Dealing with child safety issues entails your endless child care responsibility as a parent.

With much consideration to your child’s safety, here is one of the possible concerns. Suffocation hazards may cause your child’s safety at risk.

You may be sleeping with your child in your home. It may feel easier sometimes but it may be dangerous at the same time. Considering the pillows and blankets that could possibly cause accidents, be sure not to put those things within your child’s reach. Or you may just put your child in his own crib near your bed. Those things may cause suffocation or shortness of breathing if those things will accidentally cover your child’s mouth. He may be too small and too weak to move them out of the way (especially if your the one weighing it down).

If you decide to put your child on the crib, ensure that it is empty. No toys or big pillows should be present on the crib. If your child has chills at night, put her in a sleeping sack instead of blankets. He may get tangled up and not be strong enough to untangle himself. It is also strongly encouraged that you put your child to sleep on her back.

Have your child put into safety at all times. Be sure to know and to monitor such kinds of possible suffocation hazards as those things put a great risk for your child’s safety.

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As your baby grows, the more your child safety precautions to make. From the shift of being immobile to becoming mobile individuals, the more issues of child safety and child injuries are more likely to take into utmost consideration.

One usual child safety issue is the security of your child if you have stairs or open doors at home. Your primary responsibility is to get some gates to secure a closing in your stairs and open doors. As your baby grows, he will see those stairs as an irresistible mountain he must climb.

Installing a good-quality gate at the top and bottom is very much necessary to avoid any falling accidents and injuries. Always make sure you are in close monitoring of your baby especially when your child learns to climb. If you have a Walker in your home, the more you should secure gates. There were reported cases for the past years about accidents caused by walkers. That is one of the reasons why the government recalled many walkers from the market.

Be in constant looking for your child. Aside from the necessity of the gates that you need to have in your homes, always make it on the toplist of your priorities to secure your child’s safety. After all, you may not want your child to have injuries or accidents. It is best to prevent it before it may happen.

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Parents try to do their best to teach their children to be honest, but the fact is many children lie anyhow. If this tendency isn’t dealt with while the child is young, parents may soon find they have a teenager that lies for any reason. With that kind of child behavior problem, you may be asking yourself, “When is lying a serious problem?”

Most people know what lying is. For those who don’t, according to Webster’s Dictionary (1913) lying is defined as the act of uttering “falsehood with an intention to deceive; to say or do that which is intended to deceive another.”

Some parents feel lying of any kind is a serious problem because it could mean there is a deeper character issue. Lying in teenagers could mean they are involved in drug or alcohol abuse, problems at school, or even worse, crime. Here are some guidelines to let you know if your teen may need the help of a professional psychologist to deal with their lying problem.

Young children can’t tell the difference between fantasy and reality and therefore appear to be lying. Older children begin to understand the difference between truth and a lie, but may lie to avoid punishment. They may also lie to protect the feelings of others. Teens are expected to know the difference but when they lie continually your concerns may be warranted.

If your teen does any of the following, you may decide they have a serious problem:

* Lie to get attention
* Lie to take advantage of others
* Lie to avoid dealing with demands of parents, friends, or teachers
* Lie to hide drug or alcohol use
* Lie as a means to manipulate another

When you catch your teen in a lie, you may have a serious discussion with your teen about lying. You’ve probably explained the importance of honesty and how lying can erode your trust in them. You may have also given them consequences for lying. It could be that talking and consequences haven’t had an effect on them.

Does your teen resort to telling lies whenever they want to avoid something? Do you catch them telling lies about where they’ve been and what they’ve been doing? How quickly does your teen cover up one lie when they’re caught by telling another? If these are common occurrences, your teen may have a chronic lying problem which requires professional intervention.

What type of health issues may cause a teen to be a chronic liar? Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder, or learning disabilities are some conditions your teen may have which hadn’t been diagnosed in the past. Psychological counseling may help determine a course of action to combat your child’s problem.

If you find your teen lying too often, try not to take it as a failure on your part. You know how you’ve taught them, so you’ve done your part. Maybe you haven’t known when lying is a serious problem before; now you’ll have a better idea and a possible course of action for the future.

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When parents are confronted with health and child safety issues, they really tend to worry. Aside from fever, one of the most usual events that cause parents to feel worried is when their child vomits.

