Spanking teaches children, especially younger ones, that is okay to hit. Often, parents spank when they are angry and hit the child harder than they intend to. There are many ways to discipline your child without spanking them or being physical with them.

Time Out

Putting a child in time out gives the child time to think about what they did wrong and why they are in trouble. The child should not be in the corner or wherever the time out is to take place longer than there age. They should have 1 minute for each year. If the child speaks, gets up or out of the corner, the time starts over. An egg timer is a good tool to use. The timer is good for the child to be able to know when there time is up. Just saying how long they will be in time out does not work because children have no concept of time.

Take Things Away

Taking things away as punishment often works instead of spanking. Be sure to tell the child why you are taking the object away. Try to make the child understand what it was that he/she did wrong.When taking things away, it should only be one item at a time. For example, don't take all the matchbox cars or barbies away the first time the child does something wrong. Take 1 away and if they repeat the bad behavior then take more away. The favorite toy being taken away usually has the most desired effect. The length of time you keep the item away from the child depends on the child's age. Younger children may not understand why the item is gone for a long period of time and will forget why it was taken in the first place.

Assign Chores

Assigning chores for bad behavior usually only works for older children. A child that doesn't play with toys anymore or is to old for time out will benefit more with assigning chores than younger children. Different household chores can be assigned. Taking out the trash and doing dishes are a couple. Dusting, sweeping or moping are a few more that work. Kids hate to clean the bathroom or there bedroom so those work really well. The idea is to pick something they do not like to do. If your child likes to dust then don't make that a punishment. Older children also tend to learn from what they did wrong when they are made to write sentences about what they did wrong. Usually making them write a sentence saying they will never do whatever it was they did wrong again 100 times works.

Grounding

Sometimes if the offensive/bad behavior is severe enough grounding the child works best. Not letting the child outside to play gets the point across of there bad behavior not being acceptable. Grounding the child from there game system and TV programs also has the desired effect.

Lindsay Blanche writes and blogs at her Grants for Single Mothers, to find more about her just visit the blog, where you will find lots of information and helpful articles.

by Tiffany Windhurst

Babies, toddlers and young children are constantly learning. A toddler, one to three years old, is learning to feed himself, to walk, to sleep on his own, to use the big boy potty, to play with other children, and assert his independence is some ways.

Basically, children are trying to figure out where they fit in the family, and where they fit in the bigger community as well. While a normal part of growing up, this can scary for the toddler, as well as the parents. Realizing how a child develops between ages one and three will help you understand his behavior and help you relate better to him.

Children love to play games, even when you as the parent don't realize you're playing a game. Children learn through games and discovering new things. Children ages 1 - 3 generally have short attention spans and will easily move from one activity to another all through the day. Organized games should be age appropriate and have fairly simple rules. Giving children some small responsibilities at these ages, which are age appropriate, will help them find a role in the family. It's never too early for children to learn simple chores like picking up toys when play is finished.

Toddlers will also begin asserting their independence by defying mom and dad. Often this defiance results in screaming, crying, and a very upset little boy or girl. It's important for parents to continue to show authority and stick to their guns. Giving in to fits only reinforces the behavior in the child, and tells the child that with enough crying he or she gets the desired outcome.

Gentle discipline (not punishment), lots of encouragement, and overflowing unconditional love are important at all stages of a child's life, but especially while the toddler is learning to relate to you, other family members, and society as a whole.

by Melanie Grant

Did you know that there is a right way and a wrong way to potty train your toddler? Believe it or not there is. Any parent can use some advice when their child is in this stage of their lives; I could have for sure.

The most important thing to do when you potty train your toddler is to encourage, encourage, and encourage. It is best of you stay focused on the positive rather then the negative. You need to first get your toddler ready by getting your toddler used to the bathroom. When your toddler has come close encourage them by being positive some parents find it easier by having a sticker chart. Remember that there will be some accidents, but do not over react to this. If you over react the whole potty training process could drag on longer then it needs to.

It is a great idea to take your toddler with you when you go to the bathroom, this is because toddlers like to do everything that you do. When your toddler sees what you do in the bathroom they will also want to do it and feel more at ease when they try to go to the potty. Another idea is to use a stuffed animal or a doll and pretend that it is using the potty, some toddlers can learn from this also. Be sure that ever time that your toddler uses the potty and only of they do, reward them with praise, or stickers, whatever you have decided that the reward will be.

Potty training needs to be done in a stress free environment. Another thing is that your toddler will not potty train until they are ready and no sooner. If your toddler does not potty train right away, they may not be ready. Give up on the idea for a few weeks then try again they may get it the second try. Never be negative when potty training your toddler, they will pick up on it sooner or later.

Potty training is indeed important because it's a way of teaching discipline to your toddlers. But its not always easy, so you should have loads and loads of patience.

by Riko Kawasaki

How many times have you said that your life revolves around your kids and yet, when they come and ask for attention, you put them off? In this busy world where most of the time, both parents work hard to make ends meet, children are often left alone with nannies or grandparents that, naturally, kids would always try to seek your attention.

Realistically speaking, no one is a Super Mom or a Super Dad that they can spend all their non-office hours with the kids. Understandably, some of you would want a certain level of peace and quiet after a hard day in the office. But, on the other hand, your little one had probably waited the whole day for your return just to be with you. They may scream, laugh, thrown tantrums, show you their new antics just to vie for your attention. In other words, they are asking for some bonding moments with you.

