We asked mom’s for their tried and true parenting tips! Give one of them a try…

Debbie Fox
Creative Communication Use white board markers on mirrors in the bathroom -- to leave messages, reminders, thoughts, etc. Punctuality
When you need to leave the house at a specific time and need all the kids dressed (i.e. going to church) give them warning times that are unusual -- for example I would yell out "Leaving in 17 minutes" and then warn them again when there was 8 minutes left for example. For some reason this worked better than the five minute warning time. This only works when the kids are old enough to get themselves ready of course.

Becky Henriksen
A good example
The best way to teach your kids a principle is to live it yourself. And when dealing with teenagers let them think you believe in them and their ability to make good choices, and then pray like crazy they do. When you have moments you don't think you can handle another thing, put yourself in time out until you can regroup. Finally and foremost, pray, pray, pray.

K Tuft
Awake all night, sleep-all-day newborns.
For a fussy baby who refuses to go to sleep (or one of those wide-awake at night, sleep-all-day newborns) in the car for a ride to get them to sleep. The white noise is soothing.

Cassy Budd
Cell phone help
Concerned about proper cell phone use? Have your children check in their cell phones with you at 10:00pm every school night. This gives Mom and Dad an opportunity to spot check their texts and it ensures that your children are not using their phones “after hours”.

Noelle Sanderson
Delayed gratification and Working towards goals.
Reward your children by giving them “tickets” for good behavior, redeemable for the things they want to “buy”. Every time I see them do something good or nice (i.e. their chores without being told, helping their sibling, etc....) they get a ticket. If they do something that isn't OK (throwing a fit in the store, hitting, lying, etc....) they get one taken away. Those tickets earn them the special things that they’d like to get, which lets them know that their behavior directly affects the kind of "fun" they get to have.

Julianne Nield
The 2’s and the 3’s!
I only have one that is working right now for my crazy almost three
year old! When he doesn't want to do something that he has to, like diaper
change, bedtime, brushing teeth, cleaning up, etc- I tell him "Noah, make a
good choice." For some reason, when he gets to make the choice he will do it
every time.

Clair Mellenthin
Grumpy Babies
A grumpy baby in a bath all of the sudden makes for a happy baby J a bath can cure almost anything.

Jamie Miller
Good Vibrations
Put a crying baby in their seat on top of your dryer. Turn it on. The vibration and noise put them to sleep.

Carla Rey
Sing a song
When a 3 or 4 year old is having a tantrum --screaming and crying-- tell them, "That's a funny song...sing it for me!" They stop immediately, not appreciating the humor, and then you thank them for the silence!

Rebecca Jorgensen
Earning Rewards
To help get your kids to clean their rooms when allowance doesn't work. When we were out shopping I would watch and see what they really liked, then I would buy it, take it home and tell them that if they could keep their bedroom and bathroom clean for the week then they could have that item as a reward. They were allowed one day free because sometimes things do come up and they will not have time before they run out the door. I figured I was already buying this stuff and could use it to get something in return. If they hadn't earned it by the end of 3 weeks, then I returned it to the store.

Carrie E.
Getting Teens to Talk
Even if you’re tired, stay up late with your teens. That’s when they tend to open up and share their heart with a parent.

Tammy Covey
Reaching a “Hard to Reach” Child
Love them more, in their way. Listen to what they ask you for on a consistent basis and give that kind of attention to them (i.e. if they ask to play a game, if they want to ride bikes, if they want to go to the store with you)

Olivia Reece
Family Bonding
We have a Friday Family Fun Night every weekend with our kids. We order pizza and watch a movie. They look forward to it and don’t feel left out when my husband and I have our date nights.

Tracy Smith Jackson
Raising Respectful Children
One of the very best pieces of parenting advice I've received comes from an expert without a degree in the subject: my father. He told me long ago...to speak to your children respectfully, on an adult level. To better clarify via example, you wouldn't say "because I said so" to a spouse or peer because it feels demeaning and superior; in the opposite spirit of demeaning and superior, give your children the same benefit. I have benefited so much by that simple kindness!

