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Baby Your Baby -- And Give Birth To A Big Reader By : Blake Kritzberg There are a lot of options out there when it comes to helping your baby's development along, including piping Mozart to your child in the womb or teaching her to sign shortly after she's born. But you're still giving your baby a great start just by providing her with the building blocks she'll need to learn to read. Just about all the important things that modern science suggests when it comes to helping your baby's brain develop have been practiced by parents for millenni... The Ideas In Your Head Will Rule Your World By : Mac Bledsoe It does not matter where the ideas come from, and it doesn't matter whether they are right or wrong, once an idea is in your head, it will rule your world. Only a few months ago I gave a keynote address to 3,000 people at a regional parenting conference. In the talk I had mentioned the difficulties parents face with Drug abuse by their children. During the question and answer period following my talk a clergyman stood up in front of and offered, "I think we need to decrimi... Back When I Was A Kid... By : Mac Bledsoe We must eliminate from our minds a few phrases when we are making decisions about how we will be raising our kids. They are the sayings like: "When I was a kid..." and "If I had done that when I was a kid, my dad would have..." or "Back when we were in school they used to..." Now, this may sound odd to you coming on the heels of our last article where we took the stand that as a nation, we need to "recapture the sound of our kids among us just like we used to up at old Fai... Bike Riding And Present Wrapping By : Mac Bledsoe A little examination of two behaviors, which are learned almost universally by all Americans, reveals some shocking information about the effectiveness of some of the teaching techniques that we choose to use to educate our children. In the last six months we have been conducting a little informal survey as we travel across America, and it has yielded some very interesting and very thought provoking data. We hope that sharing this information with you might stimulate some ... Heroes By : Mac Bledsoe In today's society like in the past, kids have heroes. This is a good thing. However, in modern society it seems the process of selecting heroes has become rather muddled or confused. Fame should not necessarily make a person a hero. We have experienced this from both sides: first as parents of two sons who chose heroes while growing up, and now with two sons who have distinguished themselves as outstanding athletes who are often the object of hero worship. Please hang in ... Boost Your Child's Brainpower With Sudoku! By : Lindsay Small In less than a year the Sudoku bug has infected huge numbers of the UK population, and it is fast spreading across the world! Why has a simple logic puzzle become so popular, and how can your kids benefit? Sudoku puzzles were first published in the US in the 1970s and are sometimes known as "Number Squares". They have been popular for many years in Japan, where the name "Sudoku" (meaning "single number") was coined. The current craze was started late in 2004 when a UK news... Change Your Child's Behavior With Positive Reinforcement By : Destry Maycock Think about your interactions with your children today. How many things did you notice they did wrong? What did you do or say to them because of their wrong doings? Have they engaged in the same kind of behavior before? What did you do or say the times before? Is it working? How many things did you notice your children did right today? If you did take the time to notice, what did you do or say to them? Did you praise or reward them in some way? If so, then read no further and... So You Have A Picky Eater? By : Destry Maycock If you have a picky eater, mealtime can make you feel like you want to pull your hair out. It is very frustrating for parents to watch their child only fiddle with their food at dinner or not even touch it, claiming they "don’t like it.” Then what happens? Thirty minutes later guess who is hungry? You guessed it. Your little picky eater. Jamie’s mother was concerned about Jamie's lack of interest in food. She stated, “Jamie never wants to eat anything I fix for dinner. Wh... Secrets Of Happy Moms By : Carrie Lauth Have you ever noticed how some Moms seem to be very contented and confident in their role as Mothers, and others seem chronically stressed and approaching burnout? Why are some Moms unflappable and able to keep their sense of humor, while others overreact to the slightest stressors in their day? I'm currently observing and interviewing these happy Moms as I conduct research for an upcoming book. While all Moms are different, these women usually have several of the followin... Motivation To Succeed Develops In Early Childhood By : Madina Bakhitova Disclaimer: None of the content of this article should be considered medical or psychological advice. You should consult with your health care professional for specific advice relating to your medical and psychological questions or conditions. Have you ever heard about a child whom parents or teachers describe as lazy, unenthusiastic, and non-interested in any school subject or social activity? If yes, have you ever thought why this child is so low motivated, when he or sh... Ten Tips To Prevent Or Subdue Temper Tantrums By : Destry Maycock CHALLENGE: “Whenever David doesn’t get his way he throws himself on the floor, screams, kicks and cries incessantly. What can we do to help him overcome this behavior?” TIP: What is David getting out of this behavior. First make sure that you are not rewarding this type of behavior, positively or negatively because both will help keep it alive. If you eventually give in to this behavior by changing your initial decision (not letting David go out to play, refusing David a ... Adoption Options By : Dana Sanders Adopting a child allows you to open your heart and home to another human person. Few things are more glorious. Couples choose to adopt for many reasons, but the end result is the same: they want a child to love. If you are interested in adoption, you should understand all aspects before making this important decision. A multitude of resources are available. Your local library is an excellent tool for researching adoption. In addition, the Internet is a fabulous tool not only ... Parents, Kids And Time Alone By : Margaret Paul, Ph.D. “What are some of the ways in which you explain to kids that mom and dad need time alone, without feeling guilty about it?” A journalist, writing an article on having time alone and couple time when you have kids, asked me this question. Parents will feel guilty only when they believe that they are doing something wrong by spending time alone and couple time without their children. This is a false belief. The truth is that children grow up far healthier emotionall... Overweight Children – What Can A Parent Do To Help? Part 1 Of 5 By : Lindsay Small The latest figures released in the US state that 15 percent of children and teenagers are now considered overweight, up from 6% 20 years ago. Statistics in the UK are similar, and rising. Whilst children starve in Africa, kids in the Western world are lining up to suffer a frightening array of weight-related illnesses, including skin and joint problems, early osteoporosis, type II diabetes, bowel cancer, high blood pressure, heart attack and strokes. Recent research also sugg... Helping Your Child Stay Fit By : Kirsten Hawkins Would your child rather watch television and play video games all day than move an inch? Children are battling obesity and inactivity at alarming rates. It’s time to get our kids in shape now, before they face serious health problems in the future. But how? As you can guess, the plan includes lots of fun. Any time you can add excitement and laughter into an activity, you’ve got a winner. Let’s take a look at some of the ways you can help your child not only become healthi... How To Use A Token Economy To Shape Your Child's Behavior. By : Destry Maycock A token economy is a behavioral modification technique that was first used in mental institutions to reinforce and establish desirable behaviors in their patients. Today you can find token economies being used in schools, treatment programs, and some families have found its usefulness in shaping their children's behavior. The token economy is a system in which targeted behaviors are reinforced with tokens (secondary reinforcers) and are later exchanged for rewards (primary re... How To Select The Right Shoes For Your Children By : Sintilia Miecevole It is pretty usual for children to go around in footies or in socks during their first months. At that age, shoes are merely a 'decoration' item because newborns or young babies never walk so they don't need any kind of support for their body and feet. Nevertheless, the minute kids begin to walk, generally quite a few months before or after they turn one, you must know what types of shoes your kid is going to wear. You may need to buy several pairs of new shoes for toddlers a... Bath Time Magic For Kids By : Lindsay Small Bath time is the perfect opportunity for parents and children to really get to know each other and spend quality time together. How you view “bath time” is up to you. Many parents choose to treat it as a chore and dread the evenings – as do their children. In many homes, bath time is about as boring as brushing teeth. You, however, can choose to turn bath time into something special, which both you and your child will look forward to every day. For a child, bath time shou... A New Baby Can Be Expensive! By : Melanie Breeze "A new baby brings a lot of joy and hope to a family. It also brings some uncertainty. You may be concerned that your home is too small, or that you need a larger car, among others. Whether you are expecting your first or your fifth child, chances are that you need baby gear! There are hundreds of different items that you need when the baby arrives, and it is important to remember that stocking up doesn’t mean you have to clean out the bank account. If you do a little bit of ... Tips For Discreet Breastfeeding In Public By : Carrie Lauth If you're a new Mom who is nursing your baby you may be nervous about doing so in public. Or perhaps you are disturbed by media reports of women who are harassed for breastfeeding in public and are considering pumping your milk to give your baby when you leave home. Here are some tips for discreet breastfeeding that have worked for many Moms. Hopefully they will help you feel more comfortable nursing in public so you can avoid the inconvenience of pumping and preparing ... How To Potty Train In Two Days By : Carrie Lauth Ah, potty training! Go to a local bookseller and you will find dozens of books on the subject. Search the Net and there are thousands of websites with information on how to do it stress free. There are even people who are capitalizing on a parent's frustration with potty training by offering to do it for you, for a hefty sum! I honestly can't imagine anything more unseemly than paying someone to teach my child to "go". Ewwww!!! I have successfully potty trained 3 kid... Raising Baby On The Cheap By : Carrie Lauth Have you ever read those reports on the cost of raising a child? The last time I checked, I was told that it would cost the astronomical figure of $430,470 to raise my baby... and that didn't include college tuition! The people who come up with these figures must not be very creative. Some of the best things you can do for your child are free or very inexpensive. Here are some tips for raising kids on the cheap. 1) Breastfeed You can save roughly $1,000 in formula... The Laid Back Parents Guide To Teaching Your Child To Read By : Carrie Lauth At first I thought of titling this article "The Lazy Parent's Guide" but then I realized that most parents aren't lazy, but they may have a slightly different philosophy about children and learning. If you're a big reader yourself or if you're homeschooling, you're probably concerned about how to teach your child to read. Reading is one of the most important skills a person can learn, and a great joy in life. My laid-back methods of teaching a child to read: 1) Be a ... Are Toys & Video Games The Right Christmas Gifts For Kids? By : Rosie Fletcher It’s the age of innocence when their eyes a little brighter and their smile are full of possibilities. Their minds are being shaped by everything around them and it’s important to make sure that those surroundings are positive and promote good character traits. The question is are toys and video games the right Christmas gift for kids? The simple answer - yes. Creative Development Children love toys and they love to play video games. Imagination is the greatest gift ... Caring For Baby's Clothes By : Mike Cliff New parents are full of concerns about what regular household activities may pose a threat or present problems for their newest family member. At some point the question about the best ways to wash baby clothing will arise. Parents typically ask whether there is a certain type off detergent that they should use, whether it is safe to wash baby clothes with the rest of the family's clothing and what special steps should be taken with cloth diapers if they are being used. De... Are Chat Rooms A Menace To Your Children? By : T. O' Donnell My answer would be: yes, with qualifications. I've been running internet chat rooms since 1998, at http://www.tigertom.com/chat_rooms.htm. Nothing fancy. The software was freely available. I just had to make some important modifications: adding bad word filters and automated 'kicking' (ejection from the rooms). You think free speech is a good thing, until you read what anonymous, malevolent young men say to fifteen-year-old girls. It isn't Shakespeare, let me tell you... Science Of Acne In Layman's Terms By : Kirsten Hawkins In a nutshell, a few simple steps occur that cause skin blemishes. First, acne occurs when for some unknown reason or combination of reasons, hair follicles, also known as pores, become blocked. Although the exact combination of reasons that pores become clogged may not be fully known, many contributing elements for teenagers and adults alike can include; genetics (whether or not there is a history of acne problems and if so, to what extent), hormones, dietary and vitamin mak... How To Save Hundreds Of Dollars Per Year On Baby Gifts By : Dana Williams Think for a minute. How many baby showers have you attended in the past year? Now think about how much money you've spent in the last year on baby shower gifts. One, two, may three hundred? For some, the answer could easily be several hundred dollars. Wouldn't it be a lot easier and cheaper if you just made the gift yourself? I know what you're thinking, "But I'm not creative. I can't make anything." The truth is, there are many gifts you can create with very little time and ... Autism: What Causes It, And Can It Be Cured? By : Lisa Hyde Autism is a disorder that is affecting more and more children. But many autistic children have been able to lead normal lives. Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by abnormal social interaction, communication ability, interest patterns, and behavior patterns. Autism is found to occur due to the vulnerability to environmental triggers displayed by the human genes. Seven major genes have been identified to be related to autism. One child in every thousand ... Autism: The Mystery By : Lisa Hyde Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by abnormal social interaction, communication ability, interest patterns, and behavior patterns. Autism is found to occur due to the vulnerability to environmental triggers displayed by the human genes. Seven major genes have been identified to be related to autism. One child in every thousand in the Untied States is found to suffer from this disorder. Autism results from the abnormal bilogical and neurochemical develo... The Trouble With Parents By : Brian Pratt Like most parents, my partner and I work hard to develop our children into healthy, well adjusted people. We want them to have the skills to persue whatever objectives they choose for themselves in this world. None of us are perfect parents and we all learn from the past. The purpose of this article is to pass on one of our experiences. It had a profound effect on the way we approach the parenting game. A few years ago, our two children were aged two and four. Over a ... Control And Responsibility For Teens By : Alan Yarbrough, Ed. D. Control and Responsibility Dear Daughter, In an earlier letter we touched on the concepts of control and responsibility. Let’s go a little deeper with these important ideas. If you ever find that someone’s behavior is “driving you nuts,” please slow down and consider the possibility of control issues on your part. Did you know that it is possible for you to try to control another person and not even be aware of what you are doing? It’s very possible. In fact, this ... Dating, Drugs And Alcohol By : Alan Yarbrough, Ed. D. Dear Daughter, I love you so much. I wish that I could always protect you from all dangers, but I know that I can’t. You are growing up and you will have to face dangers and make some decisions on your own. However, I am always here and I can always be a pretty good coach. Please talk to me anytime about any problem you may have, even if you have messed up. I have messed up a few times myself. I was thinking about my last letter on dating. I would like to continue those... How To Survive As A Working Parent By : Amie Porter Basic Tips 1. Communicate with your babysitter, nannies or au pair, mother’s help to keep up-to–date. Make as much time as possible to talk to your child care provider. If you can keep the lines of communication open beyond the rush, you'll have a much better feeling about your child's development and well being. 2. Don't get wound up by small issues. If your child only wants to eat burgers every day, let him eat them. He will outgrow this phase. Providing the chi... Autism: Is There A Cure In Sight? By : Lisa Hyde Autism: What causes it, and can it be cured? Autism is a disorder that is affecting more and more children. But many autistic children have been able to lead normal lives. Autism is a developmental disorder that appears in the early stages of development of a child, mostly in the first three years of development. It is a neurological disorder that affects the proper functioning of the brain and affects the development of the social and communication skills of the indi... How To Throw The Best Baby Shower In 3 Easy Steps By : Linda Harrison Here’s a really simple way to throw the best baby shower possible and really wow your friends and family members. Throwing a winning baby shower shouldn’t be more work than it needs to be. However, there are 3 steps to follow to the letter to ensure that the baby shower is special for everyone involved. Sticking to these 3 steps will make sure that your baby shower goes off without a hitch and that you can sleep in peace knowing that you did everything right. 