With their fear that no medications stop babies from vomiting, parents worry that their baby will become dehydrated. Virus in the stomach is the most common cause of vomiting. Usually, parents think that vomiting is caused by other more serious conditions such as an intestinal blockage.

There are home treatments for vomiting.

Unfortunately, in trying to keep their kids from getting dehydrated, parents often give their child too much to drink when they are vomiting. This often leads to more vomiting. This is the usual misconception.

It is usually recommended that small amounts of fluids should be given at frequent intervals. Oral rehydration solutions can be given to your baby in 1 or 2 teaspoons every 5 or 10 minutes instead of several ounces at once. Vomiting babies can usually tolerate small amounts at a time, while they will almost always vomit if you give them more than a few ounces a time.

Once your baby is tolerating 1 or 2 teaspoons at a time, you can move up to 1 or 2 tablespoons every 5 or 10 minutes for a few hours and then 1 or 2 ounces at a time. She can next begin breastfeeding or drinking formula again. With gradual amounts, the chances of getting dehydrated are decreased.

Avoid giving foods that are hard to digest. Even fruit juices should not be given.

Contact your pediatrician immediately if your baby continues vomiting or has other symptoms, such as fever, irritability, or if she is getting dehydrated.

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Despite all the preparations you are doing for your child’s schooling, your child may show behaviors of their refusal to go through it.

Here are behaviors that you may find in your child.

=The child may tell you that he/she is anxious or afraid of a certain situation that happens at school (a bully in the class or may be a very strict teacher).

=The child may complain of physical symptoms such as headache and stomache that get better as soon as the child is allowed to stay home.

=Any preceding event such as new school, new house, new brother or sister, a sick brother, sister, or parent, divorce, or death  in the family may cause your child not to leave the parent. Those events may even be the cause of your child’s refusal to go to school.

Knowing the possible behaviors that your child may show will help you how to manage your resistive child.
Here are ways you can do to handle it.

Allow the child to speak and talk about his/her concerns and fears.

Slowly separate the parent from the child in school. One child care approach is to have the parent sit with the child in the classroom at first, and then the parent may attend school, but sit in another room. Next, the parent may continue to get farther away.

Return the child to school. Make sure the school officials understand the situation and do not send the child home for the wrong reasons.

Consider family counseling if other problems exist. A referral to a child psychologist or psychiatrist may be necessary if your child remains resistive to go to school.

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One of the most famous issues while your child is sleeping is finding out that your child is snoring. If you have observed your child snoring and you have feared that it is a child safety issue, you are not alone. Research findings indicate that 20% of healthy children snore occasionally and up to 10% snore on most nights. Most children that snore do not have any health related complications. However, approximately 1% of children snore because of breathing-related sleep problems called obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition when breathing is blocked intermittently during sleep. Children with OSA stop breathing because the throat muscles may relax too much and interfere with breathing. In other children the relaxation of the throat muscles is normal, but an airway that is narrower than normal allows the throat to close. And with that, you may hear your child gasping for air when this happens. Enlarged tonsils, presence of adenoids, abnormality in facial or jaw structures may cause obstruction and interference in your child’s breathing pattern.

In addition to snoring, children with OSA may have difficulty sleeping at night and behavioral problems during the day. Studies show that all children with OSA snore at night. However, not all children that snore have OSA.

Therefore, when snoring occurs and does not have any adverse impact, it is usually referred to as primary snoring.

Here are warning signs of OSA:

=Difficulty with concentration
=Excessive daytime sleepiness; fall asleep in school
=Daytime behavioral problems
=Irritable mood or aggressive behavior
=Snores loudly and frequently
=Stops breathing for short periods
=Sweats heavily during sleep
=Morning headaches
=Restless sleep
=Poor academic functioning

Knowing those warning signs may help indicate if your child has OSA or not. But for proper diagnosis, seek for a medical advise.

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Summer is in full swing and flowers are in full bloom. If you remember back to when you were a child, you probably can remember one of the most typical children activities, the flower arrangements for bouquets for Mom. Here are five flower craft ideas you may remember and can use with your own children.

1) Dandelion chains are something that children all over the country have made through the years. They’re almost the epitome of summer fun, especially for small children. And, because they don’t need many components, they’re easy enough for small children to master. Here’s how to make them:

Pick dandelions - the longer the stem, the better. Tie one dandelion onto another, close to the flower, with a double knot. Continue until the chain has reached the desired link, then tie the two ends together.

