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Cooking With Kids - What You Should Know

2008-04-04T17:08:00.000-07:00

At what age should kids be allowed to participate in the kitchen? If the thought of letting your kids loose in the kitchen conjures up visuals of sticky spaghetti mashed into the floor and accompanying sauce spray patterned on the wall, let me give you some advice. It's not all 'mess and clean-up'.

In the (sometimes) mad rush to get meals on the table on a regular basis, we can sometimes forget what a fun activity cooking can be. It's pleasures are certainly not lost on children though, who embrace the process of creating something special with a simple list of healthy ingredients that they can enjoy eating as a finale.

From a very early age, children pretend to cook – they make mud pies in the sandpit, hold elaborate tea parties in the bath. They enjoy the process of choosing a recipe, planning the process, assembling the ingredients (creativity), measuring with cups and spoons (maths), and chopping and peeling tasks that require and develop their concentration skills. Guiding and assisting your children in the kitchen will help develop and reinforce these learning skills. Kids love projects that have a beginning (preparation), a middle (messy, creative fun), and an end (eating and enjoying what they've made).

Learning to cook is not only fun for children but a skill that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Involving your children in cooking teaches them important life skills and if you guide them in choosing the ingredients wisely, can give them the appreciation of good nutritional food rather than fast unhealthy takeaway food.

Helping your child to feel confident with cooking has many benefits:

. Contributing to the household duties helps them to feel important.
. Learning to work together as a team to get the job done.
. Learning to plan and make responsible choices.
. Developing and practicing their creativity and imagination.

A cooking party is a perfect way to celebrate the birthday of a young eager-to-learn child. Not only does a cooking party provide an invaluable hands-on activity to entertain them and their guests, but it concludes with a meal for them all to enjoy. Even fussy eaters will be thrilled to eat something they have made with their own hands. There's something about creating a meal themselves which makes them more likely to eat whatever they had a hand in making.

It may take longer to prepare the meal but the moments with your children will be priceless.

Tips:

. Always make sure children are supervised in the kitchen.
. Never leave children unattended in the kitchen.
. Keep it fun and age-appropriate.
. Let your child get involved in choosing a recipe everyone will enjoy.
. Have patience. Don't worry about flour on the floor or spilled milk.
. Choose recipes that don't involve sharp knives or the oven.
. Choose easy recipes - dips, pizzas, meatballs, icing cupcakes.
. Make sure the children tie their hair back and wash their hands.

Here's an easy child’s recipe for starters:

VEGIE DIP

Ingredients:
1 tspoon Salad Dressing
1 pkt Cream Cheese
Celery
Broccoli
Carrots

Direction:
Combine (to taste required) salad dressing with cream cheese
and place in a small bowl. Cut and wash celery, broccoli and
carrots. Arrange cut pieces of vegetables around the bowl of
dip. (The vegies are for dunking into the dip).

Enjoy!

Related resource: Cooking With Your Children Can Teach Them Confident

About the Author: Mary-Lou Halvorson is a mother of two children and creator of http://www.groovy-kids-parties.com. Mary-Lou offers many ideas for Kids Birthday Parties including kids novelty birthday cakes with photos and instructions. Check out http://www.groovy-kids-parties.com/cooking-party.html for more information.

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Getting Teenagers To Talk

2008-03-19T19:59:00.000-07:00

A sullen, non-communicative teenager. A frustrated parent.

Is that the way it is in your home living with your teenager?

Parenting teenagers is a demanding job, no doubt about it. Teens have the natural ability to challenge us on every level. Whereas once they simply accepted our authority as parents, no more.

Many parents fight against this normal developmental phase. As a result, their homes become tense battlegrounds as they stand ready to defend their positions at a moment's notice. Usually, in this environment, a teen starts out yelling and ends up silent.

Because he or she has found somewhere else where their voice can be heard. And appreciated.

While some teen frustrations are firmly rooted in parenting issues from the child's younger years, if you have an otherwise well-adjusted teenager who simply has stopped talking to you, there are practical things you can do that will help.

I am currently parenting my third teenager and these communication tips are what we use in our home everyday to keep talking alive and well.

-- Listening comes first.

Trite but true, your teenager will tune you out if you never *really* listen to what she has to say.

You want to get your teen's attention? Then learn to listen with your whole being. Use your body language and lean closer when he's talking. Make eye contact. Repeat back what you hear so you're sure you understand every ounce of what your teenager is telling you. Ask clarifying questions. Empathize. Give him your undivided attention (no cell phones, newspapers, no half-hearted 'uh-huh's').

In other words, listen to your teen the way you wish you were listened to.

If you do this one step regularly, your teen will seek you out, yearning to talk to you.

Imagine that.

-- Respect is king.

It's easy to be condescending when parenting teenagers. As parents, we know more than they do, right? We've been around the block numerous more times than they have. Heck, compared to them, we are wise!

However, here's the real deal. If teens don't feel respected by us, they don't accept our influence.

And all that wisdom goes down the drain.

That fact is not limited to teenagers, by the way. That's the way we're all wired as human beings. And it helps a lot to remember your teen is perilously close to being an adult and feeling the way adults do. Your teenager is not all grown up yet, but close enough to give you clues as to what they need.

Like respect. Earn their respect and they will trust you with their lives.

-- Teamwork means everything.

Teenagers often feel like they're carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders. It's easy for us who are parenting teenagers to look at their day-to-day lives and say, "that's nothing! Wait until you have MY responsibilities!" But what we as parents forget, is that our teen is new at these types of responsibilities. So problems that we can see obvious solutions to, our teens find overwhelming. Challenges that would slide off our backs, they get lost in.

As a person, it's humiliating to admit you're overwhelmed and lost. So you don't. And neither does your teen.

Teamwork changes that. For example, a parent who's noticing their teen is struggling with academics has two choices. Yelling (ever noticed how often yelling works?). Or leading the way providing training on how to make a positive change.

A parent could say something like "I see you're finding your current schoolwork challenging. That's good because it means you have the chance to learn something new here. I have some methods that have worked for me when dealing with challenging work and I'd be glad to show them to you. When's a good time for you?"

For some teens, that conversation is all they need in order to acknowledge they need help. Others will take more coaxing. Still, the point is valid. Don't just tell them what to do...work with them, empathize with their frustration, show them how to set a goal, overcome obstacles and come out the other side. Then celebrate with them. They've earned it! And you've earned their respect.

-- Show them you understand...them.

While parenting teenagers, we often lecture as opposed to discuss. That's only natural for us as parents. Usually we can see their glaring error in judgment and we realize it's our duty to correct them.

Right idea. Wrong method.

Humility works big time with teenagers. Have you ever made a mistake that your teen seems to also be making? Probably more frequently then you would like to admit. Well, admit it. When you explain the boundaries you are placing on their behavior, let your past example (mistake) be the "here's what I've learned from this problem myself" part of the conversation.

Believe me, you'll have their attention when you admit to not having it all together. 'Cuz guess what. Everyday your teen ACTS like he has it all together to cover up the fact that he KNOWS he doesn't have it all together. And he's worried and scared.

Your admission you've been where he is and you found a way out will be welcome news. That you cared enough about him to share your vulnerabilities won't be lost on him, either.

Obviously, this parenting tip only applies to age and situation-appropriate confessions. But do you get the point here? Your teen is longing for someone who knows her and is willing to be on her side. Ideally that needs to be you.

Parenting teenagers effectively means building relationships with them, listening when it's convenient for them (not you), working with them to help them overcome challenges, earning their respect so it's YOU they think of when they need to talk.

This will take patience, an open heart, thick skin and daily time. Things that all prove to your teenager that you think they're worth it.

And they are.

About the Author: Colleen Langenfeld has been parenting for over 26 years and helps other moms enjoy mothering more at http://www.paintedgold.com/. Learn more today about parenting teenagers at http://www.paintedgold.com/Kids/parenting-teenager.html.

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3 Gifts We Must Give Our Children

2008-02-28T04:56:00.000-08:00

Parenting is the most difficult, the most challenging, and the most important job we will ever have. So many of our children's future successes and problems can stem from our success as parents. Yet fortunately we do not have to go it alone. We can learn from the successful parents around us, if we are fortunate including our own parents, and also learn from those less successful as well. In addition, we can learn many important lessons about parenting from our own children. If we only listen and pay attention they tell us so much about what they want and need from us as parents. While we can so often get caught up in the little details and daily grind of parenting, if we keep sight of three main goals then the rest will take care of itself. All our children really need from us are these three all-important gifts: our love, our care, and our time.

Love is the easiest and yet the most overlooked of the gifts we must give our children. We love our children. It is such an overwhelming emotion for us that we often forget that our children may not realize its depth and breadth. It is true for many of us that we did not realize how much our parents love us until we too became parents. Demonstrate through your actions and choices that you love your children. Show them and tell them how much you care. Do this with little gestures and big ones and do it every day. One certainty our children should possess as they grow and develop is that they are loved as this gives them a foundation and confidence that nothing else can.

Care is something we do all the time, so much so that it is often on autopilot. Folding clothes, picking up toys, packing lunches, and washing dishes. One of the ways to cope with these tasks is to put them in perspective. These boring, repetitive tasks are one of the ways we care for our children and by doing them we are showing our care. But do not neglect the emotional and cognitive care along with the physical care. It is easy while making sure our children are fed, clothed, and washed to overlook the emotional care and cognitive care children also need. Teach your child how to handle emotions like fear and jealousy by talking things through and modeling good emotional behavior. Make sure your child is challenged intellectually through conversation, games and books.

Time is the most precious of all gifts and yet so many parents short their children of their time. Time is spent at work and at various life activities from home maintenance to recreation, but simply giving your child the gift of your time and attention every day can reap tremendous rewards. Giving your child your time and attention is the surest way to demonstrate to your child that he or she is loved. You can multi-task while spending time with your child if the task is something that the child can be involved in or adjacent to -- and the task is something mindless so you can focus on the child. For example, children can help with household chores or can talk or read to you while you fold laundry or wash dishes. Simply making a point of spending time with your child every day where your primary focus is on the child can reap tremendous rewards today and tomorrow.

There are no perfect parents, so striving for perfection is setting yourself up for failure. All you can do is try your best and give your child the gifts of love, care, and time. If you do then you will be a good parent. It really is that simple.

About the Author: Renaissance Woman Deanna Mascle shares more parenting tips in her blog at http://renaissancewomanonline.com

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5 Tips To Teaching Your Children Good Spending Habits

2008-02-26T07:35:00.000-08:00

Something interesting to share about my niece. She just started preschool this year and her school is about 10-15 minutes walk away from home. My sister considered letting her takes the school bus to school everyday and then thought otherwise; since she is not working anyway, she can walk her daughter to school every morning. One morning my sister asked my niece if she wants to take the school bus to school and my niece replied, "Mommy, since you are not working, we should not waste money on the school bus. We can walk to school every morning and we can exercise too." Can you believe that she is only 4 this year? Don't you agree that she is such a darling.

I agree with the author's point on "Learn to Earn", meaning to teach them not to take money for granted and that money is something that is earned. I also second the last point on "The Cash Stash." I remembered reading about something similar to this point in the book, The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason. In his book, it was mentioned that one should always keep a part of what one earned. And not only that, one must learn how to properly managed this money that is put away and make this money grow.

If you are one of many who believe that children really do imitate what they see, then it’s important to start early in teaching your youngster to practice good spending habits. When he/she matures and enters college or the workforce, the habits that they learned as a child will remain with them through adulthood.

Learn to Earn.

When they are young, it’s important that children learn to earn their money through chores and other similar activities. Whether it’s a lemonade stand or helping the neighbor to plant a garden, it’s a good idea to teach children that money is something that is earned and not given freely. If an individual learns the value of a dollar early, he/she may be less likely to participate in frivolous spending later on.

Saving for Tomorrow.

When it comes to the latest doll or video game, children often have a large wish list. With the exception of holidays, birthdays and other gift-giving occasions, it’s important that a child learn to save his/her money for the things that are high on their list of wants. You can either match their payment for an item, which means they come up with 50% of the purchase price and you match that with the other 50%, or you can suggest layaway. Either way, your child will learn that saving their money is a good way to get the things that are important to them. Later in life, this may help them to avoid debt by excessive spending on items that they may not be able to afford.

