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By Robin OBrien
One of the greatest concerns for breastfeeding parents is whether their baby is getting enough milk for her needs. The best guide you can use is your baby's behaviour and appearance.
Many first time parents get very worried when their baby loses weight in the first couple of weeks after the delivery. This is perfectly normal and, unless your baby's weight loss is severe or your baby looks unwell, you should not be too concerned. After birth your child should be weighed every week and you can discuss any concerns your might have with the health visitor or paediatrician. Also, expect any gains in weight to be irregular. One week your baby might put on a lot of weight and then the next there is hardly any gain in weight. This is perfectly normal in a breastfeeding baby.
A good way to judge whether enough is going in is to check what is coming out at the other end. Regular wet nappies are a good sign that your baby is getting enough. At least one diaper change per feed should be the norm. Also, check the quality of the urine. It should not have a strong odour or colour. Bowel motions can vary enormously between babies. Some will have a have frequent bowel motions whilst some only have one once a week. Both are normal. Again, it's quality, not quantity that matters. The stools of a breastfed baby are usually mustard-yellow in colour. Surprisingly, for some parents, the stools of a breastfeed baby do not have an offensive odour, as the waste products of breast milk are very limited.
Some mothers and babies have problems in establishing good breastfeeding. It is important that all mothers, especially first time mothers, have their breastfeeding technique assessed by a health professional. Getting breastfeeding right from the first day or two after birth really does eliminate many future feeding problems. Many women have weaned their baby unnecessarily when they have encountered problems.
The general appearance of your baby is the most important indicator as to whether she is getting enough feed. Each day you'll notice how your baby becomes brighter and more inquisitive about the world around her. So, if her complexion is good and she seems content then she is almost certainly getting enough milk.
Sometimes babies can have lactose intolerance or requires supplements to her milk. If your baby shows any serious signs of not feeding properly you should seek medical advice. It may not be necessary to stop breastfeeding altogether and you may be able to give your baby both breast milk as well as specialized milk formula. If possible, avoid offering a bottle to your baby during the first six weeks; this give mother a chance to establish good milk suppler you and gives the baby its mother antibodies and other nutrients, which are vital to ward of infection during the early days of a baby's life.
If you do have to give your baby a complementary feed of formula, always offer it after breastfeeding. It is rarely necessary to give your baby more than 60 ml of formula, so try to offer formula only when your own supplies are low; usually the afternoon and evening feedings.
There is no secret to knowing whether your baby is getting enough breast milk. As a mother you will know your baby better than anybody else. By carefully monitoring your child physical and mental health you will intuitively know if your baby is getting enough breast milk.
Robin O'Brien is founder of a site where you can learn about the advantages of breastfeeding. You can also read about breastfeeding and alcohol and other articles every breastfeeding mother will find of interest.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_OBrien
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
The Liberation of Bottle Feeding
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By Robin OBrien
Caring for a newborn child is a full time job. A human baby is more helpless than just about all other mammals and the degree of care needed by both parents is extremely high, especially the child's mother. A new mother can feel enslaved by her child. She may love her child but she always wants – and needs – some degree of independence. Bootle feeding can help.
After years of planning and nine months of waiting, the much wanted and loved baby arrives. The sense of joy that parents can feel at the birth of the child can only be truly appreciated by other parents. Many parents, especially the mother, look forward to the responsibility of caring for a baby. The degree of dependence of a baby on its mother is unmatched. The mother quite often enjoys being totally depended on and doesn't resent the mundane tasks of feeding, changing diapers, bathing and entertaining her child. The long-term rewards are evident to any parent with grown up kids.
However, there does come a point when a mother will feel totally enslaved by her baby. This enslavement is a natural feeling and can is usually accepted. Accepted that is except for breastfeeding.
Unlike all the other tasks that a new mother has to undertake in caring for her child, breastfeeding also requires a physical bond between mother and child. And some mothers can begin to resent this type of enslavement. In fact, some mothers can find themselves feeling slightly antagonistic when their baby demands mommy's breasts. This feeling can be further exacerbated if the mother is suffering from sore or cracked nipples. Telling a mother that 'she is not getting the baby to latch on properly' can leave her feeling a failure and lonely. Getting a sense of independence can often help mothers who feel like this. Bottle feeding a child, rather than breastfeeding, can help some mothers to get some degree of independence and take away the strain felt at feeding times.
When a mother bottle-feeds, the physical bond still remains. The mother can still cuddle and talk to her child as she feeds. But the sense of physical enslavement disappears – along with any discomfort the mother may have experienced. The child still gets the attention it wants and, despite what some may tell you, the nutrition is needs. When a mother is liberated from her physical enslavement she relaxes and enjoys feeding her child. Her child will also relax more if mommy is also relaxed.
Not all mothers want to be liberated. Some are quite content to breastfeed their chid and feel no sense of physical enslavement. But, if you're a mother who feels enslaved and yearns to be liberated, then maybe you could try bottle-feeding. There may be those around you who will try to convince you to stay breastfeeding. If they give you the support you need, maybe you will stay breastfeeding. But if you still feel enslaved maybe it's time to find liberation through the bottle.
Robin O'Brien is a successfully webmaster and founder of bottle feeding baby, where he provides help, support and advice on bottle feeding.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_OBrien
By Robin OBrien
Caring for a newborn child is a full time job. A human baby is more helpless than just about all other mammals and the degree of care needed by both parents is extremely high, especially the child's mother. A new mother can feel enslaved by her child. She may love her child but she always wants – and needs – some degree of independence. Bootle feeding can help.
After years of planning and nine months of waiting, the much wanted and loved baby arrives. The sense of joy that parents can feel at the birth of the child can only be truly appreciated by other parents. Many parents, especially the mother, look forward to the responsibility of caring for a baby. The degree of dependence of a baby on its mother is unmatched. The mother quite often enjoys being totally depended on and doesn't resent the mundane tasks of feeding, changing diapers, bathing and entertaining her child. The long-term rewards are evident to any parent with grown up kids.
However, there does come a point when a mother will feel totally enslaved by her baby. This enslavement is a natural feeling and can is usually accepted. Accepted that is except for breastfeeding.
Unlike all the other tasks that a new mother has to undertake in caring for her child, breastfeeding also requires a physical bond between mother and child. And some mothers can begin to resent this type of enslavement. In fact, some mothers can find themselves feeling slightly antagonistic when their baby demands mommy's breasts. This feeling can be further exacerbated if the mother is suffering from sore or cracked nipples. Telling a mother that 'she is not getting the baby to latch on properly' can leave her feeling a failure and lonely. Getting a sense of independence can often help mothers who feel like this. Bottle feeding a child, rather than breastfeeding, can help some mothers to get some degree of independence and take away the strain felt at feeding times.
When a mother bottle-feeds, the physical bond still remains. The mother can still cuddle and talk to her child as she feeds. But the sense of physical enslavement disappears – along with any discomfort the mother may have experienced. The child still gets the attention it wants and, despite what some may tell you, the nutrition is needs. When a mother is liberated from her physical enslavement she relaxes and enjoys feeding her child. Her child will also relax more if mommy is also relaxed.
Not all mothers want to be liberated. Some are quite content to breastfeed their chid and feel no sense of physical enslavement. But, if you're a mother who feels enslaved and yearns to be liberated, then maybe you could try bottle-feeding. There may be those around you who will try to convince you to stay breastfeeding. If they give you the support you need, maybe you will stay breastfeeding. But if you still feel enslaved maybe it's time to find liberation through the bottle.
Robin O'Brien is a successfully webmaster and founder of bottle feeding baby, where he provides help, support and advice on bottle feeding.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_OBrien
Monday, August 28, 2006
Back to School Savings: Six Ways to Save Money During Back-to-school Time
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By Jamie Jefferson
Back-to-school expenses can be overwhelming. Here are six simple ways to save money while giving your children what they need to hit the books this year.
1. Take a specific list for school supplies to the discount store or office supplies store. Watch the Sunday circulars and plan to find all of these essential school supplies in a single trip - while they are on sale. Make sure to stick to the official supplies list provided by the school. Then shop online (or comparison shop offline) for other items you might need, such as clothes and shoes.
2. Don’t spend too much on back-to-school clothes before school begins. Every child looks forward to having something new for the first day of school. That doesn’t mean each child needs an entirely new wardrobe. With many schools starting in August, the weather is too hot for the fall and winter clothes that they’ll need for the duration of the school year. And if you shop too far in advance, your child could actually outgrow an outfit before it’s time to wear it. Purchase one new outfit (or new single clothing item) for that first day to heighten the excitement – and save the rest of the wardrobe budget for a few months from now. If your budget doesn’t allow for a new clothing item for each child, treat your kids to something smaller – but still exciting: a new pencil bag or a new package of pencils printed with their name, for example.
3. Establish a clothing budget for each child. This allows your child to be in control of their wardrobe (under your guidelines, of course), and it requires them to make wise spending decisions. Help your child to comparison shop once they decide what they like. You can find lots of coupons online this time of year for apparel and shoes.
4. Shop the sales, offline as well as online. Many of the big online retailers, such as Overstock and Smartbargains – as well as Target and Walmart - feature savings this time of year on back-to-school items small appliances, even notebook computers and those specialized calculators that your older children may need.
5. Let your child give their old stuff a new look. With a few paper bags, sheets of construction paper, glitter, pens, glue, and stickers, they can make fun, personalized folders, supply tins, lunchboxes, notebooks, and book covers.
6. Plan a simple reward for the first day. Treat your elementary school student to a special surprise at the end of the first day (or at the end of the first week for middle school and high school students.) Take your children out for pizza or an ice cream cone and ask them to tell you all about their classes, their new friends, and what they think they are going to enjoy most about the year to come. They’ll cherish this simple tradition – and so will you.
Jamie Jefferson is a frequent contributor to http://www.momscape.com, a website devoted to helping parents celebrate life with children. Visit the site today for the latest Online Coupon Codes and special savings for the sites mentioned in this article, including Online Shoes Coupons.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jamie_Jefferson
By Jamie Jefferson
Back-to-school expenses can be overwhelming. Here are six simple ways to save money while giving your children what they need to hit the books this year.
1. Take a specific list for school supplies to the discount store or office supplies store. Watch the Sunday circulars and plan to find all of these essential school supplies in a single trip - while they are on sale. Make sure to stick to the official supplies list provided by the school. Then shop online (or comparison shop offline) for other items you might need, such as clothes and shoes.
2. Don’t spend too much on back-to-school clothes before school begins. Every child looks forward to having something new for the first day of school. That doesn’t mean each child needs an entirely new wardrobe. With many schools starting in August, the weather is too hot for the fall and winter clothes that they’ll need for the duration of the school year. And if you shop too far in advance, your child could actually outgrow an outfit before it’s time to wear it. Purchase one new outfit (or new single clothing item) for that first day to heighten the excitement – and save the rest of the wardrobe budget for a few months from now. If your budget doesn’t allow for a new clothing item for each child, treat your kids to something smaller – but still exciting: a new pencil bag or a new package of pencils printed with their name, for example.
3. Establish a clothing budget for each child. This allows your child to be in control of their wardrobe (under your guidelines, of course), and it requires them to make wise spending decisions. Help your child to comparison shop once they decide what they like. You can find lots of coupons online this time of year for apparel and shoes.
4. Shop the sales, offline as well as online. Many of the big online retailers, such as Overstock and Smartbargains – as well as Target and Walmart - feature savings this time of year on back-to-school items small appliances, even notebook computers and those specialized calculators that your older children may need.
5. Let your child give their old stuff a new look. With a few paper bags, sheets of construction paper, glitter, pens, glue, and stickers, they can make fun, personalized folders, supply tins, lunchboxes, notebooks, and book covers.
6. Plan a simple reward for the first day. Treat your elementary school student to a special surprise at the end of the first day (or at the end of the first week for middle school and high school students.) Take your children out for pizza or an ice cream cone and ask them to tell you all about their classes, their new friends, and what they think they are going to enjoy most about the year to come. They’ll cherish this simple tradition – and so will you.
Jamie Jefferson is a frequent contributor to http://www.momscape.com, a website devoted to helping parents celebrate life with children. Visit the site today for the latest Online Coupon Codes and special savings for the sites mentioned in this article, including Online Shoes Coupons.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jamie_Jefferson
Friday, August 25, 2006
"I'm Not Going to School This Year!" Four Back to School Tips for Parents with Kids Who Hate Change
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By Dr. Charles Sophy
Kids are getting ready for school... and change. A new school year can mean new friends, a new teacher, a new schedule, or even a different school. All that change can be scary. Your child may be wondering, Will my teacher be mean? Will the kids like me? Will I be able to find my room the first day?
And how do you feel about these changes? Are you ready for a new schedule and daily obligations: morning routines, homework, reviewing the day’s events? How prepared are you to handle the coming school year?
To rev up for change, let’s take a look at some of the challenges and opportunities your child might face and how you both can make a smooth shift from summer to school.
Let’s meet Sam.
Sam is an easygoing 8-year-old boy who loves playing with his friends and family. He’s typically the first to answer the phone, plead for play dates, or keep the conversation going at home.
As summer ends, though, Sam is spending more time on his own. His parents monitor this change and increasingly find Sam alone on his bed staring at the ceiling. As the sunny days pass by, Sam sleeps more, eats less and doesn’t seem to care about much of anything.
Concerned, Sam’s parents ask him about his feelings, but he doesn’t want to talk. When they ask if he’d like to meet his school friends in the park he shrugs his shoulders and says he’d rather stay home.
Then one morning Sam refuses to get out of bed and announces that he’s not going to school this year. His parents glance at each other and ask if something bad happened at school. No, says Sam. I’m just not going. He rolls over on his bed and faces the wall. After a while Sam’s parents convince him at least to get out of bed.
Later that day, Sam’s parents contact his school and ask for advice. They’re relieved to learn that Sam’s behaviour is natural for kids returning to school. Even with school transition programs it’s common for children to resist going back at school.
