Wouldn’t we all like to make our kids’ lives magically full of friends and free of stress? Unfortunately, there is no magic formula for making the transition to a new school totally stress-free. But there are things we can do to help kids cope for child education. Teaching them how to make friends can really help children adjust to a new place. Here are some strategies for helping your kids in a new school.
1. Meet the teacher ahead of time
If it’s practical, arrange a meeting with your child’s new teacher before the first day of class. Most teachers are glad to do this, and if your child sees a familiar person in his teacher, he will feel more relaxed. See if the prospective teacher will meet you both for lunch, or come to your home for a meal. More than one meeting is even better.
2. Visit the school before class begins
Take a tour of the school to get familiar with the layout and possibly meet some of the students. If it’s summer, there may be an official orientation for new students; but it’s better to go as a family or with a parent in a no-pressure visit. Your child will feel a lot less overwhelmed if she knows where her locker, the bathroom, and her classroom are going to be.
3. Keep lines of communication open
Your child needs to feel safe in discussing social problems and joys with you. If you and your child never talk about such things, you may think everything is just fine when it is not. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and let your child know you are asking because you want to help.
4. Teach basic social skills
It’s easy to take these skills for granted, but your child may not know these things - especially if you have never gone over them. Teach him to look people in the eye, to shake hands, to answer when spoken to, and to introduce himself. Also teach specifics about being a good listener, such as not interrupting and making eye contact while another is speaking. These are skills that will serve your child well in school and in the future.
You can arrange play dates and meetings to teach these things, and take advantage of ones that happen along the way, such as the grocery checkout clerk or the mailman. Keep it relaxed and easy, even game-like at times, because high-pressure situations forced on your child will only make him more anxious.
5. Encourage some group activities
There’s no need to overwhelm your child with a dozen extracurricular activities. But finding something your child can do with others can help socialization. Find out what groups are available at your child’s school - it does not have to be a sport, or a large, organized group (although those are fine). Find something that suits your child’s personality and needs.
Teach and practise socialization, talk to your child about how she’s doing, and the transition to a new school will be more a time of excitement than one of stress.
After the upheaval of a move, it’s important to take some time to settle in. Children especially may need help coping with the major changes of moving. There are some things you can do to make it easier on the whole family and for child development. Here are some suggestions.
1. Get the children’s new rooms ready first
Have a box marked with your children’s special toys, and unpack those immediately in the child’s new room. Move the big furniture in and unpack their bedding and other bedroom accoutrements first, and get the room set up right away. Then, your children can occupy themselves with some of the fun details, such as unpacking their other toys, finding places for things, and so forth. Let them decide some of the details about the room, such as where their toy box will be or what color you are going to paint the room.
2. Plan a “new house party”
Yes, it’s another thing to plan, but in the end it can help lift some of the stress. Tell the children about the party and let them help you plan it. Have a picnic among the moving boxes or out in the yard, or pick up food from their favorite restaurant. You could even pick up a cake or box of cupcakes for a celebratory treat.
3. Get to know the people who will be a part of your children’s lives
Many of us are too busy to get to know our neighbors, but it’s a necessity if you are moving to a new area with your children. Introduce your children and exchange contact information, and encourage play dates with new kids.
Your children’s teacher will be a very important influence, so visit the new school and arrange a meeting with the teacher before the first day of class. If possible, establish contact with the school and teacher before the move.
4. Keep some routines where possible
Children love routine, and nothing disrupts it quite like a move. Try to maintain some of the family habits, such as movie or board game night, and try to establish a daily routine similar to the one in your old house. Go to bed and get up at the same time as usual, and don’t try to stay up late unpacking. It also helps to prepare the same sort of foods in the same way - “comfort food” is comfortable for a reason: it’s familiar!
5. Relax and don’t be in a rush
Of course you want to be unpacked and settled as soon as possible; but slowing down and taking the time to talk, creating a calm atmosphere and establishing comfortable routines will make things easier in the long run. If your moving boxes are clearly labeled, you can unpack what you need right away and take your time with the rest.
Foster parenting requires willingness to sacrifice and a genuine love for abused and neglected children. If you are considering becoming a foster parent, bear in mind that it is a big commitment to child development but one with great rewards as well. This article discusses some of the important aspects of foster parenting, and addresses some of the questions commonly asked by prospective foster parents.
What does it mean to foster children?
Fostering is not the same as adoption. When you foster a child, it is understood from the beginning that your home is a temporary refuge while the child’s biological parents try to straighten out their lives and become responsible parents. Foster parents are in the unique position of giving love and attention to a child as if that child were their own, but need to be able to give that child up to a permanent home when the time comes. That can be a difficult sacrifice to make.
What kinds/ages of children are fostered?
Foster children range in age from newborn to 17 years of age, and encompass all genders, races, and backgrounds. Thus, there is quite a variety in the sorts of children foster parents can have in their home, although most foster parents specify what sort of child they feel most able to foster.
How long does a child stay with the foster parents?
This is quite variable, and depends a great deal on the state of the biological parents. There are cases of children being fostered for only a few weeks, during which time the child’s biological parents get their lives in order so as to be fit parents. Other times, a foster parent may have a child for years and may even adopt that child. Generally, a foster parent reserves the right to have a child removed for any reason, or to refuse to accept a child for any reason.
How is the existing family affected?
The whole family is involved in creating a “foster family” - thus, everyone needs to be committed to the fostering process. If there are any family members who are not on board with the concept of welcoming children into the home and caring for them, then it would not be a good idea to try to become a foster family. The existing family, after all, will be asked to share space and toys and time, and children will need to share their parents’ time.
There can be no doubt that foster parenting requires sacrifice and dedication. But like so many things of that nature, the rewards are great and so is the joy. Parenting, after all, is not about what we get out of it; it is what we give to it that makes it rewarding.
It’s often been said “Laughter is the best medicine.” If you’re having a bad day, surround yourself with people who are having a good time, and before long your bad day will be a thing of the past. Humor is important especially for child development; it’s one way to get the fun back into your life and help you feel good.
There are many benefits of having a good sense of humor and laughing each day. Laughter, when it’s shared between friends and family, can actually improve your relationship. It can also have a domino effect by being contagious. All you need is for one person to begin laughing and others will soon join in the fun. Laughing actually triggers physical changes in the body which means there are health benefits of humor as well as emotional ones.
The health benefits of humor and laughter include reducing the effects of stress, lessening the sensation of pain, and giving you a boost of energy. You can also expect to feel better emotionally after laughing, particularly if the laughs were deep, sustained belly laughs. Laughter can also boost your immune system which could keep your entire body healthier.
Some experts believe laughing can be as good for you as exercise. In fact, some experts think of laughter as jogging for the inside of the body. The good thing about laughter is that you don’t need any special equipment, don’t have to pay for classes, and it can be enjoyed anywhere. Best of all, it’s free!
