Category: Parenting

Keeping your child calm at a hotel is never easy. It’s a brand new environment and it can be boring for them when you’re not out and about.

Unless you’re staying at a five-star hotel where your every need is accounted for, you have to get creative. Here are some of the ways you can help your child relax at a hotel.

Plan Ahead

The first step is to plan ahead. Is the hotel you’re choosing used to catering to children?

There’s a big difference between Motel Six and the Hilton when it comes to this. Of course, you have to keep in mind you have a budget, but make sure you look into a type of hotel that’s likely to be quiet and a hotel that may have other families inside.

The goal is to avoid those toddler tantrums when on the road!

Keep Them Entertained

Make sure you have a smartphone or tablet with you for some entertainment time. It could involve playing a game or watching a movie.

But you should regulate their screen time. Don’t let them spend the entire night playing on your tablet. And make sure you’re supervising them at all times.

To keep yourself secure, you should install a VPN. Remember that hotel WiFi is a public connection so it’s better to be safe than sorry. If you need help installing one, Troypoint offers a tutorial to help you do it.

Maintain the Same Schedule

Travelling is a lot of disruption for a child. This is part of what stops them from being relaxed in the first place. So try to maintain the same schedule at home.

For example, if they have a bedtime make sure they stick to the same sleeping schedule. If they’re used to having dinner at a certain time, make sure you have dinner in the hotel restaurant at roughly the same time.

Attempt to maintain a level of normalcy.

Does the Hotel Offer Kid-Friendly Activities?

The worst thing you can do is spend too much time in the room. Try to keep your child busy, which is also ideal for helping them sleep at the end of the day.

Look into whether your hotel has any kid-friendly activities for them to participate in during the evenings. This is where planning ahead really comes in handy.

Rearrange the Room

Most reputable hotels understand that families with children need to rearrange the furniture to accommodate the needs of their children. Always ask before you start moving anything around.

For example, you may want to move a couple of single beds together with young children. Sometimes you might want to move the beds further away from the window to counter any traffic noise outside.

Don’t Be Too Strict

These tips may imply that you have to be strict in order to keep your child relaxed. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

The best way to help your child relax is to focus on family fun. That way they won’t have any time to dwell on any fears they have.

You know your child best and you know what makes them happy. Even if you’re on a business trip and not a family vacation, focus on your kids.

Last Word – Planning is the Key

Our number one tip is to plan ahead. Your choice of hotel will make or break your time away. Sometimes you may have to spend a little extra on a room to have your needs fulfilled.  But if it means your child feels more relaxed when they’re away from their familiar surroundings, it’s worth it.

Do you have any experiences taking your children away to a hotel?

It was three months away from my 38th birthday. Life was going well. We had sold our lovely house in the city and moved to a “fixer upper” in the country with 6 acres of land. We had carefully constructed a 5-year plan.

Our son was a senior in high-school and his sister was just a year behind him.

We believed we could live in the house as we remodeled and repaired it, our children would both graduate and go off to college, and by then we would live happily ever after.

The Signs I Didn’t See

I was driving an hour each day to my job. But in our 5-year plan, I would “retire” soon so I gladly did it. What I was not expecting was car sickness.

I mean I was used to driving, I thought it must be the winding country roads followed by the city interstate.

By the time I got to work every morning, I was lucky to hold down water.

The Bad Day Gone Good

The Friday of that first week I told my boss I just had to go home. I was just too sick but I would go to the doctor and be back Monday.

The women in my department who were all in their 20’s had been teasing me all week saying: “You might as well face it. You’re pregnant.”

How absurd. On the way out the door, one of them tossed me a pregnancy test, and we all laughed.

I walked in the door of my house and the phone rang. My son had just had his first fender bender and he was okay but he needed me to come to help him.

I hung up but before my hand left the receiver it rang again. It was the principal.

My daughter had gotten out of line with a teacher and was suspended. I hung up the phone and ran to the bathroom before I was heading to the school. My purse was still on my arm and I saw the test and as a joke used it.

I finished up and the phone rang, I thought: “Really? What now?”

I rushed and grabbed it and got the message my husband’s uncle had passed away. It was expected as he had been ill in a nursing home a while.