1. Use ballo... What Parents Should Know About Teens And Teasing At School By : Sintilia Miecevole For most teens, going back to school means sharing classrooms and a building with many other students. Unfortunately some learners have to deal with inappropriate behavior such as teasing. Teasing is the act of harassing someone playfully or maliciously, especially by ridicule. It is hurtful and potentially dangerous. Judy S. Freedman’s book "Easing the Teasing" is very helpful for dealing with children’s teasing issues. It specifically helps parents learn strategies to h... When Your Teenager Is Out Of Control: Troubled Teen Programs By : Paolo Basauri Introduction to Troubled Teen Programs More than ever, teens today are facing an uncertain future. With political instability across the globe and unrest in local communities, it’s no wonder that our teens are confused and scared about their place in the world. Just as they are trying to find their own adult identity, the teenage body is hit with an influx of hormones and unsettling emotions that they don’t know how to control. Because of this, teenagers are particularly s... Bathing Your Newborn By : Sarah Veda Bathing a newborn baby can be a traumatic event for a first time Mom. Newborns can seem so fragile, and wet, slippery ones downright frightening. But, don’t fear; once you get the hang of it, you’ll feel like a pro. Newborns only need to be bathed two or three times a week – bathing more often can result in dry skin. First of all, it’s important not to put your newborn in any sort of bathtub until her umbilical cord has fallen off. If your baby is circumcised, you need to... Hand-eye coordination and visual discrimination key to literacy By : Deanna Mascle Hand-eye coordination is a necessary skill for written language and the best way to help your child develop this skill is to let them play with toys and activities that involve looking at, using, and discriminating a number of elements. Pacifier Or Not? By : Sarah Veda Before I had children, I swore my child would never use a pacifier. To me, they were simply signs that a child was just not very well taken care of. You know, Mom doesn’t want to pick the baby up and comfort her, so she just puts a pacifier in her mouth to quiet her. But, I’m older now, and I have three children, so I’m wiser too. There definitely are times when a pacifier is a huge help – not just a crutch for Mom. As it turns out, some newborns just have a greater urge t... Teen Pregnancy Prevention By : Sarah Mitchell Since the early 1990s, teen pregnancies across America declined dramatically. However, it is a teen pregnancy fact that 34% of teenage girls in America still get pregnant before they turn the age of 20. This means that America has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the world. As does England; in which one in every five births in the country is from a teenager. These are shocking statistics and adults and teenagers alike should be active in teen pregnancy prevention. ... Newborn Sleeping Positions By : Sarah Veda It can all be very confusing. Put the baby on her tummy, no her side, no her back. Over the years, we’ve been told many different things about sleeping positions for babies. Here’s the scoop, from my perspective, anyway. Years ago, it was common practice for babies to sleep on their stomachs. And, there was good reason – babies sleep more soundly on their tummies than in any other position. Most of us were put to sleep on our stomachs, and we turned out fine, right? But... The Art Of Getting Your Kids To Talk To You By : Sintilia Miecevole Being a parent isn't easy. Some days just getting everyone in your family all together at the same time for dinner can seem like the "impossible dream". Between after school sports and clubs and working and errands and carpools, it's not surprising that almost half of the parents in a recent survey said they feel a growing distance between themselves and their children. Today's children have more things to deal with than kids did even twenty years ago. Drugs, violence, mi... Teaming Up At School Or Work To Lose Weight By : Joey Dweck Teaming up either at school or work to lose weight may be one of the best ways to accomplish your diet goals according to a study published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. The study followed a group of friends who partnered up in an effort to lose weight as well as several individuals with the same goals. At the end of the study, researchers found that people who partnered up were not only more likely to complete their diet program but also lose more wei... Breast Or Bottle – Which Is Right For You By : Sarah Veda There are lots of decisions to make when there’s a baby on the way. One of the most controversial is the ever raging “breast or bottle” debate. There are many people who have strong feelings on both sides of this issue, and many of them will try like a televangelist to get you on their side. I’m not going to do that. I’m going to give you the facts, and share some personal insight on the subject, which hopefully will leave you feeling good, whatever your choice. Scientifi... How To Teach Your Children To Beat Stress By : Art Turner We are sending our children into a future filled with stress and conflict. Parents and teachers have the responsibility to model behaviors and teach skills that will enable our children to be productive, accepting, healthy, and above all, resilient. 1. Self-understanding and acceptance Self-esteem is a realistic estimate of your own capabilities and worth. People with high self-esteem are productive, responsive, imaginative, and attentive to the needs of others. Encou... Acne Treatments – A Brief Users Guide For Parents, Teens And The Rest Of Us. By : Mark MacKay Treating acne depends on the type and severity of your acne. Treatment also depends on how dry or oily your skin is, if you are male or female, if you are taking any medications, if you are pregnant or might be soon. These various factors affect your treatment options and can make any one size fits all acne treatment method ineffective. Lucky their are numerous acne treatment options, so while you might not find one that works the first time, do not give up just try anoth... Why Parents Need Keylogger Software By : Michael Ryan Children use computers for homework, surf the web at their leisure and socialize through instant messaging – activities which are often outside direct parental control and by themselves leave little or no record of their occurrence. If parents want to know how their children are using their computer they are faced with either banning a child’s access entirely or being physically present at all times. Fortunately, inexpensive and easy-to-use keylogger software is available to solve this problem. To Circumcise Or Not To Circumcise By : Sarah Veda If you’re about to have a baby, no doubt the subject of circumcision for a boy baby has entered your mind. Circumcision is a personal choice – but, of course, it’s one that you’re making for another person- so you tend to feel a fair amount of pressure to make a good decision. Here are some things to think about that might make your choice easier. In the US, the majority of boys are