"Streetchildren,Whose To Blame?"

Who are the Street Children?Street children are young people who spend a considerable time living and/or working on the streets of the world’s cities.

Different countries describe street children in different ways. However, two general categories have been frequently used to describe them:

•
children living and working in the street
•
children working on the streets who maintain regular contact with their families
Reality Situation of Street Children in Asia
•
The working street child works from 6 to 16 hours, often in a combination of “occupations”.
•
Street children usually come from large families, with six to ten children per family.
•
Street children are generally malnourished and anemic, many of them physically stunted.
•
Street children suffer psychologically from undue family pressures, abuses and neglect at home. Very often, they develop low self-esteem.
•
Street children are prone to street fights and bullying from bigger youth, harassment from policemen, suspicion and arrest for petty crimes, abuse and torture from misguided authorities.
•
Street children usually come from broken families.
•
There are more boys than girls. Female children are disadvantaged because of their sex; they do more housework and are prone to sexual abuses.
•
Parents of street children are preoccupied with earning a living, oftentimes engaged in irregular low-paying jobs as construction workers, vendors, and scavengers.

"Who should be held responsible with the large growth of children living on streets?"

This is one of the major problem of 3rd world countries that because of poverty many children live on streets & at their very young age they learn to beg for money & food to survive.

We should take step to help these children to be out of the street not just by giving them a temporary solution to feed their hunger.

We should take time to talk to them & share something that may help them to see that there is hope even they are experiencing hardships in life.We should let them realize that it is the will to succeed that could change their lives.If they won't learn to believe in theirselves they would be begging their entire life.

Most of the time we tend to blame our government for the increasing number of streetchildrens that are homeless or neglected by their parents.My sole intention in writing this blog is to open our eyes & see the root, causing this problem.

We should not always put the blame on our government.People are always looking for someone to put the blame to justify the result of their action.Why would we need to put the blame to our government.Did they tell us that we should produce as many babies as we can, even we are not capable of supporting our kids financially.

Having kids is not just like having sex. Once you decide to have kids you should know the responsibility that goes with it.

THE FULL TEXT OF THIS ARTICLE AND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT ACTION YOU CAN TAKE IS AVAILABLE AT THE PREDA WEBSITE http://www.preda.org/home.htm OR CONTACT US HERE AT SPAN.

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"Guiding Your Children To Better Future"

Teaching your children to walk the straight path:

Exemplify the behavior you would like to see in them.

Use consistent Positive Reinforcement(CPR)
"A well placed ohrase, embodying praise,most certainly pays."

Show them you have high expectations.
"No one rises to low expectations."

Spend Quality and Quantity time with them.
Correct them when they are wrong. "Love does not mean permissiveness."

Help them to shape good habits very early in (infancy) life.

Coperate with your children's teachers,and endorse their education.

demonstrate respect for their mothers and fathers and their elders.

Be there! anyhow.

Build the aforementioned suggestions from a Spritual Foundation.

"Encourage Your Child More In Learning"

"Ways to help your child succeed at school"


Children love to learn, but they don't always seem to thrive at school. There are lots of things that you as parents can do to help this.

It might be that the style of school doesn't suit your child. Some children have very particular learning styles, and need to go to a particular school. Some children who have ADHD or Asperger's Syndrome will benefit from smaller specialist schools, but some children who are within the normal spectrum will also benefit from different teaching styles.

If you don't thing the school is right for your child, speak to the teacher. If you still think it is wrong change schools.

Some children like large, noisy schools, where everyone is busy, while some children will like smaller schools. If a child likes the school, it is a huge step to helping them to get a good education. They will be happier going to school, and therefore learn better.

If a child is having problems with other children, you need to be prepared to go up to the school and sort it out. Spend the time speaking to the teacher and find an answer. You have to do this the minute there is a problem, so speak to your child about his day each day and know what is happening there.

