Category: Parenting

Transitions can be tough for human beings, especially young children who struggle to control their emotions. Humans are creatures of habit, inclined to develop routines. This is especially true for kids. With kids, however, it can be difficult to break them out of a routine and move on to another phase of their life.

To put it quite simply, transitions occur when children have to stop one activity and move away from a routine to proceed to other activities or through life changes. One of the most prominent transitions kids go through is when they graduate from preschool and transition to big school. In the latter, they’ll face more challenges, like gaining independence, lessening their tendency to hover by their parents, and getting used to many more classmates, to name a few.

Dealing with this can be challenging for a parent, too, but you both can work through this as a team. Here are ways to help children cope better with transitions and routine changes.

Communicate With Your Child

Communicating with your child is the only way for you to be aware of their feelings. Children go through transitions differently; some have it easy, while others find it a bit more challenging. Talk to your child as they go through this significant change in their life so you know what they’re feeling and what you can do to help them.

In most instances, transitions are hard for kids because of their fears. If you can help calm down their fears by assuring them that they don’t have to go through this change alone, they won’t have to dread the transition so much.

With your narrative, you can change the scenario from negative to positive, where this time around, your child will be looking forward to this new phase in their life.

Make Goodbyes Easier

Goodbyes are always the hardest for children, mainly because they find comfort in being with their parents. If this transition is going to be their first time away from you, you can expect the situation to be even more challenging.

Make goodbyes easier by helping them understand that you’re not going away. It’s just a temporary goodbye for at least a few hours. When they’re done with school, you’ll be there outside the school gate, for instance, waiting for them.

That being said, it’s essential to be consistent and punctual. Remember dismissal time, and be sure to wait before that time. If you’re late, you’re only making the transition harder for your kid because they’ll have added fears that no one’s coming to pick them up.

Allow Them To Join In The Preparation

If the transition is due to moving to another state (or home), as stressful as it might be, let the kids join in every decision-making whenever possible. The same holds for big schools. Take them with you as you do school supplies shopping, where you also give them a chance to choose their school supplies.

The more involved the children are, the less foreign this change will feel to them. They can be more attuned to enjoying the whole process because they know what to expect. They’d likely be excited to move into their new home to enjoy their new room or look forward to a new school so they can use the supplies they’ve just bought.

These are only little things that go a long way in helping ease the negative emotions a kid feels about any major life transitions.

Validate Your Kid’s Feelings

Parents often worry that their kid’s big feelings get amplified if they validate them. However, the opposite is true. Having someone genuinely understand their feelings allows children to process their emotions better and eventually let go.

This suggestion, therefore, goes hand in hand with communicating with your child. When you do so, you’re not just talking to them and getting a grasp of what they feel but also validating how they feel: ‘It’s okay, sweetie. Mom’s been there too. I understand you. I’ve also had to move from kindergarten to first grade in a new school.’

Sometimes, kids need to feel understood. And when you give them that, you’re also enabling a newfound sense of confidence they may have never even thought they’d be able to gather.

Smoother Transition To Help Your Child

True enough, change is the only constant thing in this world. It’s often labeled as inevitable, which children and adults will eventually face at certain points in their lives. This is where transitions come in. For children, transitions can be a stressful time, where they’ll find it hard to navigate through their emotions and adjust to what is the new norm in life. Try out the strategies above so that, hopefully, you can foster a smoother transition for your kid and the whole family going through the same.

Sending your child to daycare for the first time?  Explore strategies to help your child adjust.

When you and your partner are expecting a baby, numerous changes will take place in your life. You’ll need to baby-proof your house, buy new clothes and items for the incoming infant, as well as the need to make significant adjustments to your daily routine.

But these changes don’t end inside the home. Having a child also means making changes to your car to make travelling easy with a baby in tow.

You don’t necessarily need to buy a new car. You just have to make installations and improvements to accommodate the needs and safety of your child. Childproofing your car ensures your child is comfortable when you take them on a quick drive or road trip.

Have Car Seat

The car seat is the first item you need to install in your car. Choosing from numerous types, designs, and colours can be endless and overwhelming, especially for first-time parents.

You must remember that when choosing a car seat, you must consider what is appropriate for your child. Consider your child’s weight, height, and age. If you’re looking for a car seat 0 to 8 years old appropriate, a convertible car seat, a convertible booster seat, or unharnessed booster seat are the best options.

These three types of car seats are the most popular among parents:

• A convertible car seat is suitable for newborns up to 4 years old. It is used in a rear-facing position for infants and a forward-facing position for children.
• A convertible booster seat is suitable for a six-month-old baby up to eight years old child. It can be used forward-facing with a five-point harness or as a booster seat.
• Unharnessed booster seat children are used by 4 to 8 years old children. It is suitable for children who have outgrown the convertible booster seat.

Place Cargo Carrier

Adding a cargo carrier to your car’s roof is a smart decision when you become a parent. Travelling with a child means bringing multiple things. These include a bag containing nappies, milk bottles, clothes, toys, and a baby stroller.

