Child

Relocation and Parenting: Tips for an International Experience

Parenting is a skill cultivated through years and careful mastery. Too often, however, does that mastery fail in the wake of an international move — with families forced to settle in new environments and children flailing in the aftermath.

To help soothe the process, parents must remain calm… and offer the necessary support:

Explanations

An international journey is one defined to many miles and many questions. Parents must expect the hours to be worrisome: children will be baffled by the act of moving, won’t grasp its full intentions. Explanations are necessary therefore. The reasons for a relocation (whether a career, a financial opportunity, etc.) must be given. They should just be simplified so they can be understood.

Education

The differences between countries can seem subtle and strange — with children who have been raised in picket fence worlds unaware of what’s to come. It’s vital therefore that parents offer an education: with books, films and other learning materials provided before a move commences. This will help to make the process relevant and will prepare youths for what they should expect. Surprise is not a worthy virtue. Knowledge is instead needed.

Exposure

Acclimation is an unfamiliar word but an all too essential idea. Once a new home has been secured families will find themselves surrounded by unfamiliar cultures. It’s important that children are not cloistered from these experiences (with parents shielding them from what they don’t understand, keeping them close to their belongings). Exposure is instead needed. Youths should be allowed to explore the area. This will encourage interest and defeat anxieties.

Relocation can be an adventure. Parents must simply first make it tangible.

Filed Under: Family Law Advice Tagged With: Child, Family, Parent

Parenting the Only Child – Debunking the Myths

Image via Wikipedia

Parenting styles differ greatly around the world, and parenting an only child can be significantly different from parenting two or more children. A popular myth about the only child is that the child will be selfish. The truth is most children at a certain age will seem selfish because in their own minds, everything revolves around them. Positive parenting helps alleviates this self-centeredness over time by teaching the value of sharing.

It may seem as if the only child is selfish because the parents have only one child to focus on. As such these children may develop a sense that everyone should give them total attention. However, good parenting skills will enable the child to realize early on not to treat attention as a right.

Some people hold the view that the only child is generally very bossy. Again this attitude results not so much from being the sole child, but from the parenting received. In fact, many children with siblings are bossy as well. Good parenting will help children to learn to temper their attitudes.

When it comes to an only child, the tendency to feel alone or to become loners can be greater. This is true for children anywhere in the world. Parents should make every effort to provide companionship for their child. They should be allowed to spend time with cousins and other children to develop relationships.

While the style used for parenting an only child may be different than that used for two or more kids, the outcome is generally the same. The values children learn as they grow are those instilled by their parents and their environment.

Filed Under: Child Custody Tagged With: Child, Family, Parent

Apple Bottoms Clothing is Approriate for your Child

Apple Bottoms is one of the many businesses founded and launched by Cornell Haynes Jr. or also popularly known as Nelly, along with Ian Kelly, his friend and Yomi Martin, his cousin, came up with Apple Bottoms Dream Team in 2003. The inspiration for this brand comes from the hip hop icon itself, Nelly and with the help of VH-1, they came up with a model search called “Apple Bottoms girl.” The brand surely has increased their popularity because of this. Apple Bottoms jeans sold out in two weeks after its launch.

Nelly, primarily focused his market on women with figures, his jeans are known for emphasizing the backside which gives women curvy figures. Apple Bottoms jeans also has its signature trademark the “Apple Pocket”, which is found at the backside of the jeans, some even have some fancy rhinestones design and some have simpler design which have Apple Bottoms written in cursive on the back pocket. Nelly’s clothing line has become a success to a point the business has expanded and the products they offer are now in a wide range.

From Apple Bottoms Clothing, the brand also offers shirts, blouses, skirts, shorts, jackets, and jumpsuits and they also launched a perfume branded Apple Bottoms by Nelly. The brand now focuses from women, to girls, to children and it has now become a family oriented clothing line which still gives a strong fashionable sense. Nelly’s objective is for the clothes to fit the women perfectly and not for the women to fit into the clothes.

Filed Under: General Law & Legal Tagged With: Apple Bottoms Clothing, Child, Clothing

Ways to discipline a child’s bad behavior

The situation should be personalized with compassion before any response is given. This is not going to be an easy task but can be done. A parent should take on a tone that is understanding but extremely patient and ask their child the reason that they have acted badly. To convince them to tell you the truth about the situation let them know that you are on their side.

