10 Toys Great For Keeping Your Child's Attention

Does your child have a full toy box but only play with a select few? Toys that only do a small, limited number of things often get tossed aside. They are fun for awhile but pretty soon they become too predictable. That results in boredom and kids don't like to be bored. So they find something else to play with and the boring toys end up in the bottom of the toy box.


The best toys are those that require imagination and can be used in a variety of ways. Here are ten toys that are good for keeping your child's attention.


1. Blocks - Blocks are a staple for kids and they never seem to outgrow them. They are one of the simplest types of toys around, yet their possibilities are limited only by the child's imagination. Younger children can also use them for such learning activities as counting games and experimenting with basic addition and subtraction. Blocks provide numerous learning opportunities and keep kids busy.


2. Dolls and Stuffed Animals - Children love to pretend that their dolls, action figures and stuffed animals are real people or animals. This can provide them with hours of entertainment. They may even play with two or more at a time, making different voices for each one. That's not only fun for them, it's fun for you to watch too.


3. Play-Doh - You probably played with Play-Doh when you were a kid. Chances are that if you did, you have fond memories of it. Similar to blocks, Play-Doh allows children to make anything they can imagine. The factories and tool sets you can buy to go with it are nice but they are not a necessity.


4. Wagons - A wagon can be used in numerous ways. Kids can use it to transport their toys from one place to another but that's only the beginning. It can serve as a vehicle for their stuffed animals or dolls, a pull-along "tray" when they're playing restaurant or even as transportation for the child himself with you pulling it.


5. Art Supplies - Budding Picassos can spend hours making new masterpieces. Art is a great way to keep kids occupied because it fosters creativity and self-esteem. And you get the added bonus of new refrigerator decorations.


6. Musical Instruments - Most children love music. The only thing better than listening to it is making it themselves. If real musical instruments are not an option, there are toy drum sets, xylophones, kazoos and more that kids can play with. They could even get other kids together and form a band.


7. Housekeeping or Gardening Tools - Kids love to imitate adults. A kitchen set, toy vacuum cleaner or a set of gardening tools can help them do so more accurately. You could enlist them to help you when you're doing housework or yard work. They will stay occupied and feel a sense of accomplishment.


8. Sandboxes - A sandbox full of toys provides a wealth of opportunities. Kids can learn a lot by playing in sand. They can use sticks to make designs, add water and make sandcastles, or make trails with their toy cars.


9. Dress-up Clothes - Playing dress-up lets kids put together outfits and pretend to be anyone or anything. You don't have to buy a dress-up set. Just get out all of the old clothes you can find and let their imaginations run free!


10. Balls - Balls not only keep a child busy, they also encourage physical activity. There are numerous ways that children can play with them, so they never get boring.

Managing Holiday Excitement

There are few things as exciting for children as holidays. Here's how you can manage their excitement without dampening their spirits, and without losing out on the fun and festivities yourself.


There are few things as exciting for children as holidays, summer or winter, and winter holidays come with a charm of their own. . Here's how you can manage their excitement without dampening their spirits, and without losing out on the fun and festivities yourself.



1. Keep your child's routine stable. Just because they are on holiday should not mean that they can wake up at noon, lunch at tea time and so on. Bedtime, naptime, mealtimes and all other regular activities should be maintained as far as possible. You could let them sleep in for around half an hour to one hour more in the mornings, but no later. Routines maintain stability in their behaviour and helps contain some excitement.



2. Avoid extra snacks, cookies and candies. The rush and fall of sugar in a child's diet can cause both bursts of energy and fatigue as the sugar wears off. These highs and lows can lead to behaviour difficulties. If you want to give your child a treat, limit the size and consider offering it as a special dessert - after an appropriate meal.


3. If you take your child on shopping trips, limit the amount of time you are out and consider taking the stroller or allowing for breaks. Often, parents in India don't use strollers at all, tending to carry very small children in their arms, and making older children walk besides them. Not surprisingly, children start feeling cranky after a short while. Although you may think kids have more energy than you, they really do tire quickly from walking about a shopping mall. Take your children with you on a stroller, and you will be pleasantly surprised at their patience. Also, consider going out early in the day, before the stores get busy and crowded. Being in a noisy crowded space can be very overwhelming for young children.


