When a 2-year-old engages in behavior usually reserved for adults — playing piano, calculating complicated math problems — the world usually sits up and takes notice. But when a toddler has a very grown-up habit of smoking a pack of cigarettes a day the reaction is one of disgust.

What started as dad Tong Liangliang’s attempt to help his son deal with the pain of a hernia, has turned into a habit the tot now can’t quit — throwing tantrums if he’s denied a drag.

1. Remove his t-shirt, get a towel and drape it over his body before he sits down for his haircut. Keep the towel closed so that no little hair particles will fall into the towel.

2. Get a nice and comfortable cushion for him to sit.

3. Put on a plastic sun visor just below his hair line so that the little pieces of hair will fall on the visor instead of his face. When the hair starts to pile up on the visor, gently brush it off.

4. Keep him entertained with his favorite book or game. This will help to focus his attention on something other than his haircut.

5. Lastly, when the haircut is completed, remove the towel and visor very carefully so that the hair does not fall on him.

In our house, every time after dinner, we head straight to the bath. Then we read a few books and within 20 minutes, it’s ‘lights-out’. But it wasn’t always this easy…Here’s how we did it.

First, we established a routine with our bath-time and tried our best to stick to the routine, no matter which night it is. For a child who has a difficult time taking baths its important to follow through and take a bath EVERYDAY—until he/she does this without protesting.

Here are four hints that made bath-time (and bedtime) easier…

• Have your child participate in preparation for the bath by getting the towel out, running the water and picking out the pj’s.
• Let your child enjoy the bath but only with bath-specific toys (meaning, these toys should only be given at bath time).
• It is also important to tell your child FIRST we will wash your hair THEN your body and THEN your face and THEN we are DONE. This helps with the routine.
• Reinforce bath-time AFTER the bath by giving some type of reward…like special time with a favorite toy or book. Make sure these toys or books are only AFTER the bath.

Courtesy: ebeantalk.com

Check out this recent entry from Houser’s website, RandyHouser.com:

“For several weeks, you guys have been watching and forwarding the hysterical YouTube video of 4-year-old Drake lip syncing Randy Houser’s new hit single “Boots On”! Drake’s nanny captured the young performer on video when he was in his car seat in the back of her vehicle. The toddler lip syncs and plays an incredible guitar….well, a plastic guitar. The video was seen by Universal Records South execs and like everyone else, they were amazed by Drake’s unique interpretation complete with facial expressions and tapping boots.”

When it came time recently to shoot a music video for “Boots On” everyone agreed, including Houser, that Drake had to be a part of it.

Check out the video below. Houser’s album, Anything Goes, is available on iTunes.

Parents should always remember that tantrums are a behavior children learn. Attention is usually given to them when they don’t get their own way. Children usually very quickly learn that crying, yelling, screaming, kicking, laying on the floor and generally acting-out can help them get what they want. As long as the child gets what he wants tantrums will continue and worsen over time.

Courtesy: ebeanstalk.com

> Grieving a Miscarriage
Why won’t people stop saying “you can try again soon”? What is the “right” amount of grief? Are there more miscarriages now or does it just seem that way? What to tell the children about the baby who will not be? The questions answered here.

> When Does a Toddler Walk on His Own?
Every child develops at a different rate and, while it’s true that some children go upright and are toddling independently immediately, it’s equally true that some take more time to literally let go.

> Eco-Parenting in Eight Simples Steps
Raising children is hard enough without worrying about the environmental consequences of your parenting choices.  Don’t sweat it. You already care about your child’s well-being and green choices make it easier.  If you are losing sleep over diaper selection – biodegradable or cloth – let it go. Here are eight eco-parenting fundamentals.

Like clockwork, every time we return from a plane trip our three-year-old gets sick. This time Jack has a sinus infection and pink eye. Giving him medicine has never been a problem (he loves it),  but this is the first time we’ve had to try to put eye drops in his eyes. That’s fun.

Here’s the backstory…

Jack woke up from his nap yesterday, right eye all crusty, and said, “Daddy, since I’m sick I’m just going to keep this eye closed (he couldn’t open it anyway) so it feels better.”

After he allowed a warm rag on it, the eye opened up. Later, I asked Jack how his eye felt.

“Not good,” he replied.

“Well, we’re going to take you to the doctor tomorrow,” I said. He agreed that a doctor’s visit was what he needed.

I talked to my wife this morning after his appointment and she said the doctor told her she would not prescribe a nose spray. Jack heard “nose spray” and said, “Noooo!!!! No nose spray.” Jennifer told him the doctor said he wouldn’t need the nose spray and that she would prescribe eye drops.

“Noooo!!!! No eye drops,” he cried.

Jennifer told Jack he needed the eye drops so his eyes could get better and he could go back to school on Friday, which he loves.

“Noooo!!!! I don’t wanna go back to school,” he cried again, with a more dramatic flair this time.

We kind of got the eye drops in this afternoon by bribing him with one Peep left over from Easter. But now that he’s wise to the process and realizes he doesn’t like drops being put in his eyes, he may become more difficult.

Tonight should be interesting.

Got any tips on keeping your kids healthy while traveling? Tricks for putting in eye drops? Dispense your wisdom in the comments below.

Greg Gilbert / Seattle Times

Dennis and Elizabeth Chen were looking for a happy medium. They wanted to make their home as danger-free as possible for son Ethan, but not turn it into a bare, stripped-down space where baby has free reign. The Chens called in babyproofing expert Mike Bost of Fort Mill, S.C., for help.

‘I want my child to have some sense of `no,’ ” Elizabeth Chen said.

Bost agreed. ‘But let’s do create a `yes’ environment” in part of the house, he said, so the couple won’t be saying ”no” all the time. Consider treating one entire room as a big playpen, he said. “There is a balance.”

Click here for more about babyproofing the kitchen, bathroom and living spaces.