Monthly Archives: March 2016

3 Tips for Planning a Baby’s Nursery

. Parenting, Parenting Strategies on the Go . , , , , ,

 

parenting_puzzle

 

“If you are a couple who is just starting off together who have agreed that you want children in the future or a single person who knows you want to raise children even by yourself, begin your strategies to make your house a home immediately so your future children can feel comfortable and safe (McGowan, 2010)”

Parenting Strategies on the Go p. 1

McGowen, S., (2010). Making a House a Home.. For Everyone. The Exceptional Parent,40, 21-23.

 

3 Tips for Planning a Baby’s Nursery

 

  1. Choose soothing colors for your nursery.
  2. Choose furniture to grow with your children.
  3. If at all possible, place the nursery beside your bedroom.

 

Soothing Colors:

Just a Few Soothing Colors: our "White-Lilac" is bottom right

Just a Few Soothing Colors: our “White-Lilac” is bottom right

Ammon and Carter were approaching 10 weeks old for their christenings. Our preacher came to our house for a preliminary “walk-through” on what to expect the day of the christening. He walked into Carter and Ammon’s White Lilac-colored nursery and said, “Wow, this color is so soothing.” BINGO! The color was planned to be both neutral (boy & girl’s nursery) as well as soothing. Too bright (yellow, red, or orange) might be too stimulating aiding hyperactivity. Too dark (black or burgundy) might be too depressing aiding in depression and melancholia. White Lilac was and still is great.

 

Furniture to Grow with your Children:

One day in the near future, Ammon and Carter will be in their own rooms, and they will choose their own colors and themes for their rooms; however, they will not be choosing new beds. We chose the Cocoon Nursery 1000 Series to grow with our children’s needs. They were first cribs then they converted to double beds. We have no plans to buy new beds, and when Carter and Ammon move out of the house one day far into the future, they can take their suits with them.

Cocoon 1000 Series: Please not this is NOT our nursery LOL

Cocoon 1000 Series: Please note this is NOT our nursery LOL

 

Place the nursery beside your room:

Crying babies with fevers, coughing spells, vomits, and bad dreams have quickly awakened me. I cannot imagine running across the house or upstairs to my children’s rooms. I want to comfort my babies ASAP. I am so thankful that from DAY ONE when we first laid eyes on our future house (some 4 years before Carter and Ammon were born…just a distant thought) we knew our child’s room would be adjacent to our room. At the appropriate time, Carter and Ammon will move to their future, solitary rooms.

Nursery Adjoins Master: Our room does not connect with Carter & Ammon's; However, our doors are 10 ft. apart

Nursery Adjoins Master: Our room does not connect with Carter & Ammon’s; However, our doors are 10 ft. apart

Stress Relief: Counting to 10

. Family, Parenting, Parenting Strategies on the Go . , , , , , , , ,

10

 

 

 

“Sean and I had already been teaching our children to count and breath in relaxation exercises that would reduce their anxiety (Fraser, 1996) so I decided to “practice what I was preaching”. (Parenting Strategies on the Go , p. 1).

Fraser, M. (1996). Aggressive behavior in childhood and early adolescence: An ecological-development perspective on youth violence. Social Work, 41, 347-362.

 

 

Scenario:

The children are running, fighting, yelling or whatever. We parents with multiple children have all been there. You, the parents, are TIRED OF IT! In your most controlled voice you state, “Sit down and be quiet.” Begin counting to 10 in silence.

 

Three things Counting to 10 can do for you and your children.

 

  1. It is a signal to your offspring that this is serious enough for silence. It builds their schema (the mental map) that their behavior was unacceptable.
  2. It gives you time to “think through” the exchange of dialogue that is coming up. It may be the children can explain their actions then change those actions through dialogue with you. So, they have the opportunity to correct the problem, or you, the parent may have to correct the problem through positive or negative reinforcements.
  3. You are the parent who needs to control the situation not the children. You counting to 10 calmly lets the children know that their ruckus did not control your actions where you act inappropriately (yelling, cursing ). Screaming, cursing, and ranting don’t help solve problems. Thinking, discussion, and changing inappropriate actions do.