Sandra Hardin Clemons
SandyClemons.com

Chapter 1: Winning the Parenting Game
Welcome to the Parenting Game
Welcome to a job you can never quit
The three duties of a parent
The positive role model
The ever-present teacher
The good friend
Introducing Five Basic Parenting Skills
Speak and listen with care Waver not, lest ye topple (being consistent)
Do what you say and think before you say it (follow-through)
Learn the virtue of patience
Behavior management skills
Find your sense of humor in the lost and found
Is there an end to this game?
Chapter 2: Guidelines for Co-Parenting (The Two-Party System)
Parent + Parent = Teamwork
The business of being together
How to be of one common mind without brain surgery
Thou shalt share thy housework
Sharing childcare (or: it took Adam and Eve to raise Cain)
Sharing the ties that bind
Look! Over at the Mall—Driving the Mini-Van—It’s Super Mom!
Be Goood to Yourself
Exorcise the demons of laziness
Eat right (put that donut down)
Hurry up and get some rest
Don’t neglect your mate
Let’s behave, shall we?
Surviving Single Parenting
Chapter 3: Being a Consistent Parent
The Ground Rules for Consistency
Where your child is allowed to play
What kind of behavior is allowed
What your child can play with
Consistency is the art of being an unbending jerk
Make your words the law Stick to your words or suffer the consequences
Cuteness and Persistence: The Art of Breaking Your Consistency
“I’m too precious for your feeble attempt at consistency”
“Give me persistence and I’ll carve Mt. Rushmore with a spoon”
Building Walls Around Your Children
Chapter 4: Following Through
“Follow Though with What?”
“I said I would do it and now I’m going to”
“Now, did you learn anything from this?”
“Are you ready to try to follow through?”
I’ve Followed Through and Now My Life Is Easy
Watch Your Mouth!
Timeliness—It’s Oh-So-Important
Chapter 5: The Art of Keeping Your Cool
Finding Your Inner Coolness
Your attitude may need fine-tuning
“Why Don’t I have more patience?”
Lower those expectations
“I need more time!”
“I Can’t Hear You”
Developing Patience in Your Child
“I Failed!

Chapter 6: Behavior Management
The Manipulation Game
Understanding will set you free
Give praise
Give lots of attention
Keep idle hands busy
Keep a safe and happy house
Don’t forget to laugh
Building Confidence and Self-Esteem
Begin at the Beginning
If your child feels secure, he has more time to learn and develop by exploring
Make her feel special: take care of emotional as well as physical needs
“Help Me Do It by Myself!”
Jobs
Simple tasks that require judgement
Learning by Doing
“Mom, Dad, I Did It!”
Chapter 7: Holding and Handling the Baby
Is It Possible to Spoil a Baby by Too Much Holding?
The Joy of Cuddling Newborns and Infants
Lugging Older Babies
Comforting Crying Babies
Working with the Crying Baby Flowchart
Why babies cry (Dr. Shaw Sidebar)
Crying babies in public
Chapter 8: Breastfeeding vs. Bottlefeeding Breastfeeding as a Total Commitment from Mother and Father
Breastfeeding Pros, Cons, Myths, Truths
Should I?
Pros
Cons
Myths and truths
Breastfeeding Guidelines
Working through the soreness
Breastfeeding away from home
Breastfeeding away from baby
The Truth of All Truths about Breastfeeding
To Wean or Not to Wean
Bottles for Babies
Bottlefeeding guidelines
Bottlefeeding away from home
Chapter 9: The Diaper Thing
Talking the Messy Language of Poop
Creating a Diaper-Changing Station
Changing a Diaper: The Step-by-Steps
Changing soiled diapers on a wee little baby
“There’s no way you’re changing my diaper!”
Dealing with Diaper Rash
Cloth or Disposable?