You can also split the stem part of the way down and then insert the stem of another dandelion until the flower reaches the stem. Continue by splitting the stem of that dandelion and then repeating until the chain reaches the desired length.

Make rings, bracelets, and necklaces for your children to enjoy.

2) Pick summer’s fragrant flowers and flowering herbs. Pull the petals from the flowers and allow them to dry. While the petals are drying, make a small bag out of a light, airy fabric. Include a draw string to create a potpourri bag that can be closed. Fill the bag and then pull the bag’s strings to keep the potpourri inside the bag.

3) You can also decorate fabric by hammering summer’s flowers to make a natural design. Cover a wooden chopping board with two to three layers of paper towel and then place a piece of fabric on top. Place the flowers or herbs you’ve chosen in a design you’d like; place another piece of paper towel on top of the design. Thoroughly, but gently, hammer the entire area where the plant matter is located. Remove the paper towel and plants. Use an iron, set to the fabric being used, for approximately 45 to 60 seconds to set the design on the fabric.

4) Pressing flowers is an age-old craft that your grandmother may have enjoyed. Gather a bouquet of flowers you’d like to press along with cardboard about the size of a book, newspaper, tissue paper, and heavy objects (large phone books and bricks work well). Layer the cardboard with newspaper and tissue paper. Place the flowers onto the tissue paper but don’t allow them to touch or hang off of the paper. After you have the flowers situated, place tissue paper, newspaper, and then cardboard on top followed by heavy books. Leave the stack for 2-4 weeks and then remove the layers to see how well your flowers have pressed.

5) Drying flowers is another craft from days gone by. The easiest way to dry flowers is to pick a bouquet, tie it together, and then hang it upside down in a warm, dry, dark place. The air must be dry so the flowers won’t rot, and dark so the flowers don’t fade. You’ll want to check the flowers every couple of days to see if they are dry to the touch. This process could take several weeks. When they are dry, you can store the flowers in a dark, sealed container until you’re ready to use them.

You know that summer’s flowers are temporary. To enjoy their beauty after summer is over, use one of these five flower craft ideas. Enlist your children’s help to make these crafts and they’ll be able to share them with their own children.

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Pools are wonderful to have during warmer weather. If you have one, you probably have rules for pool and child safety. Perhaps you’re considering purchasing one and haven’t thought about which rules for pool safety you might need to use and enforce.

Here are some rules to consider for your own pool:

* Post the rules for your pool clearly so they can be seen by anyone wanting to use it. If you have small children, you’ll want to teach them the rules in a way they’ll be able to understand.

* Children under the age of ten and anyone who has not had swimming lessons are allowed to swim only with an adult or other responsible person.

* It might be a good idea to have everyone in your family take swimming lessons or a swimming test given by a qualified lifeguard. The class and test will give you, as a pool owner, additional peace of mind knowing your family all can swim.

* Even if your family does take the classes or test, don’t let your guard down. Nothing is more important than visual supervision when it comes to pools. Accidents near water happen every year, often with life-changing consequences.

* Provide swimming aides for your younger children who may not be comfortable swimming without them. Don’t expect inflatable animals to keep your children afloat; buy them life jackets or swimmers with life jackets in them.

* Anyone under the influence of drugs or alcohol is restricted from pool use. This would also mean you don’t want to have a pool party and serve alcoholic beverages. Swimming and alcohol just don’t mix.

* Dunking or throwing people in the pool is not allowed. Neither is running around the deck of a pool. If you have an above ground pool, diving should not be allowed due to the increased chance of injury.

* Pool ladders are not toys. They are a tool to aid in getting in and out of the water. You’ll want to keep people from lingering or playing on them so it can be used for its intended purpose.

* If you have an in-ground pool, putting a fence with a locked gate around the pool will offer an indispensible layer of protection. You may also want to put an alarm on the access door so you’ll be aware if someone tries entering while it’s locked. Above ground pools offer more difficulty in keeping people safe. The most you can do is remove the ladder and keep the pool covered when it is not in use.

* Adults and older children will want to be trained in CPR should the unthinkable happen. Remember, if you have received CPR training, you’ll want to renew your certification and refresh your knowledge periodically if it hasn’t been used in some time.

