The elder children in our family enjoy a dose of scary movies now and then. They weren’t exposed to these early on but I guess it’s pretty natural when children in their pre-teens begin to gravitate towards these kinds of story. It’s probably the adrenalin rush of watching it among all your siblings and cousins. Horror flicks, after all, are no fun to watch when you do this all by yourself.

There are some things parents need to take note of, however, when young kids are starting to be drawn by movies like these in that, they should understand the film beyond all the shock and gore they are watching. Because it can get pretty violent and traumatizing.

So before they watch something really gory, parents must point out to them the difference between fantasy and real life. And that in real life, violence or even sex, as exihibited in these flicks, should not be tolerated.

Also put emphasis on the roles genders play in these movies. The male characters are usually portrayed as deranged and troubled or feared. The female characters are usually portrayed as weak and vulnerable. In the real life however, this isn’t the case and a distinction must be shown between these.

If you’re afraid the movie will be too violent and scarring, though…offer the kids something else to watch or do instead of this. And reason with them that they can watch such movie at a later time. However, you can also be the best guage on whether or not the kids are able to handle such violence, so be discerning about this.

For young kids, hitting is a way of expressing emotions. When they don’t get what they want, it’s a natural reaction for them to hit their playmate. Toddlers usually respond physically when they feel frustrated. And this can be minimized if parents are able to handle this properly.

When you see your child doing this, gently hold their hands and tell them to stop with the hitting. Don’t attempt to explain in long and winded words why this is wrong. They are likely not to listen when they are in this state. A simple “no” or “don’t” would do.

Remove your child from the situation and help him calm down. Once he is relaxed you can put him back with his p playmates, carefully watching over him. When you see that he is starting to get frustrated again, assist him with the right words to use to help him manage this. If he’s angry at another playmate for not sharing with him, teach him to say, “May I borrow please?” instead of just grabbing the item.

Never berate your child in public or hit them back yourself. There is a reason why they are expressing themselves in this manner, and you, as their parent, have to get to the bottom of this. Getting angry at their behavior only compounds their reason to hit kids more. Help them cope and eventually they will learn to stop using their hands to vent, but instead manage their anger properly.

The toughest job to being a parent is to teach young kids to behave. This is an essential task that molds the child into the person he or she should be. Values are learned and in learning these, discipline ought to be consistent and effective.

But since kids do not come with a manual, they say, it’s not exactly easy to confirm whether what we’re doing it right. Parents, however, can avoid some of the traps that come with enforcing discipline.

For instance, there should be some flexibility when it comes to teaching children how to behave. As the kids grow, their concept of what is right and wrong also mature. We can’t be enforcing the same brand of discipline when a child is three to when a child is ten. Parents need to recognize that there needs to be an age-appropriate way to disciplining.

In the same manner, every kid is different and will respond to certain norms and rules differently. When something isn’t working with the child, no matter how you instill this in them, it’s probably best to try a different way to cultivate values and insist on proper behavior. You have to know your child to be able to tell which works best.

Lastly, discipline so that the child can understand consequences and responsibilities. Doing something out of fear defeats the purpose of teaching the child how to handle himself better and behave like he or she ought to.

My 4 year old nephew can hardly utter sentences correctly. He still isn’t able to say words properly, and it’s a cause for worry for his parents. They are assured by the fact that in our family, boys almost always have speech delay problems. And there hasn’t really been any serious problem with it.

A new study done in Australia says that late talkers among young kids end up growing up fine. This is in answer to another study which also stipulates that the delayed speech may be a symptom of mental disorder, which is what actually worries most parents.

In the study done in Australia, some 1400 toddlers have been subjects and were followed and monitored through an intensive research. The toddlers are now teenagers who all experienced speech delay when they were below five years old. But what was discovered in the study was that they are now doing fine, with no problems of lagging behind their peers.

According to the experts, in this case, the wait and see approach is definitely better than having to worry about developmental delays.

Experts also say that when kids are introduced to daycare a lot earlier and learn to socialize with other children, eventually speech development comes naturally. The constant association with peers helps not just with their social development, it was discovered. It also affects physical factors to a child’s development, all the more reason for parents to consider sending kids to play group or a play school, in spite what others may feel as still too early.

As a parent traveling with young kids all by yourself, it’s easy to think that it will be very hard to get through. It’s an ordeal that some single parents do not delve into, if it can be avoided. But lots of single parents travel with their kids and still be able to enjoy it.

Here are a few suggestions on what to do:

1. By-pass lines. It is really a pain to watch singe parents with their kids in tow, waiting in long lines. The children will easily get bored and would probably wander off. To avoid all of this, checking luggages can now be done conveniently online. It’s truly hassle free and all you have to do is login to the airlines site and check in 24 hours before your flight.

2. Board the plane earlier. Airlines actually make parents traveling with children as priority. Boarding earlier will have you and your child plenty of time to get comfortable in your seat as the rest of the passengers still find theirs.

3. Bring a stroller, this way, you can strap your kid as you go through all the securities and check you have to do and not worry about him getting lost. Strollers are not counted as luggage.

4. Make sure that your ride is there when you get to your destination. If someone is picking you up, like a family member, you can go ahead and hand over your child with them, if your child is comfortable enough, as you sort through the luggage compartment. Or if you have enlisted airport pick up, be sure that the driver is already there and waiting for you.