Parenting Articles – Preschoolers and Kindergarteners

Preschool bullying may not be a term that you are familiar with. However, preschoolers and kindergartners exhibit signs of bullying all the time; kicking, hitting, pushing, difficulty sharing. These are all typical behaviors of young children, however they are also behaviors that should be immediately corrected so they are not used in the future.

As any parent of young children knows, there is a lot that goes into keeping these little ones in line! They are just beginning to explore their world, and you can tell them the same things a 1,000 times, and they still don't get it! But that's because they are eager to explore the world, exert their independence, and their curiosity sometimes just doesn't keep up with what they are actually allowed to do!

Delaying the start of kindergarten can be a good thing for some children, but not for all. Some kids can benefit from an extra year at home while others are ready to enter the classroom at an earlier age. When determining at what age your preschooler should start kindergarten there are many factors to consider.

As a parent to a young child, you may be wondering what extracurricular activities are appropriate for your kindergartner. There are a variety of after-school activities that your child can take part in that are complimentary to their age group and promote physical and mental wellness. You want to engage your child in activities that are fun and challenging, but don't go beyond their developmental capabilities.

As a parent you want your kids to have the right experiences and that goes for watching TV and DVDs. It's really tough sometimes to decide what's appropriate. What do you do and how can you know you're making the right viewing choices for your kids? It's not easy, but with a little effort, you can make a significant impact on your child's viewing.

Your pediatrician may have advised you to begin caring for your child's teeth even before she has any. It's important to clean your infant's gums and continue with regular dental care as teeth begin to sprout. When they get older, it's equally as important that you teach your kids how to brush their teeth and floss. With conscientious dental care and regular dental checkups, your child will enjoy healthy teeth for decades. By the time all your child's teeth have come in (about 2 ½), his dentist will probably recommend fluoride treatments to give extra protection against cavities. Home care is crucial to helping your child maintain healthy teeth.

By Linda Sorkin, L.F.M.T. and Mom
How do you point your kids in the right direction? What is the right direction anyway? When it comes to increasing the odds of changing your child's behavior, think in terms of empowering your child to change his or her own behavior. Also think in the long run in terms of the fundamentals: Character, values, principles and beliefs.

Many parents wonder when they should be giving their kids an allowance. An allowance is a great way to teach your child independence. It can also be a great way to teach them at an early age that good behavior will be rewarded.

Everything seemed to be going great with potty training your child. In fact, you didn't think it would be so easy, until, there it is, another accident. If your child is experiencing a setback in their potty training process, don't panic. Potty training regression is completely normal and there are a number of reasons why this happens. Listen to our experts on potty training for more information.

One moment your kids are the very best of friends. The next moment they are yelling and screaming at each other so loudly that you're sure someone will call the police. There's no guarantee that your children will get along, especially all the time, but there are things you can do to foster good relationships between your children. After all, they're kind of stuck with each other. Preschoolers and kindergartners don't consider age as they compare themselves with their siblings. An older sibling may feel neglected when a new baby brother or sister gets all the attention. A younger child may feel left out if his older sibling has more privileges. Conflict between kids is normal, but it's up to parents to help kids manage sibling relationships.

Everyone has bad dreams. You're probably used to your preschool or kindergarten aged child coming to you in the middle of the night. Those words, "I had a bad dream…" tug at a parent's heart. In many cases kids have bad dreams that are figurative interpretations of what they experience during their waking hours. Here are a few things you can do to help your child avoid bad dreams and nightmares.

By Linda Sorkin, L.M.F.T. and Mom
Imagine an airline mileage program for kids behavior! Yes, a program where children are rewarded for engaging in behavior they and their parents desire. A program of empowerment, parent-child relationship building and accountability where positive behavior is mutually understood and tracked in a way that kids want to participate!