Dealing With Problems Associated With Potty Training Boys
March 3, 2011 by Erin McDonald
Filed under Babies
It may sound as though boys and girls are being stereotyped, yet acknowledging that certain potty training problems can be more particular to boys than to girls is simply reasonable. Naturally, there are some very strong-willed girls, but extremes of stubbornness are probably more characteristic of boys. Parents also need to keep in mind that emotional and physical readiness for potty training tends to come later in boys than for girls. Some stubbornness could also stem from trying to train them too early.
A problem in potty training boys might involve resistance to having a bowel movement in a potty or the toilet rather than in a diaper. If this is how your own boy demonstrates his unwillingness, he could actually end up holding it so long that he might even make himself constipated. The constipation itself might be remedied by trying to give the child extra fiber, but this issue might actually require consultation with a doctor if it goes on too long. Constipation is one of the most common types of potty training problems.
Another problem might involve what is known as potty training regression, which is where the child appears to have been trained for a while, but starts having accidents again. This is a frequent occurrence, sometimes stemming from a stressor like the birth of a new sibling or moving to a new house.
Or occasionally, learning to use the potty is such a major skill that once it’s accomplished and the child begins learning the next skill, this one lapses a little bit, and needs reinforcement. Only on very rare occasions does this type of regression indicate a genuine medical problem.
Another issue in potty training boys is the toilet itself. To a small child, the toilet is very large, and when it flushes, it’s also loud. This can often be dealt with by using a child potty on the floor instead, with the contents dumped into the toilet and flushed after he’s left the room. Gradually, as he grows more used to the process, he’ll become more used to the toilet as well. But it’s important for parents to recognize these various issues their child might face, and be ready with comfort and reassurance as they try to help the boy overcome them.
Learn the best toilet training methods to help you get rid of those messy diapers at Toilet Training Tips.
How To Potty Train A Stubborn Toddler
December 13, 2010 by Erin McDonald
Filed under Babies
Potty training toddlers isn’t always easy, but if you’ve got a child who’s very stubborn, then that can add another layer of complication. If they’re really resistant, they could develop constipation or other problems, not to mention refusing to learn to use the toilet at all. So as you’re working out how to potty train your child, keep in mind that children are ready for this developmental advance at different ages. Sometimes, in fact, it might not be until they are almost three. So if you wait until you’re sure it’s the right time, then that may eliminate at least some potential problems.
In deciding how to potty train your child, one of the first steps may be to get them involved in the process themselves. Take them shopping, and ask what they think of the different available toilet seats or potties, and after discussing the pros and cons, let them choose their own. You might buy them a training doll, and have some advance chats about how their own experiences compare with what happens to the doll. Sometimes potty training aids like this can get kids so interested that they don’t think of fighting you when their own training starts.
One more tip for potty training a toddler who may be rather stubborn comprises a little bit of trickery. When your child’s diaper requires changing, rather than cleaning things up right away, you might wait a little longer than usual to change it. Increasingly, they will associate a feeling of discomfort with the diaper.
This might appear to be a slightly sneaky method of toilet training, but the objective of your entire training program is to help make it their own idea to get out of those diapers on a permanent basis and begin using the bathroom.
The point of drawing your child into toilet training by means of their own interest and curiosity is that you avoid setting up a “parent-versus-child” battleground. If you can learn how to potty train by getting your toddler on board with the idea and interested enough to cooperate, you will save both of you a lot of grief. If you rouse them to oppose the idea, however, the two of you will fight constant battles which the child is always likely to win. If you can manage it, then it will be far better to find ways to encourage them to be interested and cooperative instead.
Learn the best toilet training techniques to help you get rid of those messy diapers at Toilet Training Tips.
Important Advice For Washing Toddler Hair
October 21, 2010 by Cory Sanders
Filed under Babies
Fortunately, hair care for babies and toddlers is not complicated, but there are some things to know. Firstly, hair should always be washed with a gentle shampoo formulated especially not to irritate the eyes. The two best options for babies and toddlers are a baby shampoo or baby body wash. There is no particular advantage to each one provided neither irritates the eyes. Very young children such as these only need their hair washed every other day at most.
