Your baby is growing up. He can walk, talk, and stack blocks. He’s fully capable of helping out now, too!

Giving preschoolers chores is good for their self esteem. They become contributing members of the family, and most little ones love to help out. Imitation comes naturally, and you’ll be providing valuable life skills while spending quality time together.

Their new chores don’t have to be difficult, but a toddler or preschooler can help out in almost every room of the house.

Laundry: Let your child help fold washclothes or match socks. They can begin to put their own clothes away and also start to dress themselves!

Kitchen: Small children can mix and stir batters and sauces. They love to dump things, and can add ingredients after an adult premeasures them. Older toddlers even can be taught to carefully cut up soft food, such as bananas or canned peaches, with a plastic knife. And all preschoolers love to help wash the dishes!

Play Room: It’s time to start teaching your child to pick up after himself. Begin instilling the habit of putting away a toy as soon as she is finished using it. Picking up toys is also great practice for fine motor skills and the pincer grasp, both necessary for writing. You’ll have a clean floor, and your child will have a headstart in school!

Bedroom: A toddler can help make her own bed, or at least put the pillow in the correct place. Make it easy, and ditch the complicated dust ruffles and pillow shams. Get a slumber bag or simple comforter, and show your preschooler how to straighten it on the bed.

Letting young children help out around the house may take a little extra time, but it is well worth the effort to have a happy, independent child!

Research over the last several decades suggest that individual parenting practices are actually less important compared to the broader pattern of parenting. Thus, the concept of parenting style is born; it captures two important aspects in parenting, including responsiveness and “demandingness”. Four parenting styles have been determined and they are as follows:

· Indulgent parents – also known as “permissive” parents; parents who use this style are more responsive than demanding. They are quite lenient and don’t require their children to act in a mature behavior. Indulgent parents also typically try to avoid confrontation with their kids and allow great self-regulation.

· Authoritarian parents – these types of parents are highly demanding, but they are unresponsive. They want obedience, and they expect to be obeyed without question. Authoritarian parents provide structured environments with clear rules.

· Authoritative parents – they are both responsive and demanding. They monitor their children, but they are not intrusive. Their disciplinary techniques are more supportive than punitive. Their aim is for their children to grow to be socially responsible but assertive, self-regulated but cooperative.

· Uninvolved parents – these parents are low both in demandingness and responsiveness. Uninvolved parent are usually also neglectful parents. Their children may sometimes feel rejected and neglected.

So what parenting style do you fall under? A lot of people want to fall into the “authoritative” parent category, but only a few of them succeed. But who is to say which parenting style is the best? Ask well-rounded individuals who they think are the best parents in the world; chances are, they will say their mother or father is the best parent.

With a new 11 year old daughter in my life, I decided that the three of us should enjoy a morning of pampering. Reviewing the menus of local spas, I found one that offered a Mommy and Me package. Each of us would get a pedicure, mine including a paraffin dip, and a hand massage. The package typically is for a mom and one child, but the spa willingly accommodated 3 of us.

My 11 year old daughter had never been to a spa before this and was the more excited of the two. Upon arrival, each of us was given a glass of water in a goblet, which was quite a thrill in and of itself for the girls. Within minutes, our three aestheticians met us in the waiting area and brought us to the nail room. The girls chose the same shade of nail polish for their toes, climbed into their chairs, and got ready for their treatments.

The aestheticians were very kind to the girls and offered them entertainment magazines and checked that the water temperatures were fine. The girls enjoyed the massaging chairs and warm, bubbling water. I sat alongside them, soaking my feet, and listening to them giggle.

While only hand massages were part of the package, the aestheticians generously offered to do a quick fingernail painting for each girl. They happily agreed to this.

With freshly painted toenails and fingernails, the girls walked around the pond behind the spa while my treatment was finished. The spa owner reminded them that they had “princess hands” and to be careful of their wet polish. The girls loved this and strolled carefully on the lawn.

This definitely was an indulgence, but one that I feel was worth every cent. The girls were pampered, and we got to spend a day together. I plan to make this a yearly event, just three girls having a morning of fun.

