Parenting may not be rocket science, but oftentimes, we may get caught off guard when we encounter challenging moments. This can cause us to give in to our emotions, the outcome of which may be ugly and unhealthy. That’s where the concept of “Mindful Parenting” comes to play. Mindful parenting is when parents give conscious attention to their children’s actions as well as their own actions towards their children. It is important to remember that you are the parent, and the number one rule for mindful parenting is to never engage in an incident when your child is exhibiting behavior that might cause you to react emotionally. Parents need to take a firm stand on things, especially when making a point. No matter the circumstance, it’s best to “Respond, not react.” 

A child’s upbringing is crucial to their psychological development. If there’s one thing a child craves during these pivotal early stages of development, it’s attention. This plays a significant role in discussions about mindful parenting. For many children, gaining attention from a parent is bliss. It can feel like their favorite candy bar or ice cream. They crave it. They have to have it. Have you ever noticed how young children may act stubborn and misbehave at times? It may be their way of trying to get your attention.  As the saying goes, “You can’t give what you don’t have.” It’s exactly the same with mindful parenting. Be attentive, so you can give attention. 

Parenting is multi-faceted. And just like any other responsibilities, parenting comes with its own set of challenges and processes. Emotional management plays a big role in effective mindful parenting. For example, you yourself need to be regulated first before imposing regulation on others. Effective parenting can’t be delivered if you as the parent are unstable, stressed, or simply not your best self. Remember, the energy you give out to your child is the same energy (or less) you will receive. 

Also, bear in mind that attention is “currency” when it comes to establishing a nurturing relationship with children. Mindful parenting isn’t as complicated as it seems. Some may relate this kind of parenting as Authoritative Parenting. This is said to be the most effective among the 4 types of parenting styles. It’s been claimed to have positive effects on the child’s social-emotional wellbeing, academic progress, and behavior. Try to remember that there is a fine line between being too strict and being too lax. 

When parents who “spoil” their children, this is often misconstrued as bad parenting, or it could be the other way around. Some parents tend to spoil their children because they think it’s a good way of being present. The key is finding the right balance between love and discipline. It is a tricky process, yes. Quite challenging, too! But here are five good strategies that may help you become more effective in mindful parenting:

Be present for your children. Always, all ways

Being present means, again, giving your child as much attention as you can. Receiving attending is a fundamental need for little ones, and it is essential for their emotional development and growth. Their constant need for attention is also their unconscious way of asking for love. So if your child surprises you with whining or with an attitude, this could be a signal for you.

Find the right balance between love, respect, understanding, and discipline

This might be the trickiest part! This involves the delicate process of setting boundaries and expectations. Just be careful not to overdo it! Find ways to give your child credit for making positive choices, and try not to be overly critical of their mistakes. Remember that it’s also essential for their self-esteem and self-confidence as children learn to receive both criticism and praise equally with grace. Too much of either can make them, or break them.

Keep your cool

Anger is actually a healthy emotion when used sparingly. Our brain has a natural response to a certain emotion, especially when it is triggered. Try to notice and get a hold of your thoughts, especially when they are negative ones. These are the types that may amplify your feelings in a certain way. Try your hardest to do away with over-generalizing, “mind-reading”, and especially blaming. 

The longer the patience, the lesser the drama

As the saying goes, “Patience is a virtue.”  In this equation, patience really is gold. It is one of the core elements of parenting. Exhibiting patience requires a lot of understanding and self-control. Of course, children need their parents’ utmost understanding, especially at a time when they still have a lot to learn. 

Embrace the imperfection

Nobody’s perfect. Human as we are, we all have flaws, and we all make mistakes. There’s also no such thing as perfect parenting. Children have a lot to learn from their parents, and parents also have a lot to learn from their children. A parent-child relationship is a give and take thing but either way, it can be a win-win situation. Like all things in this world, everything is a process. Everything takes time, and nothing is perfect. 

Parenting in general is really quite a challenge, especially when it comes to figuring out what kind of approach best works for you and your children. Whichever method you choose, these mindful parenting strategies are surefire ways to improve your approach to parenting.

For more helpful and effective parenting tips, feel free to visit Young Scholars Academy.

 

When you or any of your family members is injured or becomes seriously ill, you go to the hospital. A hospital is a place where people go to get healed and saved. The last thing you would expect is how a hospital can also be a reason for your sickness.

Hospitals are a breeding ground for infections and many of these infections are becoming resistant to antibiotics. This is true even in good hospitals. This is why you should never be complacent. You have to be alert when you bring your kids and family to the hospital.

Learn how to keep yourself and your family protected from hospital-acquired infections by following these tips.

Take time to do some research about the hospital

Emergencies are inevitable and when they happen, people usually don’t have the luxury to select the hospital they prefer. They’d proceed to whichever is the nearest. 

However, if time permits, it’s best to be familiar with the hospitals that have excellent practices in terms of cleanliness and sanitation. Use the internet to check nearby hospitals’ track records and hospital ratings.

If there’s a need to be admitted, check if your insurance policy will cover the cost for a private room. This will help reduce the risk of acquiring infections from other patients. 

Follow regular and proper handwashing

Frequent hand washing remains one of the best ways to reduce the risk of infection. This is a very simple step and yet it is also often overlooked. Make it a habit to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Rub them thoroughly with soap and rinse well to get rid of germs and sickness-causing bacteria. Make your child and the rest of the family do the same. 

