No doubt the day your child was born was the happiest day of your life. There is no stronger connection than that between a parent and child. The tips on being a parent that follow in this article will help you keep the connection you have with your child flourishing.

Clear some room on a counter near the sink, have your child lay down, and then run the faucet over his hair and skin. Many toddlers fear having their hair rinsed by dunking their head underwater, so this method should take away some of that anxiety.

TIP! When you travel with a child, strive to keep his eating and sleeping schedule the same as it is at home. Travel can be stressful for everyone, but it is particularly difficult for children, especially infants.

If you are going on a trip with a young child, keeping their routines for bedtimes and eating will help them enjoy themselves more. Travel can be stressful for everyone, but it is particularly difficult for children, especially infants. Maintaining the same schedule and rituals as you do at home will allow your child to settle in his or her new environment, ideally letting everyone get plenty of sleep.

It is crucial that parents of teenagers do not put too much pressure on them when they are deciding which college to go to. Teens who feel pressured may make an entirely different choice as a way of shunning their parents’ control.

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.

TIP! Taking some time to pursue your own interests shows your children that different people have different interests, and talents. This helps you be yourself and a great parent too.

Be sure that you put reflectors on your child’s backpack and coat if they walk around during early morning or evening hours, no matter how old they are. You can buy Velcro strips of this material that you can attach and detach from their clothing or accessories. The reflection from these strips is especially important in the early light of the morning because it makes the child much more visible.

When traveling with children, bring along some items that will be comforting. Some young children see vacations as a disruption from the routine that they are used to, and it could cause them to feel stress. If your child has a treasured toy, stuffed animal or blanket to comfort him, he can more easily make the transition to an unfamiliar location.

Tap into your child’s natural desire for independence and grow their confidence by allowing them to perform simple tasks around the house. When unloading the dishwasher, hand the spoons to your child and let him put them away in their proper place. Let your kid sort the socks when it comes time to fold the laundry. By helping you with these tasks, it will make them feel very independent.

TIP! If you have a youngster that is having a difficult time with cutting teeth, invest a couple of dollars into a mesh teether and place cold carrots, apple slices or other crunchy fruits and veggies in it. Other ways of relief might work, but your child will tend to continue chewing on something that has a taste.

You should motivate your child to get involved in extracurricular activities such as joining sports teams. Activities like these will help your child to make friends and become more socially active, which are important skills to have as an adult. Sports and other activities keep your child positively engaged which keeps them from getting into trouble caused by boredom.

You can reinforce good eating habits by eliminating high-calorie snacks and junk food from your home. If you don’t keep sugary snacks in your home, your child most likely won’t ask for it. Try reserving these special treats for events like Halloween and Christmas.

It is very important to establish a strong relationship with children when they are younger. As they grow they will be able to share things with you because they feel safe and comfortable. Apply the tips from this article to build and strengthen this relationship.