| How to Make a Child Feel Valued Posted: 22 May 2017 05:00 PM PDT There is no single, right way to make a child feel valued. A child is likely to feel valued if they are treated with respect, and when an adult demonstrates genuine interest in their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Developing healthy boundaries and being consistent with children serves to nurture their sense of being valued. EditTreating Your Child With Respect - Spend time together. This basic step is a building block for teaching a child to feel you value her as an individual. Find ways to spend special time alone with your child. This will foster respect and closeness, and allow you to learn more about what your child wants and needs.[1]
- Activities you do with your child don't have to be complicated. Time spent together can be as simple as taking a walk, sharing a picnic snack, or going together to a favorite spot.
- Your child is more likely to approach you with their needs if they feel comfortable spending alone time with you.
- Let the child know you love them. Children need to be reassured that they are loved by the adults in their lives. This love should not be based in conditions. Remember that love is non-judgmental and unconditional. [2]
- Sometimes children of divorced parents need additional confirmation that they still have their parents' love.
- While you may be proud of your child's achievements, make sure the child knows that you love them regardless of whether they bring home a perfect report card or not.
- Have regular conversations. Talking to a child about daily activities allows them to know that you care about their life. Having conversations with an adult may also give the child a positive sense of maturity. Include a variety of questions to help support your conversation.[3]
- Avoid rhetorical questions, which your child may not know how to interpret.
- Instead, use open-ended questions as often as possible, which will allow the child to know that you're interested in what they have to say. Open-ended questions usually start with Who, What, Where, When, Why, or How.
- Encourage a child's conversation by using conversation extenders. Children may not have the skills to express themselves without some help. If you want a child to share her experience with you, help support her by asking questions like, "And then what happened?" or "Tell me more!"[4]
- Inviting your child to continue to share about her experience will allow her to know you value her individual perspective.
- The conversation extenders will also model for her ways in which she can ask for more information with a peer, another adult, or to increase her ability to articular her own experience.
- Validate their feelings. Treat their emotions as important, even if you don't understand or agree. This lets the child know that you think their perspective is important and worth listening to. Make it clear that it's okay for them to feel the way they do.
- You can validate their feelings while not doing what they want. For example, "I know you don't want to take a bath. It's lots of fun to play with dolls, and it's not fun to be told to stop. You need a bath because it's important to stay clean. You can choose the bath toys, and we can make lots of bubbles if you want."
- Demonstrate respect for the child. When you listen to your child share the story of their day, or provide special time together, you're showing your child you respect them. Don't rush them through their answers, or make them feel you're too busy for their attention. To teach your child they're valued, allow them to feel that you prioritize time spent with them.[5]
- Allow your child to answer questions for themselves. Try to avoid "filling in the blanks" for your child in conversation. For example, don't answer a question for your child, such as "No, Jack won't like popcorn. He never likes popcorn!" Instead, turn to Jack and ask him, "Jack, your friend's mom wants to know if you want popcorn. Do you?"
- Refraining from profanity, and not speaking rudely are other elements of respect.
- Respect the child's abilities. Doing things for your child that they can do for themselves is suggesting that you doubt their capabilities. Instead, make them feel that you value what they can do for themselves. For example, rather than putting a coat on a 3-year old, allow her to take the time to do it for herself.[6]
- Doing things for your child over time reinforce a sense of helplessness in the child's idea of themselves.
- Remember that there are cultural differences in typical ideas of child development, and be mindful of respecting these differences. For instance, some cultures teach the use of eating with silverware at a very young age, while others continue to eat with their hands.
- Allow the child to learn from their mistakes. Teaching independence means to allow for a higher possibility of mistakes. This is a natural consequence of learning a new skill. Because young children are concrete thinkers, learning the natural consequences that follow an action is an important part of their learning development.[7]
- Showing your child that you trust them to make their own choices, and to learn from their mistakes, emphasizes that you value their independence.
