Give Kids Jobs

Giving your kids jobs around the house, even when they are just toddlers, is important for the child and the family. We pay them to do the job, probably the same amount we would pay a service. At times I think professionals might do a better job, but to us, it's about the kids having responsibility to the family.

As young as two years old, you can start giving your children "jobs." At home, parents can set the rule that your child must clean up after himself. Even at one or two years old, you can encourage him to bring a toy to the shelf to help you straighten up. As he gets older, give him more challenging tasks. By three or four, you can teach him how to help you set the table, make his bed, and help you put (non-breakable) groceries away.

As your child gets older, the expectations you place on him should increase. A ten year old can take out the trash, set the table, and keep his room clean. You know your kid and what he can handle - choose jobs appropriately.

Let him know that you appreciate his help, but also that you expect him to pitch in as a productive part of the family. In addition to learning new skills, he will feel proud of his accomplishments and independence. Your children need to be responsible members of society, and when they grow up with a sense of responsibility, they will be much better off for it in the long run.


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How to Deal With a Biting Child

Many children go through a time period in which they bite. They may bite toys, other children or their parents due to teething pain or due to aggression. While having a biting child can cause difficulty in the family, dealing with the issue appropriately is crucial. Follow these steps to help you deal with a biting child.
Biting due to Teething


1. Step 1
Redirect the child away from the toy or child that she bit. Physically remove the toy from your child or move your child away the child that she bit.
2. Step 2
Explain to your child that he should not bite other children and certain toys. Be simple and direct in your explanation because teething children will have difficulty understanding complex explanations. Simply tell your child that biting hurts someone else or that he can destroy toys if he bites and eats them. If your child is old enough to apologize, have him do so.
3. Step 3
Give your child a teething ring, teething blanket, teething toy or frozen washcloth to satisfy her needs. Teething children often do have the need to bite and these items can satisfy that specific need without hurting someone else or another toy.
4. Step 4
Use medication to help minimize any tooth pain in your child. Acetaminophen or teething gels can help make your child feel better, which can minimize her biting.
Biting Due to Aggression
5. Step 1
Remove your child from the situation.
6. Step 2
Reprimand your child by explaining that they should not bite someone else when they feel mad, angry, sad or frustrated.
7. Step 3
Have your child apologize to the child that she bit. Make sure that she appears thoughtful and sincere in her apology. Promising that she will not bite again can also prove useful.
8. Step 4
Teach your child other ways to deal with his emotions. If he feels upset or angry, he may want to talk to you about it, spend some time alone, write about his feelings or talk to a counselor. Providing him ways to deal with his feelings can help minimize or eliminate the biting.

Tips & Warnings
• Act calmly and firmly when dealing with a biting child.
• Be consistent in your approach to biting. If you want your child to stop biting, you must follow the same approach after every single bite.
• If you can't minimize your child's biting episodes, contact your child's pediatrician for guidance


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Teaching Children to Write

by Lisa Gardiner MA

Learning to write is a process that can begin when your child is a toddler. To teach your child to write, help him to build his fine motor skills and recognize letters and words. Being a good role model and showing encouragement and appreciation are important parts of the process.

1. Step 1
Show your child that writing is fun and important. Write lists and notes in front of your child. Write notes to him and read them aloud. Encourage him to mimic you by writing his own notes and lists.
2. Step 2
Give children activities that help improve their manipulation skills. Play with clay. String beads. Help them use eye droppers and tweezers. Use safety scissors to cut shapes from paper and pictures from old books and magazines.
3. Step 3
Teach your child to recognize the letters of the alphabet by reading alphabet books. Write her name on a big piece of paper that she can look at often. Encourage her to pick out the letters of his name in books, signs and other printed materials.


4. Step 4
Keep paper and washable crayons and markers around the house. Encourage your child to scribble and draw. Ask him to write stories about what he sees and things he did that day. Have him read the stories back to you. Be positive and resist the urge to make corrections.
5. Step 5
Help your child draw shapes, lines and stick figures. Draw dots that form lines, shapes, and letters. Have the child trace the dots.
6. Step 6
Ask the child to write cards and notes. Use holidays and events as opportunities to write. Make thank you and holiday cards, letters to relatives and Santa, and notes to each other.


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