How to Buy Clothes for College

If you’re ready to head off for higher learning, you might need to revamp your wardrobe a bit. Shopping for an experience you haven’t tried yet can be daunting, but buying a few basics now and saving some of your fashion budget for must-haves down the road is a clever way to be sure what you have fits in with everyone else.

Buy Comfortable Pieces

Life on a college campus includes walking outside most often between classes, strolling the grounds with friends, sitting for hours at a time and then walking back to your dorm or car. All that walking and sitting means you’ll want to find pieces that are functional, comfortable and stylish.

While you’ll see some students in pajamas and other sleepwear, you would do better to try more affordable yet comfortable options from options such as H&M Clothing or Zara clothing. Look for shorts and pants that are loose enough to move in easily, but that are still flattering. Buying shirts that are comfortable is just as important as buying basic shirts that you can throw on and walk out the door to class.

Buy Layering Pieces

In the fall and spring especially, you’ll be walking to class in the heat only to find yourself sitting in a freezing classroom. One or two of your most basic pieces should be hoodies, sweatshirts or a sweater to throw on over your tank or tee. Keep it in your bag or tie it around your waist while you walk and pull it on when you sit down ready to do some learning. Look for warm, yet light pieces to avoid extra bulk.

Buy Walking Shoes

Flip-flops and mules might be adorable, but if you’re hoofing it from one corner of campus to another in fifteen minutes, you’ll want something a bit sturdier underfoot. Look for shoes that you feel fit your style but that are also supportive and won’t let you arrive at class with blisters and dirty feet from the dust outside.

Buy Fun Pieces

A lot of the fun of college life is heading out on the weekends to dance or visit parties. You’ll want to buy pieces that are fun to wear, but consider the tone of the college you’re attending and the city you’ll be living in. New York colleges will likely have a different sort of evening wear than ones in tiny rural cities. Always opt for basics you can mix and match and go for things that are easily washed in a dorm washing machine. There are rumors of beer and other easily spilled beverages at college parties.

Easy Step By Step Instructions For Buying Clothes for College

• Put some money aside to buy clothes on campus – you’ll want logo and college wear anyhow
• Buy comfortable, functional pieces – loose and easy are your motto here
• Buy layering pieces such as hoodies and sweatshirts for cool classrooms
• Buy walking shoes to replace flimsy shoes you might have worn inside a school building
• Buy fun pieces to wear on the weekends or to parties

Warnings, Advice, and Suggestions When Buying Clothes For College

Bring the basics the first few months of college and when you head home for Thanksgiving or a long weekend, grab more of the clothes that suit your new college style. This keeps your closet from becoming cluttered.

(3 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
 Loading ...

How to Make Hair Bows

(3 votes, average: 3.33 out of 5)
 Loading ...

Tying a bow in a girl’s hair is reminiscent of youth and frivolity – not to mention they are so darn cute! The kinds of bows that are popular today for young girls are not the pouf creations of a decade ago. Instead, hair bows are slim and trim.

Making a Hair Bow

To make a hair bow, first purchase ribbon from a craft store. You can use any width of ribbon up to about ¾ of an inch, but the number of ribbons you use is determined by the width. The thinner your ribbon, the more strands of color you can get away with.

If the girl will be wearing her hair in a ponytail, the best way to affix the hair bow is to tie it tightly around the elastic holding the ponytail in place. To do this, use a length of ribbon about 12-18 inches long. Wrap the ribbon around the base of the ponytail so that the lose ends are on top. Tie a bow as if you were tying a shoe. Pull the ends out evenly and be sure the bowed parts match. You might need to retie if it didn’t come out evenly.

To do this with multiple ribbons, simply wrap all the strands around the hair in the same way and tie as if all strands were part of a single ribbon.