* Should you use a babysitter, ensure they have passed a swimming test and are trained in CPR if they ask to use your pool. You may also want to have a cordless phone that can be taken poolside to make running into the house to answer the phone a non-issue.

Above ground pools can be seen all over because they offer summer fun without having to tear up your yard. If your family has considered buying a pool, determine ahead of time what rules for pool use you’ll have and then enforce them. Knowing the rules for using your pool will make the summer fun and safe.

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Teaching the child to use toilets is not only about potty training but also to use the bathroom properly, flushing the toilet after use and washing hands properly. Most children start showing signs of readiness for potty training between the ages of 18 to 24 months that usually consist of suspending activities for a few seconds or clutching his or her diaper when they need to urinate or have bowel movements. Others can show these signs earlier or later than this stage. Generally, it is seen that girls show these signs sooner than boys and they learn to use toilet more quickly too. Other signs that indicate that your child is ready for toilet teaching are:

* Ability to climb up and down the potty and sit on it.
* Ability to follow simple instructions.
* Having control over muscles during urination or passing stools.
* Keeping the diaper dry for more than two hours.
* Pulling or drawing diapers, underpants or disposable training pants down.
* Understanding words related to toilet and toileting process.
* Verbal expression of the need to go potty.

It is not a good idea to start the toilet-teaching process when you are traveling; when there are major changes in family life such as shifting to a new house and birth of a sibling; when the child is sick, especially when he or she is suffering from diarrhea; or when you are introducing baby to other changes such as making him sleep in a bed instead of a crib.
These periods can be stressful for you and your child and thus, it will become more difficult for you to be as patient and calm, as you need to be throughout the process. If you are going through these phases, you need to postpone this remarkable child care training until the environment is stable and secure.

Though the duration of toilet teaching varies from child to child, it generally takes 3 to 6 months for the child to learn how to use the toilet properly. An additional 6 months to 1 year may be needed for the child to learn how to stay dry at night.

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Swimming is one the best and therapeutic form of exercise for kids and adults alike. It tones muscles, relaxes the mind and exercises joints. Even newborns are natural lovers of water as they keep floating around in mother’s womb for nine months.The benefits of “baby-friendly”, infant/toddler swimming are unique, uplifting and contribute to the positive child development. Through the soothing medium of water, we are able to tap into the child’s potential, both within and without.

According to documented researches, the stimulating effect of child-paced infant/toddler swimming lessons has the potential to increase intelligence, concentration, alertness, and perceptual abilities.
Here are some tips to develop the taste for swimming in your baby and make him learn it:

* Make your baby learn to be comfortable and have fun with water. Take baths and showers with the baby and let him splash the water and watch and observe toys that float.
* Trickle water over baby’s forehead slowly so that baby can feel comfortable with the sensation of running water.
* Snuggle the baby to your chest as you recline in the tub and you may even nurse the baby to help him relax while almost floating. However, be sure that the water does not have soap or has a tear-free gentle soap that does not hurt baby’s eyes.
* Help your baby to trust the water and feel safe in it by exposing him to the water for short but frequent periods of time.
* When the baby feels comfortable in shower and tub and is about one to two months old, you can take him to the pool. Early exposure to pool lessens the fear of water in the child.
* Make sure that pool has lukewarm water before you immerse the baby in water so that they do not get cold.
* Limit the time in a cold pool at first.
* Make sure that pool chemicals are at safe level for the baby and chlorine levels will not hurt baby’s skin, eyes and breathing passages. Indoor pools often have heavy chlorine levels that you can smell from the poolroom. They can be hazardous for the baby.
* Pools with ozone filters are clean and baby-friendly.
* Make sure that babies do not soil the pool from bowel movements by checking and cleaning the diaper area of the baby and making him wear ‘swim diapers’ before taking him to the water.
* Do not take the baby to the pool immediately after a feeding.
* Make sure that your baby does not swallow pool water, as it is not good for baby’s health and his safety.
* Most babies love buoyancy of water and freedom of movement, so hold the baby securely on your arms and let him move in water. Water exercise and water relaxation often makes babies nap after pool time.
* Children who are six months old can be enrolled in swimming lessons for infants with qualified instructors, where most babies learn to ‘swim’ by the time they are nine months old for a few seconds between two adults.
* Participate in the lessons for swimming along with infant swim instructors.

