Posts Tagged ‘child’
The Personality Traits of an Aquarius Baby
Your Aquarius Baby..
January 20 – February 18
Your Aquarian baby will be outwardly calm, relaxed and delightful and grandparents in particular will dote on her. Aquarians are quick thinkers who want to analyse everything and everyone. An Aquarian child will often be totally unpredictable and come up with with lots of ideas; and she will also be sensitive and intuitive. You may find your child will rebel against commands and rules, but if you leave her to think things through she will normally come to a sensible conclusion on her own. Young Aquarians like to have many friends, although few will be very close, and will be generous towards them. Parents should watch out for the typical Aquarian absent-mindedness.
An Aquarian child will be constantly on the go and needs plenty of opportunity to make discoveries. Your child will thrive in a peaceful, calm, harmonious environment. These children are sensitive to any underlying tensions. Aquarian children can look more confident than they feel and so need genuine encouragement and praise from their parents.
Young Aquarians should be encouraged to think logically and practically. Their minds are always working quickly, sometimes too quickly so they often get in a muddle.
The typical Aquarian child is very healthy.
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Author: Tony Luck who runs a site with advice for moms-to-be and new moms. Included on the site is the fascinating Chinese Pregnancy Calendar which supposedly tells you whether your baby will be a girl or a boy; and a Conception Chart to find out when baby will be born.
When Not To Begin Potty Training
Potty training can be a stressful experience for you and your child. It’s best to start potty training when your child has an established daily routine and is not dealing with any additional stress. Potty training should be the only major change in your child’s life.
If your child is showing signs of potty training readiness, ask yourself if any of the following situations exist:
New baby – Although the thought of double diaper duty may be overwhelming, your child needs time to adapt to the new baby before you begin potty training.
Divorce or Separation – Divorce or separation is always stressful for children. Your child may be living in two different homes or under two separate sets of rules. When things calm down, share your potty training plan so that you are both aware of the other person’s plan and can work together for the benefit of your child.
New daycare/baby sitter – If your child has recently switched day cares or baby-sitters, wait a couple of weeks/months (depending on how your child adapts) before you start potty training.
New bedroom or bed – Small changes, like a new bedroom or bed, can have a big impact on your child. Wait until your child has adapted to his new bed before you begin potty training.
Copyright © 2004 ZIP Baby. All Rights Reserved.
Danna Henderson
ZIP Baby
101 Convention Center Drive, Ste 700
Las Vegas, NV 89109
About The Author
Danna Henderson started ZIP Baby in order to provide parents with comprehensive potty training and breastfeeding information as well as a large variety of products. For more information about potty training or breastfeeding, visit Breastfeeding Store.
Halloween Safety Tips
Halloween is an exciting night for children and a busy time for their parents. With such excitement, it’s easy for children to forget basic safety rules.
When emotions are running high, it’s a good time to remember to “use your head.” Plan ahead and plan to have a safe Halloween. Raise safety awareness with your family before the festivities begin. We do the right thing, but we don’t always explain it to children. As you place a saucer under each tea light, or “stop, look and listen” at street corners and in parking lots, tell your child why. They don’t always connect the dots unless you point it out.
Here are some Halloween Safety Tips to keep in mind:
1. Stay sober and alert.
It’s amazing how many family Halloween celebrations involve adults drinking. It’s impossible to monitor children’s safety or your own when you’ve had too much to drink, so don’t.
2. Avoid cuts and burns when decorating.
Carving the pumpkin, placing luminaria in the driveway, and hanging spooky skeletons all present opportunities for injury. If you’re decorating with candles, observe fires safety. Have a good fire extinguisher handy and make sure everyone knows where it is.
3. Observe ladder safety regulations.
According to the NASD, accidents involving ladders cause an estimated 300 death a year in the US, and 130,000 injuries requiring medical attention. Review ladder safety rules and observe them.
4. Make sure “treats” aren’t “tricks.”
Many people these days choose to go to fairs or private parties instead of trick or treating for safety reasons. If your child is going trick or treating, go with them. Make it a rule that nothing is to be eaten until it’s first been inspected by you.
5. Caution your child about strangers and dogs.
Keep your children with you and remind them to avoid people and dogs they don’t know. Many people are taking their dog companions out in costume these days, and even the most gentle of family pets can do something unexpected with all the excitement.