If You Don’t Go With a Pigtail

For hair that’s not in a pigtail, the easiest and most attractive style of bow in current fashion is again, a simple bow like you would use to tie your shoe, but neat and even. Tie a small bow and use a dot of invisible fabric glue on the knot to keep it from pulling out. Thread a bobby pin through the middle of the knot before the glue dries. The bow should sit at the top of the curved portion of the bobby pin.

When it’s time to put the bow in her hair, simply slide the bobby pin in the desired location. The pin will blend with the hair leaving the bow visible. For very young girls, another option would be to tie a bow, seal the knot and then use fabric or hot glue to affix the bow to a small barrette.

Easy Step By Step

• Cut a ribbon 12-18” inches.
• Pull hair into a high ponytail.
• Tie the ribbon around the ponytail and pull the bow and dangling ends evenly.
• Or tie a traditional bow separately and glue it to a barrette or bobby pin to affix in hair not in a ponytail.

Warnings, Advice, and Suggestions

The larger you’d like to make a bow, the wider ribbon you should use to give it strength. Otherwise the bow will be droopy or come untied more easily. Large bows can be tied and then glued to larger barrettes. Wrap extra ribbon around the top of the barrette to hide any metal parts you’d prefer not to show.

How To Become a Real Ballroom Dancer

Dancing has always been one of the most under appreciated art forms in the world. In recent years however, it has started to get more attention. There are dancing reality shows, music videos, dancing movies, street dancing competitions and a host of others types of dancing. One of the forms of dance that has exploded into the public is Ballroom dancing. It is amazing what has happened in just the past year.

I have been in ballroom dancing for 11 years. When I started people didn’t really know what ballroom dancing was. The public’s view of ballroom dancing has always been Fred and Ginger Rogers. Though they are classic dancers, and will always be the most well known dancers in the world, dancing has evolved into something much, much more. Every year the dancers are starting younger and younger. I am teaching 5 year olds how to ballroom dance! With all of this attention I think that people should understand what it really takes to be a ballroom dancer, and be competitive with the world. People think that they can take a few classes and call themselves ballroom dancers. This is not true. It takes years and years of training and commitment, money and patience to become a real ballroom dancer.

This is one of the few sports that the professionals are still taking lessons all the time. There is always something new to learn and something that can make even the best dancer a little better. It is a sport that no one will ever conquer. Once you think you have conquered it someone will always come along and do something better or new and pass you up. It is changing every day. The competition is getting harder and harder every day. If you don’t have the drive to continue working you will never make it. So what makes a REAL ballroom dancer? Well, I am going to explain the key elements of a real ballroom dancer.

First, you need the desire. If you want to take ballroom dance for fun, that is great but you need more than that. Ballroom dancers literally live to dance. They have to have that desire and drive in order to get through the disappointment, struggle and frustration that come with this sport. If you don’t have the desire there is no point in spending the money or the time it takes. You can’t teach this element, this is something that you are born with.

Second, you need time! You have to be willing to spend a lot of time on this. You need to train at least 4 hours a day and travel around the country and the world. As with any other skill it takes years to achieve the type of excellence the top professionals achieve. You will be spending tremendous amounts of time with your dance partner so it is best you get a long. You need to be willing to travel for competitions. It is important to travel and have different judges see you so you can be known. Traveling takes up a lot of time.

Third, training. It is imperative that you receive good training. You must train with different coaches and styles. Since dancing has evolved it is important to know more than one dance style. Get trained in Ballet, this will help with everything you do. Be familiar with any other dance style you can. You never know what you will need to do for a show. It is important to train with different coaches because ballroom is a political sport and a lot of time the coaches are the judges. You need to be on their good side and they need to know who you are if you want them to even look at you. It isn’t right but that is just how it is.

Fourth, MONEY! Ballroom is probably the most expensive sport around. For good training you will be paying from $80-$250 for 45 minutes! Shoes cost around $90.00 and you will need to change them at lease twice a year, probably more. Dresses will cost between $500-$5,000 per dress. You must pay for all of your travel and lodging for any competitions outside of your state or country. Even if you manage to get sponsored for dresses or shoes, you have to pay for lessons and that is the most expensive of them all. Lessons are where dancers make all of their money. There are also competition fees to even enter the competition. This all adds up very quickly.

