Family | Parent's Planet

How to Spruce up Your Parenting Blog

You have a blog devoted to parenting and want to make sure your ideas, photos and text not only get the word out but keep parents coming back for more.

Here are some ideas:

Make sure your blog has easy to read information. The copy in your blog is just as important as the photos and/or video you attach to it. If you have a difficult time with grammar or find that you just can’t get creative enough to make your copy stand out from the rest, hire someone to do it for you; or get someone to read over your material and search for errors before you post it.
Have some fun on your blog. Parenting isn’t all about rules and boundaries, it’s about places to take your children and free events found within your city. Through a blog you can add the latest juicy gossip about kids and how to raise them, what foods your children should eat, or where the next best place to go on vacation is located and what a family should do there.
Make sure you have a terrific way to connect with your readers. KISS Insights, for example, provides you with a real-time tool that allows readers to ask you questions and lets you know when a question is asked so that you can reply quickly. Email is a fairly easy way to communicate, but KISS Insights allows folks to take a look at your blog, and, at the same time respond to what they like and don’t like about it.

Parenting is an important duty, but because it’s also a fun duty, you’ll want to show your readers that you care through the articles you produce and the fun that you have along the way.

Filed Under: Family, Parenting, Resources Tagged With: Family, Home, Parent

Agreement on Child’s Discipline Should be Talked About Early On

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Parenting is one thing that everyone seems to have an opinion about – even those who don’t have any children have advice. Everyone has an idea of how to do it better, whether better is for the child or the parent.

One thing (of many things) parents need to agree on is discipline. Children need discipline occasionally and if the parents always fight over what disclipine is utilized, it teaches the kid to always fight the decision handed out by their parents. It becomes the normal, natural way to handle things.

If a couple cannot agree on some responses, they should at least agree to explain the reasons for their decision and what their line of thought was on it. That way kids aren’t absorbing how to fight to get their way and a better principal is instilled in growing children.

They Might Have Good Reasoning

Once one parent says why their decision is best, discussion can happen, bringing the parents to an informed compromise that‘s best for the child.

A good way to start a conversation about this with the other parent is to straight out ask what they think. For instance, “I believe that swearing children should have their mouths washed out with soap. What do you think we should do if our child swears?”

Starting a conversation about discipline tactics can eradicate the need to fight about it later, and it gets the couple to talk to each other for the best end result. It’s all about the child’s well-being and not who is the more argumentive or aggressive parent. The only one who should ‘win’ is the child.

Filed Under: Child Development, Parenting Tagged With: Child, Family, Parent

Areas in Atlanta Area for Young Parents

Though you may hear from some people that a certain part of Atlanta, or any city for that matter, is the best part of the city for young families, you will hear a direct opposite from other people. Choosing the best place to live in a city is very subjective, but there are some things to keep in mind when moving to Atlanta.

There are many options for Atlanta apartments. You will quickly find that they are all over the city. One thing that many families do is choose an apartment that is close the parents’ jobs. The closer you are to work, the easier time you will have getting there. You will probably also end up saving money on gas.

Many young families also try to find a home near some attractions. Even having a local park nearby can increase interest for those with small children. The kids will want to do something, and if you can just run down the street to the park, you’re set.

A large number of parents choose their new home because of school district boundaries. If you have looked into the schools in Atlanta, and you have chosen one you want your children going to, you will most likely want to choose a home in the school’s district.

Finding the perfect place is something that is different for everyone. Finding a family friendly neighborhood is as easy as thinking about which aspects are most important to you and going from there.

Filed Under: Family, Parenting Tagged With: Atlanta, Family, School district

What ‘Type’ of a Parent are you?

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Every parent his or her own way to dealing with their kids. Whether it is motivating them or disciplining them, how you tackle situations with your kids will differ greatly from how other parents go about it. Based on how parents handle scenarios related to their kids, they can be classified into certain ‘Types’. Here is a look at the different types of parents:

Diplomatic Parents: This is often known as one the most effective methods of parenting. Diplomatic parents (often also known as democratic parents)give their kids the freedom to make their own decisions. The idea here is to give children a sense of responsibility as well as make them feel that their parents have confidence in them. It is generally noticed that the children of democratic parents have high maturity levels and are better capable of problem solving at an emotional level. Such parents deal with their kids as they would with a grown up. Even when kids make a mistake, they choose to reason with them instead of reprimanding them.
Authoritarian Parents: Such parents are the military leaders if the parenting world! They have a strict set of rules that their kids are expected to follow at all times. They govern everything that their kids do, their food habits, the friends they make, how they spend their time at home, how long they get to stay out and so on. These parents aren’t too forgiving of their children’s mistakes and use punishments for disciplining. Although this might sound like an overly tough attitude (especially when compared to democratic parents), it can be a very effective method if done properly.