Even though you are discipling the child still show compassion for them. Once you get the hang of it you will find it gets easier. It will just be hard getting through the first time. Tell them they have misbehaved and can not do their favorite activity then give them a kiss. This should be done in a tone that is loving. This may appear confusing to the child at first but it does work. This should become a habit when discipline is needing to be done to the child.

Before discipling your child you need to understand all angles of the situation. All angles should be explained to the child so that they know and see them too. The child will gain a better understanding of the reason for their punishment.

All of these have probably been tried by you at least once but try them again.This time try them with the focus being on your behavior. Are you being to emotional? Do you completely understand or know the whole situation? Ask yourself this questions to help you find what works for you.

Filed Under: General Law & Legal Tagged With: Behavior, Child, Child discipline

Some effective parenting skills to use

What does it mean to be a good parent? It means to give them all the love we can. Not only is being a good parent about love it is about giving them values and tools that they can use to become responsible adults. They should be able as adults to express their feelings and resolve problems. We can not impulsively react and be able to teach our children anything. Here is some effective parenting skills that we can use.

We need to be a role model for our children. Be the type of adult that you want your child to become. When you yell at your child you are not really teaching them anything. So you should always remain calm. Do not impulsively react in front of your child. Go to another room to calm down if you find yourself getting angry. Speak to the child in a firm tone and never scream at them. If your child has behaved badly explain to them what the consequences are that he or she will face. If their behavior is good reward them for it. Out of all the parenting skills this is probaly one of the most important ones to get started on. Build up the child’s self esteem. Let him know that he can accomplish anything and if something happens it will be okay. As long as he at least tries. Always show your child that you have unconditional love for them. You should let them know that you punish him only because that his behavior is not acceptable.

Filed Under: Family Law Advice Tagged With: Angelina Jolie, Child, Johnny Depp, Magazines and E-zines, Support group

How to Parent A Disabled Child

There are over 20 million families in the United States that a special needs child in it. Most of these children are in the public school system and feel out of place because of their special need. A classmate may not feel comfortable around the special needs child and may mentally or physically hurt them.

It may help to teach children that they should treat everyone with the same respect. Here are some ways that parents can teach their child to be sensitive to others.The first step that a parent should take is teach their child that every child is just like them. Each person has the same feelings, hurts, and joys. A special needs child just may not be able to express these feelings in the same way.It could help to show your child that they are fortunate in being able to have the ability to do this and to help those children that can not.

Make sure that your child feels comfortable around kids that have special needs. You do not want your child to think that if someone looks or acts differently that they have a disease that is contagious. They need to be assured that is okay for them to socialize with a special needs child.

Look for the attributes that the special needs child does have. Maybe he can not read but he is a good artists or can be creative in his thinking. Just because he has a disability does not mean that he is unable to do something.

A child should be encouraged by their parents to be friends with a special needs child.It could be a rewarding experience for the child that is not disabled.Never exclude the disable child from a birthday or other gathering of classmates.You should even encourage your child to invite the special needs child over for a play date. If other people are in the home when the child visits the special needs child should be introduced to everyone so that they feel welcome in your home.

Filed Under: Family Law Advice Tagged With: Child, Disability, Family, Special education, Special needs, State school

Parenting Differences: Early Childhood Learning

Different countries around the world hold very different beliefs about learning in early childhood. For some parents, building language skills and encouraging achievement is critical to the early years, whereas parents in other cultures are less focused on early education and more on raising a happy child. There are several ways that these beliefs differ.

The Window of Learning
Some cultures place a strong emphasis on early learning because they believe children have only a small window of time to learn skills. Language skills in particular are often stressed in early years and this is considered by many to be the prime time for a child to learn not only one language, but a second or third language too.

Australian parents are a good example of a culture where early learning is stressed as important to a child’s overall development. Lebanese parents, meanwhile, are more likely to believe that children will learn skills as they grow and at the point when they need to acquire them. They do not believe there is a window that closes and children cannot learn skills later on.

Preparation for School
Some cultures place emphasis on preparing a child for school socially, the United States is a good example. From an early age, children are encouraged to build self esteem and social skills that will allow them to thrive in a school setting. For other countries, children are encouraged to learn skills, such as reading and basic math, as preparation for school. The social elements are deemed secondary to the academic experience children will face in school.

