Parenting is universally challenging, and it’s critical to know the skills and techniques to be an effective parent. Educating yourself about your child’s growth, behavior and development will help you become a better parent.

Of course, you should spend time with your kids, but you also need time for you. This helps you be yourself and a great parent too.

Preschool children often have a hard time with change. Abruptly switching activities can lead to melt downs for young kids who need time to transition between tasks.

No baby or toddler should ever drink soda of any kind. Serve your little ones drinks that have nutritive value, such as low-fat milk, water and small amounts of juice.

Take a break once in a while. Have a family member or friend watch your children, even if it is just for a few hours. When you don’t get a little time off from the kids, you can become stressed and, in turn, stress the entire family.

Regardless of their age, children who walk to or from school need to have retro-reflective material affixed to their person in a highly conspicuous spot, such as on their backpack or clothing. These materials also have strips of Velcro for easy attaching and detaching. Retro-reflective materials, whether Velcro or tape, make children more visible if they’re walking prior to sunrise or after dark. No matter what time of day it is, wearing reflective materials draws drivers’ attention to your children’s presence and makes road accidents less likely.

No two children are the same. The methods that are effective for one of your children might not work on another. This includes both punishments and rewards. Even so, keep track of what methods have worked well for you.

When your family rules are termed with positive vocabulary, it reinforces peace over conflict and encourages your children to coexist. Telling your children “hands are for helping and not hurting” is better than just saying “don’t hit” because it gives them an example of what to do instead of just telling them what NOT to do.

Hopefully this article has helped you get a better idea of what your role as a parent is about. 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.