6. Accidental falls is the number one cause of injuries on Halloween night (National Safety Council).
Choose your child’s costume with this in mind. Hem up the hemlines. If you choose a mask, choose one that doesn’t obstruct sight. Stay sober and observe safety rules when decorating.
7. Four times more children are killed in pedestrian/automobile accidents on Halloween night than on any other night of the year.
The CDC suggests these factors make it a high risk: short stature, inability to react quickly enough to avoid a car or evaluate a potential traffic threat, lack of impulse control, and all the exciting distractions.
8. The holiday syndrome.
The excitement, more candy, more parties, less sleep, less nutritious food, and getting off schedule all mean less attentiveness and also possibly illness. Keep routines as normal as you can.
9. Choose safe and sensible costumes.
Choose fire retardant costumes that allow children free movement and good visibility. Be careful about accessories. Even toy knives and swords can cause harm. Give each child a flashlight.
10. Set a good example.
Show that you care about safety and make it a top priority.
About The Author
© Susan Dunn, MA, Coach, http://www.susandunn.cc. Coaching, Internet courses and ebooks for your personal and professional development. Career, relationships, transition, midlife. Mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc for free ezine.
Should a Toddler Wear Pull-Ups While Potty Training
As a parent, you’ve learned a lot while your child moved from being an infant, to crawling, to the mobile stage of an active toddler. Now that they are older, and able to understand simple directions and associations, you’re working towards the goal of “no more diapers”. You’ll get lots of tips and advice, some of which is valuable, and some that will leave you undecided about things like should a toddler wear pull-ups while potty training?
Again, we go back to the disposable diaper versus cloth debate, although the sheer quantity of either is somewhat reduced by the age of 18-24 months, when most children are attempting to stay dry through the day and night. But the major question becomes one of convenience, versus what may be a better and more “natural” way to get your toddler into the bathroom when he or she needs to go.
Wearing training pants, which are made extra thick and absorbent, is often a deterrent to the child who dislikes being wet. With cloth, the wetness stays close to the skin, where disposable paper-based products tend to draw the liquid away, and the child will play happily, even though their pull-ups are drenched.
Even a young child can pull up an elastic-waisted pair of underpants, so there is nothing unique in the disposable version, except the cute patterns, and you can get those on training pants as well. What they pull down is not going to matter to a young child, as much as it does to the parent. So when it comes to wondering should a toddler wear pull-ups while potty training, consider the cost, convenience, and your success in having the child acknowledge “accidents”, which will eventually prevent them from happening again.
Jackie G. Maxwell is the resident baby & toddler expert at MalcolmsWeb.com.
Visit this link for free practical parenting tips to take the mystery and fear out of parenting your toddler: Toddler Parenting Tips
My RAD Child
When I say RAD you may think of a child that is far beyond the normal. Well, mine is in a way. You see, in this case RAD stands for Reactive Attachment Disorder. If you haven’t heard of this condition before, you’re not alone!
What is RAD? It occurs whenever a child’s basic physical and emotional needs are neglected during infancy. This results in the child developing a resistance to social interaction, their seeking of isolation, their being difficult to comfort, and their avoiding physical contact, especially from the caregiver.
While RAD may sound like PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), they are different from each other. Usually PTSD is a “starting point” for a child to be diagnosed with RAD. They are similar in that: (1.) Both have been caused by trauma. (2.) Both cause night terrors. (3.) Both lead the children to have tantrums or shut down in fear over incidents that remind them of the traumatic event. These children may even act blank at times, seemingly loosing their place in time. (4.) They rage after being exposed to something that reminds them of the frightening situation – hitting, punching and seeming to fight for their lives. (5.) They are hypervigilant (constantly on high alert). The primary difference between RAD and PTSD lies in the fact that due to the trauma in RAD children being caused by their first primary caretakers, these children are not easily comforted by their caretakers. RAD children also resist social interaction and physical contact.
There are a few things that need to be done to help these RAD children. First of all, they need to be living in a safe environment where their emotional and physical needs are met. Secondly, the parents must learn therapeutic parenting. These specialized parenting techniques are meant to help the child. They are much more effective whenever they’re supported by your community. Things such as encouraging your child to practice trusting you as a family, meaning that they need full front-to-front hugs, deep eye gazing, and lap-sitting with their nuclear family. This, of course, takes a lot of time and energy. Parents need to understand their child’s behaviors and how he/she looks at themselves and the world around them. This means understanding that the children have learned to see adults as uncaring, mean, rejecting, violent, unreliable, unresponsive, and/or absent. This obviously cannot be changed by simply placing them in a better environment. It takes work!
