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Baby-Sign Language

Bedwetting
Potty Training - Boys- Tips

Bullying and Coping
Parenting Through Divorce

Teaching Music & The Benefits

Kids Nutrition Tips
Kids-Weight Loss Help

Benefit Of Toys In Child Development
Honest Parenting Skills-Guide

Is Life To Fast For Your Baby
Gender Differences Between Boys & Girls

How To Child Proof Your Home
How To Organize Child's Bedroom

and Lots More

The Benefits of Baby Sign Language
Extend Way beyond the First Few Years

by: Lisa Baade

Baby Sign Language is a communication method designed to be used with hearing babies and toddlers before they can speak. It is a simplified version of sign language designed to be easy enough for baby's to use from 6 months of age. The baby signs are often borrowed or modified from traditional sign language. These baby signs are based on gestures that symbolize the action or meaning of a word and are designed so that they can be understood even if you don't know any sign language at all. Baby Sign Language can be taught from birth although most children have the necessary hand eye co-ordination to begin signing back to their parents and caregivers by the age of 6 months. As most babies don't begin talking until they are between 9 - 12 months of age, Baby Sign Language gives the child a significant head start on two way communication. This milestone may seem to be a small advantage to begin with however research has shown that this small advantage flows through to have larger developmental impact later on in life.

NIH Funded Baby Sign Language Experimental Studies

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Baby Sign Language is not a new concept, although it still receives much media attention around the world. The first Baby Sign Language studies were conducted as early as 1989. One of the most highly regarded and a frequently referenced experimental study is a National Institute of Health (NIH) funded study conducted by Drs Linda Acredolo and Susan Goodwyn. This study was designed to determine the benefits of Baby Sign Language. The aim was to determine if Baby Sign Language would delay speech development in children. The children recruited into the study were assigned into two groups; the first group consisted of children that used Baby Sign Language and the second group consisted of children that did not. The children were recruited for the study at eleven months of age. Their speech and language development was followed up until they reached three years of age.

The study regularly assessed the speech and language development of the children. Language assessments were designed to measure language comprehension and language production. These assessments were conducted at assigned intervals during the study and measured the children's ability to put words into sentences. The child's intellectual development was also measured at 24 months.

The average scores of children in the study that were in the group that used Baby Sign Language were found to be higher than the control group who did not. By the age of twenty-four months, the signing children had a developmental advantage of three months over the non-signing children. By the time these signing children reached the age of thirty-six months, this advantage had increased dramatically from a three month developmental advantage to an equivalent twelve month advantage in their overall language skills and comprehension.

Since this research was conducted in 1989 there have been many families that use Baby Sign Language in their home. To date there hasn't been a single study that has shown there to be any disadvantages from using Baby Sign Language. Many childcare centres are also using Baby Sign Language as part of a dedicated program.

Some parents may be concerned if they use Baby Sign Language with their children that it may delay their speech development. The results of the NIH funded study demonstrate quite clearly that this is not the case. Baby Sign Language facilitates communication between baby and parent earlier in life and is thought by some to be an essential step in the learning process. Baby Sign Language aids in the comprehension of words through actions that they understand. By providing a communication method to the baby earlier in life they understand the benefit of communication as they are rewarded with some control over their environment and their needs. This only leads on to a thirst for a more complicated language which is thought to be the reason that baby's who sign with their parents speak earlier than those who do not.


About The Author
Lisa Baade is the author of Toddler Interpreter, A Parent's Guide to Baby Sign Language for Hearing Babies and Toddlers. By the time the baby has worked through the 5 stages of learning, the baby signs have progressed with the child's development and most children will be ready to replace all signs with fully developed speech, which remains the goal. Toddler Interpreter Baby Sign Language Resources can be purchased on line from http://www.toddlerinterpreter.com

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Parents Play The Most Central, Yet Vulnerable Roles In Children's Music Education
by: Tatiana Bandurina

The three basic parties who take part in children's music education are the child, the teacher (or teachers) and the parents.


To best understand how the young musician will regard music lessons, we must ask: "How should parents plan for the musical education of their children and what they know about it?"


As a rule, there are two main things to consider: the choice and cost of the instrument, auxiliary materials and lessons; and the search for a good teacher. After that, the preparation for the child's musical training is largely complete. However, buying the instrument and paying for lessons are not the most complex part of music education, although many parents think so and believe that the rest is up to the teacher and the child, who is obliged to frequent music lessons on a regular basis and do the homework. In fact, to parents, it all seems very easy! "Did you do your homework today? Have you practiced that piece enough? Have you learned the fingers in an etude? Come on, play the piece you had to memorize!"


Here's the simple truth: The reasons behind one's success in music education as well as the loss of interest creep in absolutely imperceptibly, and often during quite a long period of time.

Again, parents are the most integral and important parts of the equation when it comes to their children's success or loss of interest in musical education. When a child gets bored with his or her lessons, the parents, who by that point are exhausted by battles with the child to practice and often feel financially pinched from the costs of the instrument and the lessons, must then face the difficult decision of whether to terminate the lessons.


While preparing the materials for my book, Voices of our Children, I talked to parents and teachers and asked them what they considered to be the prime reason behind the child's loss of interest. Can you guess who a whopping 80 percent considered to be at fault? The child! It was he/she who did not want to continue the education!


What's more important is that after terminating the lessons, very few parents asked themselves why their child lost interest. Let's look the perspective of each participant in this scenario:


The child. He is happy! His "tortures" have finally ended. He no longer has to hear unpleasant things about his careless attitude toward music lessons. No one will ever force him to learn music against his will! Now he is free from tiresome lessons and can spend time doing things he likes!


The teacher. Not every teacher, especially not those who often lose students, will search for the real reasons behind a child's loss of interest in music lessons. It is easier for some teachers to accuse or blame the student than to admit to their own mistakes.


In this case, what does the teacher do? He quickly forgets about former students and places an ad to get new ones - he has to earn a living. It's just a job.


Parents. Believe it or not, but I think that when the child quits musical training, the parents suffer the most - not only because they have invested in this venture materially, but because along with the termination of music education they must part with their own dreams, hopes, and an opportunity to discover and develop their child's true talent that might not have been obvious.


Now, when the child quits music lessons, he can quickly redirect his attention to new interests. The teacher, who has lost the student, can compensate for his loss by finding a replacement. But the parents do suffer the most - they cannot "move on" - they cannot replace own child with another!


Therefore, to avoid this problem before it hits home, I strongly believe parents should prepare for their children's music education ahead of time. They should know beforehand what awaits them in the future, and should be ready for possible hardships. About The

Author
Tatiana Bandurina is an inventor, a professional writer and a member of Canadian Authors Association. For more than twenty years she worked in several children's musical academies and schools as a teacher and a principal. Tatiana is now a chief of Quintecco Educational Products, Inc., the website is http://www.quintecco.com, a company that develops and markets new media education products to the consumer and business education markets.

Allergies - Bed Bugs - Dust Mites - Sensitive Skin - Incontinence - Bedwetting & Everyday General Protection

Top Ten Nutritional Tips for Children
by: Jason Horsley

With video games, TV, computers, poor meal choices and the internet, children are facing a health crisis of their own.

Children as a whole are less healthy than they used to be in times past. Diabetes--thought to be a mainly adult disease in the past has been on the rise among children. An obese child usually translates into an obese adult, which can lead to all sorts of health problems in the future, such as high blood pressure and an increased chance of suffering from a heart attack or stroke.

With this in mind, eFitness for Life has put together a top ten list of nutritional tips for children.

1. Set a good example and keep your child active. Children learn by example, and if their parent is healthy and active, chances are they are too. Make activity fun for your child and enroll them in as many sporting activities as you can afford.

2. Make sure your child eats their breakfast. Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. It will give them the fuel they need throughout the day. Make sure you guide them towards making healthy breakfast choices, such as oatmeal or whole grain cereals.

3. Keep your child hydrated, especially if it's hot outside or they're engaged in a sporting activity.

4. Make sure your child gets enough protein and carbohydrates in their diets. Foods that are good sources of protein and carbohydrates include fish, poultry, meat, cheese, milk, beans or legumes.

5. Provide healthy snacks after exercise. Instead of handing them a chocolate bar, hand them a piece of fruit instead.

6. Provide variety in their diet. If your child is eating the same things day after day, chances are that they're missing out on some nutritional building blocks. Besides that, they will get bored with their diet. Instead, have them help you choose meals that are healthy for the entire family. This will help them make better choices in the future.

7. See a nutritionist. They can help a great deal when it comes to planning meals for you and your growing child.

8. Try to make home cooked meals as opposed to eating out. Fast food is generally not a good way to instil good eating habits in your child.

9. Throw out the soda and limit the juices. Soda is jam packed with calories and juices are typically full of sugars. Instead, give them water.

10. Teach your child about proper portion sizes. Most people eat way too much food at each meal, which contributes to massive weight gain in both adults and children.

Nutrition is important for both children and adults. Together you can make your house a healthier environment, where everyone can reap the benefits. Don't allow poor nutrition and inactivity to ruin your child's health. Together we can make a difference that will last a lifetime.

