Parenting

Celebrating holidays with kids is never a joke; this is because you always have to be on your toes. Kids are always up to something, and all parents can be witnesses to this fact. Can you imagine combining a national holiday and a birthday? You undoubtedly require a survival guide, especially if you are doing it for the first time.

Fireworks and all the activities that take place can be somewhat terrifying, especially to kids, and it is okay if you are anxious and wondering how you will go about this day. The following are tips on how to celebrate a fourth of July baby.

Be Patient With Feeding Them New Foods

The foods in such events are primarily prepared with adults in mind; thus, your baby’s chances to eat something new are high. However, if your child is picky, you will have to pack some of their favorite foods, beverages, or snacks. After all, you do not want them going hungry because they do not want to consume the foods present. By now, you should know that new foods present challenges to kids, and before they agree to consume them may take a long time.

You are, however, advised to be patient; otherwise, you will end up disappointed. Be open with them wanting to lick or touch new foods that could lead them to taste them in the end. Forcing babies into eating food is not a good idea: let them have the freedom to choose. Also, if you are in an outdoor setting, you could let them make a mess: there is beauty in that.

Go Slow on Introductions

Not all children are unreserved; some are shy when they meet people they don’t know or are shy naturally. If that is your child’s case, do not be a control freak in the sense that you want to push them to play with the rest of the kids there. If they want to cling to your legs, let them be. Who knows? They could be doing that to adjust and later join others; hence, be patient.

Your response here will be vital regarding their need for attention and comfort; therefore, always listen to what they are trying to say.

Try introducing them to people while they are at the safety of your arms: remember they think of you as home. Keep your verbal and non-verbal cues in mind as your child tends to pick them. Also, taking things a step at a time will make your kid comfortable, and with time they will be up and running.

Final Words

The above points show how to handle your fourth of July baby on that day or in events. The goal here is for the both of you to have fun; therefore, be slow to act. Moreover, take time to listen to what your kid is trying to tell you; sometimes, actions say a lot more than words ever will.

The same way you take time to read crowds when you go to events is the same way kids react. Do not forget to carry food for your kid if you know they are specific with what they eat.

Acid reflux in infants is more common than you think. If you have a baby that regularly spits up milk every feeding, this may be a sign that they are experiencing gastroesophageal reflux. Take note, however, that if they thrive, don’t show signs of weight loss, and don’t show any kind of symptoms, it may not be necessary to change the formula. According to experts, 50% of infants spit more than once per day.

Signs for Acid Reflux

As prescribed by your pediatrician, here are some signs that you have to watch out for to help determine whether you should or should not change your baby formula:

• Signs frequent signs of fussiness.
• Has difficulty breathing or may possess wheezing sounds.
• Back arching after feeding.
• Infant has a chronic cough.
• Coarse voice, especially when crying.

If your infant has one or more of these symptoms, make sure that you bring the baby to their pediatrician for further treatment and evaluation. The next question is, what should you do? Most often than not, the formula milk that you’re currently using causes reflux. This may not be the case at all times, but a quick formula milk change may relieve the symptoms in most cases. Whenever you’re changing the formula milk, always note that you have to gradually introduce it to the infant.

Do not immediately change the formula. You may mix a small ratio of the new formula to the old formula. This way, their tiny tummies won’t have difficulties with the drastic change in their diet. Quickly changing from one milk to another may cause an upset tummy, diarrhea, and constipation are more common.

What To Look For in a Baby Formula For Acid Reflux?

There are numerous factors to take into consideration when choosing the best formula for reflux, but your best bet is to ask your pedia for the best formula that you can switch to. There’s an exception to this one though; if your baby has formula intolerance, regardless if it’s the best baby formula for acid reflux, it won’t make much of a difference and you need to work closely with your pediatrician for this.

Otherwise, if they don’t have formula intolerance, here’s the secret.

You need to find an infant formula that is hypoallergenic. There are numerous brands in the market, but the most popular is Nutramigen and Alimentum. Numerous case studies on these two brands stated that the condition of infants switching to this brand has generally improved versus when they were on their old formulas. This is because they need to be drinking milk that is less acidic to help reduce the occurrence of GERD.

