Rely On Your Maternal Instinct

Maternal instinct isn’t a myth. Use it to guide you through tough situations,
and choices you will have to make as a parent. You were born to be a good
mom, just listen to your maternal instinct.

Most moms have a strong maternal instinct that goes beyond what others can tell them. It starts with the birth of the child or even at times before that, it’s immediate, and instantly the mother can predict the baby’s every need. While there are some people who may never be ready or have the ability to be a parent in this manner, most people do however. On of the most important skills you will have as a parent is to have the confidence in your own instincts and abilities.

Long before Dr. Spock, whether confident or not, parenting skills were instinctual. Moms could try by the cry of their baby, exactly what was needed. There weren’t any instructions, books or handy videos on how to be a good parent. One thing that’s always existed has been family and friends and the support they provide to mom when she feels like there is something beyond her capabilities in a certain situation.

There are so many tools and self-help things available to parents today. Is this really necessary? It might just be that because parents are overloaded with information they could feel a lack of confidence because they are trying to digest and apply all this information. Where a mom would once rely on her own instincts, she now feels the need to go through a book or too before she knows what to do. In addition, the advice given is sometimes conflicting and confusing, which frustrates the parents even more. There are so many decisions to be made, and faced with that and the piles of information, parents feel the pressure and become indecisive and frustrated.

Things do have to happen this way. If moms can just go back to trusting their own maternal instincts, they’ll never feel this type of frustration when faced with a decision. Throw away the books; learn to be flexible, and try other methods and approaches when parenting. While it may feel like you are alone in this, you’re not. Many family members and professionals will be there to help you in any case. Relax.
Don’t take things too seriously. Enjoy being a parent; yes you’ll make mistakes, but what you learn from them will be invaluable. Whether you believe it or not, you do have the confidence to follow your own parenting instincts; that’s all you’ll ever need.

Additional Resources:

Baby Sleep Secrets
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Learning To Read With Phonics

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Potty Training Advice and Tips From Moms & Dads Like You.

Why Phonics Is The Key To Strong Reading Skills

by Rich Daniels

To date, over 180 research studies have confirmed that phonics is the best way to teach children how to read. Unfortunately, 80% of our nations schools do not use an intensified phonics approach for reading instruction.

They use a whole word approach (see and say) or a combination of phonics and whole word.

While children can learn using the whole word method, it is not the best or most efficient way to learn how to read. The whole word method teaches reading through memorization and guessing.

Unlike the Japanese and Chinese languages which are picture based, the English language is phonetic. There are only 44 sounds while there are about 1 million words in English.

These facts readily explain why having to memorize 44 sounds as opposed to memorizing hundreds of thousands of words is the most efficient way to learn to read.

Reading and writing is simply talking on paper. When children learn to talk, they do so by imitating sounds. They then combine the sounds to form words.

The brain is programmed to learn language in this fashion. Therefore, the most efficient way to learn to read is through phonics because it teaches children to read the same way they learned to talk.

A two decades study on the best way to learn how to read, funded by the National Institute of Health, discovered that the three important aspects of reading – identifying letters, identifying sounds associated with the letters, and reaching for meaning of the written word – are each accomplished by different parts of the brain.

A three-part plan that incorporates this information to guide you as you help your child learn to read.

- Part 1: Phonemic awareness, or learning the individual sounds that constitute a language, for example, “kuh” as the sound of “c”.

- Part 2: Phonics, or the letter-sound relationships available in the language, for example, “kuh—aah—tuh” sounds out “cat”.

- Part 3: Exposure to meaning of the written word through reading and being read to, for example, “kuh—aah—tuh” sounds out “cat” which is “a furry mammal that purrs”.

These elements should be used as building blocks, each necessary to support the next. With phonemic awareness as the first block, a child can begin to puzzle out words in books.

With the help of a parent or sibling by his side he’ll begin to have the answers to questions he will soon begin to ask.