Give your child a special place to do his homework, an make sure that it gets done. If he doesn't understand it, then help. If YOU don't understand it, make sure you go to the teacher and get it sorted. You child might have misunderstood the instructions.

Go back over past homework assignments and help your child to do corrections.
Help your child with major projects by getting the materials they need and helping them do research.

Take your child to interesting places. Don't worry if you don't live near a famous museum or art gallery- go to the park, the woods, the river and learn all there is to learn about life cycles, wildlife, weather, other cultures etc

Talk to your child all the time. Let him into your life. Let him learn everyday things and help you. These are life skills that will be invaluable to him later on.

Make sure your child goes to school. If there is any question of them playing truant, nip it in the bud straight away.

Speak with confidence about the school, praising it. Make your child feel that it is a privilege to go to that school. If you talk disparagingly about the school , the child won't feel good about going.

Stay as much in your child's life as you can, and you will be able to help him when any problems arise.

These days, we are all busy. Finding time to sit down each night to help with homework is a challenge, let alone assisting with various school activities. But there are some simple ways to ensure your child achieves their best at school.

Start with a healthy breakfast studies have shown that those children who eat breakfast each day perform better academically than those who miss out on an early meal. Ensure the breakfast is a healthy one, preferably with a low glyceamic index to release energy slowly. Cereals high in sugar will result in a slump around mid-morning and increase the desire for unhealthy snacks.

Sufficient sleep children need more sleep than is often allowed for. Primary school children need 10-12 hours sleep at night; a teenager needs 9-10. If your child is having trouble getting out of bed in the morning, and is skipping breakfast as a result, it might be an idea to make their bed-time earlier. If your child is yawning during the day and falling asleep on short car trips they probably aren't getting enough sleep at night. Set a realistic bed-time and stick to it.



Improvise - when out and about use the opportunity to teach. Be aware of what your children are currently working on and level appropriate activities at them. For example, when buying groceries, if they are working on division ask them how much each apple costs if you buy four for $2. Encourage younger children to read street and shop signs. Activities should be kept light and fun so that children will look forward to these impromptu lessons.

Take an interest in school work it's not always possible to assist children one-on-one with their homework, but take time while making lunches in the morning or preparing dinner of evening to listen to your child read or ask them about their school day.


The child that knows his or her parent is interested in their school activities will make more of an effort in the classroom. It's hard for working parents to find the time but try to attend school events occasionally. It means a lot to a child to have family members present at an assembly or show.

Introduce yourself at the beginning of each school year, make time to meet with your child's teacher to discuss your child's personality. Your child has to share one teacher with many other children so any advice you can give the school about your child's needs will assist the teacher to tailor learning to your child's strengths and weaknesses. Also take this opportunity to find outany areas your child excels or struggles in and ask for advice on how to deal with this.

Make study fun most kids hate homework; make it easier for them by providing a suitable workspace. This can be the kitchen table as long as it is brightly lit and they have somewhere to store their things when not needed. In fact, a child that studies or works in a family setting rather than isolated in their room is often more productive.

Set aside dedicated time for homework and turn the television off. Set a time limit and if your child has worked sufficiently well, reward them with TV. Let them rest for a short period when they first get home from school, perhaps with a snack, before making them do homework. Many children thrive on having a set routine because they know what is expected of them.

Physical concerns children are very good at adapting and physical problems can go undiagnosed for too long. Difficulties with learning can often be traced to poor eyesight or hearing so if you have any concerns in this area, make sure the necessary checks are completed before your child starts school.

Read, discuss and play - reading to your children every night is not always possible. We all know how it feels to be so tired we can barely keep our eyes open let alone concentrate on the printed word so read to your children when you can. It doesn't have to be before bed though storybooks are a great way to wind down at the end of the day.

Discuss age appropriate current affairs with your child. Children are like sponges and absorb information whether or not it is directed at them. You may be surprised at what they know or think they know! Play games with your child. Board games provide educational value teaching children to count, take turns and develop strategy and can be fun for the whole family.