4. Think safety. Use non-flammable and non-breakable decorations for your Christmas tree, or other decorations. With young children in the home, you may consider a special room for festivities with a door that can be closed to prevent the child from wandering in.


5. If you are out of town with other couples and their children, keep all their toys in one room, and let that be the play room, so they only need mess up that one room, and not the entire house.

Getting kids to keep their rooms clean

Getting your kids to clean their room is no easy deal. Few kids like to keep their rooms neat and clean whereas a majority of children just don’t care about cleanliness factor. Well, reasons could be genetic or learned behaviour. Parents often choose between two options of cleaning the room themselves or try to be patient while instructing kids about how to keep their room clean. Parents actually need to develop patience while training kids about how exactly they should keep their rooms tidy and neat. Cleanliness does not mean stuffing toys under the bed or simply forcing things into closets. That’s far from organizing things.


Keeping room neat and clean is a habit that must be imbibed by the kids from an early age. It is also a good learning experience for the child. Tell him in an effective way how keeping his room tidy and neat will help him in finding his stuff more easily. It will help him in finding his books, toys and clothes more readily. Parents also need to lead by example by keeping things tidy all over the house in a consistent fashion.

Indicate your child that keeping his room neat is sign of his maturity. If he does it well, he will show signs of increasing levels of responsibility. Don’t forget to compliment him for this habit. Keep rewarding him with small gestures like a small pat, hug or peck if he manages to keep thing clean in his room.


The process must begin with demonstration. Show child the way about how to go for cleanliness. Things like opening window shades, putting away toys, making the bed etc should be taught first. Slowly, you can add other tasks like cleaning bathroom or mopping floor etc. Parents should remember this is a skill that must be imparted to kid at an early age and in the best possible fashion.

Indian values and parenting

Parenting is a wonderful experience. In India, each day is a learning episode in life. While narrating the glory of our prince and kings of the yesteryears, the freedom struggle of India and also the mythological power of Gods, we enrich little minds with the power of wisdom and benevolence. This is a gift we transfer from generation to generation and keep alive our values that is so intrinsic about India.


The daily ritual of early morning bath, observance of rituals, and important days of avoiding of certain foods is inculcated in children too as a family tradition. Parents despite their work pressure make it a point to chant mantras or read a passage from religious books in order to let the children know about our rich culture. The culture again is kept alive while observing yearly festivals and the daily prayers.

The real learning starts at home and parents also explain to children the rich tradition of guru and shishya that is highlighted by the stories of Eklavya and the observance of Guru Purnima. By way of respecting elders, seeking their blessings and asking their permission the mark of respect is always maintained by children towards their elders and grandparents. Parenting is just made wonderful when children grow up to be good human beings with their values agile despite so many worldly influences.


Our Indian value also denotes dignity which the freedom fighters maintained via protests and the spirit of ahimsa which was well told in the tough fight under the guidance of Mahatma. Earning titles and world recognition stalwarts like A.R. Rahman and Sachin Tendulkar are personified as grace and humility which makes them ideal human beings. The strength of a woman is seen in politics, achievements, career and also the mother who cooks for her children with lot of love and affection.

Parenting also instills an outlook that is secular where a family follows a religion and also respects the many traditions of our cultural influence. The values are highlighted when all Indians feel the Indianism while hoisting our national flag high during the national days. Though parenting books are excellent means to learn novel ideas related to parenting, our values present in us help us set us an example before our children and they follow the path of honesty, self respect and love.

A Parent's Role in Education

Nothing helps a child succeed like an involved parent. A little willingness from a child's parents can work wonders in the classroom. Read on to learn more about your role as a parent in the education of your child.

Parents want their children to succeed in school, but a parent's role in that success must not be underestimated. In school as in life, consistent support from parents is crucial to sustaining a student's confidence and sense of achievement. Parents play four distinct roles in their child's education: cheerleader, friend, teacher and enforcer. An understanding of these roles can help you help your child step up to the challenges of learning.

