There is not much more in life that is as exciting as the prospect of raising your own child. What follows is some tried and true advice to guide you through the maze of parenting.

It actually helps a child’s development when you don’t focus only on the child, but also pursue interests or hobbies of your own. This allows you to retain your individuality along with your identity as a parent.

Preschoolers often do not handle transition easily. They tend to become frustrated and have temper tantrums when they must change tasks quickly.

It is crucial that parents of teenagers do not put too much pressure on them when they are deciding which college to go to. It can sometimes have the opposite effect if teens are coerced into making decisions that they do not desire.

You should never give your infant or toddler any kind of soft drinks because of the acids, chemicals and caffeine that they contain. Give your baby nutritious beverages, like milk and sugar-free juices; water is also important for proper hydration.

Research has shown the danger of second hand smoke to children, so don’t smoke at home. In fact, it’s a good idea to stop smoking completely. Secondhand smoke can be very harmful to the smoker and everyone around them. Second-hand smoke exposure can lead to asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory problems for children.

Establishing clear rules stated in positive language for family members to follow can be quite helpful in reducing conflict and helping your kids get along. For instance, instead of saying “no hitting” as a rule, you can reposition it as “always be gentle when touching”.

Hopefully these tips give you some ideas about child-rearing. It should give you a small foundation to think about and to build upon. You also need to realize that child-rearing isn’t the same for each person or even different children. Even though billions of children have been raised in the world, there is no one “sure-fire” way to be a parent. Use common sense when you aren’t sure which parenting tactic you will use. Make the most of this time when your children are young and growing. Have great times together with them. Later on, it will seem like this time flew by quickly.