Following through on a punitive measure not only gives the child a choice, it also puts the behavior in their hands. They made a choice so your follow-through is based on that choice. So be sure that you: A question commonly posed is, "When is my child old enough to begin hiking and camping?" The answer depends on your child. No two personalities are the same; no two children the same. What may work for one family may not work for another.

Ages 10-13: Children in this age range are becoming increasingly conditioned physically. Emotionally, they are more likely to be able to handle moderately challenging situations, but they are also more likely to question the worth of anything extremely difficult. Hikes up to 10 miles are possible as long as the terrain is not too hilly or mountainous. Children in this age group thrive on being the leader — diplomatic and judicious support from parents is key. Menu planning, route finding, cooking, and camp setup are reasonable tasks to assign to kids at this age, but be careful that they do not take on too much and begin to feel like all they are doing is working.I can and will find a responsible babysitter so that I can have some one-on-one adult time once in a while. Concern for your children is good. But don’t be so protective of your children that you forget how fun kids can be. Laughing is great. It makes you feel good, it relieves stress, and it makes life a lot more fun. Is There an End to this Game? Every person is unique in what their goals might be, but here are some considerations and tips to ensure you get started on the right foot:

Don’t say, Do that one more time and you’ll regret it. It sounds nice because it gives you an out; you’re not bound to do anything linked to that threat. But it’s better if you say instead, If you choose to do that one more time, then I’m not allowing AJ to spend the night tonight. Then if the child chooses to do the dastardly deed one more time, your follow-through is to say, You chose to do (whatever). Because you made that choice, AJ doesn’t get to spend the night. Then follow through by not allowing AJ to spend the night.Your baby’s first year is a time of wonder, joy, and uncertainty. You’ll learn not to panic every time your baby cries, but there are times when your bundle of joy needs a doctor’s attention right away. Eventually, my baby will learn to walk, eat on their own, and have a life all their own — these infant days are fleeting and precious. The basic rules of communication are that you be specific about what you want and that you don’t babble when you say it. Having patience really means planning ahead, understanding the way children operate, and understanding your own issues and problems enough so that you can recognize that the things kids do that bug you are actually your own problems. They are just being kids and are programmed to do and act a certain way. Patience actually means understanding these things ahead of time and working with the situations that you find are bugging you. If you’re calm, relaxed, and don’t overreact to broken dishes and other such events, your children are likely to be calm and relaxed. On the other hand, if you’re nervous and tense, your children are likely to be nervous and tense.

One thing you need to understand about the parenting game is that you must take on some new and important duties. Sure, you can still be yourself, but parenting requires you to understand that regardless of whether you want to accept these new duties, they nevertheless are yours, and it’s for your and your kids’ benefit that you do them well. Think about your best friend. Ask yourself how this person became your best friend? You probably just spent a lot of time together, had fun, and, the next thing you knew, you were friends. The same thing can happen with your children. Raising kids isn’t the time to be selfish with your time or energy. It’s the time when you make time to be with and do things with your kids. Remember bullet Taking a good look at yourself as you develop a way of taking the time to practice how you’re going to answer the ageless and ongoing question, Why does this bug me? My pediatrician will not think I’m unintelligent for asking questions about my child’s development. Baby has a cut that is still bleeding after you’ve applied pressure for ten minutes; or the cut has jagged edges, is a puncture wound, is significant and located on their face, or is in an area where it’s unlikely to stay closed by itself (a joint, for example).The Parenting Game never actually ends. Soon your kids will be older and have kids of their own. Then you’ll start all over with the I-told-you-so’s, which are a grandparent’s right (and which you’re probably getting enough of right now). Create a step-by-step plan with a timeline. If you don’t include a timeline, it’s much easier to put it off. Let your kids help you. Even if that means letting them stir flour all over your counter when you’re cooking. Going to the store and cleaning house together can also be fun. Such a strategy not only shows your children that work can be fun, it also helps them discover essential skills and enables you to spend time developing your relationship with your child. I must point out, in all fairness, that just because you get to the point and are specific about your requests, children don’t always listen. They have their own wants and desires, too, and they may not be the same as yours. The Egyptians knew that to make the whole pyramid concept work, they had to start with a strong, solid base. This base had to be all-encompassing and broad enough to handle the weight of everything that went on top of it. Making a good pyramid took a long time. Many attempts at building pyramids failed, but those aren’t the structures that you see in pictures or get to tour.

Be prepared to get down and dirty with your children. Experience the outdoors with them — don't just watch them. Parents shouldn't scold their children for getting up close and personal with a mud puddle, dirt, a bug, or more. Become childlike in your pursuit of the outdoors and your children will appreciate even more the time you spend together in the wilds. Your child has sustained a head injury and has lost consciousness; has dilated or uneven pupils; is extremely irritable (inconsolable) or lethargic (unable to wake); is very pale; seems confused or unable to perform his usual activities; or has discharge from his ear(s). Infant: Pediatricians recommend that parents wait until the child is 5 months old before venturing into the wilderness. This is when a child can easily sit up and support their own weight and has fallen into a fairly regular sleep pattern. Use a sturdy child carrier that is safe and secure for the child and comfortable for you. Hover. Toddlers and some preschoolers are more mobile and independent than infants. You can no longer hold onto them and meet all their needs. But their newfound mobility and independence can also be their undoing. They are vulnerable to all sorts of hazards, from falling and hitting their head to walking blindly through a busy parking lot. They need you to hover and to intervene when their small adventures put them in harm’s way.Idle hands get into trouble. So do neglected hands. If your children are bored with nothing to do, or if they’re craving your attention, they’ll find their own means of entertainment and ways to attract your attention. They’ll sort all your CDs; crawl into the fireplace, get sooty, and then crawl on the carpet; they’ll even paint the cabinets with peanut butter. But these activities aren’t the kid’s fault. They’re simply innocent, time-consuming acts of kids being kids and being creative. When they get older, their boredom leads to a loss of energy and depression, which ultimately can lead to kids cruising Main Street or sitting on top of cars in vacant parking lots. The extreme side of boredom and attention-grabbing techniques may even lead to drinking, premarital sex, and experimentation with drugs. Kids as young as 7 and 8 are being approached by drug dealers these days. That really is scary stuff! You may see this as manipulation, which wouldn’t be far from the truth. But, remember that children are masters of manipulation. Therefore staying on top of their manipulation is your job. Manipulating your children’s behavior, or behavior management, keeps your children happy, safe, and out of trouble by enabling you to be a part of their daily activities, attitudes, and environment. Being a new parent can make you feel more than a little frazzled. During your baby’s first year, take advantage of whatever helps, including the affirmations in the following list. Repeat them whenever the need arises. And expect the need to arise often.