For those that need a little extra direction or motivation, visit eFitness for Life now and see how our online fitness and nutrition coaching programs can help you make the most of your investment, in the shortest possible time, with the greatest return. All done online! All done with certified coaches! Truly, the Future of Fitness! Stop by today and we will be happy to build your starter programs to ensure you learn to live longer, healthier lives.

About The Author
Jason J. Horsley is the CEO/Founder of eFitness for Life an online fitness and nutrition coaching solution that provides an affordable, convenient alternative to conventional, expensive dietitians and personal training. Through both eFitness for Life and Health and Wealth for Life, Jason is using his 15+ years in the fitness industry to help individuals across the globe not only look better, but feel better and live longer. The eFitness for Life team is made up of coaches/trainers around the US, working with clients throughout the world via the World Wide Web and the state-of-the-art eFitnessTracker software! The author invites you to visit: http://www.efitnessforlife.com

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Bullying Prevention Skills and Techniques for Children
Mark Lakewood, CEO

Child bullying is a big problem in our schools today.

The main difference between child bullying today from the past is the nature of the bullying and the violence that occurs in the aftermath.

Cyberbullying is becoming a popular and more destructive form of bullying than traditional bullying.

More children today are bringing guns to school to seek revenge on others. Child bullying has been around and will probably remain for years to come. Unfortunately, we do not have the power to rid the world of bullying. The answer to the issue of child bullying rests within us, especially the victims of bullying. Victims of bullying are never responsible for being bullied. On the contrary, victims of child bullying have the power in themselves to think, behave, and react in ways that limits or eradicates bullying. As a society, we spend much of our energy identifying and punishing the bully that we fail to spend adequate time empowering the victims of child bullying. We should spend more of our energy on the things that we can control rather than the things that we have limited or no control over. We need to teach children about the power that they already possess. Let me elaborate on a few issues that parents should teach their children regarding bullying prevention.

Let's first talk about the characteristics of child bullying. Typically, bullies and their victims share the same characteristic - low self-esteem. It just depends on whether they internalize or externalize their feelings that will determine if they will become a bully or a victim of bullying. Typically, negative situations and events in the child's life can trigger low self-esteem. Externalizing feelings can cause some children to become bullies as they attempt to control their environment to compensate for their lack of control in their family. For instance, if the parents of a child are divorcing and the child is very upset about the divorce, he/she might feel powerless in his/her ability to keep his/her parents together. As a result, the child might take out his/her rage on others for purposes of seeking control to compensate for his/her lack of control over their parents' impending divorce.


Given the same scenario (parental divorce), some children internalize their feelings by not talking or acting out how they feel. Instead, they become depressed and withdrawn feeling like a failure. Often, they develop a negative image of themselves and their physical appearance. They look at others and the world around them with shaded lens. When a bully validates this child's feelings about him/herself, this child often reacts negatively to the validation because he/she feels the bully is correct in their interpretation.


Often times, children with high self-esteem do not respond negatively to bullies because they already know that negative personal statements made by the bully are untrue and therefore are unworthy of attention.


As human beings, our behavior, thoughts, and feelings are never dictated or controlled by others, situations, and events unless we allow this to occur. Simply said, others, situations, and events can trigger a reaction based on what we think. For example, if I do not want to go to work today and my car has a flat tire, I might experience happiness because I do not want to go to work. On the other hand given the same event (flat tire), I might want to go to work today to take care of some unfinished business. Because the flat tire might delay or eliminate my chances of getting to work, this situation might cause me anger. How could the same event in both situations cause two different feelings? It was not the event at all that triggered the feelings. It was what I thought about the event that triggered my feelings. Therefore, manipulating the way we think can alter how we feel. We have the power to take ownership and control over our thoughts. We however have limited or no control over specific events, situations, and the behavior of others. Sometimes, we attempt to control events, situations, and others but become frustrated when our attempts fail.


Now, how does the paragraph above apply to the issue of bullying prevention? The main goal of bullies is to get their victims to experience fear, anger, or sadness. Once their victim demonstrates signs of these emotions via the words he/she says, body language, or actions, the bully has complete and total control over him/her. The bullying will continue until the victim no longer verbally and/or physically displays fear, anger, or sadness in response to the bullying. The bullying will end once the victim responds the opposite of what the bully expects.


How do we get children to react the opposite of what the bully expects? This is where role-playing comes in handy. Parents should regularly sit down with their children helping them learn to react the opposite of what bullies expect. Often times, this task is much easier when the parent knows what hurtful words or phrases bullies say that makes their children feel fearful, angry, or sad. Using these hurtful words and/or phrases in role-plays will emotionally prepare children when they are approached by bullies.


It is also important to teach children that they have the power to change or affect the agenda of bullies by the words they use. For instance, if a bully calls a child 'stupid', the child could defuse the bullying by stating to the bully, "That's nice", "How about that", "Oh, well", and so forth. The worst thing that the child could do is respond by telling the bully that he/she is stupid or make other negative statements. A negative response will only inflame the situation encouraging further bullying.


In addition, parents should teach and role-play with their children specific forms of body language that differentiates a child with high self-esteem from a child with low self-esteem. Body language communicates feelings more so than spoken words. If a child yells at a bully stating that he/she is not bothered by the bully's behavior, the bully knows that the child is bothered because of the yelling. Lack of eye contact, looking down, slouched posture, lack of hygiene, and low tone of voice can be viewed as symptoms of low self-esteem.


Parents need to teach their children that bullies rarely get angry at them. Bullies are typically angry at themselves and/or events that occurred or are occurring in their own life for which they have limited or no control. Bullies indirectly take out their anger on the ones they could easily control.


Parents should never teach their children to physically fight back when approached by a bully. The problem with fighting back is that children can get themselves into trouble for engaging in physically assaultive behavior. Think of it this way - bullies rarely throw the first punch. They always entice their victim into throwing the first punch. This way when they are asked who started the fight, the bully could easily and truthfully state that their victim started it. In addition, there are significant legal ramifications that can arise as a result of physically assaultive behavior.


It is important to remember that physical violence typically occurs after a negative verbal interaction. Violence typically is provoked and rarely unprovoked. Therefore to avoid violence, the conflict can and should be defused during the verbal exchange. This is why the words victims say and their body language are so significant and detrimental to the outcome of bullying. Recent school shootings suggest that the shooters were bullied by their classmates. The bullying subsequently provoked the school violence.


Parents should be cautious when teaching their children to ignore bullies. The problem with ignoring is that the bully knows that his/her behavior is irritating, annoying, and controlling his/her victim. Therefore, the bullying will continue.


Parents should be cautious when teaching their children to report bullying to an adult without first attempting to resolve the conflict on their own. Parents should encourage their children to first attempt to resolve the bullying on their own with the skills taught above. If their children are unsuccessful resolving these issues on their own, they should be encouraged to report the bullying. If their children automatically report the bullying without attempting to defuse the situation on their own, they will be perceived and labeled as a tattle-tale which will encourage the bullying to continue.


Parents need to teach their children the correct definition of the word 'tattling'. Some children think that reporting child misbehavior to adults is considered tattling. Parents need to teach their children that reporting on others just to see them get into trouble is considered tattling. A child that reports to his/her parents that his/her brother is picking his nose is considered tattling. Children always need to report to an adult if they were physically, sexually, or verbally harmed by others or if they witnessed others engaging in destructive or illegal behaviors.


It is very easy to feel sympathetic toward victims of child bullying. However, it would be more helpful to the victim if we are more empathic to their needs by empowering them to diffuse bullying on their own. As a result, their ability to defuse the bullying would ultimately raise their level of self-esteem and self-worth.

About The Author
Mark Lakewood, CEO, is a distinguished bullying prevention expert, author, and speaker with over 20 years of clinical experience as a family therapist. He provided clinical and consultation services to school personnel and students on issues of bullying and behavior management. He facilitates the "Standing Up To Bullying" Conference, http://www.StandingUpToBullyingConference.com.
The author invites you to visit:
http://www.StrongFamilies.us

Six Tips To Help Your Overweight Children Lose Weight

by: William Winch

Childhood obesity has more than tripled over the past 40 years. More than 30% of children and teens are overweight and 20% are classified as obese. Most parents wait for their child to grow out of it, encouraging (Obese @ 8mos) them to be proud of who they are. That is certainly noble in theory, but being overweight increases the risk for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated blood cholesterol levels, and premature heart disease.

It can certainly be a challenge for parents to provide children with opportunities to lead a healthy lifestyle. You never know what they could be stuffing down their mouths in the school cafeteria or at their friend' house. That is why it is so important to teach proper nutrition in the home. They will not learn about it in school, not even in health class. The more you practice good health at home, the better choices they will make out in the world.

Here are a few weight loss tips to get your children started on the road to good health.

Tip #1: Be The Example Yourself

If you are overweight or obese yourself, you are setting a bad example for your children. Be a responsible parent and go on a diet. Yes, YOU! Children often mimic what their parents do, and if you are fat, they will think it is OK to be fat. It is a rare occasion that I see fat children with skinny parents, and vice versa. How often do you see fat kinds with skinny parents, or skinny kids with fat parents? Not too common.

