Do You Want Your Children to Be Like You?
February 3, 2008
Do You Want Your Children to Be Like You?
by: Margaret Paul, Ph.D.
There is an old saying regarding children: “Do as I say, not as I do.” Whoever coined this phrase didn’t know much about children. Children often do not “do as we say.” We are the role models regarding how our children learn to treat themselves and others. We are the role models regarding whether or not our children learn to take personal responsibility for themselves - physically, emotionally, financially, relationally, spiritually, and organizationally.
Do you avoid responsibility for your own feelings with substances, activities, or with shaming and blaming behavior toward yourself or others? Are you always late and is your desk a mess? Do you eat poorly and lack exercise? Are you always in major credit card debt? Do you lack a relationship with a spiritual source of love and guidance?
Those Old TV Shows
February 2, 2008
Those Old TV Shows
by: Mark Rigney
With a very few notable exceptions, TV programming in the last decade… or three… has been relatively lame. Huh? You disagree? Let’s not forget “Supertrain,” or “Meet the Parents,” “Am I Hot,” “When Animals Attack,” or any of the brilliant sludge created and perpetrated by Fox.
But - ask any child of the 60’s about Gilligan’s Island, I Dream of Jeannie, The Andy Griffith Show, or any of the dozens of other programs we were weaned on, and you’ll see an instant smile and wink of recognition.
Why doesn’t today’s TV programming bring out the best in us the way the classics do?
My belief? TV reflects the times, and those were far more innocent times. Much of it was before the Kennedy assasinations, all of it was before Watergate, and as a people, we still believed in fairy tales.
I know that may sound cynical to some, but TV now has a harsh, friendly and often mean edge to it, while TV-Land still celebrates an age of innocence that I think most of us might still yearn to return to. After all, what HONEST parent will admit to allowing their kids to watch anything in prime time any more?
How to End the Misery of Bedwetting
February 2, 2008
How to End the Misery of Bedwetting
by: Graham Jones
When a child wets the bed they worry. Children tend to become dry during the day more easily than at night. During the day they are awake and aware of their feelings and can go to the toilet normally. However, at night, when they are asleep, the usual feelings of a full bladder aren’t sufficiently strong to wake them. The result is a wet bed. Or, young children have to continue wearing diapers at night.
Fairly soon they realise this is not normal. They wonder why they don’t need a diaper during the day, but do need one at night. They might also talk to siblings or friends and discover that they don’t need a night-time diaper. This will only compound their worries.
Throughout childhood, your son or daughter is trying to establish their identity; they are trying to find out who they are. They also want to make sure they ‘fit in’, that they are just like everyone else and that they are not abnormal. As soon as they discover that wetting the bed is not usual, they worry.
Bed Wetting Alarms Can Be Useful
February 2, 2008
Bed Wetting Alarms Can Be Useful
by: Graham Jones
Whenever parents discuss how to deal with bed wetting, the topic of alarms inevitably gets raised. Bed wetting alarms can be useful devices, but in spite of the popularity with which they get discussed, they should not really be considered a first line option. Bed wetting alarms are highly useful, but they are probably only worthwhile once you have tried a few other methods.
Children all develop at different rates. A child who hasn’t been able to master staying dry at night, may well be able to do some other task that a ‘dry’ child cannot do. Never forget, if your child wets the bed, they are almost certain to be better than other children at some other developmental achievement. All children are different.
That’s why patience is the best option for dealing with bed wetting. In most children the condition goes away naturally; the child grows up. That’s why bed wetting alarms are not always necessary. Not because they don’t work (they do) but because you will be spending money unnecessarily. Bed wetting alarms that get children to be dry at night may be helpful, but if your child was going to be dry anyway (as most children will be), you could well have wasted your money.
More Water, Not Less, Will Help End Bedwetting
February 1, 2008
More Water, Not Less, Will Help End Bedwetting
by: Graham Jones
Children are notoriously bad at drinking enough liquids. They are so busy playing they sometimes ‘forget’ to drink. Sometimes, children seem like camels - able to go for ages without having a drink. Obviously, when they are thirsty they will rush indoors for a drink. But often they look for sugary, caffeine-laden drinks which are great for quenching thirst, but do little for the body’s fluid levels.
That’s because the caffeine in many drinks leads to extra urination. The result is that more liquid goes out of the body than is taken in. And therein lies a problem. Your child’s body has inbuilt mechanisms to maintain the liquid levels. A lack of liquid intake, combined with the effects of caffeine in fluid output, means your child’s body requires more liquids to maintain the right balance. In other words, their body starts to demand more liquid.
