Becoming a parent can be one of the most rewarding things you will ever do, but it won’t be free of frustrations, anxieties and fears. Children don’t come with instruction manuals, and every parent worries about making irrevocable mistakes. Fortunately, there’s a lot of great advice out there for nearly every parenting situation you may face.

Make sure your child has time to be a child! Don’t force them to grow up and deal with things too early. Kids are only young once, and it’s important that they get to make the most out of it. Give them time to play and explore and to just be a kid.

Make sure you have an appropriate first aid kit in your home. Children suffer a variety of different injuries and you want to make sure you are prepared for them. In your first aid kit, make sure to include, band aids, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, cotton swabs, bacitracin ointment, and calamine lotion.

When training your child to use the potty, buy them underwear with their favorite cartoon character on it. Children always do better with encouragement. By letting them wear these kind of underwear, they will feel better about using the potty because they do not want to have an accident in their “special” underwear.

While going through a divorce with younger children, it is important to give them only the information that is necessary for them to understand. No excess information should be given to the young children or it could hurt their impression of the parent. Your kids should not feel any effect of their parents divorce, even though they always do.

A great parenting tip is to always be direct, yet calm whenever you have some sort of problem. This will demonstrate to your child how they should react in similar situations. If you’re passive aggressive, your child might respond to problems in a passive aggressive way which won’t benefit them.

A great parenting tip is to learn to speak to your child at their level. Don’t just bark orders at them all the time. They’ll just feel like they have no connection with you if you do that. Remove your ego, and learn to communicate better with your child.

A great parenting tip is to offer your teenager a ride home from a party if they plan on drinking. It’s always a good idea to offer your teenager a ride home because you’ll never know if he or she gets into a car with someone who has been drinking.

When taking a trip with young kids and toddlers, don’t forget to pack the comfort items. Vacations are meant to be fun, relaxing times for everyone in the family, but with a young child it can be difficult because their routine is disrupted. Treasured and comfortable belongings from home help children adjust to new routines and strange locations.

Although it may be uncomfortable for you, it is vital that you teach your teenager about sex as early as possible. It is better that they learn the information from you rather than another source. Also, you are able to teach them how to protect themselves before they become sexually active.

To sooth a colicky baby try some skin on skin contact. If you are breastfeeding you can place them against your stomach and offer them some food. You may find that talking to them in a soothing voice or singing a lullaby may stop the tears. You should always stay calm when dealing with an infant, if you find that you are becoming frustrated, take a break by handing your baby to a spouse or other trusted family member.

Do not believe that you have to give your children everything they want in order to make them love you. Most children crave limits and boundaries and they want to have someone that can be in charge and tell them what to do. They will push these boundaries so be prepared for that.

A good relationship with your Child’s teacher is very important. It is important for the teacher to feel as though you are working with him or her as a team. They should be able to contact you if they have any concerns and you should take them into careful consideration.

When disciplining your children, ensure you are NOT angry. Words said out of anger can last a lifetime with your child, hurting them in ways you can’t imagine. If you get mad, walk away for a bit until you calm down, then deal with your child. This will make your relationship less contentious.

One nice thing about being a parent is that you’re never alone. There’s always someone out there who has already dealt with the same issues you are struggling with. Don’t be afraid to listen to other parents and take their advice. Remember the tips you’ve learned and you’ll be able to better focus on the joys of watching your children grow.

Creative Parenting Tips For Those Looking For Something Different was originally published on Spring