Humor and laughter reduce stress. You can’t be stressed out if you’re laughing; it’s simply impossible. When you laugh the body releases endorphins which help reduce stress. It also improves your mood which can have a large part to play in how stressed you feel. Laughter relaxes your muscles and can help you remain happier for up to 45 minutes after the laughter stops.
How do you get humor back into your life if it seems to be non-existent? There are a number of things you can do.
* Start with a smile. Smiling, like laughter, is contagious. If you’re already smiling it will be much easier for you to break into laughter. Think about something pleasant or enjoyable. Then when something does or says something silly or funny, you’ll be laughing with them before you know it.
* Move toward laughter whenever you hear it. In most cases, if someone is laughing loud enough for others to hear them, it’s unlikely they’ll be upset if you come near. You can actually ask people, “what’s so funny,” and they’ll likely tell you so you can join in the fun.
* Spend time with people who are fun to be with. Children are great for being able to laugh easily. Some adults can easily laugh at themselves or at funny things that happen around them. When they start laughing, it’s easy to get caught up in the joy, too.
* Watch older comedies that you found funny in the past. Some of the newer comedies simply aren’t as funny as they’d like us to believe. Find comedies that make you laugh and enjoy them regularly.
You may have heard the song lyrics “Money makes the world go around.” That may be partially true. However, you may want to try humor instead. Learn how to get fun back into your life and feel good by laughing every day.
It’s not uncommon for people to try to shed extra pounds. Many times people decide to try to lose weight at the beginning of the New Year. If you’re trying to slim down, here are some healthy recipe for kids ideas to help you lose weight.
People often think that when they’re trying to drop extra pounds they’re limited to what they can eat, and that’s true to a degree. But, there’s no need to starve yourself or eat nothing but rice cakes. You can have snacks which are healthy and taste great so you won’t have to suffer while you’re slimming down.
Advertisements on television and in magazines state each person needs a certain number of dairy servings a day. The ads claim you can actually lose weight by consuming dairy products. Well, why not eat low-fat yogurt as a snack. Add fresh fruit to the yogurt and you’ve taken care of one serving of dairy and one serving of fruit for the day. You’ll also have the benefit of the vitamins and minerals from both foods which are necessary for health.
What do you do if you don’t like yogurt that much? You can get dairy servings in other ways, too; try a low-fat milkshake or smoothie. Using skim or low-fat milk, ice, and either fresh or frozen fruit, you can make a great milkshake to enjoy for breakfast or at any other time of the day.
If you’d like to try something different, why not simply try a green smoothie? You use water, 100% fruit juice, water, fruit, and then add raw spinach or another green leafy vegetable. It may take a bit to get used to, but once you’ve had this type of drink you’ll soon learn to love them. This will be very low fat, as you’re not adding anything to the fruit, vegetables and water, and will be full of health-giving vitamins and minerals.
Make muffins using applesauce in place of the fat (margarine or butter). This will make the muffins lower fat than traditional recipes and you may not even recognize the difference as far as taste. Add shredded carrots to the muffins to give you more nutrients. Use other fruits or vegetables such as bananas and zucchini to make the muffins moist and delicious.
Popcorn is a great healthy snack idea as long as you don’t smother it in butter. Air-popped popcorn has no fat, is healthy, and can be filling. Instead of using salt and melted butter to flavor the popcorn, try adding onion powder, garlic powder, or nutritional yeast instead. Be adventurous and try to find a combination that you’ll enjoy. If you feel you must use fat to help flavor the popcorn, use a spray of olive oil which is a good fat.
When choosing healthy snacks that help you lose weight, remember to choose foods which are low-fat. You also want to limit the amount you eat at one sitting. Even snacks which are healthy can cause you to gain weight rather than lose it if you eat too much.
Parenting in today’s world is probably one of the most difficult tasks of all. What is the role of a parent especially for child development? Where do you draw the line on authority? Who does what in their role as parents? What are your responsibilities as a parent? Parents today need all the help they can get and this article seeks to answer some of the more baffling questions that plague modern day parents.
What is the role of a parent in the old fashioned context was for the father to take on the authoritative role of provider and protector and the mother to nurture. We would be hard pressed to maintain this concept in a society such as ours. Both parents work and more often than not single parenting seems to be the norm.
Children need to know and accept that parents are in charge. Raise your children on love and teach them the art of respecting people. Honesty, truthfulness, sincerity are virtues you can inculcate in your child with the right kind of upbringing. Teaching your child morals and values in life is not something that is picked up as your child grows, rather something that is taught from the knee high stage onward.
What is the role of a parent? It certainly isn’t a dictator! Authoritative parenting requires parents to be firm in raising children, rearing them on love and warmth, teaching and guiding, avoiding harsh discipline and being clear in what they expect from the child, yet flexible when necessary. In order to be a good parent you have to walk a fine line between overindulging and overbearing in your treatment of children.
Families that make the effort to have family time sessions, share information, fun and laughter at mealtimes, and participate in the decision making will continue to strengthen the bond that binds. There is a very popular saying, “Families that pray together, stay together.” I would like to stretch that to include those families that share and care build an interdependency and oneness that continues to grow over time. Treat your children with respect and they will learn to respect you. If you have older children, involve yourself in their lives without intruding. Smaller children are easier to manage, get them involved even in your shopping activities and weekly cleaning and you will find they make willing helpers.
Children need to feel loved and wanted and that is the main focus of what is the role of a parent in a child’s life.
Children’s growth and child developmentdepend very much on the foods they are fed and the benefits of healthy eating for kids is detailed in this article to alert parents to the dangers of neglecting this aspect of the child’s development. Balanced, nutritious meals are a must for every growing child because the benefits transcend into adulthood. Poor diet leads to obesity and a host of medical and psychological problems for the child.
For those of us not aware of it there is a good guide pyramid, which can help us better understand the different food groups. All of our food is divided into grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy products and meats, beans, poultry, fish and nuts. Your child gets a balanced diet when all the food groups are covered. There are some groups where the intake needs to be lesser than the others, such as the oils and meats.
The benefits of healthy eating for kids will not be felt if you blindly follow the food groups. For example an apple in its natural state will do more for your child’s well being and overall good health than an apple pie with sugar would.
For children to develop healthy eating habits the parents will need to lead by example. It is always advisable to start a child out eating right from a very small age because this becomes habit forming. You should never put a child on a restrictive diet without the approval and supervision of a pediatrician. Overweight children go through quite a lot of trauma as a result of their size and all of this can be avoided if the parents take onus for ensuring that the children eat the right kinds of healthy nutritious foods they need.