Tip #2: Pack Their Lunch For Them

Do not hand over a five dollar bill for your child to purchase a lunch themselves just because you are lazy in the morning. Nine times out of ten they will spend it on junk food because you are not there to tell them no. If you want your children to eat properly, do the most you can. Pack their lunch so they are forced to eat it. If that is all they have, they will suffer through it and come out better in the end.

Tip #3: Think Ahead

Kinds want to grow up fast but they do not think of the consequences once getting there without planning. Studies show that if a child remains obese by the age of 10-14, they have nearly an 80% chance of remaining at a dangerously heavy weight through adulthood. Let them know that, especially if it scares you (which it should!). A childs weight is the most important predictor of whether or not the child will become an obese adult. Nearly 65% of obese adolescents will still be obese as adults, even if neither parent is obese.

Tip #4: Eat Together

When I was a child, it was a rare occasion that my family ate dinner in separate rooms. Do not let your child heat up a burrito and slam it down in their room in front of their computer or television. It is important to monitor their eating and make sure they are paying attention to the luxury of having dinner, especially if they are trying to lose weight. Eating together as a family is an activity that will help everyone follow a healthier lifestyle.

Tip #5: Fix Them A Healthy Breakfast

You know this is the most important meal of the day, so handing over a sugary pop-tart to your child on their way out of the house is extremely counter-productive. And do not even think about stopping off at Starbucks and buying them a fatty latte either. A healthy breakfast at home does not have to be time consuming. I make a soy based protein smoothy every morning that provides me with the best nutrition possible. It takes me literally 2 minutes to make it in the blender.

Tip #6: Introduce Healthy Snacking

Children are quite active with school, sports and other extra-curricular activities. It makes sense that they need a boost of energy in between meals. Stock your cupboards and refrigerator with healthy snacks instead of processed trigger foods. Cut fruits and vegetables so they can grab them just as they would a candy bar. Protein bars and soy nuts are a great alternative to cookies and chips. Premix flavored water with green tea to give them natural energy boosts instead of providing high sugar soda and sports drinks they are not healthy.

Helping a child to develop lifelong healthy habits can be rewarding in so many ways. Introducing healthy alternatives into your child's diet is not rocket science. Try the Children Lose Weight tips listed above to prevent resistance to healthier eating. As a parent, you are responsible for what, when and where your children eat. It is up to you to help your children adopt a healthy lifestyle.
About The Author
Bill Winch is a Personal Wellness Coach whose mission is teaching and coaching others who are struggling with getting healthy, losing weight safely and keeping it off for good. You can contact him for assistance on his website at http://www.LoseW8Now.com or by calling (585) 271-3767.

A Little About Yogee and the Kind of Toys They Carry

• Yogee stocks a huge selection of toys for different age groups, including babies, toddlers, preschoolers and big kids.
• They believe in helping you by giving you all of the information and tools to make the best possible purchases for your kids, or gifts for someone else's kids.
• For babies who are new to this world, we have toys that promote language, social, gross and fine motor skills development.
• For toddlers who are mobile and energetic , they have toys that allow them to burn their energy and use their muscle.
• For preschoolers who like imitating the adults, they have a variety of pretend play toys that allow them to creatively express themselves and experience what the adults are experiencing, like cooking and doing house chores.
• For big kids who are becoming more advance in their learning ability and competitive, they have toys and games that encourage them to read, write and calculate, as well as games that enable them to learn the concepts of winning and losing.
• Yogee Toys Ships To New Zealand, CA, USA and UK

The Impact of Toys in Child Development

Parents often seek assistance in selecting the right toys at the most ideal stage of their child's development. Many toys are designed for particular ages based on safety concerns; however, many others are designed to specifically encourage the development of certain abilities in a child.

In this article we will explore the fundamental skills developed by infants at varying ages, and the types of toys that can encourage children to reach their potential.

The Baby's 1st Year

In the first year of a baby's life, they begin exploring and experimenting with their most important senses:

Sound & Smell - In the first instance babies begin to match voices with certain faces and facial expressions, mainly from being held, fed and nurtured. Likewise, certain smells can be recognised and associations are gradually made. As they begin to establish these social attachments they become more receptive to different sounds and smells. Toys with sound and music that react to a child's action are especially good at this stage, and simply letting your baby smell something and then see it can encourage development in this area.

Touch & Sight - As babies begin to take a little control of their hands; touching and feeling things become an important part of an infant's development. Similarly, as sight becomes clearer, babies become more receptive to visual aids. Toys for this age are designed to enhance and encourage these traits. Toys should be for seeing, hearing and touching - this encourages the child to respond to the sights and sounds they see and hear. Picture books with sound, teddy bears with different textures and pulley toys that respond to a child's movement are especially beneficial after 6 months old. Toys in bright, monochromic colours can also help to stimulate eyesight in the first year of a child's life.

Ages 1 to 2

This stage is an important time for developing independence and important social skills that will never be lost. Between the ages of 1 and 2 it is surprising how rapidly a child develops from a tentative toddler saying only 1 or 2 words, to a confident child able to easily run and speak around 50 individual words.

From the age of 1, infants begin taking an interest in the effects of their manipulation, and it is very fun to sit back and watch children at this age. They particularly enjoy throwing toys and building things, so building blocks Duplo, and stickle bricks are fantastic toys at this age for encouraging hand and eye coordination, as well as a sense of balance.

From around 18 months, infants are able to walk very well and can run to an extent. When objects are in the way - running can prove difficult. However, with their newfound freedom, children love to explore and try everything out, without a sense of danger, so toys that encourage active play at this age are well received. Balls, Sit n' Rides , Activity Stations, toys that speak or make noises and toys of characters they see on TV are advantageous additions to a toy box at this age - they will encourage children to play actively, and it will also help them sleep well at bed time (an added bonus!).

Language progression is also crucial at this age. Children will begin responding when spoken to and chattering away when playing. This makes it important for adults to talk to children in conversations, read stories and sing nursery rhymes whenever possible.

Ages 2 Years +

As a child turns two years old their abilities in counting and speaking becomes clearer, and bodily strength in running and climbing becomes more refined.
At the turn of two years old, toys that have movement and sound and allow the child to throw and drop are ideal, as they will help to refine their physical strengths. Toys that allow the children to push themselves along, such as sit 'n' ride toys that allow children to steer are very desirable.

As they approach 3 years old, outdoor toys such as climbing frames and garden swings are great. Children at this age have good spatial awareness, and refined bodily strength. They can move large toys easily, kick balls forcefully and they also have the ability to use pedals on a bike.

An infant's imagination will develop greatly at this age as well, which is why dressing up and a fascination with make believe is noticeable. Doll sets, action figures, train sets and such toys are favourable at this age and help children express themselves and explore their independence. Children will also start to play with others and learn social skills through play. Cooperation and taking turns are examples of skills that will become extremely important both at a young age and throughout life.

Showing off new skills to family is also a very common trait for children around 3 years and upwards. Toys that mimic adult tasks, such as vacuum cleaners, cookers, shop tills and lawn mowers are especially good for engaging with a child.

While we have focussed on the initial, most advancing years of a child's life in this article, toys have been proven to encourage creativity, self-confidence and academic skills throughout every stage of childhood.

About the Author
Having once owned the second largest toyshop in the UK, the owners of Toys Direct to Your Door ( http://www.toysdirecttoyourdoor.co.uk/) have been in the toy business for over 40 years. Today, they continue to proudly provide quality children's toys across the globe.
The company stock a wide variety of toys, ranging from popular Playmobil, Baby Anabell and Thomas the Tank Engine toys, Lego and Duplo, train sets and doll houses and lots more.

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An Occasion to Play
by catwomanseven

It's easy to sit back as a parent and watch your children run around like mad men in an unstructured chaos. We call it "children at play" but in reality it's just pure chaos and you're children get very little from it in terms of stimulation, education and character building.

We've all seen the child who has trouble differentiating from playtime and the times where we need them to behave like proper young children. If you happen to have a child like this you know just what I'm talking about. At any time you are certain your child will morph into Super-Man and run off to save the world. They'll most likely hurt their siblings and make them cry in the process. This is not only embarrassing for parents it's destructive behavior that can affect your child for their entire lives and it's also a learned behavior that can also affect younger siblings in a very negative manner as well.
The good thing is, most of these behaviors can be modified easily by implementing several small tactics that can keep children interested and stimulated as well as developing motor skills, knowledge and social skills. Don't get me wrong, any time you try to add a little structure to chaos you'll find pit falls and brick walls but the end result will be a child who can play and function in a manner that benefits everyone.

Trying to build character through play time is one of the most rewarding experiences a parent will have with their children because it's time you get to spend simply having fun. The first step is to set clear ground rules for the game. For example, setting time limit, or sharing requirements will help you with the structure aspect. Just like adults, children benefit from structure because it gives them parameters to work within.

When playing imagination games (being a pirate trying to recover lost treasure) be prepared to teach. The definition of a parent should be "teacher" because it's up to you to make sure your children are being mentally stimulated and not just running through their day mindlessly. Before getting involved with kids toys, a new game or adventure with your child, do a little research on your own so you can bring interesting facts or stimulating questions to fun time. This keeps your child mentally involved in playtime and also helps to build on their knowledge. In the world of video games and televised stimulation playtime is rare and when your child does engage in it you can get 10 times more from it by using education to enhance the fun.