Be a Cheerleader

Children thrive on encouragement. It's just as important to support a child who doesn't perform well , as it is to congratulate them for success. Real learning is not based on reward, but on the value your child places on the process itself. It's important to make something positive out of failure and to teach young learners this vital skill. Ask your child what they do when they fail at something they're good at - a missed tackle on the football field for example, or a missed key on the piano. This will help them to see how important it is to keep trying and it will teach them to access the skills they already have when faced with new or less interesting challenges.

Be a Friend

Learning about math and reading isn't the only struggle your child faces in school. Maybe they're having problems with a teacher, a group of friends, or a bully on the playground. Sometimes what they really need is someone who is willing to hear what they're thinking--and that someone should be you.

With nobody to confide in, your child will have extra stress in their life, which can decrease self-esteem and motivation. Try to recall the struggles of your own school days. Here's a chance to start fresh and pass along a more positive experience. Listening respectfully to your child's concerns can be a major confidence booster all by itself. If you take your child seriously he's more likely to do the same for their education.

Be a Teacher

You can't just leave it all up to the teacher. Sure, it's their job, but even the best and brightest can be hard pressed to address the individual needs of every child, especially in a crowded classroom. Children still need personal attention, so it's the role of the parent to make sure they get it.

Stay in touch with your child's assignments, tests and ongoing projects. Set aside time each day to offer help. Be available and enthusiastic; your child needs to feel like you want to be there and that helping them isn't a chore. Connect with their teachers regularly to keep up with how things are going in the classroom. If you find your child needs extra help, be active in getting it, or better yet, work with them yourself.

Be the Enforcer

Enforce in advance by helping your child set and keep schedules, reach goals and complete assignments on time. Be respectful. Don't expect your child to know how to use an assignment pad, or understand a class schedule. They won't get it right the first time.

Be patient but unwavering with the basics and your student will catch on. Sometimes you'll have to be strict, but a little firmness each day will teach your child vital time management skills. This will give them a sense of control and can help prevent a homework or term paper crisis. Be willing to be the bad guy, but don't make school or homework seem like a punishment. Think of yourself as the leader of an expedition, not a jailor. When things get difficult, they'll respect your authority and see you as a resource for the help they need.

Discipline In Parenting

As spoken of many times by many people and many books of parenting, it is essential to have discipline in the schematics of a child-parent relationship. As much as it is important and essential, and of course also imperative in the whole scenario to have friendship as a must-do aspect of a to-do list, it is also important to know that discipline is also very much an essence. If you are only a friend to your child, then the child may take advantage and assume that you will always be a friend and not yell or discipline them at any time and this is not a good balance in any way.

Discipline in parenting is totally necessary and parenting skills can be sharp by making room for both leniency and strictness as and when it is needed. Being strict is explaining something with firmness in voice and strength in character while explaining your view point to your child. This will make your child realize that he or she cannot take advantage of your niceness and not misinterpret your being a friend to him or her, as a sign of weakness, but as a strong and a good fundamental and this helps in the whole scheme of things, and this helps in good parenting discipline to maintain a good strike in balance and a good effective whole.

Today’s new generation has a different way of being firm and a different way or approach to disciplining. Discipline, when it is needed, should be done without the use of any harsh words or any string language (should definitely not be used) and this, along with being clear and putting out an encouraging message along with the disciplinary message makes the child feel and realize what he or she could have done wrong and at the same time, very beautifully allows for the child to feel encouraged and confident as there is a learning that the child has made via the firm message conveyed by you, as a parent. The firm message, when mixed with encouragement or a message of strength of any kind, will give and imbibe a good lesson for your child and will help to mould him or her in a structured and a fantastic way or method.

Work with your child's teacher

Regular communication between parents and teachers is key to improving student achievement. As a parent, you know your child better than anyone else—you know your child’s strengths and weaknesses. Share your knowledge to help teachers adapt lessons to match your child’s interests and learning style. The more teachers know about your child’s daily life, language, and culture,the more they will be able to make lessons more meaningful and connected to your child’s experiences. When children can make connections between what they learn in class with their lives outside of school, they become engaged and enthusiastic students.

A parent-teacher conference is an ideal opportunity to provide valuable insight in how to motivate your child to become an active learner.Working together, parents and teachers can help students overcome negative social stereotypes and defeatist attitudes that inhibit academic success. When face to face meetings are not possible, parents should use e-mail, hand notes, or phone calls to communicate regularly with the teacher.Request a curriculum outline so that you can help your child prepare in advance for class. Inquire about after-school tutoring and counseling for students. Talk to your children’s teachers about individual learning plans so you can better monitor their progress.

