Self-Esteem and Teens
September 25, 2007
Self-Esteem and Teens
by: Skye Thomas
Ideally, we raise our children from the cradle to have a positive sense of self-esteem. A child that has always had a strong sense of who they are and were they want to go with their life isn’t as likely to dabble in drugs, alcohol, and premarital sex. A child who has a safe open dialog with at least one of their parents isn’t as likely to keep secrets and start sneaking around during the teenage years. A child who has been raised to set personal boundaries isn’t as likely to let peer pressure dictate their standards of conduct. Children who have been raised to recognize their own gifts and limitations are able to make their own choices about what is in their long-term best interest. But most teens weren’t raised perfectly and they know it, so along with the lack of self-confidence they are often carrying at least a little bit of animosity towards the authority figures that have failed them.
Scholarship Search Engine
September 25, 2007
Scholarship Search Engine
by: Vanessa McHooley
Scholarship Search Engine
Getting scholarships for college is not the hard part - but actually going out and finding scholarships that fit your requirements is! For years, high school guidance counselors used to suggest possible scholarships to students or give them large booklets filled with hundreds and thousands of college scholarships. Going through these books and actually finding a scholarship became a task all in and of itself. With the popularity of the internet though, finding a scholarship for college through a search engine has never been easier and has even been made simpler through the usage of specific search engines tailored just for college scholarships!
Starting Your Scholarship Search
The first thing to do before using a search engine to find college scholarships is to make a list of all of the skills or qualities about yourself that might appeal to someone handing out a college scholarship. Are you athletic in some sport that some colleges offer? Do you write poetry that would make Walt Whitman smile? Can you name all of the states in America in alphabetical order in under 2 minutes? Chances are, if you have some talent or skill, someone will be offering a scholarship that could put you into college.
Toddlers and Self-Esteem
September 25, 2007
Toddlers and Self-Esteem
by: Skye Thomas
Honestly, self-esteem is not taught to little babies and toddlers. It’s an innate sense that drives them to roll over, to crawl, to walk, to begin speaking, and to learn how to get their basic needs met. Children are naturally self-confident. Babies and toddlers don’t say, “What if I can’t accomplish this goal? Perhaps I should settle for less and just do without that toy. I don’t really need to learn to walk. I can lay here forever.” We don’t have to coach a baby to feel good about themselves so that they’ll learn how to hold their own bottle or how to manipulate a toy. The toy exists and they simply want to reach for it. The bottle is there and they simply want to hold onto it. Learning new things is just what they do without any thoughts about self-esteem and their ability to succeed. Either we reinforce their sense of self, or we systematically destroy it.
Top 10 Ways To Prevent Obesity In Kids
September 25, 2007
Top 10 Ways To Prevent Obesity In Kids
by: Nancy Hill
I’m sure you’ve seen the dire reports about childhood obesity becoming rampant in America. It’s a scary thing and not an experience any of us wish upon our children. Preventing obesity can be easy and empowering for children. Give them control over their bodies. Teach them to tune in to their real needs and to treat themselves with love and respect.
1) Allow children to be in charge of which foods they eat.
2) Make all foods equal and teach kids to check in with their bodies and choose foods based on what their bodies are asking for.
3) Encourage them to know when they are full and to stop eating at that point.
4) Let them eat according to their own hunger patterns rather than according to external schedules.
5) De-emphasize body shape and weight. Encourage kids to love and accept their bodies unconditionally.
6) Help them find fun ways to move and play so they get plenty of enjoyable exercise every day.
7) Love them unconditionally and don’t make derogatory comments about their looks or weight.
Is A Baby Allowed To Play In Its First Month?
September 24, 2007
What should you do to have a happy pregnancy? Many things you could do, but what most pregnant women rarely do is having a vacation. Get a life and try to relax a little bit. Or take an extended weekend just to refresh and recharge your batteries.
Downtime is very important, and in a world where nearly all of us are tied to cell phones and lap tops, even away from the office, it is good to get away from it all from time to time. Having time to walk along the beach or play golf or even to stay inside and read a great book without interruptions can help us recharge our batteries.
When the baby comes, your number one job is to be Mom. So, you will not have much time for yourself, at least not in the beginning when the baby depends on you for everything. Capitalize on those spare moments of highly valued free time now.
When you are refreshed, you are more effective and productive anyway. You will also be easier to get along with, and it will be easier for you to deal with others (even the difficult ones!).
