Parenting Techniques

noun a person who gives unwanted advice or direction, especially from the back seat of a vehicle

• The backseat driver constantly gave unsolicited advice during the entire road trip.
• My mom is such a backseat driver whenever I'm behind the wheel.
• I can't stand being a backseat driver when my friend is driving.
• The boss was being a backseat driver, micromanaging every aspect of the project.

verb To touch or stroke gently or lovingly

adjective Showing fondness or tenderness through touch

• The artist spent hours meticulously caressing each stroke of paint onto the canvas.
• She couldn't resist caressing the soft fur of the kitten.
• He was caught caressing his girlfriend's hand under the table.
• The warm sun caressed his face as he sat on the beach, feeling at peace.

noun the soft murmuring sound made by a dove or pigeon

verb to make the soft murmuring sound of a dove or pigeon

• The dove let out a gentle coo as it perched on the tree branch.
• I heard the pigeon cooing outside my window this morning.
• The lovebirds were cooing to each other in the park.
• The singer's voice was so beautiful, it seemed to coo like a dove.

noun a form of punishment where physical force is used to discipline or correct behavior

• Corporal punishment is a controversial disciplinary method used in some educational institutions.
• Some parents still believe in corporal punishment as a way to discipline their children.
• Using corporal punishment on kids is so old-school.
• In the court of public opinion, corporal punishment is seen as a relic of the past.

noun the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior

verb to train oneself to do something in a controlled and habitual way

• Discipline is essential for maintaining order in any organization.
• You need to have some discipline if you want to succeed in your studies.
• I really need to get my discipline in check if I want to reach my goals.
• In life, discipline is like the rudder of a ship that steers us towards our destination.

adjective showing a lack of respect or courtesy

• His behavior towards the elders was considered disrespectful.
• She was being really disrespectful when she interrupted him like that.
• It's so disrespectful to ghost someone without explanation.
• Ignoring the rules is like being disrespectful to the game itself.

verb to assert one's will over others in an arrogant way

• The CEO was known to domineer over his employees, often micromanaging every aspect of their work.
• My older brother always tries to domineer over our family gatherings, insisting on controlling everything.
• Don't let him domineer the conversation, we all want a chance to speak.
• The storm clouds seemed to domineer over the horizon, signaling an impending downpour.

noun a feeling of intense irritation or annoyance

• Her constant lateness caused a feeling of exasperation among her colleagues.
• I could sense his exasperation when he had to explain the same thing for the third time.
• I could tell by the way she rolled her eyes that she was feeling major exasperation.
• The overflowing sink was a visual representation of his growing exasperation with the plumbing issues.

verb to touch or stroke lovingly or affectionately

• The suspect was charged with inappropriate behavior for attempting to fondle a minor.
• I caught my cat trying to fondle a stuffed animal last night.
• I heard he got kicked out of the party for trying to fondle one of the guests.
• The artist's brush seemed to fondle the canvas, creating a masterpiece.

adjective using force or authority in an insensitive or harsh way

• The court criticized the prosecutor for his heavy-handed approach during the trial.
• The teacher was heavy-handed with the students who were misbehaving.
• The coach is a bit heavy-handed when it comes to training us.
• The company's heavy-handed tactics in negotiations left a bad impression on their business partners.

noun a person who has authority, control, or power over others

verb to behave in a domineering or superior manner towards others

• He tends to lord it over his subordinates in the office, often micromanaging their every move.
• She always tries to lord it over her friends by showing off her expensive possessions.
• Don't let him lord it over you like that, stand up for yourself!
• The wealthy elite continue to lord it over the working class, maintaining their power and influence.

noun a quiet, gentle song sung to send a child to sleep

• The mother sang a soothing lullaby to her baby before putting him to sleep.
• I always play a lullaby on my phone to help me relax and fall asleep.
• My grandma used to hum a lullaby to help me doze off when I was a kid.
• The gentle sound of the waves crashing against the shore was like a lullaby to her troubled mind.

noun a word that functions as the name of a specific person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

• The judge decided to make an example of the defendant by giving him the maximum sentence.
• The teacher made an example of the student who was caught cheating on the exam.
• The boss made an example of the employee who kept showing up late to work.
• The coach decided to make an example of the star player by benching him for the entire game.

verb to calm or soothe someone's anger or anxiety

• The CEO's speech was aimed at mollifying the concerns of the shareholders.
• She tried mollifying her upset friend by offering to buy them ice cream.
• I'm hoping this apology will do the trick in mollifying my angry boss.
• The soothing music had a mollifying effect on my stress levels.

noun a person who constantly finds fault or complains

verb to annoy or irritate by persistent faultfinding, complaints, or demands

• She continued to nag him about completing his work on time.
• My mom always nags me to clean my room.
• Stop nagging me, I'll get it done eventually.
• The thought of failure nagged at the back of his mind.

noun the action of persistently complaining or fault-finding

adjective repeatedly complaining or fault-finding in an annoying way

• She was tired of his constant nagging about her work habits.
• Stop nagging me about cleaning my room, I'll get to it eventually!
• My mom is always on my case, nagging me to do my homework.
• The sound of the dripping faucet was like a nagging reminder of the plumbing issue.

noun a small bud or shoot on a plant

preposition in

article the

• It is important to nip in the bud any potential issues before they escalate.
• I always try to nip in the bud any problems at work before they get out of hand.
• We need to nip that drama in the bud before it spreads.
• By addressing the issue early on, we can nip it in the bud and prevent it from becoming a bigger problem.

noun the process of caring for and encouraging the growth or development of someone or something

verb care for and encourage the growth or development of

• It is important to nurture a positive work environment to boost employee morale.
• I try to nurture my plants by giving them plenty of sunlight and water.
• I'm always trying to nurture my friendships by staying in touch with my friends.
• Parents nurture their children's talents by providing them with opportunities to grow and develop.

noun the reason or intention behind an action

adverb intentionally or deliberately

• She admitted that she tripped him on purpose during the race.
• I think he spilled his drink on purpose just to get a reaction out of me.
• He's always messing with people on purpose just to be funny.
• Sometimes it feels like the universe is testing us by putting obstacles in our way on purpose.

verb to calm or soothe someone or something

adjective having the quality of calming or soothing

• The diplomat played a crucial role in pacifying the tensions between the two countries.
• She always has a way of pacifying people when they are upset.
• I tried pacifying my little brother by giving him some candy.
• Listening to music has a pacifying effect on my mind after a long day.

noun a gesture of praise or approval

preposition a small, light touch or stroke with the hand on someone's back to show approval or encouragement

• The employee received a pat on the back from the manager for completing the project ahead of schedule.
• I gave my friend a pat on the back for acing the exam.
• My coach always gives me a pat on the back when I score a goal.
• Sometimes we all need a metaphorical pat on the back to boost our confidence.

noun the act of pacifying or appeasing someone or something

verb to pacify or appease someone or something

• The diplomat attempted placation of the warring factions through negotiation.
• He tried placation by offering to buy her favorite dessert.
• She resorted to placation by promising to do his chores for a week.
• The soothing music acted as a placation for her troubled mind.

noun a penalty inflicted for an offense or fault

• The punishment for breaking the law is determined by the judicial system.
• If you don't finish your homework, the punishment will be extra chores.
• If you get caught cheating, the punishment is gonna be rough.
• Living with regret can be a punishment in itself.

verb to encourage or persuade someone to do something, often something wrong or mischievous

• The company's board put up to a vote whether to approve the new policy.
• My friends put me up to asking my crush out on a date.
• I can't believe you put me up to pulling that prank on our teacher!
• The coach put up to the challenge of leading the team to victory.

noun A person who raises funds or collects donations for a cause or organization

• The charity event organizer was pleased with the generous donor who acted as a major fundraiser for the cause.
• My friend is a great fundraiser for our school's sports team, always coming up with creative ideas to raise money.
• She's a real pro at being a fundraiser, always knowing how to get people to donate.
• The sunset was a beautiful fundraiser of colors in the sky, painting a stunning picture for all to see.

noun the act of lifting or increasing something

adjective pertaining to something that increases or elevates

• The organization is currently raising funds for a new community center.
• I heard Sarah is raising money for her school trip next summer.
• I'm raising cash for the concert tickets.
• The new policy is raising eyebrows among the employees.

noun an expression of sharp disapproval or criticism

verb to express sharp disapproval or criticism of (someone) because of their behavior or actions

• The teacher issued a stern rebuke to the student for not completing the assignment on time.
• My mom gave me a rebuke for forgetting to take out the trash.
• I got a real rebuke from my boss for showing up late to work again.
• The sudden rainstorm seemed like nature's rebuke to the city for its pollution.

noun an expression of blame or disapproval

verb None

adjective None

adverb None

pronoun None

preposition None

conjunction None

interjection None

article None

• The teacher gave a gentle reproof to the student for not completing the assignment on time.
• My mom always gives me a reproof when I forget to take out the trash.
• I got a reproof from my boss for being late to work again.
• The reproof from her friends made her realize she needed to make some changes in her life.

verb to reprimand or correct someone for their behavior

• The teacher had to reprove the student for talking during the exam.
• I don't mean to reprove you, but can you please stop interrupting?
• Dude, don't make me reprove you in front of everyone.
• She gently reproved her friend for making the same mistake again.

verb to make something correct or accurate

adjective having a direct or honest manner

adverb in a direct or honest manner

• The professor set straight the misconceptions about the theory during the lecture.
• I had to set my friend straight about the correct way to solve the math problem.
• I had to set that gossip straight before it spread any further.
• The therapist helped me set straight my thoughts and emotions during our session.

noun a loud cry or call

verb to utter a loud cry or call

• The teacher reprimanded the student for shouting in the classroom.
• My mom is always shouting at me to clean my room.
• Why are you shouting at me? Chill out, dude.
• His artwork was shouting with vibrant colors and bold shapes.

noun a strong push

verb to push forcefully

• He attempted to shove his way through the crowded room.
• Don't shove me, I'm trying to get through!
• She shoved him out of the way to get to the front of the line.
• The new policy felt like a shove in the wrong direction.

verb to hit or slap with great force

adjective having a sharp, resounding sound

• The act of smacking a child as a form of discipline is a controversial topic.
• I can't believe she was smacking her lips so loudly during the movie.
• He was smacking on that burger like there was no tomorrow.
• The news of the scandal hit him like a smack in the face.

noun goods stolen or taken forcibly from a person or place

verb diminish or destroy the value or quality of

• It is important not to spoil a child by giving them everything they want.
• Don't spoil your dinner by eating too many snacks before the meal.
• I'm going to spoil myself with a shopping spree this weekend.
• His bad behavior will spoil the reputation of the entire team.

noun A word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea.

verb A word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being.

adjective A word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun.

adverb A word that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb, indicating manner, time, place, or degree.

preposition A word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence.

article A word that is used to specify a noun as definite or indefinite.

• I had to step in and mediate the dispute between the two parties.
• I decided to step in and help out with the project.
• I saw the fight escalating so I had to step in and break it up.
• Sometimes you need to step in and take control of the situation.

noun a cloth or blanket used for swaddling

verb to wrap (someone, especially a baby) tightly with a cloth or blanket

• The nurse demonstrated the proper technique to swaddle the newborn baby.
• Make sure to swaddle the baby before putting him to sleep.
• I love how cozy and snugly I feel when I swaddle myself in a blanket.
• The warmth of a mother's love can swaddle a child in a blanket of security.

noun a word used to identify any of a class of people, places, or things

verb a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence

adjective a word naming an attribute of a noun, such as sweet, red, or technical

adverb a word or phrase that modifies or qualifies an adjective, verb, or other adverb

preposition a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause

article a word that is used with a noun to specify grammatical definiteness of the noun, and in some languages extending to volume or numerical scope

• During the meeting, the manager decided to take aside the employee to discuss their performance.
• I need to take you aside for a minute to talk about something important.
• Let's take him aside and spill the tea on what really happened.
• Sometimes we need to take ourselves aside and reflect on our actions.

noun a period of time during which one person does something while others wait for their chance to do the same thing

verb to alternate in doing something

• During the meeting, each team member will take turns presenting their findings.
• Let's take turns sharing our favorite memories from the trip.
• We can take turns binge-watching our favorite TV show this weekend.
• Life is like a game where we all take turns facing challenges and obstacles.