I went back to the bathroom to get my handbag and looked down at the test which was vividly positive. I grabbed the box…thinking I read it wrong and the blue line meant negative.

But no…I was pregnant.

Shaken, I made my way to the door and the phone rang one more time. By now I am just like…whatever!

It was my husband. I said “Listen I can’t talk right now I am walking out the door, BUT.  Kevin wrecked the car, yes he is okay. Rachel back talked a teacher and is suspended. Your Uncle Charlie died. And – I am pregnant!”

I got dead silence. I said I had to go and I would call him back.

How We Broke The News

Eventually, the shock wore off and we kept the baby a secret until we knew everything was okay and it was a little boy.

The night we decided to tell the kids and grandparents, we had dinner. We ordered a blue sheet cake with white icing, and we decorated it with blue candy for our gender reveal party; we trimmed the edges of the cake. On top, we had one word written.  

It read “OOPS”.

Our son was born on New Year’s Eve that year, and he was perfect. No, we resisted the urge to name him OOPS.

The older kids graduated and my husband and I began learning to parent in a whole new world. It seemed all the rules had changed since our first go round.

We still have that 5-year plan and we still intend to use it. We just don’t know which 5 years it will happen.

What To Do In Case Of An Unplanned Pregnancy?

Granted we weren’t first-time parents, but at that moment we realized that there are so many people going through a pregnancy unplanned. There are so many things to take care of from day one – in your mind, in your approach to life and then the operative/administrative stuff.

So, for all of you who read my story and are going through the same, here are some awesome parenting and family-friendly blogs that you can head to and get many of your questions answered:

Kidsinthehouse.com

Kids in the House is the world’s largest parenting video library, with over 8,000 videos from 450 experts, including physicians, psychologists, researchers, educators and best-selling authors, as well as leaders of national organizations and other celebrated voices in our culture. Kids in the House provides a community where parents have the opportunity to hear and share different perspectives and get solutions for parenting challenges that range from pregnancy to paying for college.

Simple Mom Reviews

Amy is a mom of 4, licensed cosmetologist and licensed practical nurse who now runs a blog from home and enjoys extra time spent with my kids. On the blog you will find product reviews; including her love for subscription boxes, simple and fun DIY crafts, easy everyday recipes and more!

The Mom Kind

Welcome to the journey here at The Mom Kind. The editor is Alicia Trautwein (the blogger behind the scenes), a mom of four children, all with different diagnoses including autism, ADHD, anxiety, bipolar, depression, restless leg syndrome, & sleep apnea. After her two youngest were diagnosed with autism just a couple months apart, she found herself front and center in bringing awareness to autism and teaching neurodiversity.

Happy Science Mom

 

 

Welcome to your toolkit for raising happy, balanced children. If you are concerned about your kids feeling stressed, anxious, depressed, moody, or uninterested in life and wondering what you can do about it, you can go to this website. Sandi shares science-backed tips, resources, and activities from the world of positive psychology to help you pass along skills to your children and teens so they can live joyful, fulfilled, and peaceful lives. She explores natural tools like mindfulness, giving, optimism, kindness, gratitude, and spending time in nature.

If you have a kid and if you are interested in contributing towards his development, you are strongly encouraged to go ahead and purchase preschool coloring pages.

They can provide a tremendous assistance to the overall development of the little one in the long run. Below mentioned are some important facts, which highlight the importance of coloring pages for kids. By going through these facts, you will definitely get the interest to go ahead and invest your money in them.

1. They can improve handwriting of the little one

Preschool coloring pages are in a position to improve handwriting of your little one. The kids are in need of dexterity and strength in order to manipulate pencil on a piece of paper. The coloring pages are in a position to provide them with the dexterity and strength needed. Hence, your kid will get the chance to stay away from incorrect pencil grasp. On the other hand, your child will also be provided with a tremendous assistance with holding the pencil in the correct way. This can deliver a tremendous assistance towards overall writing capabilities of the little one.

2. They can improve hand-eye coordination of your kid

Coloring books will introduce your little ones to different colors and shapes. As a result, they are in a position to improve hand-eye coordination of your little one in an effective manner. Your kid would absolutely love the overall assistance that he will be able to receive with the time that is being spent on coloring. It can also help the little one to fight against cognitive loss. Therefore, you will be able to allow your little one experience a promising future.