The Perks of Prepaid.

Whether it’s a prepaid cell phone or credit card, it’s a good idea to teach your mature child how to prepare themselves for independence. Even with years of learning the proper spending habits, a young adult is faced with many challenges upon entering the ‘real world.’ As they prepare for college or the workforce, it may be a good idea to explore the world of prepaid cell phones and credit cards. This will regulate his/her phone calls, which will prevent an excessive phone bill and will also teach discipline in how phone time is used. A prepaid credit card will teach a young adult to spend only within their means and to stretch their dollars as much as possible.

The Debt Dilemma.

Teach your child the potential concerns dealing with credit cards, high interest rates and the importance of maintaining a good credit score by paying their bills on time and not spending unnecessarily. Without the proper credit history, obtaining a future home or auto loan may be difficult or even impossible.

The Cash Stash.

Teach your child to save a portion of his/her allowance, earnings or other money with the help of a savings account. If your child can learn to tuck away 20% of their incoming cash, this trend will likely follow them throughout adulthood. A good rule of thumb is to have enough savings to carry you through six months, which could be needed as a result of an illness, relocation or job layoff. For these and other reasons, it’s a good idea to save money whenever possible.

It’s never too early to start instilling good spending and saving habits into your child’s behavior. Throughout his/her life, these tendencies will play a large role and you can take great pride in knowing that you prepared your child for a prosperous financial future.

The information contained in this article is designed to be used for reference purposes only. It should not be used as, in place of or in conjunction with professional financial and/or parenting advice or recommendations.

Read also Teaching Your Kids Good Money Skills

About the Author: Leslie Gerard consults for a http://www.gokidsfurniture.com and a hobby shop offering children's toys at http://www.moveablemodels.com/shop/pedal-cars-c-2.html

Cooking With Your Children Can Teach Them Confidence And New Skills

2008-02-16T07:24:00.000-08:00

Cooking with children? Hold it! Did I hear you wrongly? You heard me right and this is what this article that I read is all about. Most people will regard the kitchen as not a safe place for children; sharp knives, boiling water, fire etc. Even for me, it was a straight 'NO' to children in the kitchen before. To certain extent, the kitchen is indeed one of the places in the house where children must be kept out - especially when there are no adults around. Some may say, "I don't want them to mess up my kitchen. Hold your horses now. Before you make a firm decision whether or not you should cook with children, probably you want to read this article.

Personally I agree with the author that cooking with children is a good way to teach them about good and healthy food and which are the food to avoid or to consume less. What will be a better way to teach them about healthy food then a personal hands on experience for them. With you around looking after them, you can ensure their safety.Cooking with children can also teach them to be responsible. I have previously posted an article, 'Gardening with Children' that mentioned about teaching children responsibilities through garden.

Not only that, I am sure it will be a great bonding activity with your children and at the same time, it can give their confidence a great boost. Just remember to always practice extra care and cooking with children can very well be an enjoyable experience for both you and your children.

If you're not a natural cook who has a passion for experimenting with food and you don't go crazy about having the right kitchen utensils and equipment in your kitchen, then cooking is probably something you feel you have to do and if someone else offers to cook for you or you can eat out, you're more than happy to do the latter two options. Because cooking can be a real chore if you're not that fussy about what you eat and how it's cooked. However, if you have children you not only have to do it every day but you also have to think about their well-being in terms of what's healthy for them. Have you thought about cooking with your children?

When you think about cooking with children, you would more likely come up with special occasion scenarios where your kids will help you with putting the buttons on the ginger bread men while they try to lick the chocolate sauce - like in the movies. But to cook with them every day sounds almost a scary feat. You don't have to do it every day but try once a week and see how many days you and your children can handle.

Okay, granted, the cooking process would take a little longer and depending on how co-operative and helpful your children are, it could be frustrating at times. But managed properly, cooking could possibly be a more enjoyable experience for you and a more educational experience for your kids. It's also a way to connect with your children making a mundane chore into a sharing experience.

If you can get your children interested, they'd naturally become curious and ask you lots of questions. And if they do, take this cooking experience with them as an opportunity to teach them about which foods are good and healthy and which foods should be used or eaten moderately. The fact that the obesity rate of children are at a high in the United States and other prospering countries is another good reason to make sure your children gets a good head start by explaining to them why it's better to use Extra Virgin olive oil in cooking or eating salad is better than having sugary desserts every night not only sets an example but also gives them the logic behind why you dish out certain types of foods.

Whilst cooking, your children can help you with measuring quantities of various food stuff that you're using and if you can devise a game where your child can help you count solid foods before peeling and asking them to add more or take some away will help them to become more confident at counting. You'd be able to entertain the younger children and educate them at the same time. The older children would find measuring liquids in a jug or flour on a scale a little more challenging especially if you ask them to halve the quantity or double it. Even some adults still find that sort of task challenging. Sometimes providing a little incentive, something that they can win can make them ever so excited to go along with the cooking games.

If your games are devised in a way that makes it so that your children gets things right most of time, this encourages them more to participate in the cooking process making it easier for you and making them more confident about speaking up, joining in and build on their arithmetic and creative abilities.

At the end of all the cooking, praise them for what they've done, show them what their contribution in the cooking process has created. Let them feel as though they were responsible for making dinner for you and your partner which will further help their confidence, build their sense of pride about contributing within the family. And when eating the food, the fact that everyone is enjoying the food they help made really gives them a sense of accomplishing something worthwhile. Of course, you get to feel like you've been a good mother!

About the Author: Penny Roberts writes articles for various websites. The Little Cookbook is one of them. http://www.thelittlecookbook.com

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When Kids Lie

2008-02-15T07:44:00.000-08:00

An interesting article. Although I might not agree with it totally, it gave me a new perspective and thought about kids lying. Like most people, when I see my 4 years old niece lying, I will do my best to explain to her why it is not good to lie so on and so forth. Come to think of it, there are indeed positive points to note on kids lying if we see from another perspective. As mentioned in the article, when the kid is lying, it shows that the kid understands the situation and the rules (like certain things he/she cannot do) and thus it may not be such a bad thing.

One thing that has definitely come across my mind is that the world itself does not appear as just black and white; it is full of colors. Even as adult, there are a lot of time when we have challenges differentiating between right and wrong. How can we expect or is it even fair to expect the kids to know? It really takes time and experience to know what is right and what is wrong, not to mention that what is right in one situation might not be right in another.

“Help! My sweet, nice, lovely 3-year-old has begun lying to me. What should I do?”

First thing you should do is feel pleased, maybe even proud that your child is learning how to lie.

“Whaaat? You’ve got to be kidding”

No, I’m serious. Lying is a milestone in cognitive development. It indicates 3 things:

1. Your child understands what you’re thinking. (i.e. Mom doesn’t like it when I eat a cookie before dinner.)

2. Your child knows the rules and understands what is likely to happen if she breaks them. (i.e. Mom will yell at me.)

3. Your child has the ability to create an answer that’s different from the truth. (i.e. No, I didn’t eat the cookie; the dog must have eaten it.).

“But I can’t be pleased about her lying. She doesn’t even show any remorse when I catch her in the lie. I’d hate it if she grew up to be a liar or to have no moral compass. Don’t I have to drill morality into her while she’s young, so she understands it from the get-go?”

Slow down. A young child’s lies are based on logic, creativity and fun – not morality. If your 3-year-old son lies about brushing his teeth, he thinks it makes a lot of sense. If Dad believes him, then he won’t have to do something he doesn’t want to do.

If your 3-year-old daughter insists she had a peanut and jelly sandwich (no, not peanut butter, but a big giant peanut - so big she could hardly bite it), she is not lying. She is exercising her creativity and having a bit of fun with you in the process.

At some point, of course, parents need to teach their children that they shouldn’t lie. But don’t expect kids to get the concept in its entirety. For kids, lying is a tricky, contradictory notion – even though parents tend to present it as a black and white matter.

Learning about the “rights” and “wrongs” of lying takes time.

First, kids have to learn and appreciate the “pro-social” lie that is typically encouraged by parents. (“Even if you don’t like it, it’s nice to tell Grandma you like the toy she bought you.")

Second, kids must deal with the lies they hear you tell (“I don’t want to take the call. Tell him I’m not home.”)

Third, kids need to discriminate between manipulative lies (those that can cause great harm) and little white ones (those that cause no harm.)

Fourth, kids need to know that telling a lie to take unfair advantage of a situation is different morally from telling a lie to protect yourself.

Fifth, kids need to differentiate between an honest or careless mistake and a manipulative lie.

And sixth, they need to appreciate the difference in character development between a person who tells a lie on occasion from a person who lies indiscriminately.

So parents, if you think that your parenting skills are not up to par because your child tells a lie on occasion, relax. All kids lie. Indeed, a kid who always has to tell the truth – and all details of the truth – has a greater problem than a child who understands the complex nature of lies, and can differentiate between social lies, white lies, malicious lies and lying indiscriminately.

Copyright 2008

Linda Sapadin, Ph.D. is a psychologist in private practice who specializes in helping people enrich their lives, enhance their relationships and overcome self-defeating patterns of behavior. For comments or questions, contact her at lsapadin@drsapadin.com

About the author: Linda Sapadin, Ph.D., psychologist, author, and motivational speaker, is known for her sharp insights and exceptional ability to provide timely yet timeless advice. Her specialty is helping people build competence, overcome procrastination, master fear and vanquish self-defeating patterns of emotions and behavior.

Dr. Sapadin has had extensive media experience, appearing on the Today Show, National Public Radio, Voice of America and a host of other TV and radio programs. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, USA Today, Newsday, The Washington Post, Prevention, Redbook, Men’s Health, and many other publications.

Dr. Sapadin has been an invited speaker to the Smithsonian, the American Psychological Association, and many other business and educational organizations. She is the author of PsychWisdom, a weekly advice column published online. To subscribe, visit www.PsychWisdom.com.

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Nurturing Your Child’s Greatest Asset

2008-02-06T17:30:00.001-08:00

Do you remember when we were young, the sky wasn't the limit? I would like to share a quotation by George Bernard Shaw (Irish literary Critic, Playwright and Essayist. 1925 Nobel Prize for Literature, 1856-1950), "You see things; and you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say, 'Why not?'" Our imagination is only hampered by the limitations we created in our minds. If we put our imaginations to good use, our possibilities are limitless!

Imagination is one of the greatest traits human beings possess. From creative minds come works of art and advances in technology and science. In fact, imagination touches every aspect of our lives whether we realize it or not. But much like other characteristics of the human mind, imagination must be nurtured and practiced before its full potential can be reached.

Nurturing imagination takes place early in one's life, especially in children around the age of four or five. Can you think back to your own childhood and remember playing “cops and robbers” or “house?” When you took part in these pretend games and reenactments, you were allowing your mind’s creativity to expand and flourish.

Pretend play in children is a beneficial way to help a child learn to expand their understanding of who they are and what they like. It also helps them better grasp the knowledge of the world around them. Pretend play even helps children with communication skills, either with adults or with their own peers.

Pretend play’s earlier stages occur in the infant and toddler years. Babies are learning how to develop motor skills and react to bodily sensations. Toddlers are beginning to comprehend objects and what their functions are in the world. As time progresses a child is able to build on these learning experiences and expand their play. They do this by incorporating the personal and symbolic experiences they have seen in their short lifetime into a pretend scenario.

When children take part in pretend play, they tend to recreate family-related themes. If a child is playing with peers, roles are usually assigned and conflicts may be created and resolved by the participants. Pretend play can also be a solitary experience for the child. Instead of role playing, the child uses miniature cars, people and houses to recreate situations of all kinds.

Whether a child is playing with peers or alone, the scenarios recreated often represent a child’s interpretation of the world around them. Seeing conflicts among adults or other peers can be incorporated into pretend play. A child may try to resolve the conflict and produce his or her own desired outcome.

Adults play an active role in a child’s pretend play. Being around to supervise younger children is a good idea to make sure play time is always safe. Sometimes conflicts can arise among children, and adults need to intervene and keep things under control. Adults can also provide materials children can use for pretend play, making sure they are safe and age-appropriate.

By engaging in a child’s pretend play, adults help convey to kids how important playtime is and encourage imagination. Adults can help give children ideas on how to expand on their pretend play and let them explore all sorts of fun and creative possibilities. And because play can encourage communication, adults learn a great deal about a child just by watching or interacting in their pretend play.