But it doesn’t take long before they will need to wash their hair and bodies everyday so sometimes it is best to start as soon as possible. Babies and smaller children can get away with a washing with a damp cloth or towel to remove excess dirt and oils that build up on their scalp.
African American babies have beautiful curly hair, but it has a tendency to be dry. For best hair health, these babies should have their hair shampooed only once or twice a week. There are several baby shampoos designed especially for African American babies. These shampoos usually contain additional natural moisturizing ingredients such as aloe to help guard against dryness.
Bathing often becomes a challenge because children do not like their head submerged in water. You can give them baby goggles or a water visor to help prevent water from splashing their face and eyes.
Brushing hair is pretty harsh so you need to wait for the hair to dry on its own. If you decide to brush it while it is wet then you need to make sure that you are careful because the scalp and hairs are very delicate. A baby brush should be good for children up to the age of 5.
I wouldn’t recommend that you use conditioner on their scalp or hair because it won’t be of benefit to them. If you do want to use one, you will have to find one that is made for children.
No matter what you do with their head, you should always be gentle because they are very delicate beings.
Once your baby has grown up, you can get them some curling irons for creating beautiful curly hair.
Ways Of Handling Baby Bottles
September 20, 2010 by Sean Phillips
Filed under Babies
If you bottle feed your baby or if you are planning on bottle feeding your new arrival, it is very important that you know how to handle baby bottles to prevent your baby from getting sick. You should want to do anything you can to keep your baby healthy. You should keep the baby bottles clean and store them in the fridge to stop any harmful germs from growing, the germs might cause some stomach problems.
Wash all bottles, nipples, and bottle caps in warm water with a mild soap, or in the dishwasher. When you have washed the bottles rinse then and out them in boiling water for five minutes prior to filling them with formula or breast milk.
Before you mix the formula you must boil the water you will be mixing it with and let it completely cool. This takes the additives out of the water that could make your baby sick. When you use a new clean bottle use it one time only then it will need to be cleaned again.
If you need to take any formula out with your baby, be sure that it is drank by your baby within an hour if it is mixed or if it is breast milk. You could also use powered formula if you formula feed your infant and take the boiled water separately this will allow you to mix the formula as it is needed.
Any formula that is opened will not keep very long. If it is a bottle of unused formula it is good for 24 hours after it has been opened. Ready to use formula is good for forty eight hours after it is opened. Powered formula is good for one month after it has been opened. Any formula that is not used in the bottle that your baby has drank out of should be thrown out so germs will not multiply.
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Dealing With Temper Tantrums
September 16, 2010 by Tonya Bennett
Filed under Parenting
Toddlers throw temper tantrums from time to time and some are really good at it. If you happen to have the knack for parenting you will be able to stop a temper tantrum almost as soon as it has started. Many parents will try to stop the temper tantrum right away by giving in to whatever the child is having the temper tantrum about. However it is best to let the temper tantrum go through the steps it needs to take.
When a child is between the ages of two to five years old, temper tantrums will start. Prior to putting a halt on temper tantrums you will first need to figure out why they have started. First and foremost you should keep in mind that your toddler might be hungry, toddlers eat less and more frequently then an adult. You need to show by modeling that temper tantrums are not productive. It is also a good thing to let your toddler have some different options to let them feel as thought they have the control this should prevent some temper tantrums.
If a temper tantrum erupts for no good reason it is best to ignore the child as much as possible, as long as they are not harming themselves or anybody around them. When you are doing this it will make you feel as though you are not a great parent but it will have your child feel as though they are not getting anywhere with their tantrum. If you keep this up the temper tantrums will soon get shorter every time until eventually they will stop completely. If you react to the temper tantrum by giving in every time your toddler will feel as though this is what they need to do to get what they want. You need to be the boss, not your child.
Over time your child’s temper tantrums should stop. If not you and your child should see a doctor about your child’s behavior. There might be some medical reason why your child is acting this way.
Tantrums can be annoying. However, they need to be handled with patience.
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Shopping For Seats For Babies?
