ParentDishhttp://www.parentdish.comParentDishhttp://www.parentdish.com/media/feedlogo.gifParentDishhttp://www.parentdish.comen-usCopyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Try This: Getting Kids Out of Bed in the Morninghttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/28/getting-kids-out-of-bed/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/28/getting-kids-out-of-bed/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/28/getting-kids-out-of-bed/#commentsFiled under:

Your teen might look like a little angel when he's asleep, but when it comes to waking him up in the morning, there's nothing angelic about him.

These New York moms agreed, waking teens up in the morning is no easy task. Some use bribery like delicious breakfast to lure their kid out of bed. Others use harsher methods like pulling the covers off and letting them get really cold!

Our resident AdviceMama gives some pointers on how to separate your teen and her pillow in the morning:

"Rather than resorting to threats, bribes and general hysteria to light a fire under that slow-moving youngster of yours, focus on waking her and her groggy brain up without relying on drama and shouting to get her adrenalin pumping. Bring her a protein smoothie or an apple slice to kick-start her system when you wake her up. Turn on energetic music to help your daughter shift out of her foggy state," she says.

For more tips from moms like you, check out the rest of our Try This video series.

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]]>AdvertiserMon, 28 Mar 2011 15:30:00 ESTTry This: Kids and Datinghttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/21/try-this-kids-and-dating/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/21/try-this-kids-and-dating/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/21/try-this-kids-and-dating/#commentsFiled under:


When it comes to teens and dating, we wish we could lock them up and not let them date until they're 30. But, when the teen years hit, reality sets in -- the crushes start turning into puppy-love relationships.

So, how young is too young when it comes to teens and dating?

These New York moms weighed in on the ideal age for teens to start dating and there seemed to be no common consensus.

Dr. Phil says, "Teenagers shouldn't have serious dating relationships. No 14-year-old needs to have an intense boyfriend or girlfriend." He offers the following advice on his blog:

-Don't allow your teenager to close the bedroom door when someone of the opposite sex is over. This should be a non-negotiable rule.

-Talk with your teenager. The more conversations you have, the less likely he/she will be to get into trouble. If you've always kept the door open for discussions, your child will be more likely to come to you with questions or problems.

-If you're too oppressive and restrictive, you are guaranteeing rebellion. Use logic and reason when creating rules for your teenager.

-Don't just forbid certain activities, explain why you forbid them. Doing this will help your teenager understand that you're not merely trying to be bossy or imposing arbitrary rules.

-As a parent, it's your job to teach your teenager the importance of self-worth. Teenagers who value themselves as they are won't need to "find themselves" in other people.

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]]>kids and datingteens and datingAdvertiserMon, 21 Mar 2011 11:30:00 ESTTry This: Protecting Children on the Webhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/14/protecting-children-on-the-web/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/14/protecting-children-on-the-web/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/14/protecting-children-on-the-web/#commentsFiled under:


When you see your kids glued to the computer screen for hours on end, you probably can't help but wonder what they could possibly be doing for so long. And, with so much dangerous activity lurking on the Internet, you might be a bit concerned, as well.

These New York moms shared some tips on how they ensure their kids are using the Internet safely. Most agree it's important to monitor their kid's activity on the Web, either by utilizing parental controls or checking their browser history.

The editors at Common Sense Media stress how important it is to set boundaries. "Tell teens never to do anything that's outside their comfort zone -- like sharing passwords or sending sexual photos," they suggest.

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]]>internet safetyInternetSafetyprotecting children on the webProtectingChildrenOnTheWebAdvertiserMon, 14 Mar 2011 12:15:00 ESTTry This: How Do You Encourage Personal Hygiene in Your Kids?http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/07/personal-hygiene-kids/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/07/personal-hygiene-kids/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/07/personal-hygiene-kids/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Many kids put up a fight when it comes to the daunting task of brushing their teeth or taking a bath. It can be a challenge to explain to younger kids why hygiene is so important.