circumcised, though the numbers are declining somewhat. In other parts of the world, most ... Want Your Children To Love Books - Go See A Movie! By : Brent Sitton Reading a book from which a movie is made is almost always a richer experience than simply watching the movie. The experience of savoring the words on the page and allowing yourself to be taken on a journey inspired by the author is sublime. As the author paints a picture with words, your imagination fills in the blanks until the voices of the characters and the images of the settings resonate in your mind. After reading and thoroughly enjoying a well-written book, watchin... The Importance Of Learning And Discovering New Things By : Adwina Jackson The world of parenting is intriguing and new. Every day you have the opportunity to learn and discover new things. Why is this important? As much as your children will grow during there lifetime, you grow too. You have the opportunity to learn right along with your children! You can learn to re-discover the mystery and uniqueness of the world at large. As your children discover the joy of rain drops for the first time, you too have the opportunity to re-discover your s... 5 Steps You Can Take To Ensure Your Kids Are Ready For College By : Adwina Jackson College may be many years away… or it may be just around the corner. Whether your kids are 6 or 16, it is important that you prepare them for college long before the time comes for them to attend. For many children going to college is a rite of passage. For others it is an unknown, a world of mystery. You never know, your child may not even be sure if they want to attend college to begin with. You’ll never know if you don’t take the time to sit down and talk with y... Good Ways To Foster Communication With Your Teen By : Adwina Jackson The teenage years are confusing for parents and teens alike. Kids that once seemed open and full of sharing suddenly withdraw. As a parent, your primary concern may be fostering communication with your teen. Most parents struggle to get something other than a one word response from their teenager. It’s important to understand that you have to be delicate when approaching your teenager. You want to engage your child in conversation without putting them on the defense or... Recognizing A Baby’s Sleep Patterns By : Adwina Jackson It’s true, the number one milestone most parents seek look forward to is the day (or night) their newborn starts sleeping through the night. You don’t have to suffer endless night after night without sleep however, even with a newborn. Baby’s actually follow certain sleep patterns, and if you get to know what these patterns are you’ll start sleeping more soundly and better the times you do have a chance to get some sleep! Baby’s don’t actually sleep at the same int... Planning A Baby Shower From Start To Finish By : Adwina Jackson Planning a baby shower is one of the loveliest gifts you can provide a mother to be. But where do you start? If you are a first time planner or an experienced planner, you can benefit by following some simple strategies to ensure your baby shower goes off without a hitch. Here’s what the experts recommend when it comes to baby shower planning: 1) Decide when the shower should be held. Most are held before the baby comes but some mom’s are superstitious and would pref... Developmental Stages – Is Your Baby On Track By : Sarah Veda When you’re a first time Mother, you’re always worried about your baby’s development. Sometimes, we get downright obsessed with knowing when our child will sit up, crawl, walk and talk. And, if they’re one week later than we think they should be, we’re concerned that something’s wrong. Well, here’s the scoop on approximately when the big milestones take place. Remember, each baby is different. If you think your baby is not progressing as he should, speak with your pediatricia... Your Baby Nursery By : Roy Thomsitt Where you live will probably dictate whether a baby nursery is the norm; and your budget and living accommodation will influence whether you are able to follow that norm or tradition and supply your new baby with their own separate nursery. A baby nursery, or separate bedroom for a new born, is not the usual practice in many countries. My children by my first marriage were brought up in England, where a baby, on being taken home from hospital, will go home to a separate be... Is Your Baby’s Size Normal By : Sarah Veda All mothers watch their children’s development closely. We get worried if they’re too small, or too big, too short or too tall. But, just like adults, babies come in all shapes and sizes. When you take your baby to the pediatrician for her well baby checkups, they will rank your baby’s size. Here’s some idea of how it will work. When your baby is weighed and measured, the pediatrician will tell you where your baby’s weight and length rank in terms of a “percentile”. This ... 13 Things For Your Child To Do (Instead Of Watch Tv) By : Carrie Lauth C'mon, admit it. You sometimes use the television set as a cheap babysitter. That's ok...we ALL do it sometimes! Ah, but it's a double-edged sword, because kids who watch a lot of TV have trouble keeping themselves entertained, which in the long run makes your job harder! If you're trying to limit the TV viewing in your household, you might need a little inspiration. Try these TV-free activities guaranteed to keep the kids busy... at least for a little while! 1) Make ... Is Your Baby Ready For Solid Foods By : Sarah Veda Your little one is growing like a weed and drinking you out of house and home. You may be wondering if your little one is ready for some solid food. Here are a few tips to help you determine if your baby is ready to take the next step. Gone are the days when anxious moms start their little ones on cereal somewhere between six and twelve weeks. To be honest, these moms did this for their own convenience, rather than the baby’s health. Starting a baby on cereal early can hel... Homeschool Programs Could be the Best Way to Educate Your Children By : Keily Rice A number of parents and schoolkids moan about the condition of today's schools and colleges. Violence, disciplinary problems and drugs are just a few of the issues that prey on our minds and scare children and students. Is home-schooling better for our kids and just why would that be? How To Create Memorable Gifts For Children By : Adwina Jackson Gift giving is a time honored tradition shared by children and adults alike the world over. With time the memory of an ordinary gift will fade. One thing you can do to make a lasting impression