I have followed a lot of Stupid Parent Tricks lately, researching for a larger piece that I am writing. Once in a while, I come across a gem that echoes my opinion that parents are not doing enough to teach their children life skills, moderation and how to deal with disappointment.
This article is from my local paper, and explains why teaching kids moderation and decision making is a better solution than just banning sodas. The reality is, everyone gets a Coke once in a while, even kids. The other reality is parents supply the soda or the soda money and fail to set a good example.
A long but awesome piece talks about why letting your kids have tantrums is a good thing. It clearly defines the difference between appropriate times of comfort and letting toddlers holding families hostage to their mood swings. It also explains how our reactions teach kids how to differentiate between "oh drat" and "I'm in agony" because in infants the reaction is the same. Giving fair allowance to how our bodies and minds are trained to comfort children, it reminds us that "no" is a good word for kids to learn. Limits and boundaries are necessary, and while it's tempting to give in when we reward bad behavior we are guaranteeing more will follow.
For parents who are feeling overwhelmed or unsure of how to regain control over their children's behavior, this is for you.
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