Getting dressed & ready in the morning can feel overwhelming to a lot of children. Preparing a plan to help them be successful can really make a difference for the whole family!

5 TIPS TO HELP KIDS GET READY
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1.) PREPARE clothes and items needed the night before
2.) ENCOURAGE your child to participate in the process as much as possible
3.) OFFER choices for clothing, accessories and other key items
4.) EXPLAIN the new process and expectations you have of them
5.) Lend a HELPING HAND if they need it

Kids really enjoy exporing, playing and even....making a mess! This is great for development and many other needed skills however, it can be a nightmare for most parents and teachers! Here are some tips that can help make this daily concept more successful.

4 CLEAN UP TIME TIPS 

1.)     DISCUSS - talk to kids ahead of time to let them know the new expectations (give them a demo)
2.)     FUN - Sing a special ‘clean-up’ song, show visual cues, use a bell or chime to signify clean up time 
3.)     COUNTDOWN - give a five minute warning before the clean-up time begins 
4.)     TEAMWORK - offer to help as cleaning the whole mess can be daunting

Sitting at the table for mealtimes can be very challenging for children and even more challenging for their Parents! There can be a lot of undesirable behaviour that crops up during this time. Be clear on WHAT the expectations are and WHAT will happen if children choose not to follow them.

TIPS FOR TABLE MANNERS

1.) DISCUSS what you expect from them
2.) DEMONSTRATE how to do it
3.) MODEL the same, appropriate manner
4.) Use VISUALS as a positive reminder
5.) Be clear on what the CHOICES are
6.) FOLLOW THROUGH with appropriate changes or options if needed

 Contact or learn more about Julie Romanowski - Mother, Coach, Leader, Educator, Author, Speaker & founder of Miss Behaviour: parenting coach & consultant services.

www.missbehaviour.ca
778-996-6535

Eliminate the rush when getting ready to go out by giving children enough appropriate TIME to get ready. Plan ahead and allow enough time to achieve this goal. Bringing awareness to how long it takes on average for kids to get ready helps keep things positive and moving in the right direction. Children really do need a lot of time & patience to process info, learn new skills and then be successful at it.

GETTING READY TIME BREAKDOWN
 1.)   Giving a 5 minute warning that it’s time to go soon (5 minutes).
2.)   After your announcement to start getting ready, add a few more minutes just for them to process the info before making a move (2 minutes).
3.)   Kids actually getting their shoes, coats & bags on once you’ve asked them (approx. 10 minutes depending their age).
4.)   At least 5 minutes for tedious questions & distractions throughout the process (5 minutes)
5.)   Clock in time to walk to the car, get in the car, buckle up and get yourself in the car (5 minutes)
6.)   Don’t forget the 1 minute for yourself to breath.

TOTAL TIME: 30 minutes! Consider other factors as well like weather, traffic, not feeling well, having younger children and having more than one child.  Someone may need the bathroom or they forgot something or they need to grab their toy, always allow for some wiggle room!

Contact or learn more about Julie Romanowski - Mother, Coach, Leader, Educator, Author, Speaker & founder of Miss Behaviour: parenting coach & consultant services.

www.missbehaviour.ca
778-996-6535                                                                                               

Crying, throwing food, climbing under the table, needing a toy to play with, eating cookies or holding out for dessert....sound familiar? 

Success at mealtime has little to do with food and a lot to do with the behaviours of the Parent & the Child. A lot of Parents have anxiety around mealtimes and find it very frustrating. Creating a plan with expectations and a routine can provide structure which can improve mealtimes all together. With out clear rules and a strategy to follow through with, it can become very challenging! This can lead to confusion, which leads to frustration, which can then lead to kids 'acting out'. Different behaviours can pop up because kids may be feeling anxious and  insecure. 

4 TIPS TO CREATE A MORE SUCCESSFUL MEALTIME

1.) RULES -  create some simple rules and stick to them
2.) CHOICES - offer food choices that are reasonable 
3.) PARTICIPATION - allow kids to help out either cooking, setting the table or dishing food
4.) CONNECTION - ensure you are talking and enjoying the meal together with your child

Contact or learn more about Julie Romanowski - Mother, Coach, Leader, Educator, Author, Speaker & founder of Miss Behaviour: parenting coach & consultant services.

www.missbehaviour.ca
778-996-6535

We've provided 6 TIPS to consider for transitioning from crib into a toddler bed because we know how tricky this can be for some Parents. Stop the exhaustion or prevent it from even happening.