Kelli Hyland
BEING There: Help with 3 Year Old Power Struggles
My three year old is very independent and self-entertaining. I have historically "taken advantage" of this by taking the time to talk on the phone, blog, clean house, cook - you know, get (more) things DONE. however, because she is 3 and because she is independent/stubborn, she can also throw some pretty serious tantrums, especially when timed-out for "unacceptable behavior", certainly not getting anywhere trying to ask her to talk about her feelings in that moment. Two problems have arisen, when she becomes emotional in her tantrums, I have had difficulty calming myself and things escalate, and also the frequency of tantrums/battles has increased. Having become aware of these patterns, I have recently explored what I have done to create this environment and have experimented with becoming more available and present with her, even when she seems perfectly happy to sit and read by herself for hours. I have tried to engage with her more without becoming invasive. putting aside some of my own things I think need to get done, to be available to her (even if she doesn't seem to 'need' me), asking her how she is feeling when things are going well, just wondering what she feels, how she sees the world, what she cares about, enjoys when she seems "in her own world" instead of using it as a "break" to get things done in peace. I also invite her to be with me and "do" together, focusing more on the together than on getting it done just "right". And within two weeks an amazing transformation has occurred for both of us... more joy, less tantrums, easier "time-outs". The most surprising piece is how much more I realize we both have to offer each other, when already I thought she was the easiest, most delightful kid in the world. I guess we are both focusing less on "doing" and more on "being" and learning how to express ourselves and connect when things are "easier", and "rougher". (It only took me 40 years).

Kelli Hyland
Pick You Battles: Giving Preschoolers Choices
There are certainly simpler things, such as, as long as she feels like she has a choice in things, especially if they matter to her, she enjoys it and it’s easier to get her to buy into getting dressed, for example. "Do you want to wear pants or a dress today?" She LOVES dresses and I will always let her wear one even if she needs leg warmers, etc to be weather-appropriate, however sometimes randomly she will want to wear pants. Today, she wanted to wear both, so she did. Who cares? I don't. But she does. So I give her that. It helps our mornings move. "Do you want a waffle or cereal?" Lately, she says nothing, so I don't push but bring crackers and a Go-gurt in the car on the way to preschool just in case, and it hasn’t been turned down. If it were, she wouldn’t starve. There are many areas where I might feel compelled, to but just seem ridiculous to, push my agenda.

Rebecca Overson
Help for First Time Parents
1. Teach your toddler to count by counting up to ten and back down to one every time you/they brush their teeth.
2. First-time moms: don't take your due date too seriously. It's an estimate at best!
3. First-time parents should prepare for birth by taking a birthing class (Bradley, Hypnobirthing, Lamaze, etc.). It's very helpful to prepare the dads!
4. To save money, look for used baby and toddler items at Kid-to-Kid and on craigslist.com.
5. Teach your children respect for their bodies by using anatomically correct terms for their private parts. Refrain from making remarks during diaper changes like "Eww! Dirty! Stinky!"

Maria Carr
Parenting Tips
1. For babies: High touch, low tech. In other words things like car seats are to keep babies safe IN cars. They need to be held, be close to parents for optimal bonding.
2. "Don't get mad at a dog for being a dog, or a kid for being a kid". In other words, learn what's normal for their age and don't waste energy getting frustrated about normal, but annoying behaviors.
3. Don't do for children (or anyone) what they can do for themselves. That weakens them.
4. Listen, really listen. Be present with your children. Physically, emotionally, mentally.
5. Pray a lot.

Julie Hanks, LCSW
AVOIDING TANTRUMS at Grocery Stores
1. Have a LIST on the fridge that family members can write down requests (within reason) BEFORE going to the store. If it’s not on the list, it’s not purchased that trip. If they want it bad enough they can come home and write it on the list for next time. This also helps for older children who need poster board or misc stuff for projects, or who ask “why didn’t you buy bagels and cream cheese?” The answer is…”because it wasn’t on the list.”
2. Another technique is called “GO BACK”. When your child is young you can train them to pick out a toy each time you go to the store that they can hold the entire time. When you get to the checkout/cashier teach them to say “this is a go back” and hand the toy to the cashier. They learn that they can borrow toys and hold them if they are well behaved, and it saves a lot of money and tears! Avoid putting your children in difficult situations when they are tired, hungry, sick. Hire a sitter!
3. Go shopping at 10pm J

Julie Hanks, LCSW
Getting your Older KIDS TO TALK
1. Be quiet, be quiet, be quiet
2. Lay down & talk
3. Learn reflective listening- “wow”, “oh”, “yea” show interest w/ out interrupting
4. Talk while doing an activity (esp. w/ boys)
5. Notice the time of day that they open up
6. Take them out to eat