A BIG thanks to our panel of moms and the great advice they gave at our February 9th meeting.
Some words of wisdom from our mom panel:
Q: 2 yr old strips naked, and nothing is working to keep dressed for bed?
A: -Most kids go through a naked phase and it usually does not last long. Try no blankets at bed (the child may be warm). Put in cute underwear or a daddy t-shirt decorated. The idea is to put the child in someting cute that they want to keep on and wear to bed.
-Not a huge deal, but could put in foot pjs backwards with the feet cut off, to keep in pjs.
-Try to pin point what the child is getting out of being naked and work from there.
Q: Both kids are shy, how do you break them of habit?
A: -Role playing
-Socialize them. Think of why are they shy, are mom and dad shy? Make sure to get them out to safe place, like Sunday school, Awana's, MOPs, or get them involved in activities like 4H.
-May not be a habit to be broken, but just the way they are. Shyness should not be an excuse for being rude though and they to be able to respond to others.
Q: Kids constantly fighting, how do you get them to stop?
A: -Look at timing of fighting, does it occur when in the car, they need a nap, before dinner, or need attention (good or bad). Try to provide distraction. You can create quite time or do the 3 strikes and then you get penalized method. Have children help set up house rules, so they know what the rules are and why they are set up.
- Fighting is normal and sometimes you have to let them deal with the problem. Watch them though and decide when to interject.
- Remember children do more of what we do, than what we say. You and your spouse are an example of behavior. Have the children plan to do something nice for one another sometimes.
Q: How do you get 2nd child to sleep in room with older sibling? Baby afraid of crib.
A: Let them cry through the night, if not nursing. Make sure to check on them. Move older child out of room for a few days while doing this.
-Make sure with children to start where you want to finish. If want to co-sleep with child, expect them to be in your room until they are about 5. If you want them to sleep in crib, start with them in thier crib. Put kids down when sleepy, but not asleep. Kids develop strong sleep assocations, like only sleeping when nursed or with binky, etc. Have child play in crib, with older sibling, to learn it is a safe and fun place. When child is little make sure to do rituals before bed, like breast/bottle, book, bath bed.
-While child is crying it out, and you can't sleep, do something else, like scrapbook, etc. Tell child, if older, that it not polite to keep Mommy and Daddy up. Use a reward system if sleep through the night.
Q: How to deal with picky eaters at meal times?
A:- The child may be snacking too much between meals, trying cutting out snacks for a little while.
-When thinking about nutrition for a toddler, look at 1-2 weeks as a whole for nutritional intake, not one day at a time. If loosing weight or not growing, then be concerned. Try not to cater to them with food.
Q: How do you get a preschooler to eat instead of play at meals?
A: -Add consequences if do not follow rules at meal time, remind them that the rules did not change from yesterday. Have a discipline chart, with pictures of consequences. Make chart as family, this helps you not be the bad guy.
-Try ignoring child, while they are trying to put a show on at meal.
-Have a dance party after dinner or fun activity. They loose this privelage if don't obey rules at dinner.
Q: How do you get a preschooler to not play while washing hands?
A:- Staying in the bathroom directing them, until the playing gets under control.
- Use and egg timer and demonstrate how to properly wash hands. If they make a mess, they have to clean it up. Give positive reinforcement or consequences.
Q: 8 yr old with wetting problem?
A: Make sure child does not have bladder problem
-Give a time out if child wets
-See if they are scared to go to the bathroom for some reason
-Get looked at by doctor, sometimes growth spurts cause wetting problems.
Note: This is advice from mothers at our MOPS group, they are not proffesionals. If you have serious issues concerning your child, please consult your doctor or other proffessional.
