Stranger Danger: Did You Teach Your Kids How to Stay Safe?
Everyone knows how trusting children are when they’re very young. However, in today’s world we have to teach our children about trust and whom they can trust. We need to teach them about stranger danger. No matter what their age, these helpful hints may come in handy when having that conversation.
Realize that you can’t relinquish your role as your child’s protector and teacher to anyone else. You are their parent, and they look to you for guidance. Teaching them to be aware of potential dangers with people is not any different than teaching them not to walk out in front of moving vehicles.
Use a matter-of-fact tone when teaching your children about stranger danger. Don’t make your child fearful, but make them prepared. Pay attention to your child’s demeanor when you discuss these issues with them. If they are becoming agitated, change the subject and the way you explain things.
Help your children understand about “personal space” as well as the difference between appropriate and inappropriate touching. Tell them that adults, as a general rule, should not touch any part that is covered by a bathing suit unless it is a doctor, nurse, or a parent. They also need to know that if they ever feel uncomfortable when someone is near them, it’s OK if they tell an adult “no”, especially when it comes to their body.
Teach your child what to do if they become separated from you in a store. Tell them to go to the front of the store or find someone with a name tag on to help them find you. A mother with other children would also be a good choice, as would a police officer.
Instill in your child the belief that they have a right to be safe. No one has the right to make a child feel threatened or unsafe.
Help them listen to their instincts and to act upon them if things don’t seem right or if they ever feel threatened. Self-preservation is a strong instinct; help them recognize it and act quickly when they feel it.
When you’re out in public, watch your children and notice the people around them. Stay in contact with them through listening and talking with them. You do not want to seem paranoid; however, the more aware you are of your child’s location and who’s around them, the less likely you’ll have to go searching for them.
Our children are a treasure, and deserve to be treated as such. They are a gift that we want to protect and help keep innocent as long as possible. However, we can’t let our guard up. Children are victims of stranger danger regularly, which is why we need to teach our children about trusting their own instincts, and us as parents, to keep them safe.
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Are You Using A Rewards System For Good Behavior?
Sometimes, all children need is a little encouragement and positive reinforcement to ensure they are on their best behavior. Using the for good behavior is a controversial subject. While some proponents believe it can be a good thing, others think it can be overused, thus having no affect at all. Here are a few positive reinforcement ideas for kids, when used properly, can help you tame the unruly child.
How do you reward your child for good behavior? Do you buy a toy which he or she has been asking for? Do you allow them an extra hour of TV? Or do you use another approach? There are several methods you can use to reward your child for good behavior which will not cost anything at all. One is praise. Children need to feel loved and accepted. Praising them for an accomplishment or behavior can reinforce that love.
According to experts, verbal reinforcement is very powerful. Yes, words are very powerful; and when used appropriately can make all the difference in the world to a child. It is positive reinforcement at its very best.
If your child had an especially good day in school, or shared with other children during playtime, or helped you with a specific chore at home, reward the child by allowing him to pick a movie, or choose what to have for supper, or allow additional time for his favorite program. Another choice would be to give the child a day off from walking the pet, or taking out the garbage for a week. While rewarding a child for good behavior may seem appropriate, it can be overused to such a degree that the child would do anything for that particular reward.
To infuse good behavior is to properly raise the child from the get-go. Certainly, children at some time become unruly, but the reward system may work one time, and one time only. Using positive reinforcement to ensure your child has not only been good, but is loved and accepted for who he or she is. Once that is established, the rest will follow.
Are You Teaching Your Kids How To Handle Money?
It is up to us as parents to provide financial prowess in teaching kids how to handle money. Here are some tips on how to accomplish this difficult process.
Kids learn by example. If you are in debt, odds are they will be too. You need to teach fiscal responsibility at an early stage. The earlier you discuss money with your kids, the better prepared they will become. Open up a savings account with your kids; allow them to deposit and make withdrawals. Give them the option to use the account in whichever way they decide. By allowing them this freedom to choose, you are also giving them the opportunity to make mistakes and learn from them. Always be there in case they need your advice in this regard.
Give them an allowance. If they run out of money before the following week, do not replenish it. This will teach them about choices: the good and the bad. This is especially true if they are saving to buy something special. If they use their money unwisely, and cannot buy that which they were saving for a valuable lesson will be learned.
Do not spoil your kids by giving them everything they want. Give them just enough money via a weekly allowance and no more. If they choose to buy something you think is not appropriate, discuss it with them. Teach them about the importance of saving money and what they can look forward to as they get older. Give them examples of your own experience as a child, particularly if you had a problem handling money.
Finally, teach them the pitfalls of borrowing. If they ask for money to buy a certain item; inform them they will have to pay it back with interest. Tell them exactly how much they will have to pay back and figure out together how long it would take. Undoubtedly, they may change their mind; but if not, stick to the terms you set. Teaching your kids how to handle money begins with you. Whether you were a saver or a spender, it is incumbent upon you to pass on to your child all the tools he or she needs to make worthwhile decisions now and in the future.