6 TIPS FOR THE BIG TRANSITION
1.) Keep the routine the same as much as possible. If you don't have a solid routine, start with that first!
2.) Discuss with your child a few days before to let them know a change will be occurring. 
3.) Set up clear boundaries around what is acceptable or not. 
4.) Follow through with routine & boundaries each and every time to ensure consistency. 
5.) Always acknowledge the emotions that may arise before/during/after the transition. 
6.) Ensure they are 'emotionally' ready for this next step. There is no rush.

If you would like more details about this or a CUSTOMIZED PLAN for you and your family, contact us to set up a FREE phone consultation! You deserve it!

The secret behind using Routines & Schedules is that it helps children to 'predict' what is going to happen next. Knowing what to expect  can give kids the security they require to strengthen their emotional development.....an area of development often over-looked.

TIPS FOR CREATING A ROUTINE
1.) Write down what you expect your child do accomplish 
2.) Post the routine where child can refer to it
3.) Discuss with the child what you expect of them and how to follow the routine
4.) Demonstrate or do the routine with them - modelling
5.) Refer to the routine daily and be consistent with it

Many Parents have asked “What’s the point of a routine?” or “Why do we have to be so consistent?” and "What’s with all the ‘visuals and schedules’?" The secret is that CONSISTENCY can build TRUST and deepen the CONNECTION.

​It's the CONNECTION that Parents build with their child can determine how kids interact back with their Parents - listening, communication, etc..... Being consistent and following through coincides with being AUTHENTIC. Children know when an adult is being authentic or not.....and when they are not, it sends signals of insecurity. If Parents DO what they SAY they are going to DO, then they become someone of their word….a trustworthy person. If Parents do the opposite and say everything but only do some of the things or totally change your mind over and over, to a child - they become someone NOT of their word and potentially untrustworthy on some level. When kids are insecure & unsure, they don’t feel safe. Feelings of being safe & secure is fundamental in developing healthy self-esteem which creates confidence.

​Visuals, charts & schedules are all excellent ways of making the expectations clear as well as great tools for teaching what is expected of the child. You can adapt the visuals & directions according to the child’s age but the concept remains the same. When expectations are clear, kids can feel more secure. When kids feel secure, they are more confident. When kids are confident, they can achieve so much more and be more successful with a healthier self-esteem.

It will be difficult to find something else that can turn around a child's behaviour instantly than a serious session of 'quality playtime'. This is where you spend one on one time with your child with NO distractions and really focus on CONNECTION. The investment you will be making is priceless! 

QUALITY PLAYTIME TIPS
 ·        Let your child know when to EXPECT the one on one time (via schedule or daily reminder)
 ·        It should be CHILD-LED. Allow your child to choose a safe & appropriate activity and go along with it
 ·        You can ask your child questions & make comments but most importantly, just LISTEN!
·        Aim for at least 30 MINUTES DAILY or try to work up to that goal (10 minute increments or alternate days)
·        Turn off phones and stop any other possible DISTRACTIONS (like making dinner or folding laundry on the side)
 ·        Get creative and PLAN for other siblings to do something else during this time.

Children develop their independence as they grow. Most children enjoy 'being in charge' and try to find ways to take the power of being the leader, even it it may not be in the most appropriate ways. Giving appropriate choices can really help children have a sense of power, feel in control and like a 'leader', all in positive ways.

HOW TO GIVE EFFECTIVE CHOICES
- offer 2-3 OPTIONS as choices
-give choices WITH IN a desired outcome
-AVOID questions with a 'YES or NO' answer
-offer HELP making the choice if they are not able to
-Give POSITIVE acknowledgment when they've made a good choice

Kids not listening?
Hearing the word ‘NO’ all the time? 
Kids refusing the everyday routine?

