Being a parent is a tough one. Seriously. You don’t get a lot of child care training besides what your own mother and father did. There are books you can read and websites you can refer to, but everyone’s kids are different and none of the authors have met your children. So how do you know what to do?

The problem here is that common sense just isn’t that common (you’ve heard that before right?) and parents can sometimes combine that with just taking the easy way out. I’ll give them take-away food and let them stay up late if it makes them happy. That can be the ‘rut’ that a lot of parents get into where they just let the kids do and have whatever they want so that the peace is kept. Once you’re there and the kids know what they can have, it’s very difficult to get back to discipline and giving them what they need, as opposed to what they want.

Kristi and I have always been ‘different’ in that we tend to edge away from the conventional in a lot of areas. Not that we’re hippies or anything like that, it’s just that we look at things differently. Instead of asking ‘why’, we say ‘why not’. Instead of giving our kids crap food because “they like it” (of course they like it - it’s made to be tasty) we give them the same food that we eat and 95% of the time they love it. Also, they haven’t been exposed to a lot of ‘wrong’ food; they’ve never tasted a cola drink, they have sweets and chocolate sparingly and always as a treat NEVER as the norm. So we’ve come to a point where our 5 year old Emily is asking for salad sandwiches for her school lunches. She’s in great shape, she’s happy and so are we. She doesn’t feel like she’s missing out at all.

Back to fizzy soft drinks, I once saw a parent give one of these sugary monsters to an 18 month old who was not sleeping at night because “he likes it”. Do you really think that a kid who can’t sleep needs sugar and caffeine? The poor little one was mainly hyperactive during the day - he doesn’t need ADD drugs he needs less sugar in his diet. He also needs to know that he doesn’t get treats when he’s playing up.

I’m not a parenting guru and I don’t think anyone is, but I must remove my hat in honour of my darling wife Kristi who has always had a clear vision, instinctively, about what her kids should be exposed to from a dietary point of view. What you put into their bodies determines who and what they are. There are a lot of overweight kids out there and I don’t think there’s any excuse for that. How can you say you care for and love your children, then feed them food that makes them overweight. Worse still, you do that, see the results, then continue to do that.

This blog post started as a thought about parenting in general but I’ve realised, in wrapping up, that pretty much all of the problems that parents face come down to basic discipline, sticking to your guns and plain GOOD FOOD. Real fresh food can be so satisfying and beneficial on so many levels, not just nutritional but also behavioral. We’ve made some ‘interesting’ meals (from a kid’s point of view anyway) and our girls have vacuumed up everything on their plate.

Give you kids a real chance at a healthy, happy life by starting with the fuel you put in front of them and I think everything else will start to fall into place. If you’re not there right now then there might be some resistance but again, it’s about making a decision for your family’s well-being, sticking to your decision (which is another area where parents can fail) and watching the wonderful change in your pride-and-joys.

What’s been your experience with bringing up kids, or watching someone else bring up theirs?

Kieron Atkinson is a husband to one and a father of two girls. He lives in Queensland Australia and has found a system to enable anyone to create the results they want in their lives.

Kieron runs a thriving network marketing business with a group of Philanthropists who enjoy giving back to others whilst building our own future. He has a passion for improving himself and the lives of his family, as well as anyone else he comes across who have a real desire to take control of their lives.

See Kieron and his wife Kristi’s website here: http://www.givingopportunity.com/ - if you want more information fill out the contact form there and you can also then download a free copy of Kieron’s e-book “Crossing Over”

Childhood obesity is a concern of medical experts these days. It seems children spend so much time in front of the television, gaming consoles, or computers that they aren’t as active as they used to be. Instead of signing your children up for a weight-loss reality show, here are five ways to be a fitness role model to your child development.

1. Learn to recognize hunger. Do you recognize when you’re truly hungry or do you eat out of boredom or because the clock says it’s time to eat? If you can recognize hunger and teach your children to do the same thing, they’ll be more likely to avoid eating except when truly hungry.

2. Get moving! Many people think you have to run a marathon or spend hours a day working out to be fit. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, studies have proven that being active even in small ways can help you maintain normal weight. Have you told your child to stop fidgeting? Well, fidgeting actually burns calories.

There are small things you can do that will help you be a fitness role model. Take the steps at the mall rather than an elevator or escalator. You can also park further away from the store instead of driving around looking for a close spot; this will allow you to walk a little bit. By working up to 45 minutes of activity a day, you’ll be amazed how much better your entire family will feel.

3. Limit screen time. Many children have their own computer or television in their room. This encourages them to spend time watching someone else be active rather than being active themselves. You may want to move the electronics out of their bedroom and keep them in the common areas of the home so you can limit how much time they spend in front of them. Encourage them to roller skate, ride their bikes, or do some other physical activity instead of staying in front of a screen.

