“Mom, why is that woman crying?” I took the newspaper from him and looked at the front page picture of a woman crying and another woman hugging her. I looked at the caption of the article stating that the woman’s apartment had caught fire and all their personal possessions had been destroyed. As I explained this to my eight-year old son, we both took a long look at the toys scattered around our front room. It was a time for both of us to give thanks.
I have always thought of Thanksgiving and Christmas as a time of friends, family, wonderful food and presents. I admit, I am the first one to run for the turkey and I can yell louder about presents than my five year old. However, as I’ve gotten older and a little wiser, I’ve learned to develop an attitude of gratitude which is something I hope to pass on to my children.
Experiences which have helped me:
During Thanksgiving, we try and take a moment to express thanks for something we appreciate about each other. The rules of this game are that you must be sincere and you cannot say anything negative. My daughter did this with her teenage friends at church and she came home with a big smile on her face and a thankful feeling for her friend’s kind comments.
Last Christmas a friend of mine organized her children to collect items for the local women’s shelter. She made it a neighborhood event, posting flyers and hosting an open house where people dropped off their donated goods. She even served hot chocolate. Not only is she protecting her children from the commercialism of Christmas, she is showing them that Christmas is a time to think about others.
I recently asked my children to be more polite when leaving the dinner table by saying “excuse me” and “thank you.” I believe that just saying the words “thank you” creates a more thankful feeling, inside and out. I also like to be thanked for the effort I put into preparing a delicious family dinner.
I like to regularly express gratitude to my husband for how hard he works to keep me home. I’ve been a stay at home Mom for fifteen years and that is largely due to his hard work and determination. When I openly express my thanks, my children see an example of a thankful person.
At Christmas it is our family tradition to help someone in need. Sometimes our church or a local store sponsors an angel tree. Paper angels are hung on the tree and the name of a child or adult who needs a Christmas present is written on the back with a short description of the item that they need. As a family we choose angels off the tree and make the purchases. We then return them to the organization to be given to those who are in need. This allows my children to experience the joy of giving and detracts them from the greed of getting.
This holiday season, create memories with your loved ones and take time to say thank you for all the joy they add to your life. Family and friends make life complete. My Mom is getting older and one day I decided to call her and just thank her for all the wonderful things she has done for me. It was a very emotional moment as I realized that I may not have much more time with her. I also realized that I would never be the person I am today without her. Thanks Mom, so much for everything.
Happy Thanksgiving and all the best from us here at Child n’Parent.
By Debby Hoffer
November 7th, 2008
Flu season is on its way. Though getting a flu shot may seem like a no brainer to some, at $20 a shot for my family of six, I want to know if it’s really necessary.
New Jersey recently passed a law requiring flu shots for all pre-school and elementary school kids. Some parents are happy because it will mean their kids are less likely to pick up the flu at school. Others are furious that the government is regulating medical procedures for their children they see as risky and unnecessary.
According to the CDC the number of Americans getting the flu in a particular year could be as low as 5 percent or as high as 20 percent of the population. More than 200,000 people are hospitalized and 36,000 people die. Those most likely to die of influenza and related complications are the elderly and other immune compromised people.
Members of “priority groups” will get flu shots first if, as in recent years, there are shortages. This high-risk group includes:
• Children aged 6 to 23 months
• Children over 2 years old with chronic health conditions
• Children who are taking long term aspirin therapy
• Household members of children less than 6 months of age, since these babies are too young to get a flu shot themselves
• Women who will be pregnant during the flu season
• Residents of long-term care facilities
• Adults with any condition that weakens the immune system
• Any person in close contact with someone in a high-risk group, such as healthcare workers.
People who should not get a flu shot include:
• Anyone who’s severely allergic to eggs (ingredients for flu shots are grown inside eggs)
• Infants under 6 months old
• Anyone who’s ever had a severe reaction to a flu vaccination (although most people do not experience any side effects from the flu shot)
• Anyone with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare condition that affects the immune system and nerves
• Anyone with a fever
Flu shots are made of dead influenza virus cells and cannot give your child the flu. A nasal mist vaccination is available for children over 2. This is a live vaccine and your child could develop flu symptoms.
Some parents worry about the preservative Thimrosal contained in some vaccines can cause autism. Studies have shown no measurable connection. Thimrosal-free shots are available.
Flu shots are available at a variety of locations including some stores and pharmacies and your county health department. Most HMOs will only cover flu shots if they are given at your pediatrician’s office. You will then only be asked to pay your required co-pay. The flu shot cannot keep your children from getting other kinds of viral infections and may not even prevent some influenza strains.
The best way to ensure your child stays healthy this winter is to wash hands often, avoid crowds, and never share cups or eating utensils.
Find more great child health articles and Child n’Parent
By: Megan Wallgren
October 25th, 2008
Give your child a gift that will last a lifetime! Encourage them to read for pleasure. Children who read for pleasure have active imaginations and enjoy learning.
When reading, children must use their imagination. With the expansion in the visual technology industries like television and video games, children do not commonly use their imagination. Books open up a world where your child has to visualise what is happening, rather than rely on pictures from other people.
Reading will broaden your child’s horizons and take them into new and exciting worlds. The Harry Potter books are popular because they allow the children to escape their life and enjoy the different world of wizardry. Children who read for pleasure tend to be adventurous and willing to explore the world they find themselves in, because books encourage exploring new ideas.
Teachers have noticed extraordinary differences in the scholastic achievements between children who read for pleasure and children who do not. Children who read during school holidays are more likely to excel in writing and in spelling.
Reading allows your child to see words in different contexts, which can aid comprehension. The more you see how a word is used, the more likely you are to use the word correctly in your own vocabulary. Seeing the words correctly spelt will help your child to learn spelling. Your child’s writing skills will increase by reading sentences and seeing how paragraphs link together.
Children who read for pleasure are even able to socialise with others better. Despite being a solitary activity, reading encourages an understanding of how people relate to each other as the characters in books form relationships.
Readers learn about consequences of actions and logical progression because books always follow a logical sequence of events, and characters must deal with the consequences of their actions.
Often children who read for pleasure will perform well in written tests, because they are more likely to understand the phrasing of the questions, and will be able to write their answers with clarity.
Allowing your child to choose the books to read encourages an interest in reading. Even books that are not “educational” will bring benefits to your child’s learning and scholastic progress.
Ensure your child chooses a book at the right level. If it is too difficult, the child may become discouraged. If the book is too easy to read, your child may become bored and decide to play a video game instead.
Parents can encourage reading by regular trips to a library to exchange books. You can make this a family trip. Try turning off the television set sometimes in the evenings or on weekends. When everyone in the family sits together, reading their own books, your children will see reading as fun, relaxing, and a reasonable form of entertainment.
You can read with your children. Reading books aloud allows children to hear the characters in a different way, and develops good listening skills. Remembering how you spent time each week reading a book together will be a precious memory when your child grows up.
Reading books aloud to your child gives you a chance to broaden your child’s vocabulary. Choose a book that is slightly beyond their current understanding, and explain any confusing terms.
Give your child time to sit and enjoy the experiences of reading. Reading is an activity that can be enjoyed anywhere, so encourage your child to pack a book when travelling in the car.
Children who learn how to read for pleasure will reap the benefits in their schoolwork, and will have fun using their imagination in ways technological forms of entertainment do not allow. Broaden your child’s horizons and give them the gift of reading for pleasure.
Find more great parenting tips at Child n’Parent.
By: Hayley Hunkin
October 18th, 2008
I am a mom of 2 (almost 3) due November 17th, 2008 Yikes! It’s getting close. I have an 8 year old, Bella, and a 4 (almost 5 year old), Sophia, and I am having another little girl. Her name will be Skarlet.
When I went from having one kid to 2 kids, I knew that it was going to be hard and it was. Bella became very, very jealous of Sophia, and ever since she was born Bella has not been the nicest big sister. I have tried explaining to her that she got just as much attention as Sophia did when she was her age, but she is still jealous and acting out and trying to boss Sophia around.