Now is the time to point out important clues, such as how letter sounds blend, how an “e” at the end of a word changes a vowel sound from short to long, how some consonants have more than one sound.

Discuss lower and upper case letters. Point out the eighteen frequently used words best learned by sight. And remember to keep reading to your child to include exposure to meaning, the all important part 3.

What does your child need in order to read well?

You need to provide 4 things to your child, preferably at an early age, to build a proper reading foundation:

1. Phonics information and the ability to manipulate the sounds that make up spoken language.

2. Phonics skills and the understanding that there are relationships between letters and sounds.

3. The ability to read fluently with accuracy, speed, and expression.

4. To apply reading comprehension strategies to enhance understanding and enjoyment of what they read.

There are many commercial reading programs available that combines whole word and phonics based principles. Whatever reading program you decide to use, make sure that it’s recommended by parents and teachers, find out how long the program has been on the market and verify it’s success rate.

Additional Resource:
Frontline Phonics – complete phonic learning program to teach your child to read.
Frontline Phonics Program

A complete phonics reading program with everything you and your child need to get her reading in no time.

Frontline Phonics is a complete phonics reading program that will provide you with everything you need to help your child learn to read. The phonics learning program has received 5 stars from the About.com home schooling expert. Spend 15 minutes a day with your child and this program and you will help him or her discover how much fun reading can be.

This is a phonics program we can highly recommend.

With Frontline Phonics Program you’ll receive:

53 Exciting Phonics Readers
Music CD with 34 Sing-a-long Songs
2 Reading Lesson Plan Manuals
2 Activity Workbooks with Phonics Worksheets
Instructional Video to guide you step by step
3 Flashcard Sets
31 Educational Game Pieces
Toll Free access to a Reading Coach
60-Day Money-Back Guarantee

Buy Now!

or take the free reading assessment by clicking on the link below.

Is your child ready to read? Find out with this FREE Online Reading Assessment.

Labeling Kids – Why You Should Avoid It

“Mom, Dad called me stupid!” your child tells you. This type labeling of kids can have long-term effects on the child. Even if it is said at the height of frustration or maybe because the parent is in a bad mood, there is no excuse for the consequence this action can produce. They’re not just words, they really do cause hurt. It is so important to understand why labeling a child in this manner can have terrible effects on the child’s self confidence and behaviors.

Children need our unconditional love, acceptance and respect, all the time. Negative reinforcement will only end up in negative behavior and results acted out through the child. When a child hears this type of labeling often, they can become emotionally damaged by the behavior of the parent. Children look up to their parents; thus, there is no justification, which motivates any parent in belittling a child. Giving the child negative attention in this manner can create many more problems then it will ever even begin to solve. The child may develop low self-esteem; increased erratic behavior; and affect their inter-relationship with siblings and peers.

It is nothing new that a parent can lose their calm and temper but it does not have to be focused on the child. A child may not understand why you are reacting this way and it can produce devastating effects. So many parents by-pass this part but it is imperative that they apologize immediately using phrasing and words that will make the child feel positive and have respect for your ability to be wrong. It is our duty as parents to be sure that our children know how much we love them, even when we are not happy, every day. The fear and disappointment the child feels must be addressed with an apology, and/or an explanation.

Disciplinary action of a child must never be accompanied by harsh words. If necessary, take a break and collect your thoughts. Think before you say anything further. Then have the child take a time out. Later, talk to the child about why the behavior was disciplined; then hug the child in a reassuring way. Let the child know you still love him or her. Words can impact a child’s life; positively and negatively. If you, as a parent, cannot control the emotional abuse; seek help. It is the very least you can do to ensure your child’s psychological state is not compromised in any way.

Additional Resources:
Sleepytime Secrets
Sleepytime Secrets is an easy-to-follow step-by-step guide for learning how to get children to sleep. Put An End To The Stress And Frustration Of Sleepless
Nights For You and Your Child For Good!

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