“Why do I have to repeat myself time and again?” “Why won’t she listen to me?” Listening and following directions are important skills young children must learn.

Many families find bedtime to be a challenge for them and their children. Here are a few proven tips for making bedtimes easier for parents and children.

Young children are curious and actively explore the world. This curiosity and exploration may look like inappropriate behavior. Plan and prevent problem behaviors using these strategies.

Be sure the child understands the clean-up routine and expectations.

An easy project to do with your child is to make a homemade Emotion Book. All you need is paper, crayons or markers, and a stapler. You can make a book about one emotion and have your child fill the pages with things that make him feel that way.

A great way to connect with your child is to spend time interacting with them. This might mean going grocery shopping together, playing a favorite game or toy together, singing to songs in the car together, or going for a walk together.

Provide opportunities for your child to practice making decisions, such as choosing between two choices, asking them open-ended questions, giving them simple tasks, being a role model, and identifying different parts of a problem.

PAASSS offers many tips for encouraging your child to develop confidence and better behavior.