"I was a straight A student-my kid's ain't gonna be anything less!" That's one sure-fire way to doom your child's scholastic endeavours. Your academic pedigree impacts your child far less than conscientious, consistent parenting.

Step out of your past, be the best you can today to help your child on the path to educational excellence.

Begin with the practical:

A healthy body enhances a healthy mind. Children need food, drink and rest to be able to maximize their learning potentials. Provide a balanced, nutritious diet in frequent, appropriately sized portions. A healthy breakfast to start the day is a must. Many schools allow children a fruit and vegetable snack during class time as well as continual access to drinking water.

Growing bodies need sleep. Left to their own devices, some children avoid bedtime at all costs. A responsible parent ensures that children have ample opportunity to gain satisfactory sleep.

Allow your child time to play, relax and have the luxury of nothing to do'. Extra curricular activities provide wonderful opportunities, but find a balance between work and play. Overloaded children run the risk of burning out.

Provide an environment conducive to study. Whether your child works at the kitchen table, or at their own desk elsewhere in the house, make sure they have the best environment possible in which to study. Consider adequate lighting; minimal distractions (turn off the TV and remove the annoying sibling); comfortable temperature and ergonomic furniture.

Be organized. Model and encourage good organization. Mark activities and due dates on the calendar. Have uniforms and lunches ready early before school. Train your child to be responsible for his or her own matters (ie returning a reader, remembering lunch) from the earliest school days.

Train your child to manage time effectively. Make home study tasks a priority after school and don't allow a child to leave a project until the midnight hour.

Equip your child with the necessary resources. Invest in dictionaries; provide Internet access; join and frequent the local library; provide paper, pens, erasers, rulers.... it sounds trivial, but many a homework session has been thwarted due to the lack of an eraser or pencil sharpener.

With practical measures in place for success, train YOUR attitude to hone your child's true abilities.

Value your child's schooling. Demonstrate in word and action that schooling is important. Value the institution and the individual. Uphold the ideals of your child's school and protect the dreams of your child.

Respect the authorities over your child. Don't undermine teachers in the presence of your child. Support staff decisions and efforts. If you have a legitimate concern, don't carelessly air it in front of your child. Aim to resolve conflict without fallout damaging your child's application to learning.

Expect the best from your child. Make it clear to them that near enough is NOT good enough'. Mediocrity and nonchalance should never be acceptable.

That said, ACCEPT your child's best. Be it an A or an E, your child achieving his or her personal best should be acknowledged and rewarded. It is not your child's responsibility to exceed your own amazing academic accomplishments, neither does your child need to atone for your personal ineptitude.

We all want our children to reach for the stars, but I for one measure success in terms of a graduating student with healthy self esteem and an independent work ethic rather than a long list of A's. (As much as I crave those shining grades!)


Sending a child to school is a huge accomplishment and brings you happiness knowing that he/she is earning an education. Helping your child to succeed at school is a great way to create a bigger bond.

Helping with homework can put your child at ease knowing that she/he has help and can finish to have free time for fun later.

Another great way to help your child is to attend school plays and cheer your child when you see she/he on stage performing their role. They will be happy that you came and was there to support their part.

And attending a PTA meeting is a helpful way to ensure that your child is succeeding in class.

Talking with the teacher to know how the child is paying attention is class is a way of understanding their behavior when you are not around to watch them complete their work. Some parents may reward their child with a prize or an evening out with their friends when they have accomplished homework or done something great in school.

The best way to help your child succeed is to be a good role model toward the and raise them in a well mannered home surrounded by loving people. That includes no yelling and/or language in front of them.

And teaching them that it's not a smart thing to smoke and/or do drugs with their friends in school. Friends like these can show the child that it's okay to do something that is against the rules and even possibly against the law.


The best way to ensure your child's success in school is to get involved in your child's learning. You will be amazed the confidence it will give your child.

