The best way to avoid having selfish children is to model selflessness. Be willing to serve others and do so both when and where your children will see you. Shovel snow for an elderly neighbor, serve meals at a homeless shelter, or deliver meals to the elderly or housebound. Encourage your children to join you as you reach out to others.

Encourage your little ones to take turns by giving them something. When they give it back to you, praise them or clap your hands to display your approval. This will reinforce their desire to please you and will prepare them to learn to share.

When a baby or toddler takes a toy from another child, your first inclination may be to take the toy away and give it back to the other child. Your reaction is correct – your child should not take things from others – but if you take the toy you’re doing the same thing. It may confuse your child even at an early age.

Allow your child to have several toys that are off limits to others. It?s important for your child to understand ownership and have some things that are ‘mine,’ but you also want them to learn to let others play with some of their other toys. Having some items which your child knows they won?t have to share may make it easier to let someone play with those toys which are to be shared.

Besides teaching your child to share, you also want them to learn to understand another’s feelings. You want your children to pay attention to others when they?re being spoken to, so your best choice is to stop what you’re doing and pay attention to them. Since children are little copycats, they?re likely to duplicate what they’re shown. Remember the poem ‘Children Learn What They Live;’ modeling how you want your child to act is the best way to teach them empathy.

Do you want your child to be generous? Again, let your children see your generosity. Let them see you write out a check to a local charity. Encourage them to let go of some toys they no longer play with or clothing they no longer wear. This will be easier for them when they get new things. Allow them to take the items they’re giving away to a local women’s shelter or children’s charity.

Teach your child to acknowledge gifts they receive. Rather than simply telling someone thank you, help them write thank you notes for each gift. This may be difficult for very small children, but it should be easy for older children who can write. Not only will this activity teach your children to be considerate – it can also help their handwriting skills.

Thinking of ways of teaching kids how not to be selfish can be frustrating, but you know it’s the right thing to do. It?s not an easy job to be a parent but it can be a rewarding, particularly when your child shows selflessness rather than being selfish.

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If your child is like many, they may procrastinate when it comes to homework. Of course, this adds to the stress they feel. Creating a schedule for time at home will enable them accomplish everything they have to do. A good schedule would include:

* Wind-down time and snack
* Homework
* Chores
* Dinner
* Time with family

To make the transition from school to home easier, give them a half hour to ride their bike, watch one television program, or do a craft. A nutritious snack is also a good idea when children return home, particularly if lunch was earlier in the day. A piece of fruit, yogurt, or a cheese sandwich will give them much-needed energy and allow them to concentrate better on the task at hand.

Set aside a specific place for your child to do homework. You’ll want to have a basket or box which contains supplies they’ll need including pencils, paper, calculator, eraser, and markers. If you they need your help managing their time, you may want them to do homework at the kitchen table.

Break down assignments into smaller portions of time and be available if they need your help. You can be available without sitting by them and doing their homework for them. Knowing you’re available to help should they run into problems can be comforting. You may choose to read, pay bills, or do another activity at the table with them.

Limit the number of outside activities your child has to avoid burnout. If they’re spending all their evening hours practicing sports, with scouting, or in band they won’t have time for homework. You may want to institute an “academics first” rule if they are involved in too much.

What do you do if you think the teacher is assigning too much homework? Make an appointment to speak with them, without the children being present, and discuss any problems your child may have. Speaking to the teacher in front of the child could lead them to question the teacher’s authority from then on. You may also want to ask the teacher what you can do to help your child learn.

Use breaks between assignments for younger children, and at least every hour for older students. The break doesn’t have to be a long time, but enough to allow them to get a drink or get up and walk around.

Homework and stress seem to go hand-in-hand. You can do much to teach them how to make homework less stressful by following these useful ideas. You may also empathize; it may not have been so long ago you were doing homework yourself.

Most people know what lying is. For those who don’t, according to Webster’s Dictionary (1913) lying is defined as the act of uttering “falsehood with an intention to deceive; to say or do that which is intended to deceive another.”

Some parents feel lying of any kind is a serious problem because it could mean there is a deeper character issue. Lying in teenagers could mean they are involved in drug or alcohol abuse, problems at school, or even worse, crime. Here are some guidelines to let you know if your teen may need the help of a professional psychologist to deal with their lying problem.

Young children can’t tell the difference between fantasy and reality and therefore appear to be lying. Older children begin to understand the difference between truth and a lie, but may lie to avoid punishment. They may also lie to protect the feelings of others. Teens are expected to know the difference but when they lie continually your concerns may be warranted.

