Surviving Motherhood Beyond the Cheerios

[Beth Swann]

Hi Everyone!

I'm doing a booth at a women's church conference this weekend with the title "Surviving Motherhood Beyond the Cheerios" where I need to display and share ideas about how to effectively raise productive, happy children.

I'm putting out books, chore charts, sticker reward charts, posters with ideas, etc.

I would love any input you ladies can share about what you have done or are doing or have seen others do. Pretty please???

Thanks so much in advance!!!

P.S. I've already had the plastic bags, duct tape, and Benadryl suggested!

[stayawake]

are you looking for book resources? Products we love? Or just everyday items we couldn't do without?

As far as books go - I think this is a great one : Unplugged Play It has like a kajillion ideas for things to do with kids with very little cost and no tv! And helps develop a great confidence as a parent that yes, I can provide fun for my child and learn to play with them again. I also love this book The Creative Family but it has a definite 'waldorf' bent to it, not really a Christian one.
As for parenting books - my favourites are anything by Dr. Sears and Parenting with Love and Logic (they just fit my style and philosophy of parenting better...)

I think raising productive children is a great goal - we have family meetings and let our children make choices about somethings too. Obviously not big things. But I want my children to learn how to make choices and take responsibility for them. I think respect is a huge part of parenting. Now I'm just rambling, and not sure quite what you're looking for. Ask more questions, I love to talk parenting, so I do want to help!

[krystalhartley]

Ditto to Love and Logic. I'm all about trying to teach accountability and selfeliance. I think I mentioned in another thread that I do not have the "because I'm the mom and I said so" philosophy at all! As often as possible, I try to walk through "natural" consequences of bad choices with the kids, and it seems to really help them think things through on their own. And respecting EVERYONE is important...not just older people. They should respect themselves, other children, pets, etc.

From an LDS perspective, I teach them that it's important and totally their prerogative to know for themselves if what they learn at home/church is true. I'm not a "blind faith" kind of gal because we are given the ability to confirm that our faith is in something legitimate and not just some old geezer rambling about stuff, ya know? It adds to their selfeliance and will actually strengthen their faith and empower them to make the right choices.

I only have two kids, so I imagine this next suggestion is even more relevant in larger families, but I believe that you can't have cookie cutter parenting that is effective for all members of the family. You have to customize it for each child. Landon and Avery are motivated by totally different things, and their learning style is different enough to warrant equal but different rewards/punishments, etc.

Originally Posted by stayawake

As for parenting books - my favourites are anything by Dr. Sears and Parenting with Love and Logic (they just fit my style and philosophy of parenting better...)

I think raising productive children is a great goal - we have family meetings and let our children make choices about somethings too. Obviously not big things. But I want my children to learn how to make choices and take responsibility for them. I think respect is a huge part of parenting. Now I'm just rambling, and not sure quite what you're looking for. Ask more questions, I love to talk parenting, so I do want to help!

[Beth Swann]

Thank you ladies so much! This does help! And please keep the ideas coming....

I also need display ideas. What would you display if you had to pick things in your house that have to do with how you raise your child? What helps in your average day to keep things going peacefully and happily (as much as possible, of course) that could be represented by a tangible object or something that can be summarized on a poster?

[sprauncey1]

A timer.

Seriously it gets my 5 year old moving, and breaks up the quarrels over a toy.