BabyStepsbyDee: The first steps to understanding the paradox of parenting.

We all want respectful, responsible children and that is why we strive to keep them disciplined in the best way we know. Did you know there are alternatives to hitting a child to correct unwanted behavior? Listen to this episode to hear what effective alternatives people use.

The kiboko (cane/rod) has been a go-to disciplinary tool for many parents for thousands of years. How effective is it really when it comes to discipline? Does it really correct unwanted behavior and teach appropriate behavior or does it just instill fear? What are the long-term impacts of using the rod on children/teens? Have a listen to this episode to find out more.

Many children are labelled as overly hyper, with low attention span, disruptive and many other titles, and some diagnosed with disorders like ADHD and consequently pumped with drugs to try and "subdue" them and sometimes punished for this. But is it really fair? Is it their choice? Are they really hyperactive and inattentive or is the environment from within and without causing this and they simply need understanding and some adjustments? Listen to this episode to find out some whys behind all this, because drugs and punishment is not always the answer

Men lie, women lie, that's nothing new, how about children? Why do they lie and what can we do to help into not develop into a trait that is weaved into their personality? Listen to this episode to find out more.

Did you know that researchers estimate that two-thirds of humans have no idea what they are good at or what their strengths are? Many people live through their lives never having discovered their talent or purpose and it leaves us feeling empty and lost. As custodians of our little ones whether infants or teenagers, we are responsible in helping them discover and nurture their talents and supporting them through so they can live a fulfilled life and serve others in the process.

Trust has never been easy to build especially once we pass the early years. A lot is happening to our children which have no idea about because there is no bond of trust with them. They do not feel like they have the safe space to tell us what they are struggling with. This episode explores ways we can (re)build this trust and things we should avoid that can destroy it.

In this world of instant noodles and coffee, did you know that self-control is the best predictor of long term and fulfilling success? Greater than the brightest of brains and the strongest of arms. One of the greatest values we can teach our children is self-control, learning to regulate their emotions and actions, lest they overpower them.

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty and he who rules his spirit than he who captures a city.

Self-esteem is more than "feeling", it is a state of "being", it's for every single day, it's more than what is said but how we interpret it, it is about being in control of your own happiness and believing that "I am enough", no matter what others say or think about me. It is finding the balance between that and being narcissistic, full of ourselves. What matters is how do we get our children to grow developing this skill?

“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.”- Fred Rogers

PS: I claim no rights to any audios or visuals used