Fifth, you need endurance. It takes a long time to get good at ballroom dance. Don’t get discouraged every one has to go through it. There will be times you dance better than other couples but get a lower score because they are more well known than you, or their coach is one of the judges, or they don’t like your dress or your hair or something about your partner. There are so many things that go into what the judges look for that you can’t control, so don’t let it get to you. You have to just do the best you can and be happy with that. Some day it will all pay off.

The last thing you need is to look like a ballroom dancer. You can spot a ballroom dancer from a mile away. This is a very vain sport and it is important to care about how you look. You need to be in shape and your hair either has to be black or platinum blonde, there is nothing in between. You need to wear expensive clothes and have great taste. Dancers are very into fashion. You need to be tan all year round and have your nails done. You need to wear false eyelashes for competition and do your makeup so that you look like you should be standing on the street corner. Your costumes need to be great and functional. Looks are important because in the competition if there are two couples that are technically the same and they both have good expression the judges will look at how they look. If one couple is better groomed and looks more professional they will get a higher score than the other couple. That is just for the ladies. The men have it easier but they still have to tan and they have to wear tight pants. Looks are very important.

Well those are the most important elements of ballroom dancing. Dancing doesn’t have to be like this. It is a great hobby for couples and friends. It is a way to meet people of the opposite sex and a great way to exercise and have fun. When you see a ballroom competition just realize people sacrifice a lot for this sport and there are many things that go into becoming a REAL Ballroom dancer.

(7 votes, average: 4.29 out of 5)
 Loading ...

How to Set Up an Outdoor Living Area

The patio or deck can be a natural extension of your home if you like to spend time outside. You can make the most of this outdoor living by creating a full outside living area. The degree of complexity is a personal decision, but a well designed outdoor living area will receive plenty of use.

Set Up Location

The first step in an outdoor living area is finding the right location for your seating. You may already have a large covered patio or gazebo. You may find that you’d like to lay a new section of patio or build a deck to accommodate your new outdoor living area. Arrange your location before moving ahead.

Set Up Seating

Once a location has been determined, preferably near the rest of the home, it is time purchase and arrange comfortable seating. Seating can be as simple as a patio table and chairs or it can be a collection of chairs, chaise lounges, benches, swings and cushions. The style of the seating as well as the number of seats is up to you.

Arrange the seating in a circular fashion for large groups, or in small clusters to encourage more intimate conversations. If you will be using an outdoor fireplace, be sure to place seating well away from the center where the fireplace will be located.

Set Up a Focus

If you would like a focus for your outdoor living area, arrange an outdoor fireplace, a table or other large item in the center of your seating to help bring the living area together. A table may limit seats, so you might create a small living area or multiple clusters if using a table. A large fire pit or fireplace can accommodate many seats, but be sure to keep seats well away from any blaze or sparks.

Accessorize

Finally, dress up your outdoor living area with potted plants, lawn decorations and special touches such as urns or wall fountains. Arrange plants and other accessories around the perimeter of the seating arrangement to make the outdoor living area feel cozy and contained.

(No Ratings Yet)
 Loading ...

How To Clean Leather

One of the first fabrics that man fashioned to wear or use, leather has been a popular material from its beginnings. Leather is a beautiful, longwearing, breathable, natural fabric that has multiple uses, i.e., clothing, shoes, furniture, luggage, and vehicle interiors. This valuable fabric is an investment that will last for years if it is treated with care. Owners want to know how to correctly clean leather products because leather can be quickly ruined if handled incorrectly.

Leather hides can be categorized as belonging to several types, depending on the process to preserve the hides. The piece of leather can be smooth, suede, dyed in a variety of ways, coated, or tanned naturally. The dye used to color the fabric can be of different types that demand different handling. A product that works beautifully on one type of leather can permanently stain a different type. It is important to read any manufacturer’s instructions to understand what type of finish was used to create the item.