4. Eat your meals together. Cooking your meals and eating them together at home will allow you to control what your children are eating and how much. Plan your meals out for at least a week so you know what to buy to avoid getting junk food. Prepare fresh meals rather than processed foods; they’re more nutritious and better quality.

5. Speak positively about being fit and healthy. If your children hear “I dread going to work out” they’ll think exercise is something to be dreaded and avoided. Instead, if they hear how much you’re looking forward to going to work out, they’ll see exercise as something good and positive which will make them more likely to enjoy it.

These are five ways to be a fitness role model to your children. Obviously there are other ways, but by starting with one or more of these you’ll be able to change your home and your family for the better. Don’t underestimate the role you play in encouraging your children to be healthy. Why not get started today?

Children learn what they see modeled before them especially for child education. When it comes to being a good sport, are you demonstrating how to be one? You may not have thought about how to teach your child to be a good sport, but it may be something to consider - especially if you think they’ll want to play organized sports.

Sportsmanship can be defined as the way you conduct yourself suitably to all participants in sports. Included in this idea is playing fair, striving to do one’s best, and losing gracefully. If these are qualities parents want their children to display, why is it there have been newscasts from around the world of parents acting just the opposite?

Your children may wonder why good sportsmanship is important. You may be wondering how to instill good sportsmanship in your children from an early age so it will be evident as they get older and need it.

Most children instinctively want to win and considered to be the best at everything. Unfortunately, the desire to win may cause some children to display poor sportsmanship rather than good. You might want to use some of these tips to help your child learn how to be a good sport.

When children are preschoolers their parents may have a tendency to let their children win. Although this is usually done from a parent’s love for the child, it can give them the impression that they can win at any game because they won against their parents. The better choice might be to teach your child how to play a game and then “let the chips fall as they may.” They might actually learn more about the game, and being a good sport, by losing at an early age.

If they complain and whine about not winning, let them know how much practice it took for you to become good at the game. You could also offer to play with them whenever they like, as long as you’re not in the middle of something else, so they can get better at the game and possibly beat you in the future.

Model good sportsmanship while watching sports on TV or in person. Cheer for your team, of course, but make positive comments about the opposing team. Say something about the good defense or how well the team works together. This teaches your child to enjoy the game, be a fan of one team, but respect the players on the other team.

Encourage your child and praise them when they show good sportsmanship, no matter what the game. If they’re not quite the good sport, acknowledge and address the negative behavior. Good sports play fair and follow the rules. Children need to understand the difference between being a good sport or a bad sport; your praise for positive behavior will reinforce that knowledge and entice them to choose the higher ground.

As a parent, you want your children to play fair. When you teach your child to be a good sport, remember they learn a great deal by watching you. If you’re a good sport, your children will be more likely to follow suit.

Depending upon the age of your children, they may be involved in a myriad of children activities. You know the importance of striking a fair balance between allowing children to be involved in activities and having time for the family to spend together. Unfortunately, the children may not agree with your definition of “fair.”

Perhaps your older children are interested in a number of activities. They may want to be involved in baseball, football, soccer, martial arts, gymnastics, softball, basketball, or ice skating. Then there’s band, dance, musical instrument lessons, or voice lessons they’re interested in. Throw in scouting or volunteering and the number of possible ways to be away from home increases even more.

It’s important to make sure kids aren’t involved in too many activities. Children, like adults, only have 24 hours in each day. They have to attend school and sleep at least eight hours a night. This leaves eight hours for eating, doing chores, doing homework, spending time with family, and then extracurricular activities.

You can choose to limit each child to one extracurricular activity per season. If your child is athletic you might allow them to play two sports each school year as long as they don’t coincide with one another. Do you have a music lover? Allow them to play in the band, but you could ask them to wait until summer to take individual lessons.

How do you maintain balance among the different family members? While you may not favor one child over the other, it may seem that way to your children. Try to spend quality time alone with each child at some point during the month. In fact, you may want to plan a special “date” with each child. This will enable them to have undivided time with you or your partner and squelch any complaints about you not spending time with them.

You’ll also want to be sure you to spend quality time with your partner so they don’t feel left out. Planning a weekly or bi-weekly date night is important for maintaining your relationship. Instead of spending your time talking about the children, take the opportunity to dream about your future.

While you’re spending time with others in the family, don’t forget to take care of yourself. You can’t be expected to be able to meet others’ needs if you’re overly stressed or burned out. A trip to a day spa which will pamper you may be just what you need to rejuvenate.

So, you’ve limited the number of activities each person in the family is allowed to participate in. You are also spending time with each child to ensure they feel loved. Now it’s time to keep all of the activities from cutting into the family’s free time, but what can you do to accomplish this? One thing you might consider is actually scheduling activities for the entire family to do together.