If your teen does any of the following, you may decide they have a serious problem:

* Lie to get attention
* Lie to take advantage of others
* Lie to avoid dealing with demands of parents, friends, or teachers
* Lie to hide drug or alcohol use
* Lie as a means to manipulate another

When you catch your teen in a lie, you may have a serious discussion with your teen about lying. You’ve probably explained the importance of honesty and how lying can erode your trust in them. You may have also given them consequences for lying. It could be that talking and consequences haven’t had an effect on them.

Does your teen resort to telling lies whenever they want to avoid something? Do you catch them telling lies about where they’ve been and what they’ve been doing? How quickly does your teen cover up one lie when they’re caught by telling another? If these are common occurrences, your teen may have a chronic lying problem which requires professional intervention.

What type of health issues may cause a teen to be a chronic liar? Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder, or learning disabilities are some conditions your teen may have which hadn’t been diagnosed in the past. Psychological counseling may help determine a course of action to combat your child’s problem.

If you find your teen lying too often, try not to take it as a failure on your part. You know how you’ve taught them, so you’ve done your part. Maybe you haven’t known when lying is a serious problem before; now you’ll have a better idea and a possible course of action for the future.

Get a good night’s sleep

Your children may have gotten used to staying up late and sleeping in during the summer months. At least a week before school starts, if not sooner, begin to adjust your child’s body clock by having them go to bed at the same time they’ll go during the school year. Wake them when they’ll need to get up. This will help them be more ready to get to bed and rise at the right time the first day of school.

Dress in comfortable clothes

The night before the first day of school, have them bathe or shower before going to bed. Help them pick out what they’ll wear, making sure it is loose so they’ll be comfortable sitting in the classroom all day. Gather their shoes and socks so they’ll be easy to find to get dressed in the morning.

Pack their book bag the night before

Most schools provide a list of supplies they expect students to have. Help your child ensure their book bag has any items they’ll need to take for the first day. You may also want to help them write their name on the inside of their book bag, and on other supplies, so they can be easily recognized. Put an index card with your name and contact information on it. Be sure to include a work, cell, or home number wherever you will be during the day. Place the filled book bag near the door you’ll exit to get in the car or meet the bus.

Eat a good breakfast

Plan on getting up early enough that you’ll be able to prepare a good, balanced breakfast. You may want to make their favorite meal rather than having them merely eat cold cereal. Include a protein with their meal and they’re sure to have the energy they need for the day.

Get to school on time

Since your child will be rising in plenty of time to get dressed, have a good breakfast, and know where to find their book bag, there’s no reasons they shouldn’t get to school on time. In fact, you may want to make a concerted effort to have your child ready to leave well before time.

Despite the fact your children would prefer otherwise, the new school year will begin shortly. First day school survival is possible for your children. In fact, if you follow these tips you can help them to thrive on their first day rather than merely survive.

Nocturnal enuresis – or bedwetting – is a common condition among young children. Children’s bladders may not grow as quickly as the rest of their bodies, so they may not be able to hold the urine until morning while they’re sleeping at night. In most cases, bedwetting isn’t associated with a particular disease, but that doesn’t mean a disease can be ruled out.

Bedwetting affects nearly 20% of all children under the age of five. It can also affect older children, young adults, and even older adults but in greatly reduced numbers. Because this condition is so common in infants and toddlers, most doctors don’t consider medical intervention until the child has entered school or has been able to remain dry for some time and then begins wetting the bed again.

There are basically two classifications of bedwetting: primary and secondary nocturnal enuresis. The primary classification describes children who have never been able to remain dry consistently during the night. Secondary nocturnal enuresis describes children that have been dry consistently for more than six months and then begin to have episodes of bedwetting again.

Children will begin to have dry nights in increasing numbers as their body grows and they begin to recognize the need to use the restroom. The problem, however, begins after a child has been dry consistently for four to six months and then wets the bed again. Several things may have brought bedwetting back:

• Changes in their environment such as a death in the family, a new baby in the house, or beginning school may be the culprit.
• Sexual abuse or bullying may also be a contributing factor.
• Urinary tract infections and diabetes are rare medical conditions that may be to blame. If a urinary tract infection is to blame, your child may complain of pain during urination. Diabetes may be the cause, particularly if your child is wetting the bed frequently during the night, the child is excessively thirsty, or they lose weight for no reason.

If the symptoms listed above are present in your child and they have begun wetting the bed again after being dry consistently for quite some time, it would be a sign that a call to the pediatrician is in order. A thorough examination will allow the doctor to diagnose the problem and then recommend treatment.

You know that bedwetting can be embarrassing for your child. If they’ve been dry and then started to wet the bed again, it may be wise to see your child’s pediatrician. They can rule out medical reasons for bedwetting and may even be able to give you ideas to combat the problem and allow your child to have dry nights again – permanently.