on children is offer them a gift that is unique, memorable and out of the ordinary. You may find years after the fact that the child still speaks of your gift with fondness and affection. They may even keep it for years after they have grown. Shopping for ordinary gifts is ... How To Get Your Toddler To Eat Well By : Adwina Jackson Toddlers are notoriously picky eaters. Not a parent exists that hasn’t worried about their toddlers eating habits at one time or another. Some worry their toddlers aren’t eating enough, others worry that their toddlers are eating too much, and still others worry that their toddlers aren’t eating a wide enough variety of different foods. The good news is that if you do things right, you can set your toddler on a path to good eating indefinitely. How do you do it? F... Tips For Selecting A Good Day Care By : Adwina Jackson Selecting a daycare is one of the most important decisions you’ll make before returning to the workforce. Why? The center you choose will ultimately be responsible for your child’s well being and safety the 5-9 hours a day they are left in the care of the center. Whether you are looking for a home child care provider or an official daycare center, there are several things you should keep in mind before signing your children up for care. Location – first and foremo... Common Childhood Illnesses… What To Look For By : Adwina Jackson Children are very susceptible to illnesses, in part because their immune systems are not fully mature. Breastfeeding of course provides some immunity to common illnesses, but nowadays most children are weaned by the time they are 1 year old. Children also have a habit of exploring the world around them with their mouths and their hands. Anything that comes into contact with their mouth and hands can potentially cause an illness. The good news is that the more your... Is Your Baby Ready For Potty Training By : Sarah Veda You’re getting tired of changing those diapers, aren’t you? It’s so great to be able to get your child out of diapers. But, when it comes to potty training, timing is everything. If you start when your child isn’t ready, it will just take longer. However, if you miss the right opportunity, your child may resist the process more when you try later on. So, just how do you know when to begin? First of all – forget what your mom told you about having you potty trained by the t... Meta Patterns & Genius - A Simple Game To Increase A Child's Intelligence By : Silvia Hartmann As a side effect in my life long study of human excellence, genius and creativity, I have discovered ONE particular thinking pattern that makes ALL THE DIFFERENCE in: - understanding the world - problem solving - innovation and creativity - and even inner harmony. This is a meta filter which people LEARN, they are NOT born "that way", and it is a really profound one that makes the difference between a great thinker and someone who isn't, at the end of the day. Thi... The Perfect Princess Tea Party - 7 Simple Steps By : Annette Yen Can you think of anything more feminine, more lovely, more "girly" than a group of young girls... all dressed in their princess finery sitting down to a decked out tea table with royal dainties? Girls across the globe love dress up and love tea...so why not combine the two and make the perfect event for your girls - a Princess Tea Party! Here are 7 easy steps toward making the perfect memory for your little princess: 1. Set a date: Keep in mind the ages of your little o... How To Move With Young Children By : Kyle Thomas Haley Moving can upset children of any age. It frequently causes them to feel apprehensive and insecure. But, don’t despair; there are many things you can do to make the moving experience less scary for your children. Involve Them from the Very Beginning. Tell your children as soon as you know you’re moving; don’t spring it on them at the last minute. Explain why you’re moving in terms they can understand. Do you need more room? Are you relocating because of a new job? Be s... What To Expect During An Adoption Home Study By : Dana Sanders Every state asks prospective adopting parents, no matter how they plan to adopt to participate in an adoption home study. The purpose of this study is to provide valuable information to parents who are wishing to adopt. It is not to frighten or distress anyone or make them think they will not be acceptable parents. An adoption home study simply assures that real people become parents. It is not meant for any other purpose other than to weed out the potential fears or reser... Involving Your Baby In Christmas Celebrations By : Roy Thomsitt The Christmas holiday period is a time when, for millions of families, the daily routine is likely to change, sometimes drastically or sometimes just a little. If you have a new born, or very young, baby in the house, do not believe that they will not be aware of what’s going on just because they are lazing around in their crib sleeping most of the time. They will be aware of differences in their environment, so it is a good idea to think about the well being of the baby in a... Effective Strategies For Dealing With Diaper Rash By : Sarah Veda Diaper rash is a really annoying baby problem. It can get out of control easily, and can make your baby miserable. Luckily, it can be controlled with a little effort on your part. Following are some remedies that worked well with my children. Some babies are just more prone to diaper rash than others, and if yours is prone, you’ll really have to keep on top of the problem. The most important thing you can do is change your baby’s diaper regularly. Diaper rash is caused by ... Babies Minor Maladies By : Sarah Veda Babies can have a ton of little issues, and we worry ourselves silly over them, though most are no real threat to baby’s health. Here are a list of the most common little ailments, how to treat them at home, and when to call the doctor. · Diaper Rash – Diaper rash is caused by baby’s bottom being constantly exposed to wetness. For most babies, changing their diaper a little more often and applying an over the counter cream are enough to solve the problem. If all your meas... Is my child a target for internet predators? By : Michael Ryan Every child with unmonitored internet access navigates alone through an amazing electronic world full of friends, interesting content... and predators prowling for vulnerable children. This article lists some common characteristics of victims and steps you can take to protect your child. How To Schedule But Not Over-Schedule Your Children By : Adwina Jackson It is important to engage