Building motor skills is another area that is often overlooked but very crucial in your child's development. The term "idol hands" is very true in the fact that when your child gets bored, they get into trouble. We've all seen it a hundred times. So when you're down on the floor playing with those Magformers, challenge your child to build something specific and build one right along side of them. This gives then sensory stimulation and it keeps them involved in the process. Once you build that pirate boat you can float on over to your Playmobil Toys village and search for that elusive gold. Your child will appreciate having a swash-buckling partner to help them and they will be more constructive in the process.

About the Author
Author Kimberly Green has 3 children whom she loves to buy fun and interactive kids toys for. They are a useful tool for imaginative play and learning.
http://www.bigsmiletoys.com/ http://www.articletrader.com/

Honest Parenting Skills Guide

Which road do I have to take to rear a good child?

Being a first time parent is hard enough. Getting the necessary baby items such as feeding bottles, clothes, cribs, tons of diapers and other baby things as well can be stressful.

The process of being a new parent.

The right parenting path will lead you to self-comfort most especially in those difficult situations that you are most likely to face in the future with your offspring.

Here are the processes that you should know to become skilled in parenting.

To rediscover the inner child within you - parents have to step inside your children shoes. Try to remember what it was like to be a kid again which is known as a process called "rediscovering your inner child". You must admit, that parents tend to forget how it is to just relax and they get stuck with their boring lifestyle
and jobs. For parents to understand the issues at hand with regards to their children you should place yourself in your children shoes. Try to see things from your child's perspective and by doing so you will then realize and understanding about how they're feeling and why they're rebelling. Proper and good parenting skills teaches you how to actually listen to your child's needs and not relinquish them, but it is all up to you on how can you stand strong and see the issues in your child's eyes and end to a solution that will please you both.

Parenting is a never-ending job.

There is a time where the fine line of parenting is nothing but wide, smooth and straight, that is when you know exactly what to do. Being a parent is nothing but a priceless job. To raise a child into being a good adult definitely takes a commitment (life long that is). Most parents want nothing but the best for their children.

Teach your kids self-reliance

It is hard to see a child struggling in meeting their personal goal, but it's' wonderful to be there beside them as you see them slowly achieving it. To teach your child the value of self-sufficiency and to respect the true value of hard earned money, they will surely grow properly, this may be hard but this is a rewarding process and irreplaceable. As young as two years old, a child can start learning to do easy chores. A child will begin learning things like carrying their own plates from the table to your dishwasher, placing items into the grocery cart (only with adult supervision) and these are simple and excellent takes for a two-year old to accomplish.

toderas cristian
Honest Parenting offers a revolutionary, yet common sense approach to parenting children and teens with behavioral and emotional issues.
www.articlesbase.com

How To Start Living The Simple Lifeby Jenni Ovington

You've made the decision to leave the rat race and all the commercialized waste land that goes with it - the coffee shops, lunches out with the girls, and spending up your weekend time "retail therapy(ing)" thereby exhausting the credit cards and yourself in the process.
So where do you start in wanting to live more simply?

1. Get Organized
This is by far the most important step in starting your life over again.
Simple living is in fact, not so simple. It's hard work but it will be far more satisfying than anything you've ever done before. So, step 1 is to start a Home Journal. I would suggest a 3 ring binder with dividers for each day of the week to start with. (Home made dividers could be business sized envelopes hole punched on one side of the long end and the day of the week written on the other long end that will show on the open edge of the binder). Each sheet that represents each day of the week should be uniform so that you make one template and simply write in the day of the week on it.
You can in theory turn the paper over after the first week and use the back of the sheet for the second week. After the second week, you can shred it and add it to your compost bin or recycle it on your curbside recycling set up or the local paper bank.
You're going to be doing a lot more than you used to so finding 'the time in your day' is going to be your first challenge.

2. Getting to grips with time management
The essence of living more simply is that you will be making the things you need or want in life more than you will be just going out and buying it already made for you. Convenience is therefore going out the window. Your time is now what is costly - not the items you used to purchase.
Most of us can't afford to spend all of our time making everything we need in day to day life so it's important now to figure out what you can spend time on and what still needs to be purchased to fit into your schedule. Don't beat yourself up over this. I can assure you anything you start doing for yourself that you used to pay someone else for, will make your day! The feeling of empowerment and self-reliance can never be underestimated.

3. Decide what to do first
If clutter is your thing, by all means, start de-cluttering first. When your house is filled with 'stuff', your mind is filled with 'stuff'. The strain this is putting on you is far worse than you can imagine. What you are dealing with here is a whole host of issues from bad chi (or energy in the house from all the blockages of stuff) to guilt for letting things get to this stage, to embarrassment in not wanting anyone to come over to the house, to fear that people have found out and are talking about you behind your back, to exhaustion - it's so bad you can't even look at it without feeling tired. If taking one room at a time is still too much, literally take one corner of one room at a time. Fit this time into your schedule and know that you are now making really positive steps towards your de-cluttering project.
Maybe your issue is home cooking. Can you cook well balanced meals? I know a lot of people who can't. It's not hard though and anyone can follow a recipe book (make sure it isn't a gourmet book though!) I love cookbooks like 'Farmhouse Cookery' and 'More with Less' because they use basic ingredients that all well stocked kitchens should already have on tap. If you don't have a well stocked kitchen, then get a cookbook that you think is going to work for you and your family, look at the recipes and devise your own list of what the basics are.

4. Start having fun
Now give yourself a challenge. Fancy making your own homemade soap or your own jam? Maybe you'd like to restore a piece of old wooden furniture with loads of character you found for pennies at a charity shop? Ever thought about knitting a dish cloth for hand washing your dishes? Find something that will excite you and look it up on the internet (I could give you all the answers here but this is about self-reliance so best you take up the challenge on your own).
Once you start, one thing will lead to another and before you know it, you'll be living the life you always wanted.

About the Author
Jenni Ovington is a designer and manufacturer of organic cotton textiles as well as owning her own business, HomeMattersMost, which also carries hundreds of products for every room of the home. www.homemattersmost.co.uk.

Organizing Children's Bedrooms
by marilyn

My grandson who had just turned two was at the doctor's with his mother. The doctor was impressed as he immediately started putting the toys away when she told him it was time to put them in the basket. He does the same thing in his home. I am also impressed with the way he is being taught so young. Starting young is part of the solution to helping children to be organized and keeping their rooms tidy.

Often children's bedrooms are messy and they get the blame when it might not be entirely their fault. Kids can't keep their rooms straight if they don't have homes for their toys, clothes, art supplies and other treasures.

It is up to the parent or caregiver to come up with storage solutions and guidance for the children. It is interesting how children can be reared in the same home and yet they have very different organizing skills. Sometimes we just have to embrace the differences and come up with systems that will help them to be organized.

Storage space and a place for everything are important in children's bedrooms. If the space is limited consider installing wire shelving inside closets. Have the rods in the closets at the child's level so he can be responsible to hang up his clothes. It needs to be easy for them to do. The top shelves can be used to store out of season clothing. Put these in bins with lids, label them on the outside with the sizes and season. A dresser can be used for shirts, pants, underwear, socks and pajamas. Or stackable plastic or wooden crates can be used.

Clothes in the closet need to be sorted through every few months as children grow so fast. Never put clothes from the wash back into their rooms that are missing a button, is ripped or needs some other repair. These go into a pile to be mended before putting them back in their rooms. Start when they are young helping them to be responsible for their clothes. When the clothes come out of the laundry fold and place each child's clothes into a separate bin. Then they can take their bin to their room and put their clothes away. The first few times walk them through this to show them where things go. Put containers in their drawers to hold underwear and socks to keep these contained.

If you allow toys in your children's room; toy chests they can reach into are a great place for toys. Or open containers like baskets, or bins, or plastic dishpans can hold toys, games, and sport equipment. It would free up space in their rooms if sport equipment could be stored somewhere else. Use baskets to hold shoes or a shoe rack in the closet. I prefer the ones that are like shelves as they have a flat surface to put shoes on. Over the door shoe organizers work for older children who can reach the pockets. Besides shoes these can hold a plethora of other items like hair accessories, jewelry, or arts and crafts supplies.

Every six to eight months take an inventory of the toys. If the child has out grown them or doesn't play with them anymore it is time to donate them. Decide what to get rid of according to what the child plays with and likes, not according to who gave it to them, how much they used to play with it or how cute you think it is. If you have other children who may want them someday then put them in bins, label them and put on the closet shelf or on a shelf in the garage or storage room.

A plastic under-bed container on wheels can be used to store toys, treasures, games, art supplies, and craft supplies. Bookcases can not only store books but can be used for toys, art and craft supplies, jewelry boxes, and collections. Books also need to be inspected to see if pages have been torn and need repairing and if the books are still age appropriate.

You know the adage, one in and one out. Every time the child gets a new toy or book he gets rid of one. Or toys could be rotated in and out every month.

There are many container possibilities to choose from to keep everything contained, with homes for all of their things children will be more likely to keep things put away.

