Any parent raising a toddler knows how difficult it can be to maintain good discipline. When you least expect it, your child is likely to throw a tantrum, while you feel helpless.

As a proponent of positive parenting, you are well aware that spanking or any other form of physical punishment isn’t a valid option.

And timeouts might not have the positive effect on your child’s behavior that you hope for. This is no surprise because kids at that age can’t fully grasp the link between their actions and consequences.

Consider the words of Anne Sullivan:

“Children require guidance and sympathy far more than instruction.”

If this is our standpoint, why do we still try to punish our kids when they do something wrong? Why don’t we work to understand them, guide them, or offer a good example instead? How do we train our children to adjust well to life, without losing our minds in the process?

Fortunately, you can control your own actions.

Toddlers learn a lot from observing and imitating. You have a chance to be a positive model. All you need to do is be patient with both your child and you.

Consider these alternatives to punishment for young children:

1. Ask questions. Your child’s misbehavior is here for a reason. Even though toddlers are young, you can talk to them and offer understanding. We often incorrectly assume kids are doing something “bad” when, in fact, they are figuring out how something works.

● Seek answers. Ask: “What are you trying to do?” or “Why do you want to do this?” Listen and understand, then correct their behavior by offering the appropriate outlet or information.

2. Take a break with your child. If you notice your child is having a difficult time or making choices you don’t approve of, go to a quiet space together and take a break.

● This will serve as prevention for trouble, so it’s important to do this before things get out of hand. Five minutes of calm conversation, listening, sharing, and considering more appropriate choices for the situation can help.

3. Give a second chance. A young child that makes a mistake doesn’t deserve punishment. They deserve an opportunity for a do-over.

● Let your toddler try to address the problem differently and change their behavior. State clearly what’s not allowed, offer a positive alternative, and ask if they are okay with it.

4. Use a physical demonstration. Children learn from observation all the time. You are constantly their model, even when you aren’t aware of your own behavior. So, ensure that you are a good model in critical situations.

● A toddler might not grasp the connection between their action and your words, but if you demonstrate desirable behavior, they’ll catch up.

5. Give your child a heads-up. When you’re requesting specific behavior from your child, give them a heads up. For example, instead of asking them to leave the playground at a moment’s notice, tell them you’ll be leaving in five minutes.

● A gentle reminder of what you’re expecting them to do is more useful than a punishment afterward.

6. Read a story. Another creative way to help kids learn how to make better choices is through stories. Read or tell stories that include characters who make mistakes, have strong feelings, or need help. This is also a way of setting a good example using a character that your child can relate to.

Switching from punishment to positive reinforcement is the best thing you can do for your child’s mental health and further development. It does require patience and devotion, but it’s one of the best gifts you can give to your child.

Your children’s education is incredibly important, and there are many considerations that go into making a decision to homeschool your kids. After all, you want to give your kids the best start in life that you can.

Homeschooling includes so many things in addition to academics, such as physical skills, social skills, field trips, sports, music, and much more.

How can you create a well-rounded homeschool program that gives your children the most benefits that you can?

These strategies will help you create a successful homeschooling program for your children:

1. Research homeschooling. Read everything you can about the different curriculums that are available. Talk to other homeschooling parents, as well as their homeschooled kids, to learn from their experience.

2. Find out the homeschooling requirements for your area. This varies from location to location.

● For example, in the United States, each state sets their own requirements for homeschooling. Some states require attendance records, as well as reports and standardized tests. Other states require little.

3. Join a local homeschooling group. One of the best places to find out information about homeschooling is from homeschoolers themselves. You will be able to ask them questions, let them review your practices, and show you what works for them.

● You can also learn what age-appropriate activities are available, plus how the other parents make subjects available to their kids that they don’t have expertise in, such as a foreign language or playing a musical instrument.

● Many local homeschooling groups have arranged all sorts of things for the kids, including field trips, sports teams, and even competitions.

4. Decide on the curriculum. There are various places online where you can buy a curriculum to use at home. These will vary from traditional textbooks and workbooks for reading, writing, and arithmetic, to more custom curriculum that is aimed more at your own child’s interests.

5. Create your own space for homeschooling. Where are you going to be schooling your children? Will you be using the kitchen table, or do you have a spare room available to set up for homeschooling? Do you need a blackboard or a desk? What about a computer or space for storage?

6. Set specific goals. It is important when homeschooling to set specific goals. This is because you will likely be moving at a different pace to those in traditional schooling. You’ll want to ensure that your child is learning as much as the other children of the same age.