One way for your child to want to succeed in their academics is to let them know with praising words that you are interested in what they are learning and that any time they need your help or guidance you are there for them.

First, make sure that you have a quiet place for you and your child to work at, give your children a healthy snack and a bathroom break before you begin learning so that they can focus on their work.

Some times it is easier than others to help your child with home work or assist them in learning new material. If your child's teacher sends home paper work with clear instructions you have half of the work cut out for you already.

If you don't get full and clear directions from the teacher on what your child is learning simply create work for you and your child to do together. Reading to your child is always a great idea, or if they are already reading have them read a story to you. Hop on a computer or even grab a piece of paper and a pencil and make some age appropriate math work for your child to do then grade them and if they do a good job give them a small reward and tell them how proud you are of them.

If you want to get your child's creative juices flowing as well as their coordination skills you might want to gather up some paper, crayons, markers, colored pencils, tape and scissors to help you child build a small city. Children are having fun while they are learning some well needed skills. If you want to have you child use their imagination the next time you want to curl up to a movie on the DVD player just gather some art supplies and popcorn and you and your child can create a movie theatre at home.

The best part of all is that if you do one of these or many other similar ideas you will be letting your child know that you care about them while they are learning something. You will be amazed the difference in your child's school work.


Start your day with a conversation about going to school and the things that your child may do at school and take the time to work with them whenever you can this opens their minds to the possibility that something good and positive can be squeezed into their brains.


A very important key to success is teach your child it is important to pay attention and be alert and be courteous to those around.... i realize with smaller children this is a large task but it is very possible... with a little help from you at home your child will be successful....


AND IF AT FIRST THEY DON'T SUCCEED TRY TRY AGAIN Another way to help your child do better in school is to take the time to help them this is very important your children will respond to you better and come to you more often and taking the time to help them lets then know how much you care.

A loving environment at home will help them to succeed at school, if that does not work take the time to look into alternative methods your local youth center may or may not offer a program to help your children deal with what ever subject may need to be addressed... if they do not, they should be able to tell you who can take your time and look into your options always remember that your children are our future and we are here to help in any way we possibly can.

I firmly believe these methods can and will help i know they all seem very basic and generic but allot of people do not realize that with a little bit of effort these children whom we decide don't have any potential are most likely the ones with the most of all to offer... i think that our teachers at our public schools should also go out of their way to tell us when our children are struggling so that we have an idea of where the help needs to begin....this would be an incredible help i know that at my daughters school she was struggling with spelling and the teacher never once mentioned it. If she had i could have found a way to help her sooner and saved her allot of embarrassment and sad days at school

I have followed my own advice and have a great support system here and have put her into reading blocks which is a local reading group for children her age they focus on her...which is a nice change and she really enjoys it so please take the time to help your children because learning begins at home first and foremost.


Self-directed parents find ways to discover their child's potential from the early childhood. You must know your child best than others do.


Children shows their potentials or gift from the time they start learning how to say the first word, make their first step and other psychomotor skills. From this point in their life, make your own assessment as to your child's possible gift/s: Singing, writing, dancing, painting, mathematical ability etc.

Understand your child's feelings and situations.Put yourself in your child's shoes for you to understand why he is acting that way. In this case, you will teach yourself to be supportive rather than a villain. Give your utmost support to your child's dreams. Support must not only be financially but rather it must include emotional, physical, spiritual and social supports.


Attending Parents Teachers Association's (PTA) Meetings regularly will give you complete understanding of your child's performance.Knowing his performance in school will guide you what to do at home. Monitoring your child's performance must not only be limited to your attendance in school meetings but must be done regularly to the extend of calling your child's teacher at least twice a week.


You must study the lessons of your child for you to be in better position to guide him academically.

Patience is one of the best qualities parents must possess. Do not just be good at the beginning of the school year but all year round.There are times your child doesn't learn as fast as you expect, be patient. Tutor your child through games. Remember, children learn better and faster if they are well motivated.