There are general rules for how to clean leather, however. These rules apply to how to clean car upholstery, belts, purses, jackets or other clothing, as well as furniture, luggage, and leather shoes. All leather needs an environment that is not too wet, not too dry, not too hot, or not too cold. Any extremes in the atmosphere can cause irreparable harm to the hides.

Let’s start off by identifying two types of leather. There is finished leather and there is unfinished leather. It is very good to know what type of leather you have so that you may treat it properly. Finished leather consists of the finer leather on coats or purses. Luggage and leather furniture is usually finished as well.

On the other hand, you have unfinished leather items as well. Unfinished leather consists of work gloves, garden gloves, boots that you use for work, biker bandannas, horse saddles, any type of saddle, basketballs and footballs.

Let’s start with cleaning finished leather. To clean finished leather, you must get a lightly dampened cloth with a dab of moisturizing bath soap (dove) on the cloth. Rub the leather in a circular motion and make sure that there is not too much water on the cloth. You don’t want to stain the leather more because of an access of water. After wiping the leather until the stain is gone, you can then take another dampened cloth to wipe off any soap residue. Remember, DO NOT us water to wipe the leather clean. After cleaning the leather with the second dampened cloth, you can now wipe it clean with a dry cloth and hang the leather product to air dry. It’s a good idea to apply a leather conditioner to the leather once it is dry.

To clean unfinished leather, you will follow the same steps stated above. However, you must use “Saddle soap” instead of moisturizing soap.

Remember when removing spots from leather, always test any cleaning method on an out-of-the-way spot first.

One tip for removing spots from leather is to dip a cotton swab into rubbing alcohol and rub the spot. This can work for removing ink spots (figure B) as well. If this doesn’t work, you can use non-oily cuticle remover. (Note: That is "cuticle" remover, not nail-polish remover.) Leave it on overnight and wipe it off with a damp cloth.

To remove normal spots from leather, use the following Royal homemade recipe:

1 part lemon juice
1 part cream of tartar

Simply work the paste into the spot with a soft cloth, and if soils remain after working it in, let it sit for a few hours. Come back and apply a little more paste, work it in and wipe clean.

Instructions for more targeted stains

Grass Stain:

1. Mix 1 cup of water with moisturizing soap.

2. Moisten a cloth with the mixture.

3. Apply cloth with a circular motion on the stained area

4. Wipe clean with another cloth dampened by water only

5. Let air dry

Mildew stain:

1. Mix 1 cup rubbing alcohol with 1 cup water.

2. Moisten a cloth with the mixture and wipe the affected area.

3. Let air dry.

Ink stain:

1. Spray the affected area with hair spray.

2. Then wipe it off with a clean cloth.

3. If a leather garment has been soaked in water, let it air dry

slowly and naturally.

4. Keep it away from heat sources.

5. Once it is dry, restore its softness with a leather conditioner.

6. If leather shoes have been soaked, insert shoe trees to restore their shape and let them air dry.

Grease stains:

1. These can be removed by blotting the excess grease with a clean cloth.

2. Second, sprinkle talcum powder or cornstarch on the affected area.

3. Let the item sit for at least 4 hours before wiping off the powder.

Blood and urine spills:

These can be removed by blotting off excess moisture with a clean, damp cloth. Let the item dry slowly away from heat.

Gum that has become stuck to the leather:

1. You can remove it by rubbing a plastic bag full of ice cubes over it to harden the gum. The gum will then be easy to pull off.