7. Create your own schedule. Once you’ve thought about goals for your child, it’s time to create a schedule that supports those goals. Make a plan of what subjects you are planning to do on each day, and whether there will be any field trips.

● Also, include time in your children’s schedule for physical activity, socializing, and making friends. Extracurricular activities are important. So are social skills.

● Networking with other parents will help keep you in the loop about what activities are available for your child.

● Even though you’ve made a plan, remember that you’re allowed to be flexible. That’s one of the benefits of homeschooling.

8. Ensure that your child doesn’t become isolated. Spending all day with you may seem like a dream but your child may think differently. They need friends of their own age, so let them be kids too.

Homeschooling isn’t suitable for all children or all parents, but if you are homeschooling, keep these tips in mind for a successful program that can benefit your children for life.

School is out for millions of children nationwide as K-12 education shifts from the classroom to the internet. While many school districts are giving their teachers crash courses in online learning, parents also play a major role in ensuring that kids get a first-rate education.

Are you struggling to balance your day with supervising your child’s coursework?

Try these suggestions for providing the parental guidance and input your child needs.

Planning and Preparing

Your school may have sent your child home with devices and materials for completing their assignments. You’ll still need to provide structure and motivation.

Follow these strategies to develop an effective structure:

1. Schedule your days. Stick to your usual routines as much as possible, including bedtimes and mealtimes. Let your child know you expect them to log in on time for classes each morning.

2. Arrange your space. Designate an area just for school. It may be a room or a section of the dining room table as long as it’s quiet and comfortable. Stock up on supplies like notebooks, pens, and calculators.

3. Limit distractions. Ban games and movies during class time. Keep in mind that some children may learn better with a little background music.

4. Enjoy recess. Breaks and lunch hours are essential. Serve healthy food and provide lots of fun options for physical exercise.

5. Be social. How can your child maintain their friendships? Use technology for group study sessions, video chats, and virtual play dates.

6. Contact your school. Ask school officials and teachers about the most effective way to communicate with them and stay in touch regularly. Find out what resources are available for collaborating with other parents.

Basic Study Skills

Teach your child to learn effectively. Strong study skills will be a valuable asset online, offline, and in their future careers.

Strengthen study skills with these techniques:

1. Give practice tests. Many studies show that testing yourself is one of the most productive ways to learn. Design questions together. Treat quizzes like a game to reduce anxiety.

2. Conduct reviews. Prepare for tests by going over past material on a regular basis. Your child is more likely to forget their lessons if they cram at the last minute.

3. Create outlines. Identify key facts and major themes. Building a framework increases reading comprehension and strengthens writing skills. It also encourages critical thinking.

4. Proofread and edit. Review your child’s completed assignments before they’re submitted. Make revisions together until they’re comfortable doing it on their own.

5. Evaluate your progress. Give your child constructive feedback. Discuss teacher comments and test results. Ask your child to describe their strengths and weaknesses. Set specific goals like reading a certain number of pages each day or looking up unfamiliar vocabulary words.

Passion Projects

Take advantage of the opportunity to spend more time with your child. Create happy memories and nurture their personal interests.

Consider these ideas:

1. Browse for resources. Even if field trips are on hold, there are vast collections online for any subject your child loves. Delve deeper into dinosaurs or sports nutrition.

2. Be selective. At the same time, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by your choices. Start out with a few reliable sources or ask your child’s teacher for recommendations. For example, you might want to explore the PBS Parents Play and Learn App for younger kids and Great Courses for their older siblings.

3. Show enthusiasm. Make learning a fun activity that draws you closer together. Reward your child’s efforts with prizes like stickers or baking their favorite dessert. Hang their artwork on your refrigerator door and applaud when they read you their book reports.

While circumstances may change, the importance of education remains the same. Help your child to gain knowledge and skills that will enable them to have a positive impact on the world.

Be patient with yourself and stay connected as you make the transition to online learning.

Are you concerned about the way your toddler plays? They sit next to other kids with their blocks or trucks, but you don’t see them making much effort to interact. If so, you can relax.

This is a natural and important stage of development called parallel play.

In fact, it’s one of six stages of play that occur as a child moves from solitary play to cooperative play with coordinated activities, communication, and rules. Each child is different, but parallel play usually emerges when they’re about 2 or 3 years old.

Your child may look like they’re just having fun, but these activities also help them to learn and grow.

Learn more about the benefits of parallel play and how to encourage it.

How to Encourage Parallel Play:

1. Understand the stages. As your child grows, they’ll be able to engage in a wider variety of play. Keep in mind that each stage is valuable, and your child will probably shift between them daily. It’s like wanting to bake a potato even if you know how to make paella.