Feeding Your Baby With Formula

Aside from changing formulas, you may also try changing positions while feeding the baby, while your pediatrician may also recommend some reflux medications along with the milk brand change. Again, babies that spit up milk but don’t show signs of respiratory problems or weight loss no longer need the medications as well.

If all else fails, your next step would be to find a pediatric gastroenterologist. This way, the doctor may specifically address and pinpoint the cause and provide a more straightforward approach.

Babies and tickling go hand in hand and there is a good reason for it; even before you can communicate with words tickling lets you have fun and laughter with your little one and encourages lots of smiles, belly laughs, and a general feeling of bonding between parent and little one.

Of course, you may need a little helping hand when it comes to inspiration on what tickle games you can play that involve tickling. That’s where we come in.

Let’s see how you can make tickling a lot more fun than just the odd feet tickle or back tickle!

The Singing Raspberry!

This tickle game is for toddlers who understand a little of what you ask them. Have your toddler sing their favorite song and as they do blow raspberries on their tummy. Get them to try to keep singing as you get more exuberant with the raspberry blowing.

This is sure to have you both rolling around with laughter and your child is sure to beg you to play the tickle game over and over again!

The Guitar Tickler!

This tickle game can be done with babies or toddlers. Pick your little one up and hold them across your body as you would a guitar. Now pretend to strum their tummy as you sing one of your or their favorite songs. You can really get into the rockstar zone if you like and jump around like the bass player from your favorite band!

The Tickly Butterfly Kisses

Butterfly kisses are great for making babies and toddlers giggle with delight. It’s very simple to do, which is an added bonus for tired parents! Lean over your little one and blink several times so that your eyelashes tickle their skin.

You can tickle their face, their tummy, or their back this way and they are sure to have a good belly chuckle in response. If your little one is old enough to understand you can ask them to give you butterfly kisses too!

The Buzzy Bee Tickler

This tickle game works well for young babies and is a great way for sleep-deprived moms to still feel like they are doing something to encourage their baby’s emotions and have fun together. It’s also an easy game to remember, excellent when you are lacking a few hours of sleep in a row!

Simply raise your index finger up high in the air above your baby and make a ‘buzz’ sound. Start with the sound being quiet then wiggle your finger closer to your baby and make your ‘buzz’ sound more intense.

Do this a few times without actually touching your baby’s skin. They will enjoy watching your display and when you do eventually give them a tickle of their toes, tummy or wherever gets the most smiles, it will make them chuckle with delight.

Indeed, sometimes it is hard to think of new ways to have fun with our little ones. Even though tickling is an old game, kids never seem to tire of it! We hope you have a lot of fun with these laughter-inducing tickle games.

It is never too early to think about how to dress up your little baby for Halloween. A costume bought from a store can be costly and it will only fit your baby just one time. A better approach is make the costume yourself.

Here are three easy diy baby Halloween costume ideas.

Little Pumpkin Halloween Costume

What is Halloween without a little pumpkin?

1. You will need an orange t-shirt that is a couple of sizes larger than your baby, black felt, green felt, and 1/4″ wide elastic. On the hem of the t-shirt, the seam is usually folded under about 1/2″ which creates a pocket where you can insert some elastic.
2. Cut a small slit in this seam. Attach a safety pin to the end of the elastic and guide it all the way around through the hem.
3. Cinch the elastic enough to gather the hem but still allowing your baby’s legs to freely move. Do the same for both sleeves. This will give the t-shirt a puffy effect.
4. With the black felt, cut out shapes for the jack o’ lantern’s eyes, nose and mouth.
5. Sew those on or attach them with fabric glue.
6. With the green felt, cut out triangles and affix them upside-down around the collar. If you’re ambitious, you can make a stem head piece with cardboard and green felt.
7. Cut a circle from the cardboard and cover it with green felt. Make a stem and hot-glue that on top the circle.
8. Attach elastic that can secure the head piece to your baby’s head.