Transition can be scary, and returning to school can be a big change after a carefree summer. Here’s what you can do to assist your child with the shift back to school... and how to cope with your own feelings about the coming changes.
Feel Good: Celebrate when summertime changes into school time. Start a fun back-to-school tradition your child can look forward to as summer ends. And praise your child when they do a good job. Focus on their effort, not on accomplishment. This boosts their confidence and makes it easier to face new events. And you get to feel good, too. The beginning of a school year means another successful milestone in your life as well.
Awareness: Ask your child’s teacher what he or she is teaching this year. Find out where your child excels and where you can help them improve. With a little preparation you can make homework sessions productive and fun. But don’t do your child’s homework, just be available when they need extra help. And here’s one for you: If you’re a stay-at-home parent you might feel a little lonely without your child around all day. Find ways to keep occupied or check in with other stay-at-home parents during the day for a little company.
Structure: Starting early with school rules, duties, and schedules can be a great way to ease into change. Begin your school-night sleep schedule a couple weeks early; assign a light chore; and play games with clear rules that encourage teamwork. Notice how these functions help structure the change that’s coming in your life, too.
Communication: Talk to your child about school well before it begins; listen to them, and watch for behaviour changes. When you talk to them, focus on what they enjoy at school, but be realistic about their expectations to avoid possible disappointments. Now here’s one for you: let you child know how these changes are affecting you, too. Help them understand that they’re not going through the changes alone and that it’s okay to feel a little uneasy. Also, attend school functions like meet the teacher nights. Get to know your child’s teacher, what they expect from students this year, and how to reach them if needed.
Dr. Charles Sophy currently serves as Medical Director for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), which is responsible for the health, safety and welfare of nearly 40,000 foster children. He also has a private psychiatry practice in Beverly Hills, California. Dr. Sophy has lectured extensively and is an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California Los Angeles Neuro-Psychiatric Institute. His lectures and teachings are consistently ranked as among the best by those in attendance.
Dr. Charles Sophy, author of the "Keep ‘Em Off My Couch" blog, provides real simple answers for solving life’s biggest problems. He specializes in improving the mental health of children. To contact Dr. Sophy, visit his blog at http://drsophy.comArticle Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Charles_Sophy
By Dr. Charles Sophy
Kids are getting ready for school... and change. A new school year can mean new friends, a new teacher, a new schedule, or even a different school. All that change can be scary. Your child may be wondering, Will my teacher be mean? Will the kids like me? Will I be able to find my room the first day?
And how do you feel about these changes? Are you ready for a new schedule and daily obligations: morning routines, homework, reviewing the day’s events? How prepared are you to handle the coming school year?
To rev up for change, let’s take a look at some of the challenges and opportunities your child might face and how you both can make a smooth shift from summer to school.
Let’s meet Sam.
Sam is an easygoing 8-year-old boy who loves playing with his friends and family. He’s typically the first to answer the phone, plead for play dates, or keep the conversation going at home.
As summer ends, though, Sam is spending more time on his own. His parents monitor this change and increasingly find Sam alone on his bed staring at the ceiling. As the sunny days pass by, Sam sleeps more, eats less and doesn’t seem to care about much of anything.
Concerned, Sam’s parents ask him about his feelings, but he doesn’t want to talk. When they ask if he’d like to meet his school friends in the park he shrugs his shoulders and says he’d rather stay home.
Then one morning Sam refuses to get out of bed and announces that he’s not going to school this year. His parents glance at each other and ask if something bad happened at school. No, says Sam. I’m just not going. He rolls over on his bed and faces the wall. After a while Sam’s parents convince him at least to get out of bed.
Later that day, Sam’s parents contact his school and ask for advice. They’re relieved to learn that Sam’s behaviour is natural for kids returning to school. Even with school transition programs it’s common for children to resist going back at school.
Transition can be scary, and returning to school can be a big change after a carefree summer. Here’s what you can do to assist your child with the shift back to school... and how to cope with your own feelings about the coming changes.
Feel Good: Celebrate when summertime changes into school time. Start a fun back-to-school tradition your child can look forward to as summer ends. And praise your child when they do a good job. Focus on their effort, not on accomplishment. This boosts their confidence and makes it easier to face new events. And you get to feel good, too. The beginning of a school year means another successful milestone in your life as well.
Awareness: Ask your child’s teacher what he or she is teaching this year. Find out where your child excels and where you can help them improve. With a little preparation you can make homework sessions productive and fun. But don’t do your child’s homework, just be available when they need extra help. And here’s one for you: If you’re a stay-at-home parent you might feel a little lonely without your child around all day. Find ways to keep occupied or check in with other stay-at-home parents during the day for a little company.
Structure: Starting early with school rules, duties, and schedules can be a great way to ease into change. Begin your school-night sleep schedule a couple weeks early; assign a light chore; and play games with clear rules that encourage teamwork. Notice how these functions help structure the change that’s coming in your life, too.
Communication: Talk to your child about school well before it begins; listen to them, and watch for behaviour changes. When you talk to them, focus on what they enjoy at school, but be realistic about their expectations to avoid possible disappointments. Now here’s one for you: let you child know how these changes are affecting you, too. Help them understand that they’re not going through the changes alone and that it’s okay to feel a little uneasy. Also, attend school functions like meet the teacher nights. Get to know your child’s teacher, what they expect from students this year, and how to reach them if needed.
Dr. Charles Sophy currently serves as Medical Director for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), which is responsible for the health, safety and welfare of nearly 40,000 foster children. He also has a private psychiatry practice in Beverly Hills, California. Dr. Sophy has lectured extensively and is an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California Los Angeles Neuro-Psychiatric Institute. His lectures and teachings are consistently ranked as among the best by those in attendance.
Dr. Charles Sophy, author of the "Keep ‘Em Off My Couch" blog, provides real simple answers for solving life’s biggest problems. He specializes in improving the mental health of children. To contact Dr. Sophy, visit his blog at http://drsophy.comArticle Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Charles_Sophy
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Helping Baby Sleep Through The Night
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By Greg Edwards
Do you want your baby to sleep through the night? Are you tired of getting up several times during the nigh to coax your baby to sleep through the night? By teaching the babies to fall asleep on their own, without inducing to breast-feeding, pacifier, or bottle to suck and without rocking, cuddling or patting you can put the baby sleep through the night.
To make the baby sleep through the night, establish a routine for the bedtime and stick on to it without fail. A bath prior to the bedtime, a nursing session or bottle feed, story session with reading or telling sensible and suitable stories and a personalized “good night” to the baby and the pets if the baby is old enough to recognize such gestures will enable the baby to sleep through night without getting up in the middle of the night. Make sure that your method is soothing, consistent and not stimulating.
Include a “Cuddly” in the routine of making the baby sleep through the night. Try to make the baby develop such an attachment to a blanket or a stuffed animal.
When the baby is sleepy but still remaining awake is the correct time to put it in the crib. How to go to sleep is an important lesson to be learnt by the baby. Too much dependence on petting, nursing, singing, will make the baby expect the same thing again once the sleep is disturbed during the night. Hence, avoid the baby from expecting these routine.
Some experts advice the parent to remain in the room when the baby awakes during the night and without lifting the baby from the crib, make soothing gesture to make the baby return back to sleep. A different opinion is also prevailing which suggests to get away from the room but make frequent visits to the baby’s bedroom till such time the baby is assured of not being deserted. Select whichever method works for you to put the baby to sleep through night.
When the baby gets up in the sleep during the night, do not pick the baby. If necessary, make a quick diaper change, settle the baby back, and get away from the room.
If these methods are tried, the baby’s sleep pattern sets in and the baby will learn to settle into an undisturbed sleep.
A revolutionary baby sleep ebook guide offers an incredibly simple and gentle plan for helping to put baby sleep through the night, fast! Click the website link for instant access : Helping To Baby To Sleep Through The Night
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Greg_Edwards
By Greg Edwards
Do you want your baby to sleep through the night? Are you tired of getting up several times during the nigh to coax your baby to sleep through the night? By teaching the babies to fall asleep on their own, without inducing to breast-feeding, pacifier, or bottle to suck and without rocking, cuddling or patting you can put the baby sleep through the night.
To make the baby sleep through the night, establish a routine for the bedtime and stick on to it without fail. A bath prior to the bedtime, a nursing session or bottle feed, story session with reading or telling sensible and suitable stories and a personalized “good night” to the baby and the pets if the baby is old enough to recognize such gestures will enable the baby to sleep through night without getting up in the middle of the night. Make sure that your method is soothing, consistent and not stimulating.
Include a “Cuddly” in the routine of making the baby sleep through the night. Try to make the baby develop such an attachment to a blanket or a stuffed animal.
When the baby is sleepy but still remaining awake is the correct time to put it in the crib. How to go to sleep is an important lesson to be learnt by the baby. Too much dependence on petting, nursing, singing, will make the baby expect the same thing again once the sleep is disturbed during the night. Hence, avoid the baby from expecting these routine.
Some experts advice the parent to remain in the room when the baby awakes during the night and without lifting the baby from the crib, make soothing gesture to make the baby return back to sleep. A different opinion is also prevailing which suggests to get away from the room but make frequent visits to the baby’s bedroom till such time the baby is assured of not being deserted. Select whichever method works for you to put the baby to sleep through night.
When the baby gets up in the sleep during the night, do not pick the baby. If necessary, make a quick diaper change, settle the baby back, and get away from the room.
If these methods are tried, the baby’s sleep pattern sets in and the baby will learn to settle into an undisturbed sleep.
A revolutionary baby sleep ebook guide offers an incredibly simple and gentle plan for helping to put baby sleep through the night, fast! Click the website link for instant access : Helping To Baby To Sleep Through The Night
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Greg_Edwards
Monday, August 21, 2006
Empower Your Child To Succeed - Teach Him/Her How To Think Independently, And Say No(When Necessary)
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By Tayo Solagbade
Before entering my teens, my "social competence", especially where it had to do with thinking independently, and handling peer pressure - needed work, but I did not know it. ("Social Competence", is one of a number of skills described by Dr. Daniel Goleman as an aspect of "Emotional Intelligence" - in his similarly titled best selling book) .
At ten, I began leaving home daily, on my own, to attend secondary school quite some distance away(three bus rides, usually lasting an hour or more, to or fro). Within ONE year, I got into trouble by "blindly" following some class mates to do things that I knew were wrong, but which I felt compelled to do, in order to avoid getting rejected, and being called names like "coward, wet blanket, book worm" etc.
Let me share two stories of how being ineffective in handling my relationships made me engage in unbecoming conduct - and eventually got me into trouble. In the first story, I describe bad activities I engaged in, without getting caught. The second story describes an instance in which I (along with others from the first story) did get caught, with serious consequences.
The purpose here is to show you how easily my lack of proficiency in managing my relationships and knowing myself(who I was/wanted to be), lead me - and could lead any child with a similar inadequacy - to get into trouble.
Story One - I Join A "Bad" Group That Bullies, Steals And Cheats
During my first day in secondary school at the age of ten, I discovered that age (and possibly my growth rate then) put me at physical disadvantage compared to most of my new classmates. Virtually all of them were a head or shoulder taller than I was - and some were much older, and quite big! I quickly became a target for the big bullies in the school.
But, as time went on, some of them took a different kind of interest in me because they saw I always got good grades - while they tended not to. So, they would protect me from other bullies in class or school (especially during lunch breaks), and in exchange I would help them with their homework etc. It all started harmlessly enough until they began to demand that I pass them my answer script during the exams so they could copy from it into theirs, before I could submit to the teacher. I was so naive, that I even thought it was fun, and never imagined what would happen if we got caught.
Looking back, I think deep within myself, I enjoyed the feeling of being favoured by these big boys who were feared by most students - even teachers - and I would probably have done anything to retain my priviledged "membership" of their group. At a point, our group become so notorious that we even left the school's premises every once in a while to eat meals or buy things we never paid for!
For instance, we would go to a local food vendor(called "Mai Shai"), and ask to be served bread with fried eggs and tea for instance, for each person. After eating up, the big boys would ask me to walk away, while they used their sizes and mean looks, to intimidate the poor trader, before suddenly taking to their heels. Stories about these "feats" soon spread - leading to others in the school nicknaming me "Kukuru Danger"(literally translated to mean "small, but dangerous one")! Note that all of what I said here was never at any point noticeable when I was at home with my siblings and parents.
I was always the good boy who did as he was told, and never caused any trouble - at least not at home! Which is why you might want to get a little closer to your child, and try to develop a personal relationship with him/her. This closeness could encourage him/her to open up - more readily - to you in a way that would facilitate timely intervention in anything s/he is doing that could require your help and experience-based coaching.
Story Two - The Group Gets Caught For Cheating In An Exam
During the third term exams, I and my "big" classmates finally got caught: the teacher noticed an unusual similarity in the answers written by all five of us, and reported to the Principal. For about two weeks, we faced a panel of investigation individually, at least twice per person. To show you how "unaware" of the implications of my actions I was, I never once in those two weeks of facing the panel said anything about it to my parents, right until the last day of school when my mom drove down to pick me up, and also get my report card.
I'll never forget the look of horror on her face that afternoon, when she saw that despite scoring nearly all A's in the promotional exams, the Principal's handwritten comments, instead of being congratulatory, were: "To repeat for cheating during the exams"! (The panel had confirmed that I had given out my script to my classmates to copy, and even though agreeing that I had not copied from anyone, held me equally guilty of cheating, like the others - and rightly so).
If my mom was upset, I struggle to think of a word that best describes how my dad reacted when he learnt what had happened. To cut the long story short, my parents decided to withdraw me from that school and sent me to boarding school in another city, over six(6) hours away from home, where I started my secondary education all over again. That sobering experience has lived with me till this day, as has another that occurred later(Oh yes, there was "another" - Kids never seem to learn it all at once!). Those experiences, however paid huge dividends, in the sense that my memories of them helped me successfully overcome so many temptations that could have gotten me into spectacular trouble later on in my adult personal/work life.