Marilyn Bohn's Bio
Marilyn is a creative organizer who has been organizing for over 20 years. She is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers and is working towards becoming a Certified Professional Organizer. Professionally she has been organizing homes and offices for over two years. She holds a bachelors degree in Social Work. She has reared five daughters and currently lives in Utah.

Go to her website http://www.marilynbohn.com where you can find free organizing tips and interesting blogs and helpful articles on organizing.

About the Author
Marilyn is a creative organizer who has been organizing for over 20 years. She is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers.She holds a bachelors degree in Social Work. She has reared five daughters and currently lives in Utah.
Go to her website http://www.marilynbohn.com where you can find free organizing tips and interesting blogs and helpful articles on organizing. http://www.articletrader.com

Parenting Through Divorce
by: Jeffrey Willis

What ever your grounds for getting a divorce is, you shouldn't put your youngsters in the center of it. Divorce may happen to be the end of your marriage, simply it isn't the end of your task as a parent. Divorce parenting can be a tough situation if not done properly. If you and your ex partner can come to an arrangement on particular guidelines then you might merely be able to get out of this situation. Most experts can concur that even though divorce parenting isn't optimal, active parents play a big role in a child's living. So here are a few points for you to observe. Consider discussing this program with your ex spouse.

Divorce Parenting with a Plan

Your first decision should be a visitation schedule. Now I don't know what your position is, but it will be positive for your kids if you share custody. If you happen to get full custody of your minors than, please make sure your ex partner is involved. I understand you might sometimes be angry at your ex spouse, only you don't want to prevent your kids from seeing their father or mother.

Your next order of concern should be finances. Now typically speaking the person who gets custody gets 10% - 25% of the other parent's income. I tend to believe that this is the wrong way of conducting with the situation. I grew up with separate parents, and it was more horrible when my mother took my father to court for child support. Each time my father would come see me, they would start fighting. The easiest times I got growing up were when we were all together. My parents agree to split costs and custody evenly. I urge you follow a similar plan. You should split the costs of the spending for your minors right down the middle. This will ensure a solid family relationship.

You might need to discuss your children's education. You should both be playing a role in your children's education. It is fine if you decide to take care of your kids at different times, only when it comes to education you should both be there in helping them learn. Since my parents were fighting at the beginning of my childhood; I used to go to the library to study and learn. You know I have never been to Disney World, but going to the library felt like that for me.

This is the most key part of divorce parenting and parenting in whole, discipline. You need to have a certain set of house rules and discipline that work best with both of you. You don't want one parent being the strict one, while the other one plays the gracious one. Even though you live in other households you are still considered a couple when it comes to your children's eyes. If you desire to learn more about discipline see this website: http://www.parentinghelpcentral.com/parenting-discipline/parenting-discipline-discipline-in-this-generation As long as you both make similar guidelines when it comes to disciplining you should do fine.

Working together as divorce parents might be tedious at first, but as long as you follow a set plan you should be able to make the transition smoother on your kids. Just remember be respectful of your ex partner and don't place your minors in the center of anything.

About The Author
After having a rough childhood, I have made it my goal to help parents with advice on parenting in general. You can read more on this subject at http://www.parentinghelpcentral.com/divorce-parenting/divorce-parenting-parenting-after-a-divorce/ or about more on http://www.parentinghelpcentral.com/

Parenting: Which Road Do I Engage To Raise A Good Kid?
by: Rex Villaflor

Proper parenting skills is a main requirement in this constant groundwork process, you have to be definite that you are equipped with good ones.

Being a first time parent is tough enough. This can be an overwhelming endeavor. The important equipment that we have is the way in which our very own parents brought us up.

THE PROCESS OF BEING A NEW PARENT

Proper and good parenting skills teaches you how to essentially listen to your child's needs and not relinquish them, but it is all up to you on how can you stand strong and see the issues in your child's eyes and point to a solution that will please you both.

You have to admit, that we tend to overlook how it is to just relax and get jammed with our boring lifestyle and jobs. You have to remember that this is not the type of profession that you can quit, when you don't feel like it anymore. There is no such thing as unworkable in searching for others who are skilled in those kind of problems.

There are many websites about parenting that you can stumble on just about all types of circumstances possible. What is eminent is that keep in mind that you ought to never give up. Here are the processes that you must know to develop into skilled in parenting. Remember that too much of criticism is not going to do any good in any parent and child relationships.

PARENTING AS A NEVER-ENDING OCCUPATION

Not a soul can say that parenting is such an undemanding task. It's nothing but a permanent process. But! Being a parent is nothing but a amusing job. Even after all of your children have grown-up, they will still turn up to you for advice. Just as now that they are taller than you doesn't mean that they are more developed and ready for everything that this world can offer them.

A younger kid needs lots of attention as well as proper guidance as they are growing up. Parents are often times unappreciated and overworked. They have to be educated how to take on responsibilities to any act that they do and take whatever penalty (from doing bad decisions) that it brings them.

EDUCATE YOUR KID ON SELF-RELIANCE

To be pleased (blissfully) is what nearly all parents desire for their child. Most of the time, it is out of your own crave for materialistic pressures, or to be liked, and at times fervent longing that your kid may be spared of the things that you did not experience as a child, as an action you would aim to do your best to grant them nothing but the finest of everything. As early as one-year-old, your child can start learning self-reliance.

As your child has responsibilities, (even at a tender age) they too feels proud of their achievements and often feels looked-for, feels worthy and of course loved. Now that they are adults, they too understand that every person is accountable for the way they built their lives. Actual independence is the only precious gift that you can truly give your kid.

Upon learning to take on responsibility, they will be self-sufficient. Do not be surprised if you discover that you're really seeking to fulfill what you then lacked.

GET FURTHER COMPLIANCE

Start to determine house rules. Let us say if your house rule is that bedtime must be at 8 pm.

Try putting a marble in a jar on every occasion your child starts doing something for the first time that you asked. Try saying, "You can watch right after dinner". If your kid argues, all you have to do is to say again that rule over and over, as opposed to with you entering into a argument.

If the circumstances is for a frustrated youngster you can then say, "I know that you are irritated right now since you cannot complete building your Lego tower".

Some particular triggers can set a child off. You should at all times use optimistic interaction. You have to try phrasing your request or order in a much positive way as opposed to a unconstructive way.

Each time give your child two options. Being the parent you are permitted to pick at least two options that is both acceptable to the both of you as you offer it to your child.

To be able to get to the next place, make it fun - If your kid is the type that has troubles with changes and becomes oppositional, you can ask him/her to jump like a kangaroo to the door, or even allow their favorite object waiting in the car. By using rewards - You can focus on your childs optimistic viewpoint instead of the negatives.

BUILD MEMORIES WITH QUALITY FAMILY TIME

A intended simple dinner that is delicious and nutritious, but doesn't require stress while preparing it.

You have to try to determine beforehand how incidents would be tackled for you to be prepared and will not be unfocused incase emergent of a slight skirmish. It is essential to always keep positive and upbeat conversation topics. You do not need key makeovers in starting to expand your quality time that you and your family spend together.

COMMON CHILD AND PARENT PROBLEMS

There is no help in going back down your memory lane (your own school days) if you desire to try to help your child with their homework, you'll just probably find yourself lost and not even understand, since even all of the lessons methods at the present time have changed. Being a parent means that you possibly will have some misgivings, that is just one part of it. A lot of the lessons now are all computerized, most probably your child is more adept in using a computer than you are.

Give out your child some freedom, so that they can start learning on their own to curve on how to do things unaccompanied. We are trying to teach our children to best of our knowledge by reliving our very own childhood/teen years and the fact of the matter is that we haven't really stirred forward at present time. I have been corrected a lot of times before by being rebuked that "Its way different now" or by "Dad that happen to be years ago" it seems that the children makes a point in that sense.

Children are fast growing up and at the common age of ten or even eleven they're almost like young adults already. It may be challenging for some, while it can be stress-free for others. Do not let panic to come and hit you, the joyful experience that a child can bring to their parents is adequate to pay for all the hardships that you will endure in rearing a good child.

About The Author
Rex left the busy city to settle down in a quiet beach-side domain where he performs all his work at home stuff. At the time of writing, he is preparing for the biggest day of his life, that is being married to the most wonderful lady in the world, Lorraine. The author invites you to visit: http://parenting.iqhq.me

Is Life Too Fast For Your Baby?
by: Dylan Emrys, MA

Let's face it, no matter how hard we attempt to slow down our lives, they are fast paced. Meetings, deadlines, schedules…and if you stay at home with your child, you may feel pressured to "get it all done" during the day - and that includes going to the park, driving the older kids to lessons, grocery shopping…


There's simply a lot going on, most of the time.


It's normal for babies to protest a fast pace. How often have we experienced a screaming infant in the grocery store or on an airplane? And I'm sure we all know babies who HATE the car seat.


What you may not realize is that if the pace is fast for us…it is light speed for a baby. And that the transition from one activity or location to another can be upsetting for them.


Your baby's brain doesn't process information at the same rate that you do, so when you are moving through your life, and taking your baby along with you, she is experiencing a bombardment of sensory input, and may become disoriented.


