You walk in the door from a long day at work to find your children running around, arguing and fighting, watching television and playing video games.  When asked if they have done their homework, you get the same answer day after day, followed by the same moaning and groaning about getting it done.  There has to be an easier way to get them to do their homework than the constant pulling of teeth between walking in the door and dinner time.

Of course, the solution all parents would like to see is a child that loves to sit down and study.  The child that is so into school they beg for more work.  But this is a fantasy and we all know it.  The earlier on in your child’s life you start to encourage homework, the better off you should be.  Sometime even early encouragement won’t do the trick.

Have your child help you define an area in their room or elsewhere in the house that can be set up as their own private space specifically for them to do their homework.  Make sure they have all the needed supplies and maybe even some fun things, like a small poster they like or a radio if music helps them concentrate.  Tell your children that doing homework is a part of the natural progression of growing up and being an adult.

One thing as a parent that you must keep in mind is that it is not your responsibility to do your child’s homework.  You can help them, but stand firm and allow them to puzzle out the answer on their own.  Talk them through the difficult questions and then praise them for both the work they did to figure out the answer as well as the answer itself.  Sit down ahead of time with your children and determine the best time of evening for doing their homework where you can give them the attention they may need.

Make a deal with your children that you will do your ‘homework’ at the same time they are doing theirs.  Have them sit around the dining room table working as you sit with them doing bills, balancing your checkbook, reading a book, or even writing.  Show them that you take the responsibility of homework seriously and that it can be turned into family time.  Encourage some conversation, as an older child may be able to explain something to a younger child with more ease.

If part of the homework frustration is due to your child not comprehending the work, seek outside help.  Get a tutor to help them.  This will eliminate a great deal of stress and frustration between you and your child as they try to work through a difficult concept.  You do not want to give in to the temptation of telling your child the answer simply to reduce stress.

Keep the lines of communication open with your children.  Come to an agreeable solution that will make the headache of getting them to do their homework go away.  Praise them, occasionally reward them, and watch peace come back into your home and watch your child’s improving self esteem.

It’s hard to believe but your teen is now old enough to start dating. This is a very exciting time in their lives and yours as well.  If they do not have a positive experience during the first date it may lead to low self esteem and withdrawing from dating all together. Help your teen have a great first date.

Dating is hard, no matter what age you are. When it is a first date there is an unbelievable amount of pressure that is associated with it.  Peer pressure can be very hard on teens today and it may be too overwhelming for your child to endure and they may not go because of it. Peer pressure is something that every teen needs to deal with sometime in their life. Your teen can handle any type of peer pressure if they know that you are behind them every step of the way. There are several different ways that you can help your child feel good about their first date and their ability to make their first date a success. Boy or girl their first date can be wonderful, but they do need you to encourage them.

Here are a few tips to ensure that your teen has a positive dating experience:

* As long as your teen gives you enough time, don’t wait until the last minute to go shopping for clothes. Most first dates are casual, unless the first date is during the prom. There are a few last minute accessories that your teen may want to buy. If money is tight, give them a budget to go by so they don’t go to the store with high expectations.

* Give your teen time to get ready for their date. Although they know how to tell time, it helps to let them know that the have a few hours to get ready in order to feel good about themselves and what they are wearing. If they are rushed they may not feel good about themselves and may have a lousy time before the date even begins.

* Talk to your teen about what to expect. Because you want you’re teen to prepare for everything ahead of time, knowing what to expect and how to handle any situation will give them a positive experience in dating. Just like everything else it helps to be prepared.

The main thing to remember is that your teen needs to have a positive experience in order to set a pattern in dating for the future. If the experience is not positive they may be too afraid to try it again. But at the same time, it’s okay to have a boring date or one that did not leave an everlasting memory.  How you help them prepare for their first date will help them deal with dating in a more positive way. Dating is not like it use to be, in fact, the ideal date is not going down to the drive through for a burger and shake. Everyone has their own interpretation of a date and your teen’s date will be different than yours.

For more tips on encouraging your child’s personal values development and ways to improve self esteem take a look at more of the authors work at www.higher-self-improvement-pursuits.com