Having said the foregoing, I will re-iterate that not everyone will be lucky to walk away, "in one piece", after engaging in childhood truancy or other bad behaviour. Which is why coaching your child to learn how to handle him/herself in relation to peers, and older persons, is a crucial necessity for you as a parent. Every time I see each of my kids, I cannot help recalling the mistakes I made while growing up, and how I was so blind to their possibility or the severity of their consequences, before I made them. This memory makes me stay resolved towards preparing my kids to do a better job of making mistakes, than I did as a child.
But They Will Make Their Own Mistakes Too
No doubt about that. In fact, it is important that they make THEIR OWN mistakes, because mistake making is itself an essential requirement for a person's balanced development. And just as it is important to help your child avoid making those you can anticipate(based on YOUR past experiences), how you react to the mistakes s/he does make, is even more important.
Don't make too much of a big deal about it when(not IF) it happens. Express your displeasure, but avoid making absolute statements like "You'll never amount to anything", or recalling every mistake s/he's made in the past at the slightest prompting. Failure to heed this warning can have a powerfully devastating effect on the frail mind of a young child, which could result in long lasting damage to his/her self-esteem. Most Important Reason To Take Heed Of This Warning: You could, literally speaking, drive him/her away from you, at a time when s/he is most needful of your forgiveness, and understanding. S/he could as a result stop confiding in you, and eventually get into even bigger trouble!
Everything I have said here, including the advice I offer, is based on my very personal experiences, and observations of real-life experiences of others, some close to enough to be called "family".
So, How Confident Are YOU Of Your Child's Ability To Stand Up To Peer Pressure?
This is an important question because:
(a). You will NOT always be there to stop him/her from being exposed to negative influences.
(b). You cannot hide him/her away at home for ever.
That leaves you only one option: teach him/her HOW to manage relationships effectively such that peers or friends know his/her position on relevant issues and respect it.
But maybe I should start by asking if YOU know how to say NO yourself? Many adults will recall some point in their past lives when because they felt the need to NOT appear "un cool", they consented to doing wrong things - ending up feeling miserable(I hope!) for days or weeks afterwards.
The inability to say "NO" and stick to it when people try to get us to do what we feel conflicts with our values, can often get one into trouble. When some people know that you do not know how to(or cannot) say NO to them, they can play on that weakness to take advantage of you. If you fail to deal with this inadequacy in your personality, your kids are likely to pick it up - and become "weaklings" for others to prey on at school or in life.
Incidentally, you can even say NO without actually saying it - i.e through your actions. For instance, when "they" invite you to "join them", you could say "I'll catch up with you later!", knowing you have no intention of doing any such thing. When next you do see them, you can offer a well thought out excuse for missing it. Soon enough, they'll stop asking you.
Signs That Suggest You Have Not Taught Your Child How To Say NO
If you always feel you need to be around to stop your child from being influenced to do the wrong things(e.g. you find it difficult to let him/her go far away from you with peers).
If you are never confident that your child has enough powers of discernment to KNOW when s/he should not do a particular thing, then you need to be VERY worried: YOU HAVE NOT EMPOWERED your child to function as an independent-minded person.
Kids are impressionable - that's true. But they can be successfully taught to be more discriminating in their choice of friends, or role models/heroes in a manner that is consistent with acceptable values.
The Role YOU Need To Play As A Parent
"Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too." - Voltaire
I honestly believe that the best gift any parent can give a child is to teach her how to think for herself, and say NO, when it becomes necessary to do so, in order to ensure she achieves her desired goals consistently, and with integrity.
I know this because I had to acquire those abilities the hard way as I grew up. NEVER assume your child is familiar with, or already competent to handle any potentially unsettling life problem or situation, until you have sufficiently interacted with him/her to assure yourself of that fact.
Also, DO NOT EVER consider it too much work to make out quality time to deliberately but tactfully coach him or her, to handle possible dilemmas you know from experience s/he may be confronted with at times when s/he may not have ready access to you. Create the opportunities to do this yourself, if they do not appear often enough. (I call doing this Spontaneous Coaching for Self-Development™).
If you do not do the above, you might just regret it. In my case I was able to walk away in the instances earlier mentioned, with an opportunity to start over(for which I remain eternally grateful to my parents and teachers). Not every one will be lucky to have a second chance(s). Which is why you might want to use the ideas I offer below, to give your child the best possible stab at success.
What Does It Take To Say NO - And Think Independently?
1. Real-World Relevant Intelligence: Robert Kiyosaki shared his Rich Dad's definition of intelligence as "The ability to make finer distinctions". I believe that definition has universal relevance. To be able to say NO when necessary, one must develop the ability to "look" beyond the obvious in order to extract accurate interpretations, and deduce appropriate implications.
As I like to tell people "Sometimes the obvious thing is NOT necessarily the correct or most important thing". One way to understand this is to imagine you are a police detective assigned to a murder investigation. You wouldn't accept all "evidence" on face value, and risk putting the wrong person in jail for a crime s/he did not commit - would you? Same applies here. Help your child to develop real-world relevant intelligence by teaching him/her to ALWAYS look at issues with an open mind, from a multi-dimensional perspective. She will learn more that way, and increase her chances of success.
2. Healthy Self-Esteem Level: A strong knowledge and sense of self. As a nine year old, Bill Gates reportedly knew himself well enough to pronounce to a family friend that "I can do anything I set my mind to". A child who thinks this way is not likely to want to impress others(or avoid being mocked), by joining them to do something s/he does not want to do. Encourage your child to think this way.
3. Strong Values, Vision, and Purpose: Knowing that what's "popular" may NOT be "good". And that "consensus" does NOT equal "truth". Plus, being aware of what one's important goals are, will help a person decide when to say NO. Let your child KNOW this truth: If everyone is saying it's okay to do something you know deep inside your heart is not, you MUST follow your heart, not them.
4. Deliberate Exposure/Education: A little openness in answering questions about those curiosity-arousing issues(e.g. Sex, Drugs etc) will likely demystify them, and reduce his/her chances of seeking answers elsewhere(without your knowledge!). Cover it up in secrecy, and the child's curiosity intensifies, making her more willing to join others in "exploring" it when you're not there. Don't shush your child up when s/he gets curious about sensitive subjects.
5. Knowing That Age Has Nothing To Do With It: Older persons do not always do things in the interest of younger persons. Adults know this. Yet cultural norms sometimes cause us to set our children up(by asking them to show respect and be obedient) to be exploited by irresponsible adults. Teach your child what s/he can say NO to(and when/how), even if an adult is the one making a request of him/her. It could just save his/her life some day.
I strive daily to teach my kids how to think for themselves, and say NO(when necessary). It's the MOST important form of education I believe I can give them. What about you?
Self-Development/Performance Enhancement Specialist – Tayo Solagbade - works as a Multipreneur, helping individuals/businesses develop and implement strategies to achieve their goals, faster and more profitably.
To get more useful Tips, Information And News that can help you do what you do more successfully, visit http://www.spontaneousdevelopment.com/news/sdacn_current.htm to subscribe to Tayo's "Five(5) Minute Read" Performance Enhancement Newsletter.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tayo_Solagbade
By Tayo Solagbade
Before entering my teens, my "social competence", especially where it had to do with thinking independently, and handling peer pressure - needed work, but I did not know it. ("Social Competence", is one of a number of skills described by Dr. Daniel Goleman as an aspect of "Emotional Intelligence" - in his similarly titled best selling book) .
At ten, I began leaving home daily, on my own, to attend secondary school quite some distance away(three bus rides, usually lasting an hour or more, to or fro). Within ONE year, I got into trouble by "blindly" following some class mates to do things that I knew were wrong, but which I felt compelled to do, in order to avoid getting rejected, and being called names like "coward, wet blanket, book worm" etc.
Let me share two stories of how being ineffective in handling my relationships made me engage in unbecoming conduct - and eventually got me into trouble. In the first story, I describe bad activities I engaged in, without getting caught. The second story describes an instance in which I (along with others from the first story) did get caught, with serious consequences.
The purpose here is to show you how easily my lack of proficiency in managing my relationships and knowing myself(who I was/wanted to be), lead me - and could lead any child with a similar inadequacy - to get into trouble.
Story One - I Join A "Bad" Group That Bullies, Steals And Cheats
During my first day in secondary school at the age of ten, I discovered that age (and possibly my growth rate then) put me at physical disadvantage compared to most of my new classmates. Virtually all of them were a head or shoulder taller than I was - and some were much older, and quite big! I quickly became a target for the big bullies in the school.
But, as time went on, some of them took a different kind of interest in me because they saw I always got good grades - while they tended not to. So, they would protect me from other bullies in class or school (especially during lunch breaks), and in exchange I would help them with their homework etc. It all started harmlessly enough until they began to demand that I pass them my answer script during the exams so they could copy from it into theirs, before I could submit to the teacher. I was so naive, that I even thought it was fun, and never imagined what would happen if we got caught.
Looking back, I think deep within myself, I enjoyed the feeling of being favoured by these big boys who were feared by most students - even teachers - and I would probably have done anything to retain my priviledged "membership" of their group. At a point, our group become so notorious that we even left the school's premises every once in a while to eat meals or buy things we never paid for!
For instance, we would go to a local food vendor(called "Mai Shai"), and ask to be served bread with fried eggs and tea for instance, for each person. After eating up, the big boys would ask me to walk away, while they used their sizes and mean looks, to intimidate the poor trader, before suddenly taking to their heels. Stories about these "feats" soon spread - leading to others in the school nicknaming me "Kukuru Danger"(literally translated to mean "small, but dangerous one")! Note that all of what I said here was never at any point noticeable when I was at home with my siblings and parents.
I was always the good boy who did as he was told, and never caused any trouble - at least not at home! Which is why you might want to get a little closer to your child, and try to develop a personal relationship with him/her. This closeness could encourage him/her to open up - more readily - to you in a way that would facilitate timely intervention in anything s/he is doing that could require your help and experience-based coaching.
Story Two - The Group Gets Caught For Cheating In An Exam
During the third term exams, I and my "big" classmates finally got caught: the teacher noticed an unusual similarity in the answers written by all five of us, and reported to the Principal. For about two weeks, we faced a panel of investigation individually, at least twice per person. To show you how "unaware" of the implications of my actions I was, I never once in those two weeks of facing the panel said anything about it to my parents, right until the last day of school when my mom drove down to pick me up, and also get my report card.
I'll never forget the look of horror on her face that afternoon, when she saw that despite scoring nearly all A's in the promotional exams, the Principal's handwritten comments, instead of being congratulatory, were: "To repeat for cheating during the exams"! (The panel had confirmed that I had given out my script to my classmates to copy, and even though agreeing that I had not copied from anyone, held me equally guilty of cheating, like the others - and rightly so).
If my mom was upset, I struggle to think of a word that best describes how my dad reacted when he learnt what had happened. To cut the long story short, my parents decided to withdraw me from that school and sent me to boarding school in another city, over six(6) hours away from home, where I started my secondary education all over again. That sobering experience has lived with me till this day, as has another that occurred later(Oh yes, there was "another" - Kids never seem to learn it all at once!). Those experiences, however paid huge dividends, in the sense that my memories of them helped me successfully overcome so many temptations that could have gotten me into spectacular trouble later on in my adult personal/work life.
Having said the foregoing, I will re-iterate that not everyone will be lucky to walk away, "in one piece", after engaging in childhood truancy or other bad behaviour. Which is why coaching your child to learn how to handle him/herself in relation to peers, and older persons, is a crucial necessity for you as a parent. Every time I see each of my kids, I cannot help recalling the mistakes I made while growing up, and how I was so blind to their possibility or the severity of their consequences, before I made them. This memory makes me stay resolved towards preparing my kids to do a better job of making mistakes, than I did as a child.
But They Will Make Their Own Mistakes Too
No doubt about that. In fact, it is important that they make THEIR OWN mistakes, because mistake making is itself an essential requirement for a person's balanced development. And just as it is important to help your child avoid making those you can anticipate(based on YOUR past experiences), how you react to the mistakes s/he does make, is even more important.
Don't make too much of a big deal about it when(not IF) it happens. Express your displeasure, but avoid making absolute statements like "You'll never amount to anything", or recalling every mistake s/he's made in the past at the slightest prompting. Failure to heed this warning can have a powerfully devastating effect on the frail mind of a young child, which could result in long lasting damage to his/her self-esteem. Most Important Reason To Take Heed Of This Warning: You could, literally speaking, drive him/her away from you, at a time when s/he is most needful of your forgiveness, and understanding. S/he could as a result stop confiding in you, and eventually get into even bigger trouble!
Everything I have said here, including the advice I offer, is based on my very personal experiences, and observations of real-life experiences of others, some close to enough to be called "family".
So, How Confident Are YOU Of Your Child's Ability To Stand Up To Peer Pressure?
This is an important question because:
(a). You will NOT always be there to stop him/her from being exposed to negative influences.
(b). You cannot hide him/her away at home for ever.
That leaves you only one option: teach him/her HOW to manage relationships effectively such that peers or friends know his/her position on relevant issues and respect it.
But maybe I should start by asking if YOU know how to say NO yourself? Many adults will recall some point in their past lives when because they felt the need to NOT appear "un cool", they consented to doing wrong things - ending up feeling miserable(I hope!) for days or weeks afterwards.
The inability to say "NO" and stick to it when people try to get us to do what we feel conflicts with our values, can often get one into trouble. When some people know that you do not know how to(or cannot) say NO to them, they can play on that weakness to take advantage of you. If you fail to deal with this inadequacy in your personality, your kids are likely to pick it up - and become "weaklings" for others to prey on at school or in life.
Incidentally, you can even say NO without actually saying it - i.e through your actions. For instance, when "they" invite you to "join them", you could say "I'll catch up with you later!", knowing you have no intention of doing any such thing. When next you do see them, you can offer a well thought out excuse for missing it. Soon enough, they'll stop asking you.