· Improper brushing

· Breathing through the mouth

· Dehydration

· Infrequent eating and drinking through the day

· Bacterial activity

The solutions below can help alleviate bad breath, so be sure to give them a try:

Ensure that the child drinks a lot of fluids throughout the course of the day. Less fluid will lead to less saliva and a drier mouth. This can create a bacterial breeding ground, which ultimately will cause bad breath. In addition, frequent snacks and drinks will flush away odor-causing bacteria.

Knowing proper brushing techniques is important. Also, you need to make sure that your child brushes his teeth frequently and regularly. Young children may need your help but letting them know the importance of brushing not only their teeth but their tongue and the sides of their mouth will benefit them through adulthood.

Immediately treat allergy and cold symptoms by suctioning your child’s nose with a nasal aspirator. This will help prevent mouth breathing and decrease nasal drip, which can cause bad breath.

When you notice that your child still has bad breath after four or five days of thorough brushing and after following the recommendations above, it may be best to contact your doctor. You should be concerned, particularly if you see green nasal discharge from the nostrils; it can be a symptom of infection because of the presence of a foreign object in the nose. On the other hand, call your dentist if you see tooth decay or gum bleeding.

Just a disclaimer, these may work better with kids who are older than 9 or so.

Okay, the game is called “Chinese Numbers.” This game is pictured. What you do is grab a bunch of sugar packets, condiments, toothpicks, or something else. Okay, now you make a pattern or something with the items and ask “what number is this?” Meanwhile, you have to discretely show X amount of fingers on the table. Check out the picture, see how she has only 8 of her fingers showing? I realize that some of the image has been cropped, but hopefully you get the idea.

But remember, your audience should NOT realize that the amount that is the answer to the question (what number is this?) is being shown to them by you. Instead, they should be focusing on the pattern that you have created with those items. So let’s say that they guess a number–five. You can let them guess some more, but eventually tell them that the number was actually 8.

Now, scramble up the items and create a new pattern. Put down a different amount (or the same) of fingers. The game continues like that until they realize the pattern and are able to tell you what the number actually is. So in reality, the true number has nothing to do with the items that you arrange; that’s merely a distraction.

If the kids need help, tell them that you can only make numbers up to 10. Unless, of course, you have more or less fingers.

Experts are begging parents to let their children outdoors to play, discover, and de-stress. They recommend allowing kids an unfettered hour of free time every day in a natural environment.

Playing outside strengthens children’s immune systems, helps them become self-reliant, and provides hours of TV-free entertainment. Kids who play outside may get dirty, but also they’ll be exercising, problem solving, and getting a dose of Vitamin D.

It’s not necessary to live near a national park in order to let kids interact with the earth. Any place that has been left wild will do. A patch of weeds behind the housing development, a small neighborhood creek, or even the long untended grass at the edge of an athletic field all offer ample opportunity to learn about the world.

Don’t be intimidated by nature! Allow children to become immersed in it, using all of their senses. Take pictures of insects, animals and plants to identify later at the library or on the internet. Smell the water, the dirt, and the flowers. Feel slippery moss covered rocks, rough sandstone, or soft cattail fluff. Listen to birds or the song of the cicada. It’s possible to forage for wild food, even in the suburbs. (Make sure to bring along a detailed field guide to identify any plants you find.)

Looking for more ways to have fun in the wild? The National Wildlife Federation has created a website dedicated to giving parents ideas and activities to do outside. Now, go outside and play!

The popular local place was busy, but we were able to get a table right away. My rule when taking to kids to meals is that we should decide on meals as soon as possible. The reason behind this is that if the restaurant is slow in service I don’t want the kids to get bored. Bored kids leads to wild kids!

We made our choices: one order of pancakes, one waffle, and a cajun omelet. While Susan, our nice waitress, left with our order, we decided to begin playing our stable game at a restaurant.

The game has no name, but how it works is that one person takes any utensils on the table and makes a sculpture with them. Then the rest of the crowd makes guesses as to what he or she is making. When the correct guess happens the next person makes a sculpture. The game continues until the food arrives. It stirs conversation, keeps the kids occupied and thinking, and passes the time no matter how hungry everyone is.

