Children, upon reaching a certain age, can be very stubborn and determined. Some call them spoiled, but I prefer calling them strong-willed. It is normal for kids to want to have things their way, and when they don’t, they cry and throw tantrums regardless of the time and place.
Here are my proven and tested tips on how you can guide your strong-willed child: 1. Hear Your Child Out. Strong-willed children have strong opinions on things. You have to be careful when you deal with them so that they will not feel neglected. Carefully listen to them and acknowledge their emotions and opinions. The key here is for the child to feel that mom is listening and that he or she can talk things out with you. That way, you can let the child understand that what he or she wants is not right or is not good. 2. Set Things Straight By Laying Down Concrete Rules And Be Consistent. Strong-willed kids want to lead. If they can see that there is no leader, they tend to do things their way, thinking that they can lead. You should set rules for them to understand that they can choose and decide for themselves but in such a way that they should still act within the boundaries of the rules and still follow your lead. 3. Give Them Tasks And Let Them Help You. Strong-willed children feel that they are capable of doing things that adults do and so they want to take charge of things such as pushing the cart or carrying bags or even cooking. When this happens, give them a task or responsibility such as letting them wash the fruits or letting them help in mixing some ingredients. That way, they can feel like they are helping you do a very important job. Implement these 3 tips and use that strong will of your child to cultivate his or her personality. You will see a huge improvement in your child. He or she will be more cooperative and would throw fewer tantrums.
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Like all other mommies out there, I always find myself caught in the middle of doing household chores and my kids whining and crying because I am not playing with them in their playroom. I never get things done unless they are asleep. That means goodbye to 2 to 3 hours of sleep before the sun rises. So I found several ways to encourage independent play.
Rotate The Toys They Can Play With. Children get bored easily. To stimulate their interest, try to keep some of their toys and leave some in their room. This will make them miss their toys and play with them more once you show them again. In my case, I bring in a few toys that they haven’t played with in the past few days and during the week, I add in a few more toys but never all of them at once. Alter The Interior Design Of Their Playroom. Kids always get excited about new things. I discovered that when I move the furniture in their playroom, it creates the illusion that the room is new and so my kids tend to play there more. Set Up Play Stations. Before I start my day, I set up the playroom and arrange the toys in a way like there is a scene that they can portray. For example, a tea party or a slumber party. Too Much Of Something Is Bad Enough. Having a lot of toys all at once makes the child restless because he or she cannot focus on something as it overstimulates them. Do not put all the toys in the playroom and instead, leave them with a few that they can choose from and focus on. Keep The Essentials. Your child has certain favorite toys. For example, if your child likes to play with dollhouses, you can leave them in one corner of the playroom and just change the arrangement of the toys. That way, it will stimulate their interest. Keep The Decorations In The Room Simple. Too many decorations in the room can overstimulate your child and make him or her lose interest easily. This will only make your children come running back to you and ask you to play with them. Having a newborn baby is never easy. All they do is eat, sleep, poop and repeat. It only means sleepless nights. As a working mom, work doesn’t stop just because you have a baby. You have to manage your time and energy for all the tasks you have to do for the day. Here are some helpful tricks that help me get through the day without burning out:
Remember also to eat food that will keep you energized throughout the day. I usually snack my way throughout the day because you will never know when you can have or finish a full meal or when your baby will cry for some milk or for a diaper change. Going to the mall or to the park with kids is challenging as it is. They run around, ask you for food when there is no food stall or restaurant nearby, ask you to carry them because they are tired of walking or ask you to go with them to the washroom because they need to pee when there is no washroom nearby. All these things and more make traveling with kids seem difficult. Here are some reasons why you should travel with kids even if it seems difficult:
Strengthen Family Ties. Being in a foreign place can help you and your kids bond more because the family is out of their comfort zone. The patience of each member will be tested, but in the end, you are stuck together trying to solve whatever issues come your way. Learn The Natural Way. Kids can learn and remember better when they are exposed to things or when they see things in person. Develop Your Child’s Self-Esteem. Children who are exposed to new environments are likewise exposed to new challenges which help them improve their skills and boost their self-confidence. Improve Language Skills. Kids can learn a language faster than adults. Exposing them to a different language and culture can stimulate their curiosity and will inspire them to learn it. Make Memories That Last. Traveling can create memories that last for a long time which you can reminisce on. Time Flies By Slower. Seeing places and things that we don’t usually see leaves us in awe that sometimes trick our brains and we do not realize that time passed by so fast. It is a good way to escape and relieve stress from time to time. |