In our time today, it seems like more and more children show signs of aggressive behavior. Of course, there can be many factors as to why this is, but we all know that aggression is not really a good thing.

That’s why it is important to teach your child anger management skills. Though anger is a normal emotion, we need to show them that there are many healthy ways to deal with it. Here are some ways you can teach your child how to control their anger.

Be a role model

Everything starts with you. Because children imitate what the adults around them do, you have to be careful with your own actions. Teaching your child about anger management requires that they see it in you as well. That means it’s better to teach them with actions than with words.

For example, if you start shouting at them for vandalizing a wall even just for the first time, then you’re not really setting a good example. Teaching them to manage their anger will be very easy once you show them how you do it too.

Teach assertiveness

One of the main reasons why we develop anger issues is because of pent-up emotions. When we bottle up our negative thoughts and feelings, it will all blow up sooner or later and lead to aggressive behavior. This is why it is important to teach your child to speak their mind.

You should teach them how to be assertive but, of course, only to the point that they don’t hurt others with their words as well. When they learn to speak up for themselves in an appropriate manner, it will also be easy for them to express their thoughts and feelings, regardless if it’s positive or negative.

Show them the difference between anger and aggression

It is also important to teach your child about the difference between being angry and showing aggressive behavior. Anger is not really a good emotion but it is normal for everyone to feel it and it can be acceptable.

Aggressive behavior, on the other hand, simply is not. Slamming a door, throwing their phone, even simple verbal aggression will not be acceptable. Show them that these actions will have grave consequences no matter where he/she is in.

Teach them how to recognize their signs

Each and every one of us have signs showing that we’re angry. Some feel like their heart beats faster while others start clenching their fists or gritting their teeth. One way you can stop a child from lashing out at someone is to teach them to recognize these signs.

This is so that they can redirect their attention and stop themselves from being aggressive. Some effective methods to employ when their signs start showing up is to have them take deep breaths or even simply count slowly to 10 in their minds.

Video games have always had a negative reputation among non-gamers, especially among parents who had to deal with the irregular sleep times and spending habits of their kids. But games have grown into a multi-billion-dollar industry bigger than other forms of entertainment. Talented gamers can earn millions from playing competitively.

If you are lucky to be a parent of a budding esports star, here are some tips that might help.

Know the game. Esports are just like any other competitive event. It is not that different from athletic, performance, musical, and even academic competitions. Most professional gamers specialize in one game. Nowadays the most popular are fighting games, strategy games, shooters, and sports. You will have a better understanding of what your child is doing by researching the game, the different competitions, and the rules.

Understand the risks. Even if your kids are not moving around much like when doing sports, there is still a risk of injuries. If your child wants to compete, of course they will need to practice. It is possible, however, to suffer from strains, back pain, collapsed lungs, and carpal tunnel syndrome from spending too much time in front of a computer. Remind your child to look after themselves so that they can keep playing.

Get quality equipment. For practice, they will need the best equipment. That means you should also be familiar with the hardware and peripherals that will be used. You do not have to get the most expensive items, but you should get the best quality equipment you can provide. Don’t worry about the cost too much because most hobbies are expensive anyway. This is not different to buying expensive running shoes for kids who want to try sports.

Encourage them while they are young. The strange thing about competitive gaming is that age does matter. Researchers are not yet sure about it but perhaps reaction time and micromanagement might slow down as a person becomes older. This is why esports is the haven of a lot of young gamers not yet in their 30s. Sure, older gamers can and still compete, but most of the champions are usually the younger ones.

Managing finances. If your child becomes one of the best players around, he/she could rake in millions from competitions and endorsements. Some players who are part of teams even get monthly salaries.

This can be beneficial if your child wants to invest in his/her future because an esports athlete has a shorter career span than a professional sports athlete. You could even get a college scholarship for esports because a lot of colleges and universities now have their own esports teams.

Get to know the community. The beauty of esports is that it is not an isolated community even if majority of the public still think gaming is a niche. The community is more open and accepting to players no matter the physical attributes and background.

If you don’t have enough time to make complicated meals in the morning, try these easy, filling, and healthy breakfast recipes for your family.

Tomato and Egg Sandwich

Ingredients: 2 thick slices of tomato, 2 eggs, 2 cheddar slices, 1 teaspoon vegetable oil, split and toasted muffin, and salt and pepper

Preparation: Cook eggs in a skillet for 1 to 2 minutes while you prepare the muffin halves. Top the eggs with cheddar, cover the skillet and cook for 1 minute. Top each half of the muffin with tomato then slide one cheesy egg on each. Season with salt and pepper then top with the remaining muffin half.

Breakfast Burrito

Ingredients: 3 beaten eggs, 3 tablespoons bell peppers, 1 teaspoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon water, and tortillas (at least 8-inches in diameter)

Preparation: Cook the peppers in a pan then set aside. Whisk then cook eggs in the skillet but avoid scrambling the ingredients. Cut the fried egg in half then place them on the tortilla. Sprinkle with cooked peppers before rolling each tortilla. Finally, cut into bite-sized pieces.

Eggs in Peppers

Ingredients: Eggs, bell peppers in different colors sliced lengthwise, your choice of spices and herbs, and olive oil

Preparation: Heat a skillet with oil then line up the sliced bell peppers. Crack eggs into the center of each bell pepper slice then season with spices and herbs. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes without flipping the eggs in pepper. Serve with toasted bread.

