Loving, loyal, and always looking to have a good time, a dog is a great companion and a great way to teach your kids about responsibility. Part of that responsibility, however, is in getting both your dog and your children adjusted to each other. To help you out, we've put together a few basic tips on how to help your dog bond with your children.
Involve Children in Their Care One of the best ways to get your dog to trust someone is by having that person care for them. Even if only once a week, having your kids take charge of something like feeding routines builds trust in your dog, teaching it to associate good things with the person providing the care. According to the Sequoia Humane Society, it's also a fine way to teach your kids about responsibility. In this case, neglecting their duties has a real consequence for a creature they're fond of. Teach Children When to Leave Them Alone As important as play and care are in bonding a dog to people, it's equally important for those people to learn when to leave a dog alone. Something many children struggle with is the idea that dogs have their own wants and needs. The dog may not always be ready to play, especially if it is older. According to Dolman Law, children should give the dog space when the dog is eating or sleeping, sometimes even when it is playing with a toy. Additionally, if a dog has gone off somewhere on its own and moves away when approached, it likely wants to rest and isn't in the mood for human interaction. Reinforce Good Behavior According to Victoria Stilwell, positive reinforcement does wonders in setting a pattern. This is true for both the dog and the kids. Reinforcing good behavior from both of them makes for an easy way to get them to play well together. If a dog gets treats and fun out of behaving well with children, they'll continue to do so. Likewise, kids who are told they're doing well and given a treat of their own will handle dogs with consideration. It's a simple way to reinforce good behavior all around. A dog can fulfill a family, but there's a lot of responsibility involved in properly adapting the family to the dog. If you're considering getting a new pet, try these three techniques for helping your dog bond with your kids. Before you know it, your dog will feel like part of the family. Want more tips and tricks for your family pet? Check out more of our articles here!
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While traditional academics are an important component of a child’s education and development, not all lessons can be taught in the classroom. Teaching children skills for life often starts at home. You can create an environment for your children that encourages independent thinking with these ideas.
Empower Back-to-School Independence![]() (Family Features) While traditional academics are an important component of a child’s education and development, not all lessons can be taught in the classroom. Teaching children skills for life often starts at home. With school back in session, it’s important to take advantage of learning opportunities for your children and encourage their independence. Responsibility, confidence and independence are traits many parents strive to teach their children that can guide them through obstacles even after they are grown. You can create an environment for your children that encourages independent thinking with these ideas: Encourage effort. Not every pursuit ends in success and children need to know that it’s OK to fail sometimes. Celebrating the journey and reinforcing the benefits of an experience are important ways to encourage effort that doesn’t reach the desired outcome. For example, a T-ball game that ends in a loss might be followed with a conversation about what your little player learned and what play he or she was most proud of. This is an opportunity to promote the value of practicing to develop skills and learn new things. Acknowledge accomplishments. When your child achieves a goal, it brings numerous teachable opportunities. One, of course, is the joy of victory and the sense of pride and accomplishment it brings. Rewarding milestones gives added meaning and incentive for children to strive toward their goals. Create fun learning opportunities. Some of the most unexpected learning opportunities turn out to be the most memorable. For example, you can make oral hygiene fun and educational for your kids by allowing them to become the coach of family brush time. One way to make brush time fun is with the Colgate Kids Interactive Powered Toothbrush, which encourages children to gain independence every time they brush with the help of their favorite characters’ voices. Available in Minions and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, this toothbrush teaches children when and where to brush, and congratulates them when they finish brushing for the dentist-recommended two minutes. Find more information at Colgate.com/kids. Set high expectations. Children are generally eager to please and strive toward the level of expectations that are set for them. Every child is different, but always set the bar high. Setting expectations slightly over a child’s comfort zone is one way to encourage children to challenge themselves and try new things. Give more responsibilities. Parents often strive to instill independence in their children so that they are eager to do things on their own. Giving responsibilities, such as household chores, is a practical way to show kids how to develop the skills they need to get a job done. For example, a young child may be able to help his or her parents fold clean clothes, but not yet be old enough to operate the washing machine or dryer. Fast-forward and soon the same child is able to do that chore “all by himself.” Although parenting brings plenty of opportunities to nurture and protect, it also offers the chance to guide children in developing the traits they need to become independent, successful adults. SOURCE:Colgate KEYWORDS
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