A word of caution: put this on your baby just long enough to take a photo of your baby because your baby will pull it off and you don’t want your baby to get a hold of the elastic.

Charlie Brown Halloween Costume

This is perfect if your baby boy still has very little hair.

1. You will need a yellow short-sleeve t-shirt and black felt.
2. On the felt, cut out two strips of about 2″ wide, each as long as the width of the t-shirt. Cut each strip into the iconic zig-zag design. Sew or glue the strips to both sides of the t-shirt.
3. Pair the t-shirt with a black pair of pants.
4. For the finishing touch, use an eye-liner and draw a curly line above your baby’s forehead that represents Charlie Brown’s hair.
5. Look at a cartoon image if you’re not sure what that looks like. Then, draw two eyebrows above your baby’s eyebrow line.

A Money Bag Halloween Costume

This is great if you dress up like a robber and your baby like a bag of loot.

1. You need a pillow case, black duct tape, and elastic.
2. With the duct tape, cut out pieces that you can assemble into a big dollar sign on the pillowcase.
3. Cut two holes in the pillowcase for baby’s arms.
4. Cut out a piece of elastic that’s long enough to go around your baby.
5. Insert this elastic through the pillowcase opening so the opening can gather above the baby’s shoulders.
6. Then, dress up as a bank robber and carry your baby loot around.

Whatever Halloween costume you make for your baby, be sure there are no small loose parts that your baby can put in his mouth.

DIY baby costumes should not be accessorized by any long ribbons. Stitching should be secure. Your baby should be able to move around in the costume comfortably.

Be sure to take lots of pictures because memories like these come only once in a lifetime

Every baby is different and the likes and dislikes will vary from one infant to another. Some babies like lying on their backs while a few may fuss. However, there could be another more serious cause why a baby simply doesn’t like being on their backs that you should be aware of if your baby won’t sleep.

Why Is It Preferable For A Baby To Sleep on His Back?

The main reason why it is better for an infant to lie on their backs is respiration or breathing. A baby placed on their tummies or side is at a greater risk of being smothered by blankets or the sleeping surface or mattress. Placing a baby on a pillow or with their heads raised can obstruct respiratory passages. Lying flat on the back allows for deep breathing and the maximum amount of oxygen to be drawn through those tiny noses and into the lungs.

Another reason your paediatrician may insist on your baby lying flat on their back is for ideal growth and development. Infants have very soft bones that are growing rapidly. A baby lying on their stomach or curled up on their side may experience some problems with the physical development of the spine and hips.

Not only that but studies have shown that sleeping on his back lowers the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), which may occur when baby is lying on his front every night.

What Can Cause A Baby To Hate To Sleep on His Back?

If your baby fusses slightly or cries for a short period when first placed on their backs before calming, there is little reason for concern. However, if baby screams or cries for an extended period of time, it’s likely that lying flat on their backs is causing some kind of discomfort or pain. It is recommended to pay a visit to your pediatrician as soon as possible.

One of the following conditions could be the cause of the pain or discomfort.

• Acid reflux. Lying flat on the back can cause the acid from the stomach to rise up into the esophagus (throat) and mouth causing pain.
• Colic or constipation. Your baby could have a tummy ache that is causing them to draw their legs up and cry when placed on their backs.
• The fetal position. Baby may simply want to lie in the fetal position which they have become familiar with in the womb. While this isn’t a serious problem, your pediatrician can give you advice on how to overcome it. This is more likely to affect quick birth or C-section babies.

If none of these are the cause of the fussing or crying, your pediatrician should do a full check-up to look for other causes of pain and discomfort.

How Can You Help Your Baby?

Your paediatrician can provide you with treatments for acid reflux, colic and/or constipation to alleviate the pain and discomfort that your baby is experiencing when lying flat on their backs. You can also try the following:

• A warm bath before sleep time to calm and relieve some of the pain baby is experiencing.
• Baby massage to gently help stretch the muscles, tendons and joints. Visit a cranial osteopath if your baby seems to want to sleep in the fetal position.
• Swaddle your baby tightly or lay in bed with them to avoid the startle or fear response associated with lying on their backs.
• Let your baby fall to sleep in your arms before placing them flat on their backs in the crib.
• Let baby sleep on their tummies on your chest.
• Allow baby to sleep on their side or tummy under your strict supervision to ensure that they are breathing properly and not getting smothered.