Games are proven to be an excellent motivation to attract children's interest to learn.

Example, instead of inviting your child to study his lessons, you may invite him to play BINGO. Draw a BINGO box with twenty-five (25) squares. Ask a question based on his lessons, if he answers correctly. He will draw one circle at the BINGO Card, if he can't, you will draw a circle instead.


The one who draws three consecutive circles will get a point. In this manner, your child thinks.

"Stop Child Abuse Spare Their Future Don't Ruin The Lives Of The Innocent Children"

Note: This poem is about Abused Children and there are two writers involved in the writing of this poem, one been an abused child, who is Jacqueline Brink and the other writer, been Christopher R. Azzie. I took on this poem on the request of Jacqueline, an abused child, as the pain was too great for her to continue with this poem. Many of the word are her words and have not been changed, for they are her feelings to this very day, even though her abuse has stopped the pain remains.

We both hope that this poem will help to bring awareness to others in the same situation and to try to stop Child Abuse worldwide.

Warning: We strongly suggest children and abused children do not read this poem as it may upset them.

MESSED UP

By: Jacqueline Brink and Christopher R. Azzie

Too much stuff is going on in my head...
I can't even think straight any more...
I'm just such a, f*cking mess these days...
I feel like crying all day long, laying in my bed all the time, just doing nothing and being alone...

Cause it doesn't matter if I'm with other people; I still feel the same...
Messed up, broken, torn up, even alone...
I'm not alone I know, but I do have that feeling...
I've had it sometimes before, and I do know why I feel this way right now...
But I'm not allowed to say...

I don't allow myself to say why...
Cause I know it would do no good...
I can say goodbye maybe I will feel better than, but I don't think So...
I'm certain it won't be better...
Really f*cking annoying...

I hate being this messed up...
I haven't been this messed up for a while now...
But I'm not allowed to say why...?
I don't allow myself to say why...?
I don't allow myself to put out here...

Ive been torn apart for, what?
Why? Did they do this to me?

An innocent child
Crying, weeping on the floor,
Hearing your footsteps
In the passage,
Through the night and day
Approaching, my bedroom door


I prayed to the Lord,
For him to protect me
Yet he could not help, me
He could not stop, them .
They continued
Each day and night,

Forcing me, to do their will
Tearing me apart,
Leaving me wailing in the dark,
In a heap, on the floor
With tears streaming down my face
Not, able to move from the pain

For, I was just an innocent child

Date: 1 June 2008

If you know of a child caught up in abuse, Please report it to your local authorities within your country. Please dont ignore it the child needs your help to stop the pain.

"About Children's Growth"

HEIGHT / WEIGHT CHART

Average height and weight of boys at different ages

AGE	WEIGHT (kg)	HEIGHT (cm)
Birth	3.3	50.5
3 months	6.0	61.1
6 months	7.8	67.8
9 months	9.2	72.3
1 year	10.2	76.1
2 years	12.3	85.6
3 years	14.6	94.9
4 years	16.7	102.9
5 years	18.7	109.9
6 years	20.7	116.1
7 years	22.9	121.7
8 years	25.3	127.0
9 years	28.1	132.2
10 years	31.4	137.5
11 years	32.2	140.0
12 years	37.0	147.0
13 years	40.9	153.0
14 years	47.0	160.0
15 years	52.6	166.0
16 years	58.0	171.0
17 years	62.7	175.0
18 years	65.0	177.0

(Source: Nutrient Requirements and Recommended Dietary Allowances for Indians, I.C.M.R. 1990.)