July 29, 2010 by Josh Parker
Filed under Babies
A high chair is one piece of baby furniture that you just cannot neglect. They come in really handy whether you’re feeding your baby at home, or out in a restaurant (we shall cover more on this later). When investing in a chair, don’t try and be stingy with money – put in a few more dollars to buy something that’s going to help make feeding times more convenient.
With a huge variety of baby chairs out there, what are your options? With the help of this article, you will be able to understand the safety criteria and choose a better high chair for your baby, and one that suits your requirements.
Baby high chairs come in 2 varieties. The foldable and the non-foldables. The high chair can be the classic wooden or a light-weight aluminum chair that can be effortlessly shifted from room to room, or stored in the boot of the family car. Their purpose? To raise the baby to table height so that so she can join the rest of the family for a meal.
Despite all the nice extras, security is vital. Since toddlers tend to wiggle around a lot, you really need a high chair that is sturdy enough to not fall over. It is compulsory these days to also include a harness that prevents your kid from falling off the chair as well.
When it comes to a practical high chair, you really only need to satisfy a few criteria, such as being easy to clean, can be folded (if you have a smaller room) when not in use, and come with multiple trays that can be detached and put in the dishwasher.
Mobile or portable chairs are also a great idea if you want something that you can easily carry around with you when the entire family goes out for a meal. Most high chairs in restaurants are not dependable as they aren’t sturdy as well as unhygienic, carrying with them lots of germs that can get your baby very sick.
Portable seats or high chairs these days are fairly inexpensive and they’re well worth considering. Most of the current models will allow you to hook the seat over a chair via a sling. Most importantly, the portable baby seat should be light enough so you don’t strain yourself carrying around and it should also include a good height-adjustable feature.
In some cases, where there might not be enough spare chairs about, baby seats with clips may come in handy. These baby seats can be attached to any table so your infant can join in on the family action. Just a word of caution though, make sure the table is solid and stable enough to handle the extra weight of the seat.
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Baby Clothes Need Proper Care To Ensure Cleanliness For Your Baby
July 8, 2010 by Edie Mindell
Filed under Babies
clothes right off the shelves come from industrial factories or stock rooms; and you can only imagine the amount of invisible dirt gathered in that outfit. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that baby clothes be washed first before letting the baby wear them. Clothes can easily pick up debris or allergens like dust particles that can be harmful for your baby.
Grown-up clothes gather more dirt than baby clothes. Dirt residue from washing them together can cause allergies or skin irritations in babies, especially if one member of the family has bacterial or fungal infections. So, it is advisable to separate your soiled baby clothes from the adults or the members of the family soiled clothes. Soiled cloth diapers also need to be washed separately.
Mild detergent or specific detergent for the baby clothes is also recommended. Don’t let harsh chemicals in regular detergents, such as fabric softeners, bleach, enzymes, optical brighteners and dyes touch your baby’s sensitive skin.
For stubborn stains, which you may encounter when your child starts on solid food, soak baby clothes in warm water and mild detergent for a couple of hours before washing. To kill fungi, soak baby clothes in vinegar first before washing them.
Most moms believe that ironing baby clothes can eliminate causes of skin irritations and kill germs. Air-dry baby clothes under the sun as it is still the best disinfectant for washed laundry.
There is no doubt that cloth diapers are fading into memory, and being replaced by the more convenient disposable brands which are available. For families that choose to use these, however, there are some special considerations. The most sanitary way to clean reusable cloth diapers is to contact a diaper service. This will not only take away the hassle of washing the diapers at home, it will ensure that the replacement diapers are sterile.
It’s a good idea to make sure that most of the baby clothes you buy can be machine-washed. Choose fabrics and colors that will survive the washing machine and tumble drier and which require little or no ironing.
Don’t forget to do up zips and fastenings on clothes before machine washing them, as they can catch and pull delicate fabrics. Tiny baby items like socks hats and gloves can get lost in the machine. Wash them inside an old pillowcase. They will still come clean and you won’t lose any!