It is generally not recommended to place your baby on their tummy or side while awake until they are able lift their heads or roll over on their own which normally takes place at around 6 months of age. It is not recommended to let baby sleep on their side or tummy until about 1 year.

Hopefully this article has provided some useful items of advice showcasing the benefits of a baby sleeping on his back and what you can do to implement it.

If you want to tell your husband the gender of your unborn child but aren’t sure where to start, this is the guide for you. Everything from subtle hints to all out huge announcements can be utilized depending on the relationship you have with your husband and the way that you want him to find out!

Keep on reading below to see what unique gender reveal ideas you can use to surprise your husband.

Gender Reveal Hints

Try dressing in colors like pink or blue that hint at the gender of the baby, serving foods that are themed around the gender, or leaving little themed gifts around the house. Usually this method takes a couple of days and you may need to drop a lot more hints than you think you need to. You can’t really go overboard with this gender reveal method because it is so fun!

You can also casually put gender reveal ideas into conversation, like asking him if he will want to teach his son how to fish, or asking him what he would want to name a little girl. Keeping it hypothetical will plant the seed in his mind, but he will still need to figure it out and ask you for confirmation himself. This can really make him look forward to and connect with the baby in a way that straight out telling him won’t do.

Family Gender Reveal Party

A lot of people feel that family is very important when having a baby, and involving them in things like a gender reveal can really increase the excitement level. While some people wait to tell the entire family at one time, a new trend is telling your husband’s family and having everyone tell him at once. The look on a man’s face when his dad and mom tell him that he is having a daughter and share the memories that they have of their own gender reveals is absolutely amazing.

Family events can be really fun if you choose to coordinate everyone into wearing a either pink or blue or to do something like make handmade signs. Getting everyone involved can make it very clear that this is a whole family affair and that you are excited to add onto an already existing support structure.

Straight Out Telling Him the Baby’s Gender

Some men don’t like to beat around the bush or aren’t very good at guessing. Sometimes you just don’t want to wait, and that’s okay. You can always just come out and reveal the gender to your husband and let him be excited at the same time you are.

One cute way to do this is to give him a card or a cute item of clothing that says something like “daddy’s little princess.” This helps him connect with the child, tells him the gender, and lets him be very excited about getting a gift at the same time.

For a more romantic option you can take a copy of your sonogram and give it to him while cuddling after dinner, really showing how much love you have for him and the new baby.

No matter how you choose to tell your husband about the gender of your baby, your new life as a family is going to be great! Don’t be afraid, whatever method you choose will be perfect.

Nursery water, also known as baby water, is a type of bottled water that is specifically manufactured and prepared for babies. Nursery/baby water is water that is “steam distilled” to remove the impurities. Most manufacturers also infuse this type of water using ozone, which helps to further disinfect the product.

Nursery water is very similar to most brands of bottled water, with no substantial differences when comparing the two.

Is It Safe To Use Bottled Water For Infant Or Baby Formula?

Experts recommend that bottled water is safe to use for preparing baby formula, as long as the water is “sterile” and has been boiled for a minimum of one minute. For bottled water that is already labeled “sterile” and matches the FDA standards, it can be used for preparing baby formula without having to boil it further.

Bottled Water Types

Bottled water is available in three types which include distilled water, packaged drinking water, and mineral water.

– Mineral Water

This water contains high levels of dissolved minerals. The minerals in the water are either naturally present in water such as groundwater (water extracted from the ground), or extracted from natural underground springs (spring water). Alternatively, manufacturers can also add minerals to the water.

– Distilled Water

This is the purest form of water without any dissolved minerals or gases. This type of water is generally not sold for human consumption, but it is used for different types of industrial purposes.

