They all have a unique way of feeling, thinking and [...]]]>

Kids personality differences can be mystifying yet exciting.  Do you ever look at one of your children and wondered, “Where did he come from?” I have always marveled at the exclusive personalty of each of my children and grand kids.  Each child is unique.

They all have a unique way of feeling, thinking and interacting with each other… and I love each one for their one-of-a-kind contribution to our family.

Every family member has his own unique distinctive personality traits. One child may be shy, another fretful, another is active while their sibling is calm.

Likewise, every family combination is different than every other family blend.  Just as each individual contributes to family unit, each family provides exclusive characteristics that can enhance the community.

A nurturing parent embraces each child’s personality and celebrates their individual qualities.  A nurturing parent accepts each child’s individual qualities even though they may be different than your own.

Here are five ways you can support your children and let them know you value their unique personality differences.

1.  Teach your child to make positive choices, and praise them for their good deeds, behaviors and the positive traits they possess. When you focus on their good qualities, it will reinforce their self confidence and self-image.

2.  Help them develop their strengths by encouraging and supporting what they want to do, their interests and what makes them happy.  Support their creative outlet whether it be in dance, music, or art.  They may be very gifted in the sciences.  Help them to realize they are unique and they don’t need to worry about being like very one else.

3.  Every member of your family has has an individual personality quality that contributes to the well-being of the entire group.  Encourage them to be actively involved in family, school and community events.  When they feel their individual contribution is valued, they will step forward when their particular gift is in need.

4.  Even though your children are very different from each other, be firm yet fair when handing down correction for misdeeds or misbehaviors.  Kids very quickly pick up on being treated unfairly.  Let them know it’s their behavior that is being challenged, not who they are.

5.  Avoid comparing the gifts, talents and personalities of children.  No child should be made to feel that his unique contribution is valued less than another member of the family.

Let’s Hang In There Together!

Kathy Griffiths – Insightful Nana

When your children were born, you started your parenting journey with high hopes of raising your kids to be happy, healthy, successful, and filled with passion.  Every parent wants to see their children reach their full potential.

However, some where along the way, life kicks in and [...]]]> Is there common sense parenting help for raising fantastic kids?

When your children were born, you started your parenting journey with high hopes of raising your kids to be happy, healthy, successful, and filled with passion.  Every parent wants to see their children reach their full potential.

However, some where along the way, life kicks in and you find that parenting kids takes a lot of time, energy and commitment.  There are parenting challenges that you couldn’t have foreseen when your first babe was delivered to you, all bundled up in a soft blanket.

There are so many things to consider:  maintaining a career so bills are met, managing a home, spending quality time with your kids, and parenting them successfully.

Sometimes you may feel like you’re falling short of the parenting goals you set for yourselves when your kids were born.  Now, where do you go for practical, down to earth parenting help?

I understand!  Been there… done that!   After raising 4 children, and being blessed with fifteen grandchildren, I know that applying good parenting skills can be challenging.

I know first hand that moms and dads want to be effective parents and, have happy relationships with their children long after their kids have left the nest.

And, I know what it’s like to fall short of some of my own goals and expectations.

Fortunately, I also know what it’s like to reap the rewards of highly successful parenting techniques. There are many good parenting skills I use.

Here are just a few:

1. A simple but powerful technique that teaches a child how to do a chore so they can do it again without supervision.
2. How to identify your child’s dreams and passions and how to support them.
3. An easy solution to know when to be involved with your child’s judgment call and when to back off.
4. How to enhance your child’s self-esteem rather than weaken it.
5. To know when your child has listen to you… and heard what was said.

These are just a few parenting challenges that will be answered on this site.

Solid, down to earth parenting tips, information, tools, products and  parenting resources will be shared.  You can use them to sharpen your parenting skills make your parenting journey rewarding and successful.

We all want our children to remain the fantastic kids they were when delivered to us in a soft blankets.

