The recent events around the world has, once again, reaffirm my belief that we are living on borrowed time here on earth and everything can be easily taken away from us. We keep ourselves so busy with other activities that sometimes, we sacrifice quality time that should be spent with our kids.

Even without all these threats of disasters and crisis, it must be every parent’s objective to really be able to bond with their children. Because, before you know it, the kids are all grown up and you would have missed the chance to get to know them.

Here are a few helpful points to spending quality time with your young ones especially when everything around you is buzzing with activity:

Take a special time in the day to just focus on one child each. Maybe during breakfast, you and the youngest can talk about what they’re expecting from their day over cereals. And then take after dinners as a time to sit and chat with the elder kids. Just focus on them, allow them to share what they wanna share, even if it’s as trivial as one kid crying in class. Make sure to keep this special times as regular as possible.

Have date nights or date weekends with each of your child. I know one parent who takes her eldest to the nail spa every 2nd Saturday of the week, while the other child has a date with his mother every fourth Saturday of the week. This way the kids will have something to look forward to. Keep this dates and appointments all the time.

Bonding with your children is really important even if you’re busy. Parents have to make time to get to know their kids.

What’s your special bonding ritual with your kids? And how often do you do this?

You’ve fed him, changed him, and checked that he’s not tired, hurt, or sick. And he’s still waiting endlessly. What’s wrong? it could be colic, which experts define as inconsolable crying that lasts at least three hours a day, more than three days a week, for about three weeks in a row. Colic usually kicks in when a baby is about 3 weeks ols and almost universally goes away by 10 weeks.

 No one knows for sure what’s behind it. Some experts blame digestive problems; others think it’s simply the result of an immature neurological system. All agree, however, that it’s not a malady but smply a normal and predicable part of early development for many babies.

Here are some ways to calm those colicky cries;

• You have to respond right away- When baby cries, go to her as soon as you can before she gets “worked up’ and harder to soothe . Studies show that letting bebies cry only enhances their wailing.
• Try motion – Rock him, put him in an infant swing, take him for a car ride, or place him in a stroller and push him, even if it’s only inside the house.
• Soothe with sound- Rhythmic white noise , radio static, the hum of a  fan – can help calm your baby down. Some experts theorize that it mimics the swishing noises your baby heard while in the womb.
• Swaddle- when infants cry uncontrollably, their arms and legs may flail, upsetting them even further. Tightly wrapping your baby in a soft, lightweight blanket keeps his hands and feet vlose to his body and makes him feel safe, snug and secure.
• Vary your technique- try one calming strategy for about ten minutes, andif your baby is still crying, try another one for ten more minutes. And so on, remind your self that eventually he’ll calm down.

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I love kids. They are sweet and fun, but they can also be impulsive and wild, especially when they’re not in the mood. They easily get upset when things don’t go their way. Sometimes, their tantrums provoke us to get mad at them. So how should you handle this kind of situation? If you learn to speak your toddler’s language, you’ll be able to resolve his flare-up with love and respect.

If they’re in a good mood, it’s fine to speak to them in a normal way. But when your child is upset, angry, frustrated, or sad, words mean less to him. His ways to communicate by that time are whining, shrieking or grunting. So here are the few things that you can do to talk your child out of a tantrum.

• Long sentences are hard for stressed-out toddlers to understand.  Try using very short phrases that will catch their attention.
• Repeat those phrases over and over to maintain your toddler’s attention.
• Finally, to show your little one that you strongly understand how he feels, match your tone of voice, facial expression, and body gestures to him.

It is important that you connect with your child. It helps him to mature emotionally when you’re there to guide him. Getting mad at him when he’s upset would only worsen the scenario. So learn to listen and understand because that means a lot to your precious little one.  It’s also an opportunity for you to bond with your child.  A parent’s job is truly an ordeal, but it is truly the best job in the world.

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