– Packaged-Drinking Water

These products go by many names including purified water, packaged water, and packaged-purified water. Typically sourced from rivers, lakes, or even a public tap, this water undergoes a process involving reverse osmosis and UV treatment to improve the taste of the water and to remove impurities such as heavy metals and chemicals. Packaged-drinking water typically contains a couple of natural minerals which gives this water a distinctive flavor.

What Are The Requirements For Bottled Water For Babies?

The NHS and the US FDA, have stated that bottled-water for a baby needs to meet these requirements:

– Low Sulfate

There should be less than 250mg of SO4 (sulfate) per a liter

– Less Sodium

The Na (sodium) content should also be less than 250mg per a liter

– Look For “Low-Fluoride” Versions

Most of the packaged-drinking water brands, including the ones that have added minerals, have around 0.11mg of fluoride ppm (parts per million) or per liter. These levels are regarded as safe for infants.

Should You Be Boiling Bottled Water?

It is possible to boil packaged-drinking or bottled water but is not always necessary when the product is FDA-approved and produced by a reputable brand.

It is a good idea to boil water when you are unsure about the water quality. The water must reach a “rolling boil”, for at least 1 minute which will ensure any germs or bacteria are killed. When it is not possible to boil your water while traveling with your infant, it is advisable to only buy nursery or bottled water from trusted brands and places.

You have just had your baby and he or she comes with all the mixed feelings you can imagine. Whether it is your first or subsequent time at motherhood, maternity leave is definitely an exciting experience for both mom and baby. It is beneficial to both of you to spend as much time as possible and bond even as you recover from birth and adjust to new life with a new baby.

Most important thing is to ensure your baby has the basic things they may need like a safe place to sleep, a car seat and key items for staying healthy.

It would be nice if you have some help since you are bound to be more tired than ever before in your life. You’ve definitely heard the advice to take a nap when baby naps so don’t worry about getting yourself involved in many chores.

Here are some exciting things to do on maternity leave.

Have A Photography Session

Babies grow so fast, even during maternity leave and having some lovely little cute photos taken will definitely be beautiful to marvel at when the baby grows. You can conveniently have the photographer come around to your location or find one that suits you.

Familiarize Yourself With The Baby Book

This can be an exciting activity. Most of these books have entries for your pregnancy information like cravings, weight gain, first kicks and so when the baby comes, you can add additional information about their progress like time of birth, milestones like rolling, first vacations and others.

Baby Proofing the Home

You have probably prepared the home for the baby before they came but it is still not too late to make the space safe for the baby. You can employ the following childproofing tactics to ensure your house is safe during maternity leave:

• Sleep Environment

In a bid to curb the risk of sudden infant death syndrome you could ensure the baby sleeps on a firm mattress on his back and avoid having the baby sleeping with anything soft.

• Bath Time

Bath time ought to be a fun time however the point is to never leave the baby unattended even for a second as this could be detrimental to the baby’s safety.

• Changing Area

If left unattended even infants can find a way to roll off a table. It is, therefore, best to consider buying a baby table with safety straps.

Formulate A New Routine

A baby’s routine often changes so fast and every new week brings something new. You, therefore, have to bring yourself up to speed. You can start figuring what is important to you and make time for that. Take care of yourself too as a woman, not just the baby.

Consider Journaling During Maternity Leave

This is definitely a great and inspiring way to keep track of your days and appreciate the little things life offers. Plus it would be a pleasure to look back to old journals and you will thank yourself for jotting down the sweetest and stressful things in equal measure.

In conclusion, there is no perfect formula or list of possible things you can explore during maternity leave. The point is to remain creative even as you enjoy time with the baby and make sure you stay safe.

Every mom wants the best for their families. That means staying healthy and fit for a more relaxed and energy-packed life! But with so much to do, can only super-moms fit fitness into their schedules? Nope! Here are easy fitness tips that slot into your day.

Work Out

Think of it as downtime. When you’re working out, it’s a good time to reset, refresh, and free your mind for a moment. Here are some suggestions.