Signs That Suggest You Have Not Taught Your Child How To Say NO
If you always feel you need to be around to stop your child from being influenced to do the wrong things(e.g. you find it difficult to let him/her go far away from you with peers).
If you are never confident that your child has enough powers of discernment to KNOW when s/he should not do a particular thing, then you need to be VERY worried: YOU HAVE NOT EMPOWERED your child to function as an independent-minded person.
Kids are impressionable - that's true. But they can be successfully taught to be more discriminating in their choice of friends, or role models/heroes in a manner that is consistent with acceptable values.
The Role YOU Need To Play As A Parent
"Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too." - Voltaire
I honestly believe that the best gift any parent can give a child is to teach her how to think for herself, and say NO, when it becomes necessary to do so, in order to ensure she achieves her desired goals consistently, and with integrity.
I know this because I had to acquire those abilities the hard way as I grew up. NEVER assume your child is familiar with, or already competent to handle any potentially unsettling life problem or situation, until you have sufficiently interacted with him/her to assure yourself of that fact.
Also, DO NOT EVER consider it too much work to make out quality time to deliberately but tactfully coach him or her, to handle possible dilemmas you know from experience s/he may be confronted with at times when s/he may not have ready access to you. Create the opportunities to do this yourself, if they do not appear often enough. (I call doing this Spontaneous Coaching for Self-Development™).
If you do not do the above, you might just regret it. In my case I was able to walk away in the instances earlier mentioned, with an opportunity to start over(for which I remain eternally grateful to my parents and teachers). Not every one will be lucky to have a second chance(s). Which is why you might want to use the ideas I offer below, to give your child the best possible stab at success.
What Does It Take To Say NO - And Think Independently?
1. Real-World Relevant Intelligence: Robert Kiyosaki shared his Rich Dad's definition of intelligence as "The ability to make finer distinctions". I believe that definition has universal relevance. To be able to say NO when necessary, one must develop the ability to "look" beyond the obvious in order to extract accurate interpretations, and deduce appropriate implications.
As I like to tell people "Sometimes the obvious thing is NOT necessarily the correct or most important thing". One way to understand this is to imagine you are a police detective assigned to a murder investigation. You wouldn't accept all "evidence" on face value, and risk putting the wrong person in jail for a crime s/he did not commit - would you? Same applies here. Help your child to develop real-world relevant intelligence by teaching him/her to ALWAYS look at issues with an open mind, from a multi-dimensional perspective. She will learn more that way, and increase her chances of success.
2. Healthy Self-Esteem Level: A strong knowledge and sense of self. As a nine year old, Bill Gates reportedly knew himself well enough to pronounce to a family friend that "I can do anything I set my mind to". A child who thinks this way is not likely to want to impress others(or avoid being mocked), by joining them to do something s/he does not want to do. Encourage your child to think this way.
3. Strong Values, Vision, and Purpose: Knowing that what's "popular" may NOT be "good". And that "consensus" does NOT equal "truth". Plus, being aware of what one's important goals are, will help a person decide when to say NO. Let your child KNOW this truth: If everyone is saying it's okay to do something you know deep inside your heart is not, you MUST follow your heart, not them.
4. Deliberate Exposure/Education: A little openness in answering questions about those curiosity-arousing issues(e.g. Sex, Drugs etc) will likely demystify them, and reduce his/her chances of seeking answers elsewhere(without your knowledge!). Cover it up in secrecy, and the child's curiosity intensifies, making her more willing to join others in "exploring" it when you're not there. Don't shush your child up when s/he gets curious about sensitive subjects.
5. Knowing That Age Has Nothing To Do With It: Older persons do not always do things in the interest of younger persons. Adults know this. Yet cultural norms sometimes cause us to set our children up(by asking them to show respect and be obedient) to be exploited by irresponsible adults. Teach your child what s/he can say NO to(and when/how), even if an adult is the one making a request of him/her. It could just save his/her life some day.
I strive daily to teach my kids how to think for themselves, and say NO(when necessary). It's the MOST important form of education I believe I can give them. What about you?
Self-Development/Performance Enhancement Specialist – Tayo Solagbade - works as a Multipreneur, helping individuals/businesses develop and implement strategies to achieve their goals, faster and more profitably.
To get more useful Tips, Information And News that can help you do what you do more successfully, visit http://www.spontaneousdevelopment.com/news/sdacn_current.htm to subscribe to Tayo's "Five(5) Minute Read" Performance Enhancement Newsletter.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tayo_Solagbade
Friday, August 18, 2006
Baby Car Seat Safety - Your Must Know Guide
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By Joshua Poyoh
It is very important to use the correct type of baby seat when you have an infant on board. Most people do not know how to install a baby car seat safely. Do you know that some hospitals won't discharge a mom and new baby until they see the car seat? Fortunately, many kinds of infant car seats exist in the market.
The easiest baby car seat to utilize is the kind that has a base that is buckled securely to the car seat. This car seat itself can be lifted off and carried around by the handle. This is will be convenient to you because the baby can be carried to and from the house or wherever the child is going while strapped into the seat. These infant seats usually will only be safe for transporting babies facing backward, until the age of one year. When the baby is 18 pounds, and at least one year old, it is time for a forward-facing baby car seat. Plus, by the time the baby is that old, and weighs 18 pounds, he will be too heavy to lug around that way! You will want to get the baby out of the baby car seat, and carry him, or he may even be walking by then!
The next kind of baby car seat is called a convertible car seat. Many of these baby car seats can be placed in the backward-facing position for when babies grow out of their infant seats, but are not yet old enough, or at a heavy enough weight to sit facing forward. Then, the convertible baby car seat can be turned to face forward, and will seat the baby until the baby is 40 pounds or more. These have a 5-point harness that is buckled at the bottom and the chest.
Once the baby reaches 40 pounds, he will move to a booster seat. This seat is a small base that keeps the child secure, while allowing him to use the regular seat belt. The child can usually sit in this type of car seat until he weighs 80 pounds!
As a rule of thumb, babies and children below the age of twelve are supposed to be seated behind, not in the front seat. The safest place is the center of the back seat. This is because studies show that air bags in the front seat may cause injuries to children. So if possible, never allow a child to be seated in front.
Joshua Poyoh is the creator of http://www.automotive.resources-to.com where you can find out more independent information on Kia Recalls
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joshua_Poyoh
By Joshua Poyoh
It is very important to use the correct type of baby seat when you have an infant on board. Most people do not know how to install a baby car seat safely. Do you know that some hospitals won't discharge a mom and new baby until they see the car seat? Fortunately, many kinds of infant car seats exist in the market.
The easiest baby car seat to utilize is the kind that has a base that is buckled securely to the car seat. This car seat itself can be lifted off and carried around by the handle. This is will be convenient to you because the baby can be carried to and from the house or wherever the child is going while strapped into the seat. These infant seats usually will only be safe for transporting babies facing backward, until the age of one year. When the baby is 18 pounds, and at least one year old, it is time for a forward-facing baby car seat. Plus, by the time the baby is that old, and weighs 18 pounds, he will be too heavy to lug around that way! You will want to get the baby out of the baby car seat, and carry him, or he may even be walking by then!
The next kind of baby car seat is called a convertible car seat. Many of these baby car seats can be placed in the backward-facing position for when babies grow out of their infant seats, but are not yet old enough, or at a heavy enough weight to sit facing forward. Then, the convertible baby car seat can be turned to face forward, and will seat the baby until the baby is 40 pounds or more. These have a 5-point harness that is buckled at the bottom and the chest.
Once the baby reaches 40 pounds, he will move to a booster seat. This seat is a small base that keeps the child secure, while allowing him to use the regular seat belt. The child can usually sit in this type of car seat until he weighs 80 pounds!
As a rule of thumb, babies and children below the age of twelve are supposed to be seated behind, not in the front seat. The safest place is the center of the back seat. This is because studies show that air bags in the front seat may cause injuries to children. So if possible, never allow a child to be seated in front.
Joshua Poyoh is the creator of http://www.automotive.resources-to.com where you can find out more independent information on Kia Recalls
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joshua_Poyoh
Thursday, August 17, 2006
How to Deal With Breast-Is-Best Police
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By Robin OBrien
Many mothers who choose to bottle-feed rather than breast feed are made to feel like dysfunctional mothers. It sometimes seems that the breast-is-best mantra has pervaded our society to such an extent that mothers are now more embarrassed to bottle-feed than breastfeed in public. If you bottle-feed, what can you do to combat such condemnation?
My wife and I recently went to a fashionable eatery and suffered the side glances of disapproval from the breast-is-best brigade. It’s very trendy place, with a laissez-faire attitude, which is reflected in its designer tables and chairs spilling out onto the pavement. The clientele is middle-class, well off and educated; the sort that prides itself on living life as one sees fit. Before the birth of our first child we would come often and notice mothers' breastfeeding their babies on the pavement. Little did we know that we would be made to feel like pariahs by merely bottle-feeding our child?
It was a Sunday and was one of our first outings as a new family. We sat down at a table and, a little later on, noticed two mothers, at two different tables, who were busy breastfeeding. When we first noticed the other mothers we felt a sort of camaraderie; a special club of new families.
Soon our child began to cry. He wanted feeding. Naturally, my wife reached for the prepared bottle of formula and placed it on the table. She then stopped and slouched back in her chair. I asked what was wrong but she refused to say. I kept pressing and she eventually told me that one of the other mothers - who were breastfeeding - had given her a rather dirty look. I told her she was imaging things and I began to feed our child. I looked about and, to my amazement, I also noticed that two women – the one who was breastfeeding and another who had been breastfeeding earlier – were giving me looks of disapproval.
We left soon after with my wife holding back the tears.
At first we put this down to a one-off. But sometime later my wife went to a mothers and babies group. The idea of these groups is for mothers to get to know other mothers and to exchange idea, tips and generally help one another. What my wife noticed was that the walls of the class were plastered with breast milk propaganda. Also, no mothers talked about bottle-feeding, what formula they used, or what was the best way prepare formula. Rather, the talked incessantly about breastfeeding, latching-on and sore nipples. My wife didn’t get the support that the group purported to offer and left the meetings altogether.
My wife ending up feeling embarrassed about bottle-feeding in public or even talking about bottle-feeding.
It was time to fight back. After all, formula milk is a fantastic alternative to breast milk. It has many advantages of that of breast milk; no sore nipples, you can stop fretting about how much milk she’s getting, you can eat whatever you want, you can still feed your child even when you get sick, and others in your family can feed your child.
My wife got a T-shirt printed; ‘Bottle-feeding and Proud’ and we paid another visit to the trendy eatery. We sat down and ate a very nice meal. Later my wife placed our baby’s bottle feeding paraphernalia on the table and then began to feed him.
I don’t know if we got many disapproving looks; I was too busy being a proud father and husband. I love my wife and seeing her bottle feed our child, I knew why I’d married her; she’s strong, independent-minded and a wonderful mother to our child.
Robin O'Brien is a successfully webmaster and founder of http://www.bottle-feeding-baby.com where he provides help, support and advice on bottle feeding baby.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_OBrien
By Robin OBrien
Many mothers who choose to bottle-feed rather than breast feed are made to feel like dysfunctional mothers. It sometimes seems that the breast-is-best mantra has pervaded our society to such an extent that mothers are now more embarrassed to bottle-feed than breastfeed in public. If you bottle-feed, what can you do to combat such condemnation?
My wife and I recently went to a fashionable eatery and suffered the side glances of disapproval from the breast-is-best brigade. It’s very trendy place, with a laissez-faire attitude, which is reflected in its designer tables and chairs spilling out onto the pavement. The clientele is middle-class, well off and educated; the sort that prides itself on living life as one sees fit. Before the birth of our first child we would come often and notice mothers' breastfeeding their babies on the pavement. Little did we know that we would be made to feel like pariahs by merely bottle-feeding our child?
It was a Sunday and was one of our first outings as a new family. We sat down at a table and, a little later on, noticed two mothers, at two different tables, who were busy breastfeeding. When we first noticed the other mothers we felt a sort of camaraderie; a special club of new families.
Soon our child began to cry. He wanted feeding. Naturally, my wife reached for the prepared bottle of formula and placed it on the table. She then stopped and slouched back in her chair. I asked what was wrong but she refused to say. I kept pressing and she eventually told me that one of the other mothers - who were breastfeeding - had given her a rather dirty look. I told her she was imaging things and I began to feed our child. I looked about and, to my amazement, I also noticed that two women – the one who was breastfeeding and another who had been breastfeeding earlier – were giving me looks of disapproval.
We left soon after with my wife holding back the tears.
At first we put this down to a one-off. But sometime later my wife went to a mothers and babies group. The idea of these groups is for mothers to get to know other mothers and to exchange idea, tips and generally help one another. What my wife noticed was that the walls of the class were plastered with breast milk propaganda. Also, no mothers talked about bottle-feeding, what formula they used, or what was the best way prepare formula. Rather, the talked incessantly about breastfeeding, latching-on and sore nipples. My wife didn’t get the support that the group purported to offer and left the meetings altogether.
My wife ending up feeling embarrassed about bottle-feeding in public or even talking about bottle-feeding.
It was time to fight back. After all, formula milk is a fantastic alternative to breast milk. It has many advantages of that of breast milk; no sore nipples, you can stop fretting about how much milk she’s getting, you can eat whatever you want, you can still feed your child even when you get sick, and others in your family can feed your child.
My wife got a T-shirt printed; ‘Bottle-feeding and Proud’ and we paid another visit to the trendy eatery. We sat down and ate a very nice meal. Later my wife placed our baby’s bottle feeding paraphernalia on the table and then began to feed him.
I don’t know if we got many disapproving looks; I was too busy being a proud father and husband. I love my wife and seeing her bottle feed our child, I knew why I’d married her; she’s strong, independent-minded and a wonderful mother to our child.