We asked some moms how they encourage hygiene in their kids and they agreed that persistence is key. It's important to monitor hygiene habits until kids are old enough to do it on their own, one mom added.

AdviceMama offers a few helpful tips:

  • Instead of making brushing a part of your child's bedtime ritual, consider having him brush right after dinner, or before a favorite evening TV show. Some children dawdle about brushing before bed to delay the dreaded time when lights get switched off. Unless he's eating after dinner, there's no reason he can't get the same benefit from brushing an hour or two earlier.
  • Buy your child an electric toothbrush. Many children enjoy using a "machine," especially if you also let him pick a toothpaste that he likes. Try adding music to his brushing ritual; most songs run 2-3 minutes, which is an ideal amount of time to spend on dental hygiene.

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]]>AdvertiserMon, 07 Mar 2011 00:01:00 ESTTry This: How Do You Handle Allowance? Is It Tied to Chores?http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/28/try-this-how-do-you-handle-allowance-is-it-tied-to-chores/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/28/try-this-how-do-you-handle-allowance-is-it-tied-to-chores/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/28/try-this-how-do-you-handle-allowance-is-it-tied-to-chores/#commentsFiled under:



Deciding when to start giving your kids allowance is a tricky thing. How much should you give? What chores warrant a monetary reward, if any?

These are all questions parents struggle with when opening their wallets to share with the kids. A few moms gave some insight on the topic, but they didn't all agree. Some view money as a good way to reward kids for hard work, while others think it is unnecessary.

Amy McCready, founder of Positive Parenting Solutions Inc., encourages giving kids an allowance for doing work that is above and beyond their expected chores.

"The jobs should deliver a significant contribution to the family and be outside his normal responsibilities," McCready says. "The opportunity to earn additional money by doing more is because he demonstrates that he is more capable, more sufficient and more skilled."

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]]>AdvertiserMon, 28 Feb 2011 00:01:00 ESTTry This: What Are Your Best Tips for Dealing With Picky Eaters?http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/21/try-this-what-are-your-best-tips-for-dealing-with-picky-eaters/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/21/try-this-what-are-your-best-tips-for-dealing-with-picky-eaters/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/21/try-this-what-are-your-best-tips-for-dealing-with-picky-eaters/#commentsFiled under: , , ,





It is important to feed your kids healthy foods, but when it comes to meal time, that's not an easy task. Trying to get them to eat veggies when they know there's ice cream in the fridge can be quite the struggle.

And, if your kid is a really picky eater, it might even seem impossible.

These moms share their secrets on dealing with their picky eaters. Sneaking it in some way or another is at the top of the list; "I distract her by putting on one of her favorite shows and kind of sneak in spoonfuls at the corner of her mouth," one mom says.

Another suggests a reward system: If her kids eat all of their veggies three nights of the week, they can pick the menu on the other nights.

Our resident AdviceMama takes a creative spin on tackling the picky eater problem. Presentation is everything," she says, "and kids are masters of creativity, so let them have fun helping you lay out the snacks in an interesting way. They might decorate a dish of yogurt by making a funny face with raisins, or arrange the chips in a special way around the guacamole. It doesn't take much time to make food look appealing, and it makes children much more interested in eating something when they've been responsible for serving it up in a 'fancy' way!"

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]]>AdvertiserMon, 21 Feb 2011 00:01:00 ESTTry This: How Do You Deal With Nightmares and Monsters Under the Bed?http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/14/try-this-how-do-you-deal-with-nightmares-and-monsters-under-the/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/14/try-this-how-do-you-deal-with-nightmares-and-monsters-under-the/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/14/try-this-how-do-you-deal-with-nightmares-and-monsters-under-the/#commentsFiled under: ,



For some kids, sleep is a peaceful time to snuggle up with a good stuffed animal. For others, sleep is a time when the monsters come out from under the bed. Scary nightmares seem real and can be traumatizing to kids.