Pretend play is important for a child’s development, and there are countless tools and toys to help children explore their own creativity. Encourage your child to take part in pretend play and watch imaginations take flight.

About the Author, Veronica Scott: Learn more about the fascinating world of miniatures. Visit http://www.themagicaldollhouse.com today for a great selection of wooden doll houses and dollhouse accessories from top miniature companies.

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3 Tips That Will Help Control Your Child's Behavior

2008-01-29T01:41:00.000-08:00

In this article, I find the first tip especially true. I attended a seminar previously and in that seminar there is a saying, "Kids don't do things you asked them to do, they do things on seeing what you do." In other words, kids model after what you do.

Mood, like attitude, is contagious. When you are around happy people, naturally you will feel happy and vice verse when you are around unhappy people. And if you are around negative people, you will be influenced with their negative attitude. Our mind is our greatest asset that we have and we must guide it against any negativity.

You live a stressful life, what with work demands, shopping, paying the bills, friends, family, hobbies and everything else! And now, your child or children are driving you crazy. You come home, hoping to relax and have a peaceful environment, and the kids are out of control. Can't they see you're stressed? Oh, yes, they see. Maybe not consciously, but more on a subconscious level.

TIP # 1--Your Child Mirrors Your Mood

Your child or children pick up on your mood. So, when your stressed, angry, or frustrated, they are more likely to be that way, too. It's not something the child does on purpose, it's a natural reaction. Think about when your husband or wife is in a bad mood. If you're around them for any time, pretty soon you are in a bad mood, too. It works the same way with you children. They receive their cues from you! As difficult as it may be sometimes, it is important, if you want to alleviate the tension and chaos from your household, to project a calm and positive manner to your child.

TIP # 2-- You Are The Adult

Sounds silly, but time after time, I have seen a mother or father treat their child as if they had the mind of an adult. Children, even teenagers, do not have the development of their brain to comprehend completely the consequences of their actions. Children are self-absorbed. They are only thinking of their world, their immediate needs. When a parent gives their child too many choices, or tells them to do something and expects them to 'fill in the missing pieces' of the action required of them, the child is going to be frustrated, fail, act out, or disappoint you. Not on purpose, but because they don't have the knowledge, experience or development to be able to acceptably complete the task correctly or to your satisfaction.

This, of course, stress' you out and you probably take it out on your child. But, think about what happened. Did you explain to your child every step he or she needed to do in order to successfully complete what you wanted? Or did you assume they would inherently know what to do?

TIP #3--Your Child Needs And Wants Structure

Young children to teenagers feel more secure and comfortable with structure and routine. They need to know what to expect and when to expect it. It is reassuring to them. When a child is an environment where activities, schedules, rules routines are constantly changing, the child will constantly be in a state of tension and, possibly, anxiety. Your child will behave in the ways you wish him or her to, when your child has developed a routine of acceptable behavior because you have created that structure and routine.

What this means is that, as hectic and busy as the family schedule may be, you must make an effort to make a structured schedule and stick to it, at least 70% of the time. Dinner at a set time, homework to be completed before fun with the electronic games. Maybe cell phones in a basket until chores are done. If you have been running your family environment chaotic, the change to routine and structure needs to be implemented, not all at once, but gradually. First, family dinner at a set time, then bed time, and so on.

It's not going to be easy or an overnight turn around for your family life to change. Remember, you are the one in control of making it happen. Your children do want to please you! They aren't happy either when they are acting out or out of control. The sooner you start understanding your child's motivation and needs and creating an environment that supports those positively, the sooner your family life will be a joy to come home to.

About the Author, Kate Carpenter: Get over 3000 of all the resources and tools you need to support and help you create a pleasant and happy home at http://www.squidoo.com/GainControl

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How To Stop Your Child From Biting Others

2008-01-22T07:07:00.000-08:00

I was at my sister's house today when I witnessed my nephew trying to bite the nanny because the nanny wanted to take away a piece of diaper that he was playing with. That action brought him a light pinch on the face and scolding from my sister which immediately sent him wailing. I reprimanded my sister; Not for giving my nephew his due punishment but for not explaining to him why he was being punished. I found this article quite interesting and probably you, and even I, can make used of some of these information provided in the article.

Parents are often dismayed and outraged when a playmate at daycare or on the playground bites their child. If your child is the biter, feelings of despair, anger, and helplessness may lead to a series of ineffectual punishments and interventions. What can you do to discourage your little biter?

The Root of the Problem

Toddlers often bite out of frustration or anger. If their basic needs such as hunger, thirst, toileting, nap time, and attention from an adult are unmet, the resulting frustration brings on a bite. Meeting these basic needs puts a stop to many occurrences of biting.

Countless children bite playmates during altercations over a toy, a snack, a pacifier, or a position on an adult’s lap. It is a defensive, self-protective action. Teaching the child to deal with his feelings in an acceptable manor ends this type of biting.

Some children bite as a way to bully others. This is a behavior problem exhibited by strong willed children. Prompt intervention is required. Firmly explain to the child that this is not acceptable behavior and that you will not tolerate biting.

Intervention

It is important to address every biting occurrence when it happens. Waiting to intervene until a behavior pattern develops makes putting a stop to biting harder for you and the child.

• Firmly tell the child that biting is not nice and that he is not to do it again.

• Provide immediate consequences for the behavior. Remove the child from the play area. Initiate a time out or withdraw a favorite snack, privilege, or toy. Be sure that the child is aware that the punishment is a direct result of biting. Ask them why the punishment occurred so they have clearly understood it's because of biting. Provide reminders that further biting will result in undesirable consequences.

• Instruct the child to apologize for biting. Explain that biting hurts both physically and emotionally.

• If biting occurs with an older child, ask the child why they felt the need to bite. He or she may be able to tell you what feelings or actions led up to the incident.

• Teach your child constructive ways to deal with frustration and feelings of anger. Have them kick a ball outside, talk about their feelings, switch activities, or seek out the soothing comfort of a favorite toy or blanket.

• Provide praise and reward for every instance your child handles a period of frustration or anger without biting.

• Be consistent with punishment for biting. Instruct other caregivers what to do when biting occurs and create a unified front. Never allow biting to slip by unpunished.

• Biting your child is not recommended. This models unwanted behavior and confuses the child. If it is OK for you to bite him, why is it unacceptable for him to bite another child?

You can stop biting behavior with consistent, early intervention. Set clear behavior expectations and understandable, age-appropriate consequences for biting. Balance punishment with positive praise when your child chooses to react appropriately instead of biting. Balance punishment with positive praise when your child chooses to react appropriately instead of biting.

About the Author, Lily Morgan: Find helpful and creative ideas for parents and grandparents while you shop a great selection of kids furniture and classic toys. Visit us online at http://www.TheMagicalRockingHorse.com today!

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10 Ways To Make Learning More Fun For Children

2008-01-21T05:53:00.000-08:00

Traditional ways of learning required a teacher, a chalkboard,a desk, a ruler, pencil, and a textbook. A teacher with a stern, professional posture stood before the room with barely a smile on her face as she taught her class. This was the image seen in many movies and some adults actually had her in their class many years ago. She or he may have conducted a rather boring class, spending a lot of time talking over your head or talking to the chalkboard. The teacher restricted the class to textbook studies only and quizzes and tests every week.

Every now and then it was a real treat for students to watch a movie in her class, even if it was boring and the film jumped around on the screen. As for field trips, forget about it, students were lucky if they got to have an additional recess from time to time. Then when test time came, the worksheets seemed to be as old as them. Oftentimes a student, with a raised arm, would say, “I can’t read number 15. ”Then other students would nod or murmur in agreement. It would be a long school year in Mr. or Ms. XYZ’s class.

Years ago the Internet didn’t exist so we will just excuse Ms. XYZ for not having readily accessible information that could give her the ideas to stimulate her students. She may have been too busy grading papers or tending to her own family. Whatever her excuse, she has none nowadays. There are plenty of websites, articles, and other ways to make learning fun for children. The following suggestions may help you as a parent, who would like to assist your children or the teacher, stimulate her skills while making life more interesting for her class.

1. When beginning a new subject or topic to teach, why not decorate the class related to a theme. For instance, if you will be teaching about dinosaurs, why not have posters hanging in your classroom about dinosaurs?

2. Provide something fun related to your topic that children could take home to color, solve a puzzle or show off such as stickers or a colorful book that they can keep.

3. Always have an interesting DVD ready to “kick off” a new subject.

4. Set a time during the day, maybe Friday, where the students are required to work on a project together related to the topic. Students could try to piece a puzzle together, watch a video and write or draw what they really like from it, or play a game that will help them remember what you have taught them.

5. You may want a speaker to come in and talk about the subject other than you. Find out from parents if they know someone that would be willing to come to the classroom to speak on the topic you are teaching. Have the speaker bring something with them that will help the students remember his or her visit.

6. Talk with other teachers about what you are doing and maybe they would be willing to help you. They may be interested in getting their class to participate.

7. Research your local community on events that will aid you in your teaching. There may be a “free zoo day” and you just happened to be teaching on animals.

8. Watch out for sales. Sometimes products you may need to accompany your topic can be purchased at a reasonable price.

9. Tell parents both verbally and physically how you can use their input.

10. Visit online forums, blogs or create your own social networking profile to connect with other teachers to exchange ideas.

About the Author: Nicholl McGuire, Freelance Writer and mother of four http://wanttohavechildren.blogspot.com/

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What Parents Can Do To Fight Obesity In Children

2007-12-25T23:12:00.000-08:00

Obesity in children has been growing at an alarming rate in some developed countries. Children nowadays are also spending less time exercising and more time in front of the TV, computer, or video-game console. And today's busy families have fewer free moments to prepare nutritious, home-cooked meals, day in and day out. From fast food to electronics, quick and easy seems to be the mindset of many people, young and old, in the new millennium.

As mentioned by Dr Trisha Macnair, "Obesity is the state of being seriously overweight - to a degree that affects your health. Obesity in childhood is linked to many health complications and tends to indicate the child will be obese as an adult." Since Obesity affects the well being of our children, we really have to look into how we can prevent Obesity in Childhood and a lot of time, it really starts with us.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re well aware of the huge coverage in the media, especially television, regarding the rapidly growing rate of obesity in children.

Even more painfully obvious is the fact that although our presumed awareness has increased, the actions taken to address this issue have not.

The phrase “you are what you eat” is painfully true, especially when dealing with obesity in children. So, if the assumption is made that as parents or adults, our awareness of the problem is there, then why aren’t we seeing a decrease in obesity in children rather than the reverse?

The truth is, children don’t do the weekly shopping for groceries, and they don’t cook the meals. So where is the food coming from? Who is the person responsible for bringing the food into the home? Children will eat what is available and they will no doubt scream if they don’t get all the fast food and junk food they desire, but who is the parent and who is running the show? Obesity in children is a serious issue that can and will cause health issues for these young people.

Admittedly, kids can wear the best of parents down but at the end of the day, their physical future is just as important or even more so, then their educational and vocational future. So, let’s review some tactics that might help over time.

Control the Amount on the Plate

It's no wonder that obesity in children is on the rise when you see the servings of food considered normal. Average portions served in fast food outlets and in many family restaurants have more than doubled since the 1950’s. As a result, the public has come to believe that these huge portions are in fact average, or normal. They are not. Portions served in Asia and Europe are considerably smaller and the results are obvious. If you find yourself at a fast food outlet and the kids are screaming, now’s the time for compromise. Get the smaller servings or share the servings between a couple of them. Be sure to avoid the sugared drinks and this includes fruit juices. Even though they are low in fat and sugar does not contain fat, sugar is stored as fat if not burned up with exercise.

Encourage the kids to eat slower. Perhaps engage them in conversation over the meal so they slow down. By eating at a slower pace, it give the brain time to get the message from the stomach that it is in fact full. What About Between Meals?

Let’s face it; kids can be bottomless pits when it comes to satisfying their appetites. It may seem difficult at first, but keeping the junk food out of the house is a good place to start. If it can’t be avoided, then only have small amounts in the house at any one time and perhaps only allow them once a day or every other day as a treat.

Many people suggest more fat free choices but if they are manufactured food, then what is usually done is more sugar is added o help the flavor and this can in fact be worse than the normal fat.

