Try alternatives to "Ferber Method" to develop sleep patterns

Putting a child to sleep can be the most dreaded part of the day for a parent. Why is it that some children don’t want to go to bed? Even young toddlers seem to want to stay up, so they don’t miss a thing. The trouble is that without proper sleep, their overall development is compromised and their behavior becomes unmanageable. Making the decision to develop a sleep training plan is the first step in the process of teaching a child how to willingly go to sleep, in his own bed, at bedtime . Pediatricians concur that, once a child reaches the one year mark and doesn’t need to be fed through the night, he can begin a sleep training program, which, although potentially stressful for parents, is a lifelong gift to your child. Read more in Part 2 of a 4 part article called “Try alternatives to “Ferber Method” to develop sleep patterns”.

Training your child to sleep requires consistency

The holiday season takes most children off schedule causing them to be irritable and over tired.  Now is the time to get back on track and develop a consistent bedtime routine.  If you’re having difficulty getting your child to sleep, read the first of a four part series with questions from a concerned grandfather who asks if some children simply can’t be sleep trained.  Read more in my article “Training your child to sleep requires consistency”.

Gifts from a Parent

How we teach our children will determine how much information they will obtain.  There are so many ways to teach. We can talk and tell, explaining our way through something new.  We can show (model) by our example of doing, or we can provide hand over hand training, where we actually hand over the tools or materials and provide do, with our support of guiding with our hand. We can teach with a multisensory approach, using two or more ways to provide the information.

What we teach our children is… everything we do in every day.   They listen to us, they watch us, they look for our body language and pay attention to our facial expressions. They hear us laugh, they watch us cry, they listen to our sighs, they watch how we interact with our friends and relatives.Everything we do teaches our child how to behave or respond.

Everyday is filled with learning experiences for our child, and we have endless opportunities to teach them. We can teach them to communicate well; to express their feelings, wants and needs. Our consistency provides comfort and builds trust. Our patience tells them that they can ask questions and learn at their own pace.Our patience also shows that we value their learning process; their attempts as well as their achievements.  We have it all, we have all the tools and the teaching power to give our children everything they need to grow healthy and strong, in every way. To learn more about our power as a parent, read my syndicated article Let’s give our children the world.

Doubting Santa

I was asked what to do when a 5 year old sat on Santa’s lap, realized he wasn’t the “real Santa” (his beard was loose!), yelled at him and demanded the “real” one. The mom was concerned that her daughter was too young not to believe in Santa. I was concerned that the 5 year old had already developed a sense of entitlement with rude, inappropriate behavior. I made a few suggestions which would remediate her bad manners as well as rekindle her belief in Santa. Read more in How does a parent handle a waning belief in Santa Claus?

Consistent Parenting

A well educated mom asked how to get all the other adults in her son’s life on board to help with his homework in the afternoon, minimizing chaos and angry evenings. I suggested she attack the problem outside of the moment, and communicate clearly with everyone. Gathering everyone involved in the situation is the first step. If it’s not possible to physically gather everyone, then at least include them via phone. Find out what their take on the situation is. Find out what they feel is problamatic in that situation, and what is working well. Ask how they feel they can change or help the situation. Including everyone in the problem solving and recovery process gives everyone ownership to their piece of the puzzle, and empowers them to work toward the goal. Read the full article “Consistent parenting needs family discussion“.