Whole-body circuit. You only need 15-20 minutes to get the blood pumping to your arms and legs.

Running. If your baby is still in a stroller, consider investing in one with running wheels. Then take your baby along for the ride! 

Of course, motherhood does many things to your body. Make sure you have the right kind of sports bra for your activity and life stage!

Create A Routine

“But that’s what I’ve been trying to do!” You say. Very true, one thing a mother never seems to have enough of is time. Here are some tips to get organized–and get that fitness schedule in.

Create weekly rhythms. Relegate common, repetitive tasks to a weekly schedule. Review bills on Monday. Take out the trash on Tuesday. Family day on Sunday.

Create daily blocks of time. If your day has too many details, block them off in 1- to 3-hour sections. Put “work out” in a whole 1-hour section of its own. 

Make Sleep A Priority

Stay fit by sleeping well? Yes, it’s scientifically proven that a good night’s sleep helps us lose weight. Here’s how.

Sleeping less than 7 hours a night makes us 55% more prone to obesity. The less we sleep, the easier we gain.

Less sleep = bigger appetite. Without the recharge sleep was supposed to give us, our body craves quick energy boosters, which tend to be high in sugar. 

More sleep = more self control. Without sleep, we tend to have less decision-making power to control our cravings. In other words, see donut, eat donut. Sleep helps us say yes to healthy choices.

Become A Morning Person

One way to trick your mind and body into finding more “time” is to get up earlier. For sure, having a newborn or a child with a fever will mess up your routine. But if your children are a manageable age, you can try these tips to become a morning person.

Avoid sleep disruptors before bed. Sleep disruptors are caffeine, sugar-rich food, or spice-heavy dishes. Resist the temptation of one more energy booster before bed!

Leave your mobile device outside of the room. Our mobile phone’s lights signal our brains to keep moving, and they can’t settle down long enough for a good rest. 

Get ready for the next day. If there is anything you can prepare the night before or even two days before, do it. That way, you can sleep early and wake up early relaxed and ready to go.

Eat Like A Fit Mom

Wake up, get the kids settled, run your full-body workout, shower, sit down exhausted, binge on your favorite snacks. Wait…something’s not right. 

Eating like a fit mom doesn’t have to mean shocking your family with a fully updated meal plan. Let’s look at some simple things you can do to eat healthier.

Replace dish ingredients. Have a stress-free diet change by changing fattier meat for lean meat, steaming instead of frying, replacing the kind of oil you use, buying fresh produce, etc.

Eat the right snacks. Snacking is actually healthy. It keeps your metabolism running and doesn’t let you get so hungry you binge during the main meal. Pick fruits, nuts, and other healthy snacks instead. 

Stop Being Too Hard On Yourself

An unfinished to-do list can really wear us down. The truth is, mothers have a wide range of responsibilities with not a lot of time. How can you stop being so hard on yourself?

Reduce the coffee and sugar. The temporary highs and lows of caffeine and sugar make self-doubt and downward spiraling easier.

Have one goal at a time. Sometimes this week is about sorting the daily menu. Sometimes the next week is helping your child prepare for exams. Don’t overdo the goal-setting.

Listen to those who love you. If a friend or partner is suggesting you’re expecting too much of yourself, they might be right. Let them encourage you and help you rest!

Find Good Social Support

“Yes! You can do it!” “Hey, have you worked out today? Want to have a co-workout session?”

Not everyone will understand why you want to add working out or fitness to all the other things on your plate, especially as a mother. Try to find mothers or even fitness coaches who are committed to helping you stick with your goals of being a healthier and happier mom. 

The Takeaway

It’s all about grabbing the opportunity and enjoying the moment. Fitness is supposed to help you release stress and have a better quality of life. Take it slow and just keep going!

Coping skills are strategies used during stressful situations and moments with high emotional intensity. The newer generations of children are dealing with significant levels of stress. One of the most valuable gifts we can bestow on children is teaching them strong coping skills to carry them through the rough times. Here are eight tips for raising a resilient kid.