Most baby strollers usually do not fit inside the car or the trunk. Some even consume a lot of space, even when folded, have wheels, and have quite a wide dimension. Having a cargo carrier on the car’s roof means you can tie the baby stroller and bring it where you’ll be going.

Install Dash and Backup Camera

Installing a dash and backup camera records the activities happening outside your car. Backup cameras are beneficial when you’re parking. It helps you see animals or obstacles that your blind spot obstructs. This ensures a smooth parking experience for your child, free from bumps and unending car rotations.

A dash camera also ensures your and your child’s safety on the road. When driving, you can only control your speed and driving skills. You can’t control and don’t know how people around you will drive.

The dash camera records the roads where you’re cruising along, your car’s movements, as well as the cars in front of you, and could come in handy for security purposes in case you’re involved in an accident.

Change Car Bulbs 

It’s also time to change the bulbs not only in the car lights outside but also the lights inside the car. Installing new bulbs for the car lights lets you see the road clearly. You’ll be able to spot incoming vehicles on the other side and the people or bicycles you’ll pass by. This helps ensure you and your child come home in one piece.

Chasing the light inside the car is also beneficial. It would be easier to locate nappies, milk bottles, or toys inside your baby bag when the light inside that car is bright. You’ll be able to easily spot things since you can clearly see where they’re located.

Add Window Deflectors

Using window deflectors lets you and your child feel and enjoy fresh air regardless of the weather. It keeps the windows cracked when it’s raining and deflects the sun away from your and your child’s eyes on a scorching day. Window deflectors also reduce interior wind noise, heat, and fog.

GPS Tracker

A GPS tracker in the car helps you track where you have been. This is a precaution in case you leave something important like a document or the baby stroller somewhere. Tracing your steps with a GPS tracker and retrieving the lost item would be easier.

It also helps in theft and robbery protection. When you have this installed in your car, you can connect it to your phone and check if your car is still where you parked it. You can easily report to the police authorities the location of your stolen car as manifested in your phone.

Final Thoughts

For parents, updating car features is a must for child safety. This means installing a car seat, changing the car bulbs, and placing a cargo carrier. It also means adding the window deflectors, installing the dash and backup camera, and getting the GPS tracker for easier and safer driving. These are made to ensure your child’s well-being is taken care of. This is your reality, and your child’s comfort is now your top priority.

If you’re ever approached by your child and they have dreams of entertaining the world online by starting their own YouTube channel, you must do your research. While there are some perks to becoming an influencer, caution is always necessary. Let’s look at how your kid can become a YouTuber without compromising on safety.

Consider the Benefits of YouTube

Some parents can too easily shout out a resounding “no” when their kids say they want to start a YouTube channel. Usually, it’s because they think YouTubing is not worth the time or that there are better passions to pursue. However, YouTube is growing by leaps and bounds with billions of users around the world. Countless content creators are making a good living just by posting their opinions and content a few times per week.

In fact, there are many ways that kids and adults alike can make money on YouTube, including by getting enough views and subscriptions so you can join their partner program. Once a member, creators make money by running ads during the videos. The more viewers, the more money. There’s also the possibility of making money by selling products and merchandise, asking fans for donations, and adding affiliate links in the description of the videos.

Keep in mind that if your child is under 18, they are not eligible to join the YouTube partnership program themselves. Instead, you will need to sign the contract as a parent or guardian.

Even if they don’t become famous, your kids can learn many skills when working as a YouTuber, including video production, public speaking, sound editing, and more. Tech skills like these will continue to be relevant as time passes. So if your kiddo can dip their toe in the pond and learn a few things, then they could have a great career even outside of YouTube.

So, inquire further and take the time to ask your kids what they want to do on YouTube. Ask about the type of content they are thinking of producing. If it seems age-appropriate and they agree that you can monitor their channel along the way, then consider letting them try.

Learn about how to make a clear presentation: (Explainer Video)

Monitor Their Work

If you have younger children, especially those under 13, then it’s essential that you’re there with them every time they upload and open up their videos to comments. The general rule is that it’s not illegal for a child under 13 to create a YouTube channel. Still, the parents must be aware of the account and cognizant that data can be collected from that account.

Even so, it’s wise for you to be there when they get set up so you can help them to choose an appropriate username. Although your child may make age-appropriate videos, they can still see other content if they are not using Restricted Mode on YouTube. Be sure to turn this mode on and turn off AutoPlay to ensure your child does not view inappropriate content.

Once your children start posting online, continue to monitor the videos that they make and create a strict rule where they cannot upload until you have reviewed it and provided the OK. From this point, it’s essential that you monitor their activity, especially when it comes to the comments section.

While your children may get some positive feedback, people can be mean in the comments section, and many will take any chance they get to tell your child that they don’t like the video. Although some constructive criticism is okay from time to time, constant negativity can impact your child’s mental health and force them to quit YouTube or cause other issues down the line. When the comments get too out of control, disable them.

Staying Safe Along The Way

If you take the time to monitor your child’s activity and keep negativity contained, then becoming a YouTuber is generally a safe endeavor. However, just like with any online activity, there can be threats and risks. For instance, it’s important to set boundaries about if, when, and where it is appropriate for your child to livestream videos.