Given below are some ideas on how to draw on the benefits of healthy eating for kids:
• You can guide your family’s choices by doing the shopping right; never dictate it will not go down well. Make sure your home has plenty of healthy foods like fruit and vegetables, yoghurts and dips that you can turn into healthy meals and snacks for the family. Don’t stock up on crisps and other junk food no matter how attractive the packaging and how easy it makes the shopping, to simply load up the trolley with a bunch of pre-packaged foods for kids.
• Make mealtimes a family affair with a lot of happy talk and exchange of ideas. This will help children to eat more slowly. Gobbling food will not help a child differentiate between a full and overfull stomach. When there is fun and laughter at the table you will find your children wanting to stay put and take the meal at a slow pace.
• Take your children with you when you go shopping and when you prepare meals as much as possible. Take the time to learn about their preferences and use the opportunities to teach them about the importance of nutrition and the benefits of healthy eating for kids.
• It is no secret that children enjoy snacking between meals and plenty of low fat milk and fruit should be the healthy alternatives. Try to avoid over eating at any cost. Always remember that what you don’t have at home your children cannot eat – so throw out the junk food!
Exercising and being active goes hand in glove with eating right so make use of this article to better understand the benefits of healthy eating for kids.
Maintaining a balanced healthy diet for kids is of paramount importance in today’s world of overabundance of fast food, television and computers. There is a serious problem of obesity in children the world over, as more children give up active outdoor activities to sit in front to televisions and computers. The easy availability of fast food, soft drinks and microwave meals does not help either. The backlash from obesity comes in the form of medical and psychological hazards that are putting our children at risk!
As parents we have a responsibility towards maintaining a balanced healthy diet for kids to help prevent childhood obesity. To do this the parent needs to ensure that the child consumes foods that will provide nutrition and help maintain a healthy weight. Beverages can also greatly increase calorie intake, so it is best to try to limit the amount of soft drinks consumed and promote water as a healthier alternative.
Parents are encouraged to find new and interesting recipes and to make foods that provide nutrition and the right amount of calories as attractive and appealing as possible. Some of the healthy foods on the food pyramid include: fruits, vegetables, whole grain products, low fat dairy products, lean meats, fish, poultry, beans and lentils. You can reduce portion sizes so that they are reasonable instead of unlimited, and pour out water for your family as an alternative to unhealthy soft drinks. The consumption of refined sugar and saturated fats should be controlled.
Parents will need to bring all of their ingenuity into play to find ways to promote a balanced healthy diet for kids, which is both nutritious and attractive. A heap of greens on a plate is far from appealing and of course your kid is not going to want to eat it! The internet is filled with recipes for new ideas to make dishes more nutritious and balanced with vegetables and even fruits. A macaroni and cheese diet is easy to throw together and will fill your child up but will it provide the nutrition needed?
Team up with the mother’s in your child’s play group to trade ideas on how to get children to eat the food that is good for them, trade recipes and plan play activities. What you need to be aware of is that simply eating right is not enough; your child needs an active lifestyle as well. You can also balance diet by ensuring that the appropriate amount of physical activity is engaged in to strengthen bones, reduce blood pressure and stress and help with weight management.
You have to be firm and remove all those calorie rich temptations from your fridge. If children see ice cream and chocolate and all those yummy things every time they stick their heads in the fridge, how much resistance do you think there will be to the temptation to gorge? A very good idea for a dessert is yoghurt filled with fruit; peaches, berries, mango in yoghurt make for a naturally sweet dessert that is really enjoyable.
Ensuring a balanced healthy diet for kids is every parent’s responsibility and one that needs to be taken very seriously.
Listen in to the conversations you hear at the grocery store. You may hear one mother complain that her children often say “I want this” or “I want that.” Another parent may mention that they’re tired of how many different directions their family runs on a daily basis. Whether your family has the “I wants” or is rarely together, you may want to consider the advantages of family volunteering for child development.
One of the many advantages of family volunteering is having your family work on a project together. Not only can you spend time with one another, but you help someone who is less fortunate than yourselves. If you look at it like that, it’s a win-win situation.
Perhaps your family is concerned about the environment. You can probably find environmental projects you can do in your own area. Call the local city park to see if they need help. They may ask you to help pick up litter, plant trees or flowers in flower beds, or place markers to identify the trees along a walking trail.
Another family volunteering activity you can do is to work at a soup kitchen or center for homeless people. They have to feed those staying at the shelter every day so they’d probably be thrilled to have someone come to the center to help cook, serve, or clean up after meals. Many people consider helping during the holidays but there are needs at these shelters and centers all year round.
Is anyone in your family handy with tools? You may want to volunteer as a family to work on a Habitat for Humanity home or some similar project. If you get involved when the project first starts and see it through completion, your family can feel proud of a job well done and see the joy on a deserving family’s face when they are handed the keys to their new home.
What are some other advantages to family volunteering?
* You’re teaching your children about giving to others rather than always asking for something.
* Volunteering allows children to become involved in their community in a tangible way.
* It teaches your family to become stronger, promotes positive values, and teaches them how to work as a team.
* Having your children volunteer while they’re young will probably encourage them to continue volunteering as an adult. They may even pass the volunteering tradition onto their own children.
* Family volunteering can be a lot of fun!
Bring your family together by volunteering. You can strengthen your family, have fun, and benefit others in the process.
People all over the country are trying to count calories, skip meals, cut out certain foods, or working out long hours to try to pare the pounds. One thing weight-loss experts recommend to anyone trying to slim down is that they create a food journal to help guide one’s nutrition demands. This is also applicable for overseeing the nutritional requirements of the family, especially recipes for kids.
You can create a food journal out of any number of materials. You can get a three-ring binder with notebook paper, a spiral ring notebook, create a journal to suit your needs, or print out pre-made food journals which you find on the internet.
The purpose of a food journal is to track what you’ve eaten during the day. This will give you an accurate picture of what you’ve eaten all day long. It will ensure you’re getting all of the nutrients you need as well as helping you keep track of how much water you’re getting each day.
* Choose the type of journal you’ll use. As stated above, you can use nearly anything as a journal as long as you can carry it with you to track what you’re eating. Online journals aren’t recommended unless you write everything down during the day and then record things at the end of the day.
* Write down everything you eat during a 24-hour period. This includes all meals, snacks, chewing gum, hard candies, or beverages. You may want to use two pages per day to ensure you have enough room to write everything down. You can also use the space for the day to write down if you’ve eaten alone, with friends, what mood you were in when you ate, or other information which might affect how much you ate during the day.
* Throughout the day, look at your journal to ensure you’re getting enough of each food group. Did you eat get five servings of fruits or vegetables? Did you drink enough water? Did you eat too much of any food or too many fats?
* By keeping the journal, you can see what you’re actually eating, which foods you’re eating too many of and can cut back on, and which foods you need to eat more of. You can also determine how many calories you’re eating each day, and then make a decision as to where you can cut back.