Finally, make sure you clean your baby’s closet thoroughly before stocking up your little one’s tiny clothes. These small outfits are your baby’s first armor against the real world so they deserve the utmost care.
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Baby Talk To Talking Baby
July 4, 2010 by Sara Young
Filed under Babies
The voices that infants utter are called baby talk, twaddling or babbling. These sounds are attempts of the babies to learn how to acquire their language. They are not in a position to as yet utter words that can be recognized. In the first year the larynx descends which allows the pharynx to develop for the sounds that will soon become words. Baby talk begins when the infant is 5 to 7 months old. They begin by making noise. It is only when the baby is about one year old that recognizable words are produced. Syllables begin to be repeated. This is called re-duplicative babbling. The variegated babbling is when a mix of syllables is used by the baby to babble. It is when the babies are calm that they babble more rather than when they are excited or upset. Babies prepare themselves by babbling for uttering the basic sounds that they will require for speaking the language. Babbling is natural to humans and this is clear when even deaf babies babble.
From birth to about 4 months a baby coos and gurgles. When the baby is 4 to 6 months old, it starts babbling. This babbling continues to when the baby is a year or so old. Meaningful sound and words starts emerging between the age of 12 and18 months. Between 18 and 24 months the toddlers starts repeating words. Meaningful words begin to form then with the babbling. About 50 words or so is the vocabulary of the baby. But they are able to understand many more words than they are able to utter. Short sentence begin to form. But then they may not be able to use the words correctly. The progression of the baby is from crying to cooing and then progressing to vocal play. Canonical babbling follows which later becomes conversational babbling.
Babies also use sign language too as an effective means of communication. Teaching sign language is said to assist the babies to avoid frustration at not being able to find suitable sound to express itself. Priscilla Dunstan came out with the hypothesis that babies use a set of five words universally with each having a specific meaning. In 2006 she released the Dunstan Baby Language DVD to teach how to recognize these sounds.
When adults respond to the babbling of babies with babbling, it helps the development of babies. Vocabulary development can be assisted by integrating some adult speech with the babbling. It benefits in the cognitive development of the baby. Whatever may be, the baby will be able to speak the local language in the end.
Baby’s babbling is natural for babies since babies are still on developing their language. That’s why, parents should go an extra mile to help their babies learn to talk as well as to find artistic ways that assists babies in learning to talk.
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Preparing Yourself For A Little One
May 23, 2010 by Katie S. May
Filed under Parenting
Taking care of a newborn is no child’s play. There are so many items that you need to be all set with when preparing for a baby. But there are a few items that you just can’t do without.
One of the first and the most important things that you’ll require for a newborn is a brilliant crib. You obviously want your baby to get sound sleep. It is for this reason that having a baby crib becomes very crucial. When opting for a crib for your child, make sure that you pick a high quality one. The crib should be gentle and at ease for your small one to sleep away readily. Since babies are sleeping most of the time, getting a brilliant quality crib becomes even a lot more crucial.
An additional very important item for your little one is a feeding bottle set. Even if you’re still breastfeeding, a bottle set is fairly important particularly for those times when you can’t feed your kid; such as in public locations. Baby bottles are most useful in such scenarios. Furthermore you may additionally employ them as water sippers for your child.
Another primary thing that you cannot do without is baby sling. Baby slings offer the benefit of simple carriage of the child. Using a baby sling helps in carrying your baby. So, you need not worry about going anywhere with your baby. This baby sling has attachments that may be tied or wrapped around mother’s body. Though you have the option of baby carriers, nothing works better than baby slings. With baby slings you need not worry about the security of the little one at all as the baby remains close to your body all the time. Furthermore, baby carriers are a further duty and moving them around is difficult at times. On the contrary, baby slings do not have to be moved around and therefore they give ease of usage.
A bottle warmer also comes in handy for infants. While it may not be as significant as the other items discussed, it actually assists you take care of your child much better. The bottle warmers are small and compact and support you heat up child bottles and food jars conveniently. So you are saved from having to boil milk or food in exclusive utensils and then having to transfer it to a bottle. These warmers help heat the food contents evenly without making any hot spots. Additionally, you’ve the option of adjusting the temperature to suit your necessities.
