5 Reasons Why Hugs Are Good For Your Child And You

Hugs are not only good for your kid, but it is also good for the parents. Here are five reasons why parents should hug their children more often.
http://www.rookieparenting.com/hugging-child-good-development-emotion-regulation/

"The quickest way for a mom to get the kid's attention is to sit down and look comfortable."

Knowledge Of The World (School Readiness)

Top activities to help kids master the comprehension of the world, which is the strongest predictor of future academic. List updated weekly.
http://www.rookieparenting.com/knowledge-of-the-world-school-readiness/

Fine Motor Activities School Readiness

Preschoolers' fine motor skill is one of the strongest predictors of their future academic achievement. Top activities to help kids build fine motor muscles
http://www.rookieparenting.com/fine-motor-activities-school-readiness/

Rewards and Motivation - Is Chore Chart The Answer?

Are rewards the answer to kids' motivation? Find out what experts say about using rewards and chore charts to motivate children.
http://www.rookieparenting.com/rewards-and-motivation-is-chore-chart-the-answer/

Sippy Cups and Cavities: What You Should Know Before You Give Your Child a Sippy Cup

Sippy cups can be harmful to your kid's teeth and oral development. Find out from Dr. B the reasons why and what you can do to remedy.
http://www.rookieparenting.com/sippy-cups-cavities/

5 Reasons Why Hugs Are Good

Hugs are not only good for your kid, but it is also good for the parents. Here are five reasons why parents should hug their children more often.
http://www.rookieparenting.com/hugging-child-good-development-emotion-regulation/

Early Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone!

Beware of kids

Funny sign -- Forget the dog. Beware of kids.
http://pamparenting.wordpress.com/2014/11/04/beware-of-kids/

Toddler Tantrums - How to Deal with them

Do you know there are two types of toddler tantrums? Find out how parents can deal with them without using punishment, and why tantrums are actually good for kids.
http://www.rookieparenting.com/dealing-with-toddler-temper-tantrums/

Gross Motor Activities Created Using Foam Mat

Easy ways to create gross motor activities using what's lying around.
http://www.rookieparenting.com/gross-motor-activities-using-foam-mat/

Morning sickness is a good thing during pregnancy! http://blogs.babycenter.com/mom_stories/does-morning-sickness-protect-the-fetus/

Parenting is hard and should come with manuals

10 Tips on Parenting: http://www.rookieparenting.com/10-parenting-tips-how-to-good-parent/

Funny dad prank

Toddler tantrums

How to deal with them.

Hilarious parent pranks

These are some fun parents.

Don't reward. Do motivate.

Neither reward nor punishment works to motivate kids.

http://www.rookieparenting.com/rewards-and-motivation-is-chore-chart-the-answer/

Kids are pretty much ...

drunk little adult.

Encouraging words for kids

Say something encouraging. We have enough critiques in this world.

Motivate your kids the right way

No bribe is necessary when you want to motivate your kids. In fact, it could be harmful if you're not careful. Here are 9 tips on how to motivate your kids.

Praise your kids the right way

Praise can be a strong motivator if you do it right. Don't spoil a good thing.

How to Praise Kids

Should you use rewards to motivate?

Should you use bribes to motivate your kids to do the dishes? How about a gold star sticker when your toddler stops hitting his little brother? See what the experts say about rewards.

Rewards and Motivation

This is how "mother" is defined

Mother (noun) 1. One person who does the work of twenty. For free.

Moms don't have sick days

No day off for you if you're a mom.

How to motivate your child

Praise? Rewards?
Find out how you can motivate your kids.
http://www.rookieparenting.com/how-to-motivate-kids/

A mopping baby

Would love to have a mopping baby!

A Proud Moment

A mom's proud moment -- when I asked my little one to choose between fruit and cake, she chose fruit. That's probably just her personal preference and has nothing to do with my parenting, but it still made me smile.

Should you use treats or rewards to motivate your kids ?

What are your thoughts as parents ?  Tell us below.

How to praise your kids the right way

Praising your kids to motivate them can be tricky. If not done right, it can actually backfire. Learn how to praise children properly.

Good parenting books

Highly recommended! http://www.rookieparenting.com/best-parenting-books/

Praise your child

It's important to encourage our children to motivate them. Younger children especially benefit from praising. As they grow older, parents need to pay attention to praise children the right way.