The challenge comes when parents are raising children in a country that is not their native land. There may be misunderstandings between parents and teachers as they both try to give children the best childhood and early learning experience possible.

Filed Under: General Law & Legal Tagged With: Child, Early childhood, United States

Raising your Child to be a Good Traveler

Raising your children to be good travelers will help them to appreciate different cultures and develop a love of travel from an early age. It is important to follow some guidelines when traveling with young children to ensure that you, your child, and everyone around you can have a safe and happy trip.

Plan Ahead
Talk to your child’s pediatrician before planning any overseas trips to be sure that everything will be okay. Children’s immune systems are not as strong as adults and they can be susceptible to many things you haven’t given a second thought. If you will on a long plane ride, be sure to allow plenty of recovery time on each side of your trip for your child to get situated. Jet lag affects children just as it affects adults and your child may be disoriented, cranky, or off-schedule for awhile upon arrival. Be patient and plan for it.

Pack Strategically
Dress your child in light layers for a plane ride and pack enough small toys or books to keep him or her occupied for the duration of the trip. Many children who fly from an early age will be fine with the experience and nap most of the way, others may be nervous. Offer plenty of information and reassurance to keep your child feeling safe.

Educate Accordingly
Before going to a new country, talk about the people, the culture, and what to expect. Looking at picture books, maps, or programs on television can help your child know what to expect. Talk about how to treat people that you meet, any new social norms that you may see while visiting, and all of the new things that your child can expect to see along the way. This not only prepares them for the trip, but is a great learning experience too.

Filed Under: General Law & Legal Tagged With: Child, Immune system, Jet lag, Parent

Parenting a Cautious Child

Many small children are naturally outgoing and loud, others are naturally a little quieter and more cautious in their ways. For parents of a cautious child, it is important to be your child’s biggest cheerleader, encourage them to go at their own pace when it comes to trying new things, and focus on the positives.

Stand up for them
Many other adults, even your relatives or the child’s teachers, may call your child shy or view their cautious personality as a bad thing. It is important that you stand up for your child and work with the adults in you child’s life to see that while they may need to do things a little differently, it’s okay. Never let another adult pressure your child into acting in a way that doesn’t feel natural.

Offer gentle encouragement
You want to encourage a cautious child to expand his or her horizons and try new things, but you want to do this carefully. Don’t put pressure on your child and make things uncomfortable, instead, help them to identify things they’d like to try and take baby steps to get there. Maybe your child would like to try an art class, but is worried about the other kids and the teacher. Arrange to meet with an art teacher beforehand so that your child will have a familiar face at the first class. A little extra planning can make a world of difference.

Help them see the positive
Be sure to remind your cautious child that while you don’t want them to be afraid of things in life, you appreciate their unique qualities. Cautious children are often very smart, very sensitive, and very in tune with their emotions. They learn about the world in their own way and it is important as parents to encourage them to always be themselves.

Filed Under: General Law & Legal Tagged With: Child, Family, Parent, Teacher

Preparing Your Child for Pre-School

Parents can do a lot to help their children be ready to start preschool and prepared to be separated from their family for several hours during the day. Every child reacts to life’s changes in a different way, it is important to explore each new step with your child and consider how their unique personality and temperament will impact their new daily schedule.

Encourage Early Friendships
From a young age, encourage children to spend time with other children. Whether it’s siblings, cousins, or neighbors, learning how to relate to other children is great preparation for preschool. For parents raising an only child, you may have to take steps like arranging play dates with neighborhood kids or seeking out classes and playgroups to help prepare your child and give them some early friends to help practice social skills.

Learn Through Picture Books
Begin well in advance to talk to your child about preschool and kindergarten. There are many excellent children’s books about starting school and these can be a great option. Read the book together and learn the different activities, people, and events that are part of a typical school day. As you get closer to starting preschool,begin to talk to your child about it. By that point, chances are it will something familiar and fun, your child will be excited to go to a place like the one in the book.

Make Time for Them
When your child is in preschool and you are at home or at work, it can feel like you are not as close as you were when you were at home together all day. Be sure to make quality time for your children at home in the evenings or at a time when you are both at home. This will help them to learn that it’s okay to go to school during the day and that they will come home to the same family after.

Filed Under: General Law & Legal Tagged With: Child, Home, Preschool education