Get all these things in place and you’re all set for a baby.
The Right Way to Manage Your Toddler’s Feelings
April 14, 2010 by Sarabelle Ando
Filed under Parenting
Now that your two-year-old is beginning to understand the impact that he has on the world around him, he is also starting to become aware that other people may not see the world in quite the same way.
During the toddler years these “dangers” may include, for example, being left to cry for long periods, picking up on parental tension or unhappiness, and being yelled at. Anxiety triggers a powerful and automatic reaction within the most primitive part of the brain that drives our instinct for survival.
When we experience intense emotions, such as anger, fear, and even excitement, the brain tells the body to release stress hormones that will either make us challenge the situation (fight), or run away from it (flight). These “fight or flight” hormones, especially adrenaline and cortisol, then block the production of “feel good” hormones, such as oxytocin.
Everyone experiences anxiety, but some people deal with these feelings better than others. we now know that our ability to cope has its roots in our childhood experiences. During the toddler years, a child relies almost totally on caring adults to help him to manage his “big” feelings.
However, children at this age can easily become overexcited and will need help to know when they are going too far. This direction may come from your tone of voice or facial expression, or by giving your toddler a break between a period of having a laugh, then calming down. You are a very important role model for your child’s behavior; at this age he will copy not only what you want him to do, but also many things that you would rather he didn’t! One of the most effective methods of getting him “on the right track” is to show him what you want him to do. This period of learning is all about showing, not telling. Let your toddler watch, observe, and try for himself.
By the age of 2-3, your toddler’s anxiety about being separated from you is gradually diminishing, only to be replaced by a range of fears stimulated by his developing imagination and awareness of the wider world. it is natural for toddlers to be scared of new experiences at this age, but their anxiety will usually pass if it is carefully handled.
Children show anxiety in a variety of ways. Some cry, others may become very quiet, clingy, or whiny. Nervous tics are also quite common at this age – that is, involuntary muscle spasms that children cannot control-such as rapid blinking or twitching; but most disappear of their own accord. Whatever the signs, your child needs to be reassured. Each time you hug him and help him to cope, you are increasing his chances of being able to manage his feelings and deal with stress as he grows up. Children who are reprimanded rather than comforted will worry and become more anxious more often. They are also more likely to develop later behavioral problems such as phobias, bed-wetting, or soiling.
Sarabelle Ando writes for an childcare website and has some amazing ideas on selecting the best boys skating shoes.
How You Can Develop a Bond With Your Kids
April 4, 2010 by Aliza Windells
Filed under Parenting
During the first year of life a baby moves quite rapidly through different stages of attachment and acceptance of the people around him. In comparison to toddlers, many babies are quite relaxed with new people. Separation anxiety begins later and coincides with the development of language and memory, peaking during months 12-18.
It depends on the unique mix of the child’s temperament and how the parent responds to it. Every parent was once a child and seeing your own child grow and responding to his vulnerabilities can trigger deep memories of your own experience of childhood, and will affect your style of response. For some parents this can be a challenge. Young toddlers may find it hard to cope when their parent or caregiver is not there.
Don’t fuss too much before you go, or he may pick up on your anxiety and become upset. Your child will be more comfortable if you leave him with familiar toys and encourage the caregiver to keep to a routine (but if this is not possible, change in routine will not be damaging to you or your child). Have enough faith in your parenting to know that your child has the skills to manage and is not going to fall apart without you.
Understanding this is important because your child might find separation from you difficult until he has reached a certain level of cognitive development. A baby as young as six months old will catch on to the fact that an object still exists even when it is hidden, but may struggle for much longer to deal with or understand that Mommy and Daddy still exist when they are in another room.
A parent’s absence is more stressful than the whereabouts of a hidden toy, and so a baby brain will find it harder to hold onto the concept that Mommy or Daddy will return. Interestingly, separation anxiety is at its peak at about 15 months and then slowly reduces; this coincides with the development of language, which is linked to the development of memory and reasoning skills. By now your child will have had more experiences of separation, too, and will have begun to learn that Mommy and Daddy always return.
