Bethenny’s “Ultimate Mom” Tips

Don’t be a helicopter parent. Kids will develop more confidence in their own problem-solving abilities if they get a chance to figure things out themselves.

Don’t negotiate with terrorists. It’s okay for a child to be frustrated, but it’s not okay for a parent to give in every time a child shows the slightest displeasure about something.

Teach good hygiene. Every child should learn to wash her hands after playing or being out in the world and to touch her own face as little as possible.

Keep a regular schedule. Kids thrive on regularity, and if the days are usually the same then it’s extra fun when something special happens.

Never obsess about food. It’s insane and it teaches kids to overeat and panic and fear sharing and get emotional about food.

Parent on a budget. Too many toys are over-stimulating, and kids won’t appreciate them. Even if you do have a lot of toys, put most of them away and rotate them out…so old toys feel like new toys.

Schedule activities. Sign them up for things that interest them or that you think they would like, and get them outside as much as possible. Kids can’t get too much fresh air and sunshine.

But don’t overschedule. Kids need time to be creative and make up their own activities without defaulting to the easy way out, which is staring at an electronic device.

Never miss a meaningful moment. I’m a person who is always in a hurry, so this has been a big change for me, but I recognize how important it is to take those moments and cherish them. I know these moments with my daughter are fleeting, so I celebrate everything we do together.

Courtesy of Touchstone, a Division of Simon & Shuster, Inc.

To read our September 2013 cover interview with Bethenny Frankel, click here.