Talk about activities that everyone in the family would enjoy. This could be anything from visiting a museum, going fishing, or watching the latest movie. If your children range in age, you may find it difficult to find activities everyone will enjoy. In this case, switch up the types of activities you choose so everyone has at least one or two activities they enjoy.

Keeping your family running smoothly isn’t easy when each person is running in and out of the house to different activities. You know the importance of striking a fair balance between outside activities and family time - using some of these ideas may help create the balance you seek.

Slow cookers, or crock pots, are small appliances used by many families around the country. A look around will provide a myriad of cookbooks or websites on the internet with recipes for kids for use with the crock pot. The benefits of slow cooking go far beyond the ease of finding recipes, however.

One of the main benefits of slow cooking is how easy it is. Unlike traditional cooking methods, you don’t have to stand over the stove to ensure the dish cooks properly. You can place everything into the slow cooker, set it, and then walk away. In fact, you don’t even have to be at home while your meal cooks as most recipes require four to eight hours cooking time.

Depending upon the recipe, you can place the ingredients into the cooker and the meal will be ready to eat either when you get up in the morning or when you return from a day at work. What could be easier than that? And the slow cooker did all of the hard work for you!

Saving time is another benefit of slow cooking. The major portion of the meal is done by the slow cooker, which leaves a side dish or salad and your meal is done. If you have more than one size of slow cooker, you can make a different component of the meal in each one.

Another benefit of using a slow cooker is how versatile they are. You can cook nearly any style of recipe in a crock pot. Do you need something special for breakfast? There are slow cooker recipes for that. How about a casserole for dinner? There are many ethnic recipes. The fact is you can find recipes for any meal of the day, even dessert.

Slow cooking is also nutritious. Use fresh or frozen ingredients rather than ingredients which are full of chemicals or preservatives. You can use fruits that are in season rather than canned ones which have fewer nutrients. Cooking foods on low heat over a longer period of time also helps the foods retain more of the vitamins and minerals.

Some people think slow cookers can only be used during the cooler months. The truth is, however, you can use a slow cooker at any time of the year. Slow cookers won’t heat up the kitchen the way an oven will, but will provide you with delicious food your whole family will enjoy.

Finally, the benefits of slow cooking can also improve your pocket book. You can find ingredients which are on sale at your grocery store to use in your slow cooker. You can also use cheaper groceries such as dried beans, noodles, and rice.

It’s obvious the benefits of slow cooking are many. If the ease of use isn’t enough to convince you to get one, think about the time you can shave off of preparing meals or how much money you can keep in your wallet. Why not give it a try?

Monitoring child development isn’t an easy job. If someone tells you it is, they obviously aren’t a parent! As a parent, you may be involved in many things – caring for the home, children, working outside of the home, and possibly volunteering. You may not have the time to care for your own needs, but it’s important that you do; a happy parent equals a happy family.

Take time out to pursue your own hobby or interest. Nearly every parenting book will espouse the need of parents to pursue some of their own interests to avoid burn-out. Perhaps you played a sport before becoming a parent. Being active will keep you healthy, show your children how to be healthy through activity, and increase endorphins in your body which will improve your mood.

Include your children in your hobby. Maybe you loved to roller skate as a teen. It may be time to take up skating again. Get skates for the whole family and everyone can have fun together.

Maybe your interests lie in another direction. Are you fixing up a room in the house? Children can learn how to help with do-it-yourself projects as well. They generally like painting even if they can’t reach the ceiling. Why not let them help? You’ll be able to share your interest with your child and get more accomplished at the same time.

Give yourself a time out. This might be associated primarily with disobedient children, but time outs can be a great idea for helping you to de-stress, which can definitely improve how you feel. This can also help you be a better parent because you’ll be calmer and more able to handle your children.

How do you know when you need a time out? Here are some indicators:

* You might talk louder
* You may clench your teeth
* You may feel your heart race
* You may feel your muscles tighten

If your children are safe, try leaving the situation. You can also ask another adult to keep an eye on them until you’ve cooled off. Go to your room or the bathroom where you can be alone for a few minutes. Take some deep breaths and then call a friend to help you talk thing through before returning to the stress-causing situation. When you’ve calmed down, you’ll be able to handle the situation better.

It’s important to realize you can’t do things for others – whether partner, children, or boss – if you’re tired, worn out, and frazzled. The old saying goes, “If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” That may apply to parents in general, so do what you can to make yourself happy. Experts agree a happy parent equals a happy family.

Morality is a code of conduct in which one decides right from wrong. Knowing how to raise a moral child, especially in today’s world, isn’t always easy. You may want to follow some of these tips to teach your child this important character trait.

