The concept of lazy parenting might seem like a hoax. Let me be clear that it's not. Being a lazy parent doesn't mean being an uncaring parent or an uninvolved one. Just a smart one.

One that knows when to get involved and when to step back and let them learn to trust themselves. This is the irony of lazy parenting and this is how it works.

One

Children learn by observation so if you want to raise a reader and a lifelong learner, grab a book, magazine, or cereal box and dig in. Let your kids see you read for enjoyment at least once every single day and more on the weekends.

Two

Teach your children to solve problems like this. Watch them and listen first and then give them the least amount of help they need to succeed. That way, you feel like you're teaching them something rather than doing it for them and you won't get so frustrated.

Make sure you focus more on your child's efforts than on any finished product. That's one really good way to think about learning.

Three

Take them to the playground. Since learning progresses in a young child from the inside out, they have to do a lot of running, climbing, and moving before they can be expected to hold a pencil or complete a puzzle.

Insist on recess at school. Let them play "house" Make sure they have plenty of time to play in the sandbox and in the bathtub. When your children are engaged in an activity they love, it's because they're learning. When they're busy learning, you can just relax and watch them. You've earned it!

Four

Floortime is a method for engaging kids in their own learning that was developed by Dr. Stanley Greenspan. This is the laziest method yet and also the most fun. It's backed by a lot of research and it helps your kids because it teaches them to make good decisions. You can learn all about how to do Floortime here.

If you like tips for tots like these that are short, sweet, and backed by 43 years of experience (and a couple of early childhood degrees), you're in the right place! Connect with us here and get my free 21-page slideshow with the exact words to use to Get Your Child to Listen Without Yelling Or Time-Outs!

Nanci J Bradley is an early childhood and family educator, author, teacher, SELF-care facilitator, family aerobics instructor, and an all-around fun-loving person. She believes in the power of sleep, healthy eating, lifelong learning, and most of all, PLAY! She studied early childhood ed at Triton College and received her BS in education in 1986 from NIU. She received her MA in human development from Pacific Oaks College in 2011. She lives and teaches in Madison WI.