children in a variety of activities to stimulate their mind and body. It is also important however to as much as possible avoid over-scheduling your children if possible. Many well meaning parents set out to interest their children in a few extra curricular activities aside from school and ordinary family fun stuff. It’s natural to work hard to be the best parent that you can be. However, many parents so caught up in the chaos of ordinary busy... Introducing Children To Music… Strategies For Success By : Adwina Jackson I’ve heard a million parents lament the fact that they didn’t get their children interested in music sooner. There are also hundreds of adults out there that wish they had learned how to play an instrument when they were younger. Studies actually support the idea that music stimulates certain brain connections and can actually help children grow smarter! Music also provides an invaluable outlet for safe expression of feelings and emotions, and can also serve as an ... Dealing With Loss… Teaching Your Children About Life And Death By : Adwina Jackson At some point or another you and your children will be faced with death. It’s important that you teach your children that death is merely an aspect of life, and help them become comfortable with the topic. One of the best things you can do to prepare your children for the prospect of a death is to talk about it with them ahead of time. Your approach to the subject may vary a little depending on your spiritual beliefs. Some cultures actually embrace the subject of ... Children And Divorce By : Stephen Kreutzer A recent statistic shows that almost half of all marriages end in divorce. Divorce is difficult for everyone involved, but maybe the hardest on children. Most often they experience many feelings that they do not understand. They go through a range of emotions and need their parents to understand. If you are going through a divorce getting to understand how your children are dealing with it is important. When parents divorce they often put their children in the center of a... How To Teach Your Children To Cook By : Geoffrey Cook If you're ready to teach your children how to cook, here are some simple tips for teaching them the basics, and giving them skills that will last them a lifetime! First of all, think safety. Any child that has to stand on a stool or chair in order to reach the stove is too young to cook. Start younger children off by letting them help set and clear the table, gathering ingredients, and stirring, mixing or adding ingredients. Next, set rules about handling knives and o... How To Prevent Your Child From Having Problems At Daycare Or School By : Susan Wong Let’s face it: As a parent or guardian, your child means everything to you. When putting your child through daycare or school, it is important to make sure that nothing goes wrong to harm your child – either physically or mentally. Additionally, your child’s health and safety should be one of your top concerns. If your child is enrolled in a day care or school program and something goes wrong, you’re sure to feel upset or angry. However, taking an aggressive approach an... “They Should Have Beat Me More” - The Cycle Of Physical Abuse By : Margaret Paul, Ph.D. In December, 2005, I conducted a two-day workshop with men who had recently been released from prison for domestic violence. With the men were their wives, as well as the father of a batterer who was still in prison. The father, Douglas, sat in front of me, sharing his childhood experiences. “My momma was a very loving woman – a big-hearted, hard working loving woman,” he told me. From my many years of counseling, I knew that my definition of love and his definition of... SIDS - Sudden Infant Death Syndrome – What You Need To Know By : Sarah Veda Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is a frightening fear for most mothers. SIDS is often referred to as crib death, and is the sudden death of an infant who stops breathing. It is rare, affecting less than 2 in 1000 infants in the US, but the fear of it plagues all new mothers. Who needs to be worried? SIDS was once thought of as random, striking healthy babies, which made it all the more frightening. But, in reality, there are some things that can indicate that a baby i... Easy Tips To Keeping Kids Quiet While You’re On The Phone By : Nell Taliercio One of the easiest ways to get into the telecommuting industry is to get a phone job. These phone jobs are more readily available than other telecommuting jobs and usually pay pretty well. When you first start working on the phone from home, keeping the kids quiet can be a bit of a challenge. There is a fine line between keeping your child quiet and stifling the fun that kids should have every day. Here are some age-appropriate ideas on what you can do to make sure you ge... 5 Steps To Raising Optimistic Children By : Tony Fiore I had just completed a session with 17-year old Julie who suffered from severe depression. Julie believed she was a total failure and would never be able to change anything in her life. Julie also felt all her shortcomings were her own fault. Where, I ask myself, did such a young person acquire this negative and fatalistic thinking? The answer soon became apparent when I invited her parents into the session. They began discussing numerous life events and explaining them i... Transitioning From Bassinet To Crib By : Sarah Veda If your baby has been sleeping in your room in a bassinet, you may have some concerns about moving her to her own room and her crib. But, don’t worry; you will probably both sleep better once the transition is complete. Most babies are ready to move to the crib at around six to eight weeks of age, or whenever he is sleeping for longer periods during the night. Be prepared that the crib might feel a bit large to the baby who has been accustomed to a bassinet, but the trans... Choosing A Formula By : Sarah Veda If you’ve decided on formula as the choice for feeding your baby, you might be a bit confused about all the choices. There are lots of options to help you find the type that will best suit your baby’s needs and your lifestyle. When you are in the hospital, if your baby is getting formula, it will likely be pre-mixed in one serving disposable bottles, and will be a name brand, milk based formula. This is likely to be what your pediatrician recommends and will work well for... Getting Your Baby On A Sleeping Routine By : Sarah Veda It’s not unusual for newborns to have unusual sleeping habits, particularly for them to want to sleep during the day, and stay awake at night. Remember, in