Robin O'Brien is a successfully webmaster and founder of http://www.bottle-feeding-baby.com where he provides help, support and advice on bottle feeding baby.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_OBrien
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Can I Overfeed A Breastfed Baby?
By Carrie Lauth Return to All Articles
Many nursing Moms wonder: Can I overfeed a breastfed baby? If you're worried about your pleasingly plump nursing baby, read on.
In answer to the question: No, you really cannot overfeed the breastfed baby. Firstly, you cannot force a baby to eat when he doesn't want to. If he is indicating the need to nurse, it's because he either needs the nutrition or wants the comfort of suckling. That's perfectly alright.
Since breastmilk is the perfect food for babies, it is easily digested. Mom's milk goes through the baby's stomach more quickly than formula. This is a good thing! It's like when you eat a salad versus a greasy hamburger. ;)
Babies are all different- some are petite and perfect, others are plump and pleasing. A lot of this has to do with genetics, not something you're doing right or wrong. If your baby is growing well and meeting developmental milestones on time, he's fine. Check with your baby's health care provider if you're worried.
One word of caution: if your baby nurses a lot and then seems fussy, gassy and spits up frequently, it may be because of feeding management issues. Something you might want to try is "finishing the first breast first". At the beginning of a feeding, your baby is getting the lower fat "foremilk" and later on, the higher fat "hindmilk". If you remove baby from the first breast before he pulls away and give him the other side, he may fill up with foremilk, causing some gassiness, fussiness, and spitting up.
Let the baby decide when he's done with the first breast, either by pulling away or falling asleep. If you have a very strong "letdown", or milk ejection reflex, then this is especially important. You may have an overabundant milk supply. Try keeping baby on one side for an entire feeding.
If your baby seems to need to nurse more frequently for a few days, he may be going through a growth spurt. Nurse him more often for a couple of days and try to take it easy, rest and nap with him if possible. Your milk supply will increase to meet his needs.
Carrie Lauth has been a breastfeeding counselor for 5 years. She is the host of Natural Moms Talk Radio (http://www.naturalmomstalkradio.com ), the internet's only talk radio show and podcast for the natural mom. For more breastfeeding tips, visit http://www.SexyNursingBra.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carrie_Lauth
Many nursing Moms wonder: Can I overfeed a breastfed baby? If you're worried about your pleasingly plump nursing baby, read on.
In answer to the question: No, you really cannot overfeed the breastfed baby. Firstly, you cannot force a baby to eat when he doesn't want to. If he is indicating the need to nurse, it's because he either needs the nutrition or wants the comfort of suckling. That's perfectly alright.
Since breastmilk is the perfect food for babies, it is easily digested. Mom's milk goes through the baby's stomach more quickly than formula. This is a good thing! It's like when you eat a salad versus a greasy hamburger. ;)
Babies are all different- some are petite and perfect, others are plump and pleasing. A lot of this has to do with genetics, not something you're doing right or wrong. If your baby is growing well and meeting developmental milestones on time, he's fine. Check with your baby's health care provider if you're worried.
One word of caution: if your baby nurses a lot and then seems fussy, gassy and spits up frequently, it may be because of feeding management issues. Something you might want to try is "finishing the first breast first". At the beginning of a feeding, your baby is getting the lower fat "foremilk" and later on, the higher fat "hindmilk". If you remove baby from the first breast before he pulls away and give him the other side, he may fill up with foremilk, causing some gassiness, fussiness, and spitting up.
Let the baby decide when he's done with the first breast, either by pulling away or falling asleep. If you have a very strong "letdown", or milk ejection reflex, then this is especially important. You may have an overabundant milk supply. Try keeping baby on one side for an entire feeding.
If your baby seems to need to nurse more frequently for a few days, he may be going through a growth spurt. Nurse him more often for a couple of days and try to take it easy, rest and nap with him if possible. Your milk supply will increase to meet his needs.
Carrie Lauth has been a breastfeeding counselor for 5 years. She is the host of Natural Moms Talk Radio (http://www.naturalmomstalkradio.com ), the internet's only talk radio show and podcast for the natural mom. For more breastfeeding tips, visit http://www.SexyNursingBra.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carrie_Lauth
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Decorating a Baby Boy Room
By Rebecca Johnson....Decorate your Nursery
There are many great options available when it comes to decorating a baby boy’s room. Whether you choose to use a theme or to just keep it neutral, you can create a great room for your new baby boy.
If it’s a theme you are interested in, here are some popular ones for a baby boy nursery:
Western - lassos, cactus, horses, and cowboys help make a great room for your little buckaroo-to-be. It is also a theme that will carry well into a toddler and young boy’s room, saving you the time and expensive of having to redo the room in a couple of years.
Noah’s Ark - is a cute and popular nursery theme for a baby boy’s room. Animals in pairs and arks can be used to accessorize the room.
Sports - sports themes are another popular idea for a baby boy’s nursery décor. You could choose a specific sport such as baseball or football to base the room around or create a room using several sports as the theme. This is another room theme that would easily carry through to the toddler and early childhood years.
Things That Go - planes, trains, and automobiles are all wonderful items for decorating a baby boy room. Use them together as a combined theme or choose just one to focus the room’s motif around.
If a theme isn’t for you, choosing a color scheme to build the room’s décor around is a good way to go about planning the room. Don’t feel limited to the traditional shades of blue for a baby boy’s room. Consider choosing a nursery bedding set you like and then using the bedding to choose paint colors and décor. Shelves with knick knacks and mementos, growth charts, and art work can be found to compliment the paint and bedding. Large letters spelling out the baby’s name can be hung on the wall and a baby shadowbox could be created using such keepsakes as a birth announcement, footprint, hospital bracelet, a pair of baby socks, etc.
Take into consideration how long you want to use the décor in the room when planning it. If you want the baby nursery décor you choose to care over into a little boy’s room, then avoid using themes that won’t grow well with the child. Also remember to design a room that you will enjoy being in. Although your baby will be too young to appreciate your hard work, you will be spending a lot of time in the room also so create an atmosphere you will enjoy as well!
© Copyright Rebecca Johnson, All Rights Reserved
Rebecca Johnson owns and operates Decorating-Your-Baby-Nursery.com, a website that provides decorating and planning ideas for creating a baby nursery. Visit it for more baby boy nursery theme ideas and more baby room decorating tips.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_Johnson
There are many great options available when it comes to decorating a baby boy’s room. Whether you choose to use a theme or to just keep it neutral, you can create a great room for your new baby boy.
If it’s a theme you are interested in, here are some popular ones for a baby boy nursery:
Western - lassos, cactus, horses, and cowboys help make a great room for your little buckaroo-to-be. It is also a theme that will carry well into a toddler and young boy’s room, saving you the time and expensive of having to redo the room in a couple of years.
Noah’s Ark - is a cute and popular nursery theme for a baby boy’s room. Animals in pairs and arks can be used to accessorize the room.
Sports - sports themes are another popular idea for a baby boy’s nursery décor. You could choose a specific sport such as baseball or football to base the room around or create a room using several sports as the theme. This is another room theme that would easily carry through to the toddler and early childhood years.
Things That Go - planes, trains, and automobiles are all wonderful items for decorating a baby boy room. Use them together as a combined theme or choose just one to focus the room’s motif around.
If a theme isn’t for you, choosing a color scheme to build the room’s décor around is a good way to go about planning the room. Don’t feel limited to the traditional shades of blue for a baby boy’s room. Consider choosing a nursery bedding set you like and then using the bedding to choose paint colors and décor. Shelves with knick knacks and mementos, growth charts, and art work can be found to compliment the paint and bedding. Large letters spelling out the baby’s name can be hung on the wall and a baby shadowbox could be created using such keepsakes as a birth announcement, footprint, hospital bracelet, a pair of baby socks, etc.
Take into consideration how long you want to use the décor in the room when planning it. If you want the baby nursery décor you choose to care over into a little boy’s room, then avoid using themes that won’t grow well with the child. Also remember to design a room that you will enjoy being in. Although your baby will be too young to appreciate your hard work, you will be spending a lot of time in the room also so create an atmosphere you will enjoy as well!
© Copyright Rebecca Johnson, All Rights Reserved
Rebecca Johnson owns and operates Decorating-Your-Baby-Nursery.com, a website that provides decorating and planning ideas for creating a baby nursery. Visit it for more baby boy nursery theme ideas and more baby room decorating tips.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_Johnson
Friday, August 11, 2006
Parenting Concepts: Guides To Great Parenting
Return to All Articles
By Carl DiNello
Parenting skills are something that new parents can only learn on the fly. It is not really something that comes with a set of directions. What parents can do is make the commitment to invest the time, effort, and dedication necessary to raise their children to be honest, responsible people.
It would be impossible to draw up a list of list of hard and fast rules and methods for parenting. Simply because not all family situations are alike, and not all children respond to parenting methods in the same way. If this is so, does that make any talk of ‘learning’ about parenting useless?
Absolutely not! While methods may have differing effects, and every situation calls for a different set of rules, the things that should remain constant are the basic concepts each parent must learn. These concepts will help guide parents in their constant effort to be better parents.
Unconditional Love – Unconditional love is one of the concepts that should permeate every action and every interaction between parent and child. It is also one of the most misunderstood concepts. How a parent expresses this to the child may very well determine how the child views himself, and his/her worth.
Many children grow up with a low sense of self-esteem as a result of many different factors. They may feel that the love they are shown depends on their accomplishments. Or, they may feel unwanted, or unloved.
All parents should, early on, be certain to show their children how important they are, no matter what, so that they can grow-up loving in the same way. This concept is very important in building self worth.
Responsibility – Children should grow up with a sense of responsibility for their actions, and the things around them. Far too many children grow up to be irresponsible parents, friends, and family, not caring or not knowing how to care, and to accept their own responsibilities.
Children who grow without a sense of responsibility too often find themselves blaming other people for things they should be dealing with themselves. Alternately, lack of responsibility training could cause children to blame themselves for things that they have no control over. This is an opposite, but equally undesirable problem.
Responsible children learn to care for and properly manage their time and resources – and ultimately your time and resources as a parent as well!
Respect – Children should be taught to respect at an early age. They learn that there are people that they should answer to, and that there is organization within every social unit. They learn that no matter whom the person they are talking to, that person has worth and should be respected.
This will help make relationships grow smoothly; as respect is one of the foundations of any good relationship. Children who learn to give and expect respect in return, adjust better to other people than those who don’t.
Conclusion - As a parent one helpful illustration might be to think of raising children as being like flying a kite - you let the kite fly into to the wind, giving slack as the kite flies higher, and reining it in if overwhelmed by the wind. But, like the kite, if properly flown your children could accomplish greater heights of personal development with the help of your support and parenting.
Carl DiNello is an Article Author whose articles are featured on websites covering the Internet's most popular topics. To read more, please visit Parenting Resources & Tips!
You may republish this article on your website, or e-zine so long as none of the content, or author information has been edited or changed in any way, and all links are left active and unchanged.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carl_DiNello
By Carl DiNello
Parenting skills are something that new parents can only learn on the fly. It is not really something that comes with a set of directions. What parents can do is make the commitment to invest the time, effort, and dedication necessary to raise their children to be honest, responsible people.
It would be impossible to draw up a list of list of hard and fast rules and methods for parenting. Simply because not all family situations are alike, and not all children respond to parenting methods in the same way. If this is so, does that make any talk of ‘learning’ about parenting useless?
Absolutely not! While methods may have differing effects, and every situation calls for a different set of rules, the things that should remain constant are the basic concepts each parent must learn. These concepts will help guide parents in their constant effort to be better parents.
Unconditional Love – Unconditional love is one of the concepts that should permeate every action and every interaction between parent and child. It is also one of the most misunderstood concepts. How a parent expresses this to the child may very well determine how the child views himself, and his/her worth.
Many children grow up with a low sense of self-esteem as a result of many different factors. They may feel that the love they are shown depends on their accomplishments. Or, they may feel unwanted, or unloved.
All parents should, early on, be certain to show their children how important they are, no matter what, so that they can grow-up loving in the same way. This concept is very important in building self worth.
Responsibility – Children should grow up with a sense of responsibility for their actions, and the things around them. Far too many children grow up to be irresponsible parents, friends, and family, not caring or not knowing how to care, and to accept their own responsibilities.
Children who grow without a sense of responsibility too often find themselves blaming other people for things they should be dealing with themselves. Alternately, lack of responsibility training could cause children to blame themselves for things that they have no control over. This is an opposite, but equally undesirable problem.
Responsible children learn to care for and properly manage their time and resources – and ultimately your time and resources as a parent as well!
Respect – Children should be taught to respect at an early age. They learn that there are people that they should answer to, and that there is organization within every social unit. They learn that no matter whom the person they are talking to, that person has worth and should be respected.
This will help make relationships grow smoothly; as respect is one of the foundations of any good relationship. Children who learn to give and expect respect in return, adjust better to other people than those who don’t.
Conclusion - As a parent one helpful illustration might be to think of raising children as being like flying a kite - you let the kite fly into to the wind, giving slack as the kite flies higher, and reining it in if overwhelmed by the wind. But, like the kite, if properly flown your children could accomplish greater heights of personal development with the help of your support and parenting.
Carl DiNello is an Article Author whose articles are featured on websites covering the Internet's most popular topics. To read more, please visit Parenting Resources & Tips!
You may republish this article on your website, or e-zine so long as none of the content, or author information has been edited or changed in any way, and all links are left active and unchanged.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carl_DiNello
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Social Skills Training and Self-Esteem: Fine-Tune Your Praise with Five Unlimited Ways
By Ellen Mossman-Glazer
Return to All Articles
There is nothing as powerful as well chosen words to make your child feel great. That internal sense of satisfaction of a job well done is a feeling money cannot buy. You may be reinforcing your child's positive behaviors with concrete items or special experiences or something else. At same time, it is important to be instilling a sense of self pride in your child that is itself, the reward.
