"Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well." -Josh Billings
If parents want to be able to make best use of time with their children, then it is crucial for a parent to start becoming alert to the state that their children are in. Tired? Satisfied? Bored? His shoe hurts him? She has a stomachache from the spaghetti? And so on....This applies particularly during the time that children are playing with toys. They want to be happy. And you want them to be happy too..
Here's one way of looking at it: it's a bit like dealing with a baby. Your baby cries. So you figure, usually and probably it's one of four things. One, the baby is hungry. Two, the baby needs a diaper change.Three, the baby is tired. Or four, the baby wants to be held. You would probably test each of these out to see if the baby will stop crying. What's happening here is a continual process of trying to figure out and be sensitive to the the baby's needs. Right? So we are dealing with a sensitivity to the child, and a willingness to experiment to find out exactly what the baby needs. Once the thing is done (for example, changed a dirty diaper and put on a clean one) and the baby stops crying, and is now smiling and gurgling, you think: "Bingo! I did the right thing there!".
So the checklist is a key to a parent's success, because it provides the parent with the various possibilities of dealing with a baby's (or child's) needs.
As babies turn into toddlers who turn into pre-schoolers who turn into kids (and so on), their needs naturally get more sophisticated. In order to keep up with their kids, parents need to increase their checklist. Not only that, but to change the checklist as the kids grow, as some needs get taken off the list and others get put on. So it helps to start off with this idea of a checklist for each of your children. It can be simply a mental checklist. For those who are more organized, they can write it down.
An example of a checklist for a 6 year old can be:
1)Parents
2)Food
3)Friends
4)Clothes
5)Sleep/Fatigue
6)Homework
7)Entertainment
8)Siblings & Family (relationships)
For each of these items you can ask yourself- is my child happy and fulfilled in these areas? What areas does the child need help in? It would be difficult for them to be having fun playing if they have problems elsewhere.
In dealing with each of these items, here's an example of dealing with a checklist item: Energy Levels/Fatigue: Let's take a closer look at this. Children naturally have routines during the day. Wake-up, get dressed, breakfast, school, after-school activities, suppertime, homework, evening snack, bedtime. Yet you cannot expect children to have the same energy level in the afternoon after a long day of school/play as they would have in the morning when they are fresh from a full night of sleep. Many experienced parents know that when children are tired, especially little children, they just do not function as well in being able to do activities, in listening to their parents, or even at times to behave normally (!!). So this is a good item for the checklist: How tired is your child?
"I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see." John Burroughs
For parents, the same can apply for the time spent with their children! Parents who want to get the most out of being able to build relationships with their children should consider (as difficult as it is) to schedule their day around the times that children have high energy levels.
An example of a good time to be with the children is after supper. Often children are well-fed, and the time spent sitting at the dinner table allows them to recharge their batteries. They are refreshed and well-fed and ready for some evening activity.
The time that is well-spent with children is like depositing a lot of value into a bank account of love and trust with your child. And what could be more valuable than that?
"Life is half spent before we know what it is." George Herbert
Joseph Browns (http://www.home-educational-toys.com) wants to share his experiences and expertise in how parents can find valuable opportunities for quality time with children to acquire priceless family memories. A total environment approach is taken, dealing with issues like educational toys, parent-child relationships, environmental + interior design, health, communication skills, and child education.
Airbnb cleaning service Winnetka ...When David was nine and Laura was twelve, the battles... Read More
Strattera came out around January of 2003, and is becoming... Read More
I could nearly fund my children's future education if I... Read More
the woes of being a parent of an ADHD child.....Like... Read More
On a recent Saturday evening, I noticed a young teen-age... Read More
Becoming a stepmother can undoubtedly be one of the most... Read More
With the beginning of the new school year coming VERY... Read More
While youth gangs are nothing new -- they've been traced... Read More
Child support is defined as that part of your income... Read More
The key to a successful car wash fundraiser event is... Read More
Did you know that the number of twin births have... Read More
Under the "No Child Left Behind Act," public schools whose... Read More
Sometimes a change of perspective can make a huge difference... Read More
As the father of a toddler, I am an expert... Read More
If I had a dollar for every time I persuaded... Read More
Article based on a friend's experienceI just wanted to share... Read More
There are many parenting styles. Yours may be very different... Read More
Under the "No Child Left Behind Act," public schools whose... Read More
No matter what you say or do, your kids will... Read More
Handing Down Malignancy.Children may begin bright and eager to face... Read More
I am in pain. I've been in pain all day.... Read More
In speaking with parents a comment I frequently hear is... Read More
Are you a professional?Notice how the questions differs from, "Do... Read More
A tall, weary-looking mother with glasses, walked into my counseling... Read More
Have you ever watched your teenager make a mistake (that... Read More
last minute cleaning help Northbrook ...Join a growing number of parents and teachers!Fact: Last year,... Read More
Teenagers are a work-in-progress, and parenting teenagers can be tricky... Read More
For any parent, learning that a convicted sex offender lives... Read More
In memory of 14 year old Matthew Smith; 11 year... Read More
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the phrase that is... Read More
'Picky Eater' is a label coined to describe the phenomenon... Read More
Do you know what these famous people have in common?Alexander... Read More
You've just received a call from your child's teacher. As... Read More
Finding answers to a child's underachievement is often a difficult... Read More
Younger generations unfortunately will not understand how larger than life... Read More
For every season, check, check, check, There is a chart,... Read More
Q: My husband and I are at a loss as... Read More
It's funny how people seem to think that they have... Read More
Each child carries a unique picture of the self, shaped... Read More
No matter what you say or do, your kids will... Read More
Choosing a good car seat for your child's protection is... Read More
IntroductionAs a parent who wants the best for your children,... Read More
The biggest complaint you hear from parents about their children... Read More
Let's be honest! When it comes to parenting, men expect... Read More
Frankly, as a single parent of young children, I struggled.... Read More
1. Diapers (5 -7 is a fairly safe supply)2. Wipes3.... Read More
Why Is Spending Time with Your Child So Important?For children... Read More
As a mother of two sets of fraternal boy/girl twins,... Read More
Did you know that many people retire broke?It's true. After... Read More
Does your child pout, blame and brood? Does he gripe,... Read More
Parenting |