Some pre-made journals will break down what you’re eating into categories such as fats, proteins, carbohydrates, fiber, fruits, and vegetables. You decide how in-depth you’d like your journal to be; if it’s too detailed and is more trouble than it’s worth you may not continue using it. The simpler you keep your journal, the more likely you’ll be to use it.
What can you learn when you create a food journal to help you lose weight? You can see if there are certain foods that cause you to stumble. You can also note if there are certain times of the day which you struggle most. Finally, you’ll have a better understanding of how much you’re actually eating during the day so you can decide what changes can be made to help you shed those unwanted pounds.
Parents often have busy lives which require them to juggle more than one task at a time. This is no different for homeschooling parents and child development. If you’re thinking about homeschooling your children, you may wonder how to balance your daily life as a homeschool mom. It is possible and these tips can help you.
Some families handle day-to-day life by creating detailed charts or schedules for each family member. They know what time breakfast is, how long to plan for each homeschool subject, what time they’ll eat lunch every day, how much free time they have, and when they’ll eat dinner. However, there’s no reason to believe this type of scheduling is necessary in order to balance your daily life as a homeschooling family.
Other families are opposite of the ones described above. They live life by the seat of their pants. They don’t plan elaborate schedules but prefer to take life as it comes. They may keep a calendar so they know about important appointments or events, but that’s as close as they get to a schedule. For them, living life one day at a time is about experiencing life as it happens rather than depending upon a piece of paper to dictate when they do things.
Does this mean that one method of balancing daily life is better than the other? Of course not! Part of the benefit of homeschooling is learning what works best for your own family. This may take time and some trial and error, but you will soon find yourself falling into a routine of sorts that is best for you.
Create an area in your home where you have access to good books and music. Having good resources around gives your child someplace to turn when they want to learn something. And the benefit is if they are interested on their own, they’re learning without realizing it. This method is often referred to as delight-driven or “unschooling.” It enables children to learn what interests them and allows Mom to be able to concentrate on taking care of the home rather than sitting with the child while they learn. Of course, even homeschooling moms know it’s important to be available when their child needs help, but they don’t feel obligated to remain right there with them.
Use real life events to help your child learn. If you’re cooking dinner, have your homeschooled child help you determine how much milk is needed if the recipe calls for one-third cup of something but you’re tripling the recipe. When you plan a trip to the grocery store, have your child write out the list of items needed. Then, while you’re walking through the store, have them help you determine which box potatoes is cheaper based on the cost and number of ounces are in the box. Both of these activities teach your child how math is important for daily life.
Get your children to help you with household duties. They can learn how to cook, sort clothing, do laundry, and stack dishes in a dishwasher. Not only will they be learning skills which will be helpful for their future, it will also make your job easier; you can also count the time they’re learning those skills as home economics - whether they’re boys or girls.
There are many things to can do to balance your daily life as a homeschool mom. Don’t feel like you have to do everything yourself. Let your partner work with your children on some of the subjects you feel uncomfortable teaching. Have your children help you with household duties. After some time you will be able to find what works best for your family so your life is more or less balanced.
Millions of families around the world enjoy the love of a pet. No matter what type of animal they have, pets add so much to their lives. Unconditional love is only one reason to choose a pet. Learn how to adopt a pet so you will be prepared when it comes time to add your own to your family. And when you feel ready to look for pets for kids, adoption is one the options you have.
Obviously you can find breeders and purchase an animal from them. But, why not save the life of an animal that is no longer wanted but still has plenty of love to share? There are animal shelters, humane societies, and rescue groups around the country who would love to offer one of their pets for your consideration.
Look in your local telephone book to see if there is a shelter where you live. You may want to find pet nearby, but you can also look in larger cities; they will most likely have a larger variety of animals to choose from. Another place to look is at pet stores, Freecycle groups, Craigslist, or local newspapers. There’s no limit to the number of advertisements you’ll find.
Think about the commitment you can make. Dogs require someone to walk and play with them as well as feed and love them. Cats are more solitary but they do need someone to feed them, change their litter, and love them – on their own terms, of course! Fish, reptiles, and rodents require less care, so consider this when you decide which animal is best for your family.
Know which type of animal you prefer – dog, cat, hamster, gerbil, or bird. If you or your family have a preference, call around to see who has that type of animal available. There’s no need to visit a shelter or pet store if they don’t have the type of animal you want.
Take time to visit each shelter or rescue area during business hours. You don’t have to make a decision on an animal during your first visit. Choosing a pet is serious business; there’s no need to rush into a relationship which could last many years depending upon the pet you want.
Depending upon the animal you decide to get and where you get them, they will most likely have a thorough veterinarian examination prior to their adoption. The shelter, pound, or pet store may also give you a certificate toward a first-time veterinarian visit after you take them home. You may have to sign an agreement to have cats or dogs spayed or neutered if you get them while they’re young or they haven’t already been altered.
When you look at the animals which are available, you want to find one that is lively, eager for attention, and playful. If you choose a dog, you may want to pay close attention to how they respond to members of each sex and see if they shy away from one or another.
Now that you know how to adopt a pet, what are you waiting for? There are many animals looking for a forever family. They need someone to love them - are you ready for the job?
13 teams attending the 20th Annual International Snow Sculpture Championships
Experience the visual wonderment of the creation and exhibition of snow art especially for children activities. The Budweiser International Snow Sculpture Championships return to Breckenridge for the 20th year from January 26-31, 2010.
Thirteen teams from around the globe have been invited to compete from seven countries including Canada (two teams), China, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Mexico, Russia and the USA. The United States teams invited include Alaska, Colorado (Breckenridge and Loveland), Idaho, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Snow Sculpting is attended annually by more than 30,000 people of all ages from across the USA and the world.
Each year, four-person teams are assigned 12-foot-tall, 20-ton blocks of machine-made Colorado snow. These teams work within a five-day period to create their sculptures. From these blocks of snow, the teams often craft enormous pieces of whimsy, although some deliver powerful political or social commentary.
The finished pieces are achieved after a total of 65 intense hours of work without the use of power tools, internal support structures or colorants - just the ingenuity of the sculptors and a medium that lends itself, if only temporarily, to the persuasion of hand tools.
When the sculptures are finished on Saturday, January 30, a panel of well-known artists and patrons of the arts serve as judges. Awards are presented to the first, second and third place sculptures on Sunday, January 31. Awards are also given for People’s Choice, Kids’ Choice and Artists’ Choice. There are no cash prizes; the artists instead revel in the reward of hard work, forged friendships, freedom of artistic expression and the satisfaction of long hours of preparation that lead to the event.
No one would have guessed 20 years ago that the first International Snow Sculpture Championships in Breckenridge would have grown into the renowned world-class event it is today, and that the founders of the event would still be passionately sculpting for Team Breckenridge 20 years later.