Although morality is often defined in terms of religion, it is much more than a religious concept. Morals are also defined by society, philosophy, and conscience. They are the center of how people make ethical decisions.

What can parents do to ensure their children learn morals? Here are some suggestions:

* Be a good moral role model. It’s often said that when children are involved more is caught than taught. This means they’ll watch what you do, how you act and react to situations, and how moral you are to learn morality. By being a good role model, they’re more likely to follow your positive examples rather than ones you may not be proud of.

* You expect your children to be honest, so model honesty before them. You’ll have a hard time convincing your child honesty is important if you tell someone you can’t be somewhere because you’re sick. This sends a mixed message to your children, and may make your child think honesty isn’t as important as you say.

* Respect others. Children may begin treating others the way they see you treat those in your life. If you’re disrespectful your children may disrespectful.

* Know your own morals and values. Think about the things and people that are important to you. Use those as the basis for how you make decisions and as the starting point to determine the things you do.

* Do what you can to help your child develop a sense of their own worth: a strong sense of self. By having self-esteem, your child won’t have to get the approval of their peers. Instead, they will be able to make rational choices based on their values and self-worth.

* Help your child learn to think for themselves, which will allow them to make wise decisions rather than depending on the influence of others to make them. With the various external influences today – peers, television, movies, and songs – you want your children to know how to think on their own.

Children and teens that learn to make their own decisions and stand on their own two feet are more likely to do the right thing. They may also stand up for the underdog if they see someone being mistreated. Having strong moral principles will help your child make the right decisions.

Ultimately, as the parent, you have the most influence on your children’s moral development. Help them establish good self-esteem, to think for themselves, and model morality before them. They’ll see how important morality is to you and will follow in your footsteps.

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; it’s one way to get the fun back into your life and help you feel good. Child behavior problems will stop erupting if children have a nice sense of humor.

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.

Dogs are often called man’s best friend. This may be partially true; however, that doesn’t mean they are super recommended as pets for kids. In fact, some children are afraid of them. If this describes a child you know, you can use these smart ways of helping children overcome the fear of dogs.

Despite the fact they’re animals, dogs can be very similar to humans. You can tell when a dog is being playful or when they want to be left alone. Some dogs even smile at you because they’re happy to see you. When it comes to helping your child overcome the fear of dogs, it’s a good idea to begin by teaching them to read dog behavior.

If your child is afraid of dogs, take them to a pet store. They will have puppies and dogs for the child to look at but they stay behind a glass where the child and animal are safe. This will allow your child to see the animal without fear of being hurt.

Don’t try to force your child to pet an animal. They may have good reason for their fears. Let them watch dogs from a distance. This will allow them to see how dogs interact with other children and adults. It will help them to recognize when there is danger and when there is not.

After they become comfortable seeing the animal from behind the glass, ask if you can see one of the calmer animals. The sales person will bring dog into an enclosed room where you can get to know the animal. They will remain with you and will be able to help protect your child. They may also have some more ideas for helping your child overcome their fear of dogs.

Teach your child that when a dog is wagging its tail or its whole body, there usually is nothing to fear except if the dog inadvertently knocks the child down. Explain to the child that the dog is being friendly and that it means them no harm. This can be especially important if your child has been bitten or nipped at before.

On the other hand, if a dog comes running toward them with their ears back and barking, the child is fully justified in being scared. The child needs to know to stand still rather than run, however. Running may be an automatic response, but running will only encourage the dog to chase the child. Helping your child recognize the difference between a dog that’s friendly and one that’s not can make all the difference in the world as to how they respond to them.

When being introduced to a new dog, have your children follow these steps:

* Stand still; let the dog sniff at them.
* Let them look to you for cues as to whether the dog is friendly or not.
* After they become comfortable, or at least less uneasy with the dog being near them, teach them to hold out the back of their hand for the dog to smell.
* Finally, when they’re ready, tell them to move slowly and then gently pet the dog on the back of the neck or the head.

It is possible to help a child overcome their fear of dogs. These smart ways may give you information you need to help your child. If you’re still unsure about introducing your child to dogs, ask a veterinarian or your child’s pediatrician for more ideas.

Learn About Birds in Your Own Backyard

Children love animals, especially soft furry ones. But they also like to watch birds for child education. If they can lear about birds in their own backyard, you may find you have a budding bird watcher in the family. Who knows, you may have embarked on a new hobby that you and your whole family can enjoy!

Do what you can to bring various native birds to your yard. Provide the things they need to survive – such as food, water, shelter, a nest site, and natural habitat – and you may notice more and more birds flying around your home. In fact, a bird-friendly yard is important when the prospect of losing natural habitat is so often a concern.

There are a number of ways you can encourage your children to learn about the birds in your own backyard, but first you have to get the birds there. One of the easiest ways to draw birds to your home is to set up bird feeders near the windows of your home. This will draw birds to your yard and your child can watch the birds from the comfort of your home, which is particularly helpful on cold or rainy days.

Birds are omnivores; they eat both plant and animal matter to stay alive. In the spring and summer they prefer to eat worms, insects, and spiders. As cooler weather enters your area, they need fruit and seeds to eat during their fall migration or during colder winter months. Try to landscape your yard so that it provides the foods birds need.

Water is also important for birds. Not only do they need to drink water, many also enjoy bathing in it. Providing a safe, shallow water source may attract birds that may not normally come to visit feeders. Place birdbaths in full sunlight and partially shaded areas of your yard. This will provide warm water in cooler weather as well as cooler water when temperatures soar.

Buy a good quality book that has pictures or illustrations of the birds in your region. This will allow your child to look up and learn about the birds that come to your backyard. They’ll have a picture to verify what type of bird it is, learn what their habitat and range are, and what both sexes look like.

Encourage your child to keep a log of what birds visit their yard. This can be simple like a three-ring binder with paper and list of birds they see. Or it can be more elaborate like an artist’s notebook, where they can draw a picture of the bird and journal about its visit.

Even though the Great Backyard Bird Count is over for the year (it normally runs during the month of February), you can encourage your child to join a local bird-watching club or one of the online organizations for bird watchers. You can find out more about the Great Backyard Bird Count or other bird-watching organizations by helping to search for information online.

Take advantage of your child’s curiosity about nature and the environment in which they live. Make it possible for them to see native birds in your backyard. This will encourage them to learn about conservation of natural bird habitats as they are learning about the birds. If you learn about the birds in your own backyard, and encourage your children to do the same, you will find that you’ve created another way to stay connected with your child as they grow up.

Sun worshippers make their way outdoors to catch the first rays of the sun, often before temperatures outside have stabilized. However, spending too much time in the sun without protection has been proven to cause skin cancer, very wrong for child care. You can reduce your risks of being a skin cancer statistic by following any of these five tips for being sun smart.

The medical profession has determined that at least 90% of all skin cancers are caused by over-exposure to the sun. If you’ve gotten sunburned just twice before you turned eighteen, you have double the risk of developing melanoma later in life. To avoid skin cancer:

1. Use sunscreen. This is probably your easiest and best plan to avoid damage from over-exposure to the sun. Applying SPF 15 or higher sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays to your skin and lips will help protect you. Apply sunscreen thirty minutes before you go out in the sun and reapply it every two hours while you’re in the sun. If you’re wearing sunscreen and bug repellent, be sure to apply the sunscreen first.

2. Cover up. When you’re going outside, after applying sunscreen, planning your wardrobe is another easy option. Even though it could be hot outside, wearing lightweight long-sleeved shirts, long pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses will limit the amount of skin that will be exposed. Covering up can also shield you from poison ivy, bug bites, as well as cuts and scrapes.

3. Seek shade. If you don’t want to be covered from head-to-toe, plan on avoiding the sunshine as much as possible. The hours of between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. are the worst times for being outdoors in direct sunlight. When those hours arrive, finding a place in the shade or going inside will keep you safe.

4. Guard your eyes. Sunshine can do more than damage your skin; your eyes can also be affected by UV rays. Finding sunglasses or other eyewear that blocks 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays is important. It would also be helpful if they wrapped around to offer more protection to your eyes.

5. Try a fake tan. You may love sun-kissed skin, but you know that spending too much time in the sun can increase your risk of skin cancer. To have the best of both worlds, use a fake tan product such as a self-tanner that changes the color of your skin over a period of time. You can have the bronze glow of a sun tan without having to worry about cancer in the future. Don’t forget to use sunscreen with a fake tan; they don’t protect your skin, just make it look tanned.

Having a tan has long been considered to be a sign of health. Times have changed, however, and people know that tanning is risky business. Don’t forget to safeguard children’s skin by using these same five tips for being sun smart. You can reduce your risk of developing skin cancer as well as your children’s.

Having a baby is a great experience. After a while, you can’t wait for them to be able to talk to you and tell you what they want. You may have a toddler that doesn’t talk well and wonder how you can help them talk for child development. These ten tips can give you ideas of ways to encourage your toddler to talk.

1. Use adult language. Speak to your baby in real words to give your baby a better understanding of how to talk rather than making up words or nonsensical sounds.

2. Talk directly to your toddler. Look at them while you talk. Spend time talking to them; ask them questions even if they don’t have a very big vocabulary.

3. Be sure to tell them what you’re doing. If it’s time to change their clothes for bedtime, tell them. “Off with your shoes. Remove your pants and shirt.” Repeating this each time you change them helps them learn to use labels for their clothing.

4. Read to them as often as possible. Picture dictionaries can introduce them to new words. Point to the pictures in the book and name each one. Read simple stories using expression in your voice for the different characters. Your toddler will love it!

5. Try not to talk or mumble to yourself which can confuse your toddler. They may begin to think that words are meaningless if someone isn’t responding when you talk.

6. Play repeating games with your toddler. Start out with simple words. Point to a toy they like and say “toy.” Ask them if they would like the toy and then ask them if they can say “toy.” If they try, praise them whether they can say the word or not. Then give them the toy. Repeat with other things they point to and indicate they want.

7. Leave the television off as much as possible. Parking your toddler in front of a TV for a short while won’t hurt them, but leaving them there for hours can. In fact, some experts have determined that watching television earlier than age two can be a contributing factor to developing Attention Deficit Disorder. If you can’t be with them physically, put them somewhere safe and let them play with their toys.

8. Be patient. Babies all learn at different rates so don’t get too discouraged if your toddler doesn’t learn to speak as quickly as another child. It may not seem like it, but your toddler will be talking when they’re ready. Of course, then you may wish they didn’t talk so much!

9. See the doctor. If you think your toddler is way behind their peers in speaking, you may want to see your child’s pediatrician. They will be able to test your toddler to see if there is a physical reason for them not speaking. If there is a problem, they will be able to give you the best advice for getting your toddler past the problem.

10. Love them as they are. If you put too much pressure on them to talk before they’re ready, it could do more harm than you realize. It’ll happen, just wait and see.

Try not to stress out about whether your toddler is talking or not. Unless your doctor gives you a reason why they won’t, you can expect your toddler to begin talking when they’re good and ready. Until then, talk to them, read to them, and keep on loving them!

One thing new parents worry about as their child enters toddlerhood is what is normal, what is acceptable, and what is not. They may wonder if their toddler sleeping in the same bed with them is healthy. Here are some child care guidelines you may want to consider.

Think about your toddler’s routine. Changing your evening routine a little bit could make things easier on you and your little one. This can be especially true if your toddler’s climbing into bed with you is keeping you or your partner from sleeping. Evening routines including quiet playtime and a soothing bath are the best ways to calm a toddler before lights-out.

Avoid over-stimulation. If you want your child to go to sleep and stay in their own bed, you want them to be tired, but not overly simulated. Set the stage for bedtime with lowered voices, bathing, brushing their teeth and then a story. Once your toddler learns your new routine, everyone will find sleeping in their own bed easier to do.

Don’t be surprised if your toddler cries or whines while they’re learning to remain in their own bed. Sometimes the crying can pull at your heartstrings, but try not to let them get the better of you. You may even hear the pitter-patter of little feet coming to your room to try and climb in bed with you. What do you do now?

Well, that depends on what you and your partner decide on ahead of time. If the two of you don’t mind at first, let your toddler in to snuggle up and go back to sleep. After your toddler has fallen asleep, your toddler can be taken back to their own bed.

If, however, you’ve decided it’s time to stop them from sleeping with you, one of you needs to get up and take them back to bed. No fussing is necessary. Calmly carry or walk them back and tuck them back into bed. Don’t forget their favorite teddy bear. Turn on a very dim nightlight and say goodnight very quietly. Next, despite their cries, turn and leave the room.

While there’s nothing inherently dangerous in allowing a toddler to sleep with you, it can put a kink in your relationship with your spouse. Many people, however, advocate a family bed. Ultimately the choice is up to you and your family.

Remember, however, you don’t have to be strict about never allowing your toddler back in bed with you. There’s nothing quite like early morning snuggles with your little one. If your child is sick, you may also want to bend the rules. Let them know that you expect them to stay in their own bed unless given permission to join you.

Finally, consider whether or not your child is ready to sleep in their own bed. When you ask yourself whether or not your child should sleep with you, remember that it’s a huge step for them. Do what you can to make the transition an easier one and you’ll all be able to enjoy a good night’s sleep.

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 children activities.

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.

You’ve been hoping to put it off a little while longer, but your children finally wear down your defenses. You agree to get a dog. But which dog breeds would make great pets for kids and which will you choose? The answer to those questions may not be as difficult as you imagine.

Ask twenty different people which is the best breed of dog for a family pet and you’re likely to get fifteen different answers. Of course, some dog breeds are more common so they’re often chosen as a family pet. Does that mean it’s the best choice? Not necessarily, at least not necessarily for your family.

Before you choose which type of dog to get, you may want to ask yourself if you and your family are truly ready to add a puppy or dog to the family dynamics. Dogs require a good bit of attention and can live quite a long time if cared for properly. It is also helpful to know who will be responsible for various aspects of the dog’s upkeep. Will everyone chip in with walking, grooming, and feeding the dog?