the womb its dark all the time, so night and day mean nothing to them. If your baby’s sleeping habits need some adjustment, here are some ways to get him on track. · Don’t keep quiet during the day when he’s sleeping – When he sleeps during the day (and all babies will) leave the door to his room open, and go about your... Popular Bed Wetting Solutions You Can Use By : Jared Winston A huge number of children are affected by nocturnal enuresis, or sleep wetting, as it is often called. Although there is no specific treatment for this condition, parents can still find some good bed wetting solutions that work. Visiting With The Pediatrician – What To Expect By : Sarah Veda In the first year of your baby’s life, you will be visiting your pediatrician about every other month, for well check ups and immunizations. Here’s a rundown of how those visits go, and approximately how often you’ll need to visit. Two week visit Some doctors schedule a visit earlier than two weeks, but most pediatricians begin at the two week mark. Your baby’s weight, length and head circumference will be measured, and you can expect this at every well baby checkup duri... Beating Obesity In Children By : David McCarthy Obesity in children is the biggest challenge facing parents in these early years of the twenty-first century and this article is designed to take a long hard look at the reasons. Over the past 30 years children, and population in general, have been heading deeper into an obesity pattern, just as hours spent watching television or sitting in front of a computer have risen proportionately. In fact the graphs for obesity and television/computer sitting rise almost in unison, ... Just What Is Colic – And Does My Baby Have It By : Sarah Veda There are few things more nerve wracking than a crying baby, particularly when nothing you do seems to console him. But, how do you know when your baby’s symptoms have are just crying and when he has colic? And, just what is colic, anyway? No one knows exactly what causes colic, though many old wives tales abound. Lots of older women will tell you that it is caused by parental inexperience, but colic does not occur more often in first children than in subsequent children, ... Coping With A Birth Disorder In Your Child By : Sarah Veda If you have a child who has been diagnosed with a serious birth disorder, this is an extremely trying time in your life. You have many challenges ahead of you, both physical and emotional. Right now you are probably on an emotional roller coaster ride, and are having difficulty just getting through the day. Here are some tips that will hopefully help you deal with the adjustments in your life. Learn all that you can about your child’s disorder It’s going to be painful to ... Teething Without Biting Your Nails By : Sarah Veda For some babies, teething is a simple affair, with few noticeable side effects. For others, it takes months of pain and anguish to get those first teeth to pop in. Here is some information to help you get through the teething stage, without spending too much time biting your nails. When will it happen? Well, that largely depends on when it happened for you and your husband. The timing of the appearance of that first tooth is largely hereditary. The average age is about se... Starting Your Baby On Solids – What Are The Right Foods By : Sarah Veda If your baby is ready to start on solid foods, you might be a bit confused as to which foods are best. There are a wide variety of foods that can be good starter foods. Here are some ideas to help you get going. Rice, Mixed Grain or Oat Cereal This is the typical baby cereal that you mix with formula or breast milk. This is a good starter food because it is easily tolerated and you can make it as thin as you like for those first meals. Start with just about a tablespoon o... Playing With Your Baby – How To Make An Impact By : Sarah Veda If you’re wondering how to interact with your baby in the early days, just think back to your own childhood. Games your mom played with you are not outdated. In addition to making baby smile, silly baby rituals like “this little piggy went to market” teach your child some important early skills. Here are some favorites, and some things you may not know about them. · Peek-a-boo – This is one of the most important, because it teaches your baby that even when you can’t see so... Breastfeeding My Baby, Where Do I Start? By : Melida Cohen Congratulations you have a new baby! Having a new baby is hard enough but when you choose to breastfeed you sometimes feel that you made this experience even harder. Breastfeeding is not as difficult as it looks or as you may have heard from others. It is actually pretty easy and a very fulfilling way to nourish your newborn once you get the hang of it. Remember as with most things practice makes perfect! Breastfeeding is new to you and to your little one but with a little pr... 4 Baby Care Tidbits Every Parent Should Know! By : Melida Cohen New parents face many problems and issues that they are expected to understand and deal with immediately. Unfortunately, newborns do not come with an instruction book so here are a few topics that you may need to know about. Bathing your baby: Until your baby’s umbilical cord falls off one to two weeks after their birth, only give her sponge baths. A cotton ball or cotton swab dampened with alcohol can help to dry the umbilical stump or follow your pediatrician’s directio... How To Get Your Baby To Sleep At Naptime By : Melida Cohen If you baby is not napping well during her first few months of life, you may want to try to cut back on the time she is awake by 15 minute increments. If she is getting overstimulated, then she will fight sleep and be difficult to get to nap. The way to prevent this is to watch her “sleepy” cues to make sure that you put her down when she is beginning to get sleepy. Some parents believe that letting their child cry will harm him or her. Fifteen or twenty minutes of crying... What Does My New Baby Really Need? A Guide To Shopping For Your New Baby By : Melida Cohen What is it do I really need to buy for my new baby? While writing my latest book found at www.CareForMyBaby.com I found that this is a question a lot of new moms must ask themselves. Having a new baby is a huge expense, and it is hard to stay on budget when you see all of the cute outfits in the stores. While all of the tiny things are really tempting to buy, please keep in mind that babies grow really fast. One of the biggest mistakes that new parents make is over shopping f...
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