine makes your work easier—and is good for them too.

• Have names that sound distinct: This is an obvious point that often gets overlooked. Parents often give twins similar sounding names. While this sounds cute, it can lead to confusion.

• Dress them differently: Not just identical twins, all infants can look startlingly similar. Dressing twins differently helps to tell them apart and, at times, may help prevent unnecessary, or even grave, confusion.

• Be vigilant for infections: Twins spend most of their time together and thus are more than likely to contract infections from each other. If either of your twins seems unwell, be on your guard against the likelihood of the other one catching the ‘bug’ too.

• Accept friendly help: As parents of twins, you may receive well-meaning offers of help from relatives, friends, or well-wishers. If so, accept them, at least some of the time.

• Employ professional help: Employing a nanny is one way you could make the job of bringing up twins a bit easier.

• Interact with them: Parents often assume that twins can be safely left together to play with each other. While this is largely true, it does not mean that you can do away with the need for parental interaction. Remember to find the time to interact and play with your twins.

• Identify their individuality: Your twins do not necessarily have to share a lot between them—apart from their birthdays that is. Learn to know them as individuals and treat them so.

Parenting tips and advice for expectant dads, new dads, single dads and stay at home dads. Source of experience, recommendations, inspiration and advice for dads—delivered from the male perspective.




By: Paul Banas

We’ve been hearing one parenting tip to another. Each and every parenting tip may focus on one aspect of parenthood. A parenting tip may be about raising a toddler, a teen, a gifted child or a difficult child. There is however one other kind of child that should have parents that know a relevant parenting tip— the child of divorced parents. What parenting tip can divorced parents employ to make sure that their kids will be okay?

Protect Your Child First

A straightforward parenting tip is that your child should be your number one priority. This parenting tip implies that even before you decide to get a divorce, you should make sure that your children are safeguarded from parental conflict. Hearing you and your spouse quarrel or making kids feel an impending divorce even before you announce it may make them prone to negative or destructive feelings. Your children may even blame themselves for what is happening. Although your kids may have an idea of the conflict, it is better for them to hear a good explanation from you.

Communicate as a Family

A crucial parenting tip is for you to temporarily put aside your differences with your spouse and decide to come together as a family. It is a useful parenting tip to gather your children, explain to them honestly that you are getting a divorce. Tell them that the situation may be a little sad for all of you but that you are all still going to find a way to lead normal lives. At this point it is crucial for you to listen to your children and encourage them to relay what’s on their minds or ask their questions.

Be Supportive of Your Co-Parent

The most important parenting tip after the divorce is to openly support the idea of co-parenting. Regardless of who gets full custody, be certain that your ex also has equal time and responsibility for your children. Make your kids feel that it is perfectly okay to spend some time with the other parent. The parenting tip on co-parenthood may also mean that you may have to temporarily forget your conflict with your spouse and come together to talk about your children. Communicate with each other the needs and the changes which your kids are undergoing.

Continuously Monitor Your Kids

Even if one parent is far away, a suggested parenting tip is to device a way to both keep your eyes on your kids. Be sensitive to how your kids are behaving. It is a parenting tip to take note of indications that your kid is distressed with the current arrangements. Monitor school performance and peer activities. Continue communicating with your child even though he/she is apparently doing well in school.

Ask For Help When Necessary

If things are going out of hand, a practical parenting tip is to look for professional help. This parenting tip means that you may have to look for counseling options. It may be difficult for you to think about it but a trained counselor may be able to reach out to your child in ways that you may not be aware of. Counseling for you may be beneficial too. Getting in touch with support groups may also be a good idea.




By: Veronica Fisher