Sharing The Best Resources & Tools

CAROLE AND NADIM SAAD, CO-FOUNDERS OF BEST OF PARENTING

As the parents of three children, struggling like so many others to find a balanced and effective parenting style, we turned away from all the parenting fads and studied the hard scientific evidence on what really works. The techniques we learnt were so life changing, yet so straightforward, that we made it our mission to convert them into powerful step by step tools and make them available to parents world over. Read more about the philosophy behind Best of Parenting.

Sharing The Best Resources & Tools

CAROLE AND NADIM SAAD, CO-FOUNDERS OF BEST OF PARENTING

As the parents of three children, struggling like so many others to find a balanced and effective parenting style, we turned away from all the parenting fads and studied the hard scientific evidence on what really works. The techniques we learnt were so life changing, yet so straightforward, that we made it our mission to convert them into powerful step by step tools and make them available to parents world over. Read more about the philosophy behind Best of Parenting.

Mealtime – Refusing to stop playing

January 2nd, 2014 | 3 to 6 years | Short Tips and Quotes | Mealtime |

A toy car roaring across the table whilst we are trying to eat can most annoying. We suggest, wherever possible, to make mealtimes a bit of an occasion for fun and laughter so that no-one gets distracted!

Here is a sample of some of our easy and effective tools for solving this issue

This works really well:

SET A RULE

  • Set a ‘no toys at the table’ rule (which applies to everyone) in a non-confrontational way.
  • Explain the rule: for example: “In this house, we do not bring toys at the dinner table because meals are for conversation as well as eating.”
  • We should set rules using the third person (making them sound less like reprimands) whilst keeping the statement positive and full of  empathy (ideally don’t set the rule during a confrontation with our child!).
  • Ask your child(ren) to repeat the new rule.

Here is another suggestion:

GIVE A CHOICE:

  • Ideally children need time to finish activities that they are immersed in, so it’s important and respectful to anticipate the issue and give them a bit of time to do that.
  • You can allow your children to feel some control over their lives by asking them to choose between two options that suit you.
  • For example:  “Would you like to eat now or in two minutes?”

Then you could try:

“I” STATEMENT

  • An “I” Statement is a non-negotiable statement and one that you can always enforce.
  • For example:  “I will keep the dinner on the table for another ten minutes after which the meal is over” (you could even use a timer!).
  • Your statement needs to start with “I” or “my” (and if speaking for the family or couple, it starts with “we” or “our”).

 

These are just a few examples of our Best of Parenting Tools. You can find more ideas and solutions to typical parenting challenges in our book ‘Kids Don’t Come With a Manual – The Essential Guide to a Happy Family Life‘. 

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Mealtime – Refusing to stop playing

January 2nd, 2014 | 3 to 6 years | Mealtime |

A toy car roaring across the table whilst we are trying to eat can most annoying. We suggest, wherever possible, to make mealtimes a bit of an occasion for fun and laughter so that no-one gets distracted!

Here is a sample of some of our easy and effective tools for solving this issue

This works really well:

SET A RULE

  • Set a ‘no toys at the table’ rule (which applies to everyone) in a non-confrontational way.
  • Explain the rule: for example: “In this house, we do not bring toys at the dinner table because meals are for conversation as well as eating.”
  • We should set rules using the third person (making them sound less like reprimands) whilst keeping the statement positive and full of  empathy (ideally don’t set the rule during a confrontation with our child!).
  • Ask your child(ren) to repeat the new rule.

Here is another suggestion:

GIVE A CHOICE:

  • Ideally children need time to finish activities that they are immersed in, so it’s important and respectful to anticipate the issue and give them a bit of time to do that.
  • You can allow your children to feel some control over their lives by asking them to choose between two options that suit you.
  • For example:  “Would you like to eat now or in two minutes?”

Then you could try:

“I” STATEMENT

  • An “I” Statement is a non-negotiable statement and one that you can always enforce.
  • For example:  “I will keep the dinner on the table for another ten minutes after which the meal is over” (you could even use a timer!).
  • Your statement needs to start with “I” or “my” (and if speaking for the family or couple, it starts with “we” or “our”).

 

These are just a few examples of our Best of Parenting Tools. You can find more ideas and solutions to typical parenting challenges in our book ‘Kids Don’t Come With a Manual – The Essential Guide to a Happy Family Life‘. 

Loading...

Mealtime – Refusing to stop playing

January 2nd, 2014 | 3 to 6 years | Short Tips and Quotes | Mealtime |

A toy car roaring across the table whilst we are trying to eat can most annoying. We suggest, wherever possible, to make mealtimes a bit of an occasion for fun and laughter so that no-one gets distracted!

Here is a sample of some of our easy and effective tools for solving this issue

This works really well:

SET A RULE

  • Set a ‘no toys at the table’ rule (which applies to everyone) in a non-confrontational way.
  • Explain the rule: for example: “In this house, we do not bring toys at the dinner table because meals are for conversation as well as eating.”
  • We should set rules using the third person (making them sound less like reprimands) whilst keeping the statement positive and full of  empathy (ideally don’t set the rule during a confrontation with our child!).
  • Ask your child(ren) to repeat the new rule.

Here is another suggestion:

GIVE A CHOICE:

  • Ideally children need time to finish activities that they are immersed in, so it’s important and respectful to anticipate the issue and give them a bit of time to do that.
  • You can allow your children to feel some control over their lives by asking them to choose between two options that suit you.
  • For example:  “Would you like to eat now or in two minutes?”

Then you could try:

“I” STATEMENT

  • An “I” Statement is a non-negotiable statement and one that you can always enforce.
  • For example:  “I will keep the dinner on the table for another ten minutes after which the meal is over” (you could even use a timer!).
  • Your statement needs to start with “I” or “my” (and if speaking for the family or couple, it starts with “we” or “our”).

 

These are just a few examples of our Best of Parenting Tools. You can find more ideas and solutions to typical parenting challenges in our book ‘Kids Don’t Come With a Manual – The Essential Guide to a Happy Family Life‘. 

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Related articles: