There is rarely anything more exciting than knowing you will be raising a child of your own. The information that follows should help you learn some tips to proper raising a child.

Imagine how your child will interpret what you tell him! Your children should be able to trust you.

Do your best to have your children eat and go to bed at the same time while traveling. Travel can seriously stress out children, especially very young children. If you stick with your child’s bedtime ritual, they will be more comfortable, and fall asleep more easily.

Going from one activity to another can be difficult for very small children. If they are pulled away from something too soon, it can trigger a melt down.

Parents with teenagers trying to decide on what college to attend, should not pressure them to choose the college parents want them to go to. Teenagers will often rebel against their parents’ wishes if they feel they are being overly controlling.

Regardless of their age, children who walk to or from school need to have retro-reflective material affixed to their person in a highly conspicuous spot, such as on their backpack or clothing. Velcro even makes detachable reflective strips specifically for this purpose. This enables crossing guards and drivers to see your child more clearly and from a farther distance, particularly early in the morning when it is sometimes still dusky.

Don’t smoke at home when you have kids. It is actually a good idea to quit smoking altogether, especially if you have children. You may not realize it, but secondhand smoke can be as bad, if not worse, than firsthand smoke. Second-hand smoke is responsible for a multitude of health issues in a child, including bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia and other respiratory problems.

Remember that each child is a different person. If a technique worked to help one child, don’t expect it to work for all children. Rewards and punishments will need to be examined. Keeping all of this in mind, still use the same techniques you have had success with in the past.

Stop often when driving long distances with toddlers or young children to stave off boredom and crankiness. It may be tempting to get to your target destination quickly, but going at a leisurely pace will keep the fussing from the children to a minimum. Allow your kids to burn off that extra energy by stopping at parks, family-friendly restaurants and outdoor play areas.

If you absorb the information that has been provided in the article, you should be able to build a great foundation from which to parent in a positive manner. Just keep in mind that no one’s parenting experience is quite the same. Even though billions of children have been raised in the world, there is no one “sure-fire” way to be a parent. Therefore, use whatever advice fits your bringing up a child style. As your children grow and develop, so will you. So enjoy each moment of this special time in your child’s life.