Non-punitive discipline is the way to go

It's good for parents. That counts, right?
http://www.rookieparenting.com/non-punitive-discipline-for-parents/

Good parenting doesn't need spanking

Corporal Punishment Is Lazy Parenting

It's more about the parent than the kid. Usually anger is the reason, not discipline.
http://www.rookieparenting.com/corporal-punishment-definition-bullying/

Great onesie

Difficult decision for parent

crucial decisions: grab the child or the camera before he falls?

Another milestone

My kid learned to use the scissors today!! Another fine-motor milestone.

Child Temperament

Learn about child temperament can help you understand why it's not your child's fault that they're difficult.

Dealing with toddler tantrums

I like seeing my child throw a tantrum. Sounds crazy, isn't it? But I like even more seeing my child's tantrums getting less frequent and less intense over time. Here's how I deal with toddler tantrums.

How should a parent discipline?

Let's start with understanding what happens when parents discipline. Then you'll know how not to discipline.

Moms don't get sick days

Turn your back for 5 minutes

... this may happen to your dog.

Feeling lazy, moms?

Here's a simple x'mas decoration idea.

A day full of important activities with a toddler

Parenting fun!

Single Parenting Is Courageous

Just think about being waken up 6 times a night and not being able to say "Honey, it's your turn."

How to teach child manners

Manners are rules created by human to interact with others in a cooperative way. Children are not born with manners. They need to be taught. So it's ok if your young child sounds 'rude'. They just need our guidance.

Terrible Twos

Soooo looking forward to the day we can say goodbye to terrible-two...

Encourage Kids

Be an encouraging parent, but not pushy. Let them explore. Let them learn. Let them thrive.

Don't worry

because *sometimes* it gets you nowhere.

Is Your Child Shy?

Does your child always shy away from strangers, new kids, new toys, new environment? How do you deal with that?

Parents, Please Take Some Responsibilities

I've always believed that bad behavior usually means bad parenting. But good behavior doesn't necessarily mean good parenting. Actually, sometimes good behavior means bad parenting because parents use cruel means to get "good" behavior.

Parents Who Attack Others

I've came across parents who would attack others when their parenting practice were criticized. It is understandable that when one is angry, they may want to attack/insult to get back at the other party or to change the subject. But none of that changes the fact that their practice were problematic.

Treat You Child With Respect

It's amazing how treating them like real people can change your relationship with your child. They will start acting reasonable, too. Show them respect and they'll return the favor.

How to talk to your child

I listen, I explain, I respect, I give choices, etc. But what worked last night was that I treated her like a grownup and thought from her perspective as if she was (is) a reasonable adult. That worked!

Parents Need Coffee

Ever woken up by a child in the middle of the night? I have. Every. Single. Night. Coffee is essential to my survival.

Next Parenting Topic

What should the next topic be?

• Resilience http://lonelylinks.com/download/resilience_art.pdf
• Overcoming shyness http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/icd.1850/full
• Or helping child learn?

Do parents have the rights to insult or hit their children

Love answers to this question.
http://www.quora.com/Do-parents-have-the-right-to-insult-hit-their-children

Really makes you think twice what a child is. A human being with rights, a second-class citizen or parents' property?

Awesome quote about complainers

OR be criticized for.

Authoritative Parenting vs Tiger Mom Parenting

Tiger Mom parenting was very controversial because some parents really believe that was a good way to help their children succeed. But as many studies show, it is not the case. Even if the child succeeds, they may have to pay a huge price. Authoritative parenting is the only parenting style to go for any racial groups.

Did You Child Do Well On First Day of Preschool

First Day of Preschool doesn't have to be all crying. There are ways to reduce a child's emotional pain and help their adjustment.

Tiger Mom Parenting is Bad

Look at these statistics on Asian suicidal rate. Culture of course plays a role. Within culture, parenting is probably the most influential aspect that drive children and teenagers depressed.

Toddler's Tantrums

Terrible-twos creeping up on you? Tantrums is the most complained about issues by parents of toddlers'. Take a look at these practical advice on dealing with tantrums. They may just save your sanity.

Authoritative Parenting - How does it work?

Among the four parenting styles, authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, neglectful, psychologists and psychiatrists worldwide agree authoritative parenting style is the best. See what benefits this parenting style can bring you.

