The Truth About Giving Advice
December 26, 2007
The Truth About Giving Advice
by: Paul M. Jerard Jr.
All of us want to help, protect, and shield our children from life’s daily disappointments. How can we give constructive advice, to a child, without being remembered as one of their worst critics? Any negative comment we make has a “ripple effect” and can turn into long-term hostility.
Unfortunately, some adults will criticize a child far too often and any “good intentions,” are turned into a variety of bad feelings, within the child’s mind. So, giving advice is a very precise skill.
If your child is sensitive, and most people are, the criticism of today will shape his or her perception of situations for life. Parents and teachers have to use negative reinforcement rarely and carefully.
After all, we cannot reward children for bad behavior. This is a form of “inconsistent reinforcement.” This can “backfire”, and you can eventually have a situation where any reaction you have doesn’t matter.
So where do you start? Firstly, realize that any time you spend with your child is valuable. The younger a child is, the more your words will have an effect. So, you can salvage a relationship at any age, but it is better to start now.
Black Tie Baby Occasions
December 26, 2007
Black Tie Baby Occasions
by: Kirsten Hawkins
There is almost nothing that new parents enjoy more than taking advantage of the opportunity to get their babies all dressed up in the cutest and most endearing outfits that they can find and bring them out in public for the entire world to gaze upon and coo at. So, when a formal family event comes up while their infant is still in his or her infancy, the parents must jump at the chance to get little John or Christina dressed to the nines and out into public view to allow the cooing to commence.
Weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, Christenings, Baptisms, and Cousin Jane’s first Holy Communion are good examples of the type of events that will provide and excuse to get the baby all dolled up in a pint-sized tuxedo or evening gown. No matter what finery the parents may have adorned their baby in previously, nothing will compare to the sight of their little man in a tux or their precious little lady in a gown.
Caring For Baby’s Clothes
December 26, 2007
Caring For Baby’s Clothes
by: Kirsten Hawkins
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.
Detergent
This is a valid concern. It is not atypical for certain detergents to irritate the skin of adults and older children, so it is certainly feasible that a baby’s tender and sensitive skin can be easily irritated by harsh detergents. There are several detergents on the market that are supposedly intended for baby’s clothing, but there is not much difference between them and other mild detergents. The best choice for parents to make in this area is to purchase mild detergent that is free from added colors and fragrances and wash the clothing in that. If the baby does develop a rash or seems to be experiencing skin discomfort of any kind, the first thing to do is consult the family pediatrician. The doctor may simply recommend that a different detergent be used, but will also be able to determine if there is a more serious problem.
Dressing Baby For The Winter
December 26, 2007
Dressing Baby For The Winter
by: Kirsten Hawkins
Jackets and coats make a huge difference!
When most people think of baby clothes they conjure images of cute sailor suits and frilly pink dresses or perhaps little white �Onesies,� soiled with spit-up Isomil formula. Rarely do they think of heavy winter coats and wind resistant jackets. In a cold climate, however (or on cold days in a warm climate), babies need the protection of a coat or jacket just as much as an adult does, in fact more so.
Fortunately the designers of the finest baby apparel are well aware of the need infants and toddlers have for warm winter wear and have designed several lines of simply adorable coats, jackets, and other winter wear just for the little ones in your family. Most of these are available in fine stores everywhere as well as through mail order and online retailers. The examples listed here were found on the designer baby clothing site known as Tutti Bella (�all beautiful� in Italian).
Jean Bourget
How to Choose a Diaper Bag
December 25, 2007
Even though it’s a popular shower gift, you may want to choose a specific type of diaper bag, either because you’ve learned through experience what works and what doesn’t, or your friends and relatives have given you tips on what to look for or avoid.
It’s pretty elementary to figure that you’re going to need room. Lots and lots of room. For little things, babies at times seem to need an endless supply of items that you may not have space to carry.
When looking for a diaper bag, space is going to be your first consideration, but that doesn’t mean you have to totally give up the stylish or "designer" look. Remember though, that the character-theme or licensed diaper bags often cost more simply for the name. But if you are really taken with a delightful character diaper bag, and just have to have it, put it aside for occasions when its capacity is appropriate. These are often smaller bags, but will still hold some spare diapers, an extra soother, bottle, and baby wipes for short trips like doctor visits, or errands.
Kids Activities: How To Make Your Own Puppet Theaters And Finger Puppets
December 25, 2007
Kids Activities: How To Make Your Own Puppet Theaters And Finger Puppets
by: Janice Wee
Your kids can make a puppet theater and an assortment of puppets all by themselves.