Filed Under: Family, Parenting Tagged With: Child, Family, Home, Parent

Parenting tips

When it comes to parenting no one ever told you it was going to be an easy ride. Parents aren’t given a parenting manual, they just learn on a trial and error basis. What used to work for you when you were a child, might not work with your own children. The following are some tips for being effective with discipling your children.

if you want to get through to your children and refrain from spanking the key is consistency. If you say that you are going to do something if the child misbehaves and you don’t act on that, they child will then get the picture that they can most likely get away with the behavior, and the next time they do it, your threats won’t mean anything.

If your child misbehaves consider taking away what they love the most. This could range from anything to a particular privlege, a toy, an electronic devise ect.

Make sure to set guidelines. Write out your household rules. Explain them to your child, and also explain to your children what will happen should they choose to misbehave and not follow the household rules. It is imparitive to make sure that you are consistent and that you follow through with what you say you will do. Speak on your childs level and make sure that they know that if they misbehave that the same discipline will happen each time. If they can predict the consequences for their misbehavior then more likely then not you will find that the children will behave.

Filed Under: Family, Parenting Tagged With: Child, Family, Parent

Finding Local Parenting Resources

Parenting can be difficult at times. You may find that you become overwhelmed and just don’t know how to handle situations that come up. Where can you look for answers? The parenting resources available to you in your community will depend on where you live. If you live in a larger metropolitan area you will most likely find a vast variety of resources available. If you live in a smaller rural community the resources available may be somewhat limited.

The best place to start is by talking to other parents, especially those with children older than your child or with more than one child. Generally these parents have already accessed many of the parenting resources in your community. If this is not an option or you are unable to get much information, you may want to check with your local library, chamber of commerce, or community education program. Many hospitals also offer parenting classes. You may even consider checking at your local Human Services office for parenting groups or classes that they may be offering.

Use the internet and reach prepaid card to search and buy the local parenting resources online. You can usually search by your city or county name for the particular resource you are searching for. You may even be able to find play groups and programs specific for your child’s age group.

Participating in parenting classes will give you additional support to learn skills you may need help with. This will also give you the opportunity to meet other parents with children the same age as your child. Forming friendships with parents who are at the same point you are at in your parenting can help too. This gives you one more resource to go to for advice and help along the way.

Filed Under: Budgeting, Child Development Tagged With: Child, Family, Home

Traveling Well with the Kids

Having kids certainly changes your day-to-day life. It also changes the types of vacations that you plan. Just because you will need to consider your children when taking vacation, however, doesn’t mean that you can’t plan an eventful trip that is fun for everyone, including the parents.

Travel Changes

Like all fancy things, traveling changes when you have kids. Once you have children, you will need to find hotels that offer enough room for the whole family. You will also need to find activities for your kids. Giving them a variety of activities to enjoy often means that you can slip away for a while to get some rest and relaxation.

Luxury Hotels for the Whole Family

Many luxury hotels have noticed that more parents take their children on vacation than they did in the past. If they want to attract business from the breadwinners of the family, then they need to appeal to the youngest members as well. When you consider whether a luxury hotel Chicago style is right for your trip, do some research to find out what types of activities they offer children. You might find that some of them arrange play groups to keep kids occupied during evening hours when you want to hit the town. Some luxury hotels have even formed relationships with entertainment companies such as Disney to offer exclusive services to children that feature their favorite cartoon characters.

Making the Most of Your Trip

Although you will certainly miss the days when you and your spouse could travel unencumbered by children, traveling with your kids has some unique advantages. The activities that you experience together during your vacation will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Whether you drive across the country or fly to another continent, you will always have memories of enjoying new cities with your kids. That’s something that few parents would ever want to give up after they have experienced it.

