Shaping the life of your precious ones

Welcome to another issue of All about Parenting Toddlers .

In This Issue:

1. Teaching Your Child To Be Respectful
2. Build Character Now! Practical Tools for Busy Parents
3. Latest updates on Parenting Toddlers

Teaching Your Child To Be Respectful
by Anil Vij

Respect for others is based on self-respect and is summed up in the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. It is the value that makes the world a more decent and civilized place.

People show respect in many ways. They speak and act civilly--avoiding insults, cruel remarks and rude or crude language. They are courteous and considerate of others, including family members and friends, and care about their rights, beliefs and well-being. They treat others fairly and as individuals, regardless of race, sex, age or ethnic group. They display tolerance for people who do not share their personal beliefs and likes--so long as those people do not harm others.

Research indicates that children learn to respect others when they are treated with respect themselves. Constant criticism of a child, negative comments about him and failure to praise his achievements can lead the child to be disrespectful to others. Treating children with respect pays large dividends both to families and to societies as a whole.

What You Can Do

- Practice respectful ways of communicating. Show your child how to talk to others with respect.

- Help your child to resolve conflicts nonviolently. When facing a conflict, encourage your child to do the following:

(1) Find out what the conflict is. For example, if your child is angry because his little brother barges into his room without knocking, help him to explain the conflict by using an "I" statement, such as "I feel angry when you come into my room without knocking."

(2) Next, suggest different ways he might resolve the conflict. He could say to his brother, "I know I can't always hear when I'm listening to music, so you knock really loud five times--if I don't answer, then open the door." Or, "If I don't answer your knock, slide a note under the door." Or, "Let's use our walkie talkies."

(3) Then have your child agree on one of the choices.

(4) Finally, have him make a plan to check whether the solution is working.

Teach your child to respect the valued traditions of your heritage. Talk about family customs for showing respect, for honoring elders and for helping the community. Encourage him to do these things.

About The Author
Anil Vij is the creator of the ultimate parenting toolbox, which has helped parents all over the world raise smarter, healthier and happier children ==> http://www.expertsonparenting.com Sign up for Anil's Experts On Parenting Newsletter - just send a blank email ===> mailto: parentingnews@aweber.com



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Want your child to grow up disciplined, obedient, forgiving, patient and understanding? Find out how you can impart these good values and many others using this special set of Inspirational Kid Stories. __________________________________________________________________

Build Character Now! Practical Tools for Busy Parents
by Jean Tracy

“To educate a person in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.” -Theodore Roosevelt, U.S. President

Teddy Roosevelt hit the mark with his words. To educate a child in reading, writing, and arithmetic, and not about living is to raise a menace to society.

How do we as parents, teachers, and mentors help children build character? Below you will notice the five character-building goals to instill in your children. Using questions as practical tools is an easy and excellent way to promote these goals and build character too.

Imagine that a boy named Harold recently moved into your neighborhood. He constantly causes trouble. The school principal just sent him home with a note addressed to his parents about his acting out in class. You and your child discuss Harold’s problems. You center your discussion on the five key goals listed below. To instill each goal, ask your child the following practical questions:

Goal 1: Empathy-Being aware of and caring about others' feelings.
Question: If you were Harold, how would you feel?

Goal 2: Role Taking-Putting oneself into another’s shoes and understanding where they are coming from.
Question: What do you think Harold wanted by acting out in class?

Goal 3: Social Awareness-Being aware of other’s opinions, their needs, their likes, and dislikes.
Question: If you were a classmate of Harold’s, what might you think of Harold?

Goal 4: Self-Reflection-Examining our own thoughts, feelings, and, behaviors.
Question: Have you ever misbehaved in class? How did you feel about yourself?

Goal 5: Internalizing Good Advice-Taking to heart the advice your child gives to others and following it when he or she needs it.
Question: If you were giving good advice to Harold, what would you tell him?

Congratulations! By asking the above questions, you have just strengthened your child’s character because you have awakened your child’s thoughtful mind and caring heart.

We’ve examined what goals to instill and what questions to ask. Let's find out where to build character by asking the above questions in the following situations:
-Problems with characters on TV
-Problems on the school bus
-Problems in the classroom
-Problems in the neighborhood
-Problems at home
-Problems in discussion stories

Now, it’s time to take action. If you’re like most busy parents just remember the questions and ask them often. Get your children to think and to feel wisely. By using these tools now, you will be building a strong healthy character in your child, and a better society for us

About The Author
Jean Tracy, MSS, former teacher and family counselor, now author and speaker, is an award winning Distinguished Toastmaster. Jean helps parents and teachers raise awesome kids with awesome characters. You will find her book, Character Building on BackTalk Street, her parenting products, FREE bonding activities, parenting tips, and parenting articles at, www.KidsDiscuss.com.

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Wish you could work from *home* and spend more time with your toddler/young children? Here are some of the things you could do right from the comfort of your *home* ….. ___________________________________________________________________

Latest updates on Parenting Toddlers

The Parenting Toddlers website is constantly being updated with more information.

Below are the latest additions :

Variety of area child rug available and their practical usage

An alphabet activity using an alphabet stamp

Enjoy learning science with these science project kits

Remember to check back often for more updates on parenting toddlers.

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See you in the next issue. :-)