Creative Parenting Fixes for Common Problems

Let's face it. When you've had a hard day nothing makes it feel longer like getting resistance putting the kids to bed.

Make Them Act Their Age

Does the 14-year-old go to bed the same time as the five year old? Probably not. One thing you can tell your kids is that their behavior will determine their bedtime. If they are acting like a toddler, let them know what time toddlers will be going to bed. This could sound like this.

"Tommy, that's the kind of whining I would expect to hear from a pre-schooler. Do you need to go to bed at preschool bedtime to get extra rest for tomorrow?"

Make a Bathroom Pass

If those trips to the bathroom just to be out of bed are happening every 2 minutes, print up a bathroom pass for them to use while you are still awake. Make it valuable to them. "Are you sure you want to use this now? What if you need to go to the bathroom in 15 minutes?"

Attention Seeking Behaviors

In big families or busy families, kids often feel they need more interaction with you. Obviously they don't think it out this way. It is kinda like seeking out ways to run into someone you would like to spend time with. Does a cutie work at the coffee stand? Well, maybe adding a second latte in the late morning wouldn't hurt.

This is how kids work also. You can help by finding little ways to spend time with them. Turn off the T.V. and talk to them while you make dinner. Have them help you do things around the house. Take them with you to fill up the car at the gas station. Ask them their opinion when you are picking out a shirt to wear. Seriously, there are so many ways you can incorporate more interaction.

While those things may help, once the attention seeking behaviors become habits, you may need to get creative to break these habits.

Questions, Questions, Questions

Is your child bombarding you with questions about things they already know the answer to or can figure out on their own? You can make a card that has a question mark on it and assign a certain amount for a day. The idea here is to make your answers valuable and to them and to make them ask themselves if they really need help with it or if they can do it on their own. Legitimate questions should always be answered but if your child seems to be seeking attention this way, maybe it is time to make them think before asking. You can modify this technique to fit most attention seeking behaviors.

Hopefully you can use a few of these techniques to make things run smoother in your home.

The mother who takes pains to endow her children with good habits secures for herself smooth and easy days; while she who lets their habits take care of themselves has a weary life of endless friction with the children.-Charlotte Mason