While bringing up a child can be challenging, learning positive techniques and skills is incredibly important to being a great parent to your kid. You can be a better parent by having more tools and education about milestones and age-appropriate behavior within your own “child-rearing arsenal.”

After making a clear space on the counter, cover it with a rolled-up towel. Position your child so that his or her head is over the sink, then run water from your faucet onto the scalp and hair. For many toddlers, this method will take the fear out of having their heads dunked or water poured over them.

If you are traveling with a young child, stick with a sleep and meal schedule that is consistent with the one you use at home. Small children and infants are often stressed out by traveling. The bedtime rituals especially will help your child feel more comfortable in the new space and allow him/her (and you) to get enough sleep!

It is natural for young children to have a hard time transitioning. Abrupt changes between tasks stress out preschoolers to the point of melt down.

If there are children in the house, don’t smoke inside. Even better, consider quitting altogether. 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.

No two children are the same. Techniques that have worked with some children may not work with others. This covers rewards and punishments. You should, however, keep in mind techniques that have been successful in the past.

Framing clear family rules that use positive words can go a long way to help reduce fighting and help your children to get along with each other. For example, telling your children to touch each other gently is more positive than telling them they can’t hit.

If you find yourself driving a great distance, but have children in the vehicle for the trip, don’t be afraid to pull over from time to time and get a breath of fresh air. Although it might seem like getting to your destination quickly is the best decision, taking things slow and recognizing the needs of everyone in the vehicle can really salvage the trip. Have fun stopping at parks or play areas so children can tire themselves out.

When you are traveling, bring those items that are seen as comfort to your toddler or young child. While the rest of the family may be having a great vacation, a small child might view it as a disruption to their day-to-day life. If you keep some favorite and familiar toys from home, you can help a child adjust to a new place.

The treasure trove of ideas that you have gleaned from this article should help in your raising a child journey. The beautiful thing about living in the information age is that even if you don’t know something, answers are only a few clicks away.