2. If there is any residual, heat the area with a hair dryer and rub off the gum with a clean cloth.

Salt stain:

1. Make a solution of 3 parts vinegar to 1 part water.

2. Moisten a cloth with the vinegar solution and dab it on the affected area.

We have outlined how to properly take care of your leather possessions in this article. Leather is a delicate item and can last forever if taken care of properly. We understand that some stains might entail more than just a cleaning. Do not hesitate to hire professional leather cleaner to help you. Remember to ask that professional for a guarantee that your leather will come back that way that you would like it. They need to be legit. They need to return your article back with the same color that the item was in the beginning. If they cannot help with these simple items, then you might need to get a second opinion.

(8 votes, average: 4.75 out of 5)
 Loading ...

How to Use Espalier

Espalier is a gardening technique that trains trees to grow along walls to save space in tight gardens and to create an unusual effect in your backyard. Espalier dates back to castle courtyards and monasteries, but you can use the technique in your own garden today for the same space saving and beautification purposes.

Prepare a Space

The location is everything with espalier. In most mild climates, a south facing wall is the ideal location for trees grown using espalier as the wall would absorb sun and warmth throughout the day. In some climates, however, the south facing wall may receive too much sun and heat which would be detrimental to the espalier effect. If this is the case where you live, consider an east or west facing wall. A north facing wall is almost never a good location for espalier.

The tree will planted only six to eight inches from the wall or fence, so prepare the soil adequately in this location as well as extending out from the fence to ensure a healthy root system. Prepare the fence or wall itself by installing a wire mesh or trellis behind where the tree will actually be planted.

Plant a Tree

Plant a young tree that grows well in your climate. Espalier can work well with fruit trees if they naturally grow in your area. Be sure you plant a young, supple tree as you will be training the branches over time to grow in a certain fashion. If you are not up for the training of the branches, you may be able to find trees already prepared for espalier planting in local nurseries. These can be more expensive than a standard young tree, but they will also save a great deal of time and effort.

Train the Tree

Once the tree is planted, water it well on a regular basis and allow it to establish a root system before beginning training. In the spring while the branches are especially soft, carefully bend them against the wall and use string or cloth to gently tie them into a design along your mesh or trellis. In cool weather, you can prune the branches that are not part of your actual design. Training will take a long period of time and some work on your part to keep branches tied correctly and unnecessary branches trimmed away. But eventually your tree will be a true asset to your garden.

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
 Loading ...

How to Choose a Doormat

A doormat has a very ignoble but important job. You may not pay it much attention, but doormats are stepped on by everyone who enters your house, and it is usually the first and last thing they see as they come and go. Choose a doormat that will make a good lasting impression, but one that will do its job well and will hold up for a long time.

Make a Plan

While hopefully you don’t lose sleep over this decision, keep a few considerations in mind when choosing what doormat to purchase. Before you shop, determine the purpose of your doormat. Is this a primarily functional doormat, intended to remove dirt and debris from feet and shoes before these filthy intruders find their way onto your floor? Or is it purely decorative, bringing color to a room or hiding an unsightly stain on the carpet underneath? Will it be indoors or outdoors? Once you have answered these important questions, you will have a better idea of what doormat you desire.

Choose a Style

After answering the questions previously mentioned, you will be on your way to determining the style of your doormat. An outdoor doormat needs to be particularly durable, built to withstand the elements. Since these doormats are usually more functional decorative, choose one with a thick rubber bottom to resist moving around in the wind and foot traffic. They should also have an abrasive surface with some kind of “scraper” top to remove mud, dirt, or sand from soles of shoes. Thankfully you don’t have to abandon all style. There are plenty of functional doormats that don’t sacrifice fashion.

An indoor mat can also be functional, but usually steps up in style, as well. Coordinate the color of your mat with the colors of your home. Whether your rug is braided, woven, fringed, or frayed, choose a rug that reflects your personal taste. Don’t forget, however, that form follows function, and this is something that will be stepped on innumerable times. Inevitably, it will get filthy and require cleaning. Don’t choose a rug that will not withstand a tough cleaning regularly.

