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Teaching Your Children

August 1, 2011 by

Many people like to blame a school for their child’s poor reading skills or inability to memorize colors, but these simple tasks begin in the home. True, schools are meant to teach children how to read and write, but they are more meant to enhance their already obtained knowledge. The students that are great when they enter kindergarten and learn easily throughout elementary school are the ones with parents that have already given them a base for their education. So how can you, as a parent, aid in your child’s education?

 

You can help your child learn by playing games with them. Simple games, especially with colored pieces, will help them learn their colors and numbers. There are plenty of games that will help in your child’s learning of basic ideas.

 

Read to them. You can find many books that explain colors and numbers. These books won’t only help your child learn basic ideas, but will aid in their reading skills and their direct understanding of the alphabet.

 

Let them watch television. There are many children’s shows that are quite entertaining. Even if it isn’t meant to be educational, they will be learning from pretty much any show, but make sure it is appropriate for their age.

 

Talk to your child often. This can be as simple as reading a book or having a conversation with them. Talking to them will help them in their communication and speech skills. It will also teach them how to interact with other people well.

 

Just because your child is attending school does not mean that you are done teaching them. Begin teaching them simple things such as colors and numbers when they are young. When they enter school you can continue helping them by teaching them to add and subtract. The older they get, the more advanced their education at home should get. By the time they’re in mid-elementary school, you can begin teaching them things such as cooking.

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How to Help Your Child WIth Separation Anxiety

June 20, 2011 by

There are not many children who do not feel some kind of anxiety when they are saying goodbye to their mother or father. It is normal, and usually goes away as they get older. In some cases however, separation anxiety does not diminish as they grow, it sometimes gets worse.

A boy crying because he is sad his hot dog fell

Image by david_shankbone via Flickr

If your child suffers from separation anxiety there are a few things you can do to help them for the times when you are going to have to leave them somewhere and say goodbye. With some practice and patience you can make your goodbyes easier.

Starting a ritual can make the goodbye predictable and can often be comforting for anxious children. If they know what is coming and how it is going to happen they are often able to cope better. A goodbye ritual can be just blowing them a kiss from the doorway as you leave, or a making a silly face as you walk by the window.

If your child is anxious about your leaving, don’t drag it out. Bring them to their caregiver, say goodbye and tell them you love them and then leave the room. If you stick around trying to comfort them it will make the goodbye more difficult. It will also make it more difficult for you to say goodbye as well if you see they are upset.

If your child does well when you leave them, make sure to praise them and let them know they did a good job when you return. Again, don’t dwell on it, but give them some positive reinforcement and then move on to other fun things they did while you were gone.

 

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Cute Baby Clothes

May 17, 2011 by

One of the most fun things as a mother is to dress up your little darling in the cutest baby clothes. Once your kid hits the toddler years, he or she will have an opinion on the clothes worn, so take the chance while you still have a baby and find some cute clothes.

Where to Find Cute Clothes

We’d all love to go to children boutiques when looking for clothes for our dear darling, but for most of us, that’s not in the budget. So where can you look for cute clothes at the right price? The answer is stores like Ross, TJ Max, and Burlington Coat Factory. These stores have the most popular brands including Carter’s, but the prices are deeply discounted. What would cost $25 at Babies R Us is only $10 at Ross, for example. When you’re ready to pay, just pull out your Reach Prepaid Visa Card to pay, so you don’t have to worry about carrying cash.

Buy at the End of a Season

Another great way to save is to buy clothes near the end of the season. In order for this to work, you’ll need to start while you’re pregnant. For example, at the end of winter, buy coats, gloves, and snow suits for the next winter. The store will discount the clothes to get rid of their stock and make room for the next season so you’re sure to get a great deal if you think ahead.

Even if you don’t have a lot to spend, with a little planning, you’ll be able to find the cutest baby clothes for a great price.

 

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Questions to Ask Your Doctor Before You Give Birth

May 14, 2011 by

As a first-time mother, childbirth is an exciting time, but also a time of much confusion. You are sure to have many questions regarding the entire delivery procedure, as well as the well-being of the child and yourself throughout it all. That’s why it’s important to meet with a doctor beforehand to extensively discuss the procedure and address any concerns, especially since every birth is different. When you reach the later stages of pregnancy, be sure to schedule a meeting and prepare your questions.