Natural, unprocessed food should always be the first choice. Fruit and veggies, already cut up and ready for the kids to grab is very handy and kids will get used to it. Even peanut butter on oat bran bread is a much better choice than cookies and candy.When kids are hungry enough, they’ll eat what’s available so make their choices healthier.Obesity in children can impact every area of their lives, including relationships with others.

No More Couch Potato

Activity is the name of the game. Having an electronic babysitter in the form of TV, computer and video games, although sometimes unavoidable for your sanity, really can contribute to obesity in children. If they don’t want to go outside and play, or do sports, then compromise and put in video games that are activity oriented, like learning to hiphop or learn other dances. Even exercise videos can be fun.

Instead of driving to places that are within walking distance, walk. This provides good exercise and gets the children outside in the fresh air.

Obesity in children is a huge problem and requires the attention of those people who are responsible for their care. The physical well being of children is just as important as their education because what kind of future will they have if it is negatively impacted by obesity and the serious medical complications that go with it? What kind of future will they have then?

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About the Author, Deb Marsden: Overcoming Childhood Obesity is one of the greatest challenges faced today. Available resources can be found here. http://getobesityfacts.com/

How To Get Your Child To Sleep Through The Night

2007-12-18T01:51:00.000-08:00

Some good tips on how to get your child to sleep through the night.

A child that wakes frequently during the night disrupts the entire household. It doesn't matter if your little insomniac is an infant, a toddler, or an older child; frequent sleep interruptions are unhealthy. Intervention is necessary.

Make Sleep a Priority

Most children under the age of 12 need 10 to 12 hours of sleep a night. If your child does not get adequate rest, sleeping disorders quickly develop. One way to prevent issues with sleep patterns is to make sleep a priority.

• Decrease physical and mental stimulation as bedtime approaches.

• Set a bedtime and stick to it. Do not alter the bedtime on the weekends or as a special reward.

• If your child appears tired during the day, allow them to nap for a few minutes until they establish a healthy sleep pattern.

• A daily routine that includes regular exercise and a set start time for each day encourages healthy sleep habits.

Preparing for Bedtime

A bedtime routine helps your child gear down for the evening.

• Decrease the amount of fluid consumed two hours before bedtime to eliminate potty-breaks during the night. Avoid caffeine and sugar at least five hours before bed as well.

• Encourage your child to choose a stuffed animal or blanket to take to bed every evening for comfort.

• Play soothing music, watch a few minutes of non-stimulating television in the evening, or read a book at bedtime.

• Draw the shades and use a white noise machine or a rhythmic nature sounds tape. Turn on nightlights while your child is still awake.

It is important for your child to learn to fall asleep on his own. If he relies on you to initiate sleep by nursing him, rocking him or singing to him, you must intervene every time your child awakes during the night.

Put your baby to bed while he is drowsy but still awake. You may stay in the room and gently pat his back or speak softly to reassure him of your presence, but allows him to learn to fall asleep on his own. This is an important life skill.

Many parents resort to co-sleeping with their child when the child wakes up frequently at night. This works for some families. Most parents eventually regret resorting to co-sleeping, as it fosters a continual need in the child to sleep with a person. Unless you are prepared to share your bed with your child for several years, co-sleeping is not a good strategy to choose.
Changing sleeping patterns requires small adjustments over many nights. If your child expects you to rock him to sleep every night, decrease the period of rocking by two minutes each night, progress to a few minutes of walking around the room before bed, and finally place him in the crib while he is drowsy but awake.

Children do not like change. Any change – no matter how small - is often met with strong protests and extended crying. It is important to check on the child often and reassure him that you are nearby. Do make it clear that he is to stay in his bed or crib.

Getting your child to sleep through the night may seem like an impossible task. With patience, determination, and vigilance, you and your child really can both get more rest.

About the Author, Lily Morgan: Find helpful and creative ideas for parents and grandparents while you shop a great selection of kids furniture and classic toys. Visit us online at http://www.themagicalrockinghorse.com/ today!

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Co-Sleeping: Is It For You? By Lily Morgan

2007-10-19T05:14:00.000-07:00

Many new parents prepare for a baby's arrival by purchasing a crib. Some children, though, never seem to be able to sleep well in the crib. They fuss, they cry, and the only place they seem able to sleep is in a parents arms or lying next to them in a bed. That's the point where parents start to look for any solution to get some rest. Co-sleeping may be the answer.

Co-sleeping isn't a new concept. Many other countries have parents bringing their children to sleep in their own bed. Babies sleep better and longer, and parents do as well. Some cultures are even a little amazed that the Western world puts their children in "cages" to sleep. Our society waffles between experts who claim co-sleeping is a bad habit that will be difficult to break and experts who believe co-sleeping to be the best arrangement for all.

The benefits of co-sleeping have been proven. For breastfeeding mothers, co-sleeping with a child allows for easier feeding. Both mother and child can attend to needs while resting without much disturbance. There is no full waking with a need to cry for the child to receive attention. For tired parents, co-sleeping creates harmonized sleep patterns in which baby and mother tend to slumber and wake at the same periods. The increased contact of a familial bed also promotes attachment parenting, reassurance and comfort. Co-sleeping may also help prevent SIDS.

A familial bed is just as safe as having babies sleep in a crib. Of course, it is important for parents to ensure maximum safety by choosing a firm mattress, removing loose, fluffy bedding and installing a baby gate or setting the bed next to a wall. These safety precautions are the same for children who sleep in a crib; there is a gate, mattresses are firm, and there is often little bedding involved. In either case of crib-sleeping or co-sleeping, pillows are removed.

Co-sleeping should only be practiced in a household where parents are non-smoking and do not abuse drugs or alcohol. It is a myth that children who co-sleep with parents are at a greater risk of suffocation.

It is also a myth that children who co-sleep won't leave the family bed to gain independence. Think about this: How many teens do you know that sleep with their parents? Children will want to leave the family bed. Most parents report that children are more than willing to have their own bed at around ages two to three, when they are ready, physically, emotionally and mentally.

The point is to establish a situation that ensures the best rest possible for all involved, whether it be co-sleeping or crib sleeping. If the situation isn't working for one or all, change it. Being close to the people we love most isn't a habit
that needs to be broken, nor is getting a good night's sleep supposed to be a struggle. What's important is a trusting, harmonious relationship at all times, during waking hours or sleeping ones!

About the Author: Find helpful and creative ideas for parents and grandparents while you shop a great selection of kids furniture and classic toys. Visit us online at http://www.themagicalrockinghorse.com/ today!

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Help Your Child Succeed in School

2007-10-02T09:04:00.000-07:00

Copyright © 2007 Sally Goldberg, Ph.D.

Q. If you had to pick one strategy for helping your child to succeed in school, what would that be?

A. Self-esteem building. That holds the key.

A new school year is synonymous with a new beginning. "Get off to a good start" is what every parent says to every child. "Set up good study habits; make good friends; get good grades." These are all dreams of both parent and child. They sound good, and they are good; but they are only as good as your child feels about him/herself. Feelings of self-esteem, self-worth, and self-confidence are the foundation for making these kinds of successes happen.

Here's how you can help...

1. Show your child respect and appreciation. Respect your child as you say, "Please...," and appreciate your child as you say, "Thank you." It turns out that the way to teach your child to say "please" and "thank you" is to say "please" and "thank you" to your child.

2. Help your child uncover his own uniqueness. Take as much time as you can to delight in your child's individuality. Your child is the one and only person like he/she is. No one else has been born into the world like your child. Have fun helping your child discover his/her own personal passion, potential, and place in the world.

3. Change the word "misbehavior" to "mistaken behavior." What do we know about mistakes? We learn from them. Teach your child as much as possible how not to make the same mistakes again.

4. Help your child to learn, to do, and to be all he/she can. Reserve praise for major accomplishments, but encourage your child by noticing and reflecting back to him/her about small occurrences. You can show your awareness by reinforcements like:

"I noticed you finished your reading assignment. You are responsible."

"I saw you open the door for your brother. That was helpful."

"I watched you put your favorite toy away. You handled it carefully."

Every small step is worthy of recognition as a major step toward further success.

Being the best at something is a respectable goal. However, doing the best you can comes first. Focus on your child's capability and strength. Notice his/her individuality. Help your child learn better behavior. Encourage him/her to succeed. What you think of your child is what your child will think of him/herself. Believe in your child; think positive; think strong. Self-esteem on the inside manifests itself in school success on the outside. Enjoy your partnership.

About The Author:

Sally Goldberg, Ph.D., is a professor of education at the University of Phoenix and parenting specialist. Through her books, articles, presentations, and one-on-one coaching she empowers parents to solve problems. She gives weekly parenting classes in different locations in Scottsdale, AZ. If you would like to contact Dr. Sally, you can reach her at 480-766-6323 or drsally@drsallyparenting.com Find out more at http://www.drsallyparenting.com/

Teaching Your Kids Good Money Skills

2007-06-23T22:59:00.000-07:00

How many times have you told your kids, "Money doesn't grow on trees"? Eventually, your children are going to have to learn that getting the things they want requires some effort. The sooner you instill this concept in your child's mind, the better. Lessons about finances are easy and can be incorporated into everyday life early on. These lessons can also be fun and if you make them a game, your child might not even be aware that you're teaching anything at all.

Parents are all too familiar with the typical trip to a store accompanied by small children dazzled at all the offerings at their fingertips (need we really explain further?). Shopping is the best place to start teaching children about money and financial responsibility.

The first concept to get across is "wants" versus "needs". Most kids will be attracted by brightly colored packaging or influenced by television programs they've seen marketing certain items or cartoon characters. Bright packaging and something familiar is followed by "Mommy, I want…!"

As you go through the store, explain the choices that you make. A grocery store is easiest for this lesson. Yes, you understand your child may "want" the Rocky Road ice cream and Neon Green Go-Getter popsicles, but you only have so much money and you "need" the broccoli, the milk and the eggs. Some things you buy to live and eat well. Other things you can live without.

While you're at the grocery store, teach your child how to compare labels for value. Sure, the name brand package looks fancy and has nice pictures, but the store brand is exactly the same product, sold at a lesser price and better value. Make finding bargains and better prices a game by having your child help you look for sales and help you cut coupons out at home.

Another important concept to teach children is that of quality and durability over cheap and disposable. Teach your child the advantages of buying a well-made toy or piece of furniture by letting them help pick out a desk or a bed for their room. Show them the difference between long-lasting quality and run-of-the-mill, assembly line production. The mass-produced plastic product might be cheaper, but will it last as long as the hand-made rocking horse?

Shopping is a great opportunity to teach your children about credit cards and "plastic cash" too. Children should learn at an early age that the piece of plastic you give in exchange for goods is not "free money". Explain that you're making a promise to the store that you will pay for the goods later or that they'll accept your debit card because you've saved money and "put it on" the card.

Credit cards are also good for lessons about action now, consequence later. Ask your children what they think might happen if you don't fulfill your promise to pay for the credit card bill when it arrives in the mail? The point is to help children understand that money doesn't just "happen" and that even though you can't always see it or touch it, it's there and you have to manage it carefully. Children will also learn that money doesn't appear out of thin air every time they want something.

About the Author: Lily Morgan, finds helpful and creative ideas for parents and grandparents while you shop our great selection of kids furniture (including our popular toddler beds) and classic toys. Visit www.TheMagicalRockingHorse.com today!

Toddlers And Children With Heartburn Or Acid Reflux

2007-06-03T07:05:00.001-07:00

Heartburn in toddlers and children is not thought to be as common as heartburn in adults. This may be due to the strength of the young LES – the ring of muscle that controls the flow of swallowed food and water from the esophagus into the stomach.

Heartburn in toddlers and children is, nonetheless, a real concern. It may be simple heartburn or acid reflux – or it could be a symptom of a more serious underlying medical concern. Repeated episodes of acid reflux or heartburn in toddlers and children should trigger an appointment with your pediatrician.

Preventing Heartburn in Toddlers and Children

If your pediatrician finds no underlying reasons for heartburn in your child, you will want to take steps to prevent it. Prevention will differ from one child to the next. What works for one may not work for another. Try these 7 steps and see which works best for your child.