Oftentimes, RAD parents need lots of encouragement too. These RAD children can have some very negative effects upon their parents, including: (1.) Parental dreams are dashed. (2.) There is an apparent frustration present due to the lack of bonding. (3.) RAD children often vent their hatred toward their mother. (4.) There’s an apparent close bond with their father. (5.) There’s a lot of external criticism of parents. (5.) Holidays are often difficult due to the child’s anger. (6.) Parents may appear hostile, angry and defensive.
If you know someone who has a RAD child, I encourage you to encourage them… They both need and deserve it! If you yourself have a RAD child, I encourage you to keep up the good fight as you’re your child’s best source of wellness. If you are in neither position, please pray for those of us who are in these positions!
Brenda Hoffman is a home-based professional from Pennsylvania. She began her adventures in home-based business over 7 years ago after receiving a BA in psychology. Now the mother of 1, she operates a holistic health and wellness network, providing information for those who are interested in improving their life. Take some time to check out http://your-healthy-family.blogspot.com
Copyright (c) 2005 All Rights Reserved
The Last Laugh: Parental Pranks for April 1
The exact origin of April Fool’s Day is uncertain, but popular belief is that it began in France with the adoption of a new calendar. In 1582, the Gregorian calendar (still in use today) replaced the long-standing Julian calendar and New Year’s celebrations were moved from April 1 to January 1.
People who continued to celebrate the new year on April 1 were labeled “fools” and often ridiculed. This harassment evolved over time, and now “All Fool’s Day” is practised in many parts of the world with each country celebrating it in their own special way.
In Scotland, “Taily Day” lasts 48 hours and is devoted to pranks involving the buttocks. The Scots are rumoured to have invented the “Kick Me” sign.
In France, children exclaim “Poisson d’Avril” (April fish) when playing a prank, referring to a young fish which is easily caught.
In Rome, the “Festival of Hilaria” is on March 25 and is also referred to as “Roman Laughing Day”.
While children relish tricking us on this special day, why let them have all the fun. Here are some ways for you to trick them:
Replace the cream filling out of Oreo-type cookies and fill with mint toothpaste. Put in lunches or on a plate and watch their faces.
Send a cheese sandwich for lunch, but “forget” to remove the plastic wrapper off the slice. Consider even placing a note inside stating, “Got ‘cha!” or “April Fool”.
Put some water in a cereal bowl, and place it in the freezer the night before. Offer to get your family cereal in the morning. Put a thin layer of their favourite cereals on top of the ice, and serve.
Or, just before your kids come down to eat breakfast, put some food colouring in the milk. Blue, green, or yellow (it looks like soured milk)-any color will do. Watch them go into total shock when they pour the milk into their cereal or glasses.
Or consider preparing a special April Fool’s Day Dinner, where nothing is quite what it appears:
Make your favourite meatloaf recipe and bake in 2 round cake pans. Frost with mashed potatoes that are the consistency of frosting. You could write “Happy April Fool’s Day” on the cake with ketchup.
Prepare lemon Jell-O and pour into glasses, insert a straw and let it set up. The Jell-O is the drink and looks like lemonade (watch your kids try to suck it up a straw).
Make “fish sticks” or “French fries” from pound cake. Place on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees until crisp and golden on the edges. Raspberry or chocolate sauce can be served in opaque red plastic “ketchup bottles”.
Everybody loves a well-played joke and the infectious squeals of children’s laughter. So this April 1, why not try to catch your own “young fish” in a harmless prank and make it a day of family fun. Just remember ? don’t leave this article on the coffee table. You wouldn’t want to give your kids any good ideas.
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Award-winning educator, speaker and author Rob Stringer coaches parents with his upbeat approach to learning and parenting. Explore articles, activities and learn how to create the family you desire.
