Family

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

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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

Parenting a child that is adopted

You often hear parents of adopted children say they fell in love the minute they saw the picture of their child. This may be true for you or it may not. Seeing a picture does not necessarily show what they child is going to bring to your home. This is not to say that you do not love that child or that you are not thankful for that child.

The process of adoption is a stressful one and also an emotional one.When that child finally comes to your home and your adoption process is finally over you hope that your home can go back to normal. Your child is going to be in a strange environment so this makes getting back to normal difficult. If the adopted child does not speak or understand your language this makes it a little more difficult to bond with them. The process will actually be quicker than you think if you show them the proper expressions of love through your tone of voice and by your touch. You should take advice from others you know that are in a similar situation or join a support group for adoptive parents.

A professional counselor may be needed to seek advice from.Parenting a child is difficult but parenting a adopted child has another set of issues to deal with. Some of these issues will go away with time others will not. Some of these issues may require some help in dealing with them. To help in the bonding process do anything that is necessary to get it to move forward.

Filed Under: Child Custody Tagged With: Adoption, Family, Home

Using Empathy in Your Parenting Technique

When you interaction with other people and your children you should use the skill of empathy. One of the best techniques as a parent you can use is speaking to your child with empathy. This could be listening and making eye contact with your child. It may at times mean reflecting upon their feelings. The parents who use this technique with their child will often have a better relationship with their child. This may even lead them to have more successful relationships as they grow older and be significantly happier.

There are many ways that empathy can be used. Some parents may not feel comfortable using this method in their parenting. They may not know the right way to talk to their kids this way.The parent may feel that the method of empathy is not a natural way to parent a child.If their parents did not empathize with them they may not know the right way to speak to their child that way.All a parent needs to do about that situation is practice. They may be comfortable empathizing with them when they are feeling hurt but not when their child is breaking the rules. The parent may have a hard time because their child is complaining about the rules. The parent may feel like they should make their child be more respectful of them instead of emphasizing with them.

You are not condoning bad behavior by empathizing and listening to your child. There are ways that a parent can say things to a child that can direct them to behave better. Empathizing with your child is one way to do it. This will reaffirm a parents belief that their child will do the right thing.

Filed Under: Family Law Advice Tagged With: Emotion, Empathy, Eye contact, Family, Mother, Parent

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

How to Parent A Unruly Teenager

Everyday parents are reaching out and searching the internet for answers as to how to handle their unruly teenager. Parenting is difficult and there is not no one single approach that everyone can use. It consists of different approaches for each situation.

There is not no cure for the adolescence stage of life. We as parents just have to wing it and hope for a great outcome. There is just not one single source that will give us the answers that we need to be successful parents. However, you may need those answers today! Just think back before the time of computers when parents could not research for answers or advice from others. These parents still had to face the same challenges that we face today. Each stage of the development of a child has its own challenges but with the difference of the technology of the times have changed.

The parents that did not have computers to use for answers just had to wing it so to speak. These parents had to watch their grown children face the same challenges with their own children.

The parents of today have a advantage over the parents of years ago. They can just click their mouse on the computer and the answers are there. There is the answer of just toughing it out but why do that when it is not necessary. Who wants to let time heal the problems that are being faced when you do not have to. You can do all of this today with no need to wait it out.

If you can afford it you can seek the help of a child psychologist. Most of us however that is facing this situation wants to have help right now. There just is no real magic bullet to help make everything okay for everyone who is raising a child or teenager. You just do the best you can for your situation.

Filed Under: Family Law Advice Tagged With: answers, Family, Home, Parent, Single source publishing, Today (NBC program)

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

Selecting Activities for a Child

It can be difficult for parents to resist signing a child up for many classes and activities. Early in life, children often have many different interests and it is tempting to try to follow through on all of them. Preparing a realistic schedule for your children will help everyone to try new things without a lot of added stress.

Pick the Best
Help your child to identify activities that they really want to do. Maybe your child has wanted to take a ballet class or play soccer since birth, that’s something worth trying out. Choose activities that are low pressure, but fun for the child. Some children may also want to choose activities where they can take a class or be on a team with their friends, this can make the activity a lot more fun.

Don’t Be Afraid to Say No
If a class isn’t a good fit for your child or they seem stressed by having to go to art class each week, consider not signing up again. Too many parents feel pressured to continue, but it should really come down to what is best for you and your family. Talk to your child about their activities and which ones they enjoy the most. It’s your job to help facilitate good decisions and pick the schedule that meets their needs.

Leave Time for Play
Avoid over scheduling their children to the point that they don’t have time to play on their own. Children need that time to explore new interests, develop the ability to have fun on their own, and just enjoy being a child. Some signs that your child may be over scheduled include a reluctance to go to activities, complaining of being tired even after a good night’s sleep, and complaining that they don’t have time to play. Play is important and deserves a spot on every child’s schedule.

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

Supporting Your Child in a First Job

Your child’s first job is a challenging time for everyone. Your child is learning to take on new responsibilities, follow directions, and find their way in a brand new environment. As a parent, it can be tough to know exactly how to support your child during this period in life. Luckily, there are many ways that you can help make the first few months of a first job a little easier on your child.

Show Interest
While it’s tempting to not get involved for fear of being labeled the pushy parent, a first job is a great time to show some interest in what your child is doing. You can share stories about your own first jobs, ask about the day and how everything is going, and just generally be supportive during the first few weeks. Chances are your child is tired and feeling overwhelmed by everything there is to learn on the job.

Support the Schedule
Helping your child to keep their schedule is order is a good way to help your child to prepare for college and life after he or she has moved out. Help to devise a strategy that works for each child’s strengths, a visual wall calendar, a computer-generated schedule that travels with them anywhere, or a traditional day planner. Keeping a schedule is order will be an important thing in the future and you can help get them off on the right foot to start.

Help When You Can
Whether it’s offering a ride home at the end of a long day or packing a lunch when your child doesn’t have time to make one. Being supportive of the new responsibilities will always be appreciated. Ask your child how you can help if you sense that he or she is beginning to get stressed over work and school, you want to teach independence, but also help when you can.

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