Disposable pros
Disposable cons
Cloth pros
Cloth cons
Chapter 10: Just for Babies: Sleeping, Bathing, Tools, and Baby Traits
Rock-a-bye Baby: Getting Your Infant to Sleep
Understanding Infant Sleep Patterns
Keeping a Sleeping Baby Safe
Tummy or back? Reducing the likelihood of SIDS
Keeping blankets and toys out of the way
Knowing What to Do When Babies Get Their Days and Nights Mixed Up
Getting Some Sleep Yourself
Bathing babies
Holding baby
Washing the hidden parts
The drying is what’s important
Powders and oils and lube
Stuff You’ll Need for a Baby
Food supplies
Clothing supplies
Bathroom equipment
Changing tables
Bedding
When the Little One Goes a-Travelin’
The all-important-don’t-leave-home-without-it diaper bag
Medications
A baby-sized chair for the car
“If you loved me, you’d wear our baby around your neck”
Goodies Your Child Will Eventually Need
New tools for chow time
High marks for high chairs
The ever-unpopular bib
Out and about
A bionic ear for mommy and daddy
Safety Equipment
Some basic safety stuff
More and more and more stuff
Baby Traits: The Things Babies Do as They Grow The Fine Art of Sucking and Slobbering
Some things just suck
Thumb sucking
Slobbering
The Happy Days of Teething
Toddling (Or Walk on the Wild Side)
The truth about those first steps
Preparing the home for your little stunt person
Chapter 11: Infant Health Concerns
Making It through Your Baby’s First Physical Exam
SIDS
Coughing
Excessive Crying
Jaundice
Lethargy and Sleepiness
Respiratory Distress
Umbilical Cord
Diarrhea
Fever
Rashes and Infections
Thrush
Vomiting
Weight Gain and Loss
Colds and Flu
Immunizing Your Baby
Chapter 12: The Growth and Developmental Stuff
Newborns
How a newborn looks
Birth weight and other metrics
What a newborn does
The First Month
How they look
Reflexes
Colic: what it is and what to do
The first smile
How they move
What they see
What they hear
The sense of smell and touch
Moods
One to Three Months
How they look
How they move
What they see and hear
Making sounds
Emotional and social development
Tips on care
Sleep: They’ve changed
Four to Seven Months
How they look
How they act: Mobility
What they see and hear
Language development: What you can do to develop it
Emotional and social development: they really are reacting with the environment
Eight to Twelve Months
How they look
Mobility
The fine motor skills: hands and fingers
Language development: Words are starting to emerge
They think; therefore they are, we think: cognitive development
Emotional development
Chapter 13: Understanding Food and Nutrition
They All Go through It
Is It Time for Solids Yet? (5-6 months)
Taking caution with food allergies
Picking a good time and place
Knowing what to start with
Starting slowly
Introducing new foods
No Picky Eaters Here (12-24 months)
Lots of neat foods
Keep trying
No fighting
The Balanced Diet: Concern for All Ages
Diets for children
Snacking
The Basics of Kiddie Food
Food Do’s and Don’ts
Chapter 14: The Joys and Perils of Bathtime
Do I Really Need a Bath?
Bathing toddlers
This is what you win if you don’t keep ‘em clean
Daily handwashing
A Safe Bath Is a Happy Bath
Safety first
Start the bath carefully
Check the water temperature
Keep kids seated
Keep water levels low
Never leave kids alone
Don’t let them drink the water
Supplies at hand
Don’t Overlook Those Overlooked Body Parts: Washing and Drying the Secret Hiding Places
Lotions, Potions, and Powders
Lathering with lotions
Playing with powders
Fun with potions
Chapter 15: Sleep, Glorious Sleep
Strategic Bedtime Plans (18-24 months)
Activity time
Snack time
Bathtime
Quiet time
Bedtime
“I’ve Already Started Something I Shouldn’t Have. Now What?”
When All Else Fails
“He’s Waking Up! He’s Waking Up!”
Naps (Those Things Adults Long For!)
Schedules
No nap
Sleeping with Children
Yea for sleeping together
Nay for sleeping together
The compromise
Chapter 16: Potty Training Perfected
Knowing When to Start the Potty Train
The Education Stage
Sitting on That Potty
Fun You Can Expect from the Potty Experience
Some Helpful Potty Things to Keep in Mind
Chapter 17: Health and Hygiene (12 months-24 months) The Nasty Elements (Sun, Heat, Cold)
Our Mr. Sun
It’s too darn hot!
Dealing with the c-c-c-cold
Sidebar: Baby Alert: Babies and the natural elements don’t mix well.
Sniffles and Sneezes
I got the fever!
When to call the doctor
Those annoying ear infections
Preventing the spread of germs
Is your Medicine Chest Okee-Dokee?
Chapter 18: Going to the Doctor
Finding the Right Doctor
Plenty of questions
The ask-the-doctor interview
Don’t forget the pharmacy
The Child/​Doctor Relationship
Knowing When to Go to the Doctor
Starting a Good Dental Program
When to go to the dentist
What’s a dentist and does it hurt?