Purchase a Doormat

Now that you have a plan and style in mind, go find the doormat that best suits you. The store you go to will be influenced by the type of rug you want. Hardware or garden stores will have a better selection of outdoor doormats, while a linens store may provide a wider range of indoor or decorative rugs. Find one that fits your needs and fits your budget, then take it home and throw it on the floor and step on it! Enjoy!

(No Ratings Yet)
 Loading ...

How to Treat Tendonitis

Tendonitisis the slight tearing that occurs in the tendons that connect muscle to bone. By overextending or overusing muscles in a repetitive fashion the tendon can become strained and develop microscopic tears. Mild or routine cases of tendonitis can be treated at home with rather simple procedures. If you’ve tried these procedures and been unsuccessful or if you’ve been troubled by the same patch of tendonitis for over a year, consult your doctor as you’re likely suffering from an chronic condition.

Symptoms of Tendonitis

When your joint, such as shoulder or knee, feels stiff and achy following an activity or is inflamed in the general area of the joint, it is very likely you’re suffering from tendonitis. The pain usually becomes worse during and after an activity and might be worse the following day.

Treating Tendonitis

To treat tendonitis, you must focus on loosening the tendon, reducing the pain and eliminating the inflammation.

Loosen the Tendon

Tendons are the stiff pieces of tissue at the end of a muscle that connect the muscle to bone. When the tendon is pulled too much, it can tear slightly. As the tears heal, scar tissue is formed which creates additional stiffness in the joint lasting anywhere from six weeks to six months. To avoid injuring the tendon again, you must work to make the scar tissue and tendon as supple as possible. The best ways to loosen the tendons is light stretching, massage and ultrasounds with your doctor’s assistance.

Reducing the Pain and Inflammation

To trick to reducing pain and inflammation is to avoid making the area more stiff. Ice, for example, will reduce pain and inflammation, but it will also make the joint stiff which might hurt the tendon more. A topical pain reliever with menthol, on the other hand, will relieve the pain and open the blood vessels helping to further loosen the area.

Products with MSM, also known as Methyl Sulfonyl Methane, are especially effective at helping reduce inflammation and pain caused by tendonitis. You should avoid Cortisone injections as they will reduce inflammation but cause more scar tissue to be created making the injury worse over time.

Prevent Tendonitis

To prevent tendonitis, you should always stretch before exercise and avoid overtaxing your muscles and joints. Don’t overextend and be sure to warm up and cool down as part of your daily fitness routine.

(No Ratings Yet)
 Loading ...

How to Apply Make Up

Every young teen girl has been there at one point or another. She goes to school and sees the popular kids dressing cool and wearing make up. It’s only natural that she would want to fit in and look beautiful. In fact, peer pressure can often make a girl think that wearing make up is as important as getting your driving license. Fortunately, applying make up is not that difficult, even for a first-timer.

Make Up Preparation:

Before you start, you want to make sure that your face (the area to which you will be applying make-up) is extremely clean and free of oil and dirt. It’s best to use a gentle cleanser with a light exfoliate. This will clean your skin and remove and dead and unwanted skin cells. Be sure to clean your entire face and neck area and don’t scrub so hard that your skin becomes irritated. Once finished, rinse the area with cold water and pat your face dry with a towel.

Next you will want to apply a small amount of moisturizer. Moisturizer is very important because once you apply make up to your face, your skin cannot breathe and can become dry and flaky. A good moisturizer will also help absorb natural oil and grease throughout the day. Keep in mind that you do not need to use a lot, often a small amount about the size of a dime will work.

Laying The Foundation:

After you have cleaned your face and applied a light layer of moisturizing lotion, your next step is to lay a foundation. Think of this step as if you were building a house. You need a strong foundation to help protect and support what you add on top of it. A good foundation layer will also keep some of the make up from getting deep into your pores and causing breakouts. When you choose a foundation, pick a color that matches the skin tone of your neck. Having a foundation that does not match your skin tone can make your later layers of make up look un-natural. Be sure to blend it onto your entire face in a light layer and ensure that your skin absorbs the foundation before moving on the the next layer. You can use a light sponge to help your skin blend and absorb the foundation.

