| Know Your Cartoons: Let's face it - your child WILL | | | | "Just you wait until we get home". To him or her that |
| watch TV, and that's all right as long as it's not too | | | | may mean a special treat and when you DO get |
| much and the quality is good - and appropriate for | | | | home and mete out their punishment, they will not |
| your child's age! Check your local TV listings on-line | | | | know what is going on, I promise you! |
| and do a little research into what shows are | | | | Love: Don't be afraid to show your children that you |
| recommended for each age group. Watch the shows | | | | love them. Hugs and kisses are what young children |
| with your child, at least until you are sure that the | | | | understand ans know as love. They don't know - or |
| program is suitable. Who know, you may learn to love | | | | care - about the sacrifices you and your wife are |
| Sponge Bob Square Pants! | | | | making to be able to have you be a stay at home |
| Playgroups: children need time with their peers in order | | | | Dad. (and they shouldn't) Let your children see your |
| to develop good social skills. Taking them to the local | | | | love for them and they grow because of it. |
| park is a great place for them to meet other children | | | | Language: Women are traditionally more verbal than |
| their own age. You might also benefit from meeting | | | | men. It's partly because of this that children learn their |
| other parents. See if any of them are interested in | | | | language skills so well. The more Mom talks to her |
| setting up a playgroup. It really doesn't have to be | | | | children during the day - the better the kids learn to |
| much - just an hour or so each week so the children | | | | talk. Dads - learn how to talk to your children. Don't |
| can get together and play and the parents can trade | | | | always talk at their level, because then they are not |
| tips and tricks how how to deal with young children's | | | | learning new words and skills. While I'm not saying to |
| issues. Your child will quickly learn how to share and | | | | talk like the encyclopedia, I am saying to speak with |
| have fun in a playgroup setting. They will have friends! | | | | them on a level they can understand - yet at the |
| Laundry: Yep, this one is important - but easy. Just | | | | same time on a level that is constantly challenging |
| remember, one pile for all whites, one for pastels or | | | | them to improve their language skills. A great way to |
| light mixed colors, one for darks and if you have | | | | help develop a child's language skills is to read to them |
| anything red - wash that separately. Never, NEVER | | | | on a daily basis. |
| put something wool or cashmere in the washing | | | | Finances: Finances might be pretty tight for families |
| machine! Basically, if you follow the garment tag | | | | with Stay at Home Dads (or Moms for that matter). |
| washing instruction, you won't go wrong and you | | | | You might want to consider making some extra |
| should pick this skill up rather quickly. | | | | money via an on-line business. Internet marketing is a |
| Discipline: Children learn best from their "mistakes" if | | | | great way to earn extra income while the children are |
| there is immediate feedback. When your child | | | | napping or later in the evening when they are sleeping. |
| misbehaves, provide suitable punishment immediately if | | | | Having even just a little extra coming in every month |
| at all possible. If you wait, your child will have forgotten | | | | might just be the way you can continue being a stay |
| what he did wrong in the first place and resentment | | | | at home Dad indefinitely! |
| will grow. A two-year-old toddler will not understand | | | | |