If a very close family member just died and your kids are wondering what happened and why everyone is crying, this is probably going to be one of the hardest conversations and explanations you are going to have to come up with. Parents such as yourself are usually unsure and lost as to how to approach the topic on death to their children, especially if the person who died is someone they are very close to like the father, the mother, siblings, and the like. Talking about death with small children is especially difficult since they can’t really comprehend what it means to die and never come back. In the end we all have to accept that death is a part of life that we have no control of and that we should be able to teach our children what this means.
Some people would teach death using metaphors or euphemisms to ease the pain and the worries they might have. Some would explain death as it is: unpredictable, cold, and a painful reality of the kind of life we have on Earth. But one thing is for sure and that’s making sure that children understand what death is and learning to accept it. It is the obligation therefore of parents to provide all the necessary information the child may need in order to understand what death is and why people die in the first place. Personal experience, emotions, and ideas can be used to give a clearer picture of death to the kids as these aren’t as confusing and terrifying as stating or defining what death is point blank.
But when you think about it, talking about death with small children is actually okay because they see death in all kinds of scenarios. Dead pet fishes, dead birds on the ground, and even a wilted flower are things that actually explain to children what death is. Though they don’t compare to death of an actual human being, the fact that the child sees these things only goes to show that he is aware of the existence of death. Yes it will upset them to some extent but that’s what parents are for: to give them the information they need to understand that death is a part of life.
Here are 3 helpful tips on how to explain what death is in a light and understandable manner to children:
I Sit your children down and explain to them in a calm but serious tone about what death is and that it is a part of the life we live today.
I If they have questions, don’t feel too pressured to answer them all. It is normal to feel uncomfortable knowing that we don’t have all the answers to questions about death, the best way to handle this is to share what you personally believe in.
I Explain to your children that some people believe in different things when it comes to death and that nobody is the same. They should learn to be sensitive and aware of this so that in the future, they will know how to approach others who have different beliefs about death.
Posted in Child Care and Daycare, Parenting | 
No Comments »
Hearing your child curse all of a sudden, and at such a young age, can send you reeling off your chair in shock and anxiety. Children pick up on their parents, friends, and what they are exposed to in their environment, and with the media and our uttering a curse word or two at home, it’s inevitable that your child would try it out by saying those words out loud as well. Do not panic though because teaching a child to wash off his potty mouth can be done through tried and tested methods. It may or may not work for you but take some time to read through these tips on how to deal with a potty mouth and apply them in your own method of dealing with your child’s new interest.
The first thing you have to remember is that children tend to follow or try things that they see or experience from other sources. What you can do to is to set an example by toning down the language even if he isn’t around. If there are cases when you’d suddenly curse in front of him, you can replace those words with rhymes, words that will catch his attention, and ignore if he did say the bad word. Children eventually forget things that are not acknowledged by the people around him, so just let it go the other way and he’ll eventually shift his attention to other things. Make sure that you don’t directly or indirectly encourage him by laughing after saying the bad word or jokingly repeat it in front of him.
With older children, it’s important that you set ground rules as early as now when it comes to swearing. You’ll need more patience with older kids since they already have an idea what these words mean and would try it out by putting it in context. You can try to intimidate them by associating swearing with a punishment such as being grounded or cutting down on their daily allowances. But don’t punish without explaining to your kids why swearing is offensive in the first place. Explain to them that the word and the attitude while saying such a word are what offend people and therefore will not be tolerated at all.
Remember also to praise and encourage good behavior and efforts in stopping the potty mouth talk. It will encourage the child to stop swearing and to associate potty mouth with punishment or a stern look from Mom or Dad. If it’s become a habit to them, offer them a reward if they are able to get through a week or two without swearing. Just don’t forget to remind them of why you are doing this and why it is important to stop swearing whether at home or at school.
If for when nothing seems to work and you noticed that your child is already showing signs of bad behavior, sit them down and talk to them. They might be going through a problem that’s causing them to express themselves through swearing, so don’t jump into conclusions and don’t seek help from people outside of the family just yet.