Consider using these ten suggestions for improving your picky eater’s eating habits. They may be what you’re looking for as you try to get them to clean their plate and eat all of the things you know are good for them.

1. Try something new. Even though the picky eater in your home may only want to eat macaroni and cheese or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, don’t stop offering new foods. Make a rule that they have to eat at least one bite of a new food whenever they are offered. Keep offering new foods and you may be surprised if they actually start eating it.

2. Use an artistic flair. You’ve seen the beautiful meals in magazines and on television. Try making their plate visually appealing to entice them to try something new. Put a rainbow of foods on their plate. Find the different foods that come in their favorite color and create a meal around them.

3. Make subtle changes. There are a myriad of ways to alter recipes to make them healthier. Instead of using oil the next time you bake a cake, why not use applesauce. Make a fruit smoothie instead of a milkshake for dessert.

4. Get them involved. Ask your child to help you prepare meals starting with planning the menu, going grocery shopping, prepping the food, and then making a meal they and the whole family will love.

5. Set a good example. If you want your picky eater to eat their vegetables, they need to see you eating yours. Choose carrot sticks instead of potato chips. Have broccoli, cauliflower, and celery easily accessible in the refrigerator.

6. Stop in-between meal snacking, particularly right before a meal. Juice and milk also fill tummies, so you may want to give them water to drink during the meal.

7. Give them choices. Offer mashed potatoes or baked potatoes, peas or carrots, or strawberry or grape jelly on their sandwich. This is one way teach them to make decisions and give them control over what they eat.

8. Don’t let them treat you like a short order cook. Make the meal you planned for the family and that’s it. If they are hungry, they can eat what you’ve fixed.

9. Remember that being picky about what they eat may be a phase. Their tastes can change from day to day, so tomorrow they may like everything they didn’t like today.

10. Be sure they try something at least twice before declaring that they don’t like it. If they don’t want to eat what’s being served, let them know that they can sit quietly at the table with the family until the meal is done.

Coping with a picky eater isn’t an easy task, but it doesn’t have to be a tug-of-war. Continue to offer them new foods and expect them to at least try them. It’s quite possible that they will outgrow being a picky eater and when it happens you can be glad you used one or more of these suggestions.

As you know, bedwetting isn’t something that is done on purpose. It is entirely involuntary and something children can’t ‘control.’ Your child’s bladder is small which can make holding urine during sleep difficult. However, they can learn to recognize their need to use the restroom during the night. Choosing to get up and go rather than staying in bed is where a star chart can come in handy.

Using a star chart is one of the simplest encouragements for children to learn to stay dry during the night. One of the best things you can do, however, is to help your child realize that bedwetting is normal for children and that they will outgrow it. Making them feel bad about bedwetting may actually cause their bedwetting to become worse.

Is there a toy they’d like or something special they would like to do? This could be the perfect “reward” for them once they have mastered staying dry at night for a specific period of time. Of course, any night they remain dry should be celebrated, but this reward will be extra special.

Explain to your child that they will get a star on their chart. How large their chart is, how many days or weeks, is entirely up to you. Will you restart the chart when they’ve had an accident, or merely start on a new line? You may want to talk to their pediatrician about how long it generally takes for their bladder to become accustomed to training. Many pediatricians recommend using a star chart for at least three to six months before they will try another treatment method.

A star chart is simply a calendar that you place star stickers on for each night they wake up dry. You would place the calendar or chart in a prominent place and have a good amount of fanfare when your child stays dry. Let them place the star on their chart so they are taking ownership of their accomplishment.

You don’t want to make your child feel bad about wetting the bed at night; you want to encourage them to do otherwise. It serves your child better if you make each dry night a celebration rather than discouraging them about an accident.

We all want our children to grow up with a positive self-image, and star charts are a positive reinforcement that has been proven to be effective. Of course, star charts may not work with every child, but they are a step in the right direction and easy to attempt before going with more extreme measures such as bed alarms that sound whenever the bed becomes wet or prescription medicines. Remember to celebrate their accomplishments and you may find bedwetting a thing of the past.

You may feel frustrated about your child’s bedwetting because you know they can remain dry all day without accidents. You’re eager to move past this season of your child’s life. Remember, however, that it is not uncommon for children under the age of five to still wet the bed while they sleep. In fact, some young primary school children do so, as well.

Just because they have mastered going to the restroom during the day, it doesn’t necessarily follow that they’ll be able to wake up at night to use the restroom. Even though it’s frustrating, it might be helpful to think of night-time potty training as an entirely different training period.