3. They can teach patience and relaxation

Patience and relaxation are two of the most prominent qualities that your little one should have. If he doesn’t have these qualities, there is a high possibility for him to get into a lot of issues in life.

Coloring pages are in a position to introduce patience and relaxation to the child as well. That’s mainly because your little one will do mistakes and he will eventually come up with methods to bear them. On the other hand, the overall experience that your little one has to go through when coloring pages has the ability to deliver a relaxing experience to him.

4. They can help your child to retain focus

If your child cannot focus on one thing, he will eventually end up with a lot of difficulties. Due to this reason, it is extremely important for you to teach how to stay focused for the little one. It will be one of the greatest lessons that the child will be able to learn from the coloring experience. The child will be able to concentrate on one activity for a long period of time as well. When your child is growing up with the coloring pages, he will be able to figure out the importance of boundaries. Then your child will be able to receive additional assistance with writing as well.

5. They can provide a tremendous amount of knowledge to the child

Most of the parents believe that coloring pages are not in a position to deliver the knowledge that their little ones need. This fact is not true at all. Your child will be able to receive a tremendous amount of knowledge by going through coloring pages. For example, your child will be able to learn about form, shapes, hue, color, perspective and lines. In addition, these pages can also provide assistance to the little one with identifying patterns.

6. They can provide confidence

Your child is in need of confidence as well. The coloring pages are in a position to deliver confidence that is needed by the little one. When your kid completes coloring a specific page, he will be provided with a sense of accomplishment. This can contribute towards the overall level of self-esteem that your child will be able to experience in the long run. Hence, an ideal environment will be created for the development of confidence in the little one.

7. They can deliver fine motor skills

The fine motor skills of the little one will be greatly impacted by coloring pages. From the recent studies, it has been identified that a large number of kids who live out there in the world are lacking from fine motor skills. This creates a negative impact on their overall development in the future. In fact, the entire future of a child depends on the fine motor skills that he possesses. Coloring pages can be considered as one of the greatest methods available for you to introduce fine motor skills for the child.

8. They can stimulate creativity

Overall creativity levels of your child will be stimulated by the coloring pages. For example, coloring pages are in a position to provide the opportunity for your little one to express him. As a result, your child will be able to express the imaginary world that he has in his mind.

With coloring pages, you will be able to set the mind of your little one to roam free. Hence, you will be able to create a perfect environment, which can stimulate the creativity of the child. This would matter a lot for the overall development of your child in the long run as well.

9. They can contribute towards self-expression

Finally, you need to keep in mind that coloring pages are in a position to provide a significant assistance to self-expression of the little one. By taking a look at the pages that your child is coloring, you will be able to tell a lot about him as well. If your child is drawing cheerful objects, you can assume that he is in joy. But if he is drawing disturbing images, then you will need to go ahead and provide your assistance to the child urgently.

If you are traveling abroad with your little one on a flight, you should be ready to go through a somewhat frustrating experience. It will be a nightmare for some of the parents. Toddler tantrums can be considered as the main reason why you will have to encounter frustration while you are traveling along with the little one. If you can avoid toddler tantrums, you will be able to experience a great relief throughout the journey.

Below mentioned are some effective and useful tips, which can help you with avoiding toddler tantrums.

1. Get a toy roll along suitcase to the toddler

If you can purchase a toy roll along suitcase for the toddler, you will be able to overcome tantrums in an effective manner. Once you give the suitcase, you can simply ask the little one to pull that along. It is possible for you to find many different types of such roll along suitcases in the market. Out of them, you can even go for a suitcase that has their favorite cartoon characters. Then you will be able to create excitement within your little one to pull the suitcase. After purchasing the suitcase, you will need to pack it with the favorite toys of your little one. In addition, you can also put the items that can cater the comfort needs of the little one on the go. The suitcase will provide plenty of space to store all the items. Then you will be able to keep the little one engaged with it and avoid the tantrums. If you are looking forward to spend such a fun roll along suitcase, you can click here.

2. Set the expectations before you travel 

If you can set up expectations in your little one before you travel, you can effectively avoid toddler tantrums during the journey. You need to do this on the night before you travel. You can simply let your little one know what you are expecting from him throughout the journey. For example, you can convince the little one that he will have to spend few hours on the flight, while keeping the seat belt on. When you set up the expectations early, you will find it as an easy task to overcome toddler tantrums.