First, you should inquire about aspects of the actual delivery. Ask the doctor how he or she performs a typical delivery, and if there are any foreseeable differences in the case of your pregnancy. Be sure to be as specific as possible by asking questions about every little detail, such as your positioning during labor, and certainly, what medications may be administered. If your delivery happens differently to what the doctor initially described to you, and you think something may have gone wrong, it’s a good idea to seek out the consultation of a local lawyer who specializes in medical malpractice, such as the birth injury attorneys California has to offer.

To help eliminate confusion and possible conflict during and after delivery, go through a miscellaneous set of questions with your doctor. This can include everything from religious birth rituals to circumcision. It’s recommended that you establish beforehand with your doctor exactly who is allowed in the delivery room, especially if you are using a midwife or other personal labor professional.

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Safety First: Child Proofing Your Home

May 5, 2011 by
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Image by s m i l e y via Flickr

Crawling, standing, and those first steps, your baby’s first year has many new experiences that are both exciting and a little worrisome for parents. Deciding how and when to child proof your home is another aspect to consider as your child begins exploring their environment.

The first year of your child’s life brings with it a natural curiosity to explore their environment. Your baby’s natural response will be to crawl and walk, exploring your home, while investigating how everything works. This is part of their learning process. Thus, it often becomes parent’s first concern to provide the safety necessary to protect their child.

One way to begin child proofing your home is to start low. Crawl around your own home and look for safety issues that could become a problem or harmful. Areas that are usual concerns include electrical outlets, exposed electrical wires, and cabinets or drawers with sharp or dangerous items.

Child safety sections often contain child safety products, which can minimize these issues. For instances, many places carry electrical outlet covers, child safety locks for cabinets and drawers, or covers for door handles. Other safety devices include locks for toilets, ovens, refrigerators, and even safety knobs for items such as water coolers and stove top knobs.

Begin with the the safety section in your local hardware store or any story which carries a large variety of baby items and consider the areas your baby can reach. Choose what is best for your family and your situation. Above all, you and your baby should feel comfortable and safe.

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How to Choose a Pediatrician

March 28, 2011 by

One of a mother’s most important allies is her child’s pediatrician, so it stands to reason you’ll need to give a lot of thought and care to choosing someone who is just right for your family.

It’s ideal to start looking for a pediatrician during the last few months of your pregnancy. Begin your search by talking to your family and friends. Gather their recommendations and find out what they like about the pediatrician they recommend – and what they don’t like, too. What is a small dislike to your friend may be a deal-breaker for you, so speak candidly.

Once you have a handful of contenders, find out if those physicians are a part of your insurance plan and do a background check. Conducting a check is easier than you think – all you need to do to get started is a quick online search.

Next, begin scheduling interviews with those doctors who meet your criteria. Every pediatrician’s office handles the interview process differently, but don’t worry. Just let the office staff know why you are calling and they will walk you through the process. Pay attention to how the office staff treats you when you call. As a new parent, you’ll be talking to the office staff a lot and you’ll want to make sure they are warm, competent and polite.

When you meet with the doctor, take a list of prepared questions but also judge the physician’s manner. You’re looking for a warm, compassionate pediatrician who shares your views, believes in preventative medicine, and is easy to talk to. You need to feel like you can comfortably share every concern with your child’s doctor.

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What to Expect in Your Baby’s First Four Months

March 24, 2011 by

All babies develop differently. That’s why when you see developmental guidelines for babies and young children age ranges are usually provided instead of hard and fast dates. So long as your child reaches the important developmental milestones within or near the age ranges, your baby is doing just fine.

While you can look at week-to-week development charts, those sometimes cause more worry for new parents who become upset when their baby doesn’t appear to be exactly on track. So here are some general milestones to watch for in your child. But remember, if you ever have any questions about your baby’s development, talk to your pediatrician.

In the first few months, development will be rather slow. Spend this time caring for, cuddling and loving your baby. Some things to watch for in the first month include your baby to beginning to lift his head for short periods of time, and bringing his hands to his face. In month two, your baby should begin to smile and coo.

