You have most likely heard that the word “disciple” actually refers to teaching, not only giving a consequence. But after hearing that have you ever wondered, “What exactly am I supposed to be teaching my child?”
This post will cover four skills:
You need to instill a habit of establishing eye contact with your child before moving into the four core skills we will address in the next four blog posts. If your child is not looking at you there is a pretty good chance they are also not listening to what you are saying. It is so simple - how often do we find we repeat ourselves over and over - gaining eye contact at least means you have your child's attention.
There are many times as a parent that we need to say "No" to our children. How children react to the "No" varies. We as parents can become surprised/angered/challenged by our children's reactions. When you think about it we usually don't take the time to teach our children how to deal with being denied. This post on Disciplining Preschoolers will give you a few guidelines as to how you can help your child accept "No".
Accepting "No" - Part four
Teach your child the following three parts to accepting “No” as an answer:
Now that you have practiced and mastered gaining eye-contact with your child (previous post), you are ready to move on to teaching your preschooler how to follow instructions. It can seem odd to think about 'teaching' these basic skills, but if we don't, how will our children learn them? Sometimes we get frustrated at our children for not listening or following through, when we have not really shown them what it is that we expect.
Here are some clear guidelines for teaching your child to follow instructions.
We want our kids to be independent right? But there are some situations where you are the best judge of what your child may or may not do.
Asking Permission - Part five
Teach your child the following three parts of asking permission:
Here are a few words of advice:
Taking responsibility for something we have done wrong does not come naturally to adults or to children. My husband has worked at colleges for 18 years and can quickly tell which college freshmen have learned the art of accepting a consequence. Taking responsibility for something we have done wrong does not come naturally and yet our children will need to do so effectively their whole lives. Anyone gotten a speeding ticket lately?
Accepting consequences - Part six
Teach your child the following three parts of accepting consequences:
We, as parents, all know that the global economy has taken a hit, and many of us have felt the effects of the economic downturn or are preparing for the worst. Experts widely agree that financial stress—whether it is less holiday giving or a layoff—can negatively affect both marriages and children. In these times, thoughtful, caring parents need to ask, “How can doing with less strengthen, instead of harm, our child’s sense of security?”
There is something special about two year olds. Everything is wondrous and magical to them. Their imaginations are really taking off and they have such a passion for life! Here are some tips for developing your two year old's learning.
If you have a preschooler, you need a set of blocks. It is really that simple. Why are blocks a must? First, they are concrete. Preschoolers aren’t ready to think in the abstract ways that worksheets require. Plus, their developing writing skills (fine motor development) won’t allow them to think through writing as quickly as their minds work. Blocks do.
Your child can learn and benefit greatly from being read to right from the day they are born. Children's books come in all sorts of fascinating shapes and sizes. Grab a book and snuggle up on the sofa with your child and share the joy of story telling with them. The benefits of reading out loud to your baby or young child are simply endless!
Benefits of reading to your child:
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