3. Always stay prepared

You never know what you will have to experience when you are travelling with toddlers on the flight. Hence, you should plan accordingly and always stay prepared. This can be considered as one of the most convenient steps available for you to avoid frustration throughout the journey. You will often have to experience toddler tantrums when he is hungry. Hence, you are encouraged to take some snacks on the carryon. Likewise, you are encouraged to prepare for the worst during the journey. Then you will get the opportunity to keep peace of mind until you arrive at your destination.

4. Stay calm as much as possible

Staying calm can also be considered as one of the best methods that are available for you to get rid of toddler tantrums while you are on a flight. When the toddlers are throwing tantrums, the parents usually tend to freak out. This is one of the biggest mistakes that you will do as a parent. Hence, you need to learn how to be calm when your little one is throwing a tantrum. You shouldn’t scream too hard, or turn blue after you see that your little one is not behaving well in the flight.  In fact, your toddler will not be in a position to listen to you in such a situation as well. Hence, you should never threaten or yell at the toddler. If you do, you will be adding more fuel to the fire.

When you see that your toddler is throwing a tantrum, you just need to do that you are doing at your home. In other words, you just need to stay calm. If possible, you can simply get up and go for a walk. Or else, you can sing the favorite lullaby of the little one. It is even possible for you to distract the little one by giving his favorite snack or favorite toy.

You just need to figure out that the tantrum would not last forever. Hence, you need to make sure that you don’t do anything that can make the little one go upset. If you can stay calm, the rest is assured.

5. Focus on your little one

When you are traveling in a flight along with your little one, your attention should only be on the kid. In other words, you should not take a look at the other people around you. Then you will be able to make sure that you have successfully covered all your bases. In other words, you have taken necessary steps in order to overcome toddler tantrums as much as possible.

But even if you plan to focus only on the little one, things will not go as expected along with time. For example, your child will go for a full blown meltdown at times. In such a situation, you shouldn’t get stressed. During a toddler tantrum, the passengers around you will definitely take a look at you. It will be uncomfortable to face such a situation in front of the strangers. But you need to keep in mind that the passengers are also parents and they must have come across similar situations. Hence, you just need to concentrate on your little one. You shouldn’t let your brain to be dramatic in such a situation as well.

There are some of the most effective and successful tips available for you to avoid toddler tantrums while you are on a light. You just need to keep these tips in your mind and you will be provided with the opportunity to overcome frustration associated with toddler tantrums throughout the journey.

All parents who have baby girls tend to purchase dolls for the little ones. But when you go out to shop for baby dolls, you will often get confused due to the availability of different doll types. That’s why it is important to be equipped with a clear understanding on how to purchase the best baby dolls for the kids. Then you will get the chance to impress your little one as well.

Baby dolls available in the market

First of all, you need to keep in mind that availability of dolls in the market is driven by their popularity and demand. Some of the doll varieties are consistently popular in the market, when compared to others. Media, economic climate, general desire and timing are some of the factors that contribute towards the popularity of baby dolls.

Collection of dolls was extremely popular back in 1990. Even though we cannot find such a massive amount of doll collectors in today’s world, there is a high demand for these toys from all parts of the world. From a research conducted in 2014, it has been identified that dolls are one of the best-selling toys that you can find in today’s world.

What are the different types of dolls?

When you are looking forward to select the best baby dolls for the kids, you must pay special attention towards the different types that you can get your hands on. You need to take a look at the preferences of the little one while keeping an eye on these doll types. Then you will be able to understand what baby doll types match perfectly well with the preferences of your little one.

