I can’t think of anything or anyone more entertaining than children. They’re simply funny. They’re goofy. Perhaps that’s why so many good books, movies, and even comic strips are based on children and the things they do. Humor can be found in everything, although it may not be obvious to you when it happens. Ages 10-13: Children in this age range are becoming increasingly conditioned physically. Emotionally, they are more likely to be able to handle moderately challenging situations, but they are also more likely to question the worth of anything extremely difficult. Hikes up to 10 miles are possible as long as the terrain is not too hilly or mountainous. Children in this age group thrive on being the leader — diplomatic and judicious support from parents is key. Menu planning, route finding, cooking, and camp setup are reasonable tasks to assign to kids at this age, but be careful that they do not take on too much and begin to feel like all they are doing is working. Your kids will do anything they can to get your attention. Even if that means negative attention. If you don’t spend time with your children and give them positive attention, they’ll do whatever it takes to get your attention. If they find that pouring water on the floor is what it takes to get you to spend time with them, they’ll do it. As small children, these acts are innocent enough. But as your children get older, they’ll do dangerous things, like drugs and alcohol. Finding Your Sense of Humor in the Lost and Found bullet Taking a good look at yourself as you develop a way of taking the time to practice how you’re going to answer the ageless and ongoing question, Why does this bug me? If you’re calm, relaxed, and don’t overreact to broken dishes and other such events, your children are likely to be calm and relaxed. On the other hand, if you’re nervous and tense, your children are likely to be nervous and tense.

For more information about following through with what you say, please see Chapter 4, Following Through. Hold, hover, shepherd, and guide — Dr. Tim I can and will find a responsible babysitter so that I can have some one-on-one adult time once in a while. A question commonly posed is, "When is my child old enough to begin hiking and camping?" The answer depends on your child. No two personalities are the same; no two children the same. What may work for one family may not work for another.Up until now, you might have had someone else call the shots. But guess what? It’s your time to shine now! While it’s freeing to finally be considered an adult, having all of the responsibility can sometimes be scary. Goal-setting is one of the first items you need to do, and to set goals, you need to have some idea what you want to do, what you’re good at, and where you want to end up. A good role model isn’t necessarily someone who is perfect in every way. If you can walk on water, that’s great. Otherwise, try doing the things that you know are right. You’ll no doubt get upset sometimes. That happens. The important part is to apologize later, or explain to your kids why you got upset. It’s healthy for kids to know that their parents get upset or mad. Everyone does. How you handle being upset is what’s important. In Chapter 23, I discuss communicating with your child, which includes listening to what your child really has to say and letting your child know that what he or she says is being heard. Concern for your children is good. But don’t be so protective of your children that you forget how fun kids can be. Laughing is great. It makes you feel good, it relieves stress, and it makes life a lot more fun. Is There an End to this Game? Don’t say, Do that one more time and you’ll regret it. It sounds nice because it gives you an out; you’re not bound to do anything linked to that threat. But it’s better if you say instead, If you choose to do that one more time, then I’m not allowing AJ to spend the night tonight. Then if the child chooses to do the dastardly deed one more time, your follow-through is to say, You chose to do (whatever). Because you made that choice, AJ doesn’t get to spend the night. Then follow through by not allowing AJ to spend the night. For a fun book to read to your kids that shows how words can mean different things, try The King Who Rained by Fred Gwynne (The Trumpet Club). Waver not, lest ye topple (being consistent)

How do you get to the point where crying babies, poopy diapers that have overflowed onto your nice white Battenburg bedspread, being late, and a toddler who seems to be dragging his feet don’t bother you any more? These are the realities of kids, so how do you work with their reality so they don’t drive you crazy? Patience means: Hover. Toddlers and some preschoolers are more mobile and independent than infants. You can no longer hold onto them and meet all their needs. But their newfound mobility and independence can also be their undoing. They are vulnerable to all sorts of hazards, from falling and hitting their head to walking blindly through a busy parking lot. They need you to hover and to intervene when their small adventures put them in harm’s way. Chapter 6, Behavior Management, discusses how rewarding good behavior, constant praise, plenty of hugs and kisses, and organized play can keep your child out of mischief. WARNING: The perils of negative attention From the time your children are born, they watch your actions and behaviors and learn from them. That’s sort of a scary thought, isn’t it? Your wee ones discover things when you talk to them and do things with them. You’ll teach them how to respond to spilled milk, how to react to a joke, what to do when they fall down — and all the other things that we deal with in life. Everything you do and say is absorbed by your child’s brain. This happens whether you want it to or not, so welcome to your second role as parent, that of teacher.Covering information for newborns to pre-teens, Parenting For Dummies gives you the essentials of parenting basics. From dealing with a crying baby and potty training, to building self-esteem and dealing with sibling rivalry, it offers a gold mine of up-to-date advice.