Top 10 Parenting Advice -- How to be a Good Parent

Take a look at this list of 10 parenting tips. They are based on studies over decades of research by psychologist, psychiatrists and scientists.

Toddler Temper Tantrums - How to deal with

Here are some steps to handle toddler tantrums. Remember, tantrums are toddler's words, usually telling us they need or want something. It's not meant to drive you crazy. When toddlers are in a meltdown mode, they are actually in emotional pain that need our help to regulate their internal feelings rather than our ignoring them.

Parenting Responsibility

Parents should know their power over their children. The way parents talk to their children becomes the children's inner voice.

Parental support

Parenting support and reassurance of worth is a strong predictor of academic performance of college students. Not even friends or romantic partner's support can make such a difference. Cited by 281.

Parenting Style, Practice and Attachment

With overwhelming data on the benefits of secure attachment and problems associated with insecure attachment, why do you think some parents still opt for insecure attachment promoting parental practice? Is it just an intertransgeneration cycle that cannot be broken, stubborness, indifference or too much pride to accept others suggestions?

Child Temperament Cannot Affect Attachment

A study showed that although temperament can influence whether a child develops secure or insecure attachment, temperament alone cannot predict whether a child will acquire secure or insecure attachment. Instead, a goodness of fit between parent and child can better predict the type of attachment that will develop.

Parents' Responsibility

It's about time parents take responsibility for their own actions. Too many parents have blamed young children's behavior on the children or on the teachers. But in fact, for very young children who only have a small number of caregivers, parents are the most important role models for them. Parents are people, too. They can't be right all the time. It takes courage to admit one's own wrongdoing and take responsibility.

What is temper tantrum?

All children have temper tantrums (If a child doesn't, then he/she is either a saint or an abused child who's been scared into not having one). Temper tantrums is taxing on parents, but it's also perfect time to teach your kids how to deal with setbacks. Use it. Don't waste it.

Parenting is hard is a fact, but not an excuse

Tips for parenting -- remember no parent is perfect. I don't have problems with parents who occasionally do not act as good parents. We all make mistakes. We all have our moments/days. But I do have problems with parents who don't even try to be good parents.

Parenting: Moms do everything

Moms are everything: housekeeper, chef, teacher, nurse, coach, chauffeur, story teller, monster killer, ... wonder woman. :)

Cheers to moms!

Every child is gifted. Find out what your child's special gift is. It may take time, but they are all truly gifted.

New trick to replace time-out

We practice positive discipline in our household. It works great most of the time, but there are times when I just can't find anyway to get through to Little Pea. There are only so many natural consequences I could think of. Then I read a research on how some kids did better in school. One of the characteristics was being explained the reason instead of just being told.

I'm usually pretty good at telling Little Pea why I do or don't do certain things, but there are things I didn't say because I thought she was too young to understand. Now that she's older, I tried to tell her the real reason. Last night, I introduced a difficult concept -- energy -- as in mommy only has a finite amount of energy. If she kept throwing food onto the ground, then after cleaning up, mommy wouldn't have energy to read her a story at bedtime. That was absolutely the true reason, a consequence, not a punishment (although she might not feel that way). So there was no story reading last night. She was very upset, but I hope she got it.

Responsible Parenting Advice

There are so many websites and blogs out there offering advice on everything, most based on opinions or experiences. You'd think that it'd be safe to take advice based on scientific research. How wrong I was. This morning, I read that "Breakfast is not the most important meal of the day" on a site reporting scientific findings (I won't even mention their name to promote them). It was a bait-and-switch title the best, irresponsible reporting the worst. How can a research showing no weight or resting metabolic change on 38 fasting individuals lead to that conclusion??? No scientific explanation was offered. I know it's hard to get attention when there are so many competing websites out there, but you're a reporter. What happened to responsible and ethical reporting? Don't you dare tell my kid that she doesn't need to eat breakfast because it's not the most important meal of the day. It still is as long as no credible research to contradict it.

How to spot good parenting?

A kid behaving well or badly can be due to a lot of reasons. A seemingly well-behaved kid is obedient because his parents use harsh, punitive punishment when he misbehaves. He can also behave well because he sees his bad parents as the don't-do "role model". So I don't believe in judging good parenting by the child's behavior.
But you can judge by the parents' behavior -- are they doing the right thing? How much effort have they put into it. Of course, there can still be time when parents do all the "right things" but the child still doesn't turn out well. Good parenting cannot guarantee outcome. Good parenting is about doing the absolutely best the parent can and make no excuses.