Average height and weight of girls at different ages

AGE	WEIGHT (kg)	HEIGHT (cm)
Birth	3.2	49.9
3 months	5.4	60.2
6 months	7.2	66.6
9 months	8.6	71.1
1 year	9.5	75.0
2 years	11.8	84.5
3 years	14.1	93.9
4 years	16.0	101.6
5 years	17.7	108.4
6 years	19.5	114.6
7 years	21.8	120.6
8 years	24.8	126.4
9 years	28.5	132.2
10 years	32.5	138.3
11 years	33.7	142.0
12 years	38.7	148.0
13 years	44.0	150.0
14 years	48.0	155.0
15 years	51.5	161.0
16 years	53.0	162.0
17 years	54.0	163.0
18 years	54.4	164.0

Height & Weight Pattern in the Growing Baby Expected weight gain You need to understand the importance of the role of weight gain, and therefore of your baby's expected or ideal weight. The baby's birth weight is the starting point for growth. Whatever be the birth weight, the growth rate in all the babies is approximately the same. The overall growth pattern depends on the proper food and adequate care of the baby. However illness, starvation, serious neglect or emotional disturbances would make his weight gain dip downwards. Height or length of the baby matters too Weight gain is not the only way to assess a baby's growth. Children are not meant to get fatter and fatter, but bigger overall. Getting taller is also included in the growth pattern of the baby. The baby's length will change much more slowly than the weight. Whatever be the baby's length at birth, approximately 2 cm (3/4") will be gained each month or just over 5 cm (2") in 3 months. Just as there is expected weight gain for a baby of any age, related to the birth weight, so there is a expected length at any age, related to the birth-length. There is a consistent relationship of weight and height in the normal growth pattern of the child.

Exception to normal growth patterns

a.	Pre-term babies : They are very slow to get started on their feeding, and therefore their growing. The weight tends to remain in low position for a long time
b.	Small - for date babies : They make startling growth during their earlier weeks, but on the whole they tend to occupy still a low position on the normal growth graph
c.	Babies who are ill immediately after birth or in the first weeks : These babies fail to start gaining weight or may actually loose some. Excellent care may lead to a spurt of "catch-up growth", so that the baby's personal growth curve shifts upwards towards the normal
d.	Babies who are bottle-fed from birth : These babies may loose no weight in the first days. They may gain very fast in the first days. They may gain very fast from the beginning, which also depends upon the formula food given. An even greater rise occurs in the babies weight when solids are added in addition to the over-concentrated milk. A baby who is gaining weight faster than nature intended, will not gain length to match it. There is a obvious disparity in the height gain compared to the weight. This cue should make you realise that the baby is starting to get obese rather than simply growing larger

"Let us help all the less fortunate children around the world"

"LEND A HAND & HELP SAVE THE LIVES OF LESS FORTUNATE CHILDREN ALL OVER THE WORLD,ACT NOW & MAKE A DIFFERENCE,EVEN SMALLEST ACT COUNTS"



There is a growing epidemic in Africa that needs serious attention. It is that of children that have been orphaned as a result of AIDS. Today there are over 34 million orphans in Africa. Of those 34 million, over 11 million have been orphaned as a direct result of their parents succumbing to AIDS. In fact, more than 8 out of every 10 children in the world whose parents have died of AIDS live in Africa. In the last 10 years alone, the percentage of children who have been orphaned due to AIDS has risen at an alarming rate from 3.5% to 32%. This tragedy has far greater reaching effects than just that of the children. The burden of raising these children falls on other family members or to orphanages whose funds are severely over-stretched already.

That's where Heart 4 Heart comes in. The primary focus of the Heart 4 Heart Foundation is on easing the financial burden of raising these children through donations made to several organizations and foundations including Children of Hope. These donations come from funds that have been raised through efforts by the "Congress of Kids," the creative arm of Heart 4 Heart. This group of philanthropic-minded young people have set their hearts on answering God's call to help those less fortunate around the world. The ingenuity by which they accomplish this is turning heads and many others are beginning to get on board. As God begins to bless the efforts of these kids who answer His call, let's not forget to thank Him for the ones that are truly being blessed... the orphaned children of Africa.

How to Be a Good Mother

There's already a lot to cover when learning how to be the best parent you can be. But there are certain challenges a mother faces as a parent that are distinct from those of being a father. Here's how to overcome them and raise your child(ren) well.