Let’s hang in there together!

Kathy Griffiths – Insightful Nana

P.S.  If your looking for immediate answers to the parenting challenges above, you can access them and… many more immediately… by going to Fantastick Kids Now.

Chore charts are great… but after the newness wears off… they often become just part of the clutter on the counter [...]]]> Getting your fantastic kids to help with daily chores can be as difficult as pulling hen’s teeth.  After begging and pleading, parents often give up or turn to the famous family chore chart for relief.

Chore charts are great… but after the newness wears off… they often become just part of the clutter on the counter or fridge.  Parents have to be very clever in their parenting skills, to get kids to help cheerfully.

Kids often become overwhelmed with chores, especially if they haven’t been trained how to accomplish the job. “Go clean your room,” can seem like an overwhelming task to a young child, especially if the room is particularly cluttered.

Here are a couple of parenting techniques I discovered and found to be successful in getting my kids to help with the family chores… with a little less disagreement from them.

15 Minute Tidy

Set the timer on the stove. Tell the kids, “We have 10 minutes to tidy up this room. If we can do it in the time frame… we’ll all go out for ice cream. Work as fast as you can.” If there’s a slacker in the group, remind him that ice cream is only for the worker bees and not for the king or queen bee who doesn’t help.

If they finish the general pick up before the timer goes off, grab the glass cleaner and have them clean a window, or the TV screen.

When you’re all finished, off for ice cream you go.  After dinner, of course.

This parenting tip worked best when I worked right along with my kids.

The Penny Jar

Toss your loose pennies into a jar. When you need a room cleaned up, tell your kids you’ll pay them a penny for every item they pick up.  Besides toys, etc., scraps of paper count… even the tiny ones.

Have them lay out their items on the table and count them. Once the items are counted, they throw them away, or put them away for an extra ten-cent bonus. Two hundred items for $2.00… that’s a deal!

This game was especially successful with my young children… the older kids didn’t buy into it very well.  They were into the “big bucks.”

Try these fun daily chores parenting methods and see if it doesn’t make cleaning up more fun and with fewer complaints.

Let’s hang in there together!

Kathy – Insightful Nana

For example: Your [...]]]> Building kids self esteem through praise is one of the best parenting tools parents have.  Correct?  Not necessarily.  If you use excessive, or insincere praise you may find it’s not the best way to raise self esteem over the long haul.  Actually, “Over the top” or “Insincere Compliments” can produce the opposite results.

For example: Your son just hit a home run, and you praise him by saying, “You are the best player on the team!”  He may smile and be pleased for a moment or two, but self doubt and questioning will eventually creep in.

“Does everyone else in the stands feel the same way?”

“What happens when I can’t hit a home run again.  What will my folks think then?

“They know I’m not the best player on the team and so does everyone else.

“Jimmy hit five home runs this season and I’ve only hit one.”

“It was just a one time deal… and I’m not sure I can do it again.

When your child does well, it’s best to commend them by using a parenting technique I call,  “Action and Judgment Praise.”

“How did you do that?  It looks like all the practicing you’ve been doing lately has really paid off.” (Action)

“I could tell you waited until just the right moment to hit that ball.” (Judgment)

Now the child will think differently about himself.

“If I keep practicing, perhaps I can hit a few more home runs this year.”

“Boy, I’ve been working hard on my hitting and it’s paid off.  I wonder when the coach is going to call another batting practice?

My six year old grand daughter has a natural ability toward art.  She’s very creative.  In fact, she really is outstanding.  We have to be careful about how she’s approached about her natural gift.

Instead of saying, “You are the best artist,” her parents give compliments using the “Action and Judgment Praise” parenting method.  Self confidence is then built upon her effort and judgment and not her natural ability.