Encourage Learning at Home

Parents must not only supervise homework, but create a comfortable location for doing homework. For starters, turn off the television set and eliminate any other distractions such as loud music. Simple steps like making sure there is sufficient work surface to spread out books or providing proper lighting, school supplies, and having a dictionary on hand can make homework easier to complete. Helping your child develop organizational skills is the foundation for academic success. Make sure your child has a schedule planner for school and writes down homework assignments daily. Parents should help their child prioritize homework by deadline and by the amount of time required to complete an assignment. By breaking large tasks into smaller ones, assignments become more manageable and your child is less likely to become overwhelmed and procrastinate.

Be a Good Parent

It is one of those essential facts of life that raising good children--children of character--demands time and attention. While having children may be "doing what comes naturally," being a good parent is much more complicated. Here are ten tips to help your children build sturdy characters:


1. Put parenting first. This is hard to do in a world with so many competing demands. Good parents consciously plan and devote time to parenting. They make developing their children’s character their top priority.


2. Review how you spend the hours and days of your week. Think about the amount of time your children spend with you. Plan how you can weave your children into your social life and knit yourself
into their lives.


3. Be a good example. Face it: human beings learn primarily through modeling. In fact, you can’t avoid being an example to your children, whether good or bad. Being a good example, then, is probably your most important job.


4. Develop an ear and an eye for what your children are absorbing. Children are like sponges. Much of what they take in has to do with moral values and character. Books, songs, TV, the Internet, and films are continually delivering messages–moral and immoral–to our children. As parents we must control the flow of ideas and images that are influencing our children.


5. Use the language of character. Children cannot develop a moral compass unless people around them use the clear, sharp language of right and wrong.


6. Punish with a loving heart. Today, punishment has a bad reputation. The results are guilt-ridden parents and self-indulgent, out-of-control children. Children need limits. They will ignore these limits on occasion. Reasonable punishment is one of the ways human beings have always learned. Children must understand what punishment is for and know that its source is parental love.


7. Learn to listen to your children. It is easy for us to tune out the talk of our children. One of the greatest things we can do for them is to take them seriously and set aside time to listen.


8. Get deeply involved in your child’s school life. School is the main event in the lives of our children. Their experience there is a mixed bag of triumphs and disappointments. How they deal with them will influence the course of their lives. Helping our children become good students is another name for helping them acquire strong character.
 
9. The dinner table is not only a place of sustenance and family business but also a place for the teaching and passing on of our values. Manners and rules are subtly absorbed over the table.
Family mealtime should communicate and sustain ideals that children will draw on throughout their lives.


10. Do not reduce character education to words alone. We gain virtue through practice. Parents should help children by promoting moral action through self-discipline, good work habits, kind and considerate behavior to others, and community service. The bottom line in character development is behavior--their behavior.


As parents, we want our children to be the architects of their own character crafting, while we accept the responsibility to be architects of the environment–physical and moral. We need to create an environment in which our children can develop habits of honesty, generosity, and a sense of justice. For most of us, the greatest opportunity we personally have to deepen our own character is through the daily blood, sweat and tears of struggling to be good parents.

Tips for Parents

1. Have faith in your child.


2. Keep your words gentle.


3. Teach them to say, "I can" and "I will" more often.


4. Smile a lot and laugh at yourself. 


5. Let your child know how wonderful every person is.


6. Avoid making negative statements.


7. Be an example of respect and serenity.


8. Find reasons to smile.


9. Tell your child that mistakes are a part of learning.


10. Say "I love you" more often. 


11. Tell your child that he is unique and wonderful.


12. Praise your child for not giving up.


13. Tell your child that learning never ends and remind him that you are still learning.


14. Move on - Don't dwell on the past.

Focus on Children's Emotional Needs

Education is important in life because it changes the perception of one's life. It is a stepping stone in building a career or business, it brings in revenue, a person becomes more responsible, people respect them, they become independent to take decisions in life .Education provides the knowledge which raises productivity, stimulates innovation & raises income.