After having a child, your whole approach to dating can change. Firstly, it’s difficult enough to find the time for a love life amongst all of the new demands on your time. Secondly, children can be a great confidence-killer – being a parent doesn’t exactly make you feel attractive, especially for women experiencing the physical changes. Thirdly, you may start to feel that you can only date other parents who are sympathetic to yourcircumstances.

All of these elements can lead you to lower your expectations from dating, leading you to rush into things and settle for people who aren’t necessarily right for you. This really shouldn’t be the case – everyone should have a shot at finding love, single parent or not. Here are a few steps to take to get you closer to your soul mate…

Use the right tools:

Dating in the conventional way – by chance – is not an option as a single parent. You simply don’t have the time to sit around in bars being admired. Instead, you need to be proactive and use the right tools to get you what you want: let yourself be set-up with people, go speed dating. Also, think about using online dating sites. These allow you to browse through hundreds of potential matches and specify what you’re looking for – there are Christian dating sites, relationship sites – you name it, you’ll find it. These are massively time saving and hugely successful tools so get online!

Look in the right places:

If you never leave the house without your toddler in tow, it’s about time you hired a reliable babysitter. If you only hang out in parent-related places then the only people you’re likely to meet are other single parents. And they might not necessarily be right for you! Instead, start spending your time in the places you love doing the things you love. This way you’ll meet someone who has a commonality with your true personality, not just with your label as a parent.

Build the right image:

Spend a bit of time on your appearance before you start to date again. Assess your clothes, your make-up and how you hold yourself. Have they changed beyond recognition since you had kids? Try to work a bit of yourself back into your look, giving it that big bite of personality that will make you irresistible to the right person.

Take the right approach:

When you meet someone new, don’t jump in immediately with the parent angle. Parents have a habit of talking mainly about their children. You should definitely inform your date you have a child, but don’t start discussing the troubles they’ve been having with their maths homework. Instead, talk about you, what you like, your job – make it personal because that’s what they’ll fall in love with.

Don’t just settle for someone convenient. Whether it’s by using free dating sites or getting a makeover, you can find love as a single parent.

Kids, like adults, need their exercise. Just because they are young and their lifestyle is relatively a lot less stressful, it doesn’t mean we, as parents, should forego their physical routines. Exercises is good for the body in whatever age. And it would be really best if the kids get to exercise everyday, as much as adults do this.

Exercise benefits their young and active body because this will help build up stronger bones and muscles. Do remember that the kids are still developing their body and that a healthy physical activity does help.

The exercise routines need not be very complicated. There are plenty of exercise videos designed for kids available and they are especially fun for kids to do. Most of these routines involve simple dancing and moving about but it encourages the children to spend less time in front of the television or computer.

It may even be more fun if you participate in the exercise together with your children and make this a family event.

In fitness studios, there are special children’s class that you can enroll your kids into. By having them join this will also help boost their confidence and social skill level. It’s a good way for them to make friends, aside from building and toning their body that makes them feel really good about themselves.

Additionally, kids can also get involved with competitive sports as a form of exercise.

Image by OneInstant via Flickr

While many new parents have been there before, be it with their own children or a friends (or relative’s child) parenting classes really can still make a huge difference.

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Children take great pride in their ability to tell a joke, it’s a real boost to their self esteem. At home, jokes give children a moment of undivided attention from adults and older siblings. When a joke works and everyone laughs, it’s a moment of pure joy for a child. It can be very gratifying for kids when friends laugh at their jokes. Children ages 5-6 years are learning that being funny is one of the easiest ways to get other kids to like you. Plus, kindergartners and first graders love having information that others don’t and knowing the answer to a joke makes them feel powerful.

Appreciating friends’  jokes has emotional benefits too. When kids laugh at a joke, they share a sense of complicity. Five and 6 year olds are beginning to notice their peerd, and they’re very concerned about what they can and can’t do. Being able to get a joke shows them that they are just as smart and competent as other kids.

We should look on the bright side. People often assume that a sense of humor is something you’re born with or without, but experts insist it’s a skill that any kid can learn and master. Encourage your budding comedian by laughing at his jokes, even if they’re only marginally funny. Parents who joke around with their children, share funny incidents from their own day, and generally try to see the humor in life’s day to day challenges are more likely to raise children who like to laugh and can roll with the punches. Let’s encourage are children to appreciate the lighter side of life.

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It’s your role as a parent to let your child explore his surroundings. It is proven that the more you allow your child to discover things, the more they learn and it brings out the confidence in them. I remembered how I get so excited when we’re going in a fieldtrip. It felt good when I saw things in real life and not just in pictures. The same thing with your child, they need to see and feel things so that they’ll be able to associate with the words that you’ve taught them.

For example, she learned the word “flower” rather than just showing her pictures, why not go to a nearest flowerhouse greenhouse for her to experience the real thing. Fun should be part of learning, so let your child move around even if she gets dirty (don’t worry I’m sure she’ll learn from it.)The more she sees things, the more she gets enthusiastic.

• You can also try educational games for your child. It also serves as a bonding time for both of you. It’s such a rewarding moment when you witness your child’s “a-ha moments” and find yourself learning too.
• Going in different places like museums, malls, classrooms contributes to your child’s achievement. So a lot of encouragement and enthusiasm will help your child love learning.
• You may also schedule a play date with other kids. Your child will surely enjoy discovering a lot of things with his new playmates. Your little one will learn how to treat others in a nice way and she will also learn the value of sharing.
• You can even ask your child’s help you plant flowers in your backyard or try visiting sites that offers a cheap flowerhouse greenhouses so that you can make your own and let your child enjoy every minute of it.
• You can also team up with your child’s teacher. You can ask them to give you materials that will help your child get motivated in school.
• Try joining different workshops that will bring out your child’s talent. Learning to express herself is also an important thing.
• Buy her toys that will promote learning. Books should also be on your list because love for reading should be develop in an early age.
• Watching educational shows is a big help for young learners. I should know because I teach preschool kids and I’ve seen how these kinds of shows help my entire student in learning new words, actions, etc.
• During her playtime, let your imagination grow. Try making your own museum of your child’s doll and allow her to tour you. You can also make a mini flowerhouse greenhouse (I’m sure your kid will give you a helping hand), or you can create your own fun and active games.

These are just few insights that I know that can help you enjoy learning with your child. But still there are tons of fun things that you can do to help your little one. Discover new things and have fun.