These New York moms share some tips on how to comfort kids after nightmares. One creative mom suggests squirting "monster spray" under the bed to kill the creepy imaginary creatures.

The experts at KidsHealth recommend a few practices to prevent nightmares:

1. Develop a routine. Put your kids to bed at the same time every night and try to limit naps during the day.
2. Sleep with a favorite stuffed animal.
3. Use a nightlight so that if they wake up afraid, they will immediately see familiar things.
4. Keep your door open so they know you are close by and accessible.

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]]>nightmaresAdvertiserMon, 14 Feb 2011 00:01:00 ESTTry This: How Do You Keep Your Kids Away From the Wrong Crowd?http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/07/try-this-how-do-you-keep-your-kids-away-from-the-wrong-crowd/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/07/try-this-how-do-you-keep-your-kids-away-from-the-wrong-crowd/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/07/try-this-how-do-you-keep-your-kids-away-from-the-wrong-crowd/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



You can only make your child's play dates for so long until the time comes when they become their own social coordinators. It's out of your hands and you hope that they choose to play with the nice kids on the playground.

But, if you do find that you don't exactly approve of your kid's friends, our resident AdviceMama lends a hand:

"Stop criticizing her friendships, which she could easily take as an unfavorable judgment about her, since she's chosen them," she advises.

Instead, look for ways to connect with her friends because if they feel comfortable with you, you can positively influence them as well. After all, your teen does value your guidance but will not respond well to being told how to think or what to feel.

How do you get your kids to hang with the right crowd?

Looking for family meal ideas? Get tips from other parents at KitchenDaily.

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]]>AdvertiserMon, 07 Feb 2011 00:01:00 ESTTry This: How Do You Punish a Teenager?http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/01/try-this-how-do-you-punish-a-teenager/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/01/try-this-how-do-you-punish-a-teenager/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/01/try-this-how-do-you-punish-a-teenager/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



Your rebellious teenager is acting up and you know that banning dessert or giving timeouts won't work anymore.

So, now what?

When it comes to disciplining teens, taking away electronics, like cell phones and iPods, seems to be a growing trend.

But, is banning Facebook really an effective punishment method as well? Healthguidance.com recommends implementing related punishments so that the punishment does, in fact, fit the crime.

Also, punishments should be practical so that your teen knows you are serious. Threatening to never let her out of the house again just isn't going to fly, and your teenage daughter knows it. Choose a punishment that you can follow through on and your budding adult will be more likely to follow your rules.

What have you done that works?

Looking for family meal ideas? Get tips from other parents at KitchenDaily.

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]]>AdvertiserTue, 01 Feb 2011 14:02:00 ESTTry This: How Do You Go From a Crib to a Big-Kid Bed?http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/01/try-this-how-to-go-from-a-crib-to-a-big-kid-bed/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/01/try-this-how-to-go-from-a-crib-to-a-big-kid-bed/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/01/try-this-how-to-go-from-a-crib-to-a-big-kid-bed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



To the child-free world, moving a toddler from crib to bed might seem like a small step, but these moms prove that it is really a giant leap for babykind.

And, when it comes to accepting or resisting the transistion, there is no typical behavior. Some babies use their monkey-like strength to climb out, while others cement themselves to their sheets and never want to leave.

Pediatric sleep disorders expert, Dr. Deborah Lin-Dyken, suggests waiting until the baby is about 3 years old to make the transition, although some will be ready at as young as 18 months.

One mom recounts her toddler climbing back into the crib when her baby brother arrived. If you can relate to the sibling struggle, Dr. Lin-Dyken recommends making the switch "at least six to eight weeks before you're due" so that your toddler does not feel like the new baby is taking over. However, if the older sibling is not ready for a big-kid bed, it might be better to borrow another crib instead of forcing the older child out, she warns.

What did you do to make the transfer? Did it work?

Looking for family meal ideas? Get tips from other parents at KitchenDaily.

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]]>AdvertiserTue, 01 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST