Author: Ted
By the time you notice one; all three will already be present. Children try first to solve their own problems. They keep trying until the symptom becomes obvious to someone watching. That will be a parent, teacher, babysitter or another adult. Even though many adults observed the child, only one of them may catch a glimpse of the symptom. That adult was in the right place at the right time, not necessarily more attentive. Anxiety is a physical reaction brought about by an emotional trigger. It begins as a thought. There might be danger. It isn’t like a rock rolling down a hill towards you, making all kinds of noise as it crashes through bushes, picking up speed. That’s a clear danger. There is no question how to react to that. This is a suggestion that there might be a rock, maybe right now, in two minutes or two days, that might appear around the next corner and get you or your parents or your cat. But, maybe not. Just in case, you’d better watch out. The physical response comes next. If there is danger there are two options, fight or flee. In order to do either, fuel is required, adrenaline. The signal goes out to load up on fuel. You are now ready to roll, engine screaming, wheels spinning when, oops, wait a minute, maybe there isn’t anything there. Maybe it was just a thought. The adult brain has stored mountains of data which validate reasons to be concerned. Children don’t yet have that data base nor the neurological pathways needed to piece information together. Children just sense and feel. The first feeling is fear. Children might show fear by being irritable, having a tantrum or crying. They will not be able to put words to why they are reacting. They will not be able to tell you what happened. Usually, these reactions are single events. That’s normal. But some children are acutely sensitive. Those children may develop anxiety. Anxiety at any age follows the same route. It is the excess of adrenaline and the lingering question about danger that causes physical symptoms. Those include wanting to jump out of your skin, feeling faint, clammy, light headed, tingling in fingers and toes, heart racing or skipping beats, etc. In an adult these symptoms may come as a panic attack. In a child it is more subtle and slower to develop. It may be physical or emotional or both. Some sense first through their bodies. Others first register via a psychological process. Sensitive kids soak up stimuli and develop a reaction. It starts with feeling afraid. In time the fear might become a bad dream. Parents often notice when the child calls out or comes into the bedroom. Many kids keep it to themselves. Bad dreams reinforce fears that pop up during the day. Even at night, when the child should be relaxed and safe, scary things can intrude and threaten. Eventually the child may become avoidant, such as the child who refuses to enter the classroom or get on the bus or go on the field trip. Most of those children eventually settle down once coaxed to follow through. But unless there is coaching anxiety will develop and reveal itself in unfortunate ways throughout the person’s life. Pushing a child to go ahead, while necessary, is similar to learning to cope with a fear of crowds by forcing oneself to sit in the middle of a crowded theater. It can be endured but there is no pleasure from the experience and other similar situations will likely be avoided. One learns to cope, not to overcome. Strategies boil down to a few key points. First be knowledgeable of the child’s developmental capacity and unique characteristics. Understand that these reactions happen for a good reason. They are rarely at first a manipulation for attention. If bad dreams develop there are ways to help the child become empowered to overcome them. If avoidant behavior is present the child must learn to both push through it but also to understand why symptoms are present so that other, future situations are not similarly avoided. Smart, sensitive kids develop anxiety because they are smart and sensitive. Help them learn to understand themselves and their own process and you have equipped them with strategies that enable them to manage a world filled with uncertainty.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Allergies in Children
Author: Nicky
Many people do not think that young children can have allergies as doctors at one time believed since the nasal cavities are not completely developed then allergy problems should not exist. Today, we now know allergic rhinitis is one of the most chronic childhood diseases. The main reason some children have allergies and some do not, comes down to heredity. If only one parent has allergies their children have a 30% to 50% percent chance of developing allergies and if cases where both parents have allergies the percentage goes up to 60% to 80%. The most common allergy seen in both infants and children is an allergy to cows milk protein. This usually happens during the first year. Before a child can develop an allergy, he or she must first be exposed to a substance that may later be considered an allergen. Besides food, some allergies that children may have include indoor allergens such as molds, household dust mites, and pets, outdoor allergens include weeds, tree pollen, and grasses. If you think that your child may have allergies, then there are some physical symptoms that might help you make an educated decision prior to visiting your doctor. Symptoms of food allergies in infants can cause yo
ur little one to be colicky, vomit, have diarrhea, rashes, eczema, cry more than they should, and have cold like respiratory congestion. Physical symptoms that may show that your child has an allergy include bluish/brownish discoloration around both eyes, puffiness under the eyes and the eyes may look red and irritated, and the ears and cheeks may appear flushed. Your little one may not be able to explain to you how they feel but you may notice them breathing through their mouth, rubbing their noise, sniffling, sneezing, and have congestion that may make it hard for them to breath. If you notice that your child is always complaining of a sore throat, has nasal congestion quite a bit and has had to be treated for chronic ear infections you may want to ask your doctor is your little one could be suffering from allergies since these also accompany allergies. Remember, allergies can cause excess mucus secretions, this causes swelling of the nasal cavity and breathing can be difficult when your child lies down. It can be so bad that he or she may gasp for breath, cough or awaken in the middle of the night unable to breathe properly. If disturbed sleep does occur from allergies, it can result in sleep apnea.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
Many people do not think that young children can have allergies as doctors at one time believed since the nasal cavities are not completely developed then allergy problems should not exist. Today, we now know allergic rhinitis is one of the most chronic childhood diseases. The main reason some children have allergies and some do not, comes down to heredity. If only one parent has allergies their children have a 30% to 50% percent chance of developing allergies and if cases where both parents have allergies the percentage goes up to 60% to 80%. The most common allergy seen in both infants and children is an allergy to cows milk protein. This usually happens during the first year. Before a child can develop an allergy, he or she must first be exposed to a substance that may later be considered an allergen. Besides food, some allergies that children may have include indoor allergens such as molds, household dust mites, and pets, outdoor allergens include weeds, tree pollen, and grasses. If you think that your child may have allergies, then there are some physical symptoms that might help you make an educated decision prior to visiting your doctor. Symptoms of food allergies in infants can cause yo
ur little one to be colicky, vomit, have diarrhea, rashes, eczema, cry more than they should, and have cold like respiratory congestion. Physical symptoms that may show that your child has an allergy include bluish/brownish discoloration around both eyes, puffiness under the eyes and the eyes may look red and irritated, and the ears and cheeks may appear flushed. Your little one may not be able to explain to you how they feel but you may notice them breathing through their mouth, rubbing their noise, sniffling, sneezing, and have congestion that may make it hard for them to breath. If you notice that your child is always complaining of a sore throat, has nasal congestion quite a bit and has had to be treated for chronic ear infections you may want to ask your doctor is your little one could be suffering from allergies since these also accompany allergies. Remember, allergies can cause excess mucus secretions, this causes swelling of the nasal cavity and breathing can be difficult when your child lies down. It can be so bad that he or she may gasp for breath, cough or awaken in the middle of the night unable to breathe properly. If disturbed sleep does occur from allergies, it can result in sleep apnea.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Choosing a Play Group
Author: Jonathon
Playgroups are an important part of social interaction for young children and their mothers. Playgroups prepare children for more formal daycare and school situations and provide moms valuable time with other adults. Choosing the right playgroup is essential to getting the most out of this experience.
Sources of playgroups might include church groups, neighborhood-based groups, library or city-sponsored groups or even internet-based groups. Regardless of who is sponsoring the group, there are several questions that can give you a good idea whether the group is right for you. What is the age range of children in the group? Some groups have a set age limit and discourage bringing older siblings. Others have no restrictions. Be sure that whatever the structure that there are plenty of children at the same phase of development as your child.
If your child is still crawling and all the other children are walking, he won’t be able to participate in the same activities as the other children. Are there dues or a membership fee? Some groups are completely free. Others charge a weekly or monthly fee to cover the cost of snacks and craft materials. If there is a fee, find out how the money is managed and by whom. Some groups have a board of directors or oversight group and some have one per
son who is considered the leader of the group. What is the schedule and what activities are planned? Some groups are more free-form than others.
Depending on your personality and your child’s schedule you need to decide whether a group with regular weekly meetings is better for you or if a drop-in program with a flexible schedule will work better. What are the policies, if any, regarding discipline? Every playgroup has its own dynamics, rules and customs. Asking about these things ahead of time can save embarrassment and prevent conflicts. Do members discipline each other’s children? What is the policy on biting? Toy sharing? Hitting? You need to choose a group whose values match your own. What are the hostess duties? Will you be expected to host play dates at your home on a regular basis? Be sure you’re equipped to host a large number of children at your home. I
nquire whether you can hold your regular play date at a park or other facility rather than at your home. Finally, what are the moms in the group like? Are they of the same socio-economic group as you? Do they have similar backgrounds and interests? Believe it or not, these things become very important in the development of a playgroup. The more the moms have in common, the easier everyone will get along.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
Playgroups are an important part of social interaction for young children and their mothers. Playgroups prepare children for more formal daycare and school situations and provide moms valuable time with other adults. Choosing the right playgroup is essential to getting the most out of this experience.
Sources of playgroups might include church groups, neighborhood-based groups, library or city-sponsored groups or even internet-based groups. Regardless of who is sponsoring the group, there are several questions that can give you a good idea whether the group is right for you. What is the age range of children in the group? Some groups have a set age limit and discourage bringing older siblings. Others have no restrictions. Be sure that whatever the structure that there are plenty of children at the same phase of development as your child.
If your child is still crawling and all the other children are walking, he won’t be able to participate in the same activities as the other children. Are there dues or a membership fee? Some groups are completely free. Others charge a weekly or monthly fee to cover the cost of snacks and craft materials. If there is a fee, find out how the money is managed and by whom. Some groups have a board of directors or oversight group and some have one per
son who is considered the leader of the group. What is the schedule and what activities are planned? Some groups are more free-form than others.
Depending on your personality and your child’s schedule you need to decide whether a group with regular weekly meetings is better for you or if a drop-in program with a flexible schedule will work better. What are the policies, if any, regarding discipline? Every playgroup has its own dynamics, rules and customs. Asking about these things ahead of time can save embarrassment and prevent conflicts. Do members discipline each other’s children? What is the policy on biting? Toy sharing? Hitting? You need to choose a group whose values match your own. What are the hostess duties? Will you be expected to host play dates at your home on a regular basis? Be sure you’re equipped to host a large number of children at your home. I
nquire whether you can hold your regular play date at a park or other facility rather than at your home. Finally, what are the moms in the group like? Are they of the same socio-economic group as you? Do they have similar backgrounds and interests? Believe it or not, these things become very important in the development of a playgroup. The more the moms have in common, the easier everyone will get along.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
Infant Potty Training and Conventional Potty Training - What's the Difference Between Them?
Author: Charndra Josling
Comparing Elimination Communication With Baby Swimming Lessons Will Help You Tell Them Apart Easily...
In a nutshell, Infant Potty Training is a cooperative process involving managing baby's hygiene usually in combination with cloth diapers. Diapers are used casually as needed with this approach, often part-time. Training pants and diaper-free time and specialized EC pants are also used.
Toilet training a toddler is a goal oriented activity involving weaning from diapers quickly after a child has worn diapers full-time for two or three years. In this article I'll use the analogy of baby swimming lessons to help you have an "Aha!" moment regarding the core difference between the two approaches.
Let's Compare Baby Swimming Lessons With Infant Potty Training:
When I took my baby to infant swimming classes, I didn't expect him to be able to swim. Yet, he could splash about, hold his breath underwater for a few moments quite instinctively and really enjoyed the special time with me or his Dad in the water. With baby swimming lessons, the experience is about supporting your baby, helping them to be familiar with and comfortable in the water. We don't expect them to be able to swim, yet we share delight in their tiny flashes of confidence.
It's the same with Infant Potty Training when practicing elimination communication - we don't expect our baby to be continent, to be able to use the potty independently, but with our help they can. Just as our baby can 'swim', our baby can use the potty and have a fun time interacting with us. With our help they have all these lovely moments to learn that the potty is a normal part of life, a fun object that means lots of eye contact, singing, clapping and smiling with their beloved parents! In between these 'potty breaks' they wear a diaper or training pants (EC Pants). You can see all the varieties now available at http://www.parttimeec.com
Plus, with baby pottying your baby has the chance to communicate pre-verbally, to indicate their need to use the potty now and then from their earliest abilities. Even as a three month old, my son would lean over to his potty and let me know he needed to go. Not all the time, but this wonderful communication is all I really 'expected' - and I could see his thrill that he had made his needs known to me, even then! It's an opportunity for developing communication that wouldn't have been possible if wearing diapers full-time.
The question I ask you now is: "Have your eyes just widened in realization that you now 'get it', and can see that infant pottying is something you and your baby would enjoy practicing together?"
Discover the simplest ways to get started on your baby pottying adventure. It really is a doorway into another realm of communication and understanding of your baby. Infant Potty Training is fun, rewarding, and need not be messy - any more than changing a diaper is inevitably messy! With baby pottying, you'll skip some of those messy diaper changes.
About the Author
Pop over to Charndra's website on part time Baby Pottying, http://www.PartTimeEC.com - you can join to receive a free e-course introducing you to the Secrets of EC Confidence. Over 40 Potty Songs, plenty of tips, resources and helpful ideas to make your journey easing into EC very smooth indeed.
Comparing Elimination Communication With Baby Swimming Lessons Will Help You Tell Them Apart Easily...
In a nutshell, Infant Potty Training is a cooperative process involving managing baby's hygiene usually in combination with cloth diapers. Diapers are used casually as needed with this approach, often part-time. Training pants and diaper-free time and specialized EC pants are also used.
Toilet training a toddler is a goal oriented activity involving weaning from diapers quickly after a child has worn diapers full-time for two or three years. In this article I'll use the analogy of baby swimming lessons to help you have an "Aha!" moment regarding the core difference between the two approaches.
Let's Compare Baby Swimming Lessons With Infant Potty Training:
When I took my baby to infant swimming classes, I didn't expect him to be able to swim. Yet, he could splash about, hold his breath underwater for a few moments quite instinctively and really enjoyed the special time with me or his Dad in the water. With baby swimming lessons, the experience is about supporting your baby, helping them to be familiar with and comfortable in the water. We don't expect them to be able to swim, yet we share delight in their tiny flashes of confidence.
It's the same with Infant Potty Training when practicing elimination communication - we don't expect our baby to be continent, to be able to use the potty independently, but with our help they can. Just as our baby can 'swim', our baby can use the potty and have a fun time interacting with us. With our help they have all these lovely moments to learn that the potty is a normal part of life, a fun object that means lots of eye contact, singing, clapping and smiling with their beloved parents! In between these 'potty breaks' they wear a diaper or training pants (EC Pants). You can see all the varieties now available at http://www.parttimeec.com
Plus, with baby pottying your baby has the chance to communicate pre-verbally, to indicate their need to use the potty now and then from their earliest abilities. Even as a three month old, my son would lean over to his potty and let me know he needed to go. Not all the time, but this wonderful communication is all I really 'expected' - and I could see his thrill that he had made his needs known to me, even then! It's an opportunity for developing communication that wouldn't have been possible if wearing diapers full-time.
The question I ask you now is: "Have your eyes just widened in realization that you now 'get it', and can see that infant pottying is something you and your baby would enjoy practicing together?"
Discover the simplest ways to get started on your baby pottying adventure. It really is a doorway into another realm of communication and understanding of your baby. Infant Potty Training is fun, rewarding, and need not be messy - any more than changing a diaper is inevitably messy! With baby pottying, you'll skip some of those messy diaper changes.
About the Author
Pop over to Charndra's website on part time Baby Pottying, http://www.PartTimeEC.com - you can join to receive a free e-course introducing you to the Secrets of EC Confidence. Over 40 Potty Songs, plenty of tips, resources and helpful ideas to make your journey easing into EC very smooth indeed.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Teenage Mother -Trials And Tribulations Faced By A Teenage Mother
Author: Abhishek
"You are going to have a baby!" This statement is greeted with joy by any woman, especially if she is a mature adult, has a secure source of income, and people to support her emotionally and physically. The same does not hold true for a young girl who is still too wet behind the ears to handle being a teenage mother.
While the news that the rate of teenage pregnancies is going down is welcoming indeed, there is also concern expressed for those pregnant teenagers who wish to carry on till the end and give birth to their babies. The path they have chosen is full of challenges, whether it is related to personal health, health of the newborn, or what lies ahead in the future.
The first obstacle to happiness for a teenage mother is the disapproval expressed by society. The same social haunts where they were greeted with cordiality earlier such as ’school/college, the church, houses of friends and relatives’ now become a curse because they are looked down upon by all and sundry. In addition to the trauma they are already facing because of a sudden pregnancy and birth, these young mothers are forced to leave their happy teens behind and behave like mature adults now. This may prove to be too much, too soon!
The family members of a teenage mother go through a traumatic time too. They have to face society’s taunts as well. The stress associated with an unplanned pregnancy and delivery of the baby has a bad effec
t on the teenage mother’s health too. Later years are going to prove equally difficult. This mother runs the risk of developing preeclampsia leading to high blood pressure, STDs, and anemia. The high blood pressure may become a lifelong illness. There are chances of developing obesity too.
The baby born to a teenage mother faces health risks too, especially malnutrition, seeing that the mother herself is little more than a child and has no idea about how to take care of her own nutritional needs during pregnancy. This ignorance and immaturity leads to the birth of premature infants or newborn infants being born with a low birth weight. Even after birth, an unhealthy mother is unable to provide proper health care for her newborn.
The addition of a baby to the household makes it difficult for the teenage mother to continue her education. Skills to be developed for earning an income are left incomplete. Most often, she gets no monetary support or childcare support for taking care of her child. Proper living conditions cannot be provided for the infant as the mother herself is on the brink of poverty. Thus, the overall picture does not look too good.
Hopefully, with proper counseling, today’s adolescents will be well on the way to developing self-confidence, learn how to blend with family and society, and ensure themselves of a good education. And we shall get to hear less and less about "teenage mothers"!
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
"You are going to have a baby!" This statement is greeted with joy by any woman, especially if she is a mature adult, has a secure source of income, and people to support her emotionally and physically. The same does not hold true for a young girl who is still too wet behind the ears to handle being a teenage mother.
While the news that the rate of teenage pregnancies is going down is welcoming indeed, there is also concern expressed for those pregnant teenagers who wish to carry on till the end and give birth to their babies. The path they have chosen is full of challenges, whether it is related to personal health, health of the newborn, or what lies ahead in the future.
The first obstacle to happiness for a teenage mother is the disapproval expressed by society. The same social haunts where they were greeted with cordiality earlier such as ’school/college, the church, houses of friends and relatives’ now become a curse because they are looked down upon by all and sundry. In addition to the trauma they are already facing because of a sudden pregnancy and birth, these young mothers are forced to leave their happy teens behind and behave like mature adults now. This may prove to be too much, too soon!
The family members of a teenage mother go through a traumatic time too. They have to face society’s taunts as well. The stress associated with an unplanned pregnancy and delivery of the baby has a bad effec
t on the teenage mother’s health too. Later years are going to prove equally difficult. This mother runs the risk of developing preeclampsia leading to high blood pressure, STDs, and anemia. The high blood pressure may become a lifelong illness. There are chances of developing obesity too.
The baby born to a teenage mother faces health risks too, especially malnutrition, seeing that the mother herself is little more than a child and has no idea about how to take care of her own nutritional needs during pregnancy. This ignorance and immaturity leads to the birth of premature infants or newborn infants being born with a low birth weight. Even after birth, an unhealthy mother is unable to provide proper health care for her newborn.
The addition of a baby to the household makes it difficult for the teenage mother to continue her education. Skills to be developed for earning an income are left incomplete. Most often, she gets no monetary support or childcare support for taking care of her child. Proper living conditions cannot be provided for the infant as the mother herself is on the brink of poverty. Thus, the overall picture does not look too good.
Hopefully, with proper counseling, today’s adolescents will be well on the way to developing self-confidence, learn how to blend with family and society, and ensure themselves of a good education. And we shall get to hear less and less about "teenage mothers"!
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
Practical Advice for Parenting Teenagers
Author: Scott
Parenting teenagers is full of extremes. There are great joys while parenting teenagers and also great disappointments. The teen years are a time when the child is slowly separating themselves from their parent’s tight hold and parents need to realize this. Each child needs to gradually be weaned off the total parental control into a world of adulthood. This can be a difficult experience but also an exciting one. As a parent, one has been working to prepare his child for adulthood and now the goal is about to be achieved. A parent needs to celebrate the teenagers step towards independence while continuing to provide a safety net. Preparing for Parenting a Teenager As a child begins to celebrate double digit birthdays the parent must begin preparing for parenting a teenager. One thing that can help to make the future easier is to find interests for the child to be involved in. Some children are very sports motivated; being involved in team sports is a great experience for the teenager and will help to keep the child involved in wholesome activities. The parent needs to be involved with this area of the child’s life. Attending the games and showing interest will be very important. Another great thing for the child to get involved in is a church youth group. Teenagers will have questions regarding their spiritual life. Having a well founded spiritual leader and group outside the home will help both the parent and the teenager throughou
t the teen years. There are other appropriate activities for the teen years. These include scouting, choir, band, dance, gymnastics, fishing, camping and many other activities. Parents need to get involved with their child in some activity before the teen years begin. This will keep the teenager involved in good activities as they begin to pull away from the parents. A Team Approach to Parenting Teenagers In a two parent family it will be important for the parents to be united in their approach to parenting a teenager. Parents need to plan and discuss the expectations for the teenager. Even if there are areas of disagreement between the parents, the teenager needs to see a united front. If the teenager see the parents in open disagreement this may cause confusion and rebellion. Parents need to work together for the benefit of the teenager. If the parents are separated or divorced, differences need to be put aside for the benefit of the child. The world offers too many options for teenagers today. The parents must be united in the morals, values, and attitudes they want the teenager to uphold. Most teenagers will still rebel somewhat but this can prevent major rebellion. If the home is a single parent home, without the support of a second parent, the single parent should seek the support of a grandparent or other relative or friend. It is good to have someone supporting the very important decisions which need to be made while parenting a teenager.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
Parenting teenagers is full of extremes. There are great joys while parenting teenagers and also great disappointments. The teen years are a time when the child is slowly separating themselves from their parent’s tight hold and parents need to realize this. Each child needs to gradually be weaned off the total parental control into a world of adulthood. This can be a difficult experience but also an exciting one. As a parent, one has been working to prepare his child for adulthood and now the goal is about to be achieved. A parent needs to celebrate the teenagers step towards independence while continuing to provide a safety net. Preparing for Parenting a Teenager As a child begins to celebrate double digit birthdays the parent must begin preparing for parenting a teenager. One thing that can help to make the future easier is to find interests for the child to be involved in. Some children are very sports motivated; being involved in team sports is a great experience for the teenager and will help to keep the child involved in wholesome activities. The parent needs to be involved with this area of the child’s life. Attending the games and showing interest will be very important. Another great thing for the child to get involved in is a church youth group. Teenagers will have questions regarding their spiritual life. Having a well founded spiritual leader and group outside the home will help both the parent and the teenager throughou
t the teen years. There are other appropriate activities for the teen years. These include scouting, choir, band, dance, gymnastics, fishing, camping and many other activities. Parents need to get involved with their child in some activity before the teen years begin. This will keep the teenager involved in good activities as they begin to pull away from the parents. A Team Approach to Parenting Teenagers In a two parent family it will be important for the parents to be united in their approach to parenting a teenager. Parents need to plan and discuss the expectations for the teenager. Even if there are areas of disagreement between the parents, the teenager needs to see a united front. If the teenager see the parents in open disagreement this may cause confusion and rebellion. Parents need to work together for the benefit of the teenager. If the parents are separated or divorced, differences need to be put aside for the benefit of the child. The world offers too many options for teenagers today. The parents must be united in the morals, values, and attitudes they want the teenager to uphold. Most teenagers will still rebel somewhat but this can prevent major rebellion. If the home is a single parent home, without the support of a second parent, the single parent should seek the support of a grandparent or other relative or friend. It is good to have someone supporting the very important decisions which need to be made while parenting a teenager.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
What Vitamins Does my Child Need?
Author: Nicky
As long as your child is eating a well-balanced meal from the Food Guide Pyramid, they probably do not need any supplement minerals or vitamins. However, if you have a picky eater on your hands it will not hurt to give them a multi-vitamin that includes the items they need. In addition, children that do not drink at least 17 ounces of Vitamin D fortified milk will need Vitamin D supplements or calcium. Iron is a very important mineral that prevents anemia. Sources for iron include meats, legumes, fish, fortified foods such as cereals and breads. When girls begin to have their period they will more than likely need an iron supplement. Some examples of vitamins that include iron are Flintstones Children’s Chewable Multivitamin plus Iron, Poly-Vi-Sol Vitamin Drops with Iron, Pokemon Children’s Multiple Vitamin with Iron, Fer-In-Sol Iron Supplement Drops and Feosol Tablets and Caplets. Calcium is important for healthy bones and teeth. Children that do not drink milk or eat dairy products such as ice cream, cheese, and yogurt may need this mineral supplement. Children that have an allergy to milk or milk products will more than likely need a supplement with calcium. However, remember even calcium supplements will not give your child enough calcium for their growing bodies; they will also need calcium fortified foods such as calcium fortified orange juice. Some good vitamins or supplements with calcium include Calcium Gummy Bears, Herbasaurs Calcium f
or Kids, Flintstones Children’s Chewable Multivitamin plus Calcium, and Scooby-Doo! plus Calcium. Fluoride is very important for the growth of your childs teeth. If you want your child to have healthy teeth then they should be drinking fluoridated water. If they drink plenty of tap water in most towns and cities across the US, they are more than likely receiving enough fluoride. If you are not sure if your water contains fluoride, you can give them bottled water, which includes fluoride. There are a few fluoride supplements that are very good for giving your child what they may be lacking; however, too much fluoride can stain their teeth. If you need a fluoride supplement then you should purchase Poly-Vi-Flor. If you would rather use multivitamins, you can rest assured that most infant multivitamins include Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin D. They also have other vitamins and minerals such as iron, niacin, pyridoxine, riboflavin, thiamine, Vitamin B12 and Vitamin E. Some of the most popular infant multivitamins include Tri-Vi-Sol Drops, Poly-Vi-Sol Drops, and Gerber Vitamin Drops. Multivitamins for older children are usually in chewable form and contain the same vitamins and minerals only regulated for the growing child. Some of the most recommended include Centrum Kids Chewable Vitamins, Flintstones Children’s Chewable Multivitamin, Pokemon Children’s Vitamins, Bugs Bunny Children’s Vitamins and Scooby-Doo! Complete Multivitamin.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
As long as your child is eating a well-balanced meal from the Food Guide Pyramid, they probably do not need any supplement minerals or vitamins. However, if you have a picky eater on your hands it will not hurt to give them a multi-vitamin that includes the items they need. In addition, children that do not drink at least 17 ounces of Vitamin D fortified milk will need Vitamin D supplements or calcium. Iron is a very important mineral that prevents anemia. Sources for iron include meats, legumes, fish, fortified foods such as cereals and breads. When girls begin to have their period they will more than likely need an iron supplement. Some examples of vitamins that include iron are Flintstones Children’s Chewable Multivitamin plus Iron, Poly-Vi-Sol Vitamin Drops with Iron, Pokemon Children’s Multiple Vitamin with Iron, Fer-In-Sol Iron Supplement Drops and Feosol Tablets and Caplets. Calcium is important for healthy bones and teeth. Children that do not drink milk or eat dairy products such as ice cream, cheese, and yogurt may need this mineral supplement. Children that have an allergy to milk or milk products will more than likely need a supplement with calcium. However, remember even calcium supplements will not give your child enough calcium for their growing bodies; they will also need calcium fortified foods such as calcium fortified orange juice. Some good vitamins or supplements with calcium include Calcium Gummy Bears, Herbasaurs Calcium f
or Kids, Flintstones Children’s Chewable Multivitamin plus Calcium, and Scooby-Doo! plus Calcium. Fluoride is very important for the growth of your childs teeth. If you want your child to have healthy teeth then they should be drinking fluoridated water. If they drink plenty of tap water in most towns and cities across the US, they are more than likely receiving enough fluoride. If you are not sure if your water contains fluoride, you can give them bottled water, which includes fluoride. There are a few fluoride supplements that are very good for giving your child what they may be lacking; however, too much fluoride can stain their teeth. If you need a fluoride supplement then you should purchase Poly-Vi-Flor. If you would rather use multivitamins, you can rest assured that most infant multivitamins include Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin D. They also have other vitamins and minerals such as iron, niacin, pyridoxine, riboflavin, thiamine, Vitamin B12 and Vitamin E. Some of the most popular infant multivitamins include Tri-Vi-Sol Drops, Poly-Vi-Sol Drops, and Gerber Vitamin Drops. Multivitamins for older children are usually in chewable form and contain the same vitamins and minerals only regulated for the growing child. Some of the most recommended include Centrum Kids Chewable Vitamins, Flintstones Children’s Chewable Multivitamin, Pokemon Children’s Vitamins, Bugs Bunny Children’s Vitamins and Scooby-Doo! Complete Multivitamin.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
The Benefits of Omega 3 Fish Oil For Children
Author: Michael
"How soon can I start my kids on omega 3 fish oils?" I’m asked this question all the time. People read about the wonderful benefits for children of the omega 3 fatty acids found in fish oil, but there never seems to be any guidelines on when to start. A lot of people are surprised to learn that I start supplementing my children’s diet with high quality, pure fish oil as soon as they turn six months old. The kids were all nursed up until that point and my wife was supplementing her diet with fish oil while pregnant and nursing. This is so important because the omega 3 fatty acids, especially DHA, will make a HUGE difference in a child’s brain development, motor skills, language skills, thinking skills, vision, ability to sleep at night and much more. So how do you give fish oil to a 6 month old? Here’s how we did it. We pierced the capsule, squeezed a small amount onto a baby spoon and popped it into their mouths. It’s fun to watch a baby adjust to the taste of fish oils and it actually doesn’t take them long. With a little encouragement and lots of smiles, they’ll be reaching for the capsules faster than you can give it to them. A little word of caution: don’t wear nice clothes in the beginning. One of our children loved to make raspberries with their tongue after taking the fish oil and it would go everywhere. It was
hard to get mad though, because he looked so cute when he did it. If your kids are past the baby stage, don’t despair. It’s not too late to start giving them fish oil. It just takes a little more commitment and creativity to get the job done. If your children can swallow capsules, you won’t have any problem. As long as they don’t drink any hot liquids (like tea) right after taking their fish oil, they shouldn’t burp the taste. If they’re not able to swallow capsules yet, you can try giving them the fish oil on a spoon and then following up very quickly with a spoon full of applesauce or mashed banana. Just be sure to have your backup food ready to go before you give them the fish oil. You can also give them a drink of water to help wash it all down. It may not be pleasant the first few times, but if they see that you’re not going to give up, they’ll get used to it pretty quickly. And when you feel like quitting, remind yourself of how important the omega 3 oils are to your child’s health. If you’re not eating fatty fish like salmon, tuna, sardines or anchovies at least 3 times a week, your family is not getting enough omega 3s. Believe me! The results are worth the effort. You will see a big difference in your child’s overall health, mental and physical abilities. Don’t wait another day to start.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
"How soon can I start my kids on omega 3 fish oils?" I’m asked this question all the time. People read about the wonderful benefits for children of the omega 3 fatty acids found in fish oil, but there never seems to be any guidelines on when to start. A lot of people are surprised to learn that I start supplementing my children’s diet with high quality, pure fish oil as soon as they turn six months old. The kids were all nursed up until that point and my wife was supplementing her diet with fish oil while pregnant and nursing. This is so important because the omega 3 fatty acids, especially DHA, will make a HUGE difference in a child’s brain development, motor skills, language skills, thinking skills, vision, ability to sleep at night and much more. So how do you give fish oil to a 6 month old? Here’s how we did it. We pierced the capsule, squeezed a small amount onto a baby spoon and popped it into their mouths. It’s fun to watch a baby adjust to the taste of fish oils and it actually doesn’t take them long. With a little encouragement and lots of smiles, they’ll be reaching for the capsules faster than you can give it to them. A little word of caution: don’t wear nice clothes in the beginning. One of our children loved to make raspberries with their tongue after taking the fish oil and it would go everywhere. It was
hard to get mad though, because he looked so cute when he did it. If your kids are past the baby stage, don’t despair. It’s not too late to start giving them fish oil. It just takes a little more commitment and creativity to get the job done. If your children can swallow capsules, you won’t have any problem. As long as they don’t drink any hot liquids (like tea) right after taking their fish oil, they shouldn’t burp the taste. If they’re not able to swallow capsules yet, you can try giving them the fish oil on a spoon and then following up very quickly with a spoon full of applesauce or mashed banana. Just be sure to have your backup food ready to go before you give them the fish oil. You can also give them a drink of water to help wash it all down. It may not be pleasant the first few times, but if they see that you’re not going to give up, they’ll get used to it pretty quickly. And when you feel like quitting, remind yourself of how important the omega 3 oils are to your child’s health. If you’re not eating fatty fish like salmon, tuna, sardines or anchovies at least 3 times a week, your family is not getting enough omega 3s. Believe me! The results are worth the effort. You will see a big difference in your child’s overall health, mental and physical abilities. Don’t wait another day to start.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
Help Your Children to be Kind to the Environment
Author: Stephanie
Many children today don’t learn to think at all about the environment. Others do, of course, but if there’s no example set, what else can be expected? This is something important for all parents to consider, although it can be easier for stay at home parents such as myself to set the example. I consider keeping to the facts to be one of the most important things you can do. You want your children to trust you, and if they find out you exaggerated, there goes some of that trust This can be challenging. Trying to explain the issues at age appropriate levels is not easy. You can start off at a fairly young age, however. Preschoolers can be great about turning off lights and asking before throwing items in the trash or recycling bins. They love helping in the garden. All very simple, very preschooler friendly. As they get older you can discuss some of the more serious issues. Why we don’t want to produce more garbage than we have to, for example. You can also get into why you have to be more careful about disposing of things such as electronics and batteries. Then there are endangered species, rain forests, air quality and water quality issues you can teach about. E
xactly when each is appropriate can depend on the interests of your children. Some will love animals intensely at a very early age and may want to learn about endangered species early. Others will not. Perhaps the most important thing you can teach your children is what they, as individuals can do. It can be hard to realize how much just one person can do. Discuss the big choices as well as the little ones that can mean so much. Little choices can include such things as merely deciding to recycle, picking which items to buy and so forth. Bigger choices can include the car you drive and how you power your home. Especially as they approach high school age, it can be good to encourage your children to become more actively involved in the issues that particularly interest them. I do strongly encourage you to allow them to pick their own causes, rather than your own pet cause. The main thing is that they participate, not that they do only what you think is most important. Getting involved can start at a very early age. If you make it just a fact of life, children can learn to think about the environment as they grow. The younger green habits start, the easier they should be to live with.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
Many children today don’t learn to think at all about the environment. Others do, of course, but if there’s no example set, what else can be expected? This is something important for all parents to consider, although it can be easier for stay at home parents such as myself to set the example. I consider keeping to the facts to be one of the most important things you can do. You want your children to trust you, and if they find out you exaggerated, there goes some of that trust This can be challenging. Trying to explain the issues at age appropriate levels is not easy. You can start off at a fairly young age, however. Preschoolers can be great about turning off lights and asking before throwing items in the trash or recycling bins. They love helping in the garden. All very simple, very preschooler friendly. As they get older you can discuss some of the more serious issues. Why we don’t want to produce more garbage than we have to, for example. You can also get into why you have to be more careful about disposing of things such as electronics and batteries. Then there are endangered species, rain forests, air quality and water quality issues you can teach about. E
xactly when each is appropriate can depend on the interests of your children. Some will love animals intensely at a very early age and may want to learn about endangered species early. Others will not. Perhaps the most important thing you can teach your children is what they, as individuals can do. It can be hard to realize how much just one person can do. Discuss the big choices as well as the little ones that can mean so much. Little choices can include such things as merely deciding to recycle, picking which items to buy and so forth. Bigger choices can include the car you drive and how you power your home. Especially as they approach high school age, it can be good to encourage your children to become more actively involved in the issues that particularly interest them. I do strongly encourage you to allow them to pick their own causes, rather than your own pet cause. The main thing is that they participate, not that they do only what you think is most important. Getting involved can start at a very early age. If you make it just a fact of life, children can learn to think about the environment as they grow. The younger green habits start, the easier they should be to live with.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
Five Ways You Can Help Your Child Succeed in School
Author: Jim
It’s unfortunate that school holds such a revered place in society. I don’t say that because I feel education is unnecessary. On the contrary, I’m a teacher (15 years) and I believe in the power of education to transform lives and benefit society. I’m referring to the fact that parents and kids look at school performance as the ultimate gauge of self worth. Get good grades, get into a good college, get a better job and have a better life. What a chain of events! And you see? It all starts with good grades. I won’t write the chain of events when your child gets poor grades. It’s enough to stop trying. So, with this approach in mind, I’d like to add a little bit of calm and practical advice for parents to use with their kids so that school can become just another piece of the puzzle. Tip #1 - Decide how YOU feel about the role of education in their lives. Ask yourself, "Do I believe in the chain of events?", "Do I believe poor grades determine success or failure?", "Do I believe a healthy, well-rounded, happy child can be successful?" These questions are important because if you say them but don’t believe them, your child will feel it. You’ll let out your true feelings without even knowing it. So, decide now what your philosophy of education is and communicate it to your child. Tip #2 - Find what subjects interest your child. This way you can begin to build on their strengths. It’s important to pay attention to weaknesses a
s well but I think we get lost in this area. There’s way too much focus on what’s wrong rather than what’s right. Tip #3 - Talk about how someone succeeds in anything. If you’re being honest with yourself, you’ll know that hard work and interest are the only things needed to succeed. In your child’s life, they need to learn that good things come to those who follow what they like to do. Then, they won’t mind working hard. Tip# 4 - Be positive. Be aware of the words you use when as you go through the day. Are you optimistic or pessimistic? What do you do when things get tough? How do you react? Your child will see all these things and learn from you. When you show you can be calm and look for solutions, your child will do the same. Tip #5 - Love your child for what they are. You may be an avid reader while your child doesn’t like to read. You may be an athlete while your child likes to draw. What are you going to do? If you want a healthy, well-adjusted child, you’ll let it be and thank the heavens you have a wonderful child who brings joy to your life. Nothing else is needed. Love makes the world go round. Love helps everything your child does. As you can see, you have a lot to keep in mind if you want your child to succeed in school. Is it worth it? Absolutely. Are there more things to know? Absolutely. Will your child’s educational experience be more satisfying and rewarding? Absolutely. Do it for them...do it for yourself.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
It’s unfortunate that school holds such a revered place in society. I don’t say that because I feel education is unnecessary. On the contrary, I’m a teacher (15 years) and I believe in the power of education to transform lives and benefit society. I’m referring to the fact that parents and kids look at school performance as the ultimate gauge of self worth. Get good grades, get into a good college, get a better job and have a better life. What a chain of events! And you see? It all starts with good grades. I won’t write the chain of events when your child gets poor grades. It’s enough to stop trying. So, with this approach in mind, I’d like to add a little bit of calm and practical advice for parents to use with their kids so that school can become just another piece of the puzzle. Tip #1 - Decide how YOU feel about the role of education in their lives. Ask yourself, "Do I believe in the chain of events?", "Do I believe poor grades determine success or failure?", "Do I believe a healthy, well-rounded, happy child can be successful?" These questions are important because if you say them but don’t believe them, your child will feel it. You’ll let out your true feelings without even knowing it. So, decide now what your philosophy of education is and communicate it to your child. Tip #2 - Find what subjects interest your child. This way you can begin to build on their strengths. It’s important to pay attention to weaknesses a
s well but I think we get lost in this area. There’s way too much focus on what’s wrong rather than what’s right. Tip #3 - Talk about how someone succeeds in anything. If you’re being honest with yourself, you’ll know that hard work and interest are the only things needed to succeed. In your child’s life, they need to learn that good things come to those who follow what they like to do. Then, they won’t mind working hard. Tip# 4 - Be positive. Be aware of the words you use when as you go through the day. Are you optimistic or pessimistic? What do you do when things get tough? How do you react? Your child will see all these things and learn from you. When you show you can be calm and look for solutions, your child will do the same. Tip #5 - Love your child for what they are. You may be an avid reader while your child doesn’t like to read. You may be an athlete while your child likes to draw. What are you going to do? If you want a healthy, well-adjusted child, you’ll let it be and thank the heavens you have a wonderful child who brings joy to your life. Nothing else is needed. Love makes the world go round. Love helps everything your child does. As you can see, you have a lot to keep in mind if you want your child to succeed in school. Is it worth it? Absolutely. Are there more things to know? Absolutely. Will your child’s educational experience be more satisfying and rewarding? Absolutely. Do it for them...do it for yourself.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
How Your Children’s Inner Dialogue Affects Their Ability To Learn
Author: Jim
Kids are born winners. They feel they can do it all. In kindergarten, everyone raises their hand, everyone tries a new activity, and everyone wants to try again when they can’t do something the first time. Yet, as time goes by, they begin to lose this fearlessness and they start to doubt themselves. They doubt their ability to give the right answer, they doubt their ability to perform and they doubt their ability to learn. They become like wilted flowers that stop showing their beauty. One of the causes is the negative thoughts in their heads. By the 2nd grade, kids hear negative comments 7 times more than positive comments. That means for every "Great job!" they hear, "You don’t know what you’re doing, you can’t do that, let me do that, what are you doing?" Get the picture? The bad news is, if something isn’t done quickly, your children will develop ingrained thoughts of inferiority, insecurity and failure. They’ll slowly lose their identity and begin to fall in with the wrong crowd. The good news is, it’s fairly easy to turn around and it costs nothing but your desire to have happy children. Here are three ways to begin to help your children achieve like they used to; 1 - Be a positive role model. When you have difficulties doing something say, "I can do this. And if I can’t I’m smart enough to find someone who can help me." You see
, your kids watch you and register how you react to difficult circumstances. Maybe it’s a flat tire, maybe it’s hooking up the DVD player, who knows. Just remember, the words and attitude you use are being transmitted to your kids. 2 - When learning something, show your child how you need to keep trying. Don’t let frustration get the best of you. Show your kids that patience and persistence pay off. Use positive phrases as you figure things out. 3 - When you’re successful at something, share your joy and your expectation that you knew it would work out. Make a point to reinforce the mindset you had from the start that helped you achieve your goal. This way, your kids will see the learning process up close and will be able to use it themselves when you’re not around. You see, your kids need to re-connect with their innate magic, their innate ability to feel powerful. And that comes from an inner belief that nothing is impossible. Don’t forget, schools separate them into achievers and underachievers, society calls 2nd place the first loser. All these things add up. Don’t let your comments at home make it worse. You can change that by giving them a blueprint for success they can use anywhere at anytime. And it all starts with the words and phrases that they hear swirling around in their heads. Make sure they are words and phrases that empower, not destroy.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
Kids are born winners. They feel they can do it all. In kindergarten, everyone raises their hand, everyone tries a new activity, and everyone wants to try again when they can’t do something the first time. Yet, as time goes by, they begin to lose this fearlessness and they start to doubt themselves. They doubt their ability to give the right answer, they doubt their ability to perform and they doubt their ability to learn. They become like wilted flowers that stop showing their beauty. One of the causes is the negative thoughts in their heads. By the 2nd grade, kids hear negative comments 7 times more than positive comments. That means for every "Great job!" they hear, "You don’t know what you’re doing, you can’t do that, let me do that, what are you doing?" Get the picture? The bad news is, if something isn’t done quickly, your children will develop ingrained thoughts of inferiority, insecurity and failure. They’ll slowly lose their identity and begin to fall in with the wrong crowd. The good news is, it’s fairly easy to turn around and it costs nothing but your desire to have happy children. Here are three ways to begin to help your children achieve like they used to; 1 - Be a positive role model. When you have difficulties doing something say, "I can do this. And if I can’t I’m smart enough to find someone who can help me." You see
, your kids watch you and register how you react to difficult circumstances. Maybe it’s a flat tire, maybe it’s hooking up the DVD player, who knows. Just remember, the words and attitude you use are being transmitted to your kids. 2 - When learning something, show your child how you need to keep trying. Don’t let frustration get the best of you. Show your kids that patience and persistence pay off. Use positive phrases as you figure things out. 3 - When you’re successful at something, share your joy and your expectation that you knew it would work out. Make a point to reinforce the mindset you had from the start that helped you achieve your goal. This way, your kids will see the learning process up close and will be able to use it themselves when you’re not around. You see, your kids need to re-connect with their innate magic, their innate ability to feel powerful. And that comes from an inner belief that nothing is impossible. Don’t forget, schools separate them into achievers and underachievers, society calls 2nd place the first loser. All these things add up. Don’t let your comments at home make it worse. You can change that by giving them a blueprint for success they can use anywhere at anytime. And it all starts with the words and phrases that they hear swirling around in their heads. Make sure they are words and phrases that empower, not destroy.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
Teach Your Children to Respect You
Author: Ineke
The most important value you will ever teach your children is: to respect their parents. And since you cannot pass anything on that you do not incorporate yourself, you will have to start by first respecting your children. If they do not feel treated like a human being, worthy of respect and love, deserving of your attention, then their cooperation will be in short supply. First, you show them respect. Second, you teach them to respect you. So how to go about this in practice? What to do if your children complain about the food, insult you because you are picking them up from the gym 10 minutes too late, or if they do not want to clean up their own mess? Let us have a look at these situations one by one: 1. Are the kids complaining about the food? Do you hear a bwerk when they see what is in the casserole? Well, you are no fool, are you? You just spent one hour in the kitchen preparing that meal. Before cooking, you spent one hour at the grocery store buying the food. Before that, you spent many hours on the job, earning the money to pay for that food. So you now start asking yourself, did I not give enough of myself for this meal? Yes, you did! You do not owe it to them to prepare a warm meal every day. But you do owe it to yourself to get some respect from those for whom you make all these efforts. Enough is enough! You did your part of the deal, now it is up to them. Teach your children to say thank you for every meal. If they have no thank you on offer but only muster a bwerk, then you are not making dinner for at least two days! Soon they will be begging you for a warm dinner, and God knows they will be very grateful when they finally get one on the third day! Never continue delivering a service that is not appreciated. You would be a fool to do that! How does it feel to be toiling away behind the stove, all the while fearing your efforts and goodwill will not be appreciated? This is no way to live! If they appreciate neither your efforts nor your cooking, then make them go without for 2 or 3 days, and see what happens. 2. Are the kids insulting you just because you are ten minutes late when picking them up from the gym? Then stop picking them up from the gym for a few times! Make it clear to them that they have to appreciate your effort of taking them and picking them up. Do not start an argument with them, for that does not work. Do not keep explaining time and time again that they should respect you, but rather show them by taking action. If they are unable to see the difference between the important facts (you are there to pick them up) and the unimportant facts (being ten minutes too late), then let them feel the difference. Next time around, simply do not take them to the gym, so they will become aware of the difference and learn to appreciate what you are doing for them. Do not settle for being treated like a slave. You are worthy of respect! Show them what it means to be a person who respects himself. Respect yourself and others will respect you. 3. Are the kids complaining that there is nothing to eat in the house, while the kitchen cupboards are bulging with food? What they mean, of course, is that THEIR favorite food is not available in large enough a quantity. Do your kids have this kind of complaints? Okay, here is what to do: stop going to the grocery store for a while. That way the kids will have to first finish all the food in the fridge an
d in the cupboards (or go do some household shopping themselves, also an enlightening exercise). This also makes for an economical cleaning up of all those half-finished packs of crackers, biscuits, cheese, and the like. Then comes the next phase where there really is nothing left in the cupboards. Now is the time to go to the grocery store, and you can bet on it that they will appreciate the new arrivals! They will feel like there is so much to eat, while in fact there is less food than when they were complaining there was nothing to eat. 4. Are the kids putting tons of ketchup on their food, continuously ignoring your warnings to be more economical and eat healthier? Stop arguing about it, for that does not work. Instead, stop buying ketchup all the time! For example, buy one bottle of ketchup per month and clearly tell your children that they will have to do with this one bottle for the whole month. When the bottle is done, it is done, till next month comes around. If necessary, buy a bottle for each child and label it. That way your children will learn to regulate their ketchup behavior. 5. Are the kids ignoring your orders to put their shoes in the designated place? Do they go on leaving their shoes all around the house? Tell them this will be the last warning, and that from now on, any shoes found scattered around will be launched into the back yard. And then, stick to your promise! I had to do this once with the basketball shoes of my son : I launched them outside. As it happened, that night it was raining cats and dogs. The next morning he cried, What do I do now? My shoes are all wet! I said to him : son, this is your problem. Believe me, I had to do this only once! Once your children know that you will do as you say, then you will not have to do it. They will respect your word! 6. Are their rooms a mess? You want the mess to be cleaned up? Do not do it yourself! Your teenagers should clean up their own mess! So instead of arguing about it, tell them that they have to clean up their room before dinner on Saturday. That way you are giving them plenty of freedom to chose their own timing. Come Saturday evening dinnertime, go check if the room is tidy. If not, then there is no dinner for that child. After all, this was the deal: room to be cleaned BEFORE dinner. They can still clean their room right there and then, and have dinner when they are done, but as long as the room is not clean there is no dinner. You could also say : you clean your room and after that you can go out with your friends. Be consistent and do as you say. This is where many parents stumble when dealing with their children: they argue too much. They go on explaining the same thing dozens of times. Do you really think the kids did not understand what you were saying? If you have said something two times, then that is enough. After the second time, you should ACT and not TALK. Do not argue with them! Never argue with a child. You are the parent, you are the one who decides. You can negotiate with your child, but do not feel you need to explain yourself. Kids have much more energy than you do, and sooner or later you will give up (or give in) because your energy is spent while theirs is not. They know that and they will win the battle! Do not get tempted to go into endless discussions with your child. Learn to act after the second warning. Be consistent! That is the only way to get respect.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
The most important value you will ever teach your children is: to respect their parents. And since you cannot pass anything on that you do not incorporate yourself, you will have to start by first respecting your children. If they do not feel treated like a human being, worthy of respect and love, deserving of your attention, then their cooperation will be in short supply. First, you show them respect. Second, you teach them to respect you. So how to go about this in practice? What to do if your children complain about the food, insult you because you are picking them up from the gym 10 minutes too late, or if they do not want to clean up their own mess? Let us have a look at these situations one by one: 1. Are the kids complaining about the food? Do you hear a bwerk when they see what is in the casserole? Well, you are no fool, are you? You just spent one hour in the kitchen preparing that meal. Before cooking, you spent one hour at the grocery store buying the food. Before that, you spent many hours on the job, earning the money to pay for that food. So you now start asking yourself, did I not give enough of myself for this meal? Yes, you did! You do not owe it to them to prepare a warm meal every day. But you do owe it to yourself to get some respect from those for whom you make all these efforts. Enough is enough! You did your part of the deal, now it is up to them. Teach your children to say thank you for every meal. If they have no thank you on offer but only muster a bwerk, then you are not making dinner for at least two days! Soon they will be begging you for a warm dinner, and God knows they will be very grateful when they finally get one on the third day! Never continue delivering a service that is not appreciated. You would be a fool to do that! How does it feel to be toiling away behind the stove, all the while fearing your efforts and goodwill will not be appreciated? This is no way to live! If they appreciate neither your efforts nor your cooking, then make them go without for 2 or 3 days, and see what happens. 2. Are the kids insulting you just because you are ten minutes late when picking them up from the gym? Then stop picking them up from the gym for a few times! Make it clear to them that they have to appreciate your effort of taking them and picking them up. Do not start an argument with them, for that does not work. Do not keep explaining time and time again that they should respect you, but rather show them by taking action. If they are unable to see the difference between the important facts (you are there to pick them up) and the unimportant facts (being ten minutes too late), then let them feel the difference. Next time around, simply do not take them to the gym, so they will become aware of the difference and learn to appreciate what you are doing for them. Do not settle for being treated like a slave. You are worthy of respect! Show them what it means to be a person who respects himself. Respect yourself and others will respect you. 3. Are the kids complaining that there is nothing to eat in the house, while the kitchen cupboards are bulging with food? What they mean, of course, is that THEIR favorite food is not available in large enough a quantity. Do your kids have this kind of complaints? Okay, here is what to do: stop going to the grocery store for a while. That way the kids will have to first finish all the food in the fridge an
d in the cupboards (or go do some household shopping themselves, also an enlightening exercise). This also makes for an economical cleaning up of all those half-finished packs of crackers, biscuits, cheese, and the like. Then comes the next phase where there really is nothing left in the cupboards. Now is the time to go to the grocery store, and you can bet on it that they will appreciate the new arrivals! They will feel like there is so much to eat, while in fact there is less food than when they were complaining there was nothing to eat. 4. Are the kids putting tons of ketchup on their food, continuously ignoring your warnings to be more economical and eat healthier? Stop arguing about it, for that does not work. Instead, stop buying ketchup all the time! For example, buy one bottle of ketchup per month and clearly tell your children that they will have to do with this one bottle for the whole month. When the bottle is done, it is done, till next month comes around. If necessary, buy a bottle for each child and label it. That way your children will learn to regulate their ketchup behavior. 5. Are the kids ignoring your orders to put their shoes in the designated place? Do they go on leaving their shoes all around the house? Tell them this will be the last warning, and that from now on, any shoes found scattered around will be launched into the back yard. And then, stick to your promise! I had to do this once with the basketball shoes of my son : I launched them outside. As it happened, that night it was raining cats and dogs. The next morning he cried, What do I do now? My shoes are all wet! I said to him : son, this is your problem. Believe me, I had to do this only once! Once your children know that you will do as you say, then you will not have to do it. They will respect your word! 6. Are their rooms a mess? You want the mess to be cleaned up? Do not do it yourself! Your teenagers should clean up their own mess! So instead of arguing about it, tell them that they have to clean up their room before dinner on Saturday. That way you are giving them plenty of freedom to chose their own timing. Come Saturday evening dinnertime, go check if the room is tidy. If not, then there is no dinner for that child. After all, this was the deal: room to be cleaned BEFORE dinner. They can still clean their room right there and then, and have dinner when they are done, but as long as the room is not clean there is no dinner. You could also say : you clean your room and after that you can go out with your friends. Be consistent and do as you say. This is where many parents stumble when dealing with their children: they argue too much. They go on explaining the same thing dozens of times. Do you really think the kids did not understand what you were saying? If you have said something two times, then that is enough. After the second time, you should ACT and not TALK. Do not argue with them! Never argue with a child. You are the parent, you are the one who decides. You can negotiate with your child, but do not feel you need to explain yourself. Kids have much more energy than you do, and sooner or later you will give up (or give in) because your energy is spent while theirs is not. They know that and they will win the battle! Do not get tempted to go into endless discussions with your child. Learn to act after the second warning. Be consistent! That is the only way to get respect.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
How to Teach Anger Management to Your Child
Author: Paul M.
Most of us recognize the continuing escalation of violence around us, due to intolerance, and many of us blame it on somebody else. Parents teach their children, all the time, and when one of us displays "road rage," while our child is in the car, we teach a brand new skill set. Although, road rage is inappropriate behavior, at any time, and can get you killed, most children who are exposed to it, will duplicate the actions of their parents, when they are old enough to drive. So the first step, is to set an example and, possibly, use some of these ideas, for yourself. Studies show that anger causes atherosclerosis, the build-up of plaques in the arteries, that is a major factor in developing high blood pressure, heart disease, heart attack, and premature death. Also, during a "temper tantrum," adrenaline and blood pressure levels rise beyond normal. This behavior is more dangerous to parent’s bodies due to the normal "wear and tear" already existing. Now, you may be convinced that anger can kill you, but let’s look at one more factor. You could hurt someone else, find yourself in prison, or get yourself killed due to inciting violence against others. There are other people, who are having difficulty dealing with anger management too. Back to our children: All children need exercise and they are naturally full of energy. Look at any other species, and you will see the same behavior. Should we drug our dogs, cats, and parrots, when they display youthful exuberance? Children have to run, jump, and shout. So let them play in the back yard, in a park, and get them involved in sports, Yoga, dance, or martial arts. You will never regret letting your child enjoy life, constructively learn in the process, and just be a kid. For all of us, there is a time to be quiet and a time to shout. Children need years to learn this, so let
’s keep them active in the process. Keep them away from the television, Internet, and video games, except for "rainy days." Coloring books, board games, and reading are also good activities for rainy days. A heavy bag is a great tool for letting anger out. You and your child can use it together. You can learn to punch and kick it, for the aerobic benefits, as well. If you have a friend who is a boxer or martial artist, you could get some pointers. After just a 20-minute session, I guarantee you, and your child, will have dealt with anger - there will be little, if any, left. Teach your child forgiveness, through your own example. I am not asking you to let people "walk all over you." However, let grudges go; life is really too short to keep a feud going. You can also control your child’s "circle of friends," just by getting him or her involved in, group activities such as: League sports, dance, yoga, or martial arts. The parents who have their children in these activities want the best for them and are willing to sacrifice their time, or money, to get it. This will keep your child busy, happy, and active, with a pre-selected crowd of friends, who have parents that care. This is a "win - win" situation and well worth the investment. This is not to say that every child you run into, at these functions, will be perfect, but in the above mentioned activities, all of them are structured, adult-supervised, and rules for behavior are in place. This form of organization becomes a habit, your child will follow these guidelines, and bring them home. Here is another idea that will help. Have your child take care of a pet or a plant, every day. Children love to care for animals or plants, but they still need supervision. The result of this will be, your child learns compassion. Compassion will keep anger "in check" every time.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
Most of us recognize the continuing escalation of violence around us, due to intolerance, and many of us blame it on somebody else. Parents teach their children, all the time, and when one of us displays "road rage," while our child is in the car, we teach a brand new skill set. Although, road rage is inappropriate behavior, at any time, and can get you killed, most children who are exposed to it, will duplicate the actions of their parents, when they are old enough to drive. So the first step, is to set an example and, possibly, use some of these ideas, for yourself. Studies show that anger causes atherosclerosis, the build-up of plaques in the arteries, that is a major factor in developing high blood pressure, heart disease, heart attack, and premature death. Also, during a "temper tantrum," adrenaline and blood pressure levels rise beyond normal. This behavior is more dangerous to parent’s bodies due to the normal "wear and tear" already existing. Now, you may be convinced that anger can kill you, but let’s look at one more factor. You could hurt someone else, find yourself in prison, or get yourself killed due to inciting violence against others. There are other people, who are having difficulty dealing with anger management too. Back to our children: All children need exercise and they are naturally full of energy. Look at any other species, and you will see the same behavior. Should we drug our dogs, cats, and parrots, when they display youthful exuberance? Children have to run, jump, and shout. So let them play in the back yard, in a park, and get them involved in sports, Yoga, dance, or martial arts. You will never regret letting your child enjoy life, constructively learn in the process, and just be a kid. For all of us, there is a time to be quiet and a time to shout. Children need years to learn this, so let
’s keep them active in the process. Keep them away from the television, Internet, and video games, except for "rainy days." Coloring books, board games, and reading are also good activities for rainy days. A heavy bag is a great tool for letting anger out. You and your child can use it together. You can learn to punch and kick it, for the aerobic benefits, as well. If you have a friend who is a boxer or martial artist, you could get some pointers. After just a 20-minute session, I guarantee you, and your child, will have dealt with anger - there will be little, if any, left. Teach your child forgiveness, through your own example. I am not asking you to let people "walk all over you." However, let grudges go; life is really too short to keep a feud going. You can also control your child’s "circle of friends," just by getting him or her involved in, group activities such as: League sports, dance, yoga, or martial arts. The parents who have their children in these activities want the best for them and are willing to sacrifice their time, or money, to get it. This will keep your child busy, happy, and active, with a pre-selected crowd of friends, who have parents that care. This is a "win - win" situation and well worth the investment. This is not to say that every child you run into, at these functions, will be perfect, but in the above mentioned activities, all of them are structured, adult-supervised, and rules for behavior are in place. This form of organization becomes a habit, your child will follow these guidelines, and bring them home. Here is another idea that will help. Have your child take care of a pet or a plant, every day. Children love to care for animals or plants, but they still need supervision. The result of this will be, your child learns compassion. Compassion will keep anger "in check" every time.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
Teach Your Child to Live for Maximum Potential
Author: Paul M.
At times, everyone feels a little depressed about life, and children are no exception. Just like you, children often experience "the same old grind." They get up for school, day care, or camp to travel the same road each weekday. Some children even look forward to weekends in the same way their parents do. How can you put some excitement into life and teach your child to be successful? Sometimes, parents have to be spontaneous and break the routine up a bit for "family time." Make it a point to eat together and spend quality time doing new things. Never say negative things about your life or how boring life is for you. Children can really tune into this, and they always copy their parents. They reflect negative thinking and can hold themselves back by worrying about the risk of failure, just like an adult. Instead, teach them about the endless opportunities that arise in every day life. Life is full of challenges, and your child has to learn to overcome the fear of failure. This is where you come in - by measuring your child’s progress. You should always point toward his, or her, past successes for positive reinforcement. Re
member the story of the "Tortoise and the Hare?" Teach your child that slow and steady always finishes the race. As an adult, you know that finishing anything is a "bench mark" along the road to progress. A child will give up on a challenge, when they are too far out of their "comfort zone." Giving up is a last resort. For example: Look down the road at the many challenges your child will face in college, military service, or at work. You want to establish a "track record" of success now. Even when challenges and problems have your child in a state of fear, you are obligated to encourage your child to move forward and do their "personal best." Every successful person has had to face their own fear, in order to see the endless daily opportunities that life has to offer. Teach your child that life is full of excitement - by making the choices of exploring and trying new things, as long as they are reasonably safe activities. The experience of learning is more important than the chance of failure. The end result will be that your child has positive memories of accomplishment, and the knowledge that he or she can always count on you.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
At times, everyone feels a little depressed about life, and children are no exception. Just like you, children often experience "the same old grind." They get up for school, day care, or camp to travel the same road each weekday. Some children even look forward to weekends in the same way their parents do. How can you put some excitement into life and teach your child to be successful? Sometimes, parents have to be spontaneous and break the routine up a bit for "family time." Make it a point to eat together and spend quality time doing new things. Never say negative things about your life or how boring life is for you. Children can really tune into this, and they always copy their parents. They reflect negative thinking and can hold themselves back by worrying about the risk of failure, just like an adult. Instead, teach them about the endless opportunities that arise in every day life. Life is full of challenges, and your child has to learn to overcome the fear of failure. This is where you come in - by measuring your child’s progress. You should always point toward his, or her, past successes for positive reinforcement. Re
member the story of the "Tortoise and the Hare?" Teach your child that slow and steady always finishes the race. As an adult, you know that finishing anything is a "bench mark" along the road to progress. A child will give up on a challenge, when they are too far out of their "comfort zone." Giving up is a last resort. For example: Look down the road at the many challenges your child will face in college, military service, or at work. You want to establish a "track record" of success now. Even when challenges and problems have your child in a state of fear, you are obligated to encourage your child to move forward and do their "personal best." Every successful person has had to face their own fear, in order to see the endless daily opportunities that life has to offer. Teach your child that life is full of excitement - by making the choices of exploring and trying new things, as long as they are reasonably safe activities. The experience of learning is more important than the chance of failure. The end result will be that your child has positive memories of accomplishment, and the knowledge that he or she can always count on you.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
14 Simple Rules for Raising Successful Children
Author: Jamie
Successful parenting means taking the time to understand what our children need to be fulfilled, confident, and happy. Of course, that’s no small task. Here are 14 guiding principles: 1. First and foremost, recognize the true gravity of your task. Parenting successful, emotionally happy children involves a great deal of important, mindful work – and huge, sweeping swaths of time. The first step is to accept that fact- and to embrace the role of parent as one of the most important roles anyone has ever taken on. 2. Have a ball. Just because our task is immensely important…that doesn’t mean it can’t also be great, great fun. Life with a family is a magnificent adventure- not simply a hassle filled with laundry and dishes. Remind yourself of this as often as necessary. And when the daily work of parenting starts to feel like drudgery, it’s time to devote a day (or, at the very least, an afternoon) for intense family fun. Get some tickets to a ballgame and relax. 3. Spend a lot of time with your children. When you do so, children recognize that they are worth lavishing with time, praise, and attention. 4. Exhibit healthy, successful habits. If you want your kids to be healthy, fit, kind and compassionate, you‘ll need to live that way, too. Treat your mind, body, and soul with the utmost respect. Model caring, kindness, and compassion by working together (as a family) on a volunteer project a few hours a month. 5. Listen well. Strive to be honest, open, and attentive with your spouse and kids. When your children are speaking, get down on their level, ask questions, and really listen to their point of view. True listening does wonders for your children’s self esteem, and it helps them to grow into good listeners themselves. Minimize social contact with adults who are continually “shushing” the children. 6. Show your children that you are genuinely interested in them. Make sure to let them know – through your words and behavior – that you care about what they like to do, even if that’s altogether different from what the rest of the family enjoys. Get involved in activi
ties that interest your child. Whatever it is, learn the lingo and sit down to learn from your child. 7. Try not to criticize, but work with your child on mistakes in a respectful way. Never criticize in front of other adults or children, including siblings. Work to understand their unique point of view. Taking the time to do so sends a message that you accept and trust their decisions and that their opinions are valuable and important. 8. Don’t label your kids – even when those labels sound harmless. Try not to tell your children that they are shy or overly dramatic or too sensitive. Respect the person whom they are and the adult they are becoming, while respecting all the stages they will grow through to get there. 9. Choose your battles very carefully, and allow natural consequences to teach the lessons themselves whenever possible. 10. Be accepting of your children’s friends. Encourage your children to invite their friends over. 11. Be enthusiastic. Make sure your face lights up when your children come near you. 12. Share family stories, whether through a family journal, a scrapbook, or by simply telling one another over and over again about the memories that you treasure. Read aloud at all ages and stages. Cuddle up under a blanket in the evenings to read silently, each with a different book. Ask your kids to make up stories and tell them aloud – or create illustrated books to share. 13. Treasure all the generations. Revere the grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. Show your children that family is something they can count on for their entire lives. All this can be distilled into one simple rule: Never let the big picture fade from view. In other words, make sure you have identified your true goal as a parent and live from that frame of mind. For example: My only goal as a parent is to raise happy, kind children who trust themselves and who enjoy peace of mind. If, this week, they decide to eat Top Ramen every night for dinner and sometimes forget to put their shoes in the closet, so be it. Enjoy the joyful journey of this tremendous task of parenting.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
Successful parenting means taking the time to understand what our children need to be fulfilled, confident, and happy. Of course, that’s no small task. Here are 14 guiding principles: 1. First and foremost, recognize the true gravity of your task. Parenting successful, emotionally happy children involves a great deal of important, mindful work – and huge, sweeping swaths of time. The first step is to accept that fact- and to embrace the role of parent as one of the most important roles anyone has ever taken on. 2. Have a ball. Just because our task is immensely important…that doesn’t mean it can’t also be great, great fun. Life with a family is a magnificent adventure- not simply a hassle filled with laundry and dishes. Remind yourself of this as often as necessary. And when the daily work of parenting starts to feel like drudgery, it’s time to devote a day (or, at the very least, an afternoon) for intense family fun. Get some tickets to a ballgame and relax. 3. Spend a lot of time with your children. When you do so, children recognize that they are worth lavishing with time, praise, and attention. 4. Exhibit healthy, successful habits. If you want your kids to be healthy, fit, kind and compassionate, you‘ll need to live that way, too. Treat your mind, body, and soul with the utmost respect. Model caring, kindness, and compassion by working together (as a family) on a volunteer project a few hours a month. 5. Listen well. Strive to be honest, open, and attentive with your spouse and kids. When your children are speaking, get down on their level, ask questions, and really listen to their point of view. True listening does wonders for your children’s self esteem, and it helps them to grow into good listeners themselves. Minimize social contact with adults who are continually “shushing” the children. 6. Show your children that you are genuinely interested in them. Make sure to let them know – through your words and behavior – that you care about what they like to do, even if that’s altogether different from what the rest of the family enjoys. Get involved in activi
ties that interest your child. Whatever it is, learn the lingo and sit down to learn from your child. 7. Try not to criticize, but work with your child on mistakes in a respectful way. Never criticize in front of other adults or children, including siblings. Work to understand their unique point of view. Taking the time to do so sends a message that you accept and trust their decisions and that their opinions are valuable and important. 8. Don’t label your kids – even when those labels sound harmless. Try not to tell your children that they are shy or overly dramatic or too sensitive. Respect the person whom they are and the adult they are becoming, while respecting all the stages they will grow through to get there. 9. Choose your battles very carefully, and allow natural consequences to teach the lessons themselves whenever possible. 10. Be accepting of your children’s friends. Encourage your children to invite their friends over. 11. Be enthusiastic. Make sure your face lights up when your children come near you. 12. Share family stories, whether through a family journal, a scrapbook, or by simply telling one another over and over again about the memories that you treasure. Read aloud at all ages and stages. Cuddle up under a blanket in the evenings to read silently, each with a different book. Ask your kids to make up stories and tell them aloud – or create illustrated books to share. 13. Treasure all the generations. Revere the grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. Show your children that family is something they can count on for their entire lives. All this can be distilled into one simple rule: Never let the big picture fade from view. In other words, make sure you have identified your true goal as a parent and live from that frame of mind. For example: My only goal as a parent is to raise happy, kind children who trust themselves and who enjoy peace of mind. If, this week, they decide to eat Top Ramen every night for dinner and sometimes forget to put their shoes in the closet, so be it. Enjoy the joyful journey of this tremendous task of parenting.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
Sanity and Time Saving Child Feeding Tips
Author: Teresa
1. Remember that you as a parent or caregiver decide what your child will eat. Your child will decide if he or she will eat it and how much. Once this is realized, a significant amount of pressure will be reduced. 2. Scheduled meal and snack times are necessary. Routine is extremely important. Do not let your child graze, as it will diminish his or her appetite at mealtime. 3. Do not be a short order cook! Always preparing something separate for your child will become expected. Remember that you are in charge of what your child eats. 4. Food jags are common in young children. Children will go through times where they want a specific food item on a daily basis for a week or two and then begin to refuse it. Be patient and in a few days or a couple of weeks, they will come back to it. The key is to remember that food jags are normal and making a big deal out of it will cause more problems. Instead, work with your child on trying new foods. 5. Repetition is the key. Children generally need to be offered a new food item 10 to 20 times before they will even try it. Tastes for specific food items develop over time. 6. Reward children with praise, activities, stickers, small toys, outings etc. rather than with food. 7. Eat together as a family as much as possible. Enjoy your time together. 8. Do not make eating a battle. Try not to nag, argue, bribe or coax. Generally speaking, it will cause more feeding issues in the end. Eating is to be pleasurable and seen as a positive experience and not as a negative experience. Positive mealtimes encourage eating as well as conversation and learning. 9. Do not pressure your child to cle
an his or her plate. Research indicates that children are born with good control of their eating. Children will eat when they are hungry and will stop when they are full. Children who are forced to eat more than what they want can lose their natural ability to control their food intake and hunger is no longer what makes them eat. This can also lead to eating issues and eating disorders in the future. 10. Average time to allow for snacks is 10-15 minutes and for meals 20-30 minutes. Your child should have been able to eat or drink what he or she wanted in this period. Remove any remaining food and your child from the table and wait until the next scheduled meal or snack time before offering food or drink again. 11. Avoid eliminating certain foods. An environment where certain food items are denied often backfires. Instead, encourage balance, moderation and variety. 12. Be a good role model. You cannot expect your child to want to drink milk if you are drinking a soft drink. 13. Watch portion sizes. Remember that when eating out, most child portions are much larger than they should be and really could be 2 to 3 servings for your child depending on their age and needs. Split meals between children or take home part of it for another meal or two. 14. Approximate serving size for children 1-3 years of age as a rule of thumb is 1 tablespoon per year of age. Additional amounts to be provided according to appetite. 15. Try foods in different ways such as cooked, raw, canned, fresh, frozen, sliced, chunked etc. You will never know which way your child prefers it and it could mean the difference of your child eating it or not.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
1. Remember that you as a parent or caregiver decide what your child will eat. Your child will decide if he or she will eat it and how much. Once this is realized, a significant amount of pressure will be reduced. 2. Scheduled meal and snack times are necessary. Routine is extremely important. Do not let your child graze, as it will diminish his or her appetite at mealtime. 3. Do not be a short order cook! Always preparing something separate for your child will become expected. Remember that you are in charge of what your child eats. 4. Food jags are common in young children. Children will go through times where they want a specific food item on a daily basis for a week or two and then begin to refuse it. Be patient and in a few days or a couple of weeks, they will come back to it. The key is to remember that food jags are normal and making a big deal out of it will cause more problems. Instead, work with your child on trying new foods. 5. Repetition is the key. Children generally need to be offered a new food item 10 to 20 times before they will even try it. Tastes for specific food items develop over time. 6. Reward children with praise, activities, stickers, small toys, outings etc. rather than with food. 7. Eat together as a family as much as possible. Enjoy your time together. 8. Do not make eating a battle. Try not to nag, argue, bribe or coax. Generally speaking, it will cause more feeding issues in the end. Eating is to be pleasurable and seen as a positive experience and not as a negative experience. Positive mealtimes encourage eating as well as conversation and learning. 9. Do not pressure your child to cle
an his or her plate. Research indicates that children are born with good control of their eating. Children will eat when they are hungry and will stop when they are full. Children who are forced to eat more than what they want can lose their natural ability to control their food intake and hunger is no longer what makes them eat. This can also lead to eating issues and eating disorders in the future. 10. Average time to allow for snacks is 10-15 minutes and for meals 20-30 minutes. Your child should have been able to eat or drink what he or she wanted in this period. Remove any remaining food and your child from the table and wait until the next scheduled meal or snack time before offering food or drink again. 11. Avoid eliminating certain foods. An environment where certain food items are denied often backfires. Instead, encourage balance, moderation and variety. 12. Be a good role model. You cannot expect your child to want to drink milk if you are drinking a soft drink. 13. Watch portion sizes. Remember that when eating out, most child portions are much larger than they should be and really could be 2 to 3 servings for your child depending on their age and needs. Split meals between children or take home part of it for another meal or two. 14. Approximate serving size for children 1-3 years of age as a rule of thumb is 1 tablespoon per year of age. Additional amounts to be provided according to appetite. 15. Try foods in different ways such as cooked, raw, canned, fresh, frozen, sliced, chunked etc. You will never know which way your child prefers it and it could mean the difference of your child eating it or not.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
Baby Steps Lead to Danger
Author: Johnny
Catherine is a mother of twins. Their names are Jim and Joshua, and they are about 2 years old. Although they are twins, they are very different. Jim is adventurous, while Joshua is more relaxed. Jim likes a challenge, while Joshua seems content. Catherine can put Joshua in the playpen and be sure he will remain. Jim on the other hand will have a fit from the confinement. He likes to roam through out the house. Catherine takes good care of them, which keeps her very busy. One day while Catherine was on the telephone; Jim managed to climb out of their baby pen. He made his way to the kitchen cabinets. He open the doors and began to investigate. He took most of the items out and gave them the once over, and threw them aside. It just so happens that there was a mousetrap under the sink with a heavy duty spring. Catherine always took care, not to store poisonous cleaning supplies under the sink, but there was a mouse in the house, so they set the trap. Jim crawled under sink and saw the trap. He grabbed the trap. Nothing happen at first, but Jim kept playing with the trap. All of a sudden the trap snapped with a force, and hit two of Jims fingers. Jim let out a screamed. Catherine rushed into the kitchen and found the trap caught on Jims fingers. He was in agony. She took the trap off
his fingers tried to calm him. She gathered up the twins and rushed to the emergency room. It turned out, that the trap hit Jims fingers with such force that it broke them. Jim was eventually able to use his fingers again after several weeks recovery. Thousand of home accidents involving kids are reported each year. They range from cuts and scrapes to death. Unfortunately, children always seek out the most dangerous parts of the home to make their playgrounds. Places such as the Kitchen and bathrooms, are favorites of children, and present many hazards to their health. As adults, it is our duty to protect the youngsters from danger. We must remove hazards or keep the children away from them. Placing latches on cabinets is a simple way to keep a child from being injured. Unprotected corners, which are present throughout the home, are especially dangerous. When hit with any amount of force, they can easily leave a nasty gash. This is compounded by the fact that children frequently fall, especially when learning to walk. Electrical sockets also attract children, who are naturally curious. They are no place for wet fingers and tongues. Every home has hazards. Be aware of your homes hazards. Teach your youngsters to respect the things that will cause the harm. You are their safety net.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
Catherine is a mother of twins. Their names are Jim and Joshua, and they are about 2 years old. Although they are twins, they are very different. Jim is adventurous, while Joshua is more relaxed. Jim likes a challenge, while Joshua seems content. Catherine can put Joshua in the playpen and be sure he will remain. Jim on the other hand will have a fit from the confinement. He likes to roam through out the house. Catherine takes good care of them, which keeps her very busy. One day while Catherine was on the telephone; Jim managed to climb out of their baby pen. He made his way to the kitchen cabinets. He open the doors and began to investigate. He took most of the items out and gave them the once over, and threw them aside. It just so happens that there was a mousetrap under the sink with a heavy duty spring. Catherine always took care, not to store poisonous cleaning supplies under the sink, but there was a mouse in the house, so they set the trap. Jim crawled under sink and saw the trap. He grabbed the trap. Nothing happen at first, but Jim kept playing with the trap. All of a sudden the trap snapped with a force, and hit two of Jims fingers. Jim let out a screamed. Catherine rushed into the kitchen and found the trap caught on Jims fingers. He was in agony. She took the trap off
his fingers tried to calm him. She gathered up the twins and rushed to the emergency room. It turned out, that the trap hit Jims fingers with such force that it broke them. Jim was eventually able to use his fingers again after several weeks recovery. Thousand of home accidents involving kids are reported each year. They range from cuts and scrapes to death. Unfortunately, children always seek out the most dangerous parts of the home to make their playgrounds. Places such as the Kitchen and bathrooms, are favorites of children, and present many hazards to their health. As adults, it is our duty to protect the youngsters from danger. We must remove hazards or keep the children away from them. Placing latches on cabinets is a simple way to keep a child from being injured. Unprotected corners, which are present throughout the home, are especially dangerous. When hit with any amount of force, they can easily leave a nasty gash. This is compounded by the fact that children frequently fall, especially when learning to walk. Electrical sockets also attract children, who are naturally curious. They are no place for wet fingers and tongues. Every home has hazards. Be aware of your homes hazards. Teach your youngsters to respect the things that will cause the harm. You are their safety net.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
Benefits Of Baby Swimming Lessons
Author: Rene
You may want your children to grow without the fear of water. With swimming lessons they become pretty much capable of handling themselves early on. The benefits are many and giving up the opportunity for your babies to learn these would be to their disadvantage later on in life. Baby swimming lessons will first and foremost ensure that your child will be equipped with safety skills in the water. It would be a life saving skill for the child that can be used throughout his lifetime. It has also been known that baby swimming lessons help these toddlers improve their stamina and breathing. The exercises may seem gentle, but these can do wonders for your children’s health. Many studies have shown why such activities are recommended. Coordination and strength are also developed with these baby swimming lessons. With these effects, the child is sure to grow with good mechanical abilities. The body would be healthier and in good general condition. Chances are, the child would most probably grow active and energetic as with possible love for water sports, or any other sports for that matter. Swimming lessons also have the potential to increase a child’s concentration and mental abilities. These lessons will help m
ake the child alert on the surroundings he is in and his perceptual abilities are most likely to improve. So you may want to enroll your child in a baby swimming center. Make sure however that it is qualified to conduct such baby lessons. It is of course necessary that you be there with your child to monitor how it is going. Private lessons are also offered by some as a good way to go if you have a pool of your own. When you are confident enough to do, take on where the baby swimming centers have left off, you will have the opportunity in bonding with your child in a unique way. It is important when in the pool together that you maintain eye contact with him. Make him feel you are there with him - and let him feel secure with your presence there inside the water. Make sure that these baby swimming lessons are fun for your kids - blow bubbles in the water, sing or gently splash water on their bodies. Having this sense of play will continue to attract your kids interests on swimming. Baby swimming lessons are of no doubt beneficial to your kids. Regular swimming is also often seen to improve sleeping patterns on babies as and their eating habits as well. So what’s the wait? Enroll your child for a swimming lesson!
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
You may want your children to grow without the fear of water. With swimming lessons they become pretty much capable of handling themselves early on. The benefits are many and giving up the opportunity for your babies to learn these would be to their disadvantage later on in life. Baby swimming lessons will first and foremost ensure that your child will be equipped with safety skills in the water. It would be a life saving skill for the child that can be used throughout his lifetime. It has also been known that baby swimming lessons help these toddlers improve their stamina and breathing. The exercises may seem gentle, but these can do wonders for your children’s health. Many studies have shown why such activities are recommended. Coordination and strength are also developed with these baby swimming lessons. With these effects, the child is sure to grow with good mechanical abilities. The body would be healthier and in good general condition. Chances are, the child would most probably grow active and energetic as with possible love for water sports, or any other sports for that matter. Swimming lessons also have the potential to increase a child’s concentration and mental abilities. These lessons will help m
ake the child alert on the surroundings he is in and his perceptual abilities are most likely to improve. So you may want to enroll your child in a baby swimming center. Make sure however that it is qualified to conduct such baby lessons. It is of course necessary that you be there with your child to monitor how it is going. Private lessons are also offered by some as a good way to go if you have a pool of your own. When you are confident enough to do, take on where the baby swimming centers have left off, you will have the opportunity in bonding with your child in a unique way. It is important when in the pool together that you maintain eye contact with him. Make him feel you are there with him - and let him feel secure with your presence there inside the water. Make sure that these baby swimming lessons are fun for your kids - blow bubbles in the water, sing or gently splash water on their bodies. Having this sense of play will continue to attract your kids interests on swimming. Baby swimming lessons are of no doubt beneficial to your kids. Regular swimming is also often seen to improve sleeping patterns on babies as and their eating habits as well. So what’s the wait? Enroll your child for a swimming lesson!
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
At-Home Babysitting Service is the Best for Your Shy Child
Author: Mike
The most common problem faced by parents of a toddler or a growing child is the idea of leaving their children alone at home. The growing crime rate against children is definitely a matter of grave concern for parents everywhere. However, it is quite impractical to let go off a job for the sake of looking after your children. That is to say, how will you feed and clothe your child well of you don’t have a job? Man, being a social and caring animal, has given rise to certain individuals who have sworn their lives to looking after others children. This happens out of sheer love for children, the need to protect them and a deep understanding of the pressure that the parents undertake to bring up children while managing a demanding job. These blessed people are the professional babysitters who undertake babysitting service in your own homes. Babysitting service is also available in agencies that look after your children with total responsibility and care. However, just as your grannys cookies were far better than the best cookies in town, similarly, one babysitter looking after only your child is an entirely ballgame altogether. Moreover, such babysitters who undertake babysitting service are usually qualified to look after your sick child too. And your child gets to know his babysitter well. Your child realizes that he/she is safe with the babysitter. This is more helpful if you have an unusually shy child. In a babysitting service agency, there are so many children of the same age group. Your child does not get the attention he/she deserves to express his/her thoughts. This makes the child even more shy and withdrawn. This can result in irreversible damage to your child’s psy
che and personality in the future. A home-appointed babysitter, when contacted through a babysitting service, goes to your house and meets the entire family. He/she does this to know and understand the child better. This will, in turn, help the child trust and like the babysitter gradually. Your child, on getting comfortable in the babysitters presence, will show him/her his/her favorite game and show the babysitter around the house. This will not only make your child comfortable, but it will also make the babysitter aware of the child’s needs. The other advantage of appointing a childcare service in your own home is that you get to interact with him/her firsthand. This is vital since this stranger will spend more time in your house than you do. While your child gets familiar with the babysitter, you can take a look at all the certificates and letters from other parents recommending his/her services as a perfect babysitter. Another advantage of such a babysitter from a babysitting service is that you are absolutely sure of who is handling your child everyday. The childcare service agencies can never guarantee that. Why is this so important for your child? This is because your child will develop his/her interpersonal skills and personality only when he/she gets to interact with one individual everyday. Further, many childcare service agencies refuse to take care of sick children. The cause for such refusal is in the interest of the safety of other children. But it does not help you in any way. But your home-appointed babysitter is usually trained and authorized to take care of your child in case of injuries, sickness, sleeplessness, bad dreams, fear or any other disturbing factor.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
The most common problem faced by parents of a toddler or a growing child is the idea of leaving their children alone at home. The growing crime rate against children is definitely a matter of grave concern for parents everywhere. However, it is quite impractical to let go off a job for the sake of looking after your children. That is to say, how will you feed and clothe your child well of you don’t have a job? Man, being a social and caring animal, has given rise to certain individuals who have sworn their lives to looking after others children. This happens out of sheer love for children, the need to protect them and a deep understanding of the pressure that the parents undertake to bring up children while managing a demanding job. These blessed people are the professional babysitters who undertake babysitting service in your own homes. Babysitting service is also available in agencies that look after your children with total responsibility and care. However, just as your grannys cookies were far better than the best cookies in town, similarly, one babysitter looking after only your child is an entirely ballgame altogether. Moreover, such babysitters who undertake babysitting service are usually qualified to look after your sick child too. And your child gets to know his babysitter well. Your child realizes that he/she is safe with the babysitter. This is more helpful if you have an unusually shy child. In a babysitting service agency, there are so many children of the same age group. Your child does not get the attention he/she deserves to express his/her thoughts. This makes the child even more shy and withdrawn. This can result in irreversible damage to your child’s psy
che and personality in the future. A home-appointed babysitter, when contacted through a babysitting service, goes to your house and meets the entire family. He/she does this to know and understand the child better. This will, in turn, help the child trust and like the babysitter gradually. Your child, on getting comfortable in the babysitters presence, will show him/her his/her favorite game and show the babysitter around the house. This will not only make your child comfortable, but it will also make the babysitter aware of the child’s needs. The other advantage of appointing a childcare service in your own home is that you get to interact with him/her firsthand. This is vital since this stranger will spend more time in your house than you do. While your child gets familiar with the babysitter, you can take a look at all the certificates and letters from other parents recommending his/her services as a perfect babysitter. Another advantage of such a babysitter from a babysitting service is that you are absolutely sure of who is handling your child everyday. The childcare service agencies can never guarantee that. Why is this so important for your child? This is because your child will develop his/her interpersonal skills and personality only when he/she gets to interact with one individual everyday. Further, many childcare service agencies refuse to take care of sick children. The cause for such refusal is in the interest of the safety of other children. But it does not help you in any way. But your home-appointed babysitter is usually trained and authorized to take care of your child in case of injuries, sickness, sleeplessness, bad dreams, fear or any other disturbing factor.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
Monday, April 13, 2009
Protect Your Baby - Talc Is Extremely Dangerous
Author: John
Before using body powder on you or your baby, consider that not all body powder products are baby-safe. Body powders as well as baby powders, having talc as main ingredient may do more harm to you and your baby than good. 1. Talc Is Like Abestos! Talc is a rock that is mined and processed by crushing and grinding, drying the grinded materials, and then milling them. Through processing, a number of trace minerals are eliminated, but some minute fibers that are comparable to ABESTOS are not separated. Talc, as it is cheap and widely available, is the main ingredient of most baby powders, perfumed body powders and medicated body powders. You put yourself and your baby at risk when you inhale these products. Body powder is used after bath to keep skin smelling good or to relieve irritated skin. Plenty of individuals are still unaware of the inextricable connection between talc and asbestos. In fact, these two chemicals are very much alike. 2. Talc Causes Cancer! Particles of talc can cause lung and ovarian tumors. Studies have clearly shown that constant and repeated use of powder in the female’s genital area lead to cancer! Talc is able to move inside the reproductive system becomes lodged along the ovary lining. Studies show that talc particles are found in the ovarian tumor and researchers say that women with ovarian tumors have the habit of using talcum powder on their genital area. 3. Powder Inhalation Causes Deaths! Since the early 1980’s, records prove that several infants die each year due to accidental baby powder inhalation. Talc is a household hazard. It is used on babies to prevent diaper rash and to absorb moisture in the skin, keeping babies fresh. Evidently, dusting with baby powder endangers your infant’s lungs as there is great possibility of inhaling the product. It is dangerous to expose your baby to this carcinogen. Swelling and irritation of the lungs may occur when the powder is inhaled, and therefore may lead to breathing difficulties. Also, if talc gets in contact with baby’s rash or broken skin, inflammatory reaction may take place and that could be very uncomfortable.
4. Use A Substitute! - Instead of powder, use petroleum jelly on babies bottoms every diaper change. It is very effective in preventing diaper rash, because it provides the skin with a film, keeping wetness off the skin. - Use medicated ointments to treat rashes on babies and on your skin. - Ask your pediatrician about other options and products that you can safely use as a baby powder substitute. - Cornstarch mixed with baking soda is a great and safer alternative, to keep you and your baby fresh. It is much coarser than body or baby powder, and you can also add fragrance in it, if you want to smell good after applying it. 5. Products Worth Checking Into - Neways body and baby powder - Natural body powder - Dermaglow Natural body and baby powder - Lady Emily’s Talc-free body powder - Johnson’s cornstarch baby powder - Burt’s bee dusting body powder - PuriSorb. Very mild, good for all types of skin and formulated with chitosan, aloe vera, tapioca starch, and vitamin E. 6. Guidelines - Check and read the label. The product MUST be talc-free. - Check the date on the container and make sure that the product is fresh. Powder that is stored too long can breed bacteria and contaminate your or your baby’s skin. - Don’t apply baby powder directly from the container. Pour it first on your palm and gently pat it unto baby’s bottom. Keep powder away from baby’s face. - Likewise, be gentle in applying body powder to yourself. Never dust it on your face and neck directly, to avoid inhaling it, as this can lead to throat irritation. - Don’t use body powder on both your and your baby girl’s genital area, as well as to areas surrounding it. - Avoid putting powder on baby’s skin creases, as the powder cakes can build up and encourage bacteria growth and can cause fungal infection. - If you have sensitive skin, an unscented body powder will be best for you. - During diaper change, never let your baby play with the powder; it can accidentally spill on his face, causing him to choke, or that he will inhale too much powder and lead to serious lung complication.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
Before using body powder on you or your baby, consider that not all body powder products are baby-safe. Body powders as well as baby powders, having talc as main ingredient may do more harm to you and your baby than good. 1. Talc Is Like Abestos! Talc is a rock that is mined and processed by crushing and grinding, drying the grinded materials, and then milling them. Through processing, a number of trace minerals are eliminated, but some minute fibers that are comparable to ABESTOS are not separated. Talc, as it is cheap and widely available, is the main ingredient of most baby powders, perfumed body powders and medicated body powders. You put yourself and your baby at risk when you inhale these products. Body powder is used after bath to keep skin smelling good or to relieve irritated skin. Plenty of individuals are still unaware of the inextricable connection between talc and asbestos. In fact, these two chemicals are very much alike. 2. Talc Causes Cancer! Particles of talc can cause lung and ovarian tumors. Studies have clearly shown that constant and repeated use of powder in the female’s genital area lead to cancer! Talc is able to move inside the reproductive system becomes lodged along the ovary lining. Studies show that talc particles are found in the ovarian tumor and researchers say that women with ovarian tumors have the habit of using talcum powder on their genital area. 3. Powder Inhalation Causes Deaths! Since the early 1980’s, records prove that several infants die each year due to accidental baby powder inhalation. Talc is a household hazard. It is used on babies to prevent diaper rash and to absorb moisture in the skin, keeping babies fresh. Evidently, dusting with baby powder endangers your infant’s lungs as there is great possibility of inhaling the product. It is dangerous to expose your baby to this carcinogen. Swelling and irritation of the lungs may occur when the powder is inhaled, and therefore may lead to breathing difficulties. Also, if talc gets in contact with baby’s rash or broken skin, inflammatory reaction may take place and that could be very uncomfortable.
4. Use A Substitute! - Instead of powder, use petroleum jelly on babies bottoms every diaper change. It is very effective in preventing diaper rash, because it provides the skin with a film, keeping wetness off the skin. - Use medicated ointments to treat rashes on babies and on your skin. - Ask your pediatrician about other options and products that you can safely use as a baby powder substitute. - Cornstarch mixed with baking soda is a great and safer alternative, to keep you and your baby fresh. It is much coarser than body or baby powder, and you can also add fragrance in it, if you want to smell good after applying it. 5. Products Worth Checking Into - Neways body and baby powder - Natural body powder - Dermaglow Natural body and baby powder - Lady Emily’s Talc-free body powder - Johnson’s cornstarch baby powder - Burt’s bee dusting body powder - PuriSorb. Very mild, good for all types of skin and formulated with chitosan, aloe vera, tapioca starch, and vitamin E. 6. Guidelines - Check and read the label. The product MUST be talc-free. - Check the date on the container and make sure that the product is fresh. Powder that is stored too long can breed bacteria and contaminate your or your baby’s skin. - Don’t apply baby powder directly from the container. Pour it first on your palm and gently pat it unto baby’s bottom. Keep powder away from baby’s face. - Likewise, be gentle in applying body powder to yourself. Never dust it on your face and neck directly, to avoid inhaling it, as this can lead to throat irritation. - Don’t use body powder on both your and your baby girl’s genital area, as well as to areas surrounding it. - Avoid putting powder on baby’s skin creases, as the powder cakes can build up and encourage bacteria growth and can cause fungal infection. - If you have sensitive skin, an unscented body powder will be best for you. - During diaper change, never let your baby play with the powder; it can accidentally spill on his face, causing him to choke, or that he will inhale too much powder and lead to serious lung complication.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
800 Number Directory Helps Take Care Of A Baby
Author: Anna
As a new mother, you are not told how difficult it is going to be for the first six weeks. Everyone tells you how wonderful it will be, that you won’t get much sleep in the beginning, and that it will be very difficult, but no one says to you that the first six weeks will be horrible, and then all of a sudden it will get easier. You need items that you have never even used before, and if you know anybody who has ever raised, carried, or even seen a child before, they have an opinion for you about how you should raise yours. You read an insane amount of articles before the birth about other people’s birth experiences, your own fears multiply incrementally, and you start to wonder what in the world you were thinking, wanting to have a baby. When you start focusing on what you need for the baby, you go to a number of stores, read more articles, and test out merchandise. It’s interesting that people tell you to test out merchandise before you have the baby. You don’t know what it’s going to be like to have a baby, you are relying on salespeople and other articles to find out what you might "need" and yet, you’re testing items. The people who help you in the stores are often individuals who have never had children, either, so that isn’t especially helpful. They may carry the merchandise in these stores, but they aren’t always the best price, and they aren’t always the only items that are out there, just the ones that this particular well-known chain store chooses to carry. So where else can you go? You are always sure to find an endless amount of stores on the internet, but calling them to find out information isn’t always feasible. Many of them do not have 800 numbers, or a toll-free solution to reach them. Out of
all the items you need for a baby, probably the most tested and yet most controversial item is a stroller. There are several manufacturers, every manufacturer produces at least five or so strollers, and you need to select at least one for your baby and family needs. Do you need a travel system, which holds both a car seat and a stroller, what are the weight limits, do you have more than one child who will need to sit or stand on the stroller, how long has this stroller been produced, has it been recalled, and so on. One of the best answers is to consult a toll free directory. You can call different locations again and again, not only to ask them the questions you want to, questions that will come up after testing the strollers, and after hearing other questions pop into your head talking with other parents about their stroller, but also to compare prices. You would be surprised to find that the stroller price itself may not vary substantially from retailer to retailer, but for the effort, and using an 800 number, you could easily save yourself a significant amount of money in shipping costs. Even your local well-known chain store charges significant costs to ship items to you, and if you compare prices, you are sure to find that the shipping costs are worked into the in-store cost. Using an on-line retailer, even with photos, does not tell you much of the information you will find relevant for your purposes, including what do others say about this product, have there been many returns, and if so, what do they purchase instead? Make sure you get all your questions answered by the retailer you find on your 800 number directory. You can call as many times as you want, and you may also save a significant amount of money. At least enough to buy one more month’s worth of diapers.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
As a new mother, you are not told how difficult it is going to be for the first six weeks. Everyone tells you how wonderful it will be, that you won’t get much sleep in the beginning, and that it will be very difficult, but no one says to you that the first six weeks will be horrible, and then all of a sudden it will get easier. You need items that you have never even used before, and if you know anybody who has ever raised, carried, or even seen a child before, they have an opinion for you about how you should raise yours. You read an insane amount of articles before the birth about other people’s birth experiences, your own fears multiply incrementally, and you start to wonder what in the world you were thinking, wanting to have a baby. When you start focusing on what you need for the baby, you go to a number of stores, read more articles, and test out merchandise. It’s interesting that people tell you to test out merchandise before you have the baby. You don’t know what it’s going to be like to have a baby, you are relying on salespeople and other articles to find out what you might "need" and yet, you’re testing items. The people who help you in the stores are often individuals who have never had children, either, so that isn’t especially helpful. They may carry the merchandise in these stores, but they aren’t always the best price, and they aren’t always the only items that are out there, just the ones that this particular well-known chain store chooses to carry. So where else can you go? You are always sure to find an endless amount of stores on the internet, but calling them to find out information isn’t always feasible. Many of them do not have 800 numbers, or a toll-free solution to reach them. Out of
all the items you need for a baby, probably the most tested and yet most controversial item is a stroller. There are several manufacturers, every manufacturer produces at least five or so strollers, and you need to select at least one for your baby and family needs. Do you need a travel system, which holds both a car seat and a stroller, what are the weight limits, do you have more than one child who will need to sit or stand on the stroller, how long has this stroller been produced, has it been recalled, and so on. One of the best answers is to consult a toll free directory. You can call different locations again and again, not only to ask them the questions you want to, questions that will come up after testing the strollers, and after hearing other questions pop into your head talking with other parents about their stroller, but also to compare prices. You would be surprised to find that the stroller price itself may not vary substantially from retailer to retailer, but for the effort, and using an 800 number, you could easily save yourself a significant amount of money in shipping costs. Even your local well-known chain store charges significant costs to ship items to you, and if you compare prices, you are sure to find that the shipping costs are worked into the in-store cost. Using an on-line retailer, even with photos, does not tell you much of the information you will find relevant for your purposes, including what do others say about this product, have there been many returns, and if so, what do they purchase instead? Make sure you get all your questions answered by the retailer you find on your 800 number directory. You can call as many times as you want, and you may also save a significant amount of money. At least enough to buy one more month’s worth of diapers.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
How to Choose Safe Furniture for Your Baby Nursery
Author: Joyce
When expectant parents start planning their home to welcome their new baby, finding the perfect baby furniture tops the list, when preparing the nursery. In most cases, parents start by selecting the baby crib, for this is where their child will begin to learn about their world. How Baby Nursery Furniture Has Changed In the past, a cradle was the first piece of baby furniture, usually handmade by the father or grandfather of the child. As the baby grew, other beds were made according to the size of the child. Today, a handmade piece of baby furniture is usually a unique baby gift. You will find baby cribs made from a variety of materials, in different shapes and styles. When you begin looking at baby cribs, make sure that the slats are set close together to prevent your child’s arms or legs being caught in them. Look for a crib that has a heavy gauge steel frame with bolted rails to securely hold the baby crib mattress and box support. Baby cribs that offer four way, double safety locks are the best, because they prevent the side of the crib from dropping unexpectedly, which can cause injury to your child. You will see many cribs, changing and activity tables constructed with decorative posts, cutout designs or projections that may look pretty,
but are not safe for your child. Decorating the Baby Nursery Once the baby crib is selected, the other essential piece of baby nursery furniture is the changing table. And remember, it is just as important for you to be comfortable in the baby nursery. You will be spending many hours there with your baby, so a comfortable chair and a good reading lamp are required. Whether you prefer an overstuffed Foster chair or a comfortable wooden rocking chair, choose this piece of baby furniture just as carefully. The colors, patterns and shapes in the baby nursery touch every aspect of your baby’s development, from baby bedding to baby furniture. You have your choice of feminine, masculine or neutral color palettes to create a beautiful baby nursery. As you make your selections of baby nursery furniture, it is important that all the materials used in the baby furniture be certified non-toxic and manufactured according to established safety standards. Building Peace of Mind into Baby Nursery Design One of the most useful and unique baby gifts available today is the baby nursery monitor. Even when you have the safest baby crib, you cannot be with your baby every single minute. The baby monitor lets you hear when your baby needs your immediate attention.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
When expectant parents start planning their home to welcome their new baby, finding the perfect baby furniture tops the list, when preparing the nursery. In most cases, parents start by selecting the baby crib, for this is where their child will begin to learn about their world. How Baby Nursery Furniture Has Changed In the past, a cradle was the first piece of baby furniture, usually handmade by the father or grandfather of the child. As the baby grew, other beds were made according to the size of the child. Today, a handmade piece of baby furniture is usually a unique baby gift. You will find baby cribs made from a variety of materials, in different shapes and styles. When you begin looking at baby cribs, make sure that the slats are set close together to prevent your child’s arms or legs being caught in them. Look for a crib that has a heavy gauge steel frame with bolted rails to securely hold the baby crib mattress and box support. Baby cribs that offer four way, double safety locks are the best, because they prevent the side of the crib from dropping unexpectedly, which can cause injury to your child. You will see many cribs, changing and activity tables constructed with decorative posts, cutout designs or projections that may look pretty,
but are not safe for your child. Decorating the Baby Nursery Once the baby crib is selected, the other essential piece of baby nursery furniture is the changing table. And remember, it is just as important for you to be comfortable in the baby nursery. You will be spending many hours there with your baby, so a comfortable chair and a good reading lamp are required. Whether you prefer an overstuffed Foster chair or a comfortable wooden rocking chair, choose this piece of baby furniture just as carefully. The colors, patterns and shapes in the baby nursery touch every aspect of your baby’s development, from baby bedding to baby furniture. You have your choice of feminine, masculine or neutral color palettes to create a beautiful baby nursery. As you make your selections of baby nursery furniture, it is important that all the materials used in the baby furniture be certified non-toxic and manufactured according to established safety standards. Building Peace of Mind into Baby Nursery Design One of the most useful and unique baby gifts available today is the baby nursery monitor. Even when you have the safest baby crib, you cannot be with your baby every single minute. The baby monitor lets you hear when your baby needs your immediate attention.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
Potty Train Your Baby From Age 3 Weeks
Author: Sittiwat
A new mom will quickly learn when baby is telling her that he is tired or hungry. Baby will also tell you when he is about to soil his diaper - or 'eliminate' in the jargon. The signs are usually a grunting and moving into a certain position. Our son used to get this far away look on his face and he would be very noisy so that everyone around him knew what was on the way!
Many moms in America are now practicing 'elimination communication' whereby they watch baby for signs that he is ready to 'eliminate' and then dangle him over the toilet or a potty. The technique does require virtually constant observation of the baby but apparently baby soon learns the procedure and knows that if he grunts hard enough it saves him having to sit around with a diaper full of you-know-what!
The savings achieved through having to buy far fewer diapers are considerable, and of course you would be doing your bit to help the environment.
Potty training at the 'tra
ditional' age of around 2-3 can be a real battle and a scary time for a kid. My daughter stubbornly refused to use either a potty or the toilet for weeks and finally succumbed only when we bribed her with the promise of a new dolly! Starting much earlier would spare you both but the technique does require constant attention and, for this reason, some experts 'pooh-pooh' the idea (sorry!) of starting potty training so early. Heather Welford of the National Childbirth Trust believes most parents will be too busy to watch baby all day and says 'I think it will always be something practiced by a minority of parents doing it for ideological reasons such as being closer to the baby or to help save the environment'. Two good reasons I would have thought.
About The Author: Katy and Tony Luck run a website with advice and articles about having babies and baby care.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
A new mom will quickly learn when baby is telling her that he is tired or hungry. Baby will also tell you when he is about to soil his diaper - or 'eliminate' in the jargon. The signs are usually a grunting and moving into a certain position. Our son used to get this far away look on his face and he would be very noisy so that everyone around him knew what was on the way!
Many moms in America are now practicing 'elimination communication' whereby they watch baby for signs that he is ready to 'eliminate' and then dangle him over the toilet or a potty. The technique does require virtually constant observation of the baby but apparently baby soon learns the procedure and knows that if he grunts hard enough it saves him having to sit around with a diaper full of you-know-what!
The savings achieved through having to buy far fewer diapers are considerable, and of course you would be doing your bit to help the environment.
Potty training at the 'tra
ditional' age of around 2-3 can be a real battle and a scary time for a kid. My daughter stubbornly refused to use either a potty or the toilet for weeks and finally succumbed only when we bribed her with the promise of a new dolly! Starting much earlier would spare you both but the technique does require constant attention and, for this reason, some experts 'pooh-pooh' the idea (sorry!) of starting potty training so early. Heather Welford of the National Childbirth Trust believes most parents will be too busy to watch baby all day and says 'I think it will always be something practiced by a minority of parents doing it for ideological reasons such as being closer to the baby or to help save the environment'. Two good reasons I would have thought.
About The Author: Katy and Tony Luck run a website with advice and articles about having babies and baby care.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
How To Keep Your Toddler Safe
Author: John
Betty is one of the best grandmothers ever. But the day she entered the bedroom and saw the cord from the window blind entangled around her grandson’s neck, she felt like the worst person alive. How could it have happened? She had cut the cords short, but still the child had pulled them into his crib. When Betty found the baby alive and well, she wept with relief. Then she moved the bed away from the window. Between the ages of six months and two years, children are beginning to walk, run, climb, jump and explore everything. It’s a wonderful time for their development, but a time when adults need to watch them like hawks. We can’t allow for every danger a child will face here, but we can list some of the most common ones. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, the biggest threat to a child’s life and health at this age is an accident. Fire And Burns * Cover unused electrical outlets with rotating-style safety plugs. * Keep appliance cords out of reach by tying them up or taping them down. * While working in the kitchen, keep children in playpens or high chairs. * Turn pot handles to the back of the stove where they are out of reach of curious hands. * Use place mats instead of table cloths, because toddlers may try to pull themselves up by grabbing hold of the cloth. * Never carry a child and hot liquids at the same time. * Turn your water heater to 120 degrees or lower to prevent scalding. Falls * Move chairs and other furniture away from windows to discourage young climbers. * Don’t let toddlers play on or near stairs. Use permanent safety gates at the top and bottom. * Remove or cushion sharp-edged furniture where a child goes. * Avoid accordion gates with large openings; a child’s neck could get trapped in the openings. * High chairs cause almost 10,000 injuries to small children each year. Use restraining straps that run around a child’s waist and between the legs to keep them from escaping from the seat and falling to the floor or getting their head caught in the structure. * The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends tha
t baby walkers not be used. Choking And Poisons * Do not store household cleaning products under the sink. Keep them and all poisons locked up and out of reach. * Small children use their mouths to explore the world. Keep them away from objects they can pick up and swallow, such as toys for older children, safety pins, coins, broken or deflated balloons, jewelry and batteries. Remove refrigerator magnets. * Remove wall hangings and mobiles over the crib. * Avoid all foods that could lodge in a child’s throat, such as hot dogs, nuts, raw carrots, grapes, candies, gum, popcorn and food with pits. * Learn how to save the life of a choking child. Consult your doctor. * Use a small parts tester "choke tube" to see if small toys or parts present a choking hazard. * If small children are present, keep potentially hazardous cleaning compounds capped while in use. * Use safety caps on medicines and toxic household products. * Keep all purses out of reach. * Safely dispose of plastic cleaning bags immediately. * Keep the number of your local poison control center by all phones. The Dangers Never Cease * Keep window cords out of reach. Cut looped chains or cords of window blinds in half and add large safety tassels to the ends. * Never leave a child alone in or near a bathtub, pail of water, or any other water for even an instant. * Lock all cabinets and drawers from the countertop down, and oven, dryer and dishwasher doors. * Buy clothes with snaps, buttons, or Velcro instead of long, loose drawstrings which can snag and present a choking or falling hazard. * Be sure you can always hear a child if they cry. * Encourage grandparents and caregivers to childproof their homes. * There are numerous products designed to keep your child safe. Some that you should consider are: toilet lid locks; bathtub products such as cushioned covers for spouts and knobs; anti-scald devices; cabinet and drawer latches; corner and edge bumpers; door guards; electrical-cord products; electrical outlet covers; medicine cabinet latches; stove guards; window blind products; and window locks.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
Betty is one of the best grandmothers ever. But the day she entered the bedroom and saw the cord from the window blind entangled around her grandson’s neck, she felt like the worst person alive. How could it have happened? She had cut the cords short, but still the child had pulled them into his crib. When Betty found the baby alive and well, she wept with relief. Then she moved the bed away from the window. Between the ages of six months and two years, children are beginning to walk, run, climb, jump and explore everything. It’s a wonderful time for their development, but a time when adults need to watch them like hawks. We can’t allow for every danger a child will face here, but we can list some of the most common ones. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, the biggest threat to a child’s life and health at this age is an accident. Fire And Burns * Cover unused electrical outlets with rotating-style safety plugs. * Keep appliance cords out of reach by tying them up or taping them down. * While working in the kitchen, keep children in playpens or high chairs. * Turn pot handles to the back of the stove where they are out of reach of curious hands. * Use place mats instead of table cloths, because toddlers may try to pull themselves up by grabbing hold of the cloth. * Never carry a child and hot liquids at the same time. * Turn your water heater to 120 degrees or lower to prevent scalding. Falls * Move chairs and other furniture away from windows to discourage young climbers. * Don’t let toddlers play on or near stairs. Use permanent safety gates at the top and bottom. * Remove or cushion sharp-edged furniture where a child goes. * Avoid accordion gates with large openings; a child’s neck could get trapped in the openings. * High chairs cause almost 10,000 injuries to small children each year. Use restraining straps that run around a child’s waist and between the legs to keep them from escaping from the seat and falling to the floor or getting their head caught in the structure. * The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends tha
t baby walkers not be used. Choking And Poisons * Do not store household cleaning products under the sink. Keep them and all poisons locked up and out of reach. * Small children use their mouths to explore the world. Keep them away from objects they can pick up and swallow, such as toys for older children, safety pins, coins, broken or deflated balloons, jewelry and batteries. Remove refrigerator magnets. * Remove wall hangings and mobiles over the crib. * Avoid all foods that could lodge in a child’s throat, such as hot dogs, nuts, raw carrots, grapes, candies, gum, popcorn and food with pits. * Learn how to save the life of a choking child. Consult your doctor. * Use a small parts tester "choke tube" to see if small toys or parts present a choking hazard. * If small children are present, keep potentially hazardous cleaning compounds capped while in use. * Use safety caps on medicines and toxic household products. * Keep all purses out of reach. * Safely dispose of plastic cleaning bags immediately. * Keep the number of your local poison control center by all phones. The Dangers Never Cease * Keep window cords out of reach. Cut looped chains or cords of window blinds in half and add large safety tassels to the ends. * Never leave a child alone in or near a bathtub, pail of water, or any other water for even an instant. * Lock all cabinets and drawers from the countertop down, and oven, dryer and dishwasher doors. * Buy clothes with snaps, buttons, or Velcro instead of long, loose drawstrings which can snag and present a choking or falling hazard. * Be sure you can always hear a child if they cry. * Encourage grandparents and caregivers to childproof their homes. * There are numerous products designed to keep your child safe. Some that you should consider are: toilet lid locks; bathtub products such as cushioned covers for spouts and knobs; anti-scald devices; cabinet and drawer latches; corner and edge bumpers; door guards; electrical-cord products; electrical outlet covers; medicine cabinet latches; stove guards; window blind products; and window locks.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
Baby Furniture - The Foundation of Your Baby Nursery
Author: Joyce
Creating a warm and comfortable environment for your newborn begins with your selection of baby furniture. Many mothers-to-be list baby furniture items in their gift registry to make it easy for relatives and friends to make the right choice. Small items like baby carriers or travel beds can be just as important as the crib and bedding. Of all your child’s furniture you will buy, none are more important to the safety of your child than the baby crib. While a nursery theme appeals to your heart, the need to protect your little one comes first. Become familiar with the guidelines for safety in baby furniture and it will make your shopping much easier. Safety Features to Look for in Nursery Furniture Your newborn will spend many hours in their crib and infants are especially vulnerable in their first year. The construction and materials used in your furniture for the baby nursery will be in direct contact with your baby. Babies learn about the world around them by using their senses, in particular, their sense of taste which makes it important the crib you select for your tot must have teething protection on all four sides. Babies have delicate skin, so all the surfaces they touch should be coated in non-toxic lacquer finishes without the use of lead paints. The changing table is the second most used piece of furnishi
ng and caution is needed when you make your purchase. The best design for changing tables are those with a restraint and raised sides with ends at least 9 inches high and secure locks for the collapsible frame. Most importantly, NEVER leave your baby unattended-not even for a second. Decorating your baby’s nursery is different from decorating your living room. All the furnishings you use in your tot’s nursery should be free of anything that could pose physical danger to your newborn, such as cutout designs which have been a major cause of infant strangulation or small objects that could be swallowed or become lodged in your baby’s throat. As your little one begins to become more active, avoid using walkers; babies that can move around on their own, can be a danger to themselves. Look for Flexibility in Baby Furnishings With many mothers working from home, it is a good idea that all of your child’s furniture be made with mobility in mind. You will be able to move your baby’s crib around the nursery or to another room easier if it is made with double two inch barrel casters. Using a monitor will help you to be aware of when your newborn needs attention. If you use the wireless video baby monitor, it gives you the advantage of being able to see and hear everything that is happening in the nursery.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
Creating a warm and comfortable environment for your newborn begins with your selection of baby furniture. Many mothers-to-be list baby furniture items in their gift registry to make it easy for relatives and friends to make the right choice. Small items like baby carriers or travel beds can be just as important as the crib and bedding. Of all your child’s furniture you will buy, none are more important to the safety of your child than the baby crib. While a nursery theme appeals to your heart, the need to protect your little one comes first. Become familiar with the guidelines for safety in baby furniture and it will make your shopping much easier. Safety Features to Look for in Nursery Furniture Your newborn will spend many hours in their crib and infants are especially vulnerable in their first year. The construction and materials used in your furniture for the baby nursery will be in direct contact with your baby. Babies learn about the world around them by using their senses, in particular, their sense of taste which makes it important the crib you select for your tot must have teething protection on all four sides. Babies have delicate skin, so all the surfaces they touch should be coated in non-toxic lacquer finishes without the use of lead paints. The changing table is the second most used piece of furnishi
ng and caution is needed when you make your purchase. The best design for changing tables are those with a restraint and raised sides with ends at least 9 inches high and secure locks for the collapsible frame. Most importantly, NEVER leave your baby unattended-not even for a second. Decorating your baby’s nursery is different from decorating your living room. All the furnishings you use in your tot’s nursery should be free of anything that could pose physical danger to your newborn, such as cutout designs which have been a major cause of infant strangulation or small objects that could be swallowed or become lodged in your baby’s throat. As your little one begins to become more active, avoid using walkers; babies that can move around on their own, can be a danger to themselves. Look for Flexibility in Baby Furnishings With many mothers working from home, it is a good idea that all of your child’s furniture be made with mobility in mind. You will be able to move your baby’s crib around the nursery or to another room easier if it is made with double two inch barrel casters. Using a monitor will help you to be aware of when your newborn needs attention. If you use the wireless video baby monitor, it gives you the advantage of being able to see and hear everything that is happening in the nursery.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
Activities for Toddlers: Simple and Inexpensive Ways to Enjoy Life with Your Little One
Author: Susie
Have you ever bought your toddler an expensive new toy, only to discover that he spends more time playing with the box it came in? Toddlers have an amazing ability to sink into the simple things of life and create worlds from their own imagination. At this magical age, virtually everything is brand new, and we can relax and know that our interaction with our young children, especially through simple, repetitive activities, is enhancing their development and love of learning. The key is to keep it simple and spend lots of time allowing them to explore at their own pace. Here are some simple and inexpensive activities you can enjoy with your toddler: Outdoor Activities for Toddlers Toddlers love to be outside. Often, toddlers will want (and need) time to play freely, but here are some ideas for those times when your toddler wants to engage in play with you: Blow bubbles. Toddlers love to chase and blow bubbles. They watch in awe as nothing at all turns into something and is then carried away by the breeze. Spillproof containers are perfect for toddlers, especially when they are off chasing their bubble creations. Toddlers love it when you blow bubbles, too. Try counting the bubbles or challenging your child to see how many she can catch. Watch the clouds. Lie on your backs together and find shapes in the clouds. Draw with sidewalk chalk. These thick chunks of chalk are perfect for little hands, and they are well suited to the fine motor skills of a toddler, too. Allow your child to create designs of his own creation. Or write his name in block letters and invite him to color them in. You can also draw a wiggly line down the sidewalk for your toddler to walk along. Or make up a story as you walk along the sidewalk about a child who is out for an adventure in the world, and illustrate different parts of your story as you go. Take a walk in the wide, wide world. A simple walk in the neighborhood will give your toddler an opportunity to become familiar with the world outside her home. As she follows the same route over and over, she will begin to form a concept of her neighborhood. In time, this will bring her comfort that comes from knowing she is "almost home." Toddlers also love to walk in the woods. All that nature has to offer, such as rocks, sticks, and leaves, are marvelous entities to be held and explored. If you take the time to allow a toddler to explore the woods, you are in for a treat yourself (as well as a lesson in patience.) A toddler can watch a simple stream for what can seem like hours. While you walk, put a piece of transparent tape, sticky side out, loosely on your her wrist. When she finds small items to document her journey, whether its flecks of mica, pretty leaves, or dried pine needles, she can press them on her Nature Bracelet. When she returns home, seal the goodies by placing another piece of tape on top. Think like a kid. As you enjoy time with your toddler, try to imagine what things look like from his point
of view. Toddlers take delight in the simplest things, especially if you do them again and again. For example, kids love to simply count their footsteps up to five or ten, and then start again. They love to say hello to the same dog (or the rosebush or the big rock or the open meadow) that you pass on each walk. They love to try to hop over cracks in the sidewalk. What did you love to do as a young child? If you can not remember, ask your parents or other adults who spent time with you, and make a point to weave those simple activities into life with your own toddler. Indoor Activities for Toddlers Read. Reading opens the imagination of a toddler and fosters a love for books, which can propel him to success far into his school years. Read to your toddler whenever you get the chance. Take weekly trips to the library to pick out new books and audiobooks to enjoy. Introduce your child to the books you remember from your own early childhood. And make sure your child sees you enjoying a good book now and then, too. Sing. Anytime a toddler can sing, concepts are likely to stick. Sing simple songs such as the alphabet song, or silly songs you make up about the life you live. Kids love having their own special songs, too. See if you can make up a song to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, which features his name and some of the things you love most about him. Car Games and Activities for Toddlers Magnetic Trays. You can use an old metal tray or purchase a ready made magnetic tray at the toy store. With these trays, toddlers can play with alphabet and number magnets, as well as paper magnetic dolls. Another great way to use a magnetic tray is to print off pictures of family members and adhere them to magnets. Travel Songs. Singing songs in the car is another great activity that passes the time. Again, repetition is the key. Sing the same song each time you and your toddler start off on a trip to the store, for example. Story Starters. Start a story, and then ask your toddler or preschooler to fill in the blanks here and there. For example, you might start with, "Once upon a time there was a dog named: ____" (Ask the child for the name of the dog.). And the dog went to the ____." This is great when you have a mix of ages, too. The older children can create a very silly tale, and your child can make it even sillier when it is his turn. Do not be afraid to do the same thing twice. The key to educational games at this age is in repetition. Young brains develop connections by doing, seeing, and hearing something over and over again. That is why children want to watch the same video, listen to the same song in the car, and go through the same bedtime routine each night. As parents, we sometimes worry about whether our toddlers are getting enough attention, stimulation, and entertainment. Often, the games toddlers truly love are the most simple and the least expensive, especially when taken at their natural pace and shared with someone they love.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
Have you ever bought your toddler an expensive new toy, only to discover that he spends more time playing with the box it came in? Toddlers have an amazing ability to sink into the simple things of life and create worlds from their own imagination. At this magical age, virtually everything is brand new, and we can relax and know that our interaction with our young children, especially through simple, repetitive activities, is enhancing their development and love of learning. The key is to keep it simple and spend lots of time allowing them to explore at their own pace. Here are some simple and inexpensive activities you can enjoy with your toddler: Outdoor Activities for Toddlers Toddlers love to be outside. Often, toddlers will want (and need) time to play freely, but here are some ideas for those times when your toddler wants to engage in play with you: Blow bubbles. Toddlers love to chase and blow bubbles. They watch in awe as nothing at all turns into something and is then carried away by the breeze. Spillproof containers are perfect for toddlers, especially when they are off chasing their bubble creations. Toddlers love it when you blow bubbles, too. Try counting the bubbles or challenging your child to see how many she can catch. Watch the clouds. Lie on your backs together and find shapes in the clouds. Draw with sidewalk chalk. These thick chunks of chalk are perfect for little hands, and they are well suited to the fine motor skills of a toddler, too. Allow your child to create designs of his own creation. Or write his name in block letters and invite him to color them in. You can also draw a wiggly line down the sidewalk for your toddler to walk along. Or make up a story as you walk along the sidewalk about a child who is out for an adventure in the world, and illustrate different parts of your story as you go. Take a walk in the wide, wide world. A simple walk in the neighborhood will give your toddler an opportunity to become familiar with the world outside her home. As she follows the same route over and over, she will begin to form a concept of her neighborhood. In time, this will bring her comfort that comes from knowing she is "almost home." Toddlers also love to walk in the woods. All that nature has to offer, such as rocks, sticks, and leaves, are marvelous entities to be held and explored. If you take the time to allow a toddler to explore the woods, you are in for a treat yourself (as well as a lesson in patience.) A toddler can watch a simple stream for what can seem like hours. While you walk, put a piece of transparent tape, sticky side out, loosely on your her wrist. When she finds small items to document her journey, whether its flecks of mica, pretty leaves, or dried pine needles, she can press them on her Nature Bracelet. When she returns home, seal the goodies by placing another piece of tape on top. Think like a kid. As you enjoy time with your toddler, try to imagine what things look like from his point
of view. Toddlers take delight in the simplest things, especially if you do them again and again. For example, kids love to simply count their footsteps up to five or ten, and then start again. They love to say hello to the same dog (or the rosebush or the big rock or the open meadow) that you pass on each walk. They love to try to hop over cracks in the sidewalk. What did you love to do as a young child? If you can not remember, ask your parents or other adults who spent time with you, and make a point to weave those simple activities into life with your own toddler. Indoor Activities for Toddlers Read. Reading opens the imagination of a toddler and fosters a love for books, which can propel him to success far into his school years. Read to your toddler whenever you get the chance. Take weekly trips to the library to pick out new books and audiobooks to enjoy. Introduce your child to the books you remember from your own early childhood. And make sure your child sees you enjoying a good book now and then, too. Sing. Anytime a toddler can sing, concepts are likely to stick. Sing simple songs such as the alphabet song, or silly songs you make up about the life you live. Kids love having their own special songs, too. See if you can make up a song to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, which features his name and some of the things you love most about him. Car Games and Activities for Toddlers Magnetic Trays. You can use an old metal tray or purchase a ready made magnetic tray at the toy store. With these trays, toddlers can play with alphabet and number magnets, as well as paper magnetic dolls. Another great way to use a magnetic tray is to print off pictures of family members and adhere them to magnets. Travel Songs. Singing songs in the car is another great activity that passes the time. Again, repetition is the key. Sing the same song each time you and your toddler start off on a trip to the store, for example. Story Starters. Start a story, and then ask your toddler or preschooler to fill in the blanks here and there. For example, you might start with, "Once upon a time there was a dog named: ____" (Ask the child for the name of the dog.). And the dog went to the ____." This is great when you have a mix of ages, too. The older children can create a very silly tale, and your child can make it even sillier when it is his turn. Do not be afraid to do the same thing twice. The key to educational games at this age is in repetition. Young brains develop connections by doing, seeing, and hearing something over and over again. That is why children want to watch the same video, listen to the same song in the car, and go through the same bedtime routine each night. As parents, we sometimes worry about whether our toddlers are getting enough attention, stimulation, and entertainment. Often, the games toddlers truly love are the most simple and the least expensive, especially when taken at their natural pace and shared with someone they love.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
How To Pick The Best Baby Stroller
Author: Stephen
Strollers have developed quite a bit in the past few years. In the past, if you were looking for a stroller you would have to choose between two main models: an oversized pram, (a large black stroller where the baby lies down), or a small, precarious stroller that your child would sit in, but would fly around the sidewalk and break easily. Today, parents are lucky to have a wide variety of well made strollers at their disposal. And this is a good thing too, because a good stroller is a parent’s connection with the rest of the world. Parents rely on strollers to transport their growing family outside of the house. Indeed, some parents even find that there are times when the only possible way they can get their child to sleep is with a walk in the stroller. No matter whether you are using your stroller for work or pleasure, it is clear that strollers (or pushchairs, as they are known in Britain), are a mainstay in modern living, an essential tool for the busy parent on the go and the relaxed parent out for a stroll. What is the best stroller for my needs? Your stroller is going to be one of the most important and frequently used baby accessories you own. For this reason, it is essential that you find the perfect stroller for your newborn. What is perfect for you, however, depends on what you plan to do with your stroller. Strollers come in a variety of configurations to meet the variety of needs and situations parents face in modern society. If space it not a concern, either in your house or in your car or mini-van, you should be happy wi
th a standard or full-size stroller. The standard stroller will give you and your child a high level of comfort, and be easy to use. However, if space is at a premium, or you are primarily going to use your stroller while you are out shopping, or want a stroller you can take on trips and that can be brought out quickly, you should consider purchasing a compact stroller. These lightweight strollers are small and fold away quickly and easily. The main drawback to getting a compact stroller is that they will not be as strong as standard strollers. Also, because they are lighter and more flimsy, they will be harder to push. As a compromise, consider getting a standard stroller and keeping a compact stroller in the car for when you have to run out with your baby for groceries. Those parents who plan on going for jogs with their baby, or for long walks in the forest, you should definitely consider buying a jogger, also known as a jogging stroller. These strollers have exploded onto the scene in the last few years. One of the main benefits of a jogging stroller is that it has large air-filled tires, which will give you a smooth ride over bumpy surfaces. The handlebars are also specially designed to allow you to hold on as you jog behind the stroller. Your baby may not be getting any exercise while you run, but he or she will sure enjoy the ride! Be sure to take the time to make sure you have the best possible stroller for your child and your lifestyle; after all, you will be spending a lot of your time over the next few years behind the handle bars.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
Strollers have developed quite a bit in the past few years. In the past, if you were looking for a stroller you would have to choose between two main models: an oversized pram, (a large black stroller where the baby lies down), or a small, precarious stroller that your child would sit in, but would fly around the sidewalk and break easily. Today, parents are lucky to have a wide variety of well made strollers at their disposal. And this is a good thing too, because a good stroller is a parent’s connection with the rest of the world. Parents rely on strollers to transport their growing family outside of the house. Indeed, some parents even find that there are times when the only possible way they can get their child to sleep is with a walk in the stroller. No matter whether you are using your stroller for work or pleasure, it is clear that strollers (or pushchairs, as they are known in Britain), are a mainstay in modern living, an essential tool for the busy parent on the go and the relaxed parent out for a stroll. What is the best stroller for my needs? Your stroller is going to be one of the most important and frequently used baby accessories you own. For this reason, it is essential that you find the perfect stroller for your newborn. What is perfect for you, however, depends on what you plan to do with your stroller. Strollers come in a variety of configurations to meet the variety of needs and situations parents face in modern society. If space it not a concern, either in your house or in your car or mini-van, you should be happy wi
th a standard or full-size stroller. The standard stroller will give you and your child a high level of comfort, and be easy to use. However, if space is at a premium, or you are primarily going to use your stroller while you are out shopping, or want a stroller you can take on trips and that can be brought out quickly, you should consider purchasing a compact stroller. These lightweight strollers are small and fold away quickly and easily. The main drawback to getting a compact stroller is that they will not be as strong as standard strollers. Also, because they are lighter and more flimsy, they will be harder to push. As a compromise, consider getting a standard stroller and keeping a compact stroller in the car for when you have to run out with your baby for groceries. Those parents who plan on going for jogs with their baby, or for long walks in the forest, you should definitely consider buying a jogger, also known as a jogging stroller. These strollers have exploded onto the scene in the last few years. One of the main benefits of a jogging stroller is that it has large air-filled tires, which will give you a smooth ride over bumpy surfaces. The handlebars are also specially designed to allow you to hold on as you jog behind the stroller. Your baby may not be getting any exercise while you run, but he or she will sure enjoy the ride! Be sure to take the time to make sure you have the best possible stroller for your child and your lifestyle; after all, you will be spending a lot of your time over the next few years behind the handle bars.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
Tips In Getting Educational Toys For Toddlers And Preschoolers
Author: Low
Have you ever experienced getting an invitation to a birthday party of your beloved 2-year old niece or nephew and do not know what to give? The moment you step into the toy store you find yourself in the midst of fascinating toys and you just can’t decide which one to pick. Well, if you have, then I’m sure that these five tips will be a big help to you in choosing the best toy to give -- toys that are fun but still educational. Tip number one is to be sure that you are buying a toy that really is for a toddler. Sometimes we may over-estimate them and treat them like bigger children. But no matter what many may think, you should still buy a toy that fits in the age range of a toddler. If you buy a toy that isn’t, there is a large possibility that the child wont like it. Also, try not to buy toys with detachable parts because the child might swallow it. Tip number two is to choose something that will help the child build abilities or skills that aid them, when they grow up, in their academics. Remember that a child will be at his or her best when he or she is open to letters, numbers and sounds at a young age. So that the child will be interested, you can look for blocks, books, flashcards or puzzles with bright colors. Some toys can even talk to children. These kind of toys are a big help to the children. The third tip is to make sure that the child as well as the parent will like it. Look for something like a book. You can easily spot toddler books because they are usually made from cardboard and are colorful. Some books have sounds and they recite nursery rhymes. Some have pop-ups and fur for the kids to touch. It is better for parents to read to their child, to show the child that learning is very much important. Fourth is not to be carried away. Remember that giving the biggest and best gift isn’t the most important part of a present. Choose something that won’t empty your pockets but will still fill the happiness of the child. Give a gift that will help them in learning at the same time be enjoyable. The last tip is to always be creative. When you shop for the toy, think of something original yet not too weird.
In short, when you are choosing a gift in a toy store, remember that the toy you are about to give should be creative and interesting. Remember that it should fit the age of the child. Just don’t forget to wrap the gift, and don’t give it bare to the toddler! Preschoolers’ minds are not yet filled with lots of worldly ideas so it’s easy for us to instill learning at this point. Their brains and memories are still like clean sheets of paper without any marks. If we want to them to learn something, a good trait, a lesson, or whatever, bring it to the children during the preschool years and you will not fail. A good example of an educational toy for preschoolers is LeapFrog’s line of interactive toys and games. Toys "R" Us carries LeapFrog’s products in all of its 150 branches worldwide. In order for both parents and children to better appreciate what they are buying, small kiosks are set up in all stores where LeapFrog products are being sold, so that buyers will be able to test the products first before they decide to make a purchase. The name ’educational toy’ sounds boring, at first, and kids might not want to buy it if we mention it this way to them. However, upon closer inspection and use of these toys, kids will find that these are actually very entertaining and very far from ho-hum. What’s more, parents will be happier because their children learn a lot of new things and improve on their academic, analytical, and logical faculties while their kids are at play. In the past, the term ’play’ carried a rather negative connotation, because some parents think that play is just a waste of time and energy. However, child experts will beg to differ, as play time, while it appears to have no outright value, is actually a very effective learning tool. This is what educational toys aim to reconcile - that toys can actually be very academically beneficial. Educational toys for preschoolers are also worth every penny spent on them, even if they do carry a relatively hefty price tag compared to most toys being sold. And because they have educational values, parents would gladly spend on these toys.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com
Have you ever experienced getting an invitation to a birthday party of your beloved 2-year old niece or nephew and do not know what to give? The moment you step into the toy store you find yourself in the midst of fascinating toys and you just can’t decide which one to pick. Well, if you have, then I’m sure that these five tips will be a big help to you in choosing the best toy to give -- toys that are fun but still educational. Tip number one is to be sure that you are buying a toy that really is for a toddler. Sometimes we may over-estimate them and treat them like bigger children. But no matter what many may think, you should still buy a toy that fits in the age range of a toddler. If you buy a toy that isn’t, there is a large possibility that the child wont like it. Also, try not to buy toys with detachable parts because the child might swallow it. Tip number two is to choose something that will help the child build abilities or skills that aid them, when they grow up, in their academics. Remember that a child will be at his or her best when he or she is open to letters, numbers and sounds at a young age. So that the child will be interested, you can look for blocks, books, flashcards or puzzles with bright colors. Some toys can even talk to children. These kind of toys are a big help to the children. The third tip is to make sure that the child as well as the parent will like it. Look for something like a book. You can easily spot toddler books because they are usually made from cardboard and are colorful. Some books have sounds and they recite nursery rhymes. Some have pop-ups and fur for the kids to touch. It is better for parents to read to their child, to show the child that learning is very much important. Fourth is not to be carried away. Remember that giving the biggest and best gift isn’t the most important part of a present. Choose something that won’t empty your pockets but will still fill the happiness of the child. Give a gift that will help them in learning at the same time be enjoyable. The last tip is to always be creative. When you shop for the toy, think of something original yet not too weird.
In short, when you are choosing a gift in a toy store, remember that the toy you are about to give should be creative and interesting. Remember that it should fit the age of the child. Just don’t forget to wrap the gift, and don’t give it bare to the toddler! Preschoolers’ minds are not yet filled with lots of worldly ideas so it’s easy for us to instill learning at this point. Their brains and memories are still like clean sheets of paper without any marks. If we want to them to learn something, a good trait, a lesson, or whatever, bring it to the children during the preschool years and you will not fail. A good example of an educational toy for preschoolers is LeapFrog’s line of interactive toys and games. Toys "R" Us carries LeapFrog’s products in all of its 150 branches worldwide. In order for both parents and children to better appreciate what they are buying, small kiosks are set up in all stores where LeapFrog products are being sold, so that buyers will be able to test the products first before they decide to make a purchase. The name ’educational toy’ sounds boring, at first, and kids might not want to buy it if we mention it this way to them. However, upon closer inspection and use of these toys, kids will find that these are actually very entertaining and very far from ho-hum. What’s more, parents will be happier because their children learn a lot of new things and improve on their academic, analytical, and logical faculties while their kids are at play. In the past, the term ’play’ carried a rather negative connotation, because some parents think that play is just a waste of time and energy. However, child experts will beg to differ, as play time, while it appears to have no outright value, is actually a very effective learning tool. This is what educational toys aim to reconcile - that toys can actually be very academically beneficial. Educational toys for preschoolers are also worth every penny spent on them, even if they do carry a relatively hefty price tag compared to most toys being sold. And because they have educational values, parents would gladly spend on these toys.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com
The Babysitter Hidden Camera
Author: Charles
Babysitter surveillance is becoming more and more popular these days. Many families use babysitters and nannies because it is often more affordable than day care. It also allows children to stay in the comfort of their own home where they can play with their own toys and sleep in their own beds. Although many parents go through an intense interview and selection process for the best babysitter or nanny they still have an uneasy feel about entrusting their children’s lives with this individual. This is why the nanny cam or babysitter hidden camera comes in to play. These cameras offer parents the peace of mind that they need when it comes to leaving their children with strangers. Parents set up wireless web cameras throughout the house and are able to simply login with a username and password from any Internet computer. So, if you have an office job you can simply login on your office computer and watch your child play, eat lunch and take a nap. If you are a full-time student you can login on your laptop or the library computer between classes to check in on your child during the day. This allows parents to see that their children are safe and being treated appropriately. Some babysitters and nannies are even offering the babysitter or nanny cam as a part of their service. They provide parents with the camera, turn it on themselves and parents are able to check in whenever they wish. This is a great selling point for the nanny or babysitter and it allows the parent to have some control. Cameras can either be concealed or prominently mounted. Those babysitters who provide the camera themselves generally opt for the camera that they can sit in the kitchen and give the parents a view of the kitchen and the living room where the child will be playing. Other parents may wish to conceal the cameras themselves and not alert the babysitter or nanny at all to the fact that they are being watched. It is completely up to the parents as to how they wish to set the hidden cameras up. Cameras come in a wide variety of normal, everyday objects such as clock radios, wall clocks, books, plants and more. They cameras are about the size of a quarter or even a pinpoint. They are easy to setup and are no harder to operate
than your DVD player. One of the most popular hidden cameras are the clock radios. These can be set up next to the child’s bed, in the playroom or even in the kitchen. The camera plugs into the wall like a normal clock and a wireless receiver is attached to the VCR. Families are able to tape up to 9 hours of nanny video time via their VCR. They can also work in conjunction with your DVR, or digital video recorder. These systems are able to hold several more hours of video and work with a simple software program or wireless web cam. They are also able to send live images to a cell phone or work computer making these very useful for working parents. The interest in nanny cams rose around 2004. According to a Parks Associates researcher in Dallas, about 39% of US households with at least one child were expressing interest in incorporating a nanny cam into their home. The interest has sparked, as more and more parents are concerned about caregivers neglecting children or even abusing them. Parents want to be certain that their children are taken care of properly because they are paying good money for a nanny or babysitter to do so. Some parents have the cameras just in case they feel something is not quite right with their babysitter. They don’t want to videotape the sitter, but if they are wondering what is really going on while they are away from home they can turn the camera on. Parents can then watch the video or check in regularly and if everything seems fine then they are put at ease. Nanny cams help parents adjust to leaving their child with a stranger and allow them to get to know the babysitter better. They are able to see their daily routines and ensure that their child is receiving the attention they require. If you are interested in a nanny cam or babysitter hidden cameras then it is wise to look at your options. These systems are not as expensive as they once were and are all wireless. This allows you the flexibility to set up the cameras wherever you feel you need to and they are simple to use. These cameras give you a sense of security and control, as you are able to see what your child is doing on a daily basis and ensure that your nanny or babysitter is doing their job right.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
Babysitter surveillance is becoming more and more popular these days. Many families use babysitters and nannies because it is often more affordable than day care. It also allows children to stay in the comfort of their own home where they can play with their own toys and sleep in their own beds. Although many parents go through an intense interview and selection process for the best babysitter or nanny they still have an uneasy feel about entrusting their children’s lives with this individual. This is why the nanny cam or babysitter hidden camera comes in to play. These cameras offer parents the peace of mind that they need when it comes to leaving their children with strangers. Parents set up wireless web cameras throughout the house and are able to simply login with a username and password from any Internet computer. So, if you have an office job you can simply login on your office computer and watch your child play, eat lunch and take a nap. If you are a full-time student you can login on your laptop or the library computer between classes to check in on your child during the day. This allows parents to see that their children are safe and being treated appropriately. Some babysitters and nannies are even offering the babysitter or nanny cam as a part of their service. They provide parents with the camera, turn it on themselves and parents are able to check in whenever they wish. This is a great selling point for the nanny or babysitter and it allows the parent to have some control. Cameras can either be concealed or prominently mounted. Those babysitters who provide the camera themselves generally opt for the camera that they can sit in the kitchen and give the parents a view of the kitchen and the living room where the child will be playing. Other parents may wish to conceal the cameras themselves and not alert the babysitter or nanny at all to the fact that they are being watched. It is completely up to the parents as to how they wish to set the hidden cameras up. Cameras come in a wide variety of normal, everyday objects such as clock radios, wall clocks, books, plants and more. They cameras are about the size of a quarter or even a pinpoint. They are easy to setup and are no harder to operate
than your DVD player. One of the most popular hidden cameras are the clock radios. These can be set up next to the child’s bed, in the playroom or even in the kitchen. The camera plugs into the wall like a normal clock and a wireless receiver is attached to the VCR. Families are able to tape up to 9 hours of nanny video time via their VCR. They can also work in conjunction with your DVR, or digital video recorder. These systems are able to hold several more hours of video and work with a simple software program or wireless web cam. They are also able to send live images to a cell phone or work computer making these very useful for working parents. The interest in nanny cams rose around 2004. According to a Parks Associates researcher in Dallas, about 39% of US households with at least one child were expressing interest in incorporating a nanny cam into their home. The interest has sparked, as more and more parents are concerned about caregivers neglecting children or even abusing them. Parents want to be certain that their children are taken care of properly because they are paying good money for a nanny or babysitter to do so. Some parents have the cameras just in case they feel something is not quite right with their babysitter. They don’t want to videotape the sitter, but if they are wondering what is really going on while they are away from home they can turn the camera on. Parents can then watch the video or check in regularly and if everything seems fine then they are put at ease. Nanny cams help parents adjust to leaving their child with a stranger and allow them to get to know the babysitter better. They are able to see their daily routines and ensure that their child is receiving the attention they require. If you are interested in a nanny cam or babysitter hidden cameras then it is wise to look at your options. These systems are not as expensive as they once were and are all wireless. This allows you the flexibility to set up the cameras wherever you feel you need to and they are simple to use. These cameras give you a sense of security and control, as you are able to see what your child is doing on a daily basis and ensure that your nanny or babysitter is doing their job right.
Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/
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