1. Be sure the child's clothing is not tight at the waist during and immediately after meals. Tight clothing can put pressure on the stomach, which in turn pressures the LES and produces heartburn.

2. Give the child something quiet to do immediately after meals. Returning to active play can pressure the stomach before it has digested the food and prompt heartburn. Children should be instructed not to bend at the waist for 15 to 30 minutes after eating.

3. Heartburn in toddlers and children can often be a matter of excess weight, especially at the waist. Ask your pediatrician what your child's weight should be. If he or she is overweight, work with the doctor to get them to a healthy weight to prevent heartburn.

4. Serve smaller meals. Overeating will result in a stomach that is too full to do its work properly. The churning motion a too-full stomach can, like the churning motion of an overfilled blender, cause the "lid" to pop open. When that lid is the sphincter ring of muscle, heartburn can result.

5. Serve small snacks between meals. This will allow the child to get enough nourishment, and not be as eager to overeat at meals.

6. Withhold junk food that is high in fat and sugar. Heartburn in toddlers and children can be caused by a diet that is unbalanced, and lacking in nutritious food.

7. Eliminate beverages that contain carbon dioxide (bubbles). Too much gas in the stomach can caused the sphincter to open at the wrong time. Heartburn in toddlers and children is often prevented quickly by disallowing soda pop with the meal.

If you try all of these without gaining relief, you may want to begin a food diary, writing down everything your child eats each day. When heartburn occurs, log it in immediately to see if a specific food has been eaten before each episode. When you visit the pediatrician, show him or her the food diary.

Heartburn in toddlers and children can occur at night. The child may awaken crying and complaining of pain in the upper abdomen or lower chest. Perhaps the heartburn occurs in the evening before going to bed. This type of heartburn can often be avoided by not allowing the child to eat right before going to bed.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is for educational purposes only. Parents who suspect heartburn in toddlers and children should seek advice from the child's pediatrician.

About the Author: © 2007, Anna Hart. Anna herself lives with a husband who used to suffer heartburn frequently, and she empathizes with your problem. She invites you to read more of her articles about heartburn, acid reflux, and GERD at http://www.heartburnreliefblog.com. Anna continues to research and post regular information on that site. If you want to help children understand heartburn causes, please visit Anna now.

How to Prevent Aggression in Children

2007-05-23T00:48:00.000-07:00

Aggression in children is behavior that results in personal injury to another. This injury can either be psychological (in the form of verbal attacks) or physical.

Usually the child tends to be impulsive, easily irritable, immature, inarticulate about feelings and has difficulty taking criticism or frustration.

The Reasons behind Aggression

There is a saying that children do not do things that we want them to do, they do things that we do. They learned behavior by observing others such as parents, siblings and peers. Thus we have to make sure that we set a good example for them to follow. Our behavior must be consistent; we must do what we preached to them.

One reason why children show aggression is that they want to get their own way or the attention that they want.

Aggression can be due to the frustration of daily living especially when there may be some obstacles that prevent them from satisfying their needs. As I observed in my niece, at times she will compete with her two brothers for their mother's attention and if she failed to achieve what she wants, she will show some form of physical aggression towards her two brothers.

With the increase in exposure to mass media nowadays and without proper guidance from parents and adults, children can be easily influenced by the glamorize violence. Internet and computer games can also be the other channels where children are being exposed to violence. Recently I was conducting a training on Personal Leadership for school children of 13 years of age and I was asking them to list down some of their strengths. To my surprise, one of the boys told me that he is good in killing. I found out from further asking that he is talking about computer games. Children do not understand the difference between media and real life. Thus it is important that we give them proper guidance.

One common reason why children show aggression is when their emotional needs like the need for love and security, praise and recognition are not met. As what Mother Teresa said, "The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread." The need for love is especially so in children who are constantly seeking love and attention from their parents and adults. They are constantly seeking approval and attention from their parents for their behavior. Like adults, they love to receive praise and recognition from their parents and adults.

Knowing the reasons why children display aggression, let us take a look at how to prevent aggression in children.

The first and foremost thing we can do is to limit our childrens' exposure to violence in TV. Just as a coin has two sides, we can also use the violence on TV to show them the adverse consequences and non-violent alternatives. It is also good to watch what they are going through in internet. However, remember that we must also respect their privacy and personal space.

The other thing we can do is to consistently enforce rules that promote "love and respect" such as "no hitting" and "no teasing." The best way to enforce these rules is by doing it ourselves. We have to remember that our children are constantly observing what we are doing; so we really have to watch our behaviors. We have to react appropriately when we are upset. When our children misbehave, we must not react aggressively to them. When children are fighting, first separate them and then explain calmly to them why they cannot act the way they were acting.

Many children have an abundance of energy and without a proper channel to release the energy, the energy can show itself in the form of aggression whether intentional or unintentional. One good way to prevent aggression in children is to find a way to drain off the energy and aggressive impulses in them through physical exercises. Through proper supervision in the activities of children, we can discourage aggressive reactions.

Just as we must watch our behaviors, we must do our best to minimize marital strife where we exhibit a high level of arguing, conflict and aggression. When we are angry, we can model non-aggressive ways of expressing our anger and frustration like the use of compromise and negotiation.

What to do

Strengthen the loving feelings between you and your child by spending sufficient quality time alone with your child.

Reward good behavior. If you catch your child in good behavior, praise, encourage or reward your child for not reacting aggressively. Praise them for controlling themselves. Praise positive behaviors like sharing and using words instead of actions to express anger.

Teach alternatives. Educate your child to use other methods instead of using aggressive behaviors. Train your child to do self talk like "Talk, don't hit" and "Stop and think before you act." Always remind them that they can use words and that they could say what the problem was instead of hitting. They learned that talking was more effective than hitting.

It is important to understand what triggers the aggressive behaviors in children so that we can prevent it even before it happens. The best way of preventing aggression in children is by setting a good example for them to follow. Remember that children do not do things we ask them to do, they do things by observing what we are doing.

Easy Ways To Teach Your Child About Colors

2007-03-23T03:08:00.000-07:00

The world is a kaleidoscope of color, and teaching your child about colors is fundamental to their learning process, right? To assist you, here are some tips to help your child recognize and identify colors.

· When dressing your child; say the color of the outfit.

· Take out some fruit and place it on the kitchen table. Sit the child on your lap and point to each fruit; naming the color.

· When you go for a walk with your child, point out the different color flowers.

· Using the wide variety of child’s books that are available; specifically picture books that are very colorful, point out the colors.

· Purchase a large box of crayons, and using white paper to scribble on, repeat the name of each color crayon you use.

· Purchase a package of multicolored construction paper.

Babies love anything that’s colorful. Whether its balloons, toys, stuffed animals, dolls or blocks – they seem to hone in on bright colors such as red, blue and yellow. With Easter soon approaching, it is the perfect time to introduce them to a myriad of colors via Easter eggs. Another approach is to take them to a park where all of the swings and see-saws are brightly colored. Or a stroll in your garden is another perfect to show them bright colors as well.

As your child points to an object, verbalize the color and what the object is as well. Keep repeating the color over and over as you point to it. If your child calls an object another color than what it is, just verbalize the correct color and eventually he or she will make the connection. Also, you can show your child different stuffed animals in a toy store which have brightly colored attire.

While these tips to help your child recognize colors are just the starting point, you can also use other tools which are also available in the learning process. Baby food is another way in which you can present colors to your child. If you take your child to the zoo; there are so many colors you can share with your child. Take out your tin of buttons. These are a wonderful tool to demonstrate different colors to your child. Also, if you use scrunchies, show them to your child as well. Making the association between the color and the object is an important component in the child’s learning process. It’s important to make it fun for the child. In this way, every association made will be invoke a happy memory later on.

About the Author: Nicole Dean co-created http://www.kidsactivitycalendar.com to help her child and others prepare for Kindergarten in a fun way. To get your free sample lesson, stop by http://www.kidsactivitycalendar.com/letter-a-sample.htm today.

Gardening with Children

2007-03-14T04:02:00.000-07:00

Starting a small garden with your child or grandchild is an excellent way for children to learn to learn how to care for the environment and gain an appreciation for the many birds and insects with whom we share our gardens. Tending a garden also serves as an introduction to the changing weather patterns and the seasonal cycles of nature from planting the seed, harvesting (e.g. eating the vegetables, picking and drying the flowers or collecting the seed) and then preparing for the next season. They also learn an important life lesson in responsibility. If they don't water and nourish the plants they can die through lack of attention.

If you can, With your child decide what kind of garden your child would like - butterfly, herb, flower, vegetable etc. To make the project more fun and real buy child sized gloves, planting tools, wheelbarrow and watering can.

Sketch a plan for the garden and mark off the area in the garden. Maybe a flower garden around a playhouse or a small vegetable patch they can call their own.

Turn the soil breaking up any lumps and condition with organic compost if necessary.

If you don't have a suitable area of ground use container pots, planter boxes, or even an old half wine barrel will do.

Children can get interested in gardening from a very young age and with a little encouragement discover this fun hobby while enjoying the two things they love - dirt and outdoors.

With very young children it is easier to grow flowers directly from seed. The roots on seedlings easily become damaged as they take them from the pots and transplant into the soil.

Let children choose their own plants and look for easy germinating types such as Cosmos, Snapdragons or the all time favourite Sunflowers. Bulbs are also a great favourite amongst young children but they can be typically impatient waiting for the bulbs to sprout and grow.

For vegetables - carrots, peas and strawberries tend to be a favourite as they are easy to grow and great to eat. One study found that when four-and five-year-olds spent about 30 minutes a week for eight weeks tending a garden, they were more likely to eat their vegetables. A challenge for most parents.

Create a garden journal and take photos as the project progresses so your child will have something to remember over the winter months until the next season begins.

Copyright © Netwrite-Publish Home & Garden.For more ideas for home, garden and everyday living visit http://www.netwrite-publish.com

Author: Jill Black
Title: Gardening with Children
Email: jillbnwp@yahoo.com

How You Can Be a Better Parent

2007-03-06T00:48:00.000-08:00

I got this article in my email which I would like to share with you. It is important to note as in the article that every child is different and should not be treated exactly the same way. There may be a certain guidelines or ways to treat certain child or situation in a certain way but there should be some flexibility in apply these guidelines and ways. The other thing which I totally agree with the author is that we better watched what we do or said as our children will be watching us. As the quotation goes, "children do not do things that we asked them to do, they do things which we did."

by Joseph Then

When it comes to parenting tips how are you going to know if you are going to receive the right kind of response to what your question may be. In reality you don’t know if you are getting the right answer because each and every child is different as well as the situation that they are in and having.

When you are looking for a little bit of parenting advice you may want to look a friend that did have the same problem that you are having and talk to them about what some solutions that they could have found that did work. You are even able to talk to your doctor about any problems that you are having with your children, they are going to help steer you in the right direction. They may be even able to let you know of someone that is going to help you out with all the problems you are having at that time.

You may even receive a few different parenting tips from your family that could help you out with any problems you are having. One thing that you are going to want to remember is that your children is a big part of your life and they are going to copy everything that you are doing later in life. You are going to want to make sure that you watch what you do and say so that they do not repeat any and all of the situations you have been in.

The best parenting tip that I have ever received is that your children are a gift to you not a chore or burden to you. That is true because there are many people out there that are not able to have any children at all.

The bad part is that many of them that are unable to have children could and probable would be some of the best parents out there for children. You are really going to want to take some time to be with your child and try to understand what they are going through because some of the problems today are going to be completely different than when we were younger. That is because the times and technology has changed so much in the past years.

In conclusion, parenting is not an easy role to play. As a parent, you have a part in molding the next generation. Whether your children will be a useful person in the society or not will be up to you.

Teaching Good Manners To Kids Is Not That Hard

2007-03-05T04:57:00.000-08:00

We all have experienced one or more incidents of children crying and whining while their mothers have been searching the department store for that "fabulous" pair of shoes they saw on a television show. The truth is that you were annoyed and although you know that this was not the child's fault, you secretly disliked the kid and even more his mother, as she allowed it to annoy everyone and did not pay attention, as she should, to her toddler. That was rude and kids can be taught not to be rude.