Think of it this way…lets say you are in a foreign country, and don't understand the customs or language at all. You know your friend you are visiting, but most other people are strangers. Let's say your friend, either says something super fast in this foreign language, or doesn't say anything at all, suddenly takes you by the arm, and gently ushers you into the downtown streets and goes about her errands with you in tow - but with no explanation or time for you to "catch up" with what's happening. You go from place to place, and as time goes on, you probably become more and more resistant and try to get her to slow down…but what if she doesn't?


A little overwhelming?


Yeah…welcome to your baby's world.


Transitions occur several times a day. Anytime you move your baby from one place to another, or change the activity - like if you are playing with her on the floor but suddenly go to answer the phone…to your baby, that can be startling.


For some babies, transitions are bigger than the event itself. What was the biggest transition your baby ever experienced? You got it…his birth. The ultimate transition. How did that go? Consider that how your baby transitioned into the world is also how he perceives all transitions. Without going into a judgment of "bad" or "good" think of what it might have been like for him…was it a long struggle? Scary? Connected? Too much too fast? Out of control? Someone else's timing? Painful? Smooth?


Your baby may be remembering or reacting to body memories of his birth with each transition he experiences.


Next time you transition from one thing to another, go more slowly and talk to your baby about it…be aware that it might be a bigger deal to her than to you, and see if you can be present for that with empathy.

About The Author
A Masters in Clinical Counseling specializing in Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology combined with over 20 years of working with parents, infants and children, gives Dylan a unique set of skills that enhances her wisdom and compassion. With an uncanny ability to sense what's going on for babies as well as adults, she's helped clients from all over the world gain understanding about their baby as well as themselves to create more joy and health in their lives. http://fromrootstobranches.net

Dealing With Toxic Toys in the Attic
by John Mininno

As the dust begins to settle from parents rounding up their children’s toys after the national lead paint recalls, many eco-conscious parents now wonder how they should dispose these confiscated toys. The toys’ lead paint is highly toxic and known to cause a range of health problems in young children. There is no question that parents should immediately remove these toys from the home and away from children. Naturally, most parents would just throw the toys away without giving it a second thought. However, throwing toxic toys in the trash carries serious consequences, as these same toxins will eventually end up in a landfill and back into our drinking water.


So, what choices do parents have to ensure that these toxic toys will be disposed of without causing further harm to the environment? Logically, one would assume that the local municipalities would have a safe and eco-friendly plan for toxic toy disposal. Unfortunately, they do not. Instead, local municipalities that routinely accept other hazardous materials such as antifreeze and mercury have refused to accept contaminated toys in their hazardous waste collections. These municipalities instruct parents to send the toys back to the manufacturer in China. The same holds true on a national level. Like local governments, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) also instructs parents to send the toys back to the manufacturer.

But with no guidelines or plan for disposal, what exactly are these manufacturers in China doing with the recalled toys? Ideally, the CPSC and the manufacturers are supposed to work together to develop an environmentally responsible plan. Not surprisingly, no such plan is yet in place even though the recalls were months ago. Some fear that these manufacturers will quietly dispose of toxic toys in landfills, further contributing to groundwater pollution overseas. Worse, others maintain these manufactures will redistribute toxic toys to children in third world countries in order to recoup the financial losses stemming from the recalls. After all, these are the same Chinese manufacturers who gave us contaminated dog food, child labor and a long track record of showing little or no regard for the environment.

Parents and consumers alike agree that too much time has passed since the initial recalls and it is now time to address the situation. Eco-conscious trial lawyers and local governments must take aggressive action in the courts by using the tort system to hold Chinese manufacturers responsible for recklessly exposing our kids to a banned toxin. In the meantime, why not send the toys directly to the CPSC headquarters in Washington? After all, this same agency failed to keep these toxic toys away from children to begin with. As the toys start to pile up in Washington, perhaps the CPSC will finally move to develop an environmentally safe disposal plan to get these toys and toxins out of the toy boxes, basements and attics of American families.

About the Author
John R. Mininno, Esq. is a New Jersey and Pennsylvania trial lawyer representing clients in defective product, toxic toys and other serious injury claims. He also writes about issues concerning child safety and the environment. His offices are in Collingswood, NJ and Philadelphia, PA. For further information or a free case evaluation, visit the Mininno Law Office website. http://www.minfirm.com/defective.asp http://www.articletrader.com/

Tips for Potty Training a Boy
by: Don Ryan

Potty training is a big deal for a little boy. They go from being a "little" boy to a "big" boy instantly. Potty training is easy for some boys but some boys have a harder time taking that next step. Parents often have to figure out creative ways to get the job done and it is important to remember that no two boys are alike when it comes to potty training.

When trying to potty train parents have to know when their child is ready to take that step. The best thing is to start off slow. Explain to the child what the potty is and what they are supposed to do in it. Some fathers even begin to take their son to the bathroom to demonstrate what is supposed to be done. Parents should try and make going to the potty fun for little boys. They may want to make up a song that they sing as they go to the bathroom to encourage boys to use the pot. Some parents also begin letting children where disposable underwear that they can pull up and pull down as they learn. An important factor is to teach the boys not to go as soon as their doctor comes off. Some boys get excited and as soon as their diaper comes off they go. There are cloth diapers that can be used to go over them to ensure that they don't spray all over the place. Until they learn how to control the process this may be helpful for them.

Leaving homes and going out places can be especially difficult because children and their parents are out of their comfort zone. Some boys have no problem using the potty at home but have more difficulty and have more accident when they leave home. Also at home most boys use little potties that are designed just for them and when they leave home parents may not have access to a potty. Things have changed a lot and the potty training process has gotten a little help. There are now devices that can be used to help boys go to the potty anytime whether they are at home or away from home. The little tubes are very helpful when going through the potty training period. The slender tube can be used in the event of an emergency bathroom break or in order to prevent boys from having to sit on public toilets. The apparatus can be washed out with soap and can be used over and over again. It is also relatively small so it can be hidden in a diaper bag or even a larger purse.

Another tip when potty training especially when they boy is wearing real underwear is to always bring extra clothes. There is always the potential for accidents and parents must make sure to be prepared. An extra outfit can turn out to be a lifesaver. Potty training is not always an easy job for the parents or the kids so a few helpful tips can go a long way.
About The Author
Trendy Remedy features a cool selection of hip baby boy and toddler boy clothes, gifts, shoes and music specifically for boys in mind! Boys Gifts & Baby Boy Clothes that ROCK. For details visit http://www.trendyremedy.com

Checklist for Child Proofing Your Home –
Keeping Your Active Baby or Toddler Safe!
by martins42

All babies begin crawling or become mobile according to their own time frame, but generally this happens between 6 and 10 months of age. Therefore, it is critical to prepare your house for this event to ensure your child's safety!

Below is a Home Safety Checklist that will help you go room by room in your home and look for potential child safety hazards.

Edge & Corner Protection - Every room in the house should be checked for sharp edges and corners. These objects should be removed or covered with edge and corner cushions or bumpers. Coffee tables, end tables, and fireplace hearths are the typical items to consider. Other household items to check for sharp edges in your safety inspection are desks, entertainment centers, shelves, cabinets, window sills, stone or marble stairs, statues or other decoration pieces.

Stairway Protection - All stairways that your baby could potentially have access to should have stairway safety gates. According to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign (NSKC), Falls Fact Sheet, 2004, falls are the leading cause of unintentional injury for children. Children ages 14 and under account for one-third of all fall-related visits to hospital emergency rooms. Because falls are associated with a child's curiosity and development of motor skills, babies and toddlers are at the greatest risk of fall-related death and injury. Children ages 5 and under accounted for nearly half of the fall related emergency room injuries cited above. Please do not let your child become one of these statistics. Research and install stairway safety gates. Also examine the slats in your stairways and banister to determine if banister guard is needed.

Choking and Ingestion Hazards - Now that your child is or about to become mobile, check your home for small objects that could potentially be within your child's reach such as small marbles or stones that are often used as decoration around candles or other coffee table center pieces. As part of normal development, babies learn by putting things in their mouth. Remove glass or other breakable/valuable objects. Set dog and cat food out of reach. Use extreme caution and do your research on chemicals if you have your home exterminated or use chemical products to clean (consider organic, non toxic products). Babies and toddlers crawl around on the floor and often but their hands and objects in their mouth. In most cases this also helps them build their immune system, but we have to do our part to keep them safe from serious injury. Check all floor level cabinets for cleaning products, medicine, makeup, alcohols, Ect. and move them to a top cabinet or install safety latches or cabinet sliding locks.

Falling Furniture - Check your home for large items that could fall over and bolt them to the wall. Too many child injuries have occurred due to televisions, entertainment centers, and bookshelves falling over on children. Toddlers like to climb! Additional things to consider as potential falling hazards are computer monitors, large vases, plant stands, and dressers.

Kitchen Safety - As stated earlier ensure that cleaning/chemical products are in a locked cupboard or placed well out of reach. Consider installing a stove guard to prevent burns or a child playing with the knobs and turning the gas on. Move kitchen knife racks well out of reach. Toddlers enjoy helping out in the kitchen and it is important to their developmental growth and independence to do things for themselves, but standing on chairs and stools can also become a fall hazard. Consider investing in a step stool with side rails such as the Learning Tower. Children should always be well monitored while standing on stools or chairs.