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According to researches and studies, music can help in child development- both cognitive and behavioral. Music therapy is increasingly becoming popular among kids and therapists believe that certain tones, rhythms and vibrations can actually help treat various medical and behavioral problems in babies and adults alike. It has been seen that lullabies in parents’ voice indeed make babies feel more secure and loved and can help them thrive. It has been seen that relaxing music and 20 minutes of vocal lullaby twice daily helped premature babies and preemies to thrive better, slowed their heart rates and increased the amounts of formula and oxygen they took in.

Similarly, colicky babies or teething babies that hurt and cry a lot are easier to soothe with songs that have soothing melody and steady rhythm. However, if parents love the lullabies, then it works much better than instrumental music, even if they are unable to carry a tune and have to make up the lyrics because they simply can’t remember the words. Another study showed that the brain waves of kids with attention-deficit or hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) that listened to three 40-minute recordings of classical music per week for about six months, moved to higher levels and that they could focus or concentrate better on the tasks assigned to them while they were listening the music.

Listening to regular music sessions periodically throughout the day and classical rhythmic music such as that of Mozart or Haydn can help calm a kid, when he is restless or very tired such as after school. Some kids can learn better or show improvement in their efficiency levels when they do their homework while playing music. However, some kids are just the opposite and cannot just concentrate on studies or work while the music is on, so it basically varies from individual to individual. Kids who face difficulty in following directions may show better results and pay more attention to you if they are given directions in playful, rhythmic, singsong tunes. So, music does help health and stimulate development of a kid.

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Young children can run a parent ragged. Of course, if your child is active, they may be thinking about playing a sport at school. Choosing the right sport for your child may seem like a hard  task, but it doesn’t have to be. You as a parent are in the responsibility to do this. Here are some things to consider when helping your child choose.

Child’s temperament

Think about your child’s temperament. Are they loners or do they enjoy spending time with others? Do they excel at competing against their self or are they competitive with others? How well do they follow authority? All of these would be questions you may want to ask about your child.

Some children are naturally athletic. They may be a mini-jock who is a natural daredevil. These are often boys, but not necessarily. Non-aggressive children can also be athletic. They may prefer being physically active but don’t have the “killer instinct” of a mini-jock. Some children aren’t particularly athletic but they enjoy being active. Sedentary children may not be interested in sports at all. If this is the case, you may not want to push your child into playing a sport.

Team or individual

If your child is interested in playing a sport, are they more of a loner or the center of attention? Does your child have many friends or only one or two? Answering these two questions may help you determine whether your child would prefer an individual or team sport.

Children that prefer to be alone may enjoy playing tennis, swimming, gymnastics, or martial arts. Children that thrive being around others would probably enjoy team sports such as baseball, basketball, volleyball, football, or soccer.

What age?

It may be difficult to recognize when your child is ready to play sports. Each child matures in their own time, so you can’t give a definitive answer to the question. Watch your child to see how they play with other children, particularly siblings. If they continually have disagreements or are physical with others they may not be ready or old enough to play sports.

Financial impact

Most parents would love to give their children everything they want; however, they know that doing so won’t serve the child well. Think about how much each sport your child is interested in will cost. Some sports, like gymnastics, require considerable finances, whereas a sport like baseball or football would cost less.

Time required

A sport, no matter which one you choose, will require both you and your child to spend a good deal of time on it. The child will have practices and games to attend; you’ll be expected to transport the child to and from practices and your child will expect you to attend each game. Of course, some sports, like gymnastics, require long practice times - often early in the morning and in the afternoon once the child has reached a certain level.

Choosing the right sport for your child could take some time if you want your child to enjoy themselves. Take your child’s likes, dislikes, and temperament into consideration when helping them choose. Then when you’ve chosen, stand back and watch them have a ball!

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Stealing is one of the most common acts that children get involved in, especially during their school life. Some do it consciously. Most of them seize other people’s belonging unconsciously. At this age, children cannot differentiate between their things and those of others and hence, steal. The act of stealing, which has become a prevalent child behavior problem, is an immediate concern for parents.

But before taking any corrective steps, they must try to find out the reason why their child is indulging in such a behavior. There are several facts that compel children to steal, such as low self-esteem, peer pressure, etc. It might also be possible that they do not have friends and are trying to ‘buy’ their friends.