I recall an incident that happened a long time ago when I was still a child. My parents took me to the beach since this was the only way to cool down that hot summer day; the temperature in Greece can reach very high levels during the summer. As we reached the point that would host our existence for the rest of the day, I remember my mother kneeling to assist me get rid of my clothes and help me prepare before running loose to play under the sun. I had to wear my lovely pink pair of plastic shoes, in order to avoid any injuries, my hat, which I thought it was rather funny, and a generous portion of sunscreen on my skin, to protect it from burning. That last part of the beach "ritual" I hated. I did not like the fact that I was feeling my skin being greasy or that water drops seemed to stack on my arms and legs. I immediately begun complaining while my mother was about to begin applying the lotion, when my father turned to me and said "I know you hate it. I do too. But, first nobody here wants to hear you complain. They came to relax and enjoy the sun. Second, we have explained to you that the sun is dangerous and your skin is still very white. If you do not let your mother finish the application, you will later hurt all over and you will not be able to come with us again here tomorrow."

I immediately stopped. I still remember my father's face. He was not yelling nor threatening me. He just stated the simple truth. My skin would burn and as I looked at other families on the beach I realized that kids who have burned their skin, because they did not allow their parents to protect them, were miserably looking at other kids playing while they had to stay under the shadow of an umbrella and do nothing.

Whether your child has a serious concern or is just bored and tired, you can help it understand that crying and screaming will not assist its situation. By realizing that if you treat your child as if you were speaking to an adult, using simpler wording and examples they can relate to of course, your kid will mature sooner and respect others peace and quite; yours included.

About the Author: Kadence Buchanan writes articles on many topics including Family, Kids And Teens, and Computers

Teaching Kids Responsibility

2007-02-24T01:13:00.000-08:00

I certainly agree with the author that when we are teaching our kids, we need to watch our own behavior too. I remember quotation which goes, "kids don't do things we tell them to do, they do the things we did.

Your garage sale is advertised to open at 7:00 and customers are lined up outside, but Lisa hasn’t arrived with the cash box full of change. Your grant proposal has to be in the mail today but the financials haven’t arrived yet. Your son’s church group couldn’t go to the concert they had planned to attend because two of the adult drivers/chaperones didn’t show up.

Irresponsible people are just plain irritating! Those of us who are responsible are left shaking our heads, cleaning up the mess, and saying to each other, “How can people behave like that?” One thing is for sure—we don’t want our children to grow up like this! We want them to be people we can count on—people who do what they say they’re going to do; who meet their family, work, social, and volunteer obligations; and who show up on time and prepared. And by teaching them to be responsible from a young age, we can help ensure they will grow to be responsible adults.

Teaching children responsibility can be a parenting challenge. It starts out with teaching your children how to do small tasks and chores around the house. Two-year-olds can do simple jobs like getting the newspaper from the driveway, taking their breakfast bowl to the sink, and putting clean socks in a drawer. And at this age, it’s delightful to have children help because they are so happy and eager to be of use! As children get older, you can increase their responsibilities. Older children can load and unload the dishwasher, take out the trash, make their beds, and put dirty clothes in the hamper. And teenagers ought to be able to do a load of laundry and make a simple meal.

Unfortunately, your two-year-old’s eagerness to help will soon dissolve into whines and attempts at procrastinations. It will help if you can work together on chores and rotate the “nasty” chores so no one is stuck with them all the time. Your kids may also respond to chore games or sticker charts as motivation.

Would it be faster and easier for you to do these jobs yourself? Of course! And they would probably be done better too. But then you would lose out on the opportunity to develop your children’s sense of responsibility and to teach them valuable survival skills.

Helping out around the house is only one aspect of responsibility children need to learn. They also need to learn to be responsible for themselves. Encourage young children to dress themselves as soon as they old enough to do so. When your children start going to school, expect them to be responsible for their own homework—both doing it and turning it in. Is it okay to occasionally take a forgotten math assignment to school? Sure—I have forgotten papers I needed before and my husband gallantly rescues me. Is it okay to do it every day? Absolutely not! That is a signal of irresponsibility and you need to work with your child to find out what the problem is and how to solve it.

Finally, you need to help your children learn to be responsible in dealing with other people. If they join a sports team and later want to quit it, remind them that they have an obligation to the rest of the team to finish out the season. If they have a group project at school, ensure they complete their part of the project. Help them learn to budget their time so they don’t take on responsibilities they can’t finish.

Don’t expect that your children will automatically know how to do all the tasks you give them. You will need to teach and reteach them how to sort laundry and pack their backpacks each night. You will have to give them gentle reminders to practice the piano or study for their math test. Be patient and confident that your lessons are sinking in, whether it seems that way or not. Your payback will come in a few years in the shape of a responsible adult.

By the way, as you work on teaching responsibility to your children, you better check out your own behavior too (isn’t that always the way?). No matter how much you talk about responsibility to your children, if they see you behaving irresponsibly, that is the message they will absorb. So, ask yourself the following questions:

- Do I do tasks in a timely way?
- Am I usually on time?
- Do I keep my word?
- Do I give projects my best effort?

If you can’t answer “yes” to these questions, then work on improving your own behavior so you will be a better role model for your children.

Copyright 2007 More4kids Inc. - www.more4kids.info

About the Author: Stacey Schifferdecker is the happy but harried mother of three. a freelance writer, and Children’s Minister. You can view her many articles on parenting at More4kids - a parenting and family resource.

Read this too Teaching Toddlers To Do Household Chores

How To Make Your Home As Relaxing As A Spa

2007-02-22T21:44:00.000-08:00

When it comes to home spa design, some key factors are elements that soothe the senses: lighting, scent and sound. By making a few little adjustments in your home, you can render it just as relaxing--if not more so--than a professional spa!

* Lighting

The first trick in home spa design is subdued lighting. Too often, our homes are outfitted with bright, harsh overhead lighting. This is especially true of overhead fluorescent light fixtures; their lighting is glaring, unnatural and downright unflattering. Some people are even highly sensitive to fluorescent lighting; it causes them stress or upset. Try to completely avoid overhead fluorescent lighting except in garages or other utility areas.

You can install dimmer switches on certain ceiling-mounted light fixtures throughout your home. This is particularly helpful above the dining room table, as you have mood lighting at your fingertips. You can also use floor lamps or table lamps instead of overhead lighting; the fixed orb of light that they emit creates a cozy space. In the bathroom, avoid strips of movie-star dressing room bulbs above mirrors. The bright overhead lighting is great if you need to cake on a pound of makeup before going onstage, but that’s about it! Use low-watt bulbs if you have such fixtures. Better yet, install low-light fixtures beside the mirror at face level. They’ll make you look 10 years younger!

For all light fixtures and lamps, choose lower watt bulbs, especially in relaxation areas. Dim lighting throughout your home reduces overstimulation and calms the mood.

* Scent

Home spa design isn’t about stuffing as many synthetically scented candles into your home as possible! Avoid synthetically scented candles, potpourri and incense, as they can irritate nasal passages. Besides, you’re bound to eventually have guests who are “scentsitive.” Opt instead for all-natural scents.

Lavendar is a very soothing and calming essential oil. You can purchase it at your local health food store. You can buy an essential oil diffuser ring that fits atop a lamp light bulb. Simply pour some oil into the ring, and set it atop the light bulb before you turn on the lamp. You can also simply dab a little oil on your fingertip and smudge it onto the light bulb before turning on the lamp.

* Sound

Ever notice how there’s no TV blaring in the background at spas?

The same should hold true with your home spa design. The average American household has the tube turned on a whopping eight hours a day, which is not conducive to relaxation. Limit the time that the television is on; if no one is actively watching it, turn it off. When it is on, limit the volume. Set sound limits for all members of your household, especially children: using an appropriate indoor voice volume, and not blaring loud music or video games.

You can also purchase an inexpensive indoor fountain. The human body is 70 percent water, and the sound of trickling water is naturally soothing to us.

And of course, gentle instrumental music is more soothing than heavy metal or raging operas. You can even enjoy CD’s of nature sounds, such as birds or the ocean.

Lastly, the most relaxing sound in your home spa design is no sound at all! As they say, “silence is golden!”

By implementing these simple sense-oriented details into your home spa design, you will always be just as relaxed as if you visited a spa. After all, your home is the ultimate refuge!

About the Author: Savvy’s Beauty Editor covers the top health spa products and wellness news. Visit Savvy Spa - because everyone needs a little pampering.

5 Summer Decorating Tips For Any Home

2007-02-16T04:30:00.000-08:00

In the past people decorated their home and it remained static for years, until it was time to repaint and buy more linen. Now, homeowners are leaving behind the old ideas of home decorating and creating different styles for different times of the year. It is now possible to give a home a one week face lift every season, without breaking the budget.

Summer decorating adds freshness to a home. It brightens the colors and opens the rooms up to light and color. The best thing about a face lift is that it doesn’t always require a complete home renovation.

A few quick and easy tips can help any home decorator to redesign their home, restoring the luster, and replacing winter’s sophistication and elegance with a breezy, youthful, and fun design.

Here are 5 easy, fast and cheap summer decorating ideas:

1. When people think of adding color to a room they think of painting. To save time and money, paint the focal wall in a room, leaving the rest. In most rooms, one wall can be painted in less than an hour. Another option is to sponge a wall.

A kitchen can be brightened by painting the wall under cabinets, adding peal and stick tile to this area, or adding ceramics, like large roosters and sunflowers.

2. Pillows and rugs are expensive. Instead of s new pillow covers and tablecloths, use no sew techniques. Wrap pillows with unfinished fabric on the diagonal like a present, and then secure with decorative ribbon or cord. This reduces the need for throw pillows. This can also be done with throw rugs.

Keep the summer rug stored under the winter rug. This gives the winter rug extra padding, and reduces the need for a place to store the summer rug.

A simple table runner can change the look of a table. Replace the formal tablecloth with a light runner in a bright pastel.

3. The fastest way to turn a winter room into a summer room is by removing all the clutter, artwork and knickknacks. The windows are open in the summer, removing the clutter also decreases the housecleaning and dusting time a room needs.

4. Remove the padded and layered window treatments. Replace them with mini blinds or sheers to retain privacy and light control. UV blinds are a great choice for rooms where sun shines on valuable furnit.ure or where the light may fade the wall paint.

5. Remove fabrics and woods and replace them with glass. The glass will reflect light, expanding the room and adding a touch of sparkle. Everything needs to be polished from the television screen and ceiling lights to the kitchen appliances and kick plates on the front door. In many homes a thorough cleaning, polishing the wood, and washing walls will bring new life to the room.

Whatever you do to bring the summer season into your homes, make sure that you pick a couple of ideas from this list, and give them a try. They are fast, easy and cheap, what could you lose?

About the Author: Patricia Taylor advises on home furnishings and decor from her web site at http://www.carpethere.com. She invites you to get her FREE home decorating guide http://www.rugs4kids.com

Deadly Indoor And Outdoor Plants Harmful To Dogs

2007-02-14T01:58:00.000-08:00

Many dog owners don’t consider that harmless little house and garden plants may be a potential source of danger to your dog or puppy. Usually poisonous plants are more deadly to small puppies, but some plants, even in small amounts, can be toxic to dogs of any size. By taking the time to understand the various plants and their levels of toxicity for dogs you can avoid costly vet bills and even more serious conditions.

Depending on the type of plant either the leaves, stems, bark, roots or fruit can be toxic. Some plants are only toxic at various times in their growth stage whereas others are always poisonous. For information on each type of plant the internet, your vet, or even a plant and gardening book is great resource.

Garden Plants

Believe it or not some of the most common garden plants are also the most deadly. Tomato plants, both the leaves and the stems, can be toxic to dogs. St. John’s Wort, an herbal plant, is very toxic leading to vomiting and seizures. Other garden plants that can be problematic include:

· Apricot
· Avocado
· Black Cherry
· Black Walnuts
· Castor Beans
· Catnip
· Chokecherry
· Eggplant
· Garlic
· Mushrooms
· Mustard plants/greens
· Onion
· Peach
· Plum
· Potato
· Pokeweed
· Spinach

Fencing the garden area or monitoring if the dog is actually eating the plants within the garden is important. When in doubt completely isolating the garden from the area the dog is kept is a great idea.