Your comments and compliments are magical in building your child's sense of worth. How often do you stop to reflect on just the right way to praise? It is especially important to make your praise clear and specific with younger children and children who have diagnoses of Asperger Syndrome, Autism and ADHD. Here are five categories to help you fine-tune your praising:
1. Acknowledging Praise Words
You are choosing words that give your child acknowledgment of effort or success. This type of praising is helpful when your child is working on meeting a challenge.
"I knew you could do it!"
"You figured it out!"
"You put an incredible amount of thought into that project."
2. Complimenting Praise Words
These are the type of words that build self-esteem by celebrating success or effort. You are praising an action you have seen and your words will usually have a big exclamation mark at the end!
"Awesome job!"
"Super work!"
"A dynamite job!"
" I admire how hard you work."
"You are so creative!"
3. Encouraging Praise Words
These are words that you might use intermittently to keep your child moving along. Your child might be having a tough time and encouraging words can be comforting and motivating.
"You are catching on."
"You're on your way now."
'I knew you could do it."
4. Affection Praise Words
You are simply sending a 'thank-you' message but the message is wrapped in special caring or love.
"You are a joy to work with!"
"Give me a hug!"
""You made my day!"
5. Esteem Boosting Praise Words
These words comment on a personal quality.
"You are an excellent listener."
"You are dependable about following through with your responsibilities."
"You treat people fairly even though it's hard to lose at the game."
"I see you take your work seriously and that takes maturity."
"I love how you get things done!"
Final Tip: Be descriptive as possible about the action you are praising.
Ellen Mossman-Glazer M.Ed. is a Life Skills Coach and Behavior Specialist. She is the author of two on line e-zines, Emotion Matters: Tools and Tips for Parents, Educators and Caregivers and Social Skills: The Micro Steps.
Subscribe for free and see more about Ellen at http://artofbehaviorchange.com/ You can take a free mini assessment which Ellen will reply to with your first action step. Over her 20 years in special education classrooms and treatment settings, Ellen has seen the struggle that children and adults have when they feel they don't fit in. Currently she works in private practice helping parents, educators, caregivers and their challenging loved ones find the tools to thrive.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ellen_Mossman-Glazer
Return to All Articles
There is nothing as powerful as well chosen words to make your child feel great. That internal sense of satisfaction of a job well done is a feeling money cannot buy. You may be reinforcing your child's positive behaviors with concrete items or special experiences or something else. At same time, it is important to be instilling a sense of self pride in your child that is itself, the reward.
Your comments and compliments are magical in building your child's sense of worth. How often do you stop to reflect on just the right way to praise? It is especially important to make your praise clear and specific with younger children and children who have diagnoses of Asperger Syndrome, Autism and ADHD. Here are five categories to help you fine-tune your praising:
1. Acknowledging Praise Words
You are choosing words that give your child acknowledgment of effort or success. This type of praising is helpful when your child is working on meeting a challenge.
"I knew you could do it!"
"You figured it out!"
"You put an incredible amount of thought into that project."
2. Complimenting Praise Words
These are the type of words that build self-esteem by celebrating success or effort. You are praising an action you have seen and your words will usually have a big exclamation mark at the end!
"Awesome job!"
"Super work!"
"A dynamite job!"
" I admire how hard you work."
"You are so creative!"
3. Encouraging Praise Words
These are words that you might use intermittently to keep your child moving along. Your child might be having a tough time and encouraging words can be comforting and motivating.
"You are catching on."
"You're on your way now."
'I knew you could do it."
4. Affection Praise Words
You are simply sending a 'thank-you' message but the message is wrapped in special caring or love.
"You are a joy to work with!"
"Give me a hug!"
""You made my day!"
5. Esteem Boosting Praise Words
These words comment on a personal quality.
"You are an excellent listener."
"You are dependable about following through with your responsibilities."
"You treat people fairly even though it's hard to lose at the game."
"I see you take your work seriously and that takes maturity."
"I love how you get things done!"
Final Tip: Be descriptive as possible about the action you are praising.
Ellen Mossman-Glazer M.Ed. is a Life Skills Coach and Behavior Specialist. She is the author of two on line e-zines, Emotion Matters: Tools and Tips for Parents, Educators and Caregivers and Social Skills: The Micro Steps.
Subscribe for free and see more about Ellen at http://artofbehaviorchange.com/ You can take a free mini assessment which Ellen will reply to with your first action step. Over her 20 years in special education classrooms and treatment settings, Ellen has seen the struggle that children and adults have when they feel they don't fit in. Currently she works in private practice helping parents, educators, caregivers and their challenging loved ones find the tools to thrive.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ellen_Mossman-Glazer
Wednesday, August 9, 2006
Birthday Party Recipes - 5 Tips For The Perfect Princess Party Menu
By: Annette Yen
Return to All Articles
You're ready... your princess has invited the belles of the ball to the finest Princess Birthday Party of the year. You've purchased decorations, planned a few games and have some lovely take home gifts for your guests. Now it's time to plan the finest menu for your royal princess and her court. Let's make it so fabulous that the girls will remember this day when they're planning their future daughter's parties and one that will make your princess throw her hands around your neck and say, "Oh mom! You're the best ever!"
What follows are 5 tips for you in creating the menu of the decade for your princess birthday party.
1. Keep it simple. The last thing you need on a busy day is for you to be running around like crazy trying to make cherries flambé or tiramisu with crème fraise. However, with a little creative planning, you can make something spectacular and still be able to take photos of the lovely girls eating your birthday dainties. There are SO many recipes available at your fingertips that are not only delicious but easy to make with items you probably have in the house or can pick up in your local grocery store at minimal cost (another key!). One of my favorite recipe sites for quick recipes is http://www.freequickrecipes.com, or you can just punch a name of a recipe into your google search box and hundreds of recipes will pop up. Just keep it simple!
2. Presentation is everything. Think about it, mom. A peanut butter sandwich is nice, but, make that sandwich and cut it with petite cookie cutters into various princessly shapes and you have something spectacular. Even just cutting the sandwiches with a glass into a circle and then cutting the circles in half would work. Display them nicely on a glass plate with some red grapes or flowers and it's no longer just a boring sandwich but a delicacy that's a delight to look at AND eat.
3. Throw the "no sugar" rule out the window. Ok, I'll get hate mail for this one but c'mon mom! Your princess only has the bash of the century once a year, so break the rules a little and provide something sweet to eat. Balance it out with a lower sugar drink and other dainties that aren't sugar laden.
4. Make the drink pink! Pink lemonade, pink Kool-Aid, pink soda... anything pink in a clear plastic cup and you'll be the coolest mom on the block. Float a half of a strawberry in the cup and you may as well get a revolving door to your house. You'll be the hit of the neighborhood!
5. Work with a timeline and schedule for the day of the party. A checklist of what you'll be serving and when you need to pull it out of the freezer or fridge, what goes where, etc., and how long each thing takes will insure that you won't forget any of the details and insure that you won't go to open the fridge for a late night snack after your princess is in dream land and see the strawberries that you meant to put in the royal goblets.
The perfect, stress free Princess party menu is within reach, Mom. Just keep it simple, fancy, tasty and pink! Write out a checklist and you're all set for the finest party menu for your princess and her royal maidens.
About the Author:
Annette Yen invites you to her website http://www.iloveprincessparties.com to find everything you need for the perfect princess party! (** Note to Publishers: Affiliates of http://ILovePrincessParties.com may publish this article with their affiliate link for that program.**)
Return to All Articles
You're ready... your princess has invited the belles of the ball to the finest Princess Birthday Party of the year. You've purchased decorations, planned a few games and have some lovely take home gifts for your guests. Now it's time to plan the finest menu for your royal princess and her court. Let's make it so fabulous that the girls will remember this day when they're planning their future daughter's parties and one that will make your princess throw her hands around your neck and say, "Oh mom! You're the best ever!"
What follows are 5 tips for you in creating the menu of the decade for your princess birthday party.
1. Keep it simple. The last thing you need on a busy day is for you to be running around like crazy trying to make cherries flambé or tiramisu with crème fraise. However, with a little creative planning, you can make something spectacular and still be able to take photos of the lovely girls eating your birthday dainties. There are SO many recipes available at your fingertips that are not only delicious but easy to make with items you probably have in the house or can pick up in your local grocery store at minimal cost (another key!). One of my favorite recipe sites for quick recipes is http://www.freequickrecipes.com, or you can just punch a name of a recipe into your google search box and hundreds of recipes will pop up. Just keep it simple!
2. Presentation is everything. Think about it, mom. A peanut butter sandwich is nice, but, make that sandwich and cut it with petite cookie cutters into various princessly shapes and you have something spectacular. Even just cutting the sandwiches with a glass into a circle and then cutting the circles in half would work. Display them nicely on a glass plate with some red grapes or flowers and it's no longer just a boring sandwich but a delicacy that's a delight to look at AND eat.
3. Throw the "no sugar" rule out the window. Ok, I'll get hate mail for this one but c'mon mom! Your princess only has the bash of the century once a year, so break the rules a little and provide something sweet to eat. Balance it out with a lower sugar drink and other dainties that aren't sugar laden.
4. Make the drink pink! Pink lemonade, pink Kool-Aid, pink soda... anything pink in a clear plastic cup and you'll be the coolest mom on the block. Float a half of a strawberry in the cup and you may as well get a revolving door to your house. You'll be the hit of the neighborhood!
5. Work with a timeline and schedule for the day of the party. A checklist of what you'll be serving and when you need to pull it out of the freezer or fridge, what goes where, etc., and how long each thing takes will insure that you won't forget any of the details and insure that you won't go to open the fridge for a late night snack after your princess is in dream land and see the strawberries that you meant to put in the royal goblets.
The perfect, stress free Princess party menu is within reach, Mom. Just keep it simple, fancy, tasty and pink! Write out a checklist and you're all set for the finest party menu for your princess and her royal maidens.
About the Author:
Annette Yen invites you to her website http://www.iloveprincessparties.com to find everything you need for the perfect princess party! (** Note to Publishers: Affiliates of http://ILovePrincessParties.com may publish this article with their affiliate link for that program.**)
Tuesday, August 8, 2006
5 Tips on How to Survive Back-to-School Shopping
Return to All Articles
(NewsUSA) - If you are like millions of other time-starved moms, the thought of back-to-school shopping leaves you feeling stressed and wondering how you can possibly get it all done within your budget and in the limited time you have. Take advantage of these mom-tested, time-saving tips this year and get your children ready for back-to-school in record time - without busting your budget:
1. Start with a plan: Create a master back-to-school shopping list and budget for each child. Discuss the list and ask your kids what items or brands they want most. Let them help make the budget trade-offs. For example, if they want an expensive pair of shoes, they need to spend less on the backpack or clothes.
2. Closet-cleaning giveaway: Before you start shopping, clean out the closet. Sort through the clothes with each of your children, setting aside items that still fit and giving the rest away to charity.
3. Get the help of a free online personal shopper: Take advantage of PersonalShopper.com, and join over half of the moms in America who plan to do their back-to-school shopping online, according to a national survey by MedeliaMonitor. This free service saves you time and money by sifting through millions of products to find deals and items tailored to your family's needs and interests.
Your children can browse a selection of items from favorite brands, styles and colors and save what they love most to their online wish list. You can then review it together and make your purchases from the comfort of your own home.
4. It's best one-on-one: Schedule a back-to-school shopping date with each child, giving them your undivided attention. They grow up so fast, so invest your time in making lasting memories.
5. Snag sweet deals: Sixty-four percent of moms in the survey said that one of the biggest challenges is keeping themselves and their children within the set budget. Share with each child the amount you can afford to spend. Teach them to value your hard-earned money and how to stretch the budget as far as possible by making smart choices. They will soon learn that they can get far more for their money by searching the sales first.
For more information, visit www.personalshopper.com.
(NewsUSA) - If you are like millions of other time-starved moms, the thought of back-to-school shopping leaves you feeling stressed and wondering how you can possibly get it all done within your budget and in the limited time you have. Take advantage of these mom-tested, time-saving tips this year and get your children ready for back-to-school in record time - without busting your budget:
1. Start with a plan: Create a master back-to-school shopping list and budget for each child. Discuss the list and ask your kids what items or brands they want most. Let them help make the budget trade-offs. For example, if they want an expensive pair of shoes, they need to spend less on the backpack or clothes.
2. Closet-cleaning giveaway: Before you start shopping, clean out the closet. Sort through the clothes with each of your children, setting aside items that still fit and giving the rest away to charity.
3. Get the help of a free online personal shopper: Take advantage of PersonalShopper.com, and join over half of the moms in America who plan to do their back-to-school shopping online, according to a national survey by MedeliaMonitor. This free service saves you time and money by sifting through millions of products to find deals and items tailored to your family's needs and interests.
Your children can browse a selection of items from favorite brands, styles and colors and save what they love most to their online wish list. You can then review it together and make your purchases from the comfort of your own home.
4. It's best one-on-one: Schedule a back-to-school shopping date with each child, giving them your undivided attention. They grow up so fast, so invest your time in making lasting memories.
5. Snag sweet deals: Sixty-four percent of moms in the survey said that one of the biggest challenges is keeping themselves and their children within the set budget. Share with each child the amount you can afford to spend. Teach them to value your hard-earned money and how to stretch the budget as far as possible by making smart choices. They will soon learn that they can get far more for their money by searching the sales first.
For more information, visit www.personalshopper.com.
Monday, August 7, 2006
Lactivists Unite To Raise Breastfeeding Awareness
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By Elizabeth Catalanotto
Each year breastfeeding advocates in over 120 countries celebrate World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) during the first week of August. WBW was started by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) in an effort to protect, promote and support breastfeeding on a global level. All around the world lactivists (lactation activists) will celebrate by engaging in letter writing campaigns, holding fundraisers and staging nurse-ins to raise awareness and support for breastfeeding. Find out what is being done in your community to promote breastfeeding and to support breastfeeding mothers by contacting the local La Leche League chapter.