Attachment Theory Does Not Prescribe Attachment Parenting

Attachment theory is wonderful. It helps us understand child development and psychology tremendously. Unfortunately, exactly because of this, people start prescribing specific type of practices in the name of attachment theory. Case in point, attachment therapy. Attachment therapy is not only a misuse but also an abuse of attachment theory. It's a shame.

Attachment parenting has gained some traction in recent years. Unlike attachment therapy, its principles and intentions are mostly good. But its extreme prescribed practices and stretching the truth of Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) to scare parents into believing this leaves a very bad taste in my mouth.

Parenting Tip #4: Safe Haven

Being a safe haven means you should be responsive to your child's needs and sensitive to their emotions. Children raised with highly responsive parents are more apt in emotion regulation, social competence and emotional stability. Sensitive parents need to pay close attention to their children and that's hard work. But in the end, you will be rewarded with sweet results.

10 Tips On Good Parenting

Here's a shorter version of the top 10 tips (pdf) on how to be a good parent for the busy parents. :) These are not fast and easy tips at all. Good parents know that parenting is never easy. There are no shortcuts... except the the scientific shortcuts scientists and psychologists have already found out for you!

Tip #7: Take Good Care Of Yourself

You cannot take good care of your child if you're not well yourself. Taking caring of yourself means paying attention and working on maintaining good physical health and mental health. On mental health, you should seek counseling if you have any mood disorder or other mental health problems. You also need to make sure your marital relationship is healthy. Another thing to look out for is toxic relationships -- relationships that drag you down instead of helping you thrive. It can be friendship, family members, coworkers, etc. They are sometimes hard to get rid of. Find ways to avoid being affected by them. That would help your mental health tremendously.

Parenting Tip #2 You cannot be too loving

You can never love your child too much. Showing affection can trigger all kinds of good chemical reactions inside your child's body and brain. So go head. Give her a hug. Tell her you love her.

Top 10 Parenting Tips

Want to be a good parent? Here are some tips for you, things you can do for your kids. Be mindful of parents' power over children. Use it wisely to raise a child who can thrive.

Parenting Tips #1 Walk the walk

Are you a "Do as I say not as I do" parent? Children are watching everything their parents do. Respect your child and your child will learn how to respect others. Start acting the person you want your child to become and he/she will follow your lead.

Parenting Tip #4: Practice Positive Discipline

Positive Discipline - Focus on guiding future behavior instead of punishing the past. Respect your child and he/she will respect you. Punitive punishment on the other hand will only generate Resentment, Rebellion, Revenge and Retreat. See 8 Parenting Tips on Positive Discipline for more parenting advice.

Parenting Tips On Being A Good Enough Parent

How to be a good parent? Well, we know that there are no perfect parents. Even though researches have identified many aspects that can affect a child's future and these elements are within parents' control, no one can follow all the advice all of the time. So

Parenting Tip #1: Walk The Walk - Be the person you want your child to be.

Parenting Tips and Advice

Tips and advice for parents - Parenting, the easiest thing to have an opinion on, but it's the hardest job to do. Rookie Parenting will present research findings, scientific data and proven theories that can help parents make the right decision on parenting. Topics including parenting styles, attachment, temperament, discipline, baby psychology and child brain development.

Parenting Tips For Rookie Parents

This week on Rookie Parenting, I wrote about parenting tips on parenting styles and attachment theory. They can help us understand how environment, especially the way we parent, can shape our children's social development, emotion regulation and personality.

It is interesting to note that there is no one "right" way to parent. However, there are many wrong ways to do so. A blog Professor Poppins talks about how the two dimensions used to determine different parenting styles are actually two spectrums. Inside each style, parents adjust their degrees of demandingness and responsiveness to suit each child. However, as researches have shown, there is definitely an ideal parenting style better than the others and those other styles are associated with more academic, social and mental issues.

If a parent is currently practicing a less than ideal style, it will take a lot of hard work to change. But most important, the parent needs to have the courage to admit that they need to change, which is actually much harder to do.

What is your parenting style? Do you agree with the most used classification - authoritative, authoritarian, permissive and neglectful?