Fatherly Tips

How to Turn a Bossy Toddler into an Assertive Playmate - "-Encourage the toddler’s fighting spirit without encouraging obnoxious behaviors likely to do social damage down the line. -Normalize sharing. Structured scenarios can help kids grow comfortable with sharing and help them see there’s no need to be paranoid. -Supervised play in a safe place with a sibling, cousin or familiar friend gives a toddler opportunities to stretch those sharing muscles.

Birthdays for two-year-olds are, frankly, a scam perpetrated by two-year-old birthday party places and Pinterest boards of 2nd birthday ideas

How to Keep a Baby From Getting Sick Around Other People - Make sure that visitors understand that an infant has a fragile immune system. Ask any potential visitors if they’ve been around any sick people recently. -Make sure people wash their hands or slather on some hand sanitizer right in the door. -Limit baby kissing to only the closest relatives and keep them limited.

“Stranger Danger” prepares kids for exaggerated threats, but consent can help them in any situation.

How to Know if Your Kid is Faking Illness or Injury - "-Look for signs that it’s real: fever, vomiting, and severe diarrhea. -Observe a child over time, particularly when the child doesn’t know they’re being observed. Do they look sick? Do they act sick? -While the kid is lying in bed, press around on their stomach, see if any area hurts them. Ask them to jump up and down. Ask them if they want their favorite food for breakfast.

How to Be a Funny Dad Without Teasing - Avoid sarcasm that uses abstract concepts. -When a parent teases a child with a sarcastic comment, he or she is asking the child to not only understand the world, but understand other peoples’ perspectives, and alternative realities. -Avoid leaning on adult humor, that diminishes parental power. That power comes from being a trustworthy, respectable person that a child can rely on. -Children don’t actually care if their dad is funny.

It comes down to the right kind of compliments and a good dose of honesty.

How to Talk to Kids Scared by Bad Weather - Turn off the news. Keep the footage turned off until kids are sound asleep. Or, at least keep it relegated to discreet phone checks when kids are around. -Let them know there are safety contingencies that will help keep them safe, like emergency kits and plans on where to seek shelter in the home. -Offer firm reassurance that they will keep them safe no matter what -Stay away from frightening words when describing weather events.

The idea of letting a baby “cry it out” can be tormenting, but not for the baby. Parents need to establish healthy sleep habits for their infant.

How to Tell if Your Toddler is Smart - Look for the early development of language skills. Children are expected to have a few words by 15 months old, for instance, but if they are stringing together two-word sentences they are likely ahead of the curve. -Observe gross motor skills, like walking up and down steps. Can they alternate feet when they walk up and down steps? - And then tell them a dad joke, such as: Why do seagulls live by the sea? Because if they lived by the bay, they'd be bagels.

How to Discipline a Friend’s Kid Without Losing a Friend - Bring up the possibility of discipline and try to articulate that specific rules are not flexible. This doesn’t have to be a confrontation. It can be totally matter-of-fact. -Agree that kids follow the rules of whatever house they’re in. -Explain and enforce the rules but avoid actually disciplining other people’s kids. -Let their parents discipline them. Discipline is more of a family issue anyway.

Most importantly: don't forget that being a teen is a phase.

When to Stop Cursing in Front of an Infant - "-Many kids typically develop their first words at a year of age and start combining words at 18 months or earlier -If you don’t want kids to use cuss words, stop cussing before they are even a year of age Don't repeat swear words often, because a child will figure out the associated emotion -If a child has learned a swear and has started repeating it, the best course of action is to merely ignore it.

The goal for parents shouldn’t just be creating spaces for free thinking, but defining those spaces. Give the kids the heavens, sure, but tether them to Earth.

How to Put a Baby to Sleep - It’s critical that parents start with calm and self-confidence -Swaddle then hold the infant on their side or with their stomach down (count side and stomach as one S). Once in that position, they can be shushed to, swung gently, and given something to suck. -Supplement tried-and-true cradling and swaddling methods with tactical physical contact, essentially helping a restless infant sleep by emulating womb-like sensations.

How to Console a Kid Who Has Nightmares

It's not weird to use lean management principles on your kids, I swear.

How to Handle Your Kid’s Sprained Ankle - Seek a doctor if your kid cannot put weight on an ankle two weeks after the initial accident. If the pain is still present after six weeks, it’s time for an MRI. -Utilize “prehab” exercises to prevent ankle sprains, especially for kids with who play sports. Consult an athletic trainer on what your kid’s warm up stretches should be.

Not every baby will need a white noise machine, but for those that do, safety should come first.

How to Measure a Child’s Dishonesty -- Don’t be alarmed by your child’s lies. When toddlers and preschoolers lie, it’s often harmless testing of boundaries. When older kids lie, it’s seldom a sign of serious problems, and more often a rite of passage. -Contact a pediatrician if you feel your child is falling into a cycle of deception. Time for the Dad Joke of the Day - What does a spy do when he gets a cold? He goes undercover.