• China dolls – China dolls can be considered as one of the most popular types of baby dolls available in the market. These dolls are available for purchase in all parts of the world as well. These dolls are made out of glazed white porcelain. They were first introduced back in 18^th The popularity of China dolls still remain. If you are impressed with the unique qualities of China dolls, you can think about purchasing one of them for your little one to play with.
• Cloth dolls – Cloth dolls is another popular baby doll type that you can find in the market. These dolls are also named as rag dolls. That’s because the dolls are made out of fabric scraps. These can be considered as the oldest types of dolls that are available in the market as well. In other words, people have been producing cloth dolls from the time where they started using woven cloth. However, the mass production of cloth dolls took place only in the 19^th England and America were the most prominent mass producers of cloth dolls back in the day. But in today’s world, China can be considered as the biggest producer of cloth dolls into the market.
• Bisque dolls – Like China dolls, Bisque dolls can also be considered as a porcelain doll type. In fact, these dolls are made out of unglazed porcelain. Hence, you will get the opportunity to experience a premium look and feel from them. The colors of these dolls look amazing. That’s mainly because the color for these dolls is added before manufacturers start firing. Hence, Bisque dolls can be considered as a unique and a one of a kind doll type available for you to purchase from the market.
• Paper dolls – Paper dolls have received a lot of attention in the recent past. These dolls are flat printings or drawings of animal or human figures. Then they are cut out to make them look like dolls. To enhance the look and feel, these paper dolls are properly ornamented. These dolls are the cheapest in the market as well. If you are looking forward to let your child have a collection of dolls, this can be considered as one of the best options available to get started with. Your little one would absolutely love to have a collection of paper dolls. Due to the affordability of paper dolls, you can think about giving them to your little one without keeping any doubt in mind.
• Composition dolls – Composition dolls are specifically designed out of sawdust and mixed glue. These dolls were introduced to the market by German manufacturers. In fact, the first ever Composition doll came to the market during 1850s. The popularity of these dolls has remained throughout. The best thing about Composition dolls is their variety. You can simply take a look at the Composition dolls available for sale online and you will figure out that an excellent collection is available for you to get your hands on. Hence, it can also be considered as a great method to let your little one start having a collection dolls. You can make sure that she doesn’t get bored with the availability of dolls.
• Wooden dolls – Finally, you need to take a look at the wooden dolls. Wooden dolls were initially introduced to the market during 1680s. However, they are still popular among people for the unique characteristics and properties. Wooden dolls are also named as Queen Anne Dolls. Many different types of wood are also being used for the production of these dolls.

Now you have a clear understanding about the best baby dolls that are available for purchase in the market. As the next step, you should go ahead and take a look at the preferences of the little one.

If your little one is interested in having a collection of dolls, paper dolls and composition dolls is the best option available to move forward with. But if your child prefers elegance, you can go for the dolls that are made out of porcelain.

Likewise, you need to understand the unique differences of baby dolls and analyze the preferences of the child to settle down with the best available options in the market.

 

Source Pixabay 

Being a parent requires quite a unique set of skills and responsibilities. They are beyond counting and it’s hard to put them all on paper. New things keep arising as kids get older and it’s practically impossible to be ready for every situation that may come your way. However, like any other parent, you probably do have some priorities when it comes to your responsibilities. Of course, making sure your child is healthy, happy and genuinely a good, honest person that has an education which will enable them to have a decent life. However, once you set goals for your children, a new question arises: “How much can I meddle without causing a counter-effect?” This question is particularly important when it comes to education. Are you allowed to influence your child directly if you see they’re making a huge mistake, or should you just step aside and watch them hit a brick wall? Unfortunately, nobody knows the exact recipe as it’s not the same for each parent and child, but there are some aspects you can consider that can help you make a decision and ways to be an influence subtly and effectively.

Teach knowledge-thirst

The key is to start on time. It’s never too early to teach your child about learning and wanting to learn, especially since babies have a natural urge for wanting to know about the world around them. All you have to do is make sure to keep them interested in all sorts of things as they become older. If you’re wondering how to do this, there are a number of mind-stimulating games for children of all ages, puzzles, memory games, strategy games, and many others. However, you need to take part in these games, too, because your child needs to see the way they work and how much fun it actually is.

Source Pixabay

Pay attention to preferences

Parents have a nasty habit of wanting to pass their ambitions onto their children. Some of them are lucky enough that it turns out their children do have the same interests, while others can end up in tears as pushing your children too hard and in a direction they don’t want to take can lead to a complete disaster including dropping out and giving up on everything, as well as mental instability. However, there’s nothing wrong with having high hopes for your child. It’s just that you need to forget about your desires and focus on your child’s. Once you establish this, it’s absolutely OK to do your best to encourage your child to on their way to getting into Ivy League. This involves a lot of moral and financial support, but it’s definitely worth it.