Chapter 19: Making Life Safer
Knowing Your Children
Practicing Safety Procedures
General household safety
The bedroom
Living/​family room
The Kitchen
The bathroom
Water safety
Traveling: Car seat safety
Putting Your Child in Danger
Burning
Choking
Poison
Playing
Personal habits
Smoking
Drinking
Guns
Drugs
Chapter 20: Finding Good
The Ever-Popular (Feared) Day Care Center
The good news is that it’s only bad news
The bad news
Your friendly corporate day care center
Private Sitters
Sitting at your home
Sitting at the sitter’s home
Prepare your sitter for your children
The joy of night-out sitters
Co-op Programs
After-School Programs
Child Care Hunting Guidelines
Keep your eyes open
The physical environment
The child/​adult interaction
Questions?
Ask these questions
Child Care Referral Services
Starting Your New Child Care
Chapter 21: Raising Your Child (12-24 months)
Treat Your Child Like a Person
Talk to Them (and About Them) with Respect
Use Positive Communications (or What Most of Us Call “Happy Talk”)
Interact with Your Children
Give Kids (Your) Time
Share with Your Mate
Put Moral Fiber into Your Day: Religion
Building confidence and self esteem
The Boy/​Girl Thing
Sex Differences: Like It or Not, Boys and Girls View Life Differently
Different Does Not Mean Better or Worse
Stereotyping: Don’t Worry about It
Dogs and Snails: How to Treat Boys
Sugar and Spice: How to Treat Girls
Tugging Toddlers through Tantrums and Tenderness
Need topics

Chapter 22: Communicating with Your Child Talking and Being Heard
Get down on your child’s level
Use simple words
Get to the point
Don’t yell
Explain What Is Expected
Teaching the Basic Communication Skills
Use correct English (Don’t use baby talk)
Look your child in the eyes
Speak slowly and clearly
Let your child express herself Set an example
Allow disagreements
Listen and hear
Do You Have a Question?
Alternate Forms of Communication

Chapter 23: Your New Big Job: Teacher
When Do You Teach?
Set a Good Example
Avoid making a spoiled brat
Good habits
Please and thank you (alias: manners)
Boring safety and emergency information (but read it anyway)
Teaching Honesty and Responsibility
Can we be honest?
Let’s be responsible boys and girls
Last but not least: Respecting others
Making Your Child Independent
Chapter 24: Social Skills to Be Proud Of
Great Social Skill Expectations
Dining out with children Eating out with the little ones Dining with older babies, toddler and up
Restaurant rules and regulations
No loud screaming or talking
No wandering
No unnecessary lingering
Practice politeness
Children on the Go
Hither and Thither with the Kids (General Travel Info)
See the USA in Your Chevy minivan (automobile travel)
Up, up and away (airplane travel)
Lovin’ Those Family Vacations
Food on the road
Children and the Movies
Chapter 25: Punishment and Discipline
The Big Difference between Discipline and Punishment
The Four Step Model of Discipline
Who gets punished and when Crime and punishment
Discipline techniques
Humor
Put it in writing
The Ordeal of Punishment
Make the punishment fit the crime
Making punishment a learning exercise
Guidelines for Discipline and Punishment
How to be lovingly unbending (the art of consistency)
Don’t forget your follow through
The Repeat Offender
Be in Charge without Being a Tyrant
Let kids be kids
Don’t make words less meaningful by using them over and over
You don’t always have to win Handle situations with gentle guidance
Use enthusiasm to guide your children
Don’t harass your children
The Purpose of Punishment
Time-outs
Take away privileges
Give extra chores Punishing by educating
Spanking—Yikes!
Team Decision Making
Behind the scenes decision making
Learn to be flexible
Chapter 26: Squelching Squabbling Siblings There’s New Sibling in Town
How to Handle Siblings
Teaching Siblings How to Play together
Sibling Rivalry (Dr. Cavell Sidebar)
Teaching Siblings How to Have a Loving, Caring Relationship
Sibling Communication
Chapter 27: Ten Things to Do Every Day
Chapter 28: Ten Things for Your Conscience to Whisper in Your Ear (If some of the chapters run long, which I foresee them doing, we may want to cut this area)
Chapter 29: Ten Great Resources for Parents