As a parent, many things can cause you to worry and stress. You may think that this is just what you signed up for when you decided to have children. Not technically, there are ways to manage certain behaviors and problems that crop up. Being firm but fair is a great motto to stand by as a parent. From a young age if children think they can get away with stuff they will push you to their limits.

Here are three common problems you could be facing with your kids and how to deal with them.

 

Fussy Eater

 

From a young age, children can become fussy eaters, through no fault of their parents. Each child is different and unique so therefore has different and unique tastes and textures. If you are in the process of weaning your child it is highly recommended to follow the baby-led weaning method and introduce finger foods as soon as you can so your child gets used to colors and textures as soon as possible. 

 

Fruits and veggies are very important for children just like adults so be sure you give them a good selection of both. If you already have a fussy eater and they will pick at whatever you give them, rather than wasting food each day just give them what you know they like but then try and mix in some veggies. Spaghetti bolognese is great for this as you can mix vegetables in so they are hidden. This way you know your child is getting the goodness they need. As they get older you can reason with them and explain why certain foods are good for them and why they should be eating them.  

 

Moodiness

 

Unfortunately, children being moody starts near their first birthday and continue way beyond the teenage years. Tantrums are a real thing and they can happen for any reason, if your child is throwing a strop for no apparent reason and they are not in any danger just leave them to it. They are crying because something didn’t go their way and if you react to it then they will see it as rewarding behavior and continue to throw tantrums every time. 

 

If they are left to it they will soon realize they can’t have their own way all the time and they will calm down. It can be hard on you to listen or it can be frustrating because you think to yourself why are you doing this, it’s pointless. 

 

Rebellion

 

The good old hormones can cause rebellion or it can just be teenagers doing what they do best. This can be the hardest time in your kids' lives and it could just be them adjusting to growing up. Unfortunately, it means that you as a parent aren’t sure how to approach it. If it is just them being grumpy then put your foot down and give them a gentle reminder who is boss, if it is hormones and stress give them a friendly shoulder to lean on. 

The main worry about teenagers is when they start venturing out on their own and make friends they could end up in the wrong crowd of people and head down a path you don’t want them to head down. Teenagers don’t often listen because they think they know best, they don’t but sometimes you just have to let them make their own mistakes so they learn from them. 

 

One example of this could be if your child starts committing crimes and getting in trouble with the law. You can only tell them off and ground them so much before it starts getting frustrating. One option could be to let them get in trouble, let them get arrested, and teach them a lesson that way. You may need to bail them out though, this is the only issue with this technique. How much is bail you might be wondering, take a look at the link and it will explain the bail process to you.