Once your baby is three months old, his development should grow rapidly. Your baby will begin to recognize familiar people and favorite toys, push down with his legs when you hold him in a standing position on a floor or table top, and gain better control of his head.

During the fourth month, your baby should become a better sleeper, sleeping for about a six hour stretch at night; be able to sit with assistance; and communicate different needs to you by using different cries.  Your baby should also start experimenting with different sounds by babbling.

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Calming Common Childhood Fears

March 16, 2011 by

Every child, at every age, will experience fear at some time. In fact certain fears, such as separation anxiety, are practically a milestone of development. Even so, there are things you can do to calm a fearful child at any age.

When your child is an infant, he or she can become frightened by simple things, such as a loud noise or a new face. To help, establish a routine for your child’s life and stick to it. Keep things in your baby’s life predictable, and offer a lot of love, kind touches and encouragement. This will help your child develop a sense of trust.

Preschool-aged children are often afraid of new people, new places and new experiences. Also at this age imaginations tend to run wild, and it can be difficult for them to tell the difference between what is real and what is imaginary. At this age, you can’t reason with your child or talk them out of being afraid. The best thing to do is to try to turn what they are afraid of into a different emotion. If your child is afraid of the dark, make up fun activities you can do in the dark to distract him.

In elementary aged children fears are often based on things happening in real life. A child who hears about a house fire on the news might develop a fear of his own house burning down, for example. In this case, try talking to your child to uncover what he is afraid of. If he has a hard time expressing his thoughts, ask him to draw a picture to help illustrate his emotions.

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Important Milestones in Older Babies

March 7, 2011 by

Once your baby is eight months old, he is growing and changing rapidly. Don’t blink, or he’ll be a teenager before you know it!

Eight-month-old babies are active learners. At this age you can expect your baby to grab for the spoon when you are feeding him, and to turn his head away when he’s full. Your baby is probably a good sleeper now as well, sleeping long stretches at night (those midnight feedings should be a thing of the past) and taking a couple of naps during the day, too. Your baby should recognize his name, and will probably test gravity (and your patience) by repeatedly dropping items off of his high chair tray.

By month nine, your baby should be reaching for toys and looking for things that are dropped or momentarily hidden from view. He is realizing that objects still exist even when they are not in his view. At this age babies can also begin to recognize themselves in a mirror, and can go from lying on their tummy to a sitting position without assistance.

At ten months old, the idea of object permanence has “clicked” and your baby will most likely get upset if you take a toy or other favorite object away. Ten-month-olds are also ready to pull themselves up to a standing position.

At eleven and twelve months, babies can usually understand “no” and say “ma-ma” or “da-da.” They can wave bye-bye, crawl well and possibly walk and much more. Babies at this age are also more active players, open and closing cabinet doors, dancing, banging objects together and more.

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C​hildhood Obesity

February 23, 2011 by

A​mericans have long had a reputation for being a nation of overweight people, however, the recent trend is for that health issue to exhibit itself much earlier in an individual’s life. The rate of childhood obesity is growing quickly and while parents, schools, television and fast food have all garnered blame, the truth is that much more needs to be done in order to curtail this alarming trend. Kids cannot be expected to make the best decision when it comes to choosing meals and snacks, and may need to be encouraged to get any exercise at all. There are several things that parents can do in order to help their children avoid obesity, the first of which is to present a strong role model. When kids see us skipping the gym or spending our evenings on the sofa munching chips, they will be inclined to act the same way. Look for activities that would be fun for you and your child to do together, such as taking martial arts or modern dance lessons. Stock your pantry with healthy snacks, and don’t keep high calorie chips, snack cakes or candy in the house.

S​etting a good example in the home will give your child a good background in healthy eating and exercise outside the house, as well. Kids who are taught the value of nutrition and taking care of one’s body are much less likely to choose unhealthy meals and snacks in the school cafeteria. Limiting the amount of time your child is allowed to spend on the computer or in front of the television while encouraging outdoor exercise and intramural sports will also help keep them from becoming overweight. Finally, don’t go overboard with monitoring your child’s weight. The only thing worse than childhood obesity would be the development of an eating disorder.

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