1. Ask them how they’re feeling

From an early age, parents can help children learn how to address their feelings. When a toddler is throwing a tantrum, one of the best supports is providing soothing words and providing words for emotions. “Oh honey, your face is so hot and pink. Let’s fan it to cool it down. You seem upset, so we’re going just to take some deep breathes so we can figure out how to help you”. As they get older, using emojis or making faces in a mirror helps children identify emotions. Teaching emotion identification helps them read others as well to gain a better understanding of social cues. As communication skills increase, children can express how they feel; they just may need an audience to help them process the big stuff. A fabulous parent trick can simply be to ask them how they are feeling and then just listen.

2. Know their emotional triggers

Parents know their child best and know what can set off a meltdown. Help children learn to identify their emotional triggers to learn how to steer clear or self soothe. Some emotions become too big to hold in and need to be released. Coping skills help children remove the steam valve. So meltdowns become less frequent or are avoided altogether. If your child seems to tantrum more when tired, leave chores, homework, and even conversations to another time. As your child identifies feelings of tired he may be better able to cope with becoming more proficient in soothing the frustration, so it simmers rather than bubbles over. 

3. Discuss an advance warning

Like many adults, children are creatures of habit. They enjoy routines and like to know what’s coming next. For changes big and small, children do best when parents provide fair warnings for changes. Talk to children about whatever change is coming by using age-appropriate vocabulary, so your child understands. Highlight things that may be fun or exciting, the bright side. Make sure to provide time and space to talk about any concerns they may have. You can even leave out a notebook where all family members can ask questions. Parents can answer questions or address them at a particular family discussion. The most important thing is for parents to give as much warning as possible to help get their child ready.

4. Encourage them to try new things

Even for adults, trying new things can be scary or intimidating in the least. How do you help your chid tread a little further into a new skill? A growth mindset is a great place to start. Teach children the power of yet rather than focusing on perfection. Children who embrace mistakes are more willing to try new things. Children are more open to learning from mistakes with the fear of failure gone than simmering in disappointment. It is the emotional equivalent of getting back up, shaking off the dust, and trying again. Remind them they can always take a break and come back and give it a shot.

5. Take a seat and listen to them.

Sometimes the best thing we can say is nothing. While parents are often the problem solvers in children’s lives, parents also need to know when to stand back and take a moment just to listen and support the child’s own problem-solving. While some children may be more open to talking, others may need some help. Art is a great way to help children let down their walls and talk. A parent can sit and color with the child and ask a few topical questions. As children color, they may be more open to talking.

6. Teach them positive self-talk

Parents become one of the first voices behind a child’s self-talk. Even if they fail, children complimented for trying are more likely to go out and try again. Help children create self-affirming self-talk with a growth mindset. Use printables for kids to create artwork with affirmations and heartfelt intentions—model positive self-talk with yourself with a daily morning affirmation for the whole family.

7. Practice the “breathing in a box” method

Help children practice mindfulness with a breathing activity. Katie Lear provides “breathing in a box” as an example for helping children learn to self regulate. Her box breathing requires drawing a box. Your child moves their finger up the side of the box with a breath count of 4. They then hold then breathe for a count of four following the next side of the box. They will then follow the next wall releasing the breath with a count of four. This breathing continues as long as they need it. Mindful breathing and repetition help create a sense of calm. They continue around the walls of the box.

8. Spend extra time with your kids

Another way to build healthy coping skills is with strong, meaningful relationships. Children who feel connected to others can experience less anxiety and stress. Having parents around more help create bonding moments and allow more natural, less rushed, interactions. Busy schedules don’t always allow us to indulge in more time with our children, but you can make the most of the time you do have. Even an extra five minutes at bedtime can mean the world to your child.

Some of the most resilient children aren’t necessarily the straight-A students or the best quarterbacks; they’re the children who continue to get back up when they fail. They’re the children who can go from red-faced angry to cool as a cucumber through breathing and other mindfulness techniques. These types of healthy coping skills help your child learn how to endure stressful situations without becoming dysregulated. They also help your children enjoy the journey rather than worry about it.