This year's theme for WBW is Code Watch: 25 Years of Protecting Breastfeeding. It commemorates the 25th anniversary of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes (The Code) which seeks to restrict aggressive marketing practices by infant formula companies. Proper implementation of the Code ensures that mothers fully understand the benefits of breastfeeding and are able to make an informed choice about how to feed their newborn. To participate in the Code Watch let the WABA know how formula companies are advertising and promoting their products in your area.
Lactivists promote breastmilk as the best source of nourishment for an infant because it provides a multitude of health benefits. Breastfed babies are less likely than formula fed babies to develop gastrointestinal, ear or respiratory infections as well as many types of allergies. It also reduces a child's risk of being afflicted by SIDS and childhood obesity. Breastfed infants that do become sick are able to recover sooner than formula fed babies since the breastfed infants receive antibodies from their mother's breastmilk. Children are protected by these antibodies until their immune systems mature.
Mothers that choose to breastfeed receive many health benefits as well. They experience minimal uterine bleeding and are less likely to develop breast cancer, ovarian cancer and osteoporosis. Breastfeeding mothers are also able to lose their pregnancy weight faster since producing milk requires a mother to use more energy and burn more calories. Natural birth spacing is another result of exclusive breastfeeding. During the first six months after an infant's birth a breastfeeding mother is unable to conceive due to the absence of her menstrual periods. This pause in her cycle allows her to give her baby the necessary attention and care that he or she needs.
In addition to providing unparalleled health benefits to both a mother and her infant, a breastfeeding relationship allows the two of them to develop a close emotional bond. Experts encourage mothers to breastfeed exclusively for the first six months to ensure that their children receive the full health benefits.
As WBW celebrations grow each year, lactivists are able to educate more parents on the advantages that breastfeeding has to offer. By taking part in your community's celebration or planning an event of your own, you can help breastfeeding gain worldwide acceptance as the most nutritional method for feeding infants.
Elizabeth Catalanotto is a contributing writer for Breast Pumps Direct, a leading retailer of breast pumps and breastfeeding supplies.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_Catalanotto
By Elizabeth Catalanotto
Each year breastfeeding advocates in over 120 countries celebrate World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) during the first week of August. WBW was started by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) in an effort to protect, promote and support breastfeeding on a global level. All around the world lactivists (lactation activists) will celebrate by engaging in letter writing campaigns, holding fundraisers and staging nurse-ins to raise awareness and support for breastfeeding. Find out what is being done in your community to promote breastfeeding and to support breastfeeding mothers by contacting the local La Leche League chapter.
This year's theme for WBW is Code Watch: 25 Years of Protecting Breastfeeding. It commemorates the 25th anniversary of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes (The Code) which seeks to restrict aggressive marketing practices by infant formula companies. Proper implementation of the Code ensures that mothers fully understand the benefits of breastfeeding and are able to make an informed choice about how to feed their newborn. To participate in the Code Watch let the WABA know how formula companies are advertising and promoting their products in your area.
Lactivists promote breastmilk as the best source of nourishment for an infant because it provides a multitude of health benefits. Breastfed babies are less likely than formula fed babies to develop gastrointestinal, ear or respiratory infections as well as many types of allergies. It also reduces a child's risk of being afflicted by SIDS and childhood obesity. Breastfed infants that do become sick are able to recover sooner than formula fed babies since the breastfed infants receive antibodies from their mother's breastmilk. Children are protected by these antibodies until their immune systems mature.
Mothers that choose to breastfeed receive many health benefits as well. They experience minimal uterine bleeding and are less likely to develop breast cancer, ovarian cancer and osteoporosis. Breastfeeding mothers are also able to lose their pregnancy weight faster since producing milk requires a mother to use more energy and burn more calories. Natural birth spacing is another result of exclusive breastfeeding. During the first six months after an infant's birth a breastfeeding mother is unable to conceive due to the absence of her menstrual periods. This pause in her cycle allows her to give her baby the necessary attention and care that he or she needs.
In addition to providing unparalleled health benefits to both a mother and her infant, a breastfeeding relationship allows the two of them to develop a close emotional bond. Experts encourage mothers to breastfeed exclusively for the first six months to ensure that their children receive the full health benefits.
As WBW celebrations grow each year, lactivists are able to educate more parents on the advantages that breastfeeding has to offer. By taking part in your community's celebration or planning an event of your own, you can help breastfeeding gain worldwide acceptance as the most nutritional method for feeding infants.
Elizabeth Catalanotto is a contributing writer for Breast Pumps Direct, a leading retailer of breast pumps and breastfeeding supplies.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_Catalanotto
Friday, August 4, 2006
Get Creative With Child Care While Working From Home
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By: Kristie Tamsevicius
Balancing Your Act
As an entrepreneurial parent, you juggle the roles of head chef, chauffer, nurse, janitor and more. Being there for your kids may be the very reason you have a home-based business, yet this myriad of roles makes carving time out for your business challenging at best. By developing a wide variety of cost-effective childcare options, you can achieve a balance between spending time with your children and building your business.
There are times when working at home while watching the kids goes without a hitch. They’re playing a game in the other room, doing their homework at the kitchen table, or gabbing with their friends while you’re making your calls, filing your paperwork, and crossing items off of your to do list with efficiency. There are other times, though, when parenting and working requires a superhuman ability to focus. Once, as I was doing a phone interview with the local media, the Pokémon theme was blaring on the TV, a toy was singing, “If you are happy and you know it, clap your hands,” and my son came over saying, “Mommy, Mommy, Mommmmmeee….” The reporter was amazed that I could concentrate on writing an article for my newsletter with such distractions. The key is honing the ability to let go of the distracting voices while still listening for cues that your children really need help.
Bringing in the Relief Pitcher
No matter how well you multitask, there are occasions when you need undisturbed time to devote to your business. Here are some ideas for getting the relief you need:
Hire a sitter to come to your home. In the summertime, you can find local high school and college kids who will keep the children entertained for a few hours rather inexpensively. Otherwise, you can ask friends, neighbors, and customers to recommend sitters who are willing to do daycare in your home.
Swap babysitting and working time with another mom. If you have a friend who also has her own home-based business, you can trade work and sitting times. For example, if you work in the morning, she can watch your kids. In the afternoon, she can work while you take over the childcare duties.
Set up a childcare co-op. Arrange with two other moms in your neighborhood or on your team to take all three kids for one afternoon. By taking turns watching the brood, the kids will form lasting friendships while each mom gets two afternoons per week to work on her business–kid-free!
Work swing shifts with your husband. You can watch the kids while your husband works, and then he can take over while you work the next shift. The disadvantage to this approach is that you don’t get a lot of quality time to spend with your husband.
Work around the kids’ schedules. You can get chunks of work done while the kids are in school, or in the early morning or at night when the kids are sleeping. If you have a baby or toddler, you can work while they are taking naps.
Ask your family for help. Going to grandma’s house can be an adventure. If you have extended family, they may be willing to watch the kids while you work.
Enroll your kids in a class. Most local parks and recreation districts offer dozens of inexpensive classes for children of all ages. Go through the course catalog together with your children, and have them pick out the classes that most interest them.
Park your kids at the pool. Invest in a summer pass for your local public pool and take advantage of the recreational swim hours. As long as your kids can swim, most public pools allow school-age children to swim without a parent being present. You can get two to three hours a day of uninterrupted work while your kids are splashing in the sun.
Sign your kids up for day camp. Many parks and recreation districts offer inexpensive day camps. When they’re not in school, consider signing your kids up for day camp one or two days each week. They’ll have fun and you’ll have peace of mind.
Assessing Your Options
Realistically assess how well you’re juggling your many roles, and whether some form of childcare would help you achieve your personal and professional goals.
Determine how many hours each week you’d like help with the kids, and choose one or more strategies from the above list.
Do the research or make the calls to get the help you need.
About the Author:Kristie Tamsevicius, is the author of "I Love My Life: A Mom's Guide to Working from Home"! Thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs have used her step-by-step home business system to earn money working from home. Get a free ecourse Home Business Success Secrets at http://www.webmomz.com/ilovemylife1.htm
By: Kristie Tamsevicius
Balancing Your Act
As an entrepreneurial parent, you juggle the roles of head chef, chauffer, nurse, janitor and more. Being there for your kids may be the very reason you have a home-based business, yet this myriad of roles makes carving time out for your business challenging at best. By developing a wide variety of cost-effective childcare options, you can achieve a balance between spending time with your children and building your business.
There are times when working at home while watching the kids goes without a hitch. They’re playing a game in the other room, doing their homework at the kitchen table, or gabbing with their friends while you’re making your calls, filing your paperwork, and crossing items off of your to do list with efficiency. There are other times, though, when parenting and working requires a superhuman ability to focus. Once, as I was doing a phone interview with the local media, the Pokémon theme was blaring on the TV, a toy was singing, “If you are happy and you know it, clap your hands,” and my son came over saying, “Mommy, Mommy, Mommmmmeee….” The reporter was amazed that I could concentrate on writing an article for my newsletter with such distractions. The key is honing the ability to let go of the distracting voices while still listening for cues that your children really need help.
Bringing in the Relief Pitcher
No matter how well you multitask, there are occasions when you need undisturbed time to devote to your business. Here are some ideas for getting the relief you need:
Hire a sitter to come to your home. In the summertime, you can find local high school and college kids who will keep the children entertained for a few hours rather inexpensively. Otherwise, you can ask friends, neighbors, and customers to recommend sitters who are willing to do daycare in your home.
Swap babysitting and working time with another mom. If you have a friend who also has her own home-based business, you can trade work and sitting times. For example, if you work in the morning, she can watch your kids. In the afternoon, she can work while you take over the childcare duties.
Set up a childcare co-op. Arrange with two other moms in your neighborhood or on your team to take all three kids for one afternoon. By taking turns watching the brood, the kids will form lasting friendships while each mom gets two afternoons per week to work on her business–kid-free!
Work swing shifts with your husband. You can watch the kids while your husband works, and then he can take over while you work the next shift. The disadvantage to this approach is that you don’t get a lot of quality time to spend with your husband.
Work around the kids’ schedules. You can get chunks of work done while the kids are in school, or in the early morning or at night when the kids are sleeping. If you have a baby or toddler, you can work while they are taking naps.
Ask your family for help. Going to grandma’s house can be an adventure. If you have extended family, they may be willing to watch the kids while you work.
Enroll your kids in a class. Most local parks and recreation districts offer dozens of inexpensive classes for children of all ages. Go through the course catalog together with your children, and have them pick out the classes that most interest them.
Park your kids at the pool. Invest in a summer pass for your local public pool and take advantage of the recreational swim hours. As long as your kids can swim, most public pools allow school-age children to swim without a parent being present. You can get two to three hours a day of uninterrupted work while your kids are splashing in the sun.
Sign your kids up for day camp. Many parks and recreation districts offer inexpensive day camps. When they’re not in school, consider signing your kids up for day camp one or two days each week. They’ll have fun and you’ll have peace of mind.
Assessing Your Options
Realistically assess how well you’re juggling your many roles, and whether some form of childcare would help you achieve your personal and professional goals.
Determine how many hours each week you’d like help with the kids, and choose one or more strategies from the above list.
Do the research or make the calls to get the help you need.
About the Author:Kristie Tamsevicius, is the author of "I Love My Life: A Mom's Guide to Working from Home"! Thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs have used her step-by-step home business system to earn money working from home. Get a free ecourse Home Business Success Secrets at http://www.webmomz.com/ilovemylife1.htm
Thursday, August 3, 2006
Games That Develop Kids' Emotional Skills
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(News USA) - Businesses are finding that most successful people have one thing in common: the ability to deal with people. But successful employees don't learn this skill when they enter the work force; they learn it at an early age.
As a parent, you may wonder how to help your children develop the emotional skills they need to get through life and be successful in their future careers.
It's a challenging task, but one game manufacturer has set out to make it easier through its series of "emotional intelligence" board games.
Parents looking for ways to breach difficult topics; teach their children about qualities such as empathy, problem solving, assertiveness and good manners; or who just want to have some family fun will find many opportunities in the following products from Oikos Global:
* Oikos Game Levels 1 to 3: Through active play, children learn positive strategies to handle common emotional situations relating to anger, aggression, fear and conflict.
* A 31 Day Success Principles for Kids and Teens: Each card contains a success principle - such as "know your purpose" or "be persistent" - and a mini-biography of a famous person who made use of that principle.
* A 31 Day Positive Affirmations for Kids and Teens: Each card contains one affirmation to read each day. The intention is for kids to focus on their strengths and positive attributes.
Oikos Global also offers fun family games such as Fikloo, a party game of crazy commands, and Wordigy, a challenging and educational word game.
Oikos games and activities might get your children thinking beyond the latest "must have" video game or DVD. They also make good gifts for holidays, birthdays and graduations.
For more information, visit www.oikosglobal.com .
(News USA) - Businesses are finding that most successful people have one thing in common: the ability to deal with people. But successful employees don't learn this skill when they enter the work force; they learn it at an early age.
As a parent, you may wonder how to help your children develop the emotional skills they need to get through life and be successful in their future careers.
It's a challenging task, but one game manufacturer has set out to make it easier through its series of "emotional intelligence" board games.
Parents looking for ways to breach difficult topics; teach their children about qualities such as empathy, problem solving, assertiveness and good manners; or who just want to have some family fun will find many opportunities in the following products from Oikos Global:
* Oikos Game Levels 1 to 3: Through active play, children learn positive strategies to handle common emotional situations relating to anger, aggression, fear and conflict.
* A 31 Day Success Principles for Kids and Teens: Each card contains a success principle - such as "know your purpose" or "be persistent" - and a mini-biography of a famous person who made use of that principle.
* A 31 Day Positive Affirmations for Kids and Teens: Each card contains one affirmation to read each day. The intention is for kids to focus on their strengths and positive attributes.