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How to Choose a Car Seat That Meets The Needs of Your Baby
There are many types of car seats available on the market today. In order to be able to make an informed decision it is best to check out car seat manufacturers. You can also check any consumer guide for information on recalls, seats that have been crash tested, the best type of restraint systems for your child. Before that even starts be aware of the fact that there are many types of car seats. The choice you make will be based on your prior research and your child’s needs. A note of caution: before you purchase a car seat check the manufacture’s recommendations and be sure the seat is compatible with your vehicle.
One type of car seat is the infant only car seat. This seat comes with a detachable base, comes with higher weight and height limits, harness slots that will help to change the seat from rear facing to front facing. The multiple slots can be adjusted to fit your baby. They also have handles that can be folded down while the child is in the car. They can be raised to make carrying your baby easier.
Convertible car seats are bigger and heavier and may not be appropriate for some newborns. The reclining position and ease of adjusting the harness are important assets. A convertible seat can be used rear facing for most newborns and front facing for older babies over twenty pounds. The American Pediatric Association recommends a child stay rear facing until s/he reaches the maximum weight and height listed by the manufacturer. The straps and are adjustable to a child’s size, the seat should be moved to the proper position for the weight and height of your baby. The seat belt should be threaded through the seat belt path.
Forward facing seats cannot be used in the rear facing position. They are only for children over a year old and over twenty pounds. They can be used with either a lap only or lap/shoulder belt system.
Combination seats also cannot be used in the rear facing position and are also only for babies over a year and over twenty pounds. It has an internal harness for children whose weight is between forty and fifty pounds. It can convert to a belt position booster seat by removing the harness for larger children. They can be used with lap only or lap/shoulder belts.
Booster seats come in different types. Some come with shield boosters that are padded bars that lock into position much like the handlebars on carnival rides. There are booster seats that come with a high back to support your child as s/he rides in a car. Some booster car seats are built into vans and some cars. Check with your vehicle manufacturer to be sure the seat will accommodate your child’s size. There are travel vests that attach to the seats with lap only belts.
Now that you know the types of car seats, there are things that must be considered in order to ensure the safety of your baby. Is the seat safe? How did it fare in crash testing? Is the restraint system easy to manipulate? If they are difficult to buckle your child in or remove him from the seat your child’s safety could be compromised. In an accident, a sudden stop, or quick swerve will the seat hold your child? If the seat moves in any way in these situations your baby could be at risk. The car seat should attach snugly to the seat if properly installed. With seats that have multiple belt slots to accommodate your child be sure you use the right one. The belt should be at your child’s shoulder level or just above.
Most newer car seats come with the LATCH (lower anchor and tethers for children) system. Installation is supposed to be easier but they are difficult to use and are not always safe. Parents complain that upon installing seats with this system there is too much slack, the seats have a tendency to move or slide out of position. In an emergency situation this could have seriously disastrous results. A company has created a tool called Mighty Tite that is used to pull in the slack and it has been safety tested and is recommended.
As previously stated check consumer guides and online sites for recalls. This is especially important if you have a used car seat. If you purchase your seat second-hand you need to inspect it thoroughly. Check that all belts and buckles are in good shape and working as recommended. Make sure the belts aren’t frayed or the buckles cracked. Check the frame for any breaks or gaps that your little one could get fingers stuck in or that are sharp. If you find such things don’t use the seat until you can get it repaired or replaced. If the seat comes with removable covers it is suggested that you remove them and wash them well. If it doesn’t have cloth covering you might want to buy some. A vinyl seat, could in the summer, burn your little one’s tender skin. In a desperate attempt to remedy this when my own child was an infant, I found a large towel and cut holes in it and place it on the seat so that anywhere my son’s skin would meet the seat, it was protected at least with the towel. If you are really creative you could make your own.
Be practical in purchasing your car seat. If you have an infant buy a seat that will convert to a front facing seat as your child grows. Infant seats also come with a base that remains installed while you are able to remove a sleeping child from the car without disturbing him too much. Some such infant seats can also attach to a stroller frame. This multi-use seat is practical and will save all the bending and unbuckling and buckling of seat belts and then stroller belts. The internal harness keeps your child appropriately restrained.
Let’s go over some important considerations in purchasing car seats. Keep in mind compatibility with your vehicle’s specifications. Check for recalls and safety testing- how did the seat fare in these situations? Is it the proper seat for the size of your child? Can the seat be converted from a rear and front facing seat – it is more economical to buy a convertible seat. Is the installation easy or does the seat seem to move around in the belt system? There is a tool called Mighty Tite that can take up any slack and make the seat secure in its position, thus enhancing your baby’s safety. Choose carefully and choose wisely, you are carrying very precious cargo.
