First Year

Here’s what Dr. Ann Corwin, The Parenting Doctor, recommends in your first year of parenting.

“How your children see the world and what can I do about it as a parent”.

0-3 MONTHS – PRIMARY GOAL IS TO CONNECT.
Your child’s basic and primary goal in life is to CONNECT with you, their parents. The three most important ways your child CONNECT’S with you, their parent, is by making eye contact with you, getting your loving touch and listening for the sound of your reassuring voice.

What would Dr. Ann say?
By talking, touching and making eye contact with your baby on a daily basis, you will build a trusting relationship.

3-6 MONTHS – BEGINNINGS OF A SEPARATE BEING.
Your baby begins to understand that they are a separate being from you. This sometimes scares a three month old, so expect your baby to cry when you leave the room. You begin to see sincere smiles coming from your baby – a gift you will treasure!

What would Dr. Ann say?
Play peek-a-boo with your baby to help them cope with your absence and then come to the realization that you always reappear!

6-9 MONTHS – THE BEGINNING OF DISCIPLINE.
This period marks the beginning of discipline. For the first time, your baby will realize that their behavior can change the behavior of the people around them. They will begin to test your limits with their behavior.

What would Dr. Ann say?
When your child behaves in ways you want as a parent, be sure to move close to them through eye contact, touching, and talking. This will encourage your child to repeat these behaviors in order to gain your attention. When your child behaves in ways you DON’T want as a parent, be sure to move away, “simply by picking your child up from behind with their back to your chest and don’t talk to them while you distract them with another more appropriate activity.” This will discourage your child from repeating that behavior.

9-12 MONTHS – “NO” IS THEIR FAVORITE WORD.
Your child will change more in the first year of life than in any other time of their life, except puberty!

New Year’s Resolutions…Just Do It!

January of any year is famously all about promises.  At the beginning of the year we usually reflect on the last and resolve to change in the year ahead.  Change is good, it means we are moving forward and not feeling so stuck.  But, where I always get stuck is the ‘talking’ about change instead [...]

Do you believe…in Santa Claus?

My kids are five years apart, so by the time my second was born my first was in kindergarten and well on his way to having other kids opinions influence him.
I will never forget when he came home and told me that his friend Parker told him there was no Santa Claus.  The look on [...]

Got Plans for the Holidays?

I am sure you are already planning where you will be for the holidays, what to buy, what you will donate to others, what parties you will attend, who will be coming over to your house, what to eat for special holiday meals and the list goes on and on.
But, do you have a plan [...]

Parents Ask…Because Raising Kids Raises Questions!

www.parentsask.com is a new place to go on the Internet to get interesting, informative, and accurate parenting information.  It’s a place for you to ask questions about your kids.  You talk to other parents, get their opinions and suggestions for any issue you are facing in your family.  You can post a question yourself, ask [...]

Today’s Interview with Dr. Ann on WLW AM 700 Radio in Cincinnati: Yelling at Other People’s Kids!

I’d like to summarize some important points that surfaced during my interview this afternoon regarding disciplining other people’s children. First and foremost, remember any time you say anything to another parent about their kid’s misbehavior, those are fighting words. Even if parents know their kids are doing something wrong: if another parent says it, that [...]

Tips to Surviving Summer

Summer vacation… kids cannot wait and parents look forward to less structure and fun. But by the middle of July, the dreams of carefree summer fun seem to fade. Why? 
 
Kids love to predict: they want to know what’s coming next so they can manage their behavior. Even though it sounds great to just relax, [...]

Want To Know Why You’re In a Bad Mood? Watch T.V.

Ever get up “on the wrong side of the bed” and don’t know why?
At one time or another just about everybody experiences not knowing why they feel the way they do.  Kids get even more confused than parents do about their feelings.  All kids behaviors are in response to some sort of feeling and most [...]

In Praise of Fathers

Fathers should be appreciated all year… not just on one day! While Father’s Day is a tremendous idea, we all need to affirm Dads for their significance every day of the year.
I come from a long line of fantastic fathering men. My grandfathers were both grand fathering me from birth to their deaths. My Dad, [...]

Why Do Kids Behave Differently When Mom is Around?

Dear Dr. Corwin:
I am the father of a two-year-old boy. When I am with him alone, he is a good toddler. He gives me no problems and doesn’t whine or throw tantrums. But when he is with my wife alone, or my wife and I are together with him, he is whiney and has tantrums [...]

You Know I Love You Anyway

In celebration of Mother’s Day, I’d like to share a special poem with you that was given to me by a mom that I had been working with earlier this year. She was a new mommy having trouble adjusting to being a stay-at-home-mom after the birth of her second child. She came seeking guidelines in [...]

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