Parenting is universally challenging, and it’s critical to know the skills and techniques to be an effective parent. The more tools you have in your “being a parent arsenal” and the more education you have about age-appropriate behavior and milestones, the more effective of a parent you will be.

Make sure there is a clean spot on your counter, and roll up a towel. Lay your child down with their back on the towel, and run the water over their hair. This can minimize the anxiety many young children have when their heads are doused with water.

Even though it is important to spend plenty of time with your kids, take time to relax alone. This helps you be yourself and a great parent too.

Parents of teens who are trying to choose a college should not pressure their teens to select a college based on the desires of the parents. Do not pressure your teen into doing something, or he or she might turn to the complete opposite.

Take a break once in a while. Even if you are only able to get away for a one or two hours, ask a trusted friend or family member to watch your kids for you. Parents who take care of their children 24 hours a day without relief are more likely to make poor parenting choices and contribute to a tense family environment.

Place retro-reflective material on all children who go to school in order to make their backpack and clothing stand out. These materials also have strips of Velcro for easy attaching and detaching. This will allow your child to be seen more easily by drivers and crossing guards, keeping them safer.

It is a well known fact that each child in a family will be different. Successful techniques with one child might not work at all on another. This includes rewards as much as punishment. You have to remember all the techniques you have used before.

If cutting teeth is painful for your child, put certain foods, such as carrots, cucumbers or pickles into a mesh teething feeder. Other things can also provide relief, but children generally prefer chewing on something that has some taste. The more they chew, the more progress they make and the better they inevitably feel.

Our hope is that this article has given you some valuable, meaningful, commonsense ideas about how to most effectively parent your child or children. The beautiful thing about living in the information age is that even if you don’t know something, answers are only a few clicks away.

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