About the Author
Declan Tobin is a successful freelance writer providing advice for parents and consumers on purchasing a variety of baby products which includes baby crib bedding, strollers, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information
Gymnastics History ? A Brief Overview
Gymnastics, as an activity, has been around for more than two thousand years in one form or another, from the ancient Greek Olympics, to Roman ceremony, to today’s modern meets.
As an organized and truly competitive sport, gymnastics has existed for a little more than a century. It was introduced in the mid 1800s to the United States, where it inexorably gained in popularity within school systems.
Amateur associations gathered together by the late nineteenth century, offering classes and opportunities for young people to join in on the fun. Eventually, these associations began to have their own championships.
In 1896, at the first international Olympic games in Athens, Greece, the sport we all know and love enjoyed its first large-scale debut. Included in the Olympic tournament were vaulting, parallel bars, pommel horse, and rings events for men. The first women’s Olympic gymnastics events were held in 1928. After the Olympics began to officially host gymnastics, the World Championship gymnastics meet emerged in the early 1900s, and it is still held to this very day.
Thus began a noble tradition that continues even in modern Olympic games and in local, regional, national, and world meets all over.
If you’re the parent of a young gymnast, odds are, people are going to ask you, “Why did you choose gymnastics over swimming, ballet, football, baseball, or soccer?” It is an easy question to offer, but not a simple one to answer.
Their curiosity is entirely understandable–to the uninitiated, may have a lower profile than others. However, if you are indeed very serious about your child participating in the sport, you can tell those people, with great authority, that gymnastics is an excellent way to spend time. Not only does it have a long and illustrious history, but it also requires attention and discipline on the part of a child–more so, perhaps, than one involved in any other sport.
In order to become successful at the sport of gymnastics, your child will have to get into a routine of practice.
This type of routine is different from, say, soccer practice or hockey practice, in that it does not involve the concept of physical rivalry with other individuals. A gymnast is not typically seen chasing after another gymnastics youth with a set of rings as one might see a hockey player attacking another person on an opposing team.
Gymnastics does not encourage violence in the same way contact sports do — indeed, when one is part of a gymnastics team, one has to work in synchronicity with and have a certain trust for the other members, a valuable lesson in this individualism-driven social environment. This can certainly help in any future employment, especially if your child is interested in professions that involve lots of interpersonal communication.
Beyond practice, gymnastics also requires physical discipline. For instance, if you do not move in the way that you are taught to move when on parallel bars, you will have falls and disappointment–and then, of course, you learn from the mistake, pick up, and try it again. Playing at gymnastics braces a person for the future in that way: it prepares them for the inevitable necessity of determination and endurance in any of life’s endeavors, whether in business or in education. In conjunction with school study habits, practice for gymnastics can indeed lead a young person into a level and graceful confidence. In fact, for as physically driven as gymnastics happens to be, it is also an extremely intellectual sport: every motion requires forethought, for in the game, if you do not think of what you are going to do before you do it, you’ll end up on the mat.
Finally, and perhaps most obviously of all, there is the fact that gymnastics will keep your child busy, as any other sport might. This means that he or she won’t be as likely to slip into a pattern of slacking or of hanging out with the wrong crowd. Quite literally, when your child is at practice, you will know where they are — you will not have to worry if they have wandered off somewhere or are unintentionally getting into trouble. This can lead to peace of mind for you and yours, most assuredly, which, like the skills they will learn, are absolutely invaluable.
By Murray Hughes
Gymnastics Secrets Revealed “The book EVERY gymnastics parent should read”
http://www.newsletterjournal.com
If your child is a gymnast and you enjoyed this article, you will definitely enjoy reading the zero cost, 5-day course Gymnastics Tips Course written especially for gymnastics parents by a gymnastics parent. Gymnastics History For AOL Users – History of Gymnastics
ABC of Breastfeeding
From the first moment the toddler is applied to the breast, it should be nursed upon a sure plan. That is necessary to the properly-doing of the kid, and can contribute basically to protect the health of the dad or mum, who will thus be rendered a good nurse, and her duty at the similar time will develop into a pleasure
Read more from the original source: ABC of Breastfeeding – Breaking News