Parents start to model self-regulation when they respond in different ways to a child’s emotional needs. For example, if a child is screaming in frustration your reaction will be completely different to your response when he is screaming from hurt.
Parents naturally pick up on the smallest of cues and respond accordingly. This kind of sensitivity and flexibility is difficult, however, if you are frequently overwhelmed by your own feelings?because your toddler will pick up on your distress and you may model ways of not managing instead.
If you are unable to regulate your feelings, you may be driven to act impulsively, and perhaps inappropriately, or unable to respond at all. If you find it hard to cope, do seek help.
Aliza Windells is a childcare authority who shows people the way to manage parent-child interactions. In her weblog she also provides in depth tips on kids rolling bags that are secure for daily use by young children.
Child Safety Locks – The 3 Most Hazardous Areas Of Your Home
March 21, 2010 by Miranda Xavier
Filed under Parenting
Kids learn because of their curiosity. They are all little experimenters and everything within their world is present for them to discover from. For these reasons we should never aim to stop a baby or toddler from exploring their environment. On the other hand, we do need to keep them secure.
Child proofing your house is a 3 step process. Firstly you need to evaluate where the dangers are, then you need to purchase appropriate child safety locks, and lastly you need to correctly fit the locks.
Here are three key areas which I suggest that you concentrate on while you are considering child proofing your home.
1. Kitchen – The kitchen is full of appealing things for a child. They understand that it is the source of their food. They see that adults spend time inside the kitchen. They also recognize that they are not allowed to play there. For these reasons they want to discover and understand about it. This inquisitiveness, combined with the hazardous equipment of the kitchen means that draw and cupboard locks are pretty key.
2. Bathroom – At first the bathroom may not seem like such a hazardous place. But, a toddler can drown in just two inches of water. A bathroom will in addition often have poisonous cleaning chemicals. Inside the bathroom you ought to have all your cleaning products shut away in a locked cupboard. You also need to have any medicines in a high up cupboard or a locked one.
3. Chemical products – We have already considered the bathroom, but where else do you have chemicals? Do you have de-icer for the car by the door? Do you have shoe cleaners by the shoe rack? Is there hairspray on top of a dressing table? All these require to be found and put away inside a cupboards and draws which can be secured by means of child safety locks.
Now you have assessed your risks you need to get the solutions. Most safety locks are nowadays adhesive, so they do not require screws or drilling and can be removed at a later date. It is best to buy more than you require as it is better to have spares than to compromise the safety proofing which you have decided on. It is also helpful to keep a couple of spares in case you have missed something on first assessment.
Lastly you are left with fitting the child safety locks. These are not generally complicated, but try to fix them when the children are not about as you ought to have them fitted properly and you really don’t need distractions. You can always ask a friend or relative to come and install the locks for you,you will be surprised how many people will be happy to assist.
Once you have child proofed your home you should have a greater peace of mind and be able to concentrate on positive play and communication with your baby or toddler.
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Baby Allergies – 3 Common Symptoms That Can Be Caused by Food
February 16, 2010 by Tess Rainey
Filed under Babies
This article will discuss 3 symptoms of baby allergies that could be caused by food. If you or your baby suffers from any of the symptoms below, you could be suffering from a hidden food allergy and not even know it.
1. Eczema: When your skin is dry and itchy you don’t usually associate this symptom with an allergy to food. But it is very common for this skin problem to be caused by having a hidden food allergy to a certain food, like wheat or even dairy.
Doing a little research to see which foods are common for causing issues like eczema and then strategically eliminating and reintroducing them, it is possible to cure eczema by removing them from your diet indefinitely.
2. Asthma: Asthma, just as with eczema, can be caused by eating a food that you have an allergy to. Sometimes it can be hard to figure out which foods are causing the problem, but you can do testing or food elimination diets to find out and then remove them to see if your symptoms improve.
By removing the food that is a problem for you it might even be possible to stop taking allergy medication or using an inhaler. Be sure to consult a physician before doing so.
3. Sinusitis: Having a stuffy nose is not normally linked to having a problem with a food like dairy