It has always been said that quality time is more important than quantity of time spent with the kids. Thus, allot a few hours each day to really get to know them better and know how they spent their time away from you. And when you spend time with them, ensure you are there both in body and mind. Give them your full attention - physically and emotionally.

Bonding time doesn't have to be an expensive activity for you and your kids. Do things together. If you don't have time to bond at night, then do it first thing in the morning. Have breakfast together and talk about the things that happened to them the day before, and plans that they might have for the day.

Give them unexpected treats. It's those little surprises that really count a lot. You don't have to wait for an occasion to give them something. Make them feel special by buying those small tokens that reminded you about them while you were away. It simply shows that you despite your hectic time at work, you are always thinking of them.

Don't forget to say the three all-important words every day. Constantly assure and re-assure them of your love so they grow confident and loving individuals with a high level of self-esteem. Knowing and feeling they are loved will help them conquer any feelings of insecurities.

Lastly, accompany your "I love yous" with hugs and kisses. Touch is a strong way of showing your love to them. Shower your kids with hugs and kisses and see how they respond back to your actions. More than anything, see how their hugs and kisses heal you of your own anxieties and discomforts - even you will feel gratifying love.

by Anthony Marshall

Carrying babies in a cloth tied to the body as a sling was common in most cultures traditionally. The knotted cloth is carried in the front or the back or simply slung over the shoulders so that the child rests on the hips. The child was carried over the back, or the front or the hips by the women while they worked or traveled. Infants were carried in earlier times in baskets, cradleboards, portable cradles and travois.

It was in the 1960s that the slings became once again popular with the introduction of structured soft pack. Toddlers and older kids were carried on the back using frame backpack. Later wrap was introduced in Germany to carry babies. In the 1980s, the ring sling became fashionable. The pouch carriers were introduced in the 1990s. The modernization of the traditional mei tai of the Chinese with features such as padding has made it popular in recent years.

Various baby carriers that are available in the market include backpack carriers, baby slings, and the hip and soft front carriers. They differ in many aspects. The materials used are different. The extent of flexibility too differs. The confinement and support that they offer are different. They are also decorated differently.

Strollers can be used to transport babies as well as young kids. They look like seat or chair on wheels. A harness holds the baby. This prevents the baby from falling off. The parents are relieved that the child is safe and secure. Strollers have three point harness which goes around the waist and between the legs. This keeps the baby secure to the stroller. There is also the five point harness which is the safest. The harness goes between the legs, over the shoulders and around the waist making it impossible for the child to wiggle out of it. The strollers are provided with hand break or foot break. There are four wheels to keep the stroller steady on the ground. Strollers with different features and models are available in the market. You can get the details, for instance, on Stokke Xplory strollers from Stokke Xplory reviews.

If you are planning to get a stroller, make sure that the stroller does not wobble or tip, and do not have sharp edges. You should also be careful while using the stroller lest there be accidents.

It is of utmost priority that babies have to be out of harm's way. So, mommies will forever be on guard to be sure that their babies are well taken cared of.

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by Ed Simmons

A high chair is one piece of baby furniture that you just cannot neglect. They come in really handy whether you're feeding your baby at home, or out in a restaurant (we shall cover more on this later). When investing in a chair, don't try and be stingy with money - put in a few more dollars to buy something that's going to help make feeding times more convenient.

There are just so many brands of high chair out there to choose from, and if you already have a few different chairs in mind that you like then that's great! The following tips will help you further narrow down the possibilities and choose the safest and best high chair for your baby's needs.

Baby high chairs come in 2 varieties. The foldable and the non-foldables. The high chair can be the classic wooden or a light-weight aluminum chair that can be effortlessly shifted from room to room, or stored in the boot of the family car. Their purpose? To raise the baby to table height so that so she can join the rest of the family for a meal.

There are just so many styles and brands of baby chairs available for you to choose, but rather than considering price first, you should be looking first at your baby's safety. Find out if that particular model you're looking at buying meets high safety standards (with features like 5-point safety harnesses). You'll want a comfortable and safe seat for your little one.

Since babies are naturally messy little creatures, save yourself a lot of time and hard work by buying a baby high chair that can be easily cleaned - look for those that come with dual trays which are also dishwasher-safe. The foldable chairs are also a great way you can save space if you're a young family living in a small city apartment.

While you're at it, you might like to consider also buying a portable high chair, just in case you decide to take your little one along with you for a family dinner or outing. Do not depend on restaurants to provide you with high chairs for dining. Most places will probably not have any and even if they do, you wouldn't want your baby sitting in them. These cheap chairs are not only dirty but are also very flimsy and are easy to tip over.

Portable seats or high chairs these days are fairly inexpensive and they're well worth considering. Most of the current models will allow you to hook the seat over a chair via a sling. Most importantly, the portable baby seat should be light enough so you don't strain yourself carrying around and it should also include a good height-adjustable feature.

There are certain models of portable baby seats that allow you to clip it to the table's edge. This is great as the baby can be closer to the table and the rest of the family and doesn't require the use of a chair. It can also be more sturdy compared to the chair sling models. For safety's sake, before you attach this kind of baby high chair to any table, check to make sure the table is strong enough and will not topple over.