Protect your Allergic Child in School
September 24, 2007
Protect your Allergic Child in School
by: Nadine O’Reilly
A severe allergic reaction to milk, peanuts, wheat, shellfish, latex and other types of triggers can keep a youngster from fully enjoying childhood. And that’s not right.
We know how challenging and frightening it is to send a child with a severe allergy out into the world. A simple birthday party becomes a potentially deadly obstacle course for a child with a severe food allergy or latex allergy. You can’t stop your mind from questioning everything; did the hostess remember to make sure no peanut oil (or wheat, or milk) was used in the cake? Will the festive balloons trigger your precious one’s latex allergy? Whatever the cause of your child’s severe allergic reaction-wheat allergy, shellfish allergy, peanut allergy, milk allergy, etc.-you know it is out there.
When children go to school, the stakes and stress rise. Parents of a child with a severe allergic reaction face the dilemma of knowing most school staff may not be aware of how dangerous everyday objects and foods can be. It is important to be prepared to advocate for your child by working with school officials.
Have you ever heard of Section 504?
Yikes! My Child WON?T Share! What Do I Do?
September 24, 2007
Years ago my husband and I attended a parenting class and one thing that stands out in my mind from that course was something very simplistic that the trainer said. He asked the question, “If your kid doesn’t like broccoli, what should you do?”
I thought for a minute while he paused and the first thought that came to me was, do my kids even like broccoli? Hmmmmm.
Then in a loud voice the trainer enthusiastically said, “You should feed him MORE broccoli, that’s what!” The reason this lesson stands out in my mind so clearly years later is because I have used it over and over in making my parenting decisions. I have gone back and pondered it again and again. Why? This one simple concept has become a principle to me in my parenting skills.
Fostering Healthy Eating Habits In Your Baby
September 24, 2007
Fostering Healthy Eating Habits In Your Baby
by: Sarah Veda
If you’re concerned about your baby’s health, you want to be certain to start healthy eating habits early. The first year of solid foods is a very important time for establishing your child’s eating habits. What your child eats, and more importantly, does not eat, during this time can impact their habits for life. Here are some tips for starting out right with your child’s first menu.
Watch the sugar
This is a biggie. Eliminating refined sugar from your child’s diet in the early days can help the child develop a taste for savory flavors, which in the long run, can help them enjoy a wider variety of foods, without having such a sweet tooth. In addition, a low sugar diet can help ensure that your child maintains a proper weight. So, keep the cookies and candies away. Use fruit and yogurt as dessert. Remember, if your child has not been exposed to sugar, she won’t miss it.
Feed whole grains
Stay away from white flour. Most American diets are painfully low in whole grains, because we are a “white bread” society. Try using wheat breads, oats and other whole grains instead.
How to Teach Your Child Right From Wrong
September 23, 2007
How to Teach Your Child Right From Wrong
by: Clay LaRoy
0 - 1 YEAR
At this stage in life, the concepts of right and wrong are not
possible to teach. Rather, an infant who is shown warmth,
cuddling and loving attention is likely to grow into a healthy
and happy adult.
1 - 2 YEARS
Rather than scolding a child or arguing with him about
misbehaver, try to take preventative measures beforehand. If
you don’t want him pulling things out the cupboards, make sure
they are secured. At this age of short attention span,
discipline beyond a simple “no” is unnecessary and can have
undesirable effects.
2 - 4 YEARS
Children of this age, unable to understand abstractions such as
generosity and truth, imitate their parents. So set an example.
Be firm in disallowing undesirable behavior, but do so in a
kind and friendly manner, without attempting to explain why.
4 - 6 YEARS
This is the time where you can really take some positive steps
to reinforce your child’s positive behavior. Give him lots of
I Want To Do It Myself!
September 23, 2007
I Want To Do It Myself!
by: Robin Goldstein, Ph.D.
Problem: I have a 2 1/2 year old that is so intent on doing things without help that she will tell me in that strong willed voice, “I do it!” I am finding myself getting into many power struggles with her, especially when I’m in a hurry to get out of the house. Any suggestions for how to make things go smoother during this stage?
Remember when you worried that your dependent infant would never become independent? Well, here it is, the stage in which independence shows itself in a powerful way - and it’s one of the most challenging stages for parent and child. What you describe is what every parent of a 2 or 3 year old experiences. As you have witnessed, the drive for this age group to do for themselves is very strong. Reasoning with your young child, “We’re in a hurry…” or “We’ll be late…” usually doesn’t help a young child give a task she wants to complete over to her mommy or daddy.
