I am back to blogging after finishing two teaching series, one a parent education group and the other a training for child care providers on how to take great care of infants. Fun jobs but they took my blogging time for the last months. I will share some of the most popular info from these trainings in future posts.
Today I want to share my fantastic Thursday night. Super Nanny, Jo Frost, came to town providing a lecture on parenting. I think everyone in the crowd left re-inspired to be super parents and a girlfriend and I enjoyed a much needed night out. Thanks for husbands and grandparents who watched our kids!
- Super Nanny tickets
Jo taking a question about pacifiers and thumb sucking
Jo talked about many things and fielded questions from the audience but her biggest points were routine and consistency. Kids thrive in a predictable environment. Having a routine will add greatly to this. When creating a daily routine begin by thinking about what time your children need to awake in the morning. Then, allowing for the recommended 12 hours of sleep, set bedtime. For example, my child wakes up at 7 a.m. so I need to get him to sleep by 7 p.m. This is poinant because I recently read a book called the Seven O Clock Bedtime and the author convinced me to strive for an earlier bedtime to facilitate brain and body development. It’s still a work in progress, of course, but our bedtime is beginning to resemble the vision that we hold for it. A preschool director friend is going to publishthis tip in their monthly newsletter because she says child fatigue is epidemic in her center, especially on Mondays after a weekend at home with little routine or consistency. Kids cannot learn if they are tired. Thanks to Super Nanny for the added committment to an early bedtime!
Super Nanny with two of my parenting class participants
Consistency was Jo’s biggest mantra emphasising the need for parents to remain kind yet firm in their discipline techniques. This was especially important in following through with limits and boundaries. Children feel secure when they know the limits so parents must be lovingly consisitent in the enforcement of them. Jo advocates a naughty step or chair where a child can take a time out or “calm down body time” as my family calls it. Another family calls it the “oops moment”. Whatever you call it, calmly walk your child to the time out spot and briefly explain why the child is there. For example, “You need to calm your body down. We do not hit.” Then allow some time for cooling off (for both parent and child!). When the child is calm, reconnect and explain again why the time out was needed. “We do not hit in our family. Next time if you feel mad take some deep breaths and calm your body down.” Then hugs, kisses and the slate is wiped clean. Make an effort to show a happy, energetic face and move on to the next activity.
Jo Frost autographing a ticket for my mom.
It was so fun. I can hardly wait to watch her show more!
What are your tried and true parenting tips?
tips said
Nice Blog !