Materials Needed
- a table for the theater
- a cloth that can cover the front and sides of the table, leaving the back exposed
- some stiff white cardboard or colored paper depending on the type of puppet they want to make
- pencils and coloring materials
- scissors
- glue
- sticky tape
I admit that this theater is nowhere near the kids puppet theaters you can get at http://www.toyskidslove.com/puppet-theaters.htm. Still, for the budget conscious, your kids can still get their makeshift puppet theater if you do it yourselves. A bonus is that your kids would be busy for hours just making their puppets. Ideal if you are broke and have with a bunch of kids that need to be kept out of mischief.
For the puppets, finger puppets are ideal for starters. My 6 year old boy thought up this puppet design all by himself. He used colored paper, wrapped loosely around a finger. He taped the the paper shut, loose enough so he could put on or take off the puppets as he wished. Then he drew a face on the tip of the puppet. His elder brother liked that design and helped him make a variety of such finger puppets with different colors and different expressions.
Budget Baby Layettes
December 25, 2007
Budget Baby Layettes
by: Kirsten Hawkins
Getting what you need for your newborn without going broke
It’s been said time and again that babies cost a pretty penny. Although little Brad or Jennifer won’t hop out of the birth canal and start demanding servants and expensive electronic gadgets, they do represent some additional expenses that can be wallet-draining when considered all at once. Fortunately the expenses do not have to be incurred all at once - even an unplanned pregnancy allots nine months to plan and gradually deal with the expenses associated with procreation. There are several steps that expectant parents can take to help cut down on some of the major expenses that are expected.
Baby Showers
A baby shower is a time honored tradition in which expectant mothers get a bunch of free stuff from their friends and family members. Don’t be afraid or ashamed to take advantage of this situation. A decent shower can often cover most of the immediate baby layette needs. Usually someone will offer to hold a shower for the expectant mom, but she shouldn’t be afraid to drop hints to close friends and family or even come right out and ask for a shower.
Fitness - It’s A Family Affair
December 25, 2007
Fitness - It’s A Family Affair
by: Sue DeFiore
OK, you are eating healthier meals and now you want to get your family to exercise together. First, sit down and talk about the different things you all like to do. Give everyone a turn to come up with a week’s worth of activities. Numerous studies have shown that if you exercise for 30 consecutive days it becomes a habit. So once you all get past the first month it will become routine and part of your lifestyle. Just remember to keep it fun and give everyone a chance to participate in coming up with different things to do. Everyone wants to give input, no one likes to be told over and over what to do!
One of my favorites is dancing. Everyone gets to pick their favorite music and you all get to dance to it. It is also fun for the younger generation to watch the older one dance.
Another favorite of mine is swimming. If you have a YMCA, community center, or if your school is lucky enough to have a pool see if you can get some swim time in. You can also get creative here also with different types of swimming, races, or water ballet. Another option if you have the pool to yourself is pool volleyball!
Learning To Understand And Live With ADHD
December 24, 2007
Learning To Understand And Live With ADHD
by: Denise Hoptons
Helpful Hints On How To Manage Your Childs ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition that can afflict children. People suffering from ADHD have symptoms such as:
1) They have a low level of concentration and a very poor attention span.
2) Their memorizing powers are low and they have poor concentration.
3) The are very impulsive and do things without thinking.
4) Their frequent temper tantrums and outbursts are a result of easy frustration
While most children as well as adults face similar difficulties during daily routine, those children who suffer from ADHD have a far larger frequency of these difficulties. The extent is so acute that they are unable to undertake tasks such as:
a) at school (they are not able to pay attention or finish their work in time or they can be disruptive and destructive in class, may be talking excessively in the class)
b) at home (are not able to finish chores, are clumsy, get into fights with siblings and more)
100 Top Baby Names
December 24, 2007
100 Top Baby Names
by: Suzanne Doyle-Ingram
I found it very interesting researching the top 100 baby names for this article, because although my husband and I thought we were going for unique baby names during my pregancy, both our daughters’ names are on the list! I guess we are not as innovative as we thought we were.
Every year, the US Social Security Administration compiles a list of the most popular baby names. You can search their online database for the popularity of a certain name, and you can also see how the popularity of a name has changed over time. (http://www.ssa.gov/) It’s a very interesting way to waste an hour instead of working (lol).
It is fun to note that the letter “E” is quite popular. Common “E” names in the top 10 of the top 100 baby names are: Emily, Emma, Ethan and Elizabeth. It seems that slightly old-fashioned, or traditional, names are making a comeback as well, with names like William, Joseph, and Christopher for boys, and Elizabeth, Abigail, Hannah and Grace for girls.