When your kids start having a more significant presence online, they’ll also be subjected to more cybercrime, including phishing scams. You should expect occasional emails from hackers pretending to be YouTube administrators who try to trick you by saying how your account has been suspended and that you must click a link to clear up the situation. However, when you click, you open a doorway to the hacker into your system, and from there, they can cause havoc in your larger home network.

To prevent this and other scams, try some anti-phishing best practices, starting with educating your kids on how to spot these scams. In addition to spelling mistakes and unexpected messages, you need to check the domain the emails are coming from If the message doesn’t come from YouTube or Google, avoid further action. Adding extra protection onto your child’s device just in case a hacker tries to gain access, like two-factor authentication or robust antivirus software.

It can be daunting when your kids first approach you and ask to start a YouTube channel but remember not to be too fast to shut them down. Ask questions, encourage them when necessary, take steps to keep them safe, and they can be successful.

About the Author
Katie Brenneman is a passionate writer specializing in education, mental health, family lifestyle and online safety. When she isn’t writing, you can find her with her nose buried in a book or hiking with her dog, Charlie. You can follow her on Twitter.

Though it’s developmentally normal for children to lose their belongings, as a parent, you may be tired of almost constantly replacing or hunting down lost items. It’s never too late to start teaching your child to actively take responsibility for their possessions – and it may save you a lot of money and time down the road.

If you are considering giving your child a brand-new tablet or their first smartphone, you may be wary of trusting them with such a big (and expensive!) responsibility. In this article, we will discuss the reasons children are so prone to losing their things, how you can mitigate it, and how to instill responsible habits that your child will carry with them their whole life.

Why Children Lose Things

Children lose things for a variety of reasons, and it’s important to understand the root causes to help address the problem.

One common reason is the simplest: forgetfulness. Children have a lot on their minds, and it can be challenging for them to remember everything they need to keep track of. This forgetfulness can be compounded by a lack of organizational skills, which can make it difficult for them to keep track of their belongings.

Distraction is also a common culprit when it comes to lost items. This is one you can probably relate to as a parent – how many times have you set down your phone while distracted with another task, only to completely forget where you’d put it?

If your child is neurodivergent in any way, they may struggle with keeping track of their possessions as well. Children with ADHD are especially prone to forgetfulness and distraction – talk with your child’s pediatrician to find the best ways to instill responsibility. .

Teaching Children Responsibility

Responsibility is a skill that needs to be taught like any other. Effectively teaching your children to be responsible may seem like an uphill battle, but a few tried-and-true techniques will make it easy.

One of the most effective methods of teaching responsibility is modeling. When you model responsibility by taking care of your own belongings, fulfilling your commitments, and taking ownership of your mistakes, you implicitly teach your children how to be responsible and dependable.

Children learn by observation, and seeing you act responsibly inspires them to do the same.

Another effective method is introducing gradual, low-stakes responsibilities. Assigning tasks such as cleaning up their toys, making their beds, or helping with household chores can help children build good habits and learn the value of their contributions. Give lots of positive reinforcement to make sure the good behavior continues!

Determining Age-Appropriate Responsibilities

Determining age-appropriate responsibilities is a crucial aspect of teaching children responsibility. You want to set your child up for success, not give them an unrealistic challenge.

When it comes to introducing new technology, such as a tablet, smartphone, or laptop, it’s important to consider your child’s maturity level rather than just their age. Some children may be ready for the responsibility of owning and using devices at a younger age, while others may not be ready until they are older.

Before giving your child a new device, ensure that they understand the value and importance of the device, as well as the rules for using it. This includes when it can be used, how long it can be used for, what apps and websites are allowed, and what parental controls are in place. You want to give them clear and explicit expectations for using the device; this makes it easier to enforce boundaries later on.

Some children may not be ready for certain responsibilities, even if they are the appropriate age for them. It’s important for parents to recognize their child’s strengths and weaknesses. For example, a child who struggles with organization may not be ready for the responsibility of owning a small, easy-to-lose smartphone; however, they may do well with a tablet or laptop that stays in one spot all day.

What to Do When Something Breaks

No matter how responsible a child is, accidents happen, and things can break. It’s essential to have a plan in place for what to do when something breaks, whether it’s a toy, a piece of technology, or something else.

One option is to try to fix the item. Parents can teach their children the value of taking care of their belongings by involving them in the repair process and showing them how to fix things when possible.

Another option is to replace the item, either with a new one or a refurbished one. Refurbished technology, in particular, can be a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly option for parents on a budget. Make sure you discuss with your children the financial implications of replacing broken items and involve them in the decision-making process after an item has been broken.

If the item broke due to carelessness or neglect, though, use it as a teachable moment. Your child may have to go without a tablet or smartphone for a few weeks while they earn back the item’s value through chores.

Conclusion

Remember that every child is different and may require different approaches to learning responsibility. Adjust your approach based on what works best for your child, and always work to set them up for success.

It can be frustrating when children repeatedly lose or misplace their belongings, but it’s important to approach the situation with compassion and understanding. By modeling responsibility, determining age-appropriate responsibilities, and setting children up for success, parents can help their children become more responsible and appreciate the value of their possessions.