noun a brief period of time during which an activity is stopped or interrupted

adverb used to indicate a temporary suspension of activity

• The teacher gave the student a time out for misbehaving in class.
• I had to take a time out from studying to grab a snack.
• My mom put me in a time out for coming home past curfew.
• Sometimes we all need to take a time out to recharge and relax.

verb to walk with short, unsteady steps, like a young child learning to walk

• The toddler began to toddle across the room, taking small unsteady steps.
• I love watching my niece toddle around the house, she's so cute!
• The little one was toddling like a pro, not a care in the world.
• After a long day of work, I felt like I was just toddling through life without any direction.

adjective describing a person or thing that has not received coaching or instruction

• The uncoached team struggled to execute the complex plays.
• The uncoached players didn't know what to do on the field.
• The uncoached group was totally lost out there.
• Like uncoached actors on stage, they stumbled through the performance.

adjective describing someone who behaves politely and respectfully in social situations

• The well-mannered gentleman greeted everyone with a polite bow.
• My friend's dog is so well-mannered, he always waits patiently for his food.
• I can't believe how well-mannered that dude is, he's always so chill.
• The well-mannered garden seemed to bloom more beautifully than the rest.

verb the act of complaining or making a high-pitched sound

adjective characterized by complaining or making a high-pitched sound

• The constant whining of the child was starting to wear on the teacher's patience.
• Stop whining about your homework and just get it done.
• She's always whining about something, it's so annoying.
• The wind whined through the trees, creating an eerie sound in the dark forest.

noun the action of shouting or raising one's voice in a loud manner

• The teacher was yelling at the students for not completing their homework on time.
• My mom was yelling at me to clean my room before my friends came over.
• Why are you yelling at me for no reason?
• The thunderstorm was so loud, it sounded like the sky was yelling at us.

noun a loud vocal expression of strong emotion, typically pain or sorrow

pronoun a word that can function by itself as a noun phrase and that refers either to the participants in the discourse (e.g., I, you) or to someone or something mentioned elsewhere in the discourse (e.g., she, it)

• Some parents believe in the cry it out method as a way to teach babies to self-soothe.
• I tried the cry it out technique with my baby last night and it was tough.
• If you want your baby to sleep through the night, you might have to cry it out a bit.
• Sometimes you just need to cry it out and let your emotions out.

noun a person

verb action word

adjective describes a noun or pronoun

adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb

pronoun replaces a noun

preposition shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence

conjunction connects words, phrases, or clauses

article a word that is used with a noun to specify grammatical definiteness of the noun

• In certain situations, someone may not know any better due to lack of information or experience.
• Sometimes someone just doesn't know any better because they haven't been taught.
• Hey, cut them some slack, maybe someone just doesn't know any better.
• It's like trying to explain colors to a blind person, someone does not know any better in that situation.

noun a step or small platform used as a form of discipline for misbehaving children

• The child was placed on the naughty step as a form of discipline.
• I had to sit on the naughty step when I misbehaved.
• My mom always threatens to put me on the naughty step if I don't listen.
• Sometimes it feels like I'm on the naughty step at work when I make mistakes.

noun a person who warns or reprimands someone firmly

• The teacher acted as an admonisher when reminding the students of the school rules.
• My mom is always the admonisher in our family, making sure we stay in line.
• Don't be such an admonisher, let us have some fun!
• The storm clouds served as nature's admonisher, warning of the impending bad weather.

adverb modifying a verb, adjective, or another adverb to indicate admonishment or reprimand

• The teacher looked at the students admonishingly as they continued to talk during the lesson.
• She raised her eyebrow admonishingly when her friend suggested skipping class.
• The security guard eyed the troublemakers admonishingly before kicking them out of the club.
• The storm clouds gathered overhead, looming admonishingly as if warning of impending danger.

noun a warning or reprimand given by someone in authority

• The teacher's admonishments about proper behavior in the classroom were clear and consistent.
• I'm tired of hearing my mom's admonishments about cleaning my room.
• Stop with the constant admonishments, I get it already!
• The storm clouds served as nature's admonishments of the impending bad weather.