- Make sure that the consequences of their learning won't have overly detrimental affects on their physical or emotional safety. For example, if your nephew is just learning to look both ways before crossing the street, you'll obviously want to protect him from busy intersections. However, allowing him to practice independently looking both ways before crossing together with you is a good idea.
- Give your children choices. Allowing for your child to have genuine choices is an important part of letting them know you value their preferences. The choices you provide should all be equally valid choices—that is, don't present choices that are impossible to meet, or which you're sure the child won't select. Instead, present a range of options whenever possible.[8]
- You don't want to overwhelm your child with choices. Choosing from 2-3 options is generally enough. For example, "Do you want corn or sweet potatoes with your ham?"
- Providing choices that you wouldn't choose yourself encourages independence in your child.
- Respect their quirks and individuality. Your child is not a blank slate; they are a unique person with their own traits. You can teach your child, but don't try to change them. Instead, let them be who they are.
- For example, if your son dislikes organized sports, don't force him into one. Instead, let him choose a way to exercise that he enjoys. Or if your little sister is autistic, don't tell her to hide her disability in public, and let her be herself.
EditShowing What it Means to Be Valued - Be consistent. Being consistent means that the expectations and rules that are set should be the same from day to day, and place to place. Consistency gives a child a sense of well-being, safety, and security. It teaches a child accountability for their actions, and helps provide a safe boundary for exploration.
- If you're inconsistent, you're giving a child the information that their needs are not important to you.
- Having regular daily routines at home will help provide a better sense of security for your child. If these routines are based in your child's needs, they'll better understand that they are valued.
- Try to spend quality time with your child every day. It helps to get into a routine (for example, taking a half hour walk every day after your child comes home from school). This can help ensure that you spend time with them. Set aside blocks of time where you can be with your child.
- If you're really busy one day and don't spend much time with them, make up for it by spending more time with them on a later day.
- Show that you value your own well-being. Modeling self-care for a child is an important aspect of teaching a child what it means to be valued. Taking care of your health, hygiene, psychological and emotional needs are all part of what it means to care for your own well-being.
- Don't remain in situations where you're abused, neglected or mistreated.
- Take time for yourself when you need it. You don't have to be constantly available at the whims of your child. If you really need some quiet time, say so, and set up the child with something they can do independently.
- If you need help understanding more about self-care, ask for help from a friend or professional.
- Set appropriate rules and boundaries. For a child to feel valued, they must also feel safe. Safety comes from adults having good, healthy boundaries. The adult is responsible for providing structure and support.[9]
- This doesn't mean that you can't have fun with your child. However, you must be prepared to interrupt a fun game in order to ensure that the child's safety needs are met.
- Consider your child's individual personality. Some children need more structure to feel safe than other children. It's important to meet the needs of your particular child.
- Be there for them when they're struggling. If your child is upset, respond with empathy and patience, not judgment. Ask what's wrong, and work together on brainstorming ways to make things better.
- Be gentle and firm about rules. For example, "I know you want the purple car. The rule we set is that you can pick out one toy, and you already chose the pink car. It's your choice which car you get." You can empathize with the child while still expecting them to adhere to the rules.
- Focus on negative behavior, rather than saying the child is bad. Let your child know that even if their behavior is unacceptable in a given situation, you still care about and love them no matter what. Everyone makes mistakes, wrong decisions, and errors in judgment. If your child is learning that they're valued, they'll be learning to make this distinction as well.[10]
- Reminding them that they will have other opportunities to make better choices is one way of encouraging them to learn.
- If your child repeatedly engages in the same negative behavior, consider what response you are providing. If you tend to engage more frequently with your child regarding negative behaviors, they may be acting out in search of your attention.
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations
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| How to Prevent Friends from Posting on Your Facebook Wall Posted: 22 May 2017 09:00 AM PDT This wikiHow teaches you how to stop others from posting to your Facebook wall using both the mobile app and desktop site. - Open the Facebook app. As of March 2017, you do not have the option of stopping one specific person from posting on your wall unless you block them.