Here are some ways to help your child stay dry at night:

• Learning to stay dry overnight is a big accomplishment and it’s important to praise any effort they make to do so.
• Be sure your child can get out of bed and remove their pajamas on their own. If they can dress themselves from top to bottom, you know they have this skill mastered.
• Talk to them about the importance of using the restroom before going to bed and then what they can do if they need to use the restroom during the night. Will having a training potty in their bedroom make this process easier or should they come and get you to help them?
• Use a waterproof pad on your child’s bed to keep the mattress from becoming wet.
• Leave a night light on in the hallway or restroom so they can see where they’re going.
• If your child wakes up before you head to bed, ask them if they need to use the restroom before going back to sleep.
• Don’t pressure or criticize your child for wetting the bed. It’s a normal part of growing up and your child isn’t the only one that still wets the bed.
• If having to do extra laundry bothers you, use overnight training pants that will keep this from being an issue. Of course, they will be an added expense to your budget.
• Don’t punish your child for any accidents they have. If they are anxious about punishment, it may cause them to start wetting during the day, as well.

If everyone is getting stressed out about bedwetting, you may want to relax and tell them you’ll begin again in couple of months. While it would be great if your child were staying dry through the night by the time they go to school, it really isn’t a big issue.

Children can sometimes take years before they’re completely bedwetting accident free. Realize they’re not wetting the bed at night on purpose, their bodies simply haven’t matured to that level yet. Remember to relax; your child will stop wetting the bed when their body is ready.

Seed dispersal

Teach your children about how seeds are dispersed by taking them on a hike through a field or grassy area. You’ll need extra adult sized socks you won’t mind if they get dirty. Have your children place the extra socks on the outsides of their shoes and then ask them to walk around the field or grassy area for a couple of minutes. Let them run, skip, or hop to their heart’s content. Then bring them back and have them carefully remove the socks over a paper bag or a piece of white craft paper.

Your children will notice seeds that were on their socks. Ask them to draw pictures of the seeds and then discuss how seeds attach to clothing as one way of moving from one area to another. You can also explain other ways seeds are dispersed and how they grow in new areas.

Make a rainbow

This is probably one of the easiest ways to teach your children about the visible light spectrum. Take a junk CD out in the sunshine. Ask your children to hold the silver side up and move it until they can see the rainbow. Can they identify the different colors of the rainbow?

Back inside, fill a shallow pan with water. Place it near a window with direct sunlight. Put a mirror into the pan and slant it toward the sunlight so that it creates a refracted beam of light which makes a rainbow. Hold a piece of white paper up to the refracted sunbeam and watch the children’s faces as they see how you’ve made a rainbow. You can then teach them the pneumonic device – Roy G Biv – to help them remember the colors of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.

Petting zoo

Springtime is a great time to take your children to a petting zoo. You can take advantage of their interest in baby animals to teach them about the different families of animals. They may not remember that cats and dogs are mammals, but you’ll be planting seeds of knowledge that they may recall when they begin learning about animals in their future education.

Teaching doesn’t have to be boring and dry. By incorporating educational family nature fun, you can pass along knowledge while your children are enjoying themselves. What better combination is there for encouraging your children to learn?

Some parents may choose to use a tutor to help their children learn a skill or subject that is needed. If you’re lucky enough to find a local tutor, they can be a great help. However a local tutor may not always be available. Thankfully there are online alternatives.

You may think of Sylvan when your child needs tutoring, and there are many tutoring centers all around the country. When there’s not one nearby, you can find live, online Sylvan tutors for your student. Of course, you can expect to get the same individualized tutoring as you would expect in their centers.

All you need to get started with online tutoring is a personal computer, Windows software, and a high-speed internet connection. Sylvan tutors are state-certified and trained to motivate your child to do their best. Prices will vary depending upon what courses your student needs help with and the amount of time their help is needed.

There are other online homework helpers as well. You may want to check into Homework Helper Online. They offer a 30-day trial of their system. The system can be paid for on a month-by-month basis, for one semester, or for the entire year.

Your state may offer free online homework help for students who live there. You can go to your favorite search engine and type in “homework help [your state]” and see what is available. Reduce the number of hit you receive by putting “free homework help [your state].”

You may also be able to find online homework help by visiting gateway websites such as www.refdesk.com and www.freeality.com. Both of these sites have links to hundreds of websites that can provide your student with the help they need. While there may not always be live help available, the websites are set up to help your student find the information they need.

Scholastic is a recognizable name if you have children. You’ve probably been asked to purchase books for your student through Scholastic. They also have homework help available at their website.

If you work outside of the home, you may not be available to help your child with their homework. When they need help, there are options they can find online. While not all of them are free, there are some free homework helpers online that can aid your children with getting their work done and helping them understand their lessons better.