More than 21 million homes already have at least one dog as a pet. With so many people choosing to add dogs to their family, it’s easy to see how they’re so popular. And, when you invite a dog into your family, you can expect more than protection; you get a life-long friend who can grow up with your children and be a major part of their lives.

One breed of dog which is very common for families is the Border Collie. They are very intelligent, active, and will keep a close watch on your children. Bred to help shepherds keep the flock together, don’t be surprised if a Border Collie appears to herd your children and keep them close by. They are friendly, loving, obedient, and easy to train.

Labrador Retrievers are another common family pet. They are especially good with children and love to play. They have a lot of love to give a family. They are gentle and trustworthy with children even though they grow to be quite large. They need plenty of room to run.

Golden Retrievers also make great family pets. They are eager to please their masters and are very loving. They are excellent guard dogs and excellent swimmers. They love to spend time with their family and will gladly show them how much by being obedient.

For families with limited space, you may want to consider getting a toy or miniature poodle. They are smart and sensitive. They respond well to obedience training and make a great friend for children.

Miniature Australian Shepherds are another breed of dog to consider. They are loving, loyal, protective, and eager to please. They are intelligent and like having a particular job to do in the family. They can be nippy while trying to herd the family together, but generally they don’t bite.

There are so many breeds to choose from. It’s not easy knowing which breeds would make great family pets. In many cases it’s not the breed which determines how they would react to a family dynamic, it’s the training and treatment they received before coming into your family. Learn as much as you can about the breeder and lineage of any dog you may choose to ensure there is no abuse in their background. Then choose the pet dog which best suits your family.

Child development depend 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.

Virtual worlds are all the rage and parents’ concern in ensuring child safety in virtual worlds is easily understood. With toddlers and preschoolers it is very easy for parents to ensure the child’s safety, simply open an account and link it to your child’s to monitor safe play. The situation is a little bit different with teenagers who are very techno savvy and know their way around the internet.

Our research has uncovered an excellent and safe site that children aged 7-14 can enjoy. The site strongly advocates safety practices and have a number of safety features in place to protect your children. The site has a dedicated parents’ page and provides information that counts. Some of the safety features include: filtering of telephone numbers and addresses; no URL links; no vulgarity and private messaging; reporting features and moderators in place to police the site. Best of all parents can actually request the chat logs dating back 90 days to ensure kids safety in virtual worlds.

Kids safety in virtual worlds is the responsibility of the parents. One way of making sure that your child is not misusing their virtual world privileges is to talk to your kid. Discuss their online experiences as you would their daily activities. Do not be judgmental, listen to what they have to say and provide guidance in a calm manner. Since virtual worlds duplicate school room behavior, bullying, sexual communication and harassment maybe part of the virtual world. Despite the language filters that are in place, kids have found a way around the filters by using alternative text. Communication is vital – unless your child is honest with you, you will probably never know what goes on in their virtual world. Visit the site, look at avatars, screen names, profiles, social network sites visited and the type of friends they are socializing with.

Children are trusting souls and often share passwords. You need to educate your child on the importance of how much harm shared passwords can cause. Friends can sometimes stop being friends and use passwords to misrepresent your child. Teenagers probably will not take you seriously, but you need to create awareness. Sow the seed to get them thinking!

Take kids safety in virtual worlds seriously - visit the sites your child is using and examine the safety features and tools provided. Usually there is a safety page on the good sites designed for parents. Go over the safety features with your child to make sure they know how to report abuse and block offenders. Kids also need to be taught the importance of correctly representing themselves when registering on the sites and to use the safety features provided.

Read this article to get some valuable input on how to be a better parent in trying times. Maybe you are a single parent struggling to raise a teenager on your own or you may be an overworked parent trying to raise tiny children. The child care qualities you will need to possess remain the same with few adjustments as the years roll by.

Read on to find out what mothers the world over consider as the answer to the question, “what qualities should a good parent possess.”

Patience with a capital “P” heads the list. You are going to have to call upon hitherto untapped resources to find the patience to deal with day to day circumstances that arise when raising children.

Let your children know how much you love them and never be backward to demonstrate the love you have for them. This will teach them to express their feelings and emotions and help them grow into caring individuals.

Pay attention to what your children are trying to tell you. Listen without judging and try to understand the reasons behind their actions. Talk to them without getting angry and frustrated and they will talk back to you. Your children need to feel confident in coming to you with their problems; they need a listening ear and someone to guide them when they go off track. If you rant and rave you will only succeed in pushing them away from you and you can bet they are not going to come to you when in a crisis.