- Tap . It's located at the bottom-right corner of the screen.
- Tap . It's towards the bottom of the list of menu options.
- Tap .
- Tap .
- Tap .
- Tap . Doing so will prevent others from posting to your Facebook wall.
- Open the Facebook app.
- Tap . It's located near the top-right corner of the screen.
- Tap . It's towards the bottom of the list of menu options.
- Tap .
- Tap .
- Tap .
- Tap . Doing so will prevent others from posting to your Facebook wall.
EditDesktop Site - Go to www.facebook.com.
- Enter your login information if prompted.
- Click the drop-down arrow. It's located at the far right corner of the screen next to the question mark icon.
- Click .
- Click . It's located in the menu on the left side of the screen.
- Click next to "Who can post on your Timeline?" A drop-down menu will appear underneath the question.
- Click the drop-down box.
- Click .
- Click . It's located on the far right of the "Who can post on your Timeline?" question. Doing so will prevent others from posting to your Facebook wall entirely.
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| How to Prepare Healthy Meals on the Go Posted: 22 May 2017 01:00 AM PDT Preparing healthy meals on the go can be easy. You can set yourself up for success by making a meal plan, shopping ahead of time for ingredients, and utilizing your weekend to get some of the prep work out of the way. You can then create lunches and breakfasts that are ready to go anywhere as well as easy dinners that will leave you satisfied. EditSetting Yourself Up For Success - Make a meal plan. Having a game plan for what you and your family will be eating each week can be a game changer. With a meal plan, you will be more likely to eat healthy foods, even if you are on the go. Sit down with your family once a week and make a plan for what you will be eating at each meal during the upcoming week.[1]
- Create a shopping list. Once you have your healthy meal plan put together, you will need to make a shopping list. Go through all the recipes you will be making and list all of the ingredients you will need to make your meals. Be sure to go through your pantry, refrigerator, and freezer to see what ingredients you already have on hand.[2]
- Take a weekly trip to the grocery store. Making sure your kitchen is stocked with healthy food is one of the most important parts of successfully preparing healthy meals. Pick a day that you can make a weekly shopping trip, and make it part of your weekly schedule.[3]
- Complete prep work on the weekend. When you come home from a long day of work, chopping and preparing ingredients for a healthy dinner can seem overwhelming. You can get ahead of the game by taking an hour or two on the weekend and prepping ingredients for your meals.
- For example, you can chop the veggies you'll need for weeknight dinners on the weekend.
- If you're planning on making meals with rice, you can try cooking a big batch on the weekend.
- Try batch cooking. You can make the most of your time in the kitchen by giving batch cooking a chance. Batch cooking is when you prepare multiple portions of several meals that you will eat at a later date. You can store the portions in your refrigerator to eat later in the week, or in your freezer if you plan on consuming them later that month.[4]
- Plan ahead to utilize leftovers. You can be even more successful at preparing healthy meals on the go if you have a plan for your leftovers. For example, you can use Monday's leftover roasted pork in Tuesday's pork barbecue sandwiches.
- Consider a crockpot. Crockpots will do the cooking for you while you are at work, school, or running errands. For example, you can place four chicken breasts and a can of salsa in a crockpot for 4 hours on low heat. When you come home, shred the chicken and place in corn tortillas for some healthy chicken tacos.
EditMaking Easy and Portable Breakfasts - Grab a green smoothie. Try blending together two cups or 475 milliliters of water with 2 cups or 300 grams of spinach in a standard blender. Then add one banana, 1 cup or 150 grams frozen pineapple, and 1 cup or 150 grams frozen mango. Add a scoop of your favorite protein powder and blend until smooth.
- Pour the smoothies into two separate mason jars with lids.
- You can easily transport the smoothie with you to work, on an outing, or as an after-gym meal.