“I can see you’ve really put a lot of attention to detail in you drawing.” (Action)

“I really love the colors you used to make the sunset.”  (Judgment)

My grand daughter was having a few self esteem issues with her school work and dealing with friends.  My son and daughter-in-law began to use the “Action and Judgment Praise” parenting technique.  There’s been a noticeable increase in my grand daughter’s self-confidence in those particular areas.

Try using the “Action and Judgment Praise” parenting technique with your fantastic kids and see if it doesn’t make a difference in their self-confidence and esteem.

Let’s hang in there together!

Kathy – Insightful Nana

Here are a few practical parenting tips for you to consider: What You Do And Say Does Matter

Nothing seems to escape a child’s attention. We may do or say something that we don’t think a [...]]]> Practical parenting makes a difference in raising happy, healthy fantastic kids.  Most parents prefer common sense, practical applications to parenting their children.

Here are a few practical parenting tips for you to consider:

What You Do And Say Does Matter

Nothing seems to escape a child’s attention. We may do or say something that we don’t think a child notices.  However, years later they will remind us of events we have long forgotten about, but they have remembered.

Granted, we don’t always practice good parenting techniques.  However, we need to be being aware that repeated poor parenting methods or poor examples has long term consequences that we may not like.

There is no such thing as, “Do as I say, not as I do.”

Fair Rules and Boundaries Are Important

As adults, we depend upon good road markings when we drive.  Having a good clear lane marking is important to us so we don’t cross over the center line into danger.

Believe it or not, our kids want boundaries too.  Good parenting sets fair rules.  Without boundaries, kids can find themselves in a danger zone pretty quickly.  (Did you notice…I said, “Fair rules?”)

Stay Calm…. Don’t React In A Way That Will Cut Off Communication

Sometimes, even fantastic kids will do or say something that will have considerable shock value.  It’s important to turn the incident into a calm discussion.  When children can communicate with a relaxed parent,  it opens the door for them to approach you later…  during difficult times.  Good parenting includes good communication skills.

Let Your Kids Know How Much You Care

Along with saying, “I love you,” get involved with your kids school and friends.  Your kids  will appreciate your sincere interest and active parenting.  Your involvement will keep you aware of their passion and dreams as well as disappointments.

Using practical, common sense parenting techniques go a long way in raising fantastic kids.

Let’s hang in there together.

Kathy – Insightful Nana

There are several areas where good parenting skills that can make difference in your long term goal of raising kids. Self Esteem [...]]]> Good parenting skills for raising fantastic kids can be learned.  You just need to know how use good parenting techniques to guide your children along so they will be happy and reach their full potential.

There are several areas where good parenting skills that can make difference in your long term goal of raising kids.

Self Esteem and Self Confidence

Young children already know they are fantastic kids.  Just watch a toddler show off.  He’s in control and he knows it.  All eyes are on him when he dances, sings or accomplishes a new task.  We cheer, clap and praise.  He regards himself as wonderful…. and of course he’s right!   The challenge parents have is to uses parenting skills that will reinforce their child’s self-esteem, rather than diminish it.

Supporting Their Personal Interests And Goals

Kids personal interests can change quickly.  One minute they want to be Superman or Sleeping Beauty and the next minute they are following another hero.  Good parenting supports a child’s fantasies and big dreams.  It eventually fosters a child’s ability to feel free to pursue their own special talents and passion.

The real task for parents is, to find a way to encourage kids to follow heroes of high moral character and values…. and in today’s moral climate that can be a quite a task.

Guiding Them To Make Good Life Decisions

Raising your fantastic kids to make healthy life decisions can be challenging.  It takes keen parenting skills to know when to allow a child to make his own choices and when to step in and guide the process.  None the less, teaching them how to make good decisions early will reap great rewards down the road when you’re not around.

Again, good parenting skills and down to earth parenting techniques can be learned and master.  It may take a little time and experimenting to adapt them to your family, but basic good parenting principles remain the same.

Let’s hang in there together!

Kathy Griffiths – Insightful Nana

P.S.