2. Stimulate curiosity. Your toddler will probably be more enthusiastic if they think it’s their idea. Instead of asking them to play with another child, use comments and questions that will make them want to engage.

3. Demonstrate activities. Showing is usually more effective than telling. Start sculpting a Play-Doh figure and see if the kids join in.

4. Take turns. Sharing can be a challenging concept for humans of all ages. Use parallel play to introduce the idea of taking turns. Try to make it into a game.

5. Stick together. Children will move at their own pace. However, keeping them in the same room or general area creates more opportunities for parallel play.

6. Schedule playdates. Most children are ready for playdates starting around their second birthday. Start out with just one guest and limit the time to about one or two hours.

7. Practice at home. If your child needs to warm up to the possibility of playing with others, let them start with people they know. Sitting alongside a parent or sibling can help prepare them for friends their own age.

Other Playtime Tips:

1. Share daily activities. Do you wish you had more time to create enriching experiences for your child? Invite them along as you prepare dinner and buy gardening supplies. Ordinary tasks can be just as fun and fruitful as any expensive educational game.

2. Talk more. Chatting with your child enhances their language and communication skills, especially during the first few years of life. Listen to their questions and keep up a conversation as you play ball or draw pictures.

3. Limit TV. The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that too much screen time can interfere with time to play, talk, and sleep. They recommend limiting screen use to one hour per day of high-quality programs and watching them with your toddler so you can discuss the content.

4. Move around. Most experts recommend at least 30 minutes of vigorous activity a day for toddlers. They also need to avoid being sedentary for more than 60 minutes at a time, so take a break during long car trips.

5. Inspire creativity. Playtime is also an occasion for you and your child to enjoy the arts. Exercise your imagination by using recycled materials from around the house for crafts. Entertain yourselves with word games while traveling or waiting at the doctor’s office.

6. Be flexible. While there are serious benefits, remember to keep playtime fun. Let your child explore the world in their own way and talk with your pediatrician if you have any questions.

As your child develops, each stage of play helps them to build their mental, physical, and social skills. Provide them with the encouragement and support they need to grow up happy and healthy.

A scavenger hunt is a great activity that promotes family fun and bonding time. The following tips will show you just how easy it can be to plan an indoor or outdoor hunt to celebrate a special occasion or provide some good old-fashioned entertainment.

General Guidelines for Scavenger Hunts

1. Explain the game to your kids. Let your kids know how a scavenger hunt works. You can list the items to find or write riddles to describe the items. Then, you divide into teams. The winner is the team that finds the most items by the end of the time limit.

2. Create a prize. Select a prize to award to the winning team. For younger children, some good options include a baked treat or a coloring book and crayons. Older kids might like a book or movie tickets.

3. Give each child a role. Provide children with the opportunity to pitch in. They can help pick a theme for the scavenger hunt or help brainstorm items to locate.

4. Tie in other activities. Plan some additional activities to go along with your hunt. For example, you can serve a dinner menu that goes along with your theme. Around Halloween, require all the players to dress up.

5. Celebrate special occasions. Scavenger hunts are great for ordinary days as well as special celebrations. Compete during birthday parties or holiday gatherings.

6. Lay down the ground rules. Create a list of rules and share them with the participants. Appoint an adult to supervise each team. It is most important to ensure everyone’s safety. Rehearse the correct way to respectfully approach people and ask for items.

Planning an Indoor Scavenger Hunt

1. Go online. Internet-based scavenger hunts can come in handy for days when the weather is bad or your kids are home sick from school. Browse together to find your treasure.

2. Use books and magazines. If you’d rather stay off the computer, use books, magazines, and newspapers. You can search for pictures of items on your list.

3. Relate it to family. Bring your family history to life. Collect household items while sharing stories about family or reasons why these items are special.

4. Make grocery shopping more fun. It’s easy for kids to get bored while grocery shopping. Turn it into playtime by challenging them to look for the product that’s white and gets poured on cereal.

Planning an Outdoor Scavenger Hunt

1. Liven up your next road trip. Travel is another time when parents are looking for diversions. Collect receipts, maps, or post cards from each place you visit. You can even try to spot a sign without any numbers on it or “hunt” for license plates representing each state.

2. Go camping. Generate a list of items you want to collect during your daytime hikes. Enjoy family evenings at your campsite without television. Sneak some strange items into your backpack before you leave home and hide them at the campsite.

