Two of the most difficult tasks to perform with children are getting them to share their toys and dressing them when you have somewhere to go.

When it comes to sharing toys, I try to have similar toys out and especially toys that they can alternate playing with. Books, plain paper, crayons, a Dora stuffed toy and some DVDs are usually nearby. Dora DVDs have never failed to restore the peace and quiet.

When it comes to getting her dressed, I find that chasing a half-naked two-year-old from room to room is more fun for her than it is for me, especially when time is of the essence.

Nothing works better than to let her run, while I get ready to leave, telling her what I am doing at each stage. By the time I announce that I am ready to leave, there she is, frantically looking for her shoes and asking: "Ready, mommy?"

When it comes to discipline, I have found that the word 'no' is more effective when used sparingly, firmly and consistently. We must be careful of our actions around our children as they tend to mirror what they see and hear on a daily basis. We must be careful of the actions we laugh at as children will continue trying to entertain us. Finally, sometimes it helps to listen to constructive criticism as the patterns we ignore now can become destructive later.

- Nataskie Bennett