Category: Parenting

Sleep Like a Baby – Creating a bedtime routine for your young one

Posted on by amelioadmin

As a new parent you quickly learn that while babies do spend a fair amount of time sleeping, they also wake up often. For a period of time during the early weeks they might sleep all day and be awake all night. They go through sleep regressions in their first year. And during growth spurts your baby might wake up more often in the nights than usual for feeds.  All this will make you wonder who came up with the phrase, ‘Sleep like a baby’?

Did you know sleeping is a developmental milestone? Like how your baby learns to roll over, or walk, or is ready to be toilet trained, in time they sleep through the night as well.  Some babies may learn to do this earlier than others, but that’s nothing to worry about.

But no matter where your baby is in the whole sleeping through the night development, try to set a bedtime routine from day 1. Babies thrive on routine and it will soon become a habit they find comfort in.

Here’s how to go about setting a bedtime routine:

  • Keep the baby’s room cool and dark and comfortable during bedtime. 
  • Give baby a bath and massage pre-bedtime to relax them.
  • Make sure your baby has a feed before bedtime.
  • You could even read a book to your little one before settling them in for the night.

Even with all this your baby might still wake up multiple times in the night and that’s okay. But try to stick to the routine so that in time they develop good sleep habits.

Naps matter!

Babies nap a lot. As they grow older they will drop naps, and once they reach the age of 3 they might only be on one nap a day or no naps at all. You might think by reducing the number or duration of naps, your little one will sleep better and longer in the nights. This is not true!

Your baby needs sleep to grow and develop, so naptime routine is as important as bedtime routine. A baby that naps enough will sleep better at night. So make sure naptime isn’t interrupted or missed.

Toddler bedtime routine

By the age of 2.5 years your child will be sleeping through the night but this is also the time they start play school, which can throw their sleep routine off a bit. They might drop their afternoon nap or be more exhausted by the end of the day due to all the physical and mental exertion at school and other activities.

At this stage, more than ever, it is important your child goes to bed on time and gets a good night’s rest. After dinner and some play time watch your child for sleep cues and accordingly set bedtime. Let the time before bed be a calm one, this means no television at least half hour before, no sugary treats and no over stimulating activities.

Have them brush their teeth, drink water and use the loo before settling in for the night. Read them a story before bed, and turn on a nightlight if needed and allow your toddler to fall asleep by themselves.

As a parent of a toddler, stick to a routine and keep things simple. Set healthy bedtime habits so that your little one gets all the rest they need and are recharged for a new day.

Whether you are a new parent struggling with sleep deprivation thanks to a baby who wakes up often, or the parent of a toddler who is fighting bedtime, there’s a parenting mantra, ‘this too shall pass’. So, hang in there! When a baby wakes up often there’s usually a reason (anything from teething or reaching a developmental milestone). Keep to a routine and know that all kids eventually do learn to sleep through the night. I promise you!

Teaching your child that it’s okay to lose!

Posted on by amelioadmin

Who doesn’t like winning? How wonderful it is to see our children winning at things. And when they lose it breaks our heart to see the look of disappointment on their faces.

Say that your child has been practicing for a race for a month, or been studying for days for a competitive exam, and they don’t get the place or grade that they thought they would. You might think that that would be the main reason the loss has upset them so greatly – all that hard work coming to nothing. But another major aspect that contributes to their disappointment over losing is that they feel they have let you, the parent, down.

Think about it. From when your child is young when they win a race, or score a goal or get top marks on a test, as the parent you can’t help but praise them. You celebrate their wins and they pick up on that. So, when they do lose, it hits them hard. They feel like they’ve failed you. This is why it’s important to teach your child that it’s okay to lose.

That losing is a part of life, and when they do lose you aren’t any less proud of them.

• Say that your child didn’t win the 100-metre race that they were so sure of coming first at. Or, your young one misspelled a word on a spelling test and got a lower grade than expected. Allow your child to express their hurt and disappointment when this happens. Make sure that they know it’s okay to feel bad when they lose.

• When your child is upset and wallowing in their loss, don’t tell them to cheer up and to get over it. What your child feels is natural, and when you brush it off you can make them feel worse. Let them work through their emotions and feelings and come out of it without being labelled as a ‘sore loser’ or a ‘bad sport’.

• Empathise with your child. Accept their losses. Talk to them about it, and share your own experiences with losing, so your child knows you always have their back no matter what. This allows the child to feel secure, and to heal quickly and move on.

When your child learns that it’s normal to lose at times, and that it’s a part of competition and life, they are better able to process the loss and take it in their stride.  They are also able to learn from their mistakes and try to improve themselves in a healthy and healing way. After all, we all have lost at some point, so let’s teach our kids from a young age that it’s okay for them to lose too.

