AHEAD OF THE CURVE
THE FAMILY GROOVE'S PARENTING TREND REPORT
The challenges of parenthood are ever-changing and so are the fashions. One minute, something’s in
vogue and the next minute, it’s passé. How ever are you supposed to keep up? Never fear—here, we
examine three of the newest trends in parenting to make sure you stay in-the-know.
Issue:
Potty training
Previously: Around the child’s second birthday, begin the transition from diapers to big kid potty. Cross
your fingers and by the third birthday, accidents should be down to a minimum.
New trend: Elimination Communication
What is it?: A form of potty training that really isn’t. For the first few days and weeks of a child’s life, parents are supposed to watch their child’s visual and verbal cues (much like they do for feeding and fussiness) to determine a pattern of when their child goes to the bathroom. Then, at those times, the parents are supposed to hold the baby over a specially made baby potty. Over time, the baby will
start to associate the potty with elimination.
Why it’s worth it to try: Advocates say the benefits are numerous: no diaper rash, no stench from the diaper pail, incredible savings on diapers and no personal contribution to waste in landfills, just to name a few.
Small caveat: This method is certainly not for everyone, advocates say, and should only be attempted by parents whose schedules and support system allow for such a time-consuming experience.
To learn more: Go to www.diaperfreebaby.org or read Ingrid Bauer’s
Diaper Free! The Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygiene
($16.95,
www.natural-wisdom.com)
Breakout fact: According to
Contemporary Pediatrics magazine, 50 percent of the world’s infants are potty-trained by age one.
Issue: Promoting early learning skills with educational videos
Previously: With so much to do and so little time to do it, the temptation to let the TV be the babysitter is stronger than ever—at least until you finish that über-important email. After all, how much harm can those educational videos and programs do?
New trend: Fewer videos, more parental interaction
Why it’s a trend: In August, researchers at the University of Washington and Seattle Children's Hospital Research Institute released a study that showed that viewing those educational videos like
Baby Einstein and
Brainy Baby might actually do more harm than good in terms of building the vocabulary of eight to 16-month-olds. Researchers found that children learn more from warm social interaction with caregivers at this stage.
To learn more: To read more about the study, go to
www.seattlechildrens.org.
Issue: Praise
Previously: Of all the things you think have to be good for your children, praise is certainly one of them…Right?
New trend: Careful and deliberate praise
Why it’s a trend: Researchers
from Columbia University have found that praise in certain forms can have adverse effects on children. Instead of building their self-esteem and motivating them to do harder, specific forms of praise—“You are good at math,” “You are an excellent speller,” etc.—caused the children in the study to get frustrated when presented with a difficult task. This, however, doesn’t mean parents should stop praising their children. Instead it means that parents must be aware of what types of messages they are sending to their children. Are you praising their effort even if they fail? Are you praising their intelligence or their willingness to do something?
To learn more: To incorporate new ways to praise your children and give them reinforcement, pick up a copy of Linda Gilden’s
Love Notes in Lunchboxes and Other Ideas to Color your Child’s Day ($9.99,
www.amazon.com).
—
Tara Pringle Jefferson
Tara Pringle Jefferson is a freelance writer based out of Cleveland, Ohio.
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