Facility-laundered, third-party laundered and single-use scrubs are ‘cleaner’
A study comparing the aerobic bacterial bioburden associated with surgical scrub attire shows significantly greater child safety contamination among home-laundered attire than scrubs laundered by the healthcare facility, scrubs sent out by the facility to a third-party company for laundering, or single-use/disposable scrubs. In fact, home-laundered scrubs cleaned and ready to wear had as much bacteria present as facility-laundered, third-party laundered and single-use scrubs which had been worn for one day.
Conducted in the spring of 2009, the study was performed by Bioscience Laboratories, Inc., of Bozeman, Mont., and sponsored by Molnlycke Health Care US, LLC. A total of 80 surgical scrub garments, tops and bottoms, prior to use and after use in the operating room for a day, were collected from multiple healthcare facilities across the U.S. They comprised 10 sets of scrubs in each category: single-use; home-laundered; facility-laundered; and third-party laundered.
The study showed no statistically significant difference in bacterial contamination among facility-laundered, third-party laundered or single-use scrubs prior to use (”clean”), but revealed that the bioburden found on home-laundered scrubs prior to use (”clean”) was significantly greater than on any of the other garments (facility-laundered, third-party laundered or single-use, non-woven) that had been worn for a day in the operating room.
“According to these results, a healthcare professional beginning his or her shift in home-laundered scrubs would essentially be wearing scrubs with the same quantity of bacteria as the scrubs of a healthcare professional finishing a shift in worn scrubs,” said Heather Beitz, BA MEd, Director of Clinical Research for Molnlycke Health Care.
“This study indicates that home-laundering is not as effective as facility- or third-party laundering in decontaminating surgical scrub attire,” Beitz explained. “Another option, of course, is single-use surgical attire. In addition to eliminating cross-contamination concerns as indicated in this study, single-use scrubs are durable and designed for daily use in a variety of surgical procedures and acute care needs and can reduce replacement costs,” she added.
BARRIER® surgical scrub suits and jackets, manufactured by Molnlycke Health Care, are non-woven, single-use products that provide comfort with the soft feel of cotton. They are available in extended size ranges (S - 4XL), assuring a variety of fits. Departments benefiting from the use of BARRIER non-woven scrubs and jackets are trauma, isolation, ER, NICU (for parents), L&D (for fathers), cath and GI labs, oncology, and radiology/interventional radiology.
The Walt Disney company is now offering refunds on its Baby Einstein child education DVDs in response to pressure from the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. The videos were originally promoted as educational tools, but studies show that there is no substitute for parental involvement in helping children to learn and develop.
Elementary school teacher, reading specialist, speaker, author, and mother of three Michelle Vallene says that parents are the key to successful learning in young children and that the time parents spend before kids start school can translate into success throughout school and ultimately financial success in the job market.
Parents just want what’s best for their kids and can often feel overwhelmed by the multitude of choices and recommendations available in the marketplace. Vallene’s daily interaction with her students enables her to monitor successful educational strategies on a daily basis to better advise parents. Based on her expertise and years of experience, she has developed activities with proven success that are fun for both parents and kids.
Vallene can tell your audience:
– Fun ways to foster language development in infants.
– How to incorporate learning into playtime for older children.
– Why early literacy can secure your child’s financial future.
– How parents can make reading fun for kids.
– Easy tips to help even the busiest parents.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has designated the week of January 10 through 16 as National Influenza Vaccination Week, in an effort to raise awareness about the importance of the flu vaccine. With flu experts warning that the U.S. should prepare for a possible third wave of H1N1 flu, it is crucial that Americans take the opportunity to protect themselves and their loved ones from this dangerous illness and receive the H1N1 vaccine while supply is available for child safety.
Individuals who would like to find an H1N1 vaccination clinic in their area or learn more about the virus can visit h1n1.findaflushot.com, an online resource sponsored by Maxim Health Systems. Visitors to the site can find convenient clinic locations by simply typing in a local zip code.
“Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the flu,” notes Steve Pellito, National Director of Wellness for Maxim Health Systems. “By taking the simple step of getting your H1N1 vaccine, you are helping keep yourself, your family, and your community healthy.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly recommends that anyone who falls into a high risk category for complications from H1N1 should get vaccinated. This includes:
People six months through 24 years of age
Pregnant women
People who live with or provide care for infants younger than six months
Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
‘Organic Rising’ Contest Offers Great Prizes Including Trek Bicycles and a Year’s Worth of free Organic Valley Products
The New Year is the time for resolutions, especially ones about kick-starting a lifestyle that’s healthier for the body as well as the planet. This January, Organic Valley - a farmer-owned cooperative of more than 1,300 organic family farmers nationwide - is wheeling out a promotion that will help people fulfill that noble but often elusive resolution for recipes for kids and adults.
Beginning today, consumers can go to OrganicRising.com and enter to win prizes that complement the healthy choices they make when purchasing Organic Valley breakfast products at their local grocery store. Organic Valley will award three grand prizes of a Trek bicycle, free subscriptions to Organic Gardening magazine; and five prizes of a year of free Organic Valley products. The website also offers healthy breakfast tips and valuable coupons for nutritious Organic Valley breakfast products, including milk, orange juice, soy milk, eggs, butter and Organic Prairie brand breakfast link sausage. While online, consumers can use Organic Valley’s online calculator Organic Counts (www.organicvalley.coop/organiccounts) to measure the amount of toxic pesticides and synthetic nitrogen they’re helping to keep out of the environment by purchasing Organic Valley products.
For each Organic Rising contest entry, Organic Valley will donate $1 to the Rodale Institute (www.rodaleinstitute.org), a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of people and the planet through organic farming. This will add up to thousands of dollars for organic health and environmental research.
“Organic Valley wants to inspire families to start the new decade focused on the health of their bodies and the planet,” said Sarah Bratnober, marketing communications director for Organic Valley. “Simple choices, from starting each day with an organic breakfast, to heading out the door for a bike ride for some exercise, to supporting the work of organizations like the Rodale Institute are small actions that add up to a big difference.”
Family physician and cholesterol expert Michael Cobble, M.D., has some simple resolutions and child safety fun advice for staying heart healthy in the new year. Cobble is a board-certified clinical lipidologist (NLA), certified hypertension specialist (ASH), medical director of the private practice Canyons Medical Center in Sandy, Utah, and Chief Medical Officer at Atherotech, Inc., developer of the VAP Cholesterol Test.
Here are Dr. Cobble’s heart-healthy ABC’s for 2010:
Active: Be active every day — take the stairs, park further away,buy a push lawn mower. Find ways to move your muscles, clap your hands, move your feet.