Filed Under: Budgeting, Family Tagged With: Family, Hotel, Travel

Do Something Special With Your Daughter on Mother’s Day

If you want to have a fun and memorable Mother’s Day, there are plenty of ways you can do that. One of the most significant is to do something special with your young daughter. Some day, she will grow up and she may become a mother of her own. Treasure the time with her while she’s little, and make sure you show her what she means to you. What about a tea party with mother and daughter? To make it even more special, find great costumes so everyone can dress up and have a grand time. That will be special and memorable, for both mother and daughter. Planning it won’t be that hard, so you can easily create a fun time.

You’ll need to find kids costumes, but you can get them online for a great price. You won’t even have to leave your home to get great things for you and your daughter or daughters to wear. Look around and see what kinds of things your children like most, and then find costumes that fit that, as well as the theme of the tea party. Elegance and extravagance (on a budget, of course) should be the plan, so think feather boas and big hats. You can pretend to eat and drink if your daughter is very little, or you can have real tea and real food if she’s a big older. That has to be a judgment call on your part, because you know your child or children better than anyone does.

If you have real food, get something that’s easy to eat and that’s light, like dainty cookies or crackers, and finger sandwiches in your daughter’s favorite kinds. You can even have peanut butter and jelly if you want to – just cut the sandwiches up into small portions to make them fancier.

Filed Under: Budgeting, Family Tagged With: Cooking, Family, Holidays

Use Internet Resources for Family Planning

In times past, women conceived when nature decided it and usually bore as many children as possible to ensure the survival of their family line, since mortality rates were so high. Today, we live in a different reality and need to adapt as such. Women are business executives, entrepreneurs, physicians and attorneys and most households are dependent upon the income that is earned by the woman of the house. Add to that the increasingly competitive nature of children’s programs, like preschools, and family planning has never been a more essential part of a modern family’s strategy for success and happiness.

While everyone understands that raising a child costs money, most have never sat down and done the math. There are a myriad of choices for every aspect of child rearing and raising your children the way you want to may be unrealistic if you do not prepare a plan in advance. Fortunately, there are many fantastic resources online that can help you figure out just how to be on track.

Another important aspect of planning for your children is who will care for the children. If one parent is going to be the dominant caretaker, you need to figure out how losing his or her income will figure into your plans. Also important is to consider what kind of maternity leave the mother will take. Many new mothers underestimate just how difficult it is to pull away from their little ones. Even when at work, they may find their ability to focus single-mindedly on work may not be what it used to be. Sleepless nights, lactation and the simple desire to be at home may leave her coming in later, leaving earlier, calling in more often and less present when actually there. That could affect her career plans. Planning Family gives you a head start towards success.

Filed Under: Family, Parenting Tagged With: Family, Family planning, Home, Parenting

Creating a Love of Reading

Kids are exposed to numerous books at school, so their opportunities to read are practically endless there, but what about at home? Is your family taking the time to foster a love of reading after school or during the summer?

If your child is struggling in school with reading, the focus needs to shift from school to home. There are alot of online courses offered by accredited online colleges that helps child increasing their reading speed and fluency. Teachers can only accomplish so much during the school day, and your child can never get the individualized attention he can at home.

The single most important thing you can do to help your child develop a love of reading is to model. Kids who observe their parents reading will emulate the habit. Try to make reading a fun family activity. Don’t limit yourself to one genreâ€”show your child there are magazines, newspapers, and even comic books to be read. Take turns reading aloud to each other, and model expression, especially during character dialogue.

For children who need to practice fluency to increase their reading speed, have them reread a familiar book aloud. Already knowing most of the words helps them build reading confidence. To get them to read the same book out loud, express how much you love it and how you want to hear it again.

Go shopping for books. Whether it’s in a bookstore or the library, let your kids pick out their own books. Don’t worry too much if you think a book may be too easy or too difficult for them. The important thing here is to foster their independent selection and help them determine their favorite genres.

Work together to write readers theatresâ€”take a favorite story and turn it into a simple play that your family can perform for each other. You can dress up for the performance or even use puppets to put on a puppet show. The more memorable the experience, the more your child will love reading.

Filed Under: Child Development, Education Tagged With: Child, Comic book, Family, Read