- You can keep the smoothies in the refrigerator for up to two days after making them.
- Create crust-less quiche to go. Quiche can be a healthy and easy breakfast choice if made ahead of time. You can create individual quiches in ramekins or muffin tins. Once they are baked, you can store them in the refrigerator for an easy grab and go breakfast.[5]
- Try a fruit and nut butter wrap. Take whole wheat tortilla and spread it with 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter. Then place ½ cup or 150 grams of chopped fruit on top of the nut butter. Top with one tablespoon of vanilla yogurt. Roll the tortilla up like a burrito and cut in half.[6]
- Try blueberries, raspberries, peaches, bananas, and/or strawberries in your wrap.
- To make your breakfast portable, wrap the individual halves in plastic wrap or foil.
- Make a yogurt cup. Yogurt is filled with calcium, vitamin D, and protein. Take a pint-sized Mason jar and fill it with one cup of Greek yogurt. Then top your yogurt with fresh fruit. You can also add a sprinkling of low-sugar granola.
EditCreating Packable Lunches - Make a Mason jar salad. Take a wide mouth canning jar and place two tablespoons of salad dressing in the bottom. Next add hard vegetables like cucumbers, beets, carrots, or peppers. Then add a protein like beans, grilled chicken, or tofu. Top your protein with some nuts or seeds, and then place your salad greens on top. Screw on a lid and enjoy on the go![7]
- You can store Mason jar salads in the refrigerator for 4 days.
- Try making several salads as part of your weekend meal prep and enjoy throughout the week.
- If you're making salads ahead of time, wait until the day you plan on eating the salad to add the protein. You can place the protein directly on top of the greens.
- Put together a healthy sandwich or wrap. You can quickly make a wrap or sandwich that is healthy and portable. Start with a whole grain wrap or bread as your base. Then add a lean protein like tuna or turkey. Top with lettuce, tomato, carrots, and/or cucumber. Add low-fat mayonnaise and/or mustard and enjoy!
- Make your wrap or sandwich portable by wrapping it in plastic or foil.
- If you're packing a sandwich to go, you can wait to add the mayonnaise or mustard. Instead, pack it separately in a small plastic container or plastic bag.
- Try a grain-based salad. An easy grab and go choice is a make-ahead salad that includes grains, vegetables, and protein. Try cooking one cup of quinoa and letting it cool. Then chop one tomato, one green pepper, four green onions, two cloves of garlic, and a handful of cilantro. Mix the vegetables with the quinoa. Add one can of drained black beans. Top the salad with four tablespoons of olive oil and three tablespoons of balsamic vinegar.[8]
- Make a whole grain pasta salad. Whole grain pasta can be a great base for a lunch on the go. Try combining whole-wheat penne with chopped zucchini, red peppers, cucumber, and feta cheese. Top it off with balsamic vinegar and olive oil or some low-fat bottled salad dressing, like Greek or Italian.
EditCooking Quick and Healthy Dinners - Make some lettuce wraps. If you're looking for a gluten and dairy-free healthy meal that is easy to prepare, consider making some lettuce wraps. Start with butter lettuce cups as a base. Add some rice and a protein like grilled steak, marinated tofu, roasted pork, or grilled chicken. Top with a flavorful sauce or a fermented vegetable like kimchi.[9]
- Create healthy tacos. Tacos are easy, affordable, and healthy if you choose the right ingredients. Start with whole wheat or soft corn tortillas. Add some protein like tempeh, black beans, grilled chicken, or steak. Top them with avocado and salsa. Serve with a salad.[10]
- Go for a protein and veggie plate. A healthy, easy dinner can be as simple as a plate filled with your favorite vegetables and protein. Try pairing a piece of grilled fish or chicken with roasted vegetables. Or fill your plate with marinated tofu and steamed veggies. Aim to fill two-thirds of your plate with vegetables and the other third with a protein source.[11]
EditSources and Citations
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