Picture of me on the family ski vacation

Not the best skier in the family....

Toddler and Family Dog

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The Family Dog

(funny-pictures-blog.com)

Genius!

(inthemomlight.com)

6 ways to Laugh with your Children

bookwormsbookshelf.blogspot.com

It's important to laugh with your kids.  It teaches them how to have a healthy perspective, to not take themselves too seriously, and to have fun.  It's also really great bonding time and is a great way to break up tense moments, and it can help a child lower their guard, so that he feels safe confiding in you.  Here are 5 ways we like to laugh together.

1. Tell your "Best, Worst, and Wierdest" moments of the day during dinner

2. Watch hilarious Youtube videos together.

3. Watch funny clean humor shows like Studio C.

4. Read comics like Calvin and Hobbes together.

5. Email each other funny internet pictures like the one above.

6. On Sunday nights, we like to read aloud from funny authors like Dave Barry or Patrick McMannus.

What are your favorite ways to share humor with your family?

Funny!

(bestwallfun.com)

Should you Spank your Child?

(topricin.wordpress.com)

This is a hot topic that inspires debate, but my inclination is to say...probably not.  In raising five children, I have tried spanking, but it never worked well.  Punishment usually drives the behavior underground, and also gives the child a reason to think, well I paid for my misbehavior.  He won't feel the good type of guilt that will help him not repeat the behavior.  Also, if spanking is done in anger it teaches a child that it's all right to strike someone when you get angry.  Children learn more from what we do than what we say.

A better way is teaching, listening, and when necessary taking away priveleges, such as freedom, a toy, or driving the car.  If your young child is having trouble sharing, listen to him, teach him a better way, ask him how to solve the problem.  Then if the problem continues, you can take the toy away until he and his sibling figure out a way to solve their problem.

If your teen is having trouble turning in assignments, or getting to school on time, talk to them.  Ask them to find ways to solve the problem, and be willing to try them.  If the child seems unwilling to change, you may have to take away the car or his iphone until the behavior gets better.  Always teach that this is because priveleges come with fulfilling one's responsiblities.  This is how the real world works, and if they learn it at home, it will help them to be successful in the world.

Teaching, not punishing, will preserve the strong parent-child relationship that helps you to have influence over your children.

True

(Purple Clover)