Regards,

Julie &  Kevin - More4kids Inc.
"More4kids, because kids don’t come with instructions"

I have heard this way too much: “I have attempted to do everything that I can to get my oldest son to stop hitting his other kids. Sometimes he even hits me. Then I only get angrier. Punishing my son doesn’t seem to work and my last alternative is to spank him. And when I do spank him and make him apologize, he’s back hitting the very next day!”

There are thousands and thousands of parents who are going through this very same situation every day. One thing leads to another with a child who is behaving badly and then the end result is the spanking of him.

But how are we ever going to teach our children that it is not alright to hurt others when we continue to hurt them as well? What sense does that make? Sure it temporarily relieves the situation but you have just reinforced to your son that hitting is ok to do, especially to them. Do we really want to set that kind of precedent for our children?

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In a recent discussion with a group of parents about parent involvement, one of the group members said, “Define parent involvement.” As different parents gave their definition, it was clear that parental involvement means different things to different people.

•  involvement – generally being involved in their lives, volunteering at school, coaching and asking children to participate in chores;
• spend time together – specifically doing activities the child enjoys, attending their activities, listening to and talking with their child, reading together, having meals together, going on vacation together, and being there when they need you;
• teach them/guide them – helping them with their homework and education, helping children discern right from wrong, guiding children through important decisions, teaching citizenship and life skills and developing the child’s unique talents and abilities;
• know them – what is going on in their lives, paying close attention to where they spend their time and with whom, and knowing their interests and passions;
• have the right mindset – being interested in the child’s activities, and loving them unconditionally; and
• provide for them – food, clothing, shelter, give them a wide range of experiences.

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One of the best gift ideas for dad on Father’s Day is to give him the day off, spend time with him, and have fun and allow dad to just relax with the family he loves. What better way than to engage in Father’s Day activities dad’s sure to love!

Is dad a golfer? Terrific! Why not take him to the golf range, with the entire family, and spend the day! As a surprise, you can present him with a driver! Think how excited he will be to be able to hit balls all day at the range.

Is dad a baseball fan? Take the entire family to a batting cage and watch as dad hits balls out of the park! Remember to bring his favorite baseball cap. Perhaps you have purchased his favorite team’s jersey! Take lots of pictures for the scrapbook!

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Moms need to have fun too and have a break too. Its important to maintain a little balance in your life. It’s been a long, hard winter, hasn’t it? Well summer’s almost here and now it’s time for you to get out of the house and enjoy yourself. Here are 7 tips to help moms enjoy summer. 

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Choosing a pet for your child is a very important decision that will last for many years. Some pets live ten to twenty years or longer, so the pet you choose today may become a lifelong friend as the child grows. Also, having a pet is a great way to teach your child responsibility.

What type of pet you choose for your child will depend on a variety of factors. How old the child currently is plays a role in your choice of pets, as does where you live, how much room you have, and how much time you as parents have too.

You see, when a child is still somewhat young, they won’t be able to take care of most pets completely on their own. It’s up to the parents to teach the children how to care for and love pets, and parents usually need to do a lot of the work themselves while their children are still young. So the amount of time you, as the parents, has available to devote towards the pet care, and the teaching of both pet and child will be an important part of choosing the proper pet for your child.

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This is a recall alert for the Rainforest Open Top Take-Along Swing.  The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that there have been 60 reports of this with "cuts, bumps, bruises and red marks" occurring. If you have this product please stop using it immediately. Small infants and babies have been caught between the seat and the frame.

You can contact Fisher-Price at 888-303-5631, or visit their recall page on their website here. When you contact them they will let you know what you will need to do to replace the swing and get a voucher for a free replacement item.

Photo copyright Consumer Product Safty Commission

By Dr. Caron B. Goode 

Kevin’s comment: This is an excellent article that can be applied to children of all ages. Reading and reflecting on it really helps one understand not only your child but also yourself. If you ever wonder why you and your child continually butt heads, this article can help. It provides insight in understanding not only your childs personality but your own. It has given me a whole new perspective in understanding my children.

Tweens have a lot on their plates. They have school, friends, extracurricular activities, and impending puberty. It’s no wonder they have a hard time remembering their chores!

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With summer almost here, many families are planning a family getaway. Traveling with kids can be a lot of fun, but it can also be a bit trying for parents, particularly when the kids are small. Small children often have very short attention spans, and they’re not able to become absorbed in reading a book for instance, to while away several hours of a trip. Trips are hard on kids of all ages, because most kids want to move around and do fun things. Smaller kids have the most difficult time with traveling though, because on short hour can seem like a whole day to them. So keeping them occupied while traveling can be a challenge.

There are many things you can do to help make traveling with kids a more enjoyable experience though. Some things work well for smaller children, while others are usually best for kids a little older. Most of the techniques we cover here are for traveling with kids in a car, but some of the tips can be used for air travel, trains or buses too.

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I was reflecting tonight on my childhood role models and the effect they had in my life. As a child I idolized Neil Armstrong. He helped instill in me my sense of adventure. The most important lesson I learned from my hero is that there is nothing a person can’t do once they set their mind to it. Unfortunately many young kids role models tend to be cartoons. Children need and want positive role models to look up to in their life. Real life role models. Knowing that their are people in the world that like the same thing that they do, and are accomplished, interesting, and committed, will fuel their optimism, desire, and persistence.

Below are 3 ways in which you can give your kids some great role models to look up to.

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It only seemed yesterday when you where holding your child in your arms. How fast they grow up! Most parents have some fears of the day their child will start dating. It is the big sign that they are entering adulthood. But it’s important to remember that they do still need you now and this is a normal development phase of the teen years. Here are a few things you can do to help make dating easier for both of you.

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Memorial Day commemorates those who have fought and died as well as those who are still fighting for freedom. With many of our friends, sons and daughters oversees this year, it is important to to remember our men and women around the world by honoring them with a special family ceremony by lowering the flag at half mast. Say a prayer for them and their safe return to our shores. Undoubtedly, you will be celebrating Memorial Day by having a barbeque at your home. As most of us will have the day off with our families, here are some Memorial Day game ideas to make this day even more enjoyable.

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The next time you punish your child for something, one question to ask yourself, is "how do I feel?" Are you a parent who would like to know why you cannot seem to get your children to listen to you after they have made a mistake or have done something wrong by breaking the family rules? Do you try to fix every problem as soon as it happens, on the spot, while still steaming with anger inside?

To become the best possible parents that you can to your children when they break the rules or make mistakes, you must learn to control your own emotions in times of anger, and avoid punishing your kids when you are upset. Of course it is understandable to want to take corrective action immediately when your child’s mishap is fresh.

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Father’s Day will be here before you know it! Your kids are probably trying to come up with unique ideas this year. To help them, here are some Father’s Day ideas for younger kids that are sure to please Dad.

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