Parenting Help For Singles

Wildflower · Site Admin Joined: 03 Apr 2008 Posts: 23 Location: Ontario

Parenting Help

By Jennifer Wolf, About.com Guide to Single Parents

Please use this link to check out the information that is done in blue.
http://singleparents.about.com/od/parenting/u/parenting_help.htm

Raising your children on your own is an intensely personal and rewarding challenge. Most likely, you will also experience some challenges along the way as you develop and trust your own parenting skills. Here, you will find parenting help on everything from communicating with your kids, to setting boundaries and limits, effective discipline practices, and having fun as a family.

1. Communication
2. Routines
3. Setting Limits
4. Child Care
5. Family Activities

Communication

Communication is key. The most important thing your kids need to know is that they are loved. In addition, realize that how you communicate with your kids - whether they're toddlers or teens - will deeply influence their level of cooperation, as well as the overall quality of your parent-child relationship.

* How to Announce Your Divorce or Separation
* Make Sure You Are Prepared for the Questions Your Kids Will Ask
* How to Communicate Directions Clearly
* How to Gain Your Kids' Respect

* How to Apologize to Your Kids
* Become Familiar With the Stages of Grief in Children
* Quality Time is What Matters Most to Your Kids

Routines

One way to make your job easier is to establish regular routines with your children. This way, everyone knows what to expect at various times of the day, and each family member can contribute to the household in a meaningful way.

* Use Chores to Teach Responsibility
* Save Time on Your Busiest Mornings
* Create a Bedtime Routine That Really Works
* Get Your Kids to Sleep in Their Own Beds at Night
* How to Use a Calendar to Organize Your Family's Activities

Setting Limits

Enforcing rules and setting limits is a necessary part of raising your children. In fact, you actually make it easier for your kids to listen to you and do what you ask of them when you make your expectations very clear from the beginning.

* Top Ten Strategies for Effective Discpline
* How to Set Ground Rules With Your Kids
* Practical Ways to Limit Your Child's Screen Time

* Chose Age-Appropriate Video Games for Your Kids
* Questions to Ask When Your Kids Misbehave
* Book Review of How Much is Enough?

Child Care

As a single parent, it's inevitable that you're going to need to rely on outside sources of child care to assist you at times. Find out how to interview potential babysitters, prepare for emergencies, and know when to your children are ready to be left home alone.

* How to Find and Keep a Qualified Babysitter
* How to Interview a Potential Babysitter
* Questions to Ask Your Employer as You Prepare Backup Child Care Plans
* When is it Safe to Leave My Child Home Alone?
* Book Review of Staying Home Alone

Family Activities

Another important aspect of parenting is establishing and maintaining a strong connection with your kids, and one way to do that is to plan meaningful outings together that allow each of you to share your true selves and continue to bond as a family unit.

* 30 Fun Spring Activities To Do With Your Kids
* Board Games to Enjoy With Your Kids on Family Night
* Single Parent Family Camps in the US
* Single Parent Family Camps in Canada