3. Take photos. Record your outdoor scavenger and treasure hunts by taking pictures of the items you collect along with action shots of all the players. Your kids will enhance their photography skills. Creating memories without disturbing natural settings will teach a valuable lesson in ecology.

4. Glow in the dark. Everything is more exciting when it glows in the dark. Head out to your backyard in the evening with glow sticks and special stickers. Attach them to the items you’ll be searching for. Watch your children’s faces light up when they discover the twist.

Treat the whole family to a scavenger hunt. Mix it up with different places, formats, and themes. You’ll have endless possibilities for new games and good times both indoors and out.

Give your child a lifelong love for reading by selecting books they’ll love. Remember what fascinated you when you were little and consider what librarians have discovered over the years.

The New York Public Library recently published a list of 100 great children’s books from the past 100 years along with a special exhibit of children’s literature. Take a look at their suggestions and other tips for helping your kids find awesome reading materials.

New York Public Library Suggestions for Children’s Books

1. See if you like it. Great books appeal to all ages. Share your childhood favorites with your sons and daughters. Think of the trip you’ll have down memory lane as you read them together years later. You may also discover some new titles and learn something new along with your kids.

2. Look at the illustrations. The pictures matter as much as the text. Images help you interpret the story. However, books without words can give kids the chance to create their own masterpieces.

3. Welcome diversity. Tales from other lands introduce your children to new cultures. You can talk about what life is like for people in other parts of the world.

4. Get a little scared. It’s natural for parents to be protective, but we all need to face our fears. Fiction is a safe way for kids to explore dark woods and meet monsters in the safety of their own home. This experience prepares them for real life challenges.

5. Check for deeper messages. Moral instruction is an important part of literature. Think about the Velveteen Rabbit. He learns that being real sometimes hurts, but it’s worth it. You become authentic and loved, even if you look a little shabby.

More Ideas on Selecting Children’s Books

1. Encourage kids to pick their own titles. Head to your local library or a bookstore. Let your kids decide what to bring home as long as it’s wholesome and age appropriate.

2. Know when to drop it. If your child seems bored with a story, put it aside for later. Switch to something that captivates them. Keep story time fun!

3. Understand reading levels. Check the publisher’s recommendations on the book jacket. Reading levels are mostly determined by the vocabulary and complexity of the story. If your child has to look up more than five words per page, the book is probably too complicated for them.

4. Describe familiar events. Children like hearing about their own lives and interests. Favorite subjects might include the adventures of a family pet, welcoming a new baby sister, or visiting with grandparents.

5. Engage in fantasy. On the other hand, make believe characters and worlds have a magic of their own. Let your child exercise his power of imagination with The Hobbit or Harry Potter.

6. Complete the series. If you’re stumped about what to read next, serials make your work easier. Try works that are published in a series or browse online for recommendations that are similar to books your child already loves.

7. Rhyme and repeat. There’s a good reason why children love watching the same cartoon endlessly. Many of the words are still new to them so repetition is reassuring. Text with repeating and rhyming lines also makes it easier for your children to join in and read to you.

8. Use other media. Books are excellent, but there are many other ways to encourage reading. Shop for comic books and graphic novels. Make a game out of grocery shopping or driving home by observing the signs around you.

Reading with your children creates pleasure, builds their language skills and knowledge base, and helps them to do better in school. Make story time even better by choosing books that will enthrall them.

School is important in many ways. Children not only develop academically and intellectually, but they also develop socially as they learn to deal with challenging situations. Kids that do well in all aspects of school tend to be more successful. Children that struggle often lack the same skills and opportunities later in life.

As a parent, there is a tremendous responsibility to ensure that your child is successful.

Help your child academically with these strategies:

1. Stress the importance of school and schoolwork. Require that homework be completed before other activities are permitted. Set expectations and help your child to meet them. Teach them how to study for tests. Consider giving rewards for high performance.

2. Create a good environment for studying. Today, even kindergarteners have homework. Help them complete their work by eliminating clutter and chaos.

* By providing a good place to work, you’re showing that homework and school are important.

3. Be encouraging. Children love to impress their parents. Be encouraging and show your pride. When children are obviously underperforming, get to the root cause.

4. Be involved. Know your child’s teachers. Be aware of their grades and progress in school. Ensure that your kids know that you know. Just making the effort to stay informed will make a difference.

* If your children think you don’t care, they are less likely to care themselves.

5. Get special services if you think your child requires them. School systems have professionals available to test your child if you have any concerns. Your child may be entitled to extra assistance. You’re paying taxes for a reason. Take full advantage of the available resources in your school district.