Part of the reason, I think, has to do with Sophia’s father somewhat coming around. Bella gets very mad and sad and jealous. Bella’s father didn’t see her at all until she was probably around 2, and for a few years saw her on Christmas and her birthday. But for the past 2 or 3 years he hasn’t been around at all and I get so angry and I feel so bad. I don’t understand how a father could just not care about his child enough to even call her once in a while, so I have had a hard time with Bella. She acts out a lot!
So, in February I got married to a wonderful guy and we got pregnant. He is really excited. He loves Bella and Sophia very much but I think he is super excited to have a child of his own. The pregnancy was rough with morning sickness and the marriage was kind of in a shambles for a while but it’s getting better and I think everything will work out, but I do have some concerns with both kids when this baby comes. I try and give my older kids as much as I can right now before the baby comes, swim lessons, alone time with each of them etc. but I still think there still will be issues.
I think they are excited about the baby coming but at the same time there will be times when Sophia is throwing a fit and she will threaten to hit my tummy and that really worries me. I also have decided to home preschool Sophia so that we have our one on one time together while the baby is napping and what not, I am hoping this will help.
If any of you have any suggestions on anything or have been through similar things as far as jealousy, a father that isn’t around etc.
I would love to hear from you, I’m so stressed out over it all it would help to know that I’m not alone.
Thank you for listening,
Jessy
October 10th, 2008
As a young Mother, I wanted to teach my three year old daughter some quality health habits. Hand washing was big in my mind; so I encouraged her to wash her hands after using the bathroom and before meals. At first, I helped I her wash her hands, demonstrating how to do it while saving water. One day I decided to cut her loose to try it on her own. She came out of the bathroom with a big smile on her face; “You washed your hands, right?” I asked. “Yes,” she answered proudly, “and I saved even more water.” “Oh yeah?” I answered, “How did you do that?” I expected to hear something along the lines of water conservation with a quick, but good wash. She gave me cute smile with an answer that left my mouth hanging; “I used the water in the potty!” Needless to say, we made another fast trip to the bathroom sink.
In today’s fast paced world, hand washing is slowly becoming a thing of the past. Isn’t it funny that a simple health habit which kills germs and prevents sickness is something that some people are just too busy to do! In one study conducted by the Minnesota Department of Health at the Minnesota State Fair, only 65% of the females along with 39% of the males actually washed their hands after using the bathroom. It pretty much adds up to one big yuck!
Teach your kids to wash their hands! Not only will it lower your medical bill, you’ll feel like a really good Mom as you teach them a health habit that they can really hang on to. Start by teaching them how to lather up with only one pump of soap. Teach them proper hand washing skills by demonstrating how to squish the soap between their fingers to get all the soap running around the little crevices. Show your child how to rub the soap into the fingernail to kill any nasty underlying germs. Also, teach your child how to safely turn on both the hot and cold water to quickly achieve a warm temperature. Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer near the back door for quick killing germ attacks, especially after playing in the dirt or sand.
Practicing the health habit of good hand washing can carry over into the school years. Washing hands at school will kill yucky germs and help your whole family to stay healthy. Tell your child to leave the germs at school by washing their hands after every bathroom break and just before lunch. Buy some sanitizing wipes that they can keep in their backpack for both hand and face clean ups at school. Most teachers keep hand sanitizer in the classroom. Ask your child to sanitize regularly after recess. If the classmate sitting next to them is blowing, coughing or sneezing, tell your child to sanitize more frequently, especially if they have borrowed any school supplies.
The good health habit of hand washing can carry over into the adult years. If you teach your child well, you can bet that when they grow up and go to the State Fair they will come out of the bathroom with their hands washed! Oh, and they won’t use the water in the potty.
By: Debby Hoffer
October 2nd, 2008
Your baby has started crawling! As if shot out of a cannon, she now takes off for anywhere she can, whenever she can. You’ve hurriedly secured your house; you’ve put up cabinet locks, gates, and electric outlet covers. You’re assured she can’t hurt herself in the obvious places. Yet there are still times when your baby will take off for places you’d rather she not.
That area of bare floor where, if she pulled herself up and fell, she could hurt herself? The section of the hallway that you haven’t vacuumed yet? The eggs on your kitchen floor that your other child just spilled? These are the places she’s headed first. She wants to get into everything she hasn’t explored yet, no matter how dangerous. No exceptions.
Your desperate “get-back-here-right-now”s are a hilarious game to her, not a command. She doesn’t understand yet that there are some places she should not go. Your “Stop!” makes her halt once, look back at you, grin, and then redouble her zoom-here-zoom-there-zoom-everywhere behavior.
She’s not trying to make trouble, but it sure feels like it when you have to chase after her and snatch her up all the time. Sometimes your hands are full, like when you’re rolling out piecrust or holding another child. Maybe you’ve got a sore back and can’t pick her up easily.
You can’t keep her locked in her play yard all day, but boy, are you tempted! Luckily, there’s another solution to getting her back that perhaps you haven’t tried yet.
Lure her back! Yes, that baby in a crawling frenzy will sometimes go where you want her to of her own free will. The trick is to get her to want to, too.
Try these tips on your adventurous baby:
Lure her back with a ball.
Keep a ball that’s soft and light enough for her to bat around on the hallway floor. When your baby zips off down the hallway, call her name and tap it with your foot so it goes toward her. She’ll stop, look around, and turn around to play with the ball. With enough practice manipulating the ball, she’ll quickly get the hang of the baby version of “catch.” This is a very effective way to move your unsuspecting baby along in the direction you choose—rather than her own.
Lure her back with a song, dance, or other performance.
This lure to get a baby into her bedroom (or any other room) requires some finesse. When you start yodeling, often the baby will stop, stare at you, grin with delight—and turn around and dash off again. The secret to getting your baby to come is to back up slowly until you’re no longer visible—ideally ending up in her bedroom—while continuing to perform for her listening pleasure. If she likes the show enough, she may just follow you into the room for an encore.
Lure her back with a “What’s this?”
“What’s this?” will get any baby’s attention right quick. Say, “What’s this,” and she’ll make a dash your way to investigate. Here’s how it works: Make a quick grab for the nearest interesting, safe and new object. Remember, new is the key. The familiar toy won’t earn more than a contemptuous glance. So “What’s this? Your favorite fluffy bunny?” will have her looking at you like you’re insane. “Me? Return for that? But I haven’t explored the dusty vacuum cleaner yet. See you later!”
“What’s this? Your father’s favorite baseball cap?” will do, or “What’s this? Oh, boy, is it an oven mitt? Is that what it is?” or even “What’s this? What’s this, baby? Is it the half-torn return reply envelope for the telephone bill that I just paid online? Wow! You’ve got to see this! That’s right. Come to Mama.”"
The benefit of these “lure the baby” games is more than just saving you the trouble of hauling your baby everywhere. It teaches your baby how to manipulate new toys and objects and that doing what you want gets her rewarded. And it saves your aching back, so instead of chasing her around twenty times an hour, you only have to do it ten times an hour.
Even ten times an hour can put a strain on your back. But don’t worry; the crawling stage will soon be over. Before you know it, your baby will be standing on her own. And walking. Everywhere. But that is another parenting adventure.
See Child n’Parent Parenting Tips for Soothing Your Baby to Sleep and Car Seat Safety.
By Karen Proctor
September 17th, 2008
Rickets are back. Not in a big way, but enough to raise questions among doctors. Rickets are caused by vitamin D deficiency and were once considered the bane of children. By the 1930s, however, the sickness was considered a thing of the past, with few children experiencing its symptoms.
Unfortunately, the disease made an unexpected comeback in the 1970s and ever since then, it has been a cause for concern among pediatricians and parents. The possible reasons why the disease has resurfaced are many. People are not getting as much sun as they used to, the modern diet is unhealthy. Not only that, but breast feeding has become more common, so more babies are getting their food from mothers with poor nutrition.
Vitamin D is important for maintaining the shape and strength of growing bones. Without it, a growing child may develop severe skeletal deformities. It also helps keep the calcium levels where they should be. The human skin absorbs vitamin D from the ultraviolet rays of the sun . The nutrient is also found in some foods, like cow’s milk. Human milk is deficient in iron, vitamin K and vitamin D.
Doctors recommend 200-400 IU/day of vitamin D for infants but, the levels of concentration in the milk of African-American women is usually only 35 IU/L and 68 IU/L in white women. Darker skin pigment makes it harder to absorb vitamin D from the sun, so deficiencies are more common in African-Americans.
When the mother takes supplements in order to enrich her milk, the vitamin levels do not rise enough to make up for the deficiency. Doctors recommend supplements for the infant, not the mother, as the best way to prevent malnutrition.
Many parents remain unaware that their baby might need supplements with their breast milk. The common belief that breast milk is ‘the perfect food’ for babies, does not help to enlighten the public. Nor are pediatricians eager to point out the few drawbacks to breast feeding, thinking it will scare others into using the bottle instead of the breast.
Controversy about the amount of vitamin D a baby should get and where they should get it from is rife within the medical community. Some doctors advocate supplements, some don’t so there is no consensus about the most likely treatment. Concerned parents should talk to their babies’ doctor. The next best thing a nursing mother can do for her baby is to ask questions. The best thing is to eat well and get a little sunlight.
For happy, healthy babies use our parenting tips at Child N Parent.
By: Stephanie Moore
September 5th, 2008
Recently my husband put a window on my desktop to inform me that it is only 11 days, 6 hours, 1 minute and 11 seconds until the start of the football season. (He’s a little excited.) Married for nineteen years and five kids later, his fall preoccupation with All American football is still a puzzle to me. So, for us less informed Moms’ who have kids and/or a husband taking part in the football craze, I offer the Mom’s guide to football.
Children who play football should be of the same age and size to avoid unnecessary injury. A well managed Pee-wee or Youth Football team will also have a balanced number of coaches per player to promote one on one instruction. For more information on getting your child ready to play football, check out the article “Prepare Your Child to Play Youth Football.” In this article we offer sound advice from two expert coaches to get your child’s game on!
In the game of football there are eleven players that take the field playing either offensive or defensive positions. The team that has possession of the ball is called the offense and the team defending their goal is called the defense. Each team develops pre-set game plans to get the football past the opposing team’s line of scrimmage, down the field and into the end zone to score a touchdown of six points.
There are four timed quarters in football with a half-time. When the game is being timed, the football is in motion and it is called a play. The goal of the offense is to get the ball down the field by at least ten yards within the time-frame of four plays. Achieving a ten yard advancement is called a “first down.” Critical to the success of the team is how each player executes their position during a play when the football is in motion.
The defense is made up of seven positions. Defensive players must be able to run, block, tackle and react quickly to offensive strategy. The offense is made up of five major positions. The objective of the offensive line is to protect the football as it is hiked by the center to the quarterback for a pass, handoff or running play. Offensive players must be able to pass, block, tackle, run fast and quickly see holes in the defensive strategy.
For children who want to play football, Pop Warner Football is a national youth organization with football and cheerleading leagues throughout the country. The Pop Warner organization is well known for strict age, weight and safety requirements. Children can play, parents’ can watch and, in the end, everyone who enjoys All American football goes home a winner!
By:
Debby
Hoffer
August 20th, 2008
It’s time for back to school shopping. Families already feeling the crunch of increased food and fuel costs are looking for ways to send their kids back to school in style, and still save a little cash. These super saver tips can help you get more bang for your buck on back to school supplies!
1. Make a back to school shopping list. Determine what your child needs in back to school clothes by going through their closet. Decide what your child can wear and what is needed to fill in the gaps. Look for clothing you can mix and match to make more outfits. Local thrift stores often have great deals on gently used brand name clothing. Consignment stores’, like Just Between Friends, are a great opportunity for back to school bargains’. You can sell your child’s smaller sized clothing and save big on back to school clothes in a bigger size.
For the classroom, you will want to create a back to school shopping list for each child. Buy basic back to school supplies such as pencils and erasers. Wait until you get a supply list from the teacher before shopping for back to school classroom supplies.
2. Budget. Once you decide on a back to school budget, stick to it. That doesn’t mean you can’t splurge on something your child really wants, you’ll just have to cut back in a different area. If you buy brand new name brand jeans, you’ll have to get no-name shirts and shoes. Don’t be afraid to say no. Adults don’t get whatever they want just by throwing a tantrum and children need to learn how to positively deal with disappointment.
3. Comparison shop. Shop smart for back to school supplies by looking through the back to school ads. Stores often have door-buster items meant to get you in the store. By hitting several different stores and buying just the door-busters, you can get more items at discounted prices. Try to find stores in one local area to save both time and gas.
4. Spread the cost. By starting early, you can not only spread out the cost of back to school, you can also avoid the crowds. Buy just what you need to get your kids started, then wait until the back to school items are on sale to finish off the shopping. Kids can wear shorts the first few weeks and short sleeves well into the fall. You can get discounted jeans and long sleeved shirts just in time for cooler weather. Scan and shop the sales racks for stuff to be saved for next year.
5. Buy quality. Good quality back to school stuff may cost a little more up front, but will save you money in the long run. Kids are especially hard on shoes. If you buy a pair now at $15, but have to buy another pair in three months, it really doesn’t save you any money. Let your kids know you expect them to take good care of their school clothes and back to school supplies so that they will last through out the school year.
Get more bang for your buck on back to school supplies at Dollar Days:
Get great parenting tips at Child N Parent
By: Megan C. Wallgren
August 13th, 2008
We all have our own childhood memories of “Back to School.” Getting on the bus for the first time, meeting the new teacher, being a little scared of the big kids and trying so hard to remember how to tie those shoes! These smart tips will help you and your child stay organized for back to school success!
Keep track of your child’s back to school activities and school life in your personal organizer. Designate an electronic or written page for each child. Put their name at the top and jot down important information such as birth date, social security number, doctor information, special interests, close friends, friend phone numbers and last school attended.
Having information handy will save you time during back to school registration. Keeping track of friends will help in scheduling play dates and meeting other parents. Tracking an older child’s likes and interests will allow you to provide effective guidance when choosing electives. As the school year gets rolling you can keep track of teacher names, classroom numbers and school schedules. This will help you effectively plan future doctor appointments as well as family vacations.
Keep important school papers organized with a basket/file system. Buy and designate a metal basket for each child. Have your child hang up their backpack when they get home and put their school work and any parent notes in the basket.
Go through the parental paperwork daily and calendar any field trips, events and volunteer work. Clip corrected papers together and put them in the bottom of the basket. Keep homework and work in progress projects to the top so your child can work on them and put them back as needed.
Have your child lay out their school clothes the night before and transfer any completed homework to their back pack. Your child will learn organizational skills and you’ll both have a less hectic morning trying to get out the door.
At the end of the week, go through the corrected papers with your child and determine which ones are most important to save. Put them in a memory book, or buy a sturdy file box and file the papers under the school, grade and teacher name. The file box is nice as you can keep important paperwork such as birth certificates, social security cards, immunization records and official school records all neatly filed in the box.
Staying organized, completing homework on time and keeping up with parental paperwork will help both you and your child have a year of back to school success!
For back to school supplies: metal baskets in all shapes and colors at Stacks and Stacks Best back packs Consumer Search Great files boxes for organizing and staying on top of the back to school paperwork at msn shopping:
For parenting tips on home schooling, ADHD and children’s health go to Child N Parent!
By: Debby Hoffer
August 8th, 2008
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