Eggs with Cheddar, Chives, and Ham

Ingredients: 10 eggs, 2 tablespoons water or milk, 1 ¼ cups cooked and diced ham, 1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar, 1/3 cup chives, 1 ½ teaspoons unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Preparation: Heat butter in a skillet then sauté ham until golden brown. In a bowl, whisk eggs, salt, pepper, and milk/water. Pour mixture into the pan and stir occasionally until cooked for 4 to 5 minutes. Stir the chives and cheddar before the mixture is fully cooked.

Frozen Breakfast Quesadillas

Ingredients: 3 tortillas, 1 egg, 3 egg whites, 2 tablespoons cilantro, ½ tablespoon taco seasoning, ½ cup drained and rinsed black beans, ¼ cup red onion, ½ cup rinsed and drained corn, and ¾ cup shredded cheddar

Preparation: Whisk egg and egg whites in a bowl then scramble in a skillet. Mix scrambled eggs with onion, cilantro, corn, black beans, taco seasoning, and cheese in a bowl. Distribute mixture on each tortilla then fold. These can be frozen overnight and microwaved in the morning.

Cheese and Bacon Pops

Ingredients: 4 strips cooked and chopped bacon, 3 eggs, 1 cup milk, 1 cup all-purpose flour, ¼ cup grated parmesan, ½ cup shredded sharp cheddar, 3 tablespoons melted butter, and ¼ teaspoon salt

Preparation: Preheat oven to 375°F while you grease the pan or ramekins with butter. Puree milk, eggs, butter, flour, and salt in a blender until smooth. Then, mix in parmesan, cheddar, and bacon. Divide this mixture among the greased cups. Bake for 40 minutes. This recipe can be frozen and reheated for 4 weeks.

As a rookie parent you might be surprised to know that there are different types of cloth baby diapers available at stores. How do you pick the right one for your baby?

Let’s check out each type of diaper.

• All-In-One. Sometimes labeled AIO, all-in-one cloth diapers are easy to use because they have inserts where absorbent material can be fastened. It’s like putting on a diaper cover at the same time with no hassle.

• Pocket. The name pocket comes from the feature between the cover of the cloth diaper and the layer that makes contact with baby’s skin. The absorbent material can be placed inside this pocket for easy use.

• Flat and Prefolded. You might see this type of cloth diaper among your mother’s old pile of baby clothes. As the name implies, this type of diaper is flat and prefolded to create several absorbent layers.

• Newborn. A newborn’s skin is very sensitive and not all of them are of the same size. A newborn cloth diaper can have any of the features listed in other types of diapers to make sure that it will fit properly without harming the umbilical cord stump.

• Fitted. Also called contoured diapers, fitted cloth diapers are ideal for parents who want an option that is easy to use. They look like disposable diapers and have a variety of absorbent materials and fabrics to choose from.

• Hybrid. A hybrid baby diaper is a combination of both a cloth and disposable diaper to make the most of the design and convenience of each. It has a reusable cloth cover and either a disposable or reusable/washable insert.

• Swim. This cloth diaper has a waterproof cover to protect the lining inside, although most of these do not have an absorbent insert. It can be worn by your baby at the pool or at the beach.

• Trainer. This type of cloth diaper can be used when potty training your child. Some styles look like regular underwear, but there are also trainer cloth diapers that are waterproof, padded, and others that are designed for heavy wetters or for overnight use.

• Disposable. This type of diaper is the most convenient to use because you don’t need to wash the cloth anymore, however, it can also be a waste of money. When looking for a disposable baby diaper, pick materials that will fit properly, have high absorbency, and is comfortable to wear. Check the parts of the diaper, such as the closure, waterproof outer layer, inner layer, and the absorbent core. If you’re worried about the super absorbent polymer (SAP) in the core, studies show that it is safe and non-toxic to babies.

When choosing between cloth and disposable diapers, it’s better to enjoy the best of both worlds. Make sure, however, that the diapers fit properly, and the diapers are effective at preventing leaks.

No matter how many books we read about being an effective mother (especially if it is our first child), there are no sources that can give us the exact training to prepare us of what is coming. Motherhood is not an exact science – our instincts will lead our way and we have to trust that experience will make us more effective. Being new is not a problem but our reluctance to learn will be the end of us.

When other mothers tell us about the sleepless nights and crying, we seem to accept it but unless we have experienced it, we won’t be able to understand it fully. We may be capable to deal with many difficult people in our workplace but once our child comes out, it is natural that we will be lost and stressed out.

What are the stresses of new mothers? Well, giving birth is an exhausting and emotional experience. Aside from that, we have to adjust with our hormones. If we underwent surgery, recovering from it is another matter not to mention the lack of sleep and establishing breastfeeding. This is not meant to discourage us but we can paint a clear picture out of this so we will know what to expect.

The first few weeks are difficult but if our baby is between 6 to 8 eights, things will be lighter that is if we settled patterns and effective routine. However, if we are still unable to cope up for the longest time and still in difficulty, we should consider some points in coping up. Here are some coping up points that can be effective:

• Set time for ourselves: Even if we have babies, it is important that we reward ourselves by taking a break – no matter how short it is. If we have one or two hours spare time, grab it and have our hair fixed or get a massage.
• Enlist help from others: Being new to everything gives us enough reason to ask help from others especially those that have experiences. We have to utilize the help of the people around us if we do not want to be exhausted.
• Eat well: It is important that we eat well and that means nutritiously especially if we are breastfeeding our baby.
• Exercise: Walking in the park is the simplest form of exercise. If we are worried about our baby, we can bring him/her using the push chair.

If we think that we can cope up with stresses of becoming a new mother, it will happen.