Viral Parenting

Before I had children, I used to love going out to dinner. I would pick out the perfect outfit, my girlfriends and I would drink our favorite cocktails, and I would eat (and actually enjoy) food without a care in the world.  But when kids do come, dinner outings just aren't the same. -  5 Tips For Good Parenting Gone are the cute outfits and funny cocktail conversation, and instead come bulky diaper bags and nicely worded threats to "eat your dinner now."  And total strangers suddenly become very interested in why you're out to eat with all your children. Through talking to other mums, I've discovered nine backhanded "compliments" people think it's OK to say to parents while dining out with children . "You really have your hands full, don't you?” Really? I wasn't aware. "Your daughter has a boy haircut," or the equally judge-y, "I see you got into Mommy's nail polish, little guy." Or they...

Does your child have behavior problems? Your relationship with your child likely needs some attention. 1.   What you do matters.  "This is one of the most important principles," Steinberg tells WebMD. "What you do makes a difference. Your kids are watching you. Don't just react on the spur of the moment. Ask yourself, 'What do I want to accomplish, and is this likely to produce that result?'" 2.   You cannot be too loving.  "It is simply not possible to spoil a child with love," he writes. "What we often think of as the product of spoiling a child is never the result of showing a child too much love. It is usually the consequence of giving a child things in place of love -- things like leniency, lowered expectations, or material possessions." -  5 Tips For Good Parenting 3. Be involved in your child's life.  "Being an involved parent takes time and is hardwork , and it often means rethinking and rearranging your...

It’s typically between the ages of nine and twelve that our cute, cuddly little children, once so willing to climb into our laps and share their secrets, suddenly want little or nothing to do with us.  1.   Don’t feel rejected by their newfound independence.   It’s appropriate for kids this age to start turning away from their parents and relying more and more on friends, but parents can take their pre-teen’s withdrawal as rejection. -  5 Tips For Good Parenting 2. Set aside special time with your child.   It’s often tough to get pre-teens to open up and talk. Laura Kirmayer, a clinical psychologist, suggests establishing a special period of one-on-one time once or twice a week that you spend with your tween. 3. Try the indirect approach.   When they were younger you could ask direct questions. How was school? How did you do on the test? Now, the direct approach — carpet-bombing them with questions about school and their day — doesn’...

Raising kids is one of the toughest and most fulfilling jobs in the world — and the one for which you might feel the least prepared. Here are nine child-rearing tips that can help you feeling more fulfilled as a parent. 1. Boosting Your Child's Self-Esteem Kids start developing their sense of self as babies when they see themselves through their parents' eyes. Your tone of voice, your body language, and your every expression are absorbed by your kids. Your words and actions as a parent affect their developing self-esteem more than anything else. -  5 Tips For Good Parenting 2. Catch Kids Being Good Have you ever stopped to think about how many times you react negatively to your kids in a given day? You may find yourself criticizing far more often than complimenting. How would you feel about a boss who treated you with that much negative guidance, even if it was well intentioned? 3. Set Limits and Be Consistent With Your Discipline Discipline is necessary in ...