Tags: anxiety, bad word, curse word, parents friends, patience, potty mouth, rhymes, shock Posted in Child Care and Daycare, Parenting | No Comments »
Kids at daycare love getting together for meals and snack time, especially when they are a big group and are constantly playing and sharing everything and anything with one another. If you’re the one in charge of handling them and keeping them happy and occupied, one of the things that you are tasked to do is setting up their meals and coming up with new and interesting courses for the menu. There are a lot of books and online resources that can give you tips on how to make meals fun at a daycare or child care center and all you have to do is to look for some really good ones online, write them down or print them out, and try them out when the kids come over at the child care center.
One of the things kids enjoy is doing something that they know is being done only by grownups. Let them take part in the setting of the table in such a way that you all are setting it for adults. You got plates, sipping cups, utensils, and napkins so assign every child one of each and show them how to set the table properly. You can arrange them in such a way that an older kid is near two smaller kids so that he can help them with their own table settings while you and your partners aren’t there to help them out. Once everything is set and they’re all settled down, you can start pouring the drinks into their cups or giving them bite-size snacks that they’ll enjoy before bringing in the good stuff out.
Don’t forget to remind the kids about their table manners. For example, no one should take a bite of their meal until everyone seated and served. You can also try encouraging them for showing good behavior during meal time with a happy smile, applause, a pat on the back, and the like. Try to also get them to talk and share in the conversation as this will surely make mealtime even more fun and entertaining for them. This is because children tend to want to eat fast and finish their meals so that they can get back to playing.
If they do not like the food being served, don’t spoil them by giving them food that they like all the time. Talk to them in a nice way and let them know that there will always be times when they could like or dislike the food being served and they should be thankful for the food being given to them. You can encourage them to try new things by letting them take turns in choosing what meals to have the next day so that each child can have their favorite meals in the rotation. There are many other ways to make meals fun so don’t hesitate to try new tricks and techniques that will make their meals fun, interactive, and memorable for them.
Tags: age, behavior, eating, meals, table manners Posted in Child Care and Daycare, Providers | No Comments »
Potty training is one of the most significant stages in a child’s life and parents should be ready and prepared to teach their children the right way to use the potty. You will know when a child is ready to be potty trained through several indicators such as having regular bowel movements, complaining whenever his diapers full, facial expressions, body posture, the words he utters before urinating or pooping, and the like. Potty training usually happens around ages 2 to 3, but there are different factors that can determine the right time for a child to be potty trained. This includes the child’s physical and psychological readiness to learn how to use the toilet.
Parents who are about to potty train their children should always remember to buy a potty chair that the child can be comfortable with. It can either be through putting stickers or drawing on the sides or placing a comfortable potty seat with his favorite color or cartoon character on it. The important thing here is teaching your child that whenever he needs to urinate or to poop he should use the potty. Once he’s on the chair, explain to him in a nice, calm, and encouraging way on how to use it properly. Remember not to force him to stay on it too long and whenever he starts showing signs of resistance. Do not give up though because you can still show him what you would like him to do by emptying his dirty diaper into the toilet in front of him.
Potty training entails a lot of patience, time, and effort on the part of the parent. To ensure that training will go smoothly, potty train your child in a calm and relaxed environment. Do not try to potty train him when there’s a lot going on in the house. If you just moved into a new home, don’t expect him to start peeing and pooping on the potty since he will need to get used to the new environment. Another thing to keep in mind is that getting angry and punishing your child for not cooperating won’t do both of you any good in the training process. Always keep your cool and continue reminding your child that peeing and pooping should be done on the potty and not on his underwear or anywhere else around the house. If he is able to show signs of wanting to use the potty, encourage him with praise and happy expressions on your face.
Potty training is not only an obligation but a challenge that, once accomplished successfully, can be very self-fulfilling and a milestone in you and your child’s life. You just have to be prepared before actually training your child to urinate and move his bowels in the right place. This means making sure that your child is physically ready (being able to walk to and from the potty) and is willing to sit and learn how to use his new potty. If your toddler, for example, is okay with a dirty diaper you’re going to have a hard time teaching him that the potty is the right place to do his business. Whatever may be your approach, keep in mind that this experience should be a positive and, at some point, an enjoyable one for you and your child.
Tags: age, life, potty training Posted in Child Care and Daycare, Parenting | No Comments »
Subscribe via RSS