Breakfast daily: Start each day with a good breakfast, including dairy, fiber and fruit. Select items such as whole grain toast, low or fat-free milk, bananas, pears and high-fiber oatmeal with nuts and berries.
C. Cholesterol management: Get an advanced test that tells you and you doctor about the dangerous cholesterol — directly measured LDL, non-HDL, apoB and subparticles — that can hurt your arteries. The Vertical Auto Profile (VAP) lipid test from Atherotech is one such test.
D. Diet: Think moderation, balance and “heart healthy” throughout the day. Eat fruits, veggies, fiber, complex carbs, proteins and healthy fats. Experience European dining with each meal.
E. Exercise: Exercise daily — walk at lunch with coworkers, before orafter work with your pets, join in team sports or find an outletthat gets your heart pumping for at least 30 minutes a day.
F. Fiber is your friend: Read the nutrition label on foods so you knowwhat you’re eating and to better manage your cholesterol, fiber andother nutrients.
G. Glucose in moderation: Too much sugar and starch contribute todiabetes. Get tested for diabetes with a blood glucose test, and cutback on pasta, potatoes, sodas, ice cream and fast food.
H. Healthy lifestyle: Lead a healthy lifestyle, which means no smoking,seeing your clinician every year for a physical, and laughing often.Spend time with friends, kids and grandkids.
I. Imagine: Use your imagination to enjoy life and get the most out of each and every day. Have fun, do what you love and what makes youhappy.
“It was so obvious, I can’t believe I never thought of it before,” said Don Hoffman.
“It was definitely a chocolate and peanut butter moment,” added Mike Connolly.
Hoffman and Connolly are two entrepreneurs each owning what seem to be unrelated businesses, however both share a common passion, bringing health and well being into the home in a fun and motivating way. Now, together they are trying to change the way families approach health, fitness and child development.
Hoffman is the owner of Creative Playthings, one of the nation’s oldest and largest children’s backyard play-set manufacturers and retailers. Connolly is the owner of Creative Fitness Solutions, one of the largest quality fitness equipment retailers.
In summer of 2009, Hoffman walked into one of Connolly’s stores looking for a treadmill for his home. When the two met, lengthy discussion regarding the importance of fitness at every age ensued.
Hoffman noted to Connolly that they were essentially in the same business, only Creative Playthings was for kids and The Fitness Store was for adults. In fact, they were sharing many of the same customers who were ultimately buying products for different members of the family for the same goal.
Their shared passion for the importance of health and wellness was evident and the synergy between their two businesses became clear.
In late 2009, Hoffman and Connolly entered a joint venture to bring their two businesses together to form the nation’s first and only family focused exercise and fitness store aimed at giving the whole family fun and motivational exercise options that suit each member of the family’s age and lifestyle.
Special Agent in Charge John A. Torres, of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Los Angeles Field Division, is encouraging the public to celebrate the arrival of the New Year responsibly especially for child safety.
ATF wants you to know that celebratory gunfire is not only unsafe, it is against the law. Discharging a firearm into the air is a crime and can lead to felony charges under California state law or federal charges if that person is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Bullets shot into the air can climb up two miles and then fall at a rate of 300 to 700 feet per second, killing or injuring those that are struck.
“ATF wants to ensure that all those celebrating New Year’s Eve have a great time and enjoy family and friends. We don’t want to see the New Year ruined by senseless tragedy just because someone thought it would be ‘fun’ to shoot a gun in the air. Random gunfire on New Year’s Eve has gone down significantly in recent years, but even one is too many,” said Torres.
In addition to celebratory gunfire, ATF is reminding the public that the use of illegal fireworks is also prohibited. Illegal fireworks meet no safety standards and can be deadly in the hands of children. Federally banned fireworks include M-80s, M-100s, Silver Salutes and Cherry Bombs.
“ATF will continue to work with our state and local law enforcement partners to ensure that persons who possess firearms or fireworks illegally are prosecuted to the fullest extent possible to include federal prosecution if warranted,” added Torres.
SOURCE Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Resolutions will be the talk of New Year’s parties across the country later this month, and for many people a resolution will provide positive direction for 2010.
For child development, however, psychologists at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center recommend this annual practice be approached carefully.
Because children often mimic their parents, the cycle of resolutions — make one, stick to it for a few weeks, then forget it — doesn’t always set a healthy example. But Robert Ammerman, Ph.D., and Wendi Lopez, PsyD, agree that structured goal setting can be beneficial to the whole family.
Goal setting can be an annual family activity. This process teaches children about planning ahead and making commitments.
“Children should make New Year’s goals that are reasonable, measurable and concrete,” explains Dr. Lopez. “‘I will go a week at school without any infractions’ or ‘I will be on the honor roll this upcoming semester.’ Resolutions that are overly ambitious and can’t realistically be achieved should be avoided. Keep them simple, achievable, and positive,” says Dr. Lopez. “Parents should never encourage a goal if it is unhealthy or unattainable,” she says.
Dr. Lopez also recommends parents have similar goals to their child. If a child wants to become healthier, for example, parents should encourage healthy behavior and lead by example, such as buying less junk food. A concrete goal could be playing the Wii Fit three times a week together. This will not only help the child from struggling alone, but will also demonstrate the importance of teamwork and support, she says.
Because children like to see results, Dr. Lopez suggests a sticker chart for young children who can measure their goals on a daily or weekly basis. For older children, weekly rewards may help keep motivation up.
“Making New Year’s resolutions is not essential for children, and there are many other ways for families to bond,” says Dr. Ammerman. “However, the value of goal setting is that we own it and are self-motivated to achieve the goals. When children fulfill a goal or resolution, they feel satisfaction because they have set a goal and met it.”
SOURCE Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Pacific Shore Holdings, Inc., manufacturers of Burner Balm and Energy-X lip balms, today announced the launch of their new product line which can aid in child care.
These 100% natural therapeutic heating/cooling treatment packs are specifically designed to reduce swelling and relieve pain and have been developed in a variety of applications.
Researchers behind Thermal-Aid created a line of products, which allows a specialized corn to hold temperatures for long periods of time, making a more effective product for both humans and pets. Thermal-Aid is recommended by doctors and physical therapists across the United States.
“These low cost Thermal-Aid products are truly extraordinary and have given many of my patients the ability to reduce and sometimes eliminate taking their expensive arthritis and pain-killer medications,” said Dr. David Toomey of Toomey & Toomey medical group.
In conjunction with the Thermal-Aid launch announcement, company representatives from Pacific Shore Holdings, Inc. will be giving out warm Thermal-Aid Bears to children attending a holiday party at the North Hills transitional housing facility operated by Penny Lane. Since 1969, Penny Lane’s mission has been to empower children, youth, and families in Southern California by providing a wide range of essential programs including residential services, foster care, adoption services, an on-site special education school, and outpatient mental health services.