Teach them how to learn

Some parents find it easier to cope with their child’s learning problem simply by doing it instead of them. This is a huge NO for all the parents out there. You need to help your child resolve the problem, not do it instead of them. Yes, it’s harder and it demands more time and effort, but it’s your own child, so you need to make time for this type of activity. Try to be there for all sorts of activities, observe and remember how your child learns. You need to see if your kid is a visual, auditory or a kinesthetic learner. After that, you should show them some learning methods accordingly. Many educational problems stem from one’s inability to learn or ignorance about which learning method is best for them.

Source Pixabay

Don’t overwhelm them

It is understandable to want the best for your child, but the hard part is to be able to look at your child objectively and determine their potential. It’s not easy, perhaps not even realistic, but once you make your peace with the fact that your child is not perfect and that’s OK, you’ll be able to see things more clearly. Under no circumstances should you push your child to the limit. This will only cause them to shut down completely and give up on everything. So, if you want your child to learn a new language, play sports and also play an instrument, perhaps you should consult them first and then introduce these activities gradually, just so you could keep up with how long they can run the gauntlet. If, on the other hand, your kid does have great potential and can work under all these conditions or, what’s more, finds them stimulating, go for it, just make sure to keep track of the situation at all times.

There are no 100% success rates when it comes to parenting or recipes for parenting. The general advice is to spend as much time with your children as you can and be observant and caring. Sure, you can and should consult people and books, do research, but in the end, you are the one that knows your child best and you should be the one who has the final say. After all, you’re the boss and you love your child the most, so we’re sure you’ll be able to make the best possible decision.

About the author

Claire is a personal and professional development expert who believes that a positive attitude is one of the keys to success. She enjoys life to the fullest in the healthiest way possible and loves to share her insights into the lifestyle, parenting, education, and entrepreneurship. Feel free to reach her on Facebook and Twitter.

Life can be unbelievably tough, with unfortunate events happening to even the luckiest of people. One of the most important lessons that we can teach our children is that of not giving up when things go wrong or start to become difficult. As parents, we always try to teach our children to be as proactive as possible to avoid problems. This simply is not always an option as unplanned bad things happen to everyone. The reaction of us as parents has a much larger impact than the event itself in many cases. The following are events and how to react to them to show teach your kids about resilience.

Fired from a Job

One of the worst feelings in the world is being fired or laid off, especially when you have a family to support. This can send a person into a deep depression where they feel helpless. Don’t be the parent who does not get out of their pajamas because of a setback. Get up early each day and start working on finding a new full-time gig. Your resume needs to be updated ASAP as sending this out a multitude of times will increase your likelihood of receiving an interview. Do not get discouraged if your first few interviews do not go as planned as they can be considered practice for other upcoming interviews. If you aren’t sure that your resume looks great, take a look online at a few resume examples for inspiration

Health Problems

Chronic health problems or injuries in the family can change the way the entire family lives. Dealing with injuries or disease can be extremely frustrating alone, but this compounds when you add the responsibilities of being a parent. If you are injured in some type of accident, it is important not to put off physical therapy. Show your children that even though you might be down, you certainly are not out. Toughness is something that many parents do not teach these days, but it is necessary to be a success in life. Constantly complaining about an injury or condition will teach your children that you are powerless against certain situations. Therapy might be needed for your children in these cases though as health problems can impact everyone’s lives.

Relationship Problems

Relationship problems, for the most part, should be kept from the children as it is a form of stress no child should have to deal with. Working on your communication skills can be a great way to show your kids that relationships are work. Healthy relationships do include fighting, but it is best to do this in private. Do not be ashamed if you have to go to family or relationship counseling as this shows you are working your hardest to remedy any problems. Fighting in the family can be very common, so it is important to take the time to try to mend these problems. Far too many families become disjointed due to members not being able to forgive or a grudge being held so long that now it would be uncomfortable to resume a relationship.

Financial Issues

Financial issues can lead to quite a bit of fighting even in the calmest of households. This is not the time to give up but rather the time to show your kids how hard you and your significant other can work. Picking up a second job is not as difficult as many people think it is especially freelancing thriving unlike ever before. A few hours a day of work can make a huge difference in a monthly budget. One job simply is not enough in many circumstances for people to live the lifestyle they desire. Use financial issues as a teaching point in order to teach your children fiscal responsibility. Far too many people are not taught to budget in a correct manner leading to them mismanaging their money.