Reasons Why Do School Children Steal

Lack of Proper Understanding
Small children are naïve and cannot differentiate between things that belong to them and those that other children own. They may take someone else’s things thinking it to be their own. In such a case, children are unaware of the fact that they are doing something wrong.

Lack of Self-Control
Lack of self control is also one of the reasons for stealing. Often times, it has been noted that children get attracted to things that they do not own. The urge to have it makes them steal. They do this without realizing that taking someone else’s thing is a misdeed.

Peer Pressure
Peer pressure and the need to fit in are also one of the main causes of stealing. Some children get depressed when they are rejected from a group, just because they come from a relatively poor family. The need to fit into a group with members the high class society makes them steal also.

Get Attention
Sometimes, lack of attention by parents forces children to steal. They know that by stealing they would be able to get their parents attention. Sometimes, children also indulge in the act of stealing to impress their peers.

Anger or Revenge
Children find stealing the best way to show their anger and revenge. When they are upset with someone who is more powerful than them, stealing comes across as the best option to make the other person suffer.

Feeling of Excitement
Stealing is a daring act and some children do it just to get a kick in their life. There are many kids who steal things just for the adrenalin rush and enjoy the fun of not getting caught. The act gives them a thrill.

Jealousy or Desire
The feeling of jealousy develops from childhood. The desire to have things that are beautiful or flashy may cause kids to steal. Some children are also jealous of their classmates who have attractive things. In order to have the same thing, they resort to stealing.

Whatever the reasons for the act of stealing behavior of a child, bear in mind to take into consideration the urgent need to take corrective actions to stop it. Unresolved cases like this will lead to a great possibility of future rebellions, crimes and offenses.

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Learning disability is a neurological disorder that hinders child development. It is a lifelong issue and cannot be cured. Children facing learning disabilities, with the right support and interventions, can succeed in school and go on to have a successful career and become distinguished figures in various aspects.

Children having learning disabilities face difficulties with reading, writing, spelling, reasoning, recalling and organizing information without any help or if taught in the conventional ways. That does not suggest that they are less smart than other children. In fact, there are quite a lot of examples which prove that they can be more intelligent and smart than their peers.

There are a variety of learning disabilities in children. Read on some of the common learning disabilities in children.

* Dyslexia – It is a language based disability in which a child faces the problem of understanding written words. It is also referred as reading disability or reading disorder and is the most common of the learning disabilities in children.

* Dyscalculia – It is a mathematical disability in which a child faces difficulty in solving arithmetic problems and grasping the various concepts of mathematics. It is a complex disability and requires the intervention of skillful teachers. Arithmetic difficulties can be as pervasive as reading disabilities and demand similar attention and concern.

* Dysgraphia – It is a writing disability where a child finds it difficult to form letters, write within a defined space, poor handwriting and trouble putting thoughts on paper. Specific accommodations in the learning environment and additional practice will be beneficial for the one facing the disorder.

* Auditory and Visual Processing Disorders – It is a sensory disability where a child finds it difficult to understand language in spite of having normal hearing and vision. The child is unable to recognize and interpret information taken in through the senses.

* Nonverbal Learning Disabilities – This neurological disorder takes place in the right hemisphere of the brain. In case of this disability, a child finds problems with visual-spatial, intuitive, organizational, evaluating and other processing functions. This disorder is quite hard to understand and diagnose. Children are unable to recognize and translate nonverbal gestures such as facial expressions or tone of voice. They are not able to provide appropriate response to nonverbal stimuli and are wrongly considered as emotionally disturbed and branded as “problem children”. This type of disability occurs less than language based learning disorders.

These are the common learning disabilities in children. Though these disabilities may be difficult to cure, yet the combined efforts of parents, teachers and professionals can help children to go ahead and attain success in the future. Encourage their strengths, know their weaknesses, understand the educational system and learn different strategies which will help children get rid of their weaknesses and of the their development.

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Death is an event that has something to do with grief and sorrow. Talking about death is a very difficult, more so when you need to discuss it with a child. Young children, however fragile and weak they may seem, they are the ones who are emotionally quite strong to cope up with the situation. Helping young children understand death is a crucial task as you are unaware about how a child would face the reality of death.