“We are very honored and proud to support the hard work and dedication by so many individuals that make Penny Lane the cornerstone of non-profit organizations in Los Angeles today,” said Matthew Mills, CEO of Pacific Shore Holdings Inc. “We feel it’s our duty to support the children in our community who are in need during the holidays.”
Thermal-Aid Bear can be found at all 98 California-based Ralph’s Grocery Store pharmacies.
Pacific Shore Holdings, Inc., a multidivisional corporation, strives to fulfill consumer demands by manufacturing and distributing low cost niche products that are green, clean, and safe.
Autism research led by scientists at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia has been named one of the top ten medical breakthroughs of 2009 by Time Magazine.
On the magazine’s website on Dec. 8, Time cited the largest-ever genetic study of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), published in April in the journal Nature, by a group led by Hakon Hakonarson, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Center for Applied Genomics at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. That study identified DNA variations that account for as many as 15 percent of all ASD cases. Because the gene region affects how brain cells connect with each other in early childhood, the research significantly advances the understanding of how the child behavior problemof autism originates.
“We are proud of this research discovery, and are glad to see it receive this recognition,” said Philip R. Johnson, M.D., chief scientific officer at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “It provides a starting point for translating biological knowledge into future autism treatments.”
The autism gene research from Children’s Hospital, which included two studies in the same issue of Nature, received extensive news coverage, including the CBS Evening News, ABC World News Tonight, BBC, Reuters, the Chicago Tribune, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and other news outlets in the U.K., India, Australia, Germany and China. Hakonarson’s main collaborator was neuroscientist Gerard D. Schellenberg, Ph.D., of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, with other scientists participating from 14 additional centers.
With the arrival of the holidays, parents may be wondering how to keep their kids occupied during the long holiday break with children activities. Creative play activities offer plenty of opportunity for fun that’s educational and important to the development of cognitive skills.
Here are some ways to keep creative play at the forefront during your child’s holiday vacation.
Indoor Creative Play
There are endless activities that allow children to engage in indoor creative play. Next time you hear “I’m bored!,” try one of these great activities:
Ask your child questions to help them think creatively about how they might solve their boredom - you may be surprised at what you learn!
Help support your child’s musical development. Using “instruments” like pots and pans can shift their imagination into high gear.
Read together, making sure you take time to look at and describe the pictures to each other.
Outdoor Creative Play
No matter the climate in which you live, there are ways to incorporate creative play into outdoor activities. In cold climates, building snowmen, snow forts, or even participating in the occasional snowball fight (with adult supervision!) are great ways to incorporate creative play into cold-weather fun. These activities help develop children’s problem-solving and leadership skills, while keeping them entertained for hours.
One of the most common questions from parents this time of year is what they should give to their babysitter or child care nanny this holiday season.
While a third of sitters said they are not expecting a holiday gift from their families this year, those who are hoping for a little something were fairly consistent. The following are those gifts topping sitters’ wish lists for this holiday season.
Monetary Gift. Fifty-seven percent of Sittercity sitters ranked cash the highest on the list. Some parents prefer bonuses to raises because a bonus is not a year-round commitment. So how much do you pay? For a part-time sitter, double her pay for the last job that she had before the holidays. For a steady babysitter/nanny working more than 20 hours a week, consider doubling her weekly salary for one week instead.
Gift Certificates. If a monetary gift is not an option, a Sittercity.com poll indicated that the most popular non-cash babysitter gift is a gift certificate. There are a great deal of gift certificates to choose from: movie passes, popular restaurant, favorite store. Make sure you know what your sitter likes so he or she can get something they would use for the holidays.
Handmade Gifts. Sitters and nannies often love getting handmade gifts from the children, so that’s a great place to start. Have the kids make your sitter an ornament, delicious holiday cookies and or a thoughtful card is a cute and personal way to show your appreciate for all that your caregiver does. Note: Handmade gifts are good on their own, but it’s best to supplement them with a monetary gift.
Remember that whatever you can afford to give your sitter this season, all that matters is that she knows she is appreciated. Just taking a few minutes to thank her for everything she does for your family will go a long way in helping to make her season bright. Happy gifting!
Herpes zoster, also known as shingles, is very rare among children who have been vaccinated against chicken pox, according to a Kaiser Permanente child safety study in the December issue of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Journal.
The study, the largest of its kind, used electronic health records to identify more than 170,000 children vaccinated with the varicella (chicken pox) vaccine from 2002 to 2008 in Kaiser Permanente’s Southern California region, then followed children for an average of two and a half years to identify the occurrence of herpes zoster.
Researchers found only 122 cases of herpes zoster among the 172,163 vaccinated children, for an estimated incidence of 1 case per 3,700 vaccinated children per year. This is a lower rate compared to what one would expect in the unvaccinated children based on previous experiences.
“The message to parents and pediatricians is: vaccinating your child against the chicken pox is also a good way to reduce their chances of getting herpes zoster,” said the study’s lead author, HungFu Tseng, Ph.D, MPH, a research scientist and epidemiologist at the Kaiser Permanente Department of Research and Evaluation in Pasadena, Calif. “More research is needed to identify the virus strains that cause herpes zoster.”
This study did not look at side effects of the varicella vaccine.
Herpes zoster is an acute skin viral infection caused by reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus, which remains in certain nerve cells of the body after an infection with either wild-type or the varicella vaccine virus. The wild-type virus is found in the natural infection, in contrast to the virus strain found in vaccine.
Since the vaccine’s introduction in 1995, there have been few studies on the incidence of childhood herpes zoster among children vaccinated with the varicella vaccine.
Following licensure in 1995, 1-dose varicella vaccine was recommended for children 12 months to 12 years of age. In 2006, a routine second dose of varicella vaccine for previously vaccinated persons aged 4 years and older was recommended.
Other study authors included: Ning Smith, MS, Lina S. Sy, MPH, S Michael Marcy, MD, and Steven J. Jacobsen, MD, Ph.D., from the Kaiser Permanente Department of Research and Evaluation
With cold and flu season upon us, it’s more important than ever to employ good practices to control the spread of infections and avoid illness. This is especially important for child safety.
“We need to be proactive not only to keep ourselves healthy, but to avoid transmitting illness if we’re sick,” said Eileen Finerty, RN, MS, CIC (certified in infection-control), nursing director for infection control and occupational health at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in Manhattan.
Hospital for Special Surgery has one of the lowest infection rates of any hospital in the country and was recently commended by the New York State Department of Health for its low infection rate in patients undergoing hip replacement. The overall infection rate refers to all infections acquired by patients in the hospital, not only viruses such as those that cause the flu.
Infection control in the health care setting is critical. Nationwide, hospital-acquired infections result in 100,000 deaths each year.
