Poster Ideas for Parenting Responsibilities

Nutrition

• Giving your kids the right nutrition and teaching them to eat in a healthful way is your responsibility as a parent. MayoClinic.com notes that nutrition for kids is based on the same principles as adult nutrition, but growing and developing children need specific nutrients at different ages. Your child's growing muscles need ample protein such as lean meat and poultry, seafood, eggs, legumes and nuts. Kids also require dairy such as milk, cheese and yogurt to strengthen their young bones and teeth. Parents should also encourage kids to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables. What you don't feed your child will also teach him nutrition. Avoid white bread and limit sugary and processed foods and drinks. Make a poster that has a balanced weekly meal plan to remind yourself and your child to eat a healthy diet.

Health

• When your child is ill, it can be distressing to you as a parent when you want nothing more than to soothe him to health. However, giving the wrong types or incorrect dosage of medicine can do more harm than good. Many parents pressure their pediatrician to prescribe antibiotics when their kids don't need them. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, antibiotics treat bacterial infections but are ineffective against viral illnesses such as the flu or common cold. Overusing them can lead to super-bacteria that are resistant to medication. A poster that outlines which infections can be treated by antibiotics can help parents be more aware of when to take their child to a doctor. Most colds, coughs, runny nose and sore throats cannot be treated by antibiotics. However, it is important to see a doctor if your child has a temperature above 100.4 degrees or if symptoms last for more than 10 days.

Emotional Development

• Your child's emotional development is as important as his physical health. You may find yourself distracted by a busy schedule of school, carpools, sports, play dates, music lessons and doctor's appointments. However, it is essential to stay attuned to your child's feelings and emotional needs. Ask your child how he is and allow him to open up to you about his thoughts, fears and impressions. Clinical psychologist Lisa Firestone, Ph.D., for Psychology Today recommends looking for signs that your child may be struggling emotionally. Indicators include behavioral changes such as getting into trouble at school or not getting along with other children, losing interest in activities or showing excess focus on food, appearance or video games. Encourage your child to talk to you and show concern without being reactive. Make a poster board of tips to remind you of the best way to help your child when he is upset. These include showing concern and asking questions calmly, instead of trivializing your child's emotions by saying "Don't be silly" or "Just ignore it."

Education

• Although your role as your child's teacher changes and evolves as he grows, you are still his role model. Your attitude towards education will affect how he learns. Use posters in a number of ways to aid learning. Make homework and learning charts that schedule time for studying and map progress. Find a topic your child enjoys and make a poster board that explores that concept, such as volcanoes, space or poetry. Tune in to how your child learns best and make picture boards or use rhymes and word mnemonics to remember difficult concepts, definitions or lists of names. Math concepts can be a challenge for parents and kids; you can make a chart that gives examples and explanations about how to solve math problems to help with daily homework. Making and referring to learning charts helps keep homework and study sessions more productive and fun.