.

Dr. Noel Swanson.'s Articles in Parenting

  • Help! My Child Watches Too Much TV.
    Television is a fact of life, and there are few families that don't have one, or that never watch one. Television can also be educational, informative, and uplifting. But, let's face it - the vast majority of what is shown on TV is pure drivel - it is far from uplifting or educational, and often portrays behavior that would be quite unacceptable in most social circles. Even worse, it often portrays that behavior as normal, or even desirable.
  • Consistency is a Virtue that Pays Rich Dividends
    If there is one thing that most parents have issues with regarding child discipline, it is being consistent. It is one of the more difficult child discipline aspects of parenting. If you, as a parent, can get over the initial hurdles to being consistent, there are a number of benefits waiting for you.
  • Consistency is the key to eliminate child behavior problems
    The importance of consistency in parenting can never be over-emphasized. It is the most essential requirement as far as child discipline is concerned. Any lapse will cause heavy damage in terms of reverting to bad behavior by the child. Yet, it cannot be denied that maintaining consistency is also the most arduous task. After all, parents are but human and children can sometimes drive you up the wall. Nonetheless, if you, as a parent, can get over the initial hurdles to being consistent, there are a number of benefits waiting for you.
  • Eliminating children's behavioral problems
    Expectations are important in life as they form the foundation of our conduct and behavior. Parents have expectations that form a vague picture of what their children should grow up to be. These expectations are formed unconsciously from our own wants and desires.
  • Solving child behavior and child discipline problems
    The rule of the thumb is that rewards work better than punishments in establishing child discipline. Parents need to lay more stress on positive reinforcement rather than punishment for bad behavior. Many people view discipline as a punishment system but that is not necessarily so. Indeed, you can eliminate punishment altogether if you reward good behavior. Children, no matter how big they are, always seek parental approval. Punishment, on the other hand, makes them defiant, stubborn and obstinate.
  • Handling Teenagers
    Parents look forward to their child reaching the teenage years with much excitement and many expectations. While children become more independent as teenagers physically, but emotionally and psychologically they need more attention. This is the stage when the adolescent feels confused about various things. The first thing that confuses them is that they are not children any more and not adults yet. For parents this stage is joyful as well as a situation that brings with it new and interesting child discipline challenges.
  • Working together - Team Work as a Parenting Skill
    Kids learn from example; and if you can involve your children in the household activities, you gain on several counts: they share your burden of work; they get your time and attention; and they learn to work as a team. The best parenting advice is to work together in raising your children and establishing child discipline. Children are children; and whether they are your own or your spouse’s kids from a previous relationship, it is the duty of the two people who make up their parents to work together to form their children's discipline plan.
  • Help! My Child Won't go to School
    "My nine-year old daughter has started to dread going to school. She always has a head or tummy ache, and ends up missing two or three days a week. When I tell her she has to go, she acts as if she's truly afraid, and cries and screams. We don't know what to do."