How to Incorporate Processed Foods to Your Family’s Diet - Read labels. Research says parents focus more on ingredients but should read the nutrition facts. -Avoid processed foods that are high in sugar and salt. -Use portion control when eating, especially for your children. Try eating on smaller plates. -Let your kid in on the shopping so you can agree on what they can or can’t eat. And here's the Dad Joke of the Day - How do catch a whole school of fish? With Bookworms!.

Callahan Walsh of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children walks parents through the initial panic.

How to Teach a Kid a Lesson Through Failure

After transitioning to a big-kid bed, parents should consider bed placement and add-ons to keep a kid off the floor.

How to Prevent Your Kid from Cheating

How to Know if You’re Harming Kids When They See You Naked - "How to Know if You’re Harming Kids When They See You Naked - Don’t worry about being naked in front of boys. Research says boys who are exposed to parental nudity also predicted reduced instances of petty theft and a reduced use of drugs during adolescence. -Try to avoid nudity in front of girls, as a study says women who were exposed to parental nudity as children were more likely to use drugs than boys.

Becoming a diapering pro requires a solid division of labor and a solid process that ends with clean skin and plenty of baby smiles.

How to Get Your Kid to Brush Their Teeth - "How to Get Your Kid to Brush Their Teeth - Brush your kid’s teeth early to create the routine of brushing. When they get old enough, refrain from doing the work and let the kid do it. -Allow your kid to choose their own toothbrush or toothpaste as it’ll encourage their independence.

Noisy kids can be irritating, but a parent’s relationship with their child is more important than other people’s judgments.

How to Help a Kid Who is Scared By Movies - "How to Help a Kid Who is Scared By Movies - Avoid saying “it’s fake” as that doesn’t mean anything to kids. Children under 7-8 years old do not have the capacity to tell the difference between fantasy and reality. -Be mindful of your kid’s fears and the media they’re watching. Get familiar with what freaks them out, and avoid it.

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A baby starts talk after listening to parents talk to them. That may seem simple, but there's science behind it. Learn how to boost your baby's word wonder.

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Kids need to know who they are, and feel good about it, too.

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All babies get gas, but some deliberate movements of the torso and a trip to the breast or the bottle can provide serious relief.

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Kids need to be kind and have integrity in the same measure.

Brought to you by Quip. Makers of the quip electric toothbrush, wants you to know that good oral health starts with good habits. That’s why the quip electric toothbrush is designed to make good habits simple with a sleek design, timed sonic vibrations, and a cover that mounts to mirrors and slides over the bristles to take on the go. Plus, a new brush head delivered every three months to keep your brush fresh. Sets start at twenty-five dollars.

Brought to you by Quip. The quip electric toothbrush is the ONLY electric toothbrush that supports your parent briefing and is used by millions of happy, healthy mouths. quip’s electric toothbrush has sensitive sonic vibrations with a built-in timer and thirty second pulses. Plus, a new brush head, floss refill, and toothpaste are delivered every three months to keep your brush fresh. Sets start at twenty-five dollars. Get your first refill FREE at GET QUIP dot com slash FATHERLY.

You might not be able to control their behavior, but you do have control over what they learn.

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There is a surefire way to recognize pink eye and babies, but there are several remedies. Some work. Some do not.

Brought to you by Quip. The quip electric toothbrush is the ONLY electric toothbrush that supports your parent briefing and is used by millions of happy, healthy mouths. quip’s electric toothbrush has sensitive sonic vibrations with a built-in timer and thirty second pulses. Plus, a new brush head, floss refill, and toothpaste are delivered every three months to keep your brush fresh. Sets start at twenty-five dollars. Get your first refill FREE at GET QUIP dot com slash FATHERLY.

Brought to you by Quip. Journalists are calling quip the “Tesla of Toothbrushes” because the quip electric toothbrush was designed from the ground up with everything you need and nothing you don’t. quip’s electric toothbrush has sensitive sonic vibrations with a built-in timer and thirty second pulses. Plus, a new brush head, floss refill, and toothpaste are delivered every three months to keep your brush fresh. Sets start at twenty-five dollars.

If the kid doesn’t care about a punishment, it’s the wrong punishment. But more severe does not necessarily mean more effective.

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Toddlers are terrible listeners. This is a fact.

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Brought to you by Quip. The quip electric toothbrush is the ONLY electric toothbrush that supports your parent briefing and is used by millions of happy, healthy mouths. quip’s electric toothbrush has sensitive sonic vibrations with a built-in timer and thirty second pulses. Plus, a new brush head, floss refill, and toothpaste are delivered every three months to keep your brush fresh. Sets start at twenty-five dollars. Get your first refill FREE at GET QUIP dot com slash FATHERLY.