Parents of Toddlers and Pre-Schoolers: 7 Universal Laws

1. The Law of the Beast

As parents we need to keep in mind that we are raising our teenager while we raise our toddler. They are essentially the same beast.

2. The Law of CPR

Having little to do with cardiopulminaryresuscitation, the law of CPR states that we need to be Consistent, Resistant and Persistent with our kids.

3. The Law of Words

Our little ones need to be taught to "use their words, not their hands" when dealing with conflicts.

4. The Law of Mine

In the world of a young child everything is mine. If I am playing with it, it's mine. If you are playing with it, it's mine. If I played with it yesterday and go bored with it, and you play with it today, it's mine!

5. The Law of Sharing

It's very important to teach our children to share. At the same time, it's just as important to understand that asking a small child to share their toy is like asking one of us to share our car or house!

6. The Law of the Team

Each parent brings a unique set of skills to the job of parenting. The goal is not so much who is right, but how do we form the best parenting team we can form. As I like to say "we don't have to think alike, we just have to think together."

7. The Law of "Solid Walls"

"Have you ever walked thru a solid wall?" Of course not. But what if one day you tripped into a solid wall and went right through it, unharmed? Wouldn't you be tempted to try it again? It's the same with parenting- when kids get it that mom and dad are "solid walls' when it comes to managing behavior, the less likely they are to try to walk thru you.

Visit ParentingYourTeenager.com for tips and tools for thriving during the teen years. You can also subscribe to our f*r*e*e 5 day e-program on The Top 5 Things to Never Say to Your Teenager, from parenting coach and expert Jeff Herring.

---

Legacy to Your Children

John Bishop's Goal Setting for Students.comLegacy to Your ChildrenIt's 6:30 at night and you just got home from a long day at work, but the day's not... Read More

Spending Time With Your Child

Why Is Spending Time with Your Child So Important?For children to get any sense that they are loved and wanted, you have to be prepared to spend... Read More

Super Nanny - A Users Guide to Watching Super Nanny

There are many things to like about the television show Super Nanny that has captured the public interest in recent weeks.First, the nanny character is very likeable,... Read More

The Courage to Be a Loving Parent

Most of us really don't like it when someone is angry at us. We don't like it when people go into resistance to helping us when we... Read More

Diagnosing ADHD in Children, an Introduction

Everyone in a private practice setting who works with children or adults is going to have their own opinion on how Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - ADD... Read More

Your Company Vehicle is a Portable Bill Board; A word of advice on children passengers

Child Safety Restraints and children in work vehiclesIf you take your child in your work car, van, SUV or work truck, you should determine the type of... Read More

Whats in a Name?

My cousin boasts five names and I confess that when I was younger that irritated me enormously. Worse than that, my sole middle name is Norman, just... Read More

Raise Awesome Kids! This 4-Point Plan Gets Results

Are your children truthful, kind, and helpful? If so, read no further. If not, please listen to Colby and his mom."All my friends cheat," announced 11-year-old Colby."What?"... Read More

What Parents Should Do For Children To Do Their Best After Divorce?

Why do some children still do best after divorce and separation? Is there divorce parenting approaches that really work? Read and learn the divorce parenting approaches that... Read More

A Chance for a Home

"He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home." - Johann von GoetheHome. Family. Backyard cookouts. A table laden with more than... Read More

Top Ten Common Sense Rules for Fathers

There are a lot of sophisticated parenting theories and techniques out there. Many of them are widely used and treated as the gospel. But if you want... Read More

Keeping Your Children Safe

The purpose of this article is to address some of the key points parents need to know in order to keep their children safe.Let them know who... Read More

Loving Your Step-Children

Loving your step-child can be both simple and hard. It is not enough for parents, step parents and extended family to feel a deep glow of love... Read More

Advising Teens? Getting Your Point Across

Giving advice to a teenager is very easy; getting a teenager to take that advice is another matter altogether. It's not only a case of the advice... Read More

Pieces of Time and Pivotal Moments

Life is comprised of pieces of time sprinkled with pivotal moments. Sometimes these moments have immediate impact. Other times, they are slow to manifest and reveal their... Read More

How Much Water are You Wasting?

Are you being smart about water conservation? Do you consider yourself an environmentally conscious person? Well, how do you wash your car? Do you do it in... Read More

Quality Time?

There's a phrase that's become popular over the past few years that fills me with wonder. That phrase is "quality time." We've all heard it, and we... Read More

How to Get a Good Diagnosis to See If Your Child Has ADHD

Your child's teacher says that you need to find out if your child has ADHD or not. What do you do? Here are some tips from the... Read More

Are Public Schools A Menace To Your Kids? -- 11 Danger Signals

Parents, do you have children who do poorly in school, or are bored or frustrated with their classes or teachers? In contrast to what most public-school officials... Read More

Puberty - Get Ready to Play the Puberty Game

Puberty can be a difficult time for children. Not quite kids anymore and not really adolescents they are caught in the middle in type of limbo. It... Read More

Getting Through to Your Teenager

Have you ever watched your teenager make a mistake (that you've made yourself) after you've warned them at least a thousand times? Is there anything more frustrating... Read More

Friends Are A Gift You Give Yourself

My oldest boy is fifteen and was a real jerk about a month ago. He had gotten pretty full of himself and acted like he was too... Read More

The Truth About Motherhood

What is the mystery of motherhood? I know that when I was pregnant, experienced mothers could not stop giving me advice on taking care of newborns, delivery... Read More

Helping Your Children Develop Their Self-Discipline

We want our children to do the right thing, especially when they are out with their friends. We want to believe in them, but somehow, we don't... Read More

Thirteen Values You Can Teach Through Homework

Are you a parent concerned about passing values on to your kids? Do you worry that you can't find the time, or don't know how? You don't... Read More

How To Live With Your Teenagers Untidy Room

'Whose room is it anyway?'If you have a teenager, you're no doubt familiar with the warcry of independence:'It's my room and I should be allowed to do... Read More