Help your child socially in these ways:

1. Help them with their social skills. The ability to relate and successfully deal with others is perhaps the most important of all life skills. Give them advice and support along the way.

* Many smaller children don’t have the slightest idea how to approach someone new and start a conversation. Teach your child how to make friends.

2. Be understanding. Teenagers are stressed and very concerned with their reputation amongst their peers. Of course, it seems silly to you now. But was it silly to you back in the day? Keep that in mind.

3. Allow them to pick out their clothes. Children of all ages can be concerned with their appearance. Take them shopping. Then, let them choose what they want to wear each day (within reason).

* You might be unaware of how a cool 14-year old dresses these days. If they’re not dressed appropriately, you can bet they’ll hear about it at school.

Use these techniques to help your child with extracurricular activities:

1. Encourage participation. Clubs, sports, plays, and music are all great ways to pad the transcript while getting involved in safe, supervised activities. We all are unaware of our hidden strengths and talents without a little exploration. Encourage your children to discover themselves.

2. Volunteer. Depending on your child’s age, they’ll either love or hate the idea of you volunteering at their school. There are many opportunities to volunteer for classroom activities, field trips, dances, and other activities.

* Ask the school about volunteer opportunities for parents.

Helping your child excel in all aspects of an academic setting is an important part of being a parent. Success in school is helpful later in life. Good academic performance provides a great range of options in the future. Social success ensures that your child is able to make friends and work with others successfully.

Success tends to breed success. Make the effort to support your child’s schooling. Let them know that it’s important and you care. This is one way to have a huge impact on the quality of their lives now and forever.

Psychologists often describe confidence as a person’s belief in their own ability to succeed. Naturally, every parent would like their child to be self-confident.

However, what seems to challenge parents the most is striking a healthy balance when encouraging confidence. They want to nurture their child’s confidence, but not let them get too arrogant.

Also, many parents have a challenge with self-confidence themselves.

The brilliant Albert Einstein said, “If you can’t explain it to a six-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself.”

This is the key issue: many parents don’t know how to teach confidence to their kids.

• Where do we draw a line?
• Do we push our children to do more or give them all the space they need?
• Can our kids learn how to be self-confident if we are not?

Answers to these questions might seem complicated, but the good news is – you don’t have to do it alone. There are plenty of resources to help you gain direction and clarity.

Even if you aren’t the most confident person in the world, you’ll do a lot for your child if you offer them a healthy, positive role model. It can be someone they know, a fictional character, or a celebrity. The famous physicist, Albert Einstein, is a perfect example.

Here’s what your child can learn about confidence from Einstein’s life and work:

1. It’s okay to have special interests. When he was nine, Einstein went to high school. There, he spent only 3–4 hours a week studying math and science. He was an odd kid, and eventually, he was asked to leave high school and he did it.

◦ His home was the only place where he could pursue his interests. Later in life, his special interests led him to win the Nobel Prize and become one of the most famous theoretical physicists in the world.

◦ Expose your child to a wide variety of activities and encourage them once they find something they love. Quirky hobbies can be particularly helpful for kids who don’t exactly fit in at school. The fact they are special at something will affect their confidence positively.

2. Imagination is the answer. Albert Einstein was the biggest advocate of imagination and creativity. He said, “Logic will get you from A to Z; imagination will get you everywhere.”

◦ Children have a particularly vivid imagination. Let them use it. Help them fantasize. Encourage them to visualize they’ll be doing something important or fulfilling when they grow up.

◦ Their dreams might seem unrealistic at the moment, but don’t lower their expectations. It is important they are thinking about their goals.

3. Persistence needs to be encouraged. When he was just a child, Einstein was considered dyslexic and a slow learner. In fact, many adults thought he was stupid. Later on, he had problems in school. Then, he failed in his first attempt to enroll into Zurich Polytechnic University. During the war, he was targeted by Nazis.

◦ As you can see, obstacles and challenges were all around him. However, he persisted and achieved his goals.

◦ Your child will come across many setbacks in life too. Avoid the temptation to be their savior. Let them know you are here if they need you but give them a chance to figure things out on their own.

◦ To become confident, kids need to learn that it’s okay to take risks and fail. Let them try and get up once they fall. This will make them resilient and strong enough to deal with life’s challenges.

If you think Albert Einstein is a too-advanced example of confidence for children at a young age, substitute someone else that can send similar messages.

Diversity is okay, optimism and imagination are potent weapons, perseverance and autonomy are highly valued, and confidence is a path to a happy life!