Our breakfast arrived after one round of the sculpture game, and we jumped right into eating. As I watched the kids eat, I realized I was lucky to be able to spend time with my kids like this and that I truly am blessed with great kids.

We all finished our dishes, talked about what we were going to do with the rest of the day, and left with smiles on our faces.

Take them shopping

It is also important to involve your child in your shopping activities. That way, they can see the actual process of how money exchanges hands. The supermarket is a good venue to do this; you can point out the difference between the costs of different brands and point out why you prefer one brand over the other. You also can explain how credit cards and debit card work to older children.

Answer their “Are we rich?” questions

It is inevitable for children to be curious about their financial standing. Because of this, expect that they will ask you about how rich you are. Try to let them know that people need to find jobs and sometimes even struggle to have enough money to cover their food and clothing expenses while there are also people who don’t need to worry.

You may feel that financial matters are private matters that should not be discussed outside the home. If this is the case, let your child know that family financial matters should not be disclosed to friends and strangers.

Empowering your child through pocket money

Giving your children pocket money will give them a sense of independence and freedom of choice. This is because they can make decisions on what products they want to purchase and how much they are willing to spend for these products.

Set aside a reasonable amount for their age and needs. It may get more complicated as your children grow older, especially when they compare their allowance to their friends. So you must decide on what you think is a fair amount by comparing notes with other parents as well.

All of this changed today!

Jake and I were out for a day of errands and then a visit to the office. Lunchtime fell right in the middle of our errand running, so I gave Jake the choice of anywhere he wanted that was not a sit-down meal. Jake has a passion for food… he is actually a foodie at the age of 12. So for him to make a decision on where to eat is a difficult task. After about 15 minutes of him being in fast-food-indecision-land, I asked him if Taco Bell would work. I only have been a part of Jacob’s life for a little over a year, so when he told me he had never had Taco Bell, it was a fait accompli.

We did the drive-though, and Jake asked me to order for him. so I choose a Baja Chicken Gordita and 2 Soft Tacos for him and two Soft Taco Frescas for me.

We took the bag of Mexican goodies to the office, which was only 5 minutes away and Jake savored the meal as he washed it down with two cans of soda.

While there are people that are out there that will call me a crazy parent for making this a story about parenting, but there are times in a child’s life that you just feel lucky to be a part of it. Fast food is not a norm at our house, but the fact is that it is a part of an American life. And my happiness has never been greater than when Jake turned to me and said, “That was really good. I am glad you took me there.” That $8.04 Taco Bell meal may have been the best part of the week. I am lucky to be a dad.

Fourth of July is a favorite family holiday. Relatives arrive from out of town to grill, eat, and gape at the fireworks. It’s a pleasant interruption during the long, hot days of summer.

It’s also a time when parents must be extra vigilant, especially if you choose to skip the big show and set off firecrackers on your own. These tips will help you keep your kids safe while you celebrate our nation’s independence.

1. Fireworks can be scary. Many toddlers will be frightened by the loud noise or surprising lights. This is normal, and it doesn’t mean you darling daughter will hate fireworks forever. Little ones may be content to watch from a window or from inside a vehicle (with an adult, of course!)

1. Fireworks are for adults. Only adults should light firecrackers, by placing it on a hard, fireproof surface (such as a street), starting the fuse, and quickly stepping back. No one ever should hold a lit firecracker in his or her hand. Sparklers are fun, but they burn at temperatures exceeding 1800° F, which can cause serious damage to little faces and hands. Save them for the grown-ups.

1. Safety first! Children should not wear loose clothing around fire or firecrackers. Keep little ones away from grills and barbecues. Fire resistant clothing is a good choice. Keep a bucket of water nearby in which to put spent firecrackers and duds, and carefully submerge each one. Have a hose or fire extinguisher ready, and never light firecrackers where a spark might ignite your home or landscaping.

1. Offer safe alternatives. Preschoolers can hold pinwheels instead of sparklers, and kids can blow party horns instead of lighting black cats. After dark, hand out some glow necklaces or flashlights.

Have a fun, safe Independence Day!