Teaching Kids About Personal Space and Boundaries

Posted on by amelioadmin

We’ve all been through it as kids, aunties pinching our cheeks, relatives pulling us on to their laps to sit. With our own kids we’ve at one time or another told them to hug an uncle bye, or said ‘how cute’ when they’ve kissed or hugged another child. There’s a lack of respect for personal space, privacy and boundaries in our country, especially when it comes to children. You might wonder what all the fuss is about; after all isn’t it just showing affection. 

Personal space and boundaries are important social skills that will teach your child how to behave with their peers and adults, they will learn etiquette and decorum, and most importantly it will keep your child safe! When you teach your child about boundaries, they will not only learn to respect others, but also respect themselves and their bodies.

We’ve got you covered with these helpful ways in which you can teach your child about personal space, privacy and boundaries.

Show them 

  • Fold a mat into a square and ask your little one to stand in the middle of it, or use a chalk to draw a large square around your child. Ask them to play or do an activity within the space and explain to them that the area they are in represents their personal space. This will help them identify their own personal space and other people’s as well.
  • When you’re going to shower or to the loo, tell your child you need privacy and will be closing the door. If your child needs to change or use the potty, take them to the bathroom and tell them to keep the door closed or ajar (if your child is too young). This will teach them about the need for privacy and personal space to perform certain activities.
  • Kids learn from the adults around them. They’re learning and absorbing from you even when you think they aren’t. So make sure you model good behavior when it comes to boundaries and personal space while interacting with one another. 

Talk to them

  • While watching a cartoon with your child or reading to them, take the opportunity to point out examples of situations where characters do and don’t respect personal space and talk about it. If your child grabs another kid’s toy or pushes, intervene immediately, ask them to think about how the other child felt. By talking and discussing, you can teach your child empathy and respecting other’s boundaries.
  • Ask your child what they are comfortable with when it comes to physical affection. Always check with your child before you or anyone else hugs or kisses them. If they tell you they don’t like that a kid or adult greeted them with a hug, tell them that they have a right to feel that way and can always say No. Also, talk to them about other ways in which they would rather be greeted—maybe, a wave or a hi-five.

Listen to them

  • When your child says ‘No’ to being tickled by a friend, or if they don’t feel like giving grandma a goodbye kiss, do not force them to. Make sure your child knows its okay if they don’t want to be touched and they haven’t done anything wrong by refusing. You need to respect your child’s personal space to empower them to be in charge of their own bodies.
  • When your child tells you they’ve been pushed, or were uncomfortable in a particular situation, listen to them! Don’t brush their feelings aside. Also, list out certain scenarios when they need to call a trusted adult to intervene.

When your child is aware of their boundaries they will be able to speak up when they are in an uncomfortable situation. They will be empowered to say ‘No’ to a hug or a kiss or if their personal space is being invaded, thereby keeping them safe.

Screen Time for Children: Where to draw the line

Posted on by amelioadmin

Who among us parents haven’t stuck our kids in front of the television or tablet? So that we can get some work done in peace or just eat without a child clinging on to us. Most of us have been there and done that. Screens make for a good and, not to mention, convenient babysitter.  And honestly, in today’s technology-driven world where there are smartphones, tablets and television screens everywhere you look you can’t really keep your children away from them for long.

At the same time, most of us are aware that too much screen time can hinder your child’s development. There are even studies that say certain programs can cause aggression in your child and it is better not to be wholly dependent on television or a tablet to keep your child occupied. So where do you draw the line? And how much screen time should you allow for your child?

According to the W.H.O (World Health Organization), a child below the age of 1 shouldn’t be exposed to electronic screens at all (video chat is allowed to an extent), and for ages 2-4 years an hour of screen time a day is the maximum allowed.

Children learn and develop by interacting with the world around them. They need plenty of physical activities to grow strong and healthy, and also express their creative imagination. Extensive hours of screen time hinder this! So, to help you find the balance, we’ve put together some guidelines when it comes to screen time for your kids.

  • Always supervise what your child is watching or what games/ apps they are playing. Make sure it’s age appropriate and educational.
  • A particular game or app might be advertised as being educational, but do your research as well before allowing your child to play it.
  • Stick to time limits when it comes to screen time. Make it clear from the start that they only get to watch for a certain amount of time. Your child might throw a tantrum for some extension time period. But, don’t give in and try to distract them with some other activity.
  • Don’t use screens to get your child to eat, it might be easier to feed them while they are focused on watching a cartoon, but it’s setting a bad precedent. During meal times they need to pay attention to their food and what they are putting in their bodies.
  • Make sure you don’t allow screen time right before bedtime as this can over stimulate their brains, when they should actually be winding down for the day, and can hamper their sleep.
  • A big no-no is screens in your child’s bedroom. Don’t put a television in there and keep away tablets and laptops from their bedroom during the night.