Oikos Global also offers fun family games such as Fikloo, a party game of crazy commands, and Wordigy, a challenging and educational word game.
Oikos games and activities might get your children thinking beyond the latest "must have" video game or DVD. They also make good gifts for holidays, birthdays and graduations.
For more information, visit www.oikosglobal.com .
Wednesday, August 2, 2006
Children's Fitness
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By Robert Rickover
Remember your physical education (PE) classes in school? If your experience was anything like mine, it was a class you truly hated. And if, like me, you were not a natural athlete, your painful memories may have actually discouraged you from exercising later in life.
A recent New York Times article, “Putting the Gym Back in Gym Class” (October 13, 2005), explores this problem and examines what some PE professionals have proposed to improve the situation. In part this re-evaluation is due to the sharp curtailment of school PE programs in recent years. As the article explains, “School administrators began cutting physical education programs...because of the way many classes were taught. Budget cutters who remembered playing dodge ball and Red Rover came to view gym class as dispensable.”
But there is also a genuine understanding that PE has not, for the most part, been successful in promoting health and fitness. Only a tiny percentage of students continue playing the sports they learned in gym class after graduating from high school. (When was the last time you and your friends enjoyed a game of dodge ball?)
And many of the sports emphasized in gym failed to help those who needed it most. As Anne Flannery, the president of PE4life, a PE advocacy group, points out, “In dodge ball it’s the very child that needs exercise the most who’s picked off first...in a game of soccer probably four or five of the most athletic kids touched the ball, and everybody else just stood there.”
This certainly describes my own PE experience. I quickly learned that if I kept a low profile, and was discreet in minimizing my participation, I could still get by with a grade of “B”, or at worst a “C’. During our weekly outdoor runs, I would disappear for a few rounds into a shallow ditch behind a row of hedges, out of sight of the gym teachers. My dodge ball strategy was to pretend I was hit early in the game when there were still enough players in the game that nobody noticed.
Today, there is a growing emphasis on teaching skills that are useful beyond gym class. Instead of learning how to dodge a ball or climb a rope, children in some schools are taught to lift weights, balance their diets and build cardiovascular endurance. There is also a movement towards fewer competitive activities and more activities that emphasize personal achievement such as rock-climbing, kick-boxing and tai-chi. As Ms Flannery says, “It’s about giving these kids the tools and skill and experience so they can lead a physically active life the rest of their life.”
This approach certainly makes a lot of sense. It’s usefulness is also backed up by a recent study published in the October 2005 issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. University of Wisconsin researchers observed 50 overweight children and found that they lost more weight when they cycled, skied cross-country and walked than when they played sports during class time. They also found that sports like football and kick ball produced less overall movement, in part because reluctant students were able to sit on the bench much of the time.
The new approach to PE is certainly to be welcomed as a major improvement over the old system. But if the goal is truly fitness for life, I believe these new developments leave out a crucial ingredient: They fail to train kids HOW to do whatever physical activities they engage in - whether it be sports, or everyday activities like sitting at a desk, standing, walking, driving a car - in a way that minimizes harmful strain and risk of injury.
Promoting cardiovascular fitness is fine as far as it goes, but this kind of grading system has a serious flaw in that it both mirrors and reinforces the preoccupation of most adult fitness programs with the quantity of activity activity performed, rather than the way participants use their bodies while performing those activities. We tend to be interested in how many laps we swam, the amount of weights we lifted, or the speed of our runs rather than how well we used our body in performing those sports. In other words quantity rather than quality.
To see what this leads to, take a look at any group of runners or joggers. You will probably see tight necks, hunched shoulders and painful expressions on many of their faces. These runners may be getting a cardiovascular workout, but in the process they’re putting a lot of unnecessary and harmful pressure on their bodies. No wonder so many people who begin fitness programs drop out after a few weeks, often due to pain or injuries.
Of course it’s important that children engage in vigorous physical activity; we don’t want them to grow up to be couch potatoes. But making “effort” the primary basis for grading students - even if it’s as easy as reading a heart monitor - does our children a great disservice.
What makes this particularly sad is that we now know how to help people improve their movement quality. The twentieth century saw the development of numerous somatic therapies and teaching methods that have proven effective in helping people of all ages perform all their activities, from everyday ones like walking and using a computer right through to vigorous sports, with greater ease, efficiency and safety.
The method I know best, first as a student and then, for the past twenty years as a teacher, is the Alexander Technique. It has a long history of helping people with stress-related conditions like back pain and stiff necks and shoulders and it is often used by musicians, dancers and actors to improve the quality of their performance.
The Alexander Technique is taught by specially-trained teachers, but some of it’s principles could easily be included in PE classes. Take for instance the Alexander-related process that has come to be know as “body-mapping”. This approach includes learning, on your own body, just where important joints are located and how they function.
It turns out that most of us have serious “mis-maps” of our own body which cause us to move in ways that attempt to reinforce those incorrect ideas.
For example, many people think their hip joints are at waist level when, in fact, they are located far lower on our torso. Correcting this mis-map is quite easy to do and almost always results in much smoother bending, walking and running patterns.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if PE programs included teaching this kind of useful self-knowledge to our kids so they could go through life using their bodies as nature intended? And look back on their PE experiences with fondness and gratitude?
RESOURCES
“Body-mapping” is a term coined by Alexander Technique teachers William and Barbara Conable. You can read a short introduction to the process at http://www.alexandertechnique.com/articles/bodymap
The Conables have written a wonderful book describing the process in detail, “How to Learn the Alexander Technique - A Manual for Students”. As the title implies, the book was written mainly for people taking Alexander Technique lessons, but I have found it to be a valuable resource for anyone prepared to spend a little time exploring the operation of their own body.
Another book, full of practical suggestions, is “Mind and Muscle - An Owner’s Handbook” by Elizabeth Langford. It covers some of the same ground, although she does not use the term “body-mapping”.
Both of these books, along with a great many other books, videos and CD’s about the Alexander Technique can be ordered at The Alexander Technique Bookstore at http://www.alexandertechnique.com/books
Robert Rickover is a teacher of the Alexander Technique living in Lincoln, Nebraska. He also teaches regularly in Toronto, Canada. Robert is the author of Fitness Without Stress - A Guide to the Alexander Technique and is the creator of The Complete Guide to the Alexander Technique http://www.alexandertechnique.com
“Body-mapping” is a term coined by Alexander Technique teachers William and Barbara Conable. You can read a short introduction to the process at http://www.alexandertechnique.com/articles/bodymap
The Conables have written a wonderful book describing the process in detail, “How to Learn the Alexander Technique - A Manual for Students”. As the title implies, the book was written mainly for people taking Alexander Technique lessons, but I have found it to be a valuable resource for anyone prepared to spend a little time exploring the operation of their own body.
Another book, full of practical suggestions, is “Mind and Muscle - An Owner’s Handbook” by Elizabeth Langford. It covers some of the same ground, although she does not use the term “body-mapping”.
Both of these books, along with a great many other books, videos and CD’s about the Alexander Technique can be ordered at The Alexander Technique Bookstore at http://www.alexandertechnique.com/books
Robert Rickover is a teacher of the Alexander Technique living in Lincoln, Nebraska. He also teaches regularly in Tor
By Robert Rickover
Remember your physical education (PE) classes in school? If your experience was anything like mine, it was a class you truly hated. And if, like me, you were not a natural athlete, your painful memories may have actually discouraged you from exercising later in life.
A recent New York Times article, “Putting the Gym Back in Gym Class” (October 13, 2005), explores this problem and examines what some PE professionals have proposed to improve the situation. In part this re-evaluation is due to the sharp curtailment of school PE programs in recent years. As the article explains, “School administrators began cutting physical education programs...because of the way many classes were taught. Budget cutters who remembered playing dodge ball and Red Rover came to view gym class as dispensable.”
But there is also a genuine understanding that PE has not, for the most part, been successful in promoting health and fitness. Only a tiny percentage of students continue playing the sports they learned in gym class after graduating from high school. (When was the last time you and your friends enjoyed a game of dodge ball?)
And many of the sports emphasized in gym failed to help those who needed it most. As Anne Flannery, the president of PE4life, a PE advocacy group, points out, “In dodge ball it’s the very child that needs exercise the most who’s picked off first...in a game of soccer probably four or five of the most athletic kids touched the ball, and everybody else just stood there.”
This certainly describes my own PE experience. I quickly learned that if I kept a low profile, and was discreet in minimizing my participation, I could still get by with a grade of “B”, or at worst a “C’. During our weekly outdoor runs, I would disappear for a few rounds into a shallow ditch behind a row of hedges, out of sight of the gym teachers. My dodge ball strategy was to pretend I was hit early in the game when there were still enough players in the game that nobody noticed.
Today, there is a growing emphasis on teaching skills that are useful beyond gym class. Instead of learning how to dodge a ball or climb a rope, children in some schools are taught to lift weights, balance their diets and build cardiovascular endurance. There is also a movement towards fewer competitive activities and more activities that emphasize personal achievement such as rock-climbing, kick-boxing and tai-chi. As Ms Flannery says, “It’s about giving these kids the tools and skill and experience so they can lead a physically active life the rest of their life.”
This approach certainly makes a lot of sense. It’s usefulness is also backed up by a recent study published in the October 2005 issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. University of Wisconsin researchers observed 50 overweight children and found that they lost more weight when they cycled, skied cross-country and walked than when they played sports during class time. They also found that sports like football and kick ball produced less overall movement, in part because reluctant students were able to sit on the bench much of the time.
The new approach to PE is certainly to be welcomed as a major improvement over the old system. But if the goal is truly fitness for life, I believe these new developments leave out a crucial ingredient: They fail to train kids HOW to do whatever physical activities they engage in - whether it be sports, or everyday activities like sitting at a desk, standing, walking, driving a car - in a way that minimizes harmful strain and risk of injury.
Promoting cardiovascular fitness is fine as far as it goes, but this kind of grading system has a serious flaw in that it both mirrors and reinforces the preoccupation of most adult fitness programs with the quantity of activity activity performed, rather than the way participants use their bodies while performing those activities. We tend to be interested in how many laps we swam, the amount of weights we lifted, or the speed of our runs rather than how well we used our body in performing those sports. In other words quantity rather than quality.
To see what this leads to, take a look at any group of runners or joggers. You will probably see tight necks, hunched shoulders and painful expressions on many of their faces. These runners may be getting a cardiovascular workout, but in the process they’re putting a lot of unnecessary and harmful pressure on their bodies. No wonder so many people who begin fitness programs drop out after a few weeks, often due to pain or injuries.
Of course it’s important that children engage in vigorous physical activity; we don’t want them to grow up to be couch potatoes. But making “effort” the primary basis for grading students - even if it’s as easy as reading a heart monitor - does our children a great disservice.
What makes this particularly sad is that we now know how to help people improve their movement quality. The twentieth century saw the development of numerous somatic therapies and teaching methods that have proven effective in helping people of all ages perform all their activities, from everyday ones like walking and using a computer right through to vigorous sports, with greater ease, efficiency and safety.
The method I know best, first as a student and then, for the past twenty years as a teacher, is the Alexander Technique. It has a long history of helping people with stress-related conditions like back pain and stiff necks and shoulders and it is often used by musicians, dancers and actors to improve the quality of their performance.
The Alexander Technique is taught by specially-trained teachers, but some of it’s principles could easily be included in PE classes. Take for instance the Alexander-related process that has come to be know as “body-mapping”. This approach includes learning, on your own body, just where important joints are located and how they function.
It turns out that most of us have serious “mis-maps” of our own body which cause us to move in ways that attempt to reinforce those incorrect ideas.
For example, many people think their hip joints are at waist level when, in fact, they are located far lower on our torso. Correcting this mis-map is quite easy to do and almost always results in much smoother bending, walking and running patterns.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if PE programs included teaching this kind of useful self-knowledge to our kids so they could go through life using their bodies as nature intended? And look back on their PE experiences with fondness and gratitude?
RESOURCES
“Body-mapping” is a term coined by Alexander Technique teachers William and Barbara Conable. You can read a short introduction to the process at http://www.alexandertechnique.com/articles/bodymap
The Conables have written a wonderful book describing the process in detail, “How to Learn the Alexander Technique - A Manual for Students”. As the title implies, the book was written mainly for people taking Alexander Technique lessons, but I have found it to be a valuable resource for anyone prepared to spend a little time exploring the operation of their own body.
Another book, full of practical suggestions, is “Mind and Muscle - An Owner’s Handbook” by Elizabeth Langford. It covers some of the same ground, although she does not use the term “body-mapping”.
Both of these books, along with a great many other books, videos and CD’s about the Alexander Technique can be ordered at The Alexander Technique Bookstore at http://www.alexandertechnique.com/books
Robert Rickover is a teacher of the Alexander Technique living in Lincoln, Nebraska. He also teaches regularly in Toronto, Canada. Robert is the author of Fitness Without Stress - A Guide to the Alexander Technique and is the creator of The Complete Guide to the Alexander Technique http://www.alexandertechnique.com
“Body-mapping” is a term coined by Alexander Technique teachers William and Barbara Conable. You can read a short introduction to the process at http://www.alexandertechnique.com/articles/bodymap
The Conables have written a wonderful book describing the process in detail, “How to Learn the Alexander Technique - A Manual for Students”. As the title implies, the book was written mainly for people taking Alexander Technique lessons, but I have found it to be a valuable resource for anyone prepared to spend a little time exploring the operation of their own body.
Another book, full of practical suggestions, is “Mind and Muscle - An Owner’s Handbook” by Elizabeth Langford. It covers some of the same ground, although she does not use the term “body-mapping”.
Both of these books, along with a great many other books, videos and CD’s about the Alexander Technique can be ordered at The Alexander Technique Bookstore at http://www.alexandertechnique.com/books
Robert Rickover is a teacher of the Alexander Technique living in Lincoln, Nebraska. He also teaches regularly in Tor
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