That demand for extra liquids usually starts at the worst possible time - early evening. Your child is home from school or from a day playing with friends and they suddenly want a drink. They gulp down whatever you give them and demand more - and more. This is because their hydration levels are low and their body’s self defense mechanisms have kicked in to ensure that they don’t become dehydrated.
Top 100 Baby Names And Helpful Tips To Consider When Naming Your Baby
February 1, 2008
Top 100 Baby Names And Helpful Tips To Consider When Naming Your Baby
by: Christy Hollis
Are you an expectant parent anxiously waiting for that little package of joy? Yet, you and your spouse are still looking for that perfect name? Well…fret no more! The list of the top 100 baby names may be the answer to your prayers.
Searching for your baby’s name is loads of fun, whether you’re seeking a name for your soon-to-be baby boy or baby girl, wondering about the popularity of your own first name, or just curious about what names in the top 100 are currently hot.
What is particularly interesting is tracking the popularity of baby names over the decades. In looking through baby name lists from 1880 to the present, some amusing patterns emerge, particularly in regards to baby names for girls.
For example, in Victorian times, Biblical names such as Mary, Sarah and Ruth were very popular for baby girls. There were also many baby names that are now considered very old-fashioned like Martha, Alice, Bertha and Minnie.
Tips for Buying Baby Gear
February 1, 2008
Tips for Buying Baby Gear
by: Eric Koshinsky
Buying baby gear can be a frustrating experience for new parents who want to have the best for the baby without breaking their budget. You need to buy baby furniture, such as a crib or bassinet, a change table, high-chair, and a playpen. Parents also like to purchase a baby swing and a stroller for taking the baby for a walk. A cheaper alternative to a stroller is a baby sling where you can carry the baby comfortably and still keep him/her nestled close to you.
Other supplies that you need include baby clothes. When you are buying for the new baby, just remember that although an outfit may look cute, the baby needs to feel comfortable in it. Babies grow a lot in the first few months, so it is really a waste of money to buy a lot of brand-new outfits in newborn sizes. You are better off buying in the 3 - 6 month range at first. You will find that the baby will quickly outgrow even these. You also have to look at the material to make sure it won’t shrink after the first wash. Also buying gender neutral clothes that suit either a boy or a girl is a good choice. Chances are great, the baby will grow out of it long before it is worn out so you can pack it away for the next baby.
Back to School-Advice
January 31, 2008
Back to School-Advice
by: Patricia Garza
It’s back to school time…. Do you have everything you need to start the year off right? Confidence is key to success!
For those first time jitters help welcome your pre-school and kinder students with a walk to the door and a quick goodbye. Quick good-byes are always best even though they can be painful to let go of your little one. Rest assured your little one is going to be well cared for throughout the day. Your confidence in your child’s school and teacher will help give your child the confidence he/she needs to say goodbye easier. Remember children learn what they see. So if you are nervous and hesitant to let go, your child will be too.
Improving Spelling With Games
January 31, 2008
Improving Spelling With Games
by: Steve Hall
You got it! You can do just about any type of learning for a child or an individual learning a second language through the use of various computer games. You are sure to find something that will fit with their needs. You are also able to find a game that will keep them interested. Let’s take spelling as an example.
Many kids struggle each and every year at school with that dreaded Friday spelling test. It doesn’t get any easier because chances are good that the words just keep getting harder. For many parents, spelling is often a challenge to teach as well. The English language is nothing simple. But, what if you could teach them through the use of a PC game? That would be excellent, wouldn’t it?
Think about this. The next time your child comes home with that awful list of twenty words they just have to know, you can easily say to them, “Why not go play a game on the computer.” Yes, you can do this!
Baby Clothes You Can Use All Year
January 31, 2008
Baby Clothes You Can Use All Year
by: Tim Henry
Few things seem more important at a baby shower than duckies, monkeys and theme colors. Once you get the baby home though, the most important thing about baby clothes is how well they protect your baby. Depending on the time of year that your baby is born, and the type of climate you live in, there are a variety of concerns to take into consideration for your baby’s very sensitive nature.
For summer babies, or babies in warm climates, overheating is not the only concern. A baby’s skin is incredibly sensitive to light, especially with the increasingly less protective o-zone layer. Sunscreen is not the only necessity for baby’s sensitive skin. Keeping a towel or blanket over the baby’s carriage or bassinet during summer play is a great way to keep the sun from harming your baby. Umbrellas and pop up tents are also great for beach days. Make sure there is plenty of ventilation but little to no sun—that way your baby won’t get sunburned or have to squint at the bright sun rays.
