Posts by blogEPantley

Are you Sending Secret Messages to Your Children?

In their diligent efforts to be good teachers, many parents inadvertently treat their children in ways that they would never treat a friend! In their efforts to raise respectful children, they sometimes become so focused on the end goal that they don’t realize that the secret message coming through to their children is not a pleasant one.

Here’s what I mean:

Imagine that you’ve been invited to your friend’s home for dinner. Your friend welcomes you at the door, and you step inside and say hello. Interrupting you, your host yells, “What is the matter with you! Your shoes are all muddy and you’re getting my carpet dirty!” Embarrassed you mumble, “Sorry,” and remove your shoes.

How to Handle Baby Tantrums

The first time your baby has a tantrum  it can shock you. Watching your little one kick, scream and stiffen in anger can be unexpected and surprising. Even though they can be very explosive, baby tantrums are not about anything that you have done wrong, so don’t take it personally.

When your baby is shrieking, stomping, hitting, or even making his whole body go stiff as a board, it’s not about you. It means that your baby is having a sudden loss of emotional control. Baby tantrums are not about manipulation, since your child is far too young for this. Therefore, you should respond to your baby’s tantrums differently than how you’ll respond to tantrums once your child is older.

What to do About Your Super-Glue Baby?

Do you find it impossible to take a shower, work at your desk or even use the bathroom without your little one crying if you leave the room without him? This aspect of separation anxiety is very common. The good news is that all children eventually outgrow this phase, but you can move things along by using some of the following ideas in this video…

Sudden Sleep Setbacks

Just when you thought you your child’s sleep issues were improving, you hit a unexpected setback. You were beginning to enjoy feeling rested and feeling more confident in your child’s sleep patterns, so it can be very frustrating to go through sudden sleep setbacks with your child.

Unfortunately, solving children’s sleep issues is an on-going process can last years (not weeks). Children grow and change on a daily basis, which means that their sleep issues can be unpredictable and downright baffling. One day you will feel like you have it all figured out only to be sent back to square one the next day.

Potty Training Praise – How Much is Too Much?

It is hard to know what praise strategies you should use when your child is learning to use the potty. Should you give lots of applause and compliments? Should you show simple, matter-of-fact acceptance? What is the right response to encourage potty training success?

Researching this question doesn’t get you very far because both sides of the camp are very adamant about their opinions. Some experts say that you should absolutely give tons of positive feedback and turn potty training into a party – noisemakers, treats, songs and prizes. However, other experts say that you shouldn’t get overly emotional or excited and simply acknowledge that your child has done well.