Bill Corbett

 “Did you wash your hands?” “Yes!” “With soap?” Silence. If you’re a parent, you may know this conversation all too well. Teaching children to wash their hands sounds like one of the simplest parenting tasks imaginable. Turn on the water, add some soap, scrub, rinse, and dry. But there’s a big difference between knowing how to wash your hands and developing the habit of doing it without being reminded . And that’s really our goal. We don’t simply want children to wash their hands because Mom, Dad, or a teacher told them to. We want them to eventually recognize when handwashing is needed and take responsibility for doing it themselves. The best handwashing aid to use with children, on the market. Why Handwashing Matters Children explore their world with their hands. They touch toys, pets, playground equipment, doorknobs, floors, food, shared pencils, bathroom surfaces, and one another. Then those same little hands find their way to their mouths, noses, and eyes. Handwashing with soa...

Children may not always remember the toys they received or the television programs they watched, but they often remember the moments when an adult chose to sit beside them and enter their world. A shared activity—coloring a picture, completing a puzzle, baking cookies, planting flowers, or building something together—communicates a powerful message: You are important to me. I enjoy being with you. That message can have a lasting influence on a child’s confidence, sense of belonging, and relationship with the adult. Children Value Our Presence More Than Our Perfection Adults sometimes hesitate to participate in creative activities because they believe they are not artistic enough. They may say, “I can’t draw,” or “I’m not very good at coloring.” But children are rarely looking for artistic perfection. They are looking for participation. When an adult sits down, chooses a color, and begins creating alongside a child, the adult becomes a companion rather than an instructor. The experience...

Why firm, respectful parenting can feel lonely—and why it is worth continuing Sometimes the hardest part of parenting differently is not managing your child’s behavior. It is managing the opinions of everyone watching you. You decide not to give your child unlimited access to a phone, tablet, video game, or social-media account simply because “all the other kids have one.” You allow your child to express anger or disappointment without immediately punishing the emotion. You establish reasonable limits, follow through with consequences, and try to remain calm when those limits are tested. You want to raise your child with both firmness and respect. Then someone tells you that you are being too soft. Another person says you are being too strict. A relative insists that your child needs to learn who is in charge. A friend rolls their eyes when you explain your screen-time limits. Someone else tells you that children must experience everything eventually, so there is no point trying to pro...