If your child spending more time in front of screens than they should, these are certain things you can do to reduce this:

  • Put them in a group activity class— it could be a dance class or even a craft class, there are plenty of options.
  • Come up with some fun activities they can do at home like paint a picture or build a fort out of blankets.
  • Spend at least an hour of quality time with your child so they get your undivided attention. Once they get their fill, they’ll be better able to occupy themselves.

Slowly, your children will get used to less screen time and will find ways to entertain themselves.

By setting boundaries and being aware of what your child is consuming via screens you can make sure the limited time they spend in front of the television or on the tablet doesn’t interfere with their social, mental and physical development.

Why the arts matter!

Posted on by amelioadmin

Your toddler dips their hands in paint. They squeal with delight as they press their palms on to a piece of paper. They grab a paintbrush and smear colour all over the paper and themselves. Yes, it’s a sweet and special moment, but there is also a great deal of mess to clean up!

Developing motor skills

You might wonder what the value is in allowing your toddler, who can barely grasp a spoon, to paint and play with colours. However, the process of finger painting, drawing and wielding a paintbrush helps develop their fine motor skills. By allowing them to practice and explore, when they are out of toddlerhood and starting school they’d have developed dexterity and control, and should even be able to draw shapes and cut with scissors.

Expressing themselves

Nothing allows you to be inspired and express yourself like the arts do. Whether your child is reciting a poem or playing a piece of music – their creative juices are flowing. They will be thinking in a completely different way than when they do for math or a science experiment. This ability to express themselves and think creatively will help your child for the rest of their life!

Confidence building

Allowing your child to learn an art form – be it playing the violin or dancing Bharathanatyam – will help them build confidence.  As they learn and grow and see themselves becoming more adept and improving day by day, they will develop better self-confidence. They’ll also learn to make decisions and solve problems in the process.

 Teamwork

Singing in a choir, being part of a dance troupe or even putting up a play is filled with fun and camaraderie. But being part of a group like this will also teach your child to work with others, to own up to mistakes and to help their teammates when they slip up. They also learn to persevere and not give up! By interacting with others in these groups your little one will also learn social niceties and how to treat their peers with respect.

Growing up, most of us were asked to concentrate on math and the sciences in school, so that we’d have a successful future. But, now things are changing. Children are exposed to a lot more career options, everything from journalism and business to graphic design and sports management. So when they are allowed to practice the arts, their world is broadened and they develop mastery over a particular skill. This mastery helps them academically and emotionally, and they learn to follow their passion.

Travelling with a Toddler

Posted on by amelioadmin

Does the thought of travelling with your young child fill you with dread? We don’t blame you. Who wants to be stuck on a long journey with a bored and restless child? God forbid that they throw a temper tantrum mid-flight! Then again, think of the holiday destination and the great time your family will have once you get there. Here are some tips to help make your travel experience with your child as pain-free as possible.

Talk to them

Start talking to your child about the forthcoming trip a few days before you leave. Show them pictures of trains and planes, and read stories about travelling – there are tons of children’s books available on the subject. Tell them what to expect on the journey, and try role-playing to get them used to the idea of wearing a seatbelt and sitting in their own seat. Even if they don’t understand everything you are saying, some of it will get through.

Timing is everything

You know your child best. What time of the day do they start getting cranky, around naptime? Try to book a flight or train that works with your child’s schedule. If possible, book a window seat so your child can look out the window and have some space. Give your family plenty of time to get to the airport or station, and go through all the security measures. This way you can avoid rushing around at the last moment. Though families with children are asked to board first, it might be a good idea to board with your young child at the end, so they aren’t stuck in their seats getting restless while others board.

Snacks, snacks, snacks

We cannot stress enough the importance of carrying plenty of snacks for the journey. Fruits, dry fruits, crackers, finger sandwiches, crunchy snacks—take more rather than less of your child’s favourite eats. This way you can ward off a hunger-related meltdown, the little ones are kept occupied eating and their tummies are happy. Remember that during the flight the change in pressure can bother your child’s ear, save a lollipop or a juice box for that time.

Activity Packs

Put together a bag of colouring books, crayons, puzzles and games that will keep your child entertained en route. Once your child is seated and buckled in give it to them. They will be excited to open the bag of new stuff and the activities will keep them engaged. As a last resort, take a tablet filled with child-friendly apps and shows. Don’t forget to pack toddler headphones, so that the other passengers aren’t subjected to noisy cartoons.

Be prepared

Pack extra clothing for your child in your hand luggage in case of accidents. If your toddler has a favourite stuffed animal or blanket, make sure to take that along. This will be a soothing presence for your child, especially if they want to nap. Take zip lock bags to store away soiled clothes and carry basic medicines. It always helps to be prepared when travelling with a toddler!

You don’t have to give up on travelling just because you have a child. They are only so small for a short amount of time and it’s normal for them to be tired and cranky sometimes. Stay calm, and think of the holiday that awaits at the end of the journey. Bon Voyage!