Keep your hands off of your face

Hospitals do their best to maintain cleanliness and sanitation. However, germs and viruses are still present everywhere. From simple flu to chronic ones like pneumonia and other communicable diseases, patients come in and out of the hospital to get treatment for various illnesses. Some of those germs will inevitably be spread so be mindful of the surfaces you touch. 

Keep your surroundings clean

In cases when you or any of your family members need to be confined in the hospital for treatment, be sure to keep your room and your surroundings clean. Disinfect the doorknobs, bed rails, and other things that may harbor bacteria. Also, don’t hesitate to request for room cleaning services if you feel the need for it. 

Keep wounds covered

Open wounds are prone to bacterial exposure that could further result in infections. Therefore, make sure that wounds are properly covered to avoid infection and decrease exposure to germs. 

Some hospitals have also adopted new techniques in keeping wounds covered for weeks without the need to open it. Waterproof dressings as well as skin glue are being used, instead of the traditional staples so that cover can stay on for one to three weeks.

Take antibiotics as prescribed and needed

If your doctor prescribes antibiotics, be sure to take them according to the prescription. Stick to your doctor’s instructions in terms of dosage and schedule. Don’t take more than is required or stop simply because you feel better. Otherwise, it will increase your resistance to other infections.

Be mindful of the objects and surfaces you touch

Whether you’re getting treatment in the hospital for yourself or a family member, always be mindful of the surfaces and objects you lay your hands on. If there’s anything that says don’t touch, then don’t touch. A lot of areas and spots around the hospital harbor bacteria and viruses which you can easily acquire if you’re not careful.

Make sure your child and the rest of your family follow the same precaution. Don’t take a chance on catching other illnesses because you keep touching stuff.

People get sick. It’s a reality of life. However, there are things we can do to reduce the risk of sickness and infections. Follow these tips and take the necessary precautions to keep yourself and your loved ones protected against hospital acquired infections.

 

For more helpful parenting resources or if you’re looking for a good quality early childhood education, please feel free to visit Young Scholars Academy.

 

Good health is just as important for kids as it is for adults. Sadly, a lot of kids today are obese or overweight not only because they develop a bad habit of binging on unhealthy snacks but because they are living a sedentary lifestyle.

Parents should begin teaching their children healthy living and healthy eating habits as early as possible. Not only will this help keep sickness and diseases at bay. It will also ensure their overall wellbeing. 

To create healthy habits early on, follow these simple rules for raising healthy kids!

Teach proper handwashing

One of the reasons why illness-causing germs are so easily passed from one person to another is because we fail to develop the habit of frequent handwashing.

Viruses and germs get into our bodies because we touch our mouth, eyes and nose. Be sure to teach your child how to keep their hands clean by frequent proper handwashing. 

When they wash their hands, emphasize the use of soap and thorough scrubbing. Also, make sure they wash for at least 20 seconds to scrub off dirt.

Instill this habit not only before and after meals but after each time they play outside, play with their toys or handle “germ reservoirs” such as door handles.

Ensure complete, balanced meals

To strengthen your child’s immune system, it’s important that they get the nutrients they need for a strong and healthy body. Make sure your child’s meals include fruits and vegetables so that they have a regular intake of essential vitamins and minerals. 

We know it’s not always easy to feed children with vegetables and fruits. Especially ones that are new and unfamiliar to them. They might reject these foods because of the unfamiliarity.

Try introducing new foods slowly. Even getting them to try only one new thing per week still means more than 50 new foods per year.

Try mixing new foods with familiar favorites or preparing them in ways you already know your kids are bound to like.

Encourage an active lifestyle

The television, video games, and the internet can eat up a huge chunk of the time your child might otherwise spend being active. While there’s nothing wrong with enjoying these simple pleasures, it’s important for parents to pay close attention to how much time their children are spending on the screens. Too much screen time can be detrimental to their growth and development. 

Make it a point to replace screen time with active time. This doesn’t mean they have to do routine exercises. It can be any fun activity that involves physical movement. Some examples include biking, running around the playground, playing hopscotch, taking a walk together around the neighborhood, and a lot more!

Prioritize sleep

The importance of good quality sleep in growing kids cannot be discounted. It’s essential for their growth and development. 

Sleep deprivation can be detrimental to their overall wellbeing as it doesn’t only increase their risk of being obese or overweight but it also impacts their academic performance, mood, appetite, risk of catching illnesses, and more. 

Train your child to follow a consistent bedtime routine starting from as young an age as possible. Set a specific time when they should be in bed. If bedtime is at 8 o’clock, cut off screen time starting about an hour before.

You can help them get in the mood for sleeping by establishing routines such as reading them bedtime stories and other activities that can help them feel more relaxed and calm. 

Teach them to make healthy choices every day

While part of your primary role is to teach your kids what they should and shouldn’t do, it’s also important that you also teach them to make the right choices on their own.

This is especially important when their health and wellbeing are involved. Talk to your little one about the importance of taking good care of themselves and what that entails.

Help them develop the skills to make good and healthy choices each day. Some examples include eating healthy, handwashing, brushing teeth, and more.

Healthy kids are happy kids. Follow these simple tips to help you keep your little one as healthy and happy as they can be!

For more helpful parenting tips and guidelines, please visit Young Scholars Academy.