“We emphasize infection control as a best practice,” said Thomas P. Sculco, M.D., surgeon-in-chief at HSS, “and strive to maintain it at every level of patient care from washing hands to a clean and safe environment for our patients in the operating room and the entire hospital.”
HSS employs a combination of infection-control measures, according to Ms. Finerty. Some are highly sophisticated and others are basic good practices.
Strategies used by the hospital to keep germs in check can be adapted for use at home and in everyday life, according to Ms. Finerty. These practices include:
1 - Good hand hygiene using sanitizers.
Hospital: Hand sanitizers located all around the hospital have a sensor that dispenses foam without the need to touch it. The sensor detects hand motion and automatically releases foam.
What everyone can do: Sanitize hands frequently using an alcohol-based liquid hand cleaner. Use about a tablespoon, rub it into your hands and let it dry. Do not wipe it off. Ms. Finerty carries a hand sanitizer in her purse at all times.
2 - Frequent hand-washing.
Hospital: Hospital staff are instructed to wash their hands often. Signs around the hospital say: “Good Hand Hygiene Saves Lives.”
What everyone can do: Wash your hands for at least 15 seconds. You can sing “Happy Birthday” to get an idea of how long it should take. Work up a good lather and rub your hands together.
3 - Good ventilation.
Hospital: Clean air in operating rooms and the use of special panels to direct air flow to maintain the most sterile environment possible for the patient.
What everyone can do: Open the windows and let in some fresh air to ensure adequate ventilation. A stagnant, stuffy environment causes germs to re-circulate around the house.
4 - Controlling the spread of germs.
Hospital: The entire staff is trained in infection-control measures, such as coughing into a tissue and not into one’s hand. Boxes of tissues are located throughout the hospital. Staff are encouraged to stay home if they have a contagious illness.
What everyone can do: Carry tissues and dispose of them properly and immediately after coughing or sneezing. Then wash your hands or use a hand sanitizer. You can also cough into your sleeve to avoid getting germs on your hand that can later be spread.
In general, when you’re outside or at work, or if you have come in contact with a sick person, avoid touching your face. Germs on your hand get you sick when they enter your body through your eyes, nose or mouth, or through a break in the skin. Don’t go to work if you’re sick.
5 - Cleaning and disinfecting.
Hospital: HSS housekeeping staff is especially diligent about cleaning. The routine entails mopping, cleaning, and disinfecting surfaces, getting into cracks and crevices where bacteria can grow.
If fashion mimics our culture, what does the dawn of a new decade bring for our baby’s child care and fashion? With over 8 years experience in running a successful on-line baby boutique in trendsetting Los Angeles, proprietor Dawn Torress of RecurrentDreams sought out to answer this question. “Parents have a new sense of social awareness, and are optimistic for what the future holds for our children”, states D. Torress. “They continue to want the best for their babies, but what’s changing is what they consider ‘best.’”
The new “best” is unique baby clothes that are free-trade, sweat shop free, preferably made in the USA, Canada, Great Britain, Europe or Australia. And “best” is even better, if it’s eco-friendly, made from sustainable fabrics, organics and bamboo. “These next genesis fabrics are full of color and are luxuriously soft for baby’s delicate skin. Long gone are the drab scratchy organic wools of yesteryear” says Torress.
Styles are preciously classic yet relaxed as we emerge from recession. Warm pinks and sky blues are modern again with aargyle and kimono side ties. Colorful whimsy prints are seen on traditional baby rompers. Think orange owls, rich chocolate trims, turquoise guitars and animal prints. Little girl dresses take their inspiration from the storybooks of renaissance princesses and a midsummer’s night dream. “Celebrity favorites are California designers Luna Luna Copenhagen, Made Sky Kids and Toni Tierney Designs. They are constantly mixing things up season to season”, states D. Torress. “Miraculously, they have managed to keep their prices at bay, while maintaining high quality and excellent work conditions for their sewers.”
Will the twenty tens be as fashion iconic as were the 60’s and 70’s? Then again, when all is said and done, every generation laughs at the old fashions and follows the new; and babies base most of their fashion taste on what doesn’t itch!
Munchkin, Inc., designer and manufacturer of cleverinfant care and toddler products, in partnership with Church & Dwight Co., Inc., makers of ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda, today unveiled the ARM & HAMMER Diaper Pail, a breakthrough diaper disposal system. The ARM & HAMMER Diaper Pail neutralizes odors in the nursery through a patented odor control system with the power of ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda at its core.
“The most important thing about any diaper disposal system is that it controls odors. This new system employs the built-in power of ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda to provide natural, safe and effective odor elimination,” said Doug Gillespie, Munchkin Vice President of Marketing. “We also knew the pail had to be easy for parents to use, so we developed a patented self-sealing system and refill bags that you simply snap, seal and toss in the trash.”
The ARM & HAMMER® name has been trusted for generations to eliminate odors, and Munchkin is known to today’s parents for delivering clever solutions to their everyday needs. The ARM & HAMMER(TM) Diaper Pail has numerous innovations that reflect the respective strengths of the two brands.
Baking Soda Dispenser: A built-in, vented dispenser sprinkles odor-eliminating baking soda each time the lid is closed and continuously absorbs and eliminates odors even when not in use.
Self-Sealing System: Munchkin’s patented system automatically seals the bag when the lid is closed and keeps it sealed when the lid is reopened.
Snap, Seal and Toss Bags: The disposable refill bags, each of which can hold up to 25 diapers, shut tight with a snap and can be easily tossed and replaced without cutting or tying.
“Veggiesaurus Lex” Teaches Children that Eating Vegetables Is Important and Fun
At a time when parents spend more each year on fast food for their children than on books, child education materials, DVDs, music, trips to the movies and video games combined, it can feel like instilling healthy eating habits is a losing battle.
With the publication of her third book, “Veggiesaurus Lex” (published by AuthorHouse), Karen Fine offers parents, educators and caregivers a new resource to combat the seemingly endless array of easy, cheap and available unhealthy food.
Meet Lex, a big pink dinosaur who has a big tummy ache after she eats too much junk food. Lex, feeling sluggish and slow, seeks the advice of her vegetarian friends who immediately have an answer for her. Fine writes:
Veggies are great
And they don’t slow you down.
They’re easy to find all around town.
Carrots are roots
That grow in the ground.
Peas are quite yummy; smooth, green and round.
Looking for color?
There’s plenty, they said.
Green peppers also come in yellow, orange and red!
As her friends go on to describe other types of tasty vegetables, Lex decides to try some for herself and discovers that they truly are delicious! With charming illustrations by Ross Novak that bring Lex and her friends to life on each page, “Veggiesaurus Lex” combines a fun, rhyming story with an important message: to stay fit and energized, it’s important to eat vegetables. Find out more in the pages of this whimsical new book.
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