Parenting can be a challenging job, and acquiring positive skills and techniques in how to best parent your child is of paramount importance. The more tools you have in your “parenting arsenal” and the more education you have about age-appropriate behavior and milestones, the more effective of a parent you will be.

Even though it is important to spend plenty of time with your kids, take time to relax alone. This allows you to retain your individualism, which is sometimes lost in the course of raising a child.

If your children walk to school, ensure they are wearing some sort of reflective material on their clothes or on their book bag. Velcro even makes detachable reflective strips specifically for this purpose. That way, your kids will be easily spotted by motorists and crosswalk attendants during darker parts of the day.

Research has shown the danger of second hand smoke to children, so don’t smoke at home. You should even think about completely quitting smoking. Secondhand smoke is as damaging as actually smoking. Children who breathe second-hand smoke are more likely to develop asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis or other respiratory issues.

If you child has difficulty cutting their teeth, give them cucumbers, carrots or even sour pickles inside of a mesh teether. Your child will enjoy the flavor of these all-natural teethers. Your child will have more relief from teething pains as they continue to use this teether.

If you are taking a road trip with toddlers or very young children, you must be willing to make frequent stops. This helps to avoid boredom, irritability and frustration. It may seem like getting to your destination fast is most important, but odds are that a slower trip will be far more enjoyable for you and the kids. Take your travel breaks at restaurants with a place for the kids to play, or parks and open areas with plenty of grass for them to burn some excess energy.

If a toddler is becoming bored with his or her toys or isn’t playing with them as much, rotate them. Most toys will hold your toddler’s interest for a few days, at most, unless it’s one of his or her favorites. Your toddler will regain interest in their toys if they are different every day and this will make it so you don’t have to buy as many.

Always bring a beloved blanket or toy for young children that are traveling. Vacations are meant to be fun, relaxing times for everyone in the family, but with a young child it can be difficult because their routine is disrupted. Having your child’s favorite blanket or toy will let them have some familiarity in the new setting and make them more comfortable.

We’ve put together this collection of valuable ideas to help enhance your child-rearing skills. You might not always know what to do, but the tips provided here can serve as a valuable resource to help you on your journey.