3 TIPS FOR BETTER COMMUNICATION
 ·        1.) NOTIFICATION - Give enough warning time when something is about to change to allow time for kids to 'process' what is about to happen. For example: “In 5 minutes we will be going back inside for lunch.” Ask them to repeat back so you know they heard you and understood.
 ·        2.) GIVE CHOICES -  Avoid asking a question that requires a Yes or No answer.  Replace it with a choice with in your desired expectation. For example: Instead of asking “Are you hungry?” try saying, “It’s time for breakfast. Do you want cereal or toast?”
 ·       3.) FOLLOW THROUGH - Use the ‘first and then’ approach to help children understand what is expected. Try saying “first brush your teeth, and then we’ll read a book.”

Contact or learn more about Julie Romanowski - Mother, Coach, Leader, Educator, Author, Speaker & founder of Miss Behaviour: parenting coach & consultant services.

www.missbehaviour.ca
778-996-6535

You can 'de-code' tantrums by sorting them into 2 separate groups. The first is 'TANTRUM PREVENTION' and the second is 'TANTRUM RESPONSE'.

PART 1. ) TANTRUM PREVENTION
Tantrum prevention is an important piece of the puzzle as this will be a 'proactive' approach which can help decrease tantrums tremendously if not stop them all together. It will be more effective in tackling tantrums versus not doing any prevention and be left dealing with them constantly which is a 'reactive' approach. 

   A.) Increase Sleep - 
One of the main issues behind behaviour in children is lack of adequate sleep. This is a huge issue for a lot of Parents who just seem to 'put up with it' because they don't know what else to do. Toddlers are needing about 12-14 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period for proper growth & development and to just function normally on a daily basis.. {Infants about 14-16 hours and preschoolers about 10-12 hours}. Ensure your child is getting enough sleep as this will help diminish tantrums and behaviours.

 B.) Increase Routine - 
You may have several routines already but if your little tot is misbehaving or having a lot of tantrums, they may not be effective enough. At this early age you can't have enough routines. Children but especially toddlers, thrive on structure and routine. Being able to 'predict' what is going to happen next is a critical component to a child's learning and understanding.

 C.) Increase Attention -
There is a good chance that even though you may be spending every waking minute ( and night time too) with your child, there may not be enough 'attention' in the 'tank'. This is your quality, one-on-one time that you spend with your child with no other distractions or items on the agenda accept for making a true connection. Many Parents admit that this is lacking on a daily basis because they just think they are with them all the time anyway, so what difference does it make. There is a huge difference when you 'top up the tank' of attention as this builds attachment, connection and trust. 

Click here to continue reading PART 2 of Decoding Tantrums >>>>>

Children screaming, yelling and hitting all day long can leave a lot of Parents feeling frustrated, fed up and stressed! Here are 3 easy ways to help children increase their communication to help keep a more pleasant atmosphere with in the home. 

     1.)     Encourage children to speak instead of 'acting out'.

For example:  Try to ask them to “Use your words!” This may help get their message across in an appropriate way. Explain that no one understands hitting, screaming or yelling but they understand words. If they are young, give them the words to copy such as “Billy, say to your sister ‘I don’t like it’ instead of using your hands”.

     2.)     Ask your children what they DO want rather than focus on  what they don’t want.

For example, if they do the typical whining or screaming when you say it’s bedtime, instead of focusing on not wanting to go to bed, ask them what they do want like story time or turn their sleep time music on. By talking about what they do want, it can leave them feeling more empowered and in control and can leave you feeling more calm.

     3.)     Give CHOICES by giving kids 2 options with in the desired outcome that you are expecting.

For example:  If it’s time to get dressed in the morning, the choices would be ‘do you want the yellow or purple shirt’ OR ‘do you want to choose the clothes or do you want me to?’ Try to avoid asking them if they want to get dressed or not. It would be too easy for them to just say ‘no’ leaving you with a potential power struggle.

Try having a discussion with kids beforehand to let them know new things are happening. This may help them to know what the expectations are. Kids usually love this new found power once they see that they are being heard.​

Contact or learn more about Julie Romanowski - Mother, Coach, Leader, Educator, Author, Speaker & founder of Miss Behaviour: parenting coach & consultant services.

www.missbehaviour.ca
778-996-6535