6 Quick Tips For Parents: The Early Years

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6 Quick Tips For Parents: The Early Years

LeAnn Jahn • September 20, 2021

01 Color Coding

When they were younger, the kids had their own colored, plastic cup/plate/bowl. Not only did I know who didn't eat their food, it also helped them to be responsible for washing their own dishes to help them learn responsibility early on. When they got older, I let them choose their own glass cup/bowl/plate. We use matching dishes for Friday nights and special occasions. I even allow myself to be okay with using disposable plates on meals where I just need to lighten my load.

02 Symbols

Each child got an easy to draw symbol that I would use instead of writing their name on things (like cups at birthday parties or disposable water bottles). This helped when they were too young to read and made it a faster process for outings as they got older. Here are the symbols we used: sun, smiley face, star, and heart.

03 Meals

I'll admit, meal planning is probably my least favorite part of parenting. I started making extra at dinner so that we could have leftovers for lunch. I also got finger foods like Lunchables you buy from the store as another lunch option. I always found a job for the kids to do in meal prep, even when they were little. We turned on music and made it fun. We may or may not have danced around the kitchen island a few times....

04 Talk

My alternative to spanking was a WHOLE lot of talking. We talked about how certain actions made us feel, how they made other people feel, what would have been a better way of dealing with our problem, and what the Bible has to say about it. I almost always had a bible verse that would be a reliable tool for remembering what to do next time and one that was easy for them to remember.

Sometimes there would be natural or logical consequences. From the outside looking in, it may have looked like no consequences were given. But, my end goal as a parent has always been about giving them tools in their metaphorical tool belt that will help them to become functional adults. Because I always get the results I want, I almost always get compliments on their behavior, and we have a tight knit relationship built on trust and encouragement, I don't really care if other people think I'm doing it wrong.

I tried to ask myself how I would feel in their situation and how would I want someone to handle it with me. I also tried to remember that, because they have my DNA, they will probably have reactions to things similar to mine. If I was feeling unloved, I would sometimes be cranky. If I was tired, I would be easily irritated. There is almost always a deeper issue that requires attention and because of this, a consequence according to the world's standards would only fuel the fire. Ultimately, it all comes down to a matter of the heart.

05 Compliment $$

So I frequently got compliments when the kids and I were out running errands. In fact, we still do.

One morning, the kids were being cranky from being up late the night before. I really needed to go grocery shopping that day and wanted the kids to behave. So I told them for every compliment they got, I would give them a quarter each. Mind you, this was several years ago when a quarter was cool because they could put it into a candy machine (remember those??).

This totally worked!! As they got older, it became $1.

I didn't do this their whole childhood, but long enough for it to become an established, positive, regular habit for them. I eventually began the process of phasing this type of childhood income out.

I also "paid" them in jellybeans, M&M's, etc. when they were potty training.

I am not opposed to paying them for good behavior. We pay them for good grades, mowing the lawn, and I believe good manners should also be rewarded.

Hey, I got the results I wanted!

Maybe it'll work for you, too.

06 Journal

One of the most treasured advice that was given to me as a parent of a newborn was to write down moments.

I have been journaling everything from milestones to funny quotes to events.

Sometimes, I only write a couple of sentences.

Once in a while, I will read some of the journal pages to each one as special bonding moments.

It's hard to remember everything and when they get older, those moments are even more special.

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These Bible verses are taken from the public domain The World English Bible (WEB) version. Thank you to Michael Paul Johnson for making this work available. For the latest information, to report corrections, or for other correspondence visit http://www.ebible.org