An important question that at times you encounter is how to help children understand death. Children’s capacity to understand death and the way you should approach them will vary according to their age. Children below the age of 5 – 6 view the world in a very literal sense. So death should be explained in a very specific and concrete terms to them. Explain death by using phrases like “the person’s body stopped working and the doctors were unable to fix it”. You should also make them understand that “dying” or “dead” means the person’s body stopped working. Kids have no idea that everyone in this world will die one day. Hence, they keep on asking question about when the person will come back. Maintain patience and continue to reiterate that as the person has died he/ she will never come back.

Though children of ages about 6 – 10 still don’t understand that everyone will face death one day, yet they start to grasp the finality of death. It is best to give an accurate, simple, clear and honest explanation of death to kids of such ages.

As kids reach their teens a lot of things become clear to them. They start to understand that every human being is bound to die at a certain point of time in their life. A lot of questions start lingering in their minds about mortality, vulnerability and they start searching more meaning in a death of a near one. At times, teens experience guilt when suddenly one of their peers dies. It is necessary for you to be by his/ her side and experience and share their grief.

Generally, this educational process starts with the death of a relative. In case your child experience the death of a pet before that, it is good to educate them during that time. So, when actually a close relative dies, the child is already in a position to cope up with the death.

Here are possible ways to help you in the process of helping your children accept death.

* Be honest with kids and encourage questions. After facing a death, a kid tends to ask a lot of questions about death. You might not always have answers to such queries, but be patient and create an atmosphere of comfort and openness. Explain the facts about the death in as simple language as possible.

* Avoid using euphemisms like the loved one “went to sleep” or “went for a long trip”. These phrases can have a negative impact on the child’s mind. Firstly, he may get afraid while going to sleep or fearful to go for a trip. Secondly, such phrases give them the hope that the deceased will either wake up or return from the trip. Hence, it is always a better way of approach to say that the loved one is dead as his/ her body stopped working. The person won’t live with us anymore and that we will always remember the person.

* As it is the time when you can grieve the death of a close one, it is good time to make them understand how vulnerable we are. In cases of deaths due to accidents, teach your kid about ways to stay safe and healthy.

* In the event of a death in your family the first question that arises is how to help children understand death. The fact is that children have the inner strength to face the occurrence of a death, but they need a bit of help from you. Assure them the death did not occur due to any of their faults and that it occurs to everyone. Children generally accept the beliefs of their parents. So a belief in life after death will definitely comfort your child if that concept is also part of your beliefs. For helping children understand death, it is your duty to be as clear and true as possible.

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Food safety is always important to consider, but when you prepare food for your baby, it is even more significant. It is taken into consideration together with the risk to comprise child safety. Babies are particularly vulnerable to illness caused by food born bacteria - and the consequences can be far more severe.

Certain foods, particularly eggs, fish, raw poultry and raw meat, may contain bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella, which are responsible for food poisoning. Campylobacter, another type of bacteria, is one of the most common causes of diarrhea in the US and can be found in poultry and unpasteurized milk.

If you prepare baby food on unclean surfaces, or with dirty hands, you may contaminate foods with these bacteria.

But hygiene in the kitchen is mostly a matter of common sense - and we have put together a list of our top tips to help you safely prepare and store baby food - thereby avoiding the risk of food poisoning…

* Use a fridge thermometer. Your refrigerator should run no higher than 40 deg F (4 deg C). When you are using it to store food for your baby, it is very important that you are absolutely sure of its temperature.

* When you need to put raw meat or fish in the refrigerator, wrap it up and store it on the bottom shelf. This avoids it contaminating foods stored beneath it.

* Make sure that the air in your refrigerator is circulating effectively. If you put too much in your fridge, it may not keep all the items at an adequately low temperature.

* Before you prepare baby food, wash your hands thoroughly with hot soapy water. You should also do this when you switch from handling raw foods to cooked ones.

* Make sure that your surfaces are scrupulously clean. You can achieve this by washing them thoroughly with hot, soapy water. Despite what the advertisers will have you believe, you do not need special anti-bacterial cleaners or wipes!

* Make sure that you change your dish-washing sponge on a regular basis and that it is always kept clean (soaking it overnight in bleach is a good idea). Be sure to wash your tea towels regularly, too!

* Before you cook frozen foods for your baby, thaw them completely in the refrigerator overnight.

