Our Top Ten “Nanny 911” Commandments by Deborah Carroll and Stella Reid (NAPSA)—If there’s one thing we've learned as nannies, it’s that parents need to be parents so children can be children. Following that basic rule will help families get along in a happyandhealthy way. Establishing consistency, consequences and helping children "BY THE STARS OF THE Hit Fox TV Sow -NANN establish routines can all goa long way toward nurturing their development. To help parents get a handle on these and other parental tasks, we've come up with what wecall “nanny commandments.” Here are sometips: AcTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES. Good behavior is rewarded. Bad behavior comes with penalties. ESTABLISH A ROUTINE. For example, at bedtime we have the four “B’s” routine: bath, brush teeth, book, and bed. Parents can even make the routine fun by singing a song andby giving their kids toothbrushes such as Oral-B Stages. These are specifically designed for various stages of your child's growth and development with features such as handles that fit their smaller hands, softer bris- tles and cartoon characters they recognize. e Say WHaT You MEAN AND MEAN IT. Think before you speak or you'll pay theprice. PARENTS WorK TOGETHER AS A TEAM. If you can’t be on the same page, your children are not going to know whomto listen to— and they'll end up not listening to anyone. Don’t MAKE PROMISES YOU Can’t Keep. If you tell the kids youre going to Disneyland, better get ready to pack your bags. BE CONSISTENT. No means no. Yes means yes. Don’t bend the rules for a short-term emotional gain. . EXPERT ADVICE FOR ALL YOUR PARENTING EMERGENCIES Parents need to work together as a team. If you can’t be on the same page, your children are not going to know whomtolisten to. LISTEN To YouR CHILDREN. Acknowledgetheir feelings. Say “I understand” and “I am listening”—take the time to understand what they are going through. Respect Is A Two-Way STREET. If you don’t respect your children, they are not going to respect you. POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT Works Mucu BETTER THAN NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT. Praise, plea- sure and pride accomplish far more than nagging, negatives and nay-saying. DEFINE YouR Roues As ParENTS. It is not your job to keep your children attached to you. It’s your job to prepare them for the outside world—andthen let them go. Deborah Carroll and Stella Reid—Nanny Deb and Nanny Stella—are the stars of the hit television show “Nanny 911” on the Fox television network. Their tips are taken from their book, “Nanny 911: Expert Advice for All Your Parenting Emergen- cies” (HarperCollins, $15.95).