Powder It Up a Bit:

Once your foundation has been applied and absorbed you can apply your powder. Lightly dab a powder brush into the powder and apply it to your face. Use soft light strokes with the brush to even out the powder and give your skin a more natural look. Remember you are trying to enhance your natural skin tones, not conduct plastic surgery on yourself!

Eye Shadow:

If you want, you can add a little eye shadow to bring out your eye color. If done correctly, eye shadow can work wonders. Like most make up however, always remember to keep it light. Too much eye shadow can leave you looking like one of those zombies from Dawn of the Dead. You’ll find that you have a larger variety of color when dealing with eye shadow and in the end, the choice of color is a matter of personal preference. Decide upon your color and with an eye shadow brush, dust your eye lids and even our the surrounding skin area.

Your Lips:

Your lips are the next area of your face that you will want to touch up. Like eye liner, there are so many choices to chose from, in the end it comes down to personal choice. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different colors and textures. One of the best make up choices for lipstick is MAC make up which often has higher quality ingredients.Once you have decided upon your color, trace the outside of your lips with a light liner (much like using a pencil). Then, apply your lipstick with light rubbing motion. Be sure to keep the lipstick within your trace lines and, if you want, apply a light layer of lip gloss.

There are a host of other make up options available but, if you are just learning how to use make up, your best bet is to keep things simple. Remember a little make up can make you stand out and enhance your natural look but, a lot of make up can leave you looking a little cake faced and then you will really stand out. In this case, less really is more.

If you are just starting out with make up, keep in mind that you do not need to buy everything all at once. If you purchase a little make up here and there, you can slowly increase the amount and type of make up available to you. As you get more practiced with applying make up, you can try new techniques and colors. Lancome make up is one of the better places to go if you are wanting to start your collection.

(No Ratings Yet)
 Loading ...

How To Keep From Spoiling a Child

Have you ever walked through a super market and come across a kid kicking and screaming in the middle of an isle with the parent unable to control their child? Most of us have seen this in one form or another and it is obvious that the child is completely spoiled and used to getting their own way.

But, what do you do if this is your child? First, let’s understand that spoiled behavior is a learned behavior and therefore it CAN be reversed. The difficult part is teaching yourself appropriate responses to bad behavior and then following through with consistent discipline.

• Avoid giving into your child so that you can avoid having to deal with bad behavior. When you give a kid what they want simply to keep them quiet and well behaved, you are telling them that you are willing to play by their rules.
• Don’t always put your child first. As children grow and begin to face the real world they will discover that the world does not revolve around them. Start this lesson early and make sure that they know that you are allowed to take time to yourself.
• Don’t constantly protect your child. Obviously this does not mean letting your child have free reign. It does however, mean that you should let your child fail sometimes. We all learn by doing and experience will teach your child much better than you ever can. As your child gets older, let the rope that separates your wants and their natural desire to explore, get longer.

In addition, parents who are well off financially have the tendency to give in to their children(s) every want. This leads to difficulty later on in life and can cause destructive and unwanted behavior. Decide what your child is allowed to have BEFORE you leave for the store or on your errands. Do not give in to the child’s desire for instant gratification.

It is important to give kids the tools they need to learn how to earn what they want. Being a single mother of 4 makes it difficult at times, but I continually have to remind my kids why we work for what we want and not everything is given to us. They have learned along the way that if they want something they don’t need and a special holiday or birthday is not in the near future, they will do what it takes to earn the money themselves.

It is very rewarding for the parents and the kids when they achieve their goals in this fashion. We live strongly by the NIFIL rule. (Nothing In Life Is Free). This will help kids out in the future when they don’t have us to lean on whenever something comes up.

(1 votes, average: 1.00 out of 5)
 Loading ...

Next Page »