* Always cook food to a minimum internal temperature of 160 deg F (70 deg C), which will kill virtually all bacteria, viruses and parasites. (Some meats may require a slightly higher temperature - see this table from the USDA for more specific temperatures for different foods).

* When you prepare baby food - particularly poultry, meat and eggs - make absolutely sure that it is cooked through. It is also important to thoroughly reheat any foods that you have previously prepared.

* Use two cutting boards in your kitchen - one for raw meat/fish and another for vegetables and fruits. To prevent cross-contamination, you need to make sure that raw foods never come into contact with cooked ones.

* Always wash vegetables or fruits that you are planning to prepare for your baby under running water.

* Once you have cooked your baby’s food, you should serve it to him as soon as it has cooled enough for him to eat. Take out as much as he needs for his meal and refrigerate or freeze the leftovers as soon as possible - don’t leave them sitting at room temperature.

* You can limit the growth of bacteria by cooling foods very rapidly - to do this, store food that you have prepared for your baby in shallow containers.

* It is not recommended that you give your baby unpasteurized milk or fruit juice. This is because it will not have been processed to remove potentially harmful bacteria. If you are in any doubt, check the label or contact the manufacturer.

* Always keep pets away from your baby’s food and make sure that it is adequately protected from insects.

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Your kids are at high risk to be poisoned any time. As a parent,your primary responsibility is to consider child safety first and foremost. what will you do if your child is poisoned? That will basically be the main question to consider.

In most cases, if your child is poisoned, you should just call Poison Control hotline right away.

You should not wait for your child to have symptoms, even if you aren’t positive if your child actually swallowed any of the poison, or if you aren’t sure if it really is poisonous.If your child had contact with something that could be poisonous, still call the Poison Control.

In certain cases, if your child is having seizures, is not breathing, or is unresponsive, bring the child to the nearest hospital right away.

The American Association of Poison Control Centers also recommends the following first aid steps:

* Swallowed Poisons
Don’t give your child anything to eat or drink and don’t give your child syrup of ipecac.
Call Poison Control.

* Inhaled Poisons
Get your child to fresh air.
Call Poison Control.

* Poisons on the Skin
Remove your child’s contaminated clothing.
Rinse your child’s clothes with water for 10 minutes.
Call Poison Control.

* Poisons in the Eye

Flush your child’s eye with lukewarm water for 15 minutes using a large cup held 2-4 inches away from his eye.
Do not force his eye open.
Call Poison Control.

In case this will happen to your child, make sure you will seek for medical assistance outright!

The website for the American Association of Poison Control Centers is http://www.aapcc.org.

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Emergencies may arise any time and may even place a risk on child safety. One common emergency is choking. When a child is choking or can’t breath, it means that an object — usually food or a toy — is lodged in the trachea (airway opening and is keeping air from flowing normally into or out of the lungs.

Most of the time, a food or object only partially blocks the trachea. It is likely that it can be removed by cough (a normal mechanism of the body in attempt to expel any foreign object that blocks inside the airway). A child who seems to be choking and coughing but is still able to breathe and talk probably will recover after a few seconds. It can be uncomfortable but the child is generally fine afterwards.

Here are other several possible scenarios you might face and tips on how to handle them:
If a child is choking and coughing but can breathe and talk, the airway is not completely blocked and it’s best to do nothing. The child will likely be fine after a good coughing spell. Don’t reach into the mouth to grab the object or even pat the child on the back. Either of these steps could push the object farther down the airway and make the situation worse. Stay with the child and remain calm until the episode passes.

If a child is conscious but can’t breathe, talk, or make noise, or is turning blue, the situation calls for abdominal thrusts. Begin to relieve choking if you’ve been trained to do so. If you haven’t been trained, and no one else is available to perform it, call for emergency help or bring to the nearest hospital for assistance.

If the child was choking and is now unconscious and no longer breathing, call for help and then proceed immediately to perform abdominal thrusts, (also known as the Heimlich maneuver), the standard rescue procedure for choking, if you’ve been trained to do it properly.If you have not, call for an emergency help right away in the hospital.

Take note of these, a child may be choking and need help right away if he or she:

* is unable to breathe
* is gasping or wheezing
* is unable to talk, cry, or make noise
* turns blue
* grabs at his or her throat or waves arms
* appears panicked

If those cases persist, seek for medical assistance immediately to save the life of the child.

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