Here's a way to give your child the good feeling of pride for the small and big steps of growing -- inside and out.

Materials:

• Paper (11"x 17" sign)
• Pencil, pen or marker

Directions:

Tape the paper horizontally on the wall with the top of the paper at your child's height.

Most growing charts show how much children grow outside. It's just as important for children to feel good about how much they're growing on the inside. On this one, you could note and date events like:

• shared with a friend
• waited for a turn
• caught a ball
• used the potty
• cut with scissors
• said "I'm mad" instead of hitting
• rode a tricycle
• dressed without help
• wrote my name
• tied my own shoes

If you make a new growing sign each month, you'll have a scrapbook of he many ways your child is growing.

We all seem to make a fuss at the big moments of growing, like birthdays and first days of school, but what a good feeling it can be for your child to know you're proud of him or her at the little moments. Look for those moments to celebrate, like when your child is about to hit someone but stops. What an important time to say "I'm really proud of you." That's a great moment of self-control -- a great moment to celebrate.

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