respect Archives | Sleeping Should Be Easy

Why You Need to Respond when Adults Tease Your Child

Published Jan 15, 2020 Updated Jun 15, 2020

Do adults tease your child, even with good intention? Learn why you need to respond to others' teasing and how to do so firmly yet tactfully. You're at a family party, and grandpa teases your child and pretends to take away his toy. He means well, as most adults do when they try to make kids laugh, but now the teasing has grown out of hand and your child is getting upset. On one hand, you don't want to be that parent everyone has to be careful about with what they say to her kids. So you laugh it off, while still dropping enough hints that it's time to stop the teasing. But you … [Read more...]

What to Do when Your Child Disrespects You

Communication

Published Jun 27, 2016 Updated Feb 25, 2020

Tired of the disrespectful way your child talks back to you? Learn what to do about disrespectful children and how to rebuild your relationship. The Terrible Two's. The Threenager stage. When kids were younger, we could chalk their snarkiness to "it's just a stage." But after a while, that stage can get out of hand. Kids can be disrespectful, no matter how many times we've tried to break through. And the attitude sometimes stems from a major change in the home—not exactly something we could just erase. Regardless of the reason, it's difficult for all people involved. Both parent … [Read more...]

How to Stop Nagging Your Child to Get Stuff Done

Communication

Published Dec 09, 2014 Updated Jun 15, 2020

Do you nag your kids over everyday little things like taking a bath or putting dishes away? Here's how to stop nagging your child to get stuff done. Her kids have three hours to get everything done when they come home from school. Everyday tasks like brushing their teeth and finishing homework needed nagging. They can't complain for lack of time. Three hours is plenty enough to get these tasks done and still have downtime. But she can't seem to motivate them to start the tasks themselves—she nags her kids to get things done. How to stop nagging your child to get stuff done Evenings … [Read more...]

The Simple Truth about Your Child’s Constant Questions

Communication

Published Jun 08, 2014 Updated Feb 12, 2020

Does your child bother you with question after question? Learn why your child's annoying questions are actually good for him. "What is time?" "Why is an orange a circle?" "How do people love each other when they're apart?" Your kids chase you around the house, even as you try to ignore them by reading a book or doing chores. Do these "annoying questions" seem useless? Maybe to our over-scheduled, harried adult selves. We like to discuss things that make sense. Stuff that happened at school, what she wants to eat for dinner, and where she put her teddy bear. You know, real … [Read more...]

3 Ways We Unintentionally Disrespect Our Kids

Communication

Published Nov 13, 2012 Updated Jun 15, 2020

No parent would disrespect her child on purpose, but sometimes we do so without knowing. Check out these three ways we unintentionally disrespect kids — and what to do instead. Would you say you disrespect your kids? If you're like me, you would assume no, of course not. I love my kids and would never disrespect them. I wouldn't want others to do so, much less me. 3 ways we unintentionally disrespect kids Except sometimes we disrespect our kids without even knowing it. We mean well and may not see how our words and actions affect them, or we overlook the consequences of our … [Read more...]

Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Your Child’s Emotions

Communication

Published Apr 23, 2012 Updated Jun 14, 2020

How often do we reassure our kids by saying "It's okay"? We try to make them feel better, but don't ignore children's emotions — here's why. "Let's go to the beach!" I suggested to my toddler on a recent day off. The weather had finally started warming up, and I wanted to sit on the sand and hear the waves slapping back and forth. I packed up our blanket and toys, slathered on some sunscreen and headed out. But once I set my toddler down on the sand on his bare feet, he cried, "Want to carry up!" He didn't want to stand on the sand. Irritated, I carried my 30-plus pound toddler and a … [Read more...]

Search