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part of a happy childhood.

How do you let them be children? Allow time for playing with toys and acting silly. Nurture their imagination by granting creativity through art, play, and music. These are therapeutic solutions for active children to relax from a busy day while keeping them busy and keeping them young-minded.

What about teenagers? This is when you have to sit down and explain to them that what they see on television is not always right or good. Tell your teenager it is important to be able to make a decision about what is appropriate to watch.

Explain to them that you can't always tell them what to do, but you hope they make the best decisions in life. Let them know that they will be faced with many decisions. Whether it's choosing friends, picking a boyfriend or girlfriend, or being pressured into a bad situation, they will have many difficult choices to make while growing up.

Teenagers are still children, even if they think they are grown-ups. If they don't understand why you limit them, tell them it's because you love them and you want the best for them. Tell your teen "You may not understand it now, but you will when you grow up. You may hate me right now and that's completely normal. Know that I love you and I only want the best for you."

Spend time with your children. Sometimes it's difficult when days are busy, but playing with your kids can really help relieve your own stress. Not to mention that when you give your child attention, they feel loved.

Feeling loved is extremely important for children to be happy. If a child is neglected, they lose self-esteem, and withdraw. Giving your child plenty of hugs and kisses really makes them feel good.

Provide a support system for your children by talking to them and allowing them to talk to you. If they ask a question about an adult topic, then they are old enough to get an answer. Even if they seem young, deliver the answer age appropriately, but be honest. They will grow up to appreciate your honesty and will in turn be honest.

Explain real-world situations when they ask. Children have lots of questions and if they do ask about wars, explain it to them, but break it down on their level. There is no need to go into great details with a child. Keep it simple and don't go into scary details.

Encourage your child to have great expectations for their self. Even if they flip-flop from one week to the next changing their mind about what they want to be when they grow up, it's okay. Tell them how great they would

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