DEMO: Parenting Theme

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
 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 Cribs are the feature item in any baby’s nursery. Most parents can get away with keeping their newborn in a bassinet for the first few weeks of life; eventually however, all parents will have to invest in some type of baby crib to ensure their newborns safety during the early years.

The number of different crib types available can often be overwhelming. There are sleigh, convertible, mini, wooden and rocking cribs to name a few. Some of the most popular baby cribs are those that convert into a toddler bed. Buying this type of crib is an economical decision allowing baby to use the same bedding for years to come. Other types of convertible baby cribs allow the crib to be attached next to the parent’s bedside for co-sleeping arrangements. This style of crib is often a popular choice among attachment parenting supporters, who believe that baby is better off sleeping with mom and dad for the first few months of life.

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.

Busy Moms, Don’t forget to take time out for you!
 by: Aurelia Williams

As mothers, we play so many different roles and most of us do not take the time off that we deserve. Just think about it, we play doctor, cook, chauffeur, teacher, lawyer, and the occasional referee as well.

I bet you can remember the last time you did a load of laundry, the last time one of your little ones gave you a hug or perhaps the last time one of your little ones created a little artwork on the wall (smile) but when was the last time you took time out for you?

It is very important to be sure to take time out for yourself. I made a vow a while ago to be sure to take time for myself away from home. I have a husband and 4 children and I schedule time for myself weekly. Whether I am alone or with girlfriends, I find the time that I spend dedicated to myself to be priceless.

It doesn’t seem possible at the outset of pregnancy, but your skin really will stretch enough to accommodate your baby. Collagen and elastin in the skin guarantee it. It seems that collagen has the tensile strength of steel ? and by the end of the pregnancy, you’ll understand why this is important.

Elastin, just like the name implies, comprises the rubber-like, elastic fibers in the skin. From a scientific perspective, each elastin molecule will uncoil into a more extended conformation when the fiber is stretched and will recoil spontaneously as soon as the stretching force is relaxed. Simply put, you will tend to bounce back when your baby is born.

Stretch marks are a universal fear of almost every newly pregnant woman. Statistics are against you ― some say as many as 90 percent of women get them on their abdomen, breasts, and/or thighs ― but here’s why you shouldn’t be too concerned:

The tendency toward stretch marks is inherited, and you can’t change your genetics.

If you do your best to gain weight gradually; there’s not much more you can do.

Moisturizers may make your skin feel better, but don’t waste too much money on special stretch-mark creams. No topical treatment has been proven to prevent stretch marks.

Educational Jigsaw Puzzles, How Educational Are They?
 by: Barbara White

Many companies advertise their products as being educational. How much of this terminology is sales promotion and jargon, and how much is fact?

As an educator for many years, I can say with authority, that there is educational value in all types of jigsaw puzzles. The skills acquired and practiced in completing jigsaw puzzles are a foundational part of successful learning. Doing jigsaw puzzles develops several functions of the brain simultaneously as a child has fun and also learns. Most notably developed in this learning process are the abilities to reason, deduce, analyze, sequence, and develop logical thought and problem solving skills. Physically, eye-hand coordination and spatial awareness are also required to complete a jigsaw puzzle.

Putting these benefits aside, I want to look particularly at the jigsaw puzzles that are labeled “Educational”. These puzzles are designed to teach a specific learning objective. Some examples of these might be a jigsaw puzzle map of the world, or of the solar system. The manufacturers claim that such puzzles will teach a child those specific facts. What educational value in reality do these types of puzzles contain?

10 Slam-Dunk Crafts For Little Kids — And Bigger Kids Too!
 by: Chris Yates

Crafting with young children really isn’t about creating something in particular. Most young children don’t have the foresight to see what a project is going to be.

For young children it’s more important that they have the opportunity to play and experiment with art. Kids need to use as many of their senses as possible to get the most out of crafting. This allow them to try new sensory experiences, as well as learn causal relationships.

These are my 10 favorite crafts for little kids based on all that AND the ‘fun factor.’

1. Finger painting: Finger painting is a wonderful activity for kids. It lets them ‘feel’ the craft as well as be creative. You don’t have to have finger paints to do this activity with kids. You can finger paint with homemade paint, watercolors or even mud. You can also experiment with adding other things to the paint such as sand or glitter.

2. Yarn Painting: Dip pieces of string or yarn into paint and then drag it across the paper to paint with it. It’s a good experience to paint with something other than a brush and you can just throw the yarn away when finished.

Every parent hopes and prays that their newborn will be healthy and safe. Normally a pregnancy lasts nine months. The gestation of a full term pregnancy is traditionally between 37 to 42 weeks. Any baby born before 37 weeks is considered premature.

Premature Babies face many challenges that full term babies often escape. This includes the possibility of being born with organs that are underdeveloped. Many premature babies have respiratory problems, as the lungs are generally one of the last organs to develop completely during gestation.

Fortunately modern technology has provided hospitals with the ability to care for infants born prematurely. In times of old infants born before 34 weeks faced many challenges, and were much more likely to die. Modern technology has allowed babies born as early as 26 weeks to still survive. There are several factors which might contribute to a mother’s likelihood of having a premature infant. These include the following:

• Having delivered a premature baby before, which increases your risk up to 40%
• Multiple gestations ? the parents of twins generally face delivering prematurely
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• High Blood Pressure

Help! My Child Won’t Go To School
 by: Dr. Noel Swanson

“My nine-year old daughter has started to dread going to school. She always has a head or tummy ache, and ends up missing two or three days a week. When I tell her she has to go, she acts as if she’s truly afraid, and cries and screams. We don’t know what to do.”

You need to be firm with her. Don’t count on the problem going away if you ignore it. She could end up not ever going back.

However, don’t be angry with her as her anxiety and distress are real.

She may have one of three conditions that you need to determine: school phobia (fear of going to school), separation anxiety (fear of leaving you or your home, or agoraphobia (fear of crowded and public places).

If someone is bullying, teasing, embarrassing, or abusing her, then it could be the first diagnosis. Talk to her teachers to find out what they know and to inform them of your experiences with your daughter.

Take her to the doctor for a complete physical examination. Tell the doctor the whole story and ask him to rule out any serious illnesses.