In the last month or so, I’ve been noticing that my 3 year old son has been learning and discovering things more regularly. It seems like his brain is expounding by the second. He has always been a very independent child and so sometimes trying to “teach” him something was challenging. His stubbornness was sometimes linked to him being so independent. He seemed to have a better way of doing anything his father and I wanted to show him.

Lately, I’ve seen more willingness to learn thru example. I think part of it is the fact that his little brain is maturing. But I think the main reason for this change in him is his understanding and receiving of praise. He loves praise! But who doesn’t? I am in my late 20’s and I still like it! The following are 7 definitive ways on how to praise your child:

1. Look your child in the eye.

2. Move close to your child and down to their eye level.

3. Smile.

4. Praise a specific behavior. “You did such a great job cleaning up your bedroom.”

5. Speak with feeling and sincerity.

6. Touch your child affectionately, maybe a pat on the back or stroke of an arm.

7. Praise immediately, as soon as you notice commendable behavior.

Tip:Your praise should be honest and specific. Don’t dilute the effectiveness of praise by overdoing it or being insincere. Older children especially will pick up on your exaggeration.

So I just returned from a long weekend of being lakeside in Michigan. We had a great time as it was closed out by a fabulous get together with good company. Although my husband and I enjoyed some much needed R &R, the mom in me was internally dialoging what made the last few days so enjoyable. Here are a few suggestions that might help you with your tots this summer:

• Keep your tot in a similar schedule. Although it‚Äôs a lot easier said than done, keep your children (especially the young ones) on a similar sleep schedule while on vacation. The benefits will outweigh any inconvenience this brings to your itinerary. Your child will feel better, in turn allowing mom and dad to maintain their sanity!




• Keep your activities ‚Äúfamily friendly‚Äù. Okay, it sounds clich√©. But really keep in mind that dining at 5 star restaurants with your toddler might raise your blood pressure as well as those around you! Instead, try visiting the local beach, museums, carnivals/festivals, parades. These are activities you can all enjoy together regardless of age.




• Keep yourselves dressed for success. This is important for both you and the kids. By dress for success, I mean dressing in versatile pieces of clothing that can be dressed up or down. You want clothing that can take you from one activity to the next. Also, pack pieces that are easy to mix and match. I have noticed firsthand that going ‚Äúnice casual‚Äù works well for our family.