Make time for your children, set aside family time that is totally devoted to them. Take the time to get creative when planning family activities and make sure that you include their personal favorite activities as well. Every one is always busy and has plenty to do but that will not work as an excuse. Your children need and deserve your attention – give it to them!

Treating your children with respect means they will in turn respect you, your authority and your decisions. While they may not always agree with your decisions, especially when it restricts television or telephone talk time, they will respect what you say. This is the best way to encourage obedience.

Learning to laugh and stay cool in situations where you would rather explode is an excellent quality to have. This provides a calm and stable environment for the children.

Keep personal disagreements with your spouse separate from the children and never interfere when one parent is doing the correcting. Time enough to discuss it with your partner behind closed doors if you do not agree with something.

When you consider what qualities should a good parent possess, the list is seemingly endless. Hopefully this article will help you get started.

To home pets for kids is serious business, the animal whether a dog or any other animal becomes a family member and the right animal care knowledge for kids is very essential. This article gives a broad overview of the basic considerations and care that need to be taken for dogs.

Dogs are probably the most loving of all pets; they give love unlimited and want the same in return. As a parent it is your responsibility to teach your child the importance of loving and caring for the animal as a first step in keeping a pet. A dog needs to be fed right, exercised and groomed at regular intervals. Training the dog to live indoors, obey commands and not chew your favorite rug or slippers is all a part of owning a dog.

Some basic tips on the right kind of animal care knowledge for kids to be practiced:
• Sweets are poison for your dog; the Xylitol an artificial sweetener is very dangerous because it causes the animal’s blood sugar to drop dangerously causing seizures, lack of coordination and even depression.
• Chocolate for dogs is an absolute NO! It can cause seizures, diarrhea and vomiting and has been known to be fatal for the animal.
• Dogs by nature are curious animals especially in the puppy and growing stages, keep them away from electrical cables and power outlets, glass and plastic. They can get an electrical shock, choke on plastic and the glass when ingested can cause internal bleeding.
• Dressing up your dog may cater to your fantasies but for the dog it may mean skin irritations and breathing problems.
• Your dog should be registered and wear a collar and dog tag ID attached to the collar at all times. Make sure your contact details are on the Identification tag.
• It is not advisable to bathe a dog too often due to skin problems; your vet can guide you on the right bathing intervals. Practice grooming the dog on a regular basis; everyday is best and give the animal plenty of fresh air and good nutrition. You can always sponge the animal down with warm water if he gets too dirty.
• You need to do a physical exam of the animal at least once a month – check the teeth for tartar, the gums for disease, the pads of the feet for cuts and bruises, the ears for infection. The dog needs to be taken to the vet for annual checkups and booster shots.

Use these basic tips as a starting point and build on your animal care knowledge for kids.

What to consider in buying baskets as gifts for kids

The era of use of the gift baskets has simplified the choosing of the gifts for children. You will however have to help in making the most appropriate selection of various types of gifts. There are several factors that you will need to consider in making such a decision. Let’s look at some few factors when choosing a kids gift basket:

Meeting needs: The age of every child would determine the type of gift that most appropriate. A soccer gift basket best suits a child aged above 8 years. In most cases, it is the boy children that would love such a gift. You are therefore better off buying this gift item for your boy child than a girl child. However, a younger child would not be able to enjoy this gift. Besides just having a soccer ball, you will also find spiral bound note book and a drawing pen. These can be used to draw sports heroes and also to find a way to develop drawing skills.

Safety: A Disney pixar pack of gifts come with several items some of which may not fit the safety cylinder. This means that as much as this pack of gifts may be best for the child considering the age appropriateness, you will need to have to consider the safety more importantly. In the Disney pixar, you will find more than 11 car pieces and car drawings, velet drawing board and crayons to color the car pictures.

Age appropriateness: Tinkerbell creativity gift basket is best recommended for the younger age. These items would enable the child to experience a little of magic and creativity. The pixie magic story telling handbook and the wipe off writing board are most appropriate for the younger children. The older children may do better with a collection of spiderman novelty gifts. The additional ware of sunglasses, and backpack will be a complementary set that makes the child feel special.

Socially acceptable: A set of Christmas gifts and the birth of Christ manger will not ring a bell to Chinese child. Therefore it is important that the kids’ gift basket be relevant to the social set up. You would rather consider the things that make meaning to the social calendar such as Chinese New Year for Chinese child. In this regard, a Prince Candy gift basket has been voted by most parents and children from all parts of the world as a good kids gift basket.

Other popular gift baskets are those meant for wishing the child a quick recovery, the one for valentine, child feel better gift basket and many others. In addition to the above factors, the cost of the gift basket must be considered. The gift should not be the source of the financial woes in a family. This can be discussed with a financial expert and the child too. There should be an agreement on what is acceptable on spending limits so that no one feels hurt.