Electrical Hazards - All unused electrical outlets should have outlet plug covers and cords should be placed out of the way as much as possible. In bathrooms, never leave blow dryers or other electrical items plugged in and unattended near the sink or bath tub.

Windows & Shade Cords - For homes that are two stories or have high windows consider installing window guards if you frequently open your windows. This is especially important in a child's room. Shade cords should be tied up and out of reach of children. For some reason these cords tend to attract children's' attention as a play item and can be extremely dangerous if the cord gets wrapped around them.

As well as child proofing your home, Child Safety Gates are an ideal way to keep your child contained and safe. As a mother of two children, I know how quickly a child can crawl or run if you turn your back for a minute to attend to house hold chores. Give yourself that piece of mind knowing that your child is learning by exploring his world, but contained to safe areas of your home!

About the Author
Sherry L. Martin, Mother and Owner of Active One Safety Gates.
To view a selection of Child Safety Gates, and Edge & Corner Protection visit www.ActiveOneSafetyGates.com.
http://www.articletrader.com/

Reasons for the Stigma Surrounding Diaper Use With
Older Bed-Wetters and Ways to Reduce this Stigma
by: Colin Ellison

One of the most difficult things a youngster can go through when they're growing up is bed-wetting. Although as a society we've become more sensitive about many issues, for some reason bed-wetting and the use of diapers to manage it is a topic that remains shrouded in shame. While many cases of bed-wetting can be cured using alarms,medicines,and other methods, there are some instances of bed-wetting persisting into adulthood. In situations such as these, the prudent course of action would be to use protective garments such as diapers. This article discusses both the negative image diapers have with many people, and steps we can take to overcome this stereotype so society can become more accepting of people who have no other option but to use diapers to manage their bed-wetting.

Many people believe that diapers should only be used on babies,people with severe developmental disabilities,or people who are bedridden or senile(such as people with Alzheimer's disease) By default this underscores the image diapers have of representing helplessness and lack of independence. Most of the public feel that if your cognitive and/or physical abilities aren't at the level of a baby or small child you have no business wearing diapers.

There are different levels and types of incontinence and these can occur during the day,night,or both. Some people have light incontinence and some people experience heavier levels. With that in mind different garments are more suited to certain kinds of incontinence.

Whenever I read an ad for an incontinence garment especially those products that are called "underwear like" by the manufacturer and the ad says something along these lines "makes the wearer feel more dignified" I cringe. Don't misunderstand me,I'm not against people using these types of products,and they do work for some people, but there are also plenty of cases where the best choice are good old fashioned diapers. Diapers are designed specifically for incontinence,underwear is not,but because adults and older children are so skittish about wearing diapers these items are the ones that are marketed for this demographic. In certain situations however, people are using a hammer to put in a screw. In this case they're not using the tool for what it was designed to do. Just like a carpenter or woodworker uses certain kinds of saws to make certain types of cuts,people should use the most appropriate and effective garment to manage their incontinence and since people have different types of incontinence their choice of what garments to wear will be different. What sort of garment to choose is dependent on a number of factors-type and level of incontinence,whether it occurs during the day,night,or both,personal preferences,how comfortable the product is,price,whether the person is concerned about maintaining discretion,if they have the time and inclination to wash reusable garments,how certain products effect the wearer's skin,etc.

Unfortunately there is tremendous stigma associated with diapers. Most people view diapers as babyish. This is the main reason most older children,adolescents,teenagers,and adults are reluctant to wear them to bed. In fact most of them wouldn't be caught dead in a diaper. Older children,adolescents,and teenagers are at a point in their lives where they want to become more independent and in their minds diapers represent a stage in their lives when they were more dependent on their parents. In their view wearing diapers to bed is regressing. Although I sympathize with this view,to a large extent I think it misses the mark.

One of the hallmarks of independence is the ability to take care of one's self-this includes managing health problems. I feel that by wearing diapers to bed the youngster is taking responsibility for the situation which is a very mature thing to do and is what adults do. In fact it could be argued that the youngster is acting more like a baby by not wearing diapers to bed. By not wearing the appropriate protection to bed they are absolving themselves of responsibility and they are in effect saying they are helpless to control the situation.

We all know what the function of wearing a diaper is,so it shouldn't make a difference whether you're 2 or 102 the purpose is still the same. Unfortunately when you mention the word diaper to most people the image that immediately comes to mind is that of a baby. Most people think that a diaper and plastic pants are something to be outgrown like a high chair or a bib(of course they make bibs for adults also so even this image is wrong).

Due to the stigma surrounding diaper use in older children,teenagers,adolescents, and adults the diaper manufacturers seem to be placing a stronger emphasis in many cases on the appearance of the garments rather than functionality or as designers might say they're emphasizing form over functionality. Tying in with this concept is the emphasis on discretion. Some of the ways manufacturers have been doing this are by the introduction of underwear like products,garments that are less bulky so they can't be noticed under clothes, and the design of diapers with a cloth like(also known as a nonwoven) outer layer.

Since a significant number of people suffer from daytime incontinence I can certainly understand this, but there are a large number of people who suffer from bed-wetting as well, and in these particular cases we should use whatever type of garments are necessary and not be concerned with how a product looks or its image since it's only worn at night anyway. Granted there are companies that manufacture diapers for both daytime and nighttime use but I think that the stigma surrounding diapers has colored the diaper manufacturers in a negative way and this might prevent them from manufacturing,marketing, and selling products that truly meet the customers needs.

As far as the introduction of the underwear like products are concerned I think these serve more of a psychological than a protective function for the bed wetter because for all intents and purposes they're diapers. Because they pull on like underwear as opposed to taping on this seems to help a person more psychologically. While this may be the case in many situations they don't work as well as disposable diapers with tapes. Some people have said that regular tape-on disposable diapers are actually more absorbent than pull-ups and "Goodnites."

The introduction of diapers with a cloth like outer cover also seems to serve more of a psychological function for the person experiencing bed-wetting. Again this is an example of a product that is more underwear like as opposed to diapers with a plastic outer layer. Of course there is the possibility that these types of diapers could have been introduced because they're more cost effective for the manufacturers to produce,they're more breathable and therefore presumably more comfortable to wear,and they're theoretically healthier for the individual's skin,or it could be for all these reasons. A fourth reason for the introduction of diapers with a cloth like outer cover is that they're supposed to be more discreet for the user. Many disposable diapers with a plastic outer cover make a crinkling noise whenever the user moves around. While this can certainly be a drawback if worn during the day(although apparently there are ways around this) if worn only at night this shouldn't be a concern. However considering that there are companies that make both styles of diapers(and there are also cases of companies only manufacturing disposable diapers with a plastic cover)I suspect that the introduction of this style is due more to aesthetic reasons and that the diaper manufacturers feel these will be less embarrassing to wear. Furthermore some people have commented that the diapers with a cloth like outer layer are actually more uncomfortable to wear and in fact provide less effective protection than the disposable diapers with a plastic covering. Some complaints about diapers with a cloth outer cover are abrasiveness and clamminess between the legs.

I've heard of cases where people have used the disposable diapers with a cloth like outer cover for bed-wetting and leaked right through them. While this doesn't happen with everybody, people should have the option of buying disposable diapers with a plastic cover if that's what they prefer and if that's what works best for them. A number of people seem to be disappointed with the fact that most diaper manufacturers are moving away from making diapers with a plastic outer covering. Perhaps customers should write or call the diaper companies and complain about this. In many cases companies do respond to consumer criticism.

As I said before people should have a wide variety of products to choose from due the fact that people have different needs and preferences in this area and I'm not against people using pull-ups,disposable diapers with a cloth like outer covering, or other products of a similar nature if that's what they prefer and if they offer adequate protection for the user however as mentioned previously this isn't always the case. What I am against is this emphasis on discretion and image at all costs as opposed to manufacturing,marketing, and selling products that will most effectively manage a person's bed-wetting.

The trade-off between image and protection is made by large amount of people unfortunately and I believe that many of these people will suffer as a result. To me I would think it would be much more satisfying to use a product that might be considered "babyish" by most people but offers better protection than to use a product that is considered more "dignified" but that leaves the wearer and bedding drenched. In a situation such as this a person has to ask him or herself how much is it worth to them to wear a product that has a better image versus a product that will offer more effective protection and therefore provide more comfort.

People who are reluctant to wear diapers to bed because most people feel they are strictly for babies need to keep in mind the old saw "what is popular is not always right,what is right is not always popular." There was a time when most people thought the earth was flat,slavery was an acceptable practice,and the sun revolved around the earth but we now know these views are incorrect. I believe that in time we'll become more informed(and as a result more enlightened) about this issue also. Furthermore there are plenty of companies that manufacture and sell plastic pants,pin-on cloth diapers,and disposable tape-on diapers for older children,adolescents,teenagers,and adults that wet the bed so this is a very common problem. This is another thing that people need to consider.