As you can see these are just a few of the many situations where you can show your children not to give up. Resilience really is just the refusal to quit even though things might not be going well. Instilling this in your children not only will help them for life, but they can also teach these qualities to their friends as well.

By 6 months of age, a baby’s awareness has usually developed enough that he or she starts to notice when people- their parents, in particular- are gone. Once a baby has started to realize this, separation anxiety often starts from. Separation anxiety can appear in the form of clinginess- crying when you leave the room or are out of your baby’s sight. Sometimes, in extreme cases, the anxiety starts once your baby catches wind that you might be preparing to leave.

Typically, this clinginess is a phase. Regardless, however, it can be hard for parents to deal with as they feel guilty for leaving their child in such an upset state. If you’re stuck battling separation anxiety, have no fear! There are tips that you can use to help kick clinginess to the curb, and we’ve made a list of some of the best below.

Stay calm, cool, and collected.

It can be frustrating and stressful to deal with a fit of tears and rage each time you leave the room, go to work, or step away to use the washroom. Staying calm through times like this can be hard to do, but if you can manage it, it will prove to be effective in battling these upsetting episodes.

Keep yourself calm by taking long, deep breaths and by stopping and counting to 10 if you need a few more seconds to calm down. Don’t yell at your child or raise your voice- doing this will only make matters worse and make your child more upset, and in turn, stress you out more.

Reassure your child.

Before you leave, spend a few moments to reassure your child that you’ll be back and that they’ll be okay while you’re gone. Something as simple as saying “I’ll be back soon, I promise” can do wonders to put a child’s mind at ease.

Even if your child is at an age where they don’t understand what you’re saying, your voice can provide comfort and reassurance.

Make separation quick.

Like ripping off a band-aid, the longer you draw out the process of leaving, the more it hurts your child. When you must leave, and your child starts to get worked up, give them a hug and kiss, tell them you love them, and then promptly take your leave. Although the sounds of your child crying will follow you out the door, they’ll recover from the episode more easily because the event was done and over quickly.

If it’s a young baby with this problem, do the same thing as you would with an older child- a quick hug and kiss and then leave without lingering.

Come up with a goodbye routine.

To make goodbyes as easy as possible, come up with a short goodbye ritual. This can include a high five, a hug and kiss, or a rocket ship around the room, as long as it is quick (as mentioned above) and easy enough that you can be consistent with it each time you leave.

The ritual should be simple and fast enough that you can stick to it even when you’re in a rush. Once you come up with a good routine, be sure to stick to it faithfully- both you and your child will benefit from it. Goodbye routines give your child something to expect and make him not surprised when you leave.  

Practice time apart.

Practice having time apart from your child. Send him or her to a playdate, or to grandma and grandpa’s house, or allow a friend or relative to care for your child for a short amount of time so that your child can get used to being without you. It’s a good idea to practice this before your child starts preschool or daycare to avoid problems with dropping them off.

This can be used with babies, as well. Babies get used to being around their parents just as much as older children do, so allowing someone else to take care of them for even an hour can put a bit of healthy distance between the two of you.

Plan for slow introductions.

If you’re in need of a babysitter so that you can have a much-needed date night with your significant other, plan to have the babysitter arrive a few minutes before you need to leave. Spend these extra minutes engaging with both the sitter and your child. Doing this will allow the child to see the babysitter as less of a stranger and help him or her to feel more comfortable.

Your child might still cry when you leave, but they will be less likely to be inconsolable after you’re gone if they know the person they are left with.

Conclusion

Clinginess is babies and young children are nothing to be ashamed of. It’s normal for children to be reluctant to part with their caregivers. Even if your child suffers from this anxiety, using the above tips and tricks can help to ease the discomfort of it and make saying goodbye as simple as saying hello.

Author Bio

Nancy Shaw is the founder of HiFiveBaby where she writes about common problems encountered by parents and how to deal with them, motherhood in general and FAQs about babies, toddlers, and kids. She provides a scientific and medical basis and also her personal experience as a mom to a wonderful toddler. Now you can explore the joy of parenthood with ease!