Ornamental Outdoor Plants

Everyone loves to have their yard area looking great, but not at the expense of his or her animals becoming ill. Some of the showiest of the flowering plants are also the most deadly, including Oleander and many of the flowering shrubs. The list of the most common flowering and ornamental plants that are frequently found in gardens are:

· Amaryllis
· Baby’s Breath
· Bird of Paradise
· Black Eyed Susan
· Bleeding Heart
· Bluebonnet
· Boston Ivy
· Calla Lilly
· Chrysanthemums
· Cyclamen
· Daffodil
· Daisy
· Elephant Ear
· Easter Lilly
· Ferns
· Flamingo plant
· Geranium
· Honeysuckle
· Hyacinth
· Hydrangea
· Ivy
· Jade plant
· Lantana
· Larkspur
· Marigolds
· Morning Glory
· Peony
· Primrose
· Rhododendron
· Tiger Lily
· Yucca

There are many other beautiful garden flower that can also be deadly, so be sure to check with the nursery or garden shop before planting them in the same area that you are planning on keeping your dog.

Indoor Plants

Many of the houseplants including ferns, dieffenbachia, pothos, ivy, philodendron, and even poinsettias are very toxic to dogs. Corn plant, peace lilies and any of the ornamental tobacco plants can be very dangerous for both full-grown dogs and puppies.

If you think that your dog may have consumed a poisonous or potentially poisonous plant immediately get them to the vet. Bring a small amount of the plant with you, including the leaf and the flower, to help with identification.

About the Author: Kelly Marshall, more information can be found at Oh My Dog Supplies: http://www.ohmydogsupplies.com/xnews.php - also shop for dog beds at http://www.ohmydogsupplies.com/dog-supplies/dog-beds

Homework: The Power of 'Positive' Consequences

2007-02-08T00:44:00.000-08:00

At a recent presentation for parents, I mentioned the importance of providing positive consequences to motivate students with homework. Afterwards, one mother approached and explained that her daughter has been having problems all school year. "Her teacher has been insisting that I provide a lot of punishment at home," she explained. "I think that might be the problem...that my daughter is turned off by her negative attitude." Wouldn't we all?

Don't get me wrong...punishment has its place and can be an important element of molding and managing behavior. However, we often overlook the power of being positive. As human beings, we naturally focus on the negative and are conditioned to dole out negative consequences first. However, providing positive rewards for good behavior is usually much more effective.

For starters, positive consequences cultivate positive attitudes...and you need as much of that as you can get when it comes to dealing with homework!

Secondly, they allow you to be much more specific about your expectations, which makes your children more likely to meet them.

For example, "Stop fooling around and get your homework done," is not as specific as, "If you can stay focused and finish your homework in 20 minutes, I will let you watch an extra TV show tonight." The latter statement tells the child specifically what they SHOULD do and this will always result in a better response.

Finally, punishment is often NOT motivating, especially for children who have fallen into complacency. Before long, there will be nothing left for you to "take away."

Action Plan

Determine realistic, yet motivating rewards. When you first start, you may need to provide rewards immediately. After a short while, start extending the time. For example, you might first offer stickers, extra time on the computer, or a small treat each evening. After a couple of weeks, change the parameters and offer weekly rewards, such as taking your daughter out to lunch on the weekend if she does her homework tear-free four nights in one week. Gradually, increase the time-span and slightly increase the value of each reward. You can guarantee motivation if you ask your children for 'reasonable' reward ideas.

Back up your positive consequences with negative ones. This creates a choice for your child. "If I do my homework on time tonight, I can go to a movie with dad. If I don't, I will loose my video games for the night." Which would you choose?

Be firm and ALWAYS follow through. The moment you do not enforce your expectations, you loose the game! Your children know if you do not always mean what you say and they will test you to the end of time. There are not shortcuts; only offer consequences that you are willing to enforce, and then ENFORCE them!

On a similar note, be aware of the "Three Factor." The first few times you introduce a new routine or expectation with children, they are likely to fight it. The first time will be bad. The second time will be awful. The third time may be unbelievably awful. By the fourth time, they will start cooperating because they will KNOW you are serious.

Rewards of your time are most motivating. This often surprises parents, especially parents of middle and high school students, but the opportunity to spend 'special time' with Mom or Dad is very attractive to students of all ages. Seize the opportunity while you have it.

In Conclusion

As a parent, if your homework management strategy relies strictly on punishment, you are wearing away motivation and fighting a loosing battle. Turn the tides by using positive consequences and reap the benefits of happier and more successful children.

Copyright © 2007 Susan Kruger, All Rights Reserved

About The Author: Susan Kruger is the author of SOAR Study Skills; A Simple and Efficient System for Earning Better Grades in Less Time. Get Susan's FREE Homework Rx Toolkit, featuring 25 Ways to Make Homework Easier...Tonight!, at her website: http://soarstudyskills.com/

Great Ideas To Decorate A Boy’s Bedroom

2007-02-06T23:47:00.000-08:00

It can be difficult to determine a cost effective way to decorate a boy’s bedroom when you know that fads and tastes change quickly. When decorating a boy’s room, here are some tips that will help you spend your money more wisely. If you switch the décor in the entire room, you will find yourself spending a lot of money that will likely be short lived. With a few wise choices, you can spend less money and afford to change the room around more often.

Because fads change so quickly and what your child likes for their room today may be something they are tired of in a year’s time. By choosing a few quick changes that are inexpensive, it can afford you the ability to change decorations and themes more regularly. Children take pride in a bedroom that reflects their taste so will be more likely to keep it tidy when they enjoy spending time there.

Choose a neutral paint color and add wallpaper borders or decals. Adding a wallpaper border or decals makes it easy to redecorate your room inexpensively. By choosing a neutral color you can easily spend a minimum amount of money buying reposition able decals and wallpaper borders that can be put around the middle of the room at waist level or at the ceiling. This can allow you to change your child’s room around inexpensively and as often as a new fad strikes them with minimal effort required by you.

If your child is a sports fan, NFL lockers are a popular idea. NFL lockers can be bought and this is something that can decorate your child’s room from a young age right until they leave for college. An NFL locker can not only hold storage items such as clothing, jerseys and other sports equipment but also can hold books and pictures and display your child’s sports related trophies.

The NFL locker can display their favorite team with official logos and colors. The NFL locker is something that generally won’t go out of style for your child’s room. If your son is a sports enthusiast, he likely will be throughout his childhood. Fads with shorter phases such as cartoon characters or movie themed decorations tend to cost a lot and be out of fashion quickly. Sports themes can last much longer in terms of keeping your son’s interest.

When you want to change the room, buying a new bedding set that matches the color or the theme of the room and a similarly colored throw rug for the foot of their bed can be an inexpensive way to match colors. Storage is always a concern for children’s rooms that become filled with toys and books and videos so a storage solution is important to help them keep their room organized. Something like the NFL locker helps them keep the room organized and is something durable that is likely to last for years.

About the Author: Hunter Pyle, this article was written to talk about choosing the right gift for decorating a boys bedroom. With this said, I would highly recommend visiting Taylor Gifts to find out more about a wide variety of gifts for boys.

Decorating With Shades

2007-02-04T00:46:00.000-08:00

Roman shades are a popular addition to the window blind stable. They’re a great way to make a home decorating statement. Their graceful gathers really add visual interest to any room. When they’re raised, the fabric drapes into soft, tight folds. When they’re lowered, the gentle folds relax into looser folds.

These shades can be lined to offer more insulation, and also more privacy and deflection of light. They can be used in any room in your home, from nearly any fabric. They look great as a foundation for a full window covering, as a backdrop curtains and valances. You might see them in cotton, suede and linen, among many other materials. They can be the focal point of the window covering, or they can be the background and supporting role for a bold curtain or valance. A cord that runs down the side of the shade controls the lifting and lowering. They can be raised completely to let light in and expose the entire window, or lowered to any level. The higher they’re raised, the tighter the loops of fabric get. It almost appears to be a balloon valance, when all the loops are gathered at the top of the window. It doesn’t matter how high the shade is raised, it always looks great. It never looks unfinished, or unkempt, or as if you should raise or lower it completely.

It doesn’t take much talent to make Roman shades. Magazines, books and websites can walk you through the necessary steps. A visit to a craft store couldn’t hurt, either, since they’re full of ideas. Someone at the craft store can direct you toward the best resources. Once you make one set, you’ll be unstoppable!

Once Roman shades are hung, the room takes on a completely different feel. The three dimensional curtain really draws your attention to the window. Which makes it even wiser to have a full display of window treatments. They can go with modern furnishings, or they can fit right in with a contemporary theme. They can have a casual look, or a more formal look. The material chosen makes all the difference. An ornately printed brocade would look much more formal than a light cotton. And the treatments around it can affect how it looks. A formal valance with a heavy drapery is much more formal than a light balloon valance paired with a sheer cotton panel.

Whether you choose a formal look or a casual look for your shades, windows never looked so good!

About the Author: Eric Slarkowski usually pens publications on information related to decorating and decorating. You can see his articles on roman shades over at http://www.shades-blinds-shutters-guide.com.

Window Blinds And Curtains

2007-02-04T00:22:00.000-08:00

Window blinds are versatile home design elements. They come in a variety of materials, fabrics and style to suit your tastes. We’ll look at several materials.

1) Metal. These are the original blinds. For many years, aluminum was the predominant metal used in blinds. It’s durable, affordable, cleanable and flexible. The slats come in a variety of lengths and widths to fit any space or taste.

2) Wood. This is a popular choice for window coverings for the warm touch it gives to a room. It’s not a great choice when the room is prone to humidity, such as in a bathroom or a kitchen. They’re not good choices in humid geographic areas either. Wood can warp, crack or swell, rendering them useless when they won’t open or close correctly, or the louvers won’t move. Wood is used in Venetian blinds and woven blinds.

3) Cane. You’ll see this in woven blinds. The slats are very thin, and they’re only adjustable as an entire unit, not by a single slat. Light filters into the room through the thin slats, that are usually tied together with rope. They add a very natural look to a room.

4) Vinyl. This is the most popular material for blinds. It can take on the look of wood, but it’s also very low-maintenance. It won’t crack or warp like wood, and it doesn’t attract dust like wood blinds do. Miniblinds are most often vinyl. They’re among the most popular type of blind, due to their thin slat and their versatility.

5) Fabric. Sometimes you’ll see fabric backed with a stiff material to create slats. These are exceptionally nice when they complement the décor in a room. Fabric can be used to bring a room together.

Blinds can be used by themselves, or layered with other window treatments. The severe lines of blinds can be contrasted with the softness of curtains or a valance, providing a polished, finished look.

Blinds can work in any room with windows. They can be horizontal or vertical, small or large. They can be subtly colored, and offset with a bold curtain or punchy valance.

Blinds are not only functional, as they keep light out and can act to obscure drafts from cracks around windows, but they’re decorative as well.

Blinds can make a great addition to any room. They’ve advanced so much in recent years, that you can get the look of yesterday with the technological advances of today.

Check out also : Decorating With Shades

About the Author: Linden Walhard regularly creates long articles on news dealing with curtains and home design. You can see his writings on window blinds over at http://www.shades-blinds-shutters-guide.com.

Wrought Iron Furniture Can Work Wonders For Your Living Room

2007-01-28T02:33:00.000-08:00

A fireplace is a place where you want to enjoy your evenings in chilly winters in a warm, cozy, and relaxing environment. Not only it is functional, it is a place of usual central point of room as well. As fireplaces are so noticeable, it is imperative that this place is made attractive for it deserves attraction.

No other material other than wrought iron is perfect for fireplace décor. Whatever be the design for your fireplace, only the wrought iron décor items look fabulous on the mantle or near the fireplace. Wrought iron goes equally well both in modern look and conventional look when combined with material like stones, pebbles, or bricks.

A few wrought iron products for home décor most sought near a fireplace could be candle stands, mantle clocks and candle holders. Mantle clocks ought to be set in the middle of the mantle and candle holders to be placed on one side of the mantle, presenting them a clustered look. Huge sized, high candle stands find a place on the floor beneath the mantle near the fireplace.

Most of the useful tools for fireplace are made from wrought iron or else these tools would have handles, brooms, pokers, shovels, and tongs made from wrought iron. These tool sets for fireplace are designed to look noticeable so as to be used both as functional as well as elegant fireplace pieces.

If you are planning to give a new look to your living room without a great deal of effort, then wrought iron accessories are the ideal answer. Wrought iron is not only versatile, yet attractive. Wrought iron is just the right combination of both these characteristics and is just the ideal choice for any living room.