Most pediatricians,child psychologists,and other medical professionals advise against using diapers in older bed wetters because they feel it might hurt the youngster's self-esteem and self-image. In fact one book I read said the following- "I've known parents that have kept their children in diapers at night as late as 7,8,9,and even 12 years of age but wearing diapers makes a child feel like a baby" and "diapers are a symbol of babyishness." Maybe there are some children and teenagers who actually want to wear diapers to bed but they feel that their parents will look down on them for requesting this because the youngster realizes that most people feel diapers are for babies only. And since many books and other sources suggest that only babies wear diapers that's probably why there is such reluctance to use them for bed-wetting. In other words it's possible that many people feel ashamed about wearing diapers to bed not because they actually feel that way but because the professionals do and they believe that they should feel this way also.

This wouldn't be the first time we are cowed by what the experts say as Stanley Milgram's experiment and other psychology experiments so vividly demonstrate. Parents could feel the same way also-they might want to use diapers for their bed wetter or want to grant the child's request to wear diapers to bed but they too might be influenced by what the authorities say.

This raises an interesting question-is the fact that diapers have such a negative image by most of society the result of assimilating the opinions of most medical professionals,or is the negative opinion of diapers by most medical professionals influenced by how the public feels-the proverbial chicken or egg debate. How much of our attitudes regarding diaper use by older bed wetters is influenced by cultural attitudes,parents and other relatives,medical professionals,and other factors?How and to what degree do these factors interact with each other?I think it would be interesting to study this issue in depth.

By gaining better insight into how these ideas developed we might have a deeper understanding of why we have such negative attitudes regarding this issue which in turn might significantly reduce the stigma associated with using diapers to manage bed-wetting in older children,adolescents,teenagers,and adults.

To get back to self-image older children and teenagers are particularly sensitive and concerned with self-image and the image that diapers conjure up in most peoples minds are babies. Commercials also stress this. For example the ad for Huggies pull-ups has the following motto-"I'm a big kid now!" the implication being that only babies wear diapers. I have heard urologists,pediatricians,and other medical professionals(who in my opinion should be more sensitive and also should know better regarding this issue) claim that putting an older child,teen,or adult in diapers at night makes them feel undignified but to me it's more undignified waking up in pee soaked sheets and clothing!

It would be interesting to see how developmental psychologists feel about this issue. We tend to have certain preconceived notions about our child's growth process and if they deviate from that in the slightest we become alarmed. For example children should talk by a certain age,they should read by a certain age,they should walk by a certain age,etc. And while it is true that we should have reasonable parameters established for these situations in order to rule out the possibility of cognitive and/or physical problems,the same reasoning shouldn't be applied in my opinion to the use of diapers and plastic pants for the management of bed-wetting in older children,adolescents,teenagers,and adults.

Frequently we feel pressured to use socially accepted methods to resolve various medical issues but in some cases it's a good idea to consider alternative approaches and this may entail using methods that a large majority consider unorthodox or not accepted by the mainstream. A case in point is the following. In the May-June 2007 issue of AARP magazine there was an article on Naomi Judd. It talked about how the traditional treatments that were used by her doctors to treat her hepatitis were not working so she tried various non traditional methods which are not fully accepted by western medicine such as biofeedback,aromatherapy,and meditation. It turns out that these methods worked.

I think that the use of diapers to manage bed-wetting in older children,adolescents,teenagers,and adults is another example of a management technique that is not fully accepted by most medical professionals and the public. Just like Naomi Judd had the courage to try alternative approaches to manage her disease people must have the courage to use alternative methods to manage bed-wetting.

I think we need to reevaluate our attitudes on diaper use for older bed wetters for two reasons. As mentioned previously in some cases the pull-ups and "Goodnites" aren't as effective at protecting both the youngster and the bed. The second reason is that it makes the person who has no other option but to wear diapers to bed feel they are somehow inadequate. This in turn can lead to feelings of low self-esteem,low self-worth,and subsequent depression.

In going over the literature and opinions of many professionals regarding diaper use in older bed wetters one thing sticks out in my mind-the status quo has a negative opinion of diaper use. The literature and opinions are very consistent regarding this issue-most people believe you shouldn't keep a bed wetter in diapers past the age of 4 or 5.After that the majority of people feel you should use pull-ups or "Goodnites" only.

It's my firm opinion that we have a double standard regarding this particular form of incontinence. For instance we seem to have no problem with the use of diapers for developmentally disabled children,the elderly with incontinence,and people suffering from disorders such as cerebral palsy,multiple sclerosis,Alzheimer's disease,Parkinson's disease,or other ailments, but if you suggest putting an older child,adolescent,teen,or adult with a bed-wetting problem in a diaper people think you're barbaric and should be driven out of town on a rail. What difference does it make who suffers from incontinence or why-it's still the same problem and it still needs to be managed. In some cases the best way to manage it is by using diapers.

There is a saying that goes something like this- "Nothing is good or bad but thinking makes it so." While this is not the case for everything-torture,murder,rape,and stealing are inherently bad-there is nothing intrinsically shameful about wearing diapers to bed. Wearing diapers to bed after the age of 4 or 5 is considered shameful because we have been conditioned to think this way for years. It would be interesting to see how other cultures feel about this issue but unfortunately I suspect they feel the same way we do. From what I understand the Japanese,British,and most Europeans are even more uptight about this issue.

Custom and fashion dictate a lot of our behaviors. For example there is a custom that says it's not appropriate to wear white shoes and pants after labor day. The author Stanley Schmidt talks about the influence of custom and fashion on our behavior in some of his writings. In one editorial of his he discussed something he calls "phantom tyrants". According to Schmidt: "These are impersonal forces that presumably originate with identifiable actions by individual people but then take on a life of their own and continue to dictate people's behavior whether or not any individual would independently choose them. We commonly know them by such names as "custom" or "fashion." " The example he discusses in an editorial of his called "Signs of Respect" is the custom of men taking off their hats upon entering a building. I feel that the expectation that people are supposed to stop wearing diapers for bed-wetting after the age of 4 or 5 is a perfect example of a "phantom tyrant."

There are many different reasons I feel most parents don't use diapers to manage bed-wetting with both teenagers and older children. The next few sections discuss this. I believe that one of the reasons for our negative reactions toward older children being in diapers at night stems from attitudes left over from potty training. Many parents try to motivate their child during this stage with praise such as "we're so proud of you,you're becoming a biReasons for the Stigma Surrounding Diaper Use With Older Bed-Wetters and Ways to Reduce this Stigma
by: Colin Ellison

Gender Differences
The Sight and The Sound

by: Janet Allison

My current read is Why Gender Matters by Dr. Leonard Sax. He is a proponent of single sex education and uses a wide range of scientific research to highlight gender learning differences. He emphasizes that…

Sex differences in childhood are larger and more important than sex differences in adulthood.

Absolutely, gender matters and it matters even more in education!

The question is…are we paying attention?!

The Sound of your Silence may be his ADD diagnosis…

Hearing - When adults hummed the Brahms lullaby over and over to premature babies as music therapy, those girl babies were able to be discharged, on average, 12 days earlier than the girl babies who were not hummed to.

HOWEVER, there was no difference in the boy babies because the boys did not even hear the higher frequency sound!

Science is proving that females hear a wider range of sounds.

Implication: If your son has a soft-spoken female teacher (or mom) and is showing signs of inattention, perhaps his disinterest is just because he doesn't hear? Sax says…

Some boys diagnosed with ADD may just need the teacher to raise her voice a bit.

Profound, isn't it?

Implication: Teen-age girls often think their fathers are yelling at them. Even when dad thinks he is speaking in a normal voice tone, she may be experiencing his voice almost ten times louder than he experiences it!

Girls draw Nouns, Boys draw Verbs…

Vision: Science has proven that newborn girls prefer looking at faces, while newborn boys prefer looking at moving objects. Now, scientists have discovered that each gender has a different configuration of rods and cones in their eyes and sends information to the brain in a different way.

Sax emphasizes that…these are not small differences with overlap - they are big differences with no overlap at all.

Young girls typically draw symmetrical pictures of people, pets, flowers and trees, preferring 'warm' colors like: red, orange, green and beige. They use, on average, 10 or more colors in their pictures.

Young boys typically draw action - planes shooting flames, robots attacking, and aliens eating each other. They prefer 'cool' colors like: black, gray, silver and blue. They use, on average, about 6 colors in their drawings.

Implications: Children are intrinsically adept at deciphering what their parents and teachers prefer. Teachers have been trained to encourage children to draw people-centric pictures with lots of colors. Feedback from an unaware teacher or parent gives boys the subtle message that their drawings are somehow not okay. I continue to encourage parents and teachers to accept 'gross' from boys. Otherwise, boys soon figure out that 'art is for girls' and once again may feel dissociated from the school experience.

Brain differences have been well-documented. As gender differences continue to be revealed it is imperative that we spread the word…we can make the world a place where all children are understood…and, meanwhile, if you are a female…speak up!

For more on Brain Differences and Gender Behavior see: http://www.parenting-advice-from-mom.com/brain-development.html

About The Author
Janet Allison is a Parent Educator, Family Coach and Waldorf Educational Consultant. She teaches extensively in the Pacific Northwest on a variety of topics. Her passion is guiding parents and teachers in using language as a catalyst for change, deepening relationships and inspiring confidence. Author of: Discover What You Believe About Being a Parent and Boys Alive! Bring Out Their Best! You can find her at http://www.parenting-advice-from-mom.com and http://www.languageofparenting.com