Steps

Be patient. Being a mother is a little challenging sometimes, especially if you have a daughter. But keep your cool and try to stay patient. Your' daughter snuck into your room and put on your makeup? Explain to her the practical reasons why she shouldn't do this, such as hygiene, clogging pores, etc. Then tell her why you don't like her doing it- she'll muck up her skin at this young age, this is your makeup, etc. Try this approach to other problems. Stay calm, explain the practical reasons not to do something, and then why YOU don't want them to do something.

Take an interest in your child's interests. If your son likes cars, maybe buy him a model car he can make. Ask questions, like what is your favourite type of car, which model is that car, etc. If your daughter is interested in animals, buy her something like a magazine for animals, and tell her some interesting sites and books she can look at. Ask her what her favourite animal is, info about animals, etc. Make an effort.

Don't be tight about money. Okay, so blowing money day after day isn't the best thing to do, but don't automatically say no to everything your kid asks for. If you always say no and follow this with a lecture about saving money, you will be known as the "Tight Parent", the one who never buys anything. Buy something small every now and then. Even offering to purchase some candy or chips at the petrol station can make a difference. Every now and then buy something big that you are sure your kid wants. For example, an i-pod, or a bike. And be generous at birthdays.

This can include taking a special day to go out to dinner, see a movie, and choose a nice gift or receive nice gifts from parents.

Make sure you are an approachable person to talk to. Try your hardest to always be understanding and a good listener. Knowing that they can go to their mum for friendship advice, information on sex and puberty, homework help, or just a hug goes a long way for kids. Not having someone they can talk to can cause kids to retire into a shell, so make sure you talk to them about how they feel regularly.

Be supportive, and never laugh at your kids hobbies, interests or friends. So, your son doesn't want to study medicine and become a doctor? Don't get angry, this is your childs' life and they can make some of their own decisions. Understand that it's okay if your child thinks differently from you. Don't get mad because they have a different opinion to you, or your son wants to become an engineer and not a doctor. Don't laugh at them, or their friends. Who cares if you daughter listens to heavy metal music and wears too much eyeliner? She's still your daughter. And so what if your son is friends with a guy who speaks in a funny accent or who has a different skin color? You might not do what your kids do, but that is their decision, not yours. You have a big impact on their lives already-you choose what school they go to, when they eat dinner, the amount of pocket money they get for doing chores. Don't over do it.

Be able to admit that something you did may have been wrong and don't be afraid to apologize. It might be hard, but it's better for everyone if you just admit to your mistakes and apologize. It saves everyone the trouble of being mad that you're being stubborn and teaches your kids that it's okay to make mistakes, as well as the importance of an apology. Simply calm yourself, evaluate the situation, determine what you did wrong and why. Then apologize and explain how or why you acted the way you did. A good way to start off may be: "I would like to apologize for how I acted earlier, and I realize that I was wrong," then transition into the rest.

Tips

Help your child with their homework. Not only will you know what they're doing in school, but your child will probably start coming to you for help by themselves.
Spend quality time with your child. Play ball with your son or do a craft project with your daughter. And make sure you have fun.

Take your child out to museums, the theatre, classical music concerts, and other cultural events. While they may not like it at the time, they will most likely be grateful when they are older that they have a more well-rounded background.

Always be supportive and accepting.

Always try to be fair.

Don't use the phrase, "I carried you for 9 months!" in an argument. Your kids will most likely not understand what you actually had to go through, and it won't be really effective.

A few other observations from another perspective:

Parents need to teach their children how to be successful adults. Don't routinely do things for your children that they can learn to do for themselves.

Life is a great teacher. Don't be too quick to rescue your child from the results of their own actions if the consequences are not overly severe.

Your child is an individual deserving of respect, not an extension or a reflection of you.

Love them unconditionally; don't force them to be who you think they should be in order to earn your love.