Wrought iron is so versatile home decorating material that it fits well with almost any decorating design. Be it be rustic, traditional, modern or contemporary, one can get wrought iron home décor products for every home design.

Wrought iron is a gorgeous material. Wrought iron home décors speak for themselves. These can be used to focus a specific point, or by adding a few bold accessories, you can create a central point in a room. If your living room has a fireplace, putting wrought iron candle holders will certainly add to the style of the fireplace, making it more striking. Or, if you plan to design a focal point on a wall, placing a beautiful piece of wall art of wrought iron along with wrought iron sconces on both sides will certainly be the focal point you desire for.

Wrought iron home décor products entirely transform the appearance of your living room without involvement of any major redecoration projects. As true to its nature, wrought iron material is both versatile and eye catching and will add sparkle to any living room.

About the Author: Andrew Caxton use to write on outdoor furniture and subjects for http://www.wrought-iron-guide.com. Find more publications about wrought iron furniture at his website.

Teaching Toddlers To Do Household Chores

2007-01-28T00:18:00.000-08:00

I never set out to give my toddlers chores to do. You might be thinking, "That's too young! Toddlers can't do chores!" That's what I thought too, that is until I was constantly tripping over my boys while trying to do my own household chores.

Let's face it, toddlers want to help mom, even when mom doesn't want or need help. But what better way to teach your toddlers to do chores than letting them help mom?

The number of chores you give your child to do will depend on your child. Some kids want to help more than others. At this age, the important thing is to teach them to clean up after themselves, not to try to get them to clean the entire house.

One of my sons is not interested in helping me pick up toys. He helps me for a minute then moves on to something else. However, he loves helping me with laundry and unloading the dishwasher.

My other son has to have everything around him arranged in a certain way. When we pick up his toys he makes sure everything is picked up and in its place. One day when we were picking up the family room he went into his bedroom and picked up the entire room. When we found him in there his room was spotless, and he's not even 2 years old!

Besides picking up toys off the floor at the end of every day, I don't require my boys to do certain chores, except as they want to help me. There are, however, a couple of chores they especially enjoy.

I realized my boys were old enough to help with the laundry when they started taking their clothes out of the dryer and running into their room to put them into their drawers! So now I let them put their own clothes away, and don't worry about what drawers they put them in. The important thing is that they are helping and putting their own laundry away. They also enjoy putting their clothes into the washing machine. I take turns picking each child up so they can drop some clothing into the machine.

I had a terrible time trying to keep my toddlers out of my dishwasher until I realized they just wanted to help take dishes out of it. For awhile they handed me silverware to put away (I take all of the sharp knives out first), then they decided that they wanted to put the silverware into the drawer. They can't even see into the drawer, but they drop it over the edge, into the drawer, then I put the silverware where it belongs.

I've had a lot of fun letting my toddler boys help with household chores. They don't see chores as work, they think they are hanging out with and helping mom, which is what is important to them, and as they get older they will learn that household chores are a part of family life.

About the Author: Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom. For more recipes, organizing tips, home decorating, crafts, holiday hints, and more, visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com

Tips on Installing A Burglar Alarm

2007-01-27T03:21:00.000-08:00

Ready to install your own burglar alarm?

Using a burglar alarm installation manual is the best way to install an alarm system. It explains how the owner of the house needs to install the burglar alarm. However, before installing the alarm the house owner needs to survey the property in order to decide how many doors and windows present a security threat. He or she also needs to look at large halls and sitting spaces that need protection against intruder break in.

The homeowner's next step should be to decide on the kind of alarm he or she wants to install. The owner has the option to select a either a wireless alarm or a hard-wired alarm. A wireless alarm is generally easier to install as it requires no wires that must be run across the house. The different components of the alarm can be inserted in the selected spots as per the instructions given in the installation manual.

The ideal place to install the control panel is in the basement (or any other place where it cannot be easily spotted by an intruder). Also, it should be within signal range. That is, the control panel should be able to pick up signals from other wireless components like the sensors and magnetic switches.

The homeowner then needs to install the magnetic switches on all of those doors and windows that a possible intruder can force entry. These switches are comprised of two parts -- a magnet and a switch -- and are not difficult to install. The house owner must only make sure that the distance between the switch and the magnet is not so large as to allow the intruder to walk in unnoticed. The alarm must go off when the distance between the magnet and the switch increases.

The next component you will need to install is the contact sensor. These sensors should be installed in those areas of a home through which an intruder would pass. Once again this decision has to be made by the house owner. He or she should select a place that is close to an entry or exit, and would invariably pick up any motion.

Finally, the homeowner needs to install the keypad. This device should be installed near the entry to enable the house owner to disarm or arm the alarm with ease. The homeowner can also add motion-sensor lights around the home. These lights should switch on whenever an individual passes beneath them.

A similar procedure should be followed in the case of a hard-wired alarm. The only difference is that all of the components of the alarm system must be connected by electrical wiring. Since this wiring should be concealed, the house owner would have to make an extra effort to install the alarm system.

About the Author: Robert Davis contributes to several web magazines, on home management and family issues topics.

The Right Visco Foam Mattress

2007-01-23T03:25:00.000-08:00

When memory foam mattresses first hit the market it wasn't difficult to select one to buy. There just weren't that many options. Fast forward to today and there are multiple brands to choose from for a foam mattress, while they all will benefit you in a great nights sleep, which one is the best for your body type and sleep habits.

Also known as a visco-elsatic memory foam mattress, they've made a big impact on the bed/mattress sector. The product, originally designed to help astronauts by NASA never made the cut in the space program. However, when it was adopted and produced commercially for mattresses it caught on fast.

Benefits of a Memory Foam Mattress

A memory foam mattress isn't just comfortable, they actually provide healing properties to those sleeping on them. If you suffer from joint or back aches and injuries this is a mattress for you to check out. The composition adjusts to your body and contouring to your shape providing support where it's needed most and allowing your body to stay aligned while sleeping.

Foam Mattress coming to market

The first company to unveil a visco foam mattress was tempurpedic. Their brand of memory foam was known as tempur. They bombarded the industry with TV ads, big distribution. When spring mattress makers saw the success they were having, it wasn't long before we saw companies like Simmons, Serta, and Sealy getting in on the action.

The right Foam Mattress for You

A variety of densities exist in memory foam. Generally the denser the foam the more expensive the mattress will cost. The density can vary between 2.5lb and 5lb. The density is simply the firmness you or I would feel when laying on the mattress. Generally the firmer a mattress, the more comfortable it will be especially for those suffering from any back pain or aches.

So how will you know what firmness is right for you? The only way to determine that is to test it out. Lay down on it, test several out, get to know what feels good and what doesn't. With something as personal as a mattress, it's really the only way to judge what's best.
As for all new technology, foam mattresses aren't cheap. They cost a lot to produce. Therefore they are more expensive then a conventional spring mattress once they reach market. Be careful of deals that appear too good to be true for a memory foam mattress. The warranty should be excellent with a mattress so a deal that seems to come with a shorter warranty for a lower price, isn't as good as it seems.

About the Author: For more information on a visco foam mattress consider visiting our website on foam mattresses and pillows.

Home Decorating - Get Rugs that Put the Fun in Functional

2007-01-23T02:47:00.000-08:00

Rugs can serve several functional purposes, with the most obvious one being a floor covering. Rugs also provide warmth on a bare floor and help to reduce noise in a room with too many flat surfaces. Rugs can add beauty and charm to a room and they can give your room a cosmopolitan feel or more of a country feel. That's great, but our focus today is on fun!

There are plenty of rugs that put the fun in functional, from fluffy Flokati rugs to retro shags. Flokati rugs, shag rugs, and sheepskin rugs offer 3-dimensional lushness that is simply irresistible. They're at home in the office, den, or even a child's room and come in every color imaginable.

Speaking of fun, have you ever curled up on a soft fluffy rug in front of a fireplace? If you haven't tried it, you should wiggle your bare toes in the long fibers!

If a fluffy rug isn't what you have in mind, there are lots of natural material rugs like jute, sisal, and bamboo that keep the fun in functional and they let you "keep it real." These sturdy and durable rugs are both trendy and timeless (a hard thing to be) and they come in several earthy colors.

Numerous fun designer rugs are available, crafted by famous artists or fashionistas. From the legendary Andy Warhol to hip kids Mary Kate and Ashley, you'll find a broad range of officially licensed designer rugs to match your lifestyle. Many of the designer rugs take exciting chances with color scheme and layout, for one-of-a-kind creations. From goofy cartoons and streamlined oriental prints, to bold blocks and retro mixes, you'll enjoy these rugs for their durability and sense of adventure.

From traditional designs to funky geometric expressions, there are plenty of rugs that are just fun to look at. Some rugs have designs so detailed or intricate that you might not notice certain details right away.

Outdoor rugs can be used poolside, on the deck or patio, or in front of the barbecue. They come in almost any design so you can get the look you want in your outdoor living areas. The fun gets kicked up a few notches when you use an outdoor rug with a western theme for a barbecue party or a rug with a patriotic design to celebrate the Fourth of July.

When it comes to fun rugs, the ones designed for children take top prize. There are cartoon characters, farm animals, and wildlife creatures galore. Other rugs for kids come in unique shapes such as a racecar, plane, or fire truck.

Some rugs for young kids have interactive designs that help them with counting or the alphabet. Imagine the fun a child has stepping on numbers or letters as the child says them in the correct sequence. Other interactive rugs feature maps or the solar system to help a child learn different concepts.

I recently had a discussion about rugs with some friends, who also happen to be ardent rug lovers. When we mentioned fun rugs for kids, their young son asked if people that like rugs can be called fans, just like people who like sports are called sports fans. We said "Why not?" and then he posed the following question, "How much fun can a rug fan have when a rug fan has fun rugs?"

About The Author: AnnaRae Mills is wild about rugs! She has a goldmine of tips and information to share with you. Decorating, rug shopping, and more. Find out how to pick the right rugs for your home. See pics of all rug types at http://www.Area-Rug-Tips.com

Copyright © 2007 AnnaRae Mills

Natural Area Rugs - America’s #1 Site for Natural Floor Coverings

Choosing The Right Type Of Grass For Your Garden

2007-01-22T23:27:00.000-08:00

If you are thinking of changing the way that your garden looks, usually changing the type of grass that you have is one of the easiest ways to do it. However, just because it will easily change the appearance, it does not mean that it will be easy to maintain! Generally it is all about knowing the different types of grass available and knowing which ones are more suitable for you.

Knowing Your Area

The area in which you live will determine which type of grass you can actually successfully grow. Many people do not realize that different types of grass need different living conditions and whilst some can live healthily in Northern climates, others may prefer a more Southern climate instead. This means that if you do purchase a grass which is more suited to a Northern climate but you live in the South, it is more than likely that your grass will not survive and if it does it will certainly not be at its best.

So, before you rush out and buy any type of grass, do a little research and see whether it can in fact live in your area.

Knowing the Grasses Needs

Another important thing to consider is what the grass needs in order to survive. Some grasses can live perfectly well with just a little water sprayed over them every now and again. However, for others there are certain factors which tend to come into play.

The soil will make a huge difference to the grass and how it grows. Different grasses need different types of soil so you should really know what type of soil you do actually have. Is it dry? Is it quite fertile soil? If you don’t know try and find out as otherwise you could end up purchasing the completely wrong grass for you.

Another consideration you will need to make is whether the grass can be in the shade. Some grasses live perfectly well in partial shade whilst others will die through lack of sunlight. So, research as much as you possibly can on the type of grass which you are after and that way you should be able to find something to suit you and your garden.

Overall different grass does need different things and it is important that you take everything into consideration. You may even want to consider ornamental grasses which are not used as a lawn; they are used to make the garden look nicer. Whatever you decide pay particular attention to its needs and you should end up with something which lasts you a long time.

About the Author: Andrew Caxton is the author and editor of more lawn care resources published at http://www.lawn-mowers-and-garden-tractors.com. You can find more information and resources on type of grass at his website.

More Resource:
- Lawn Care EBook(R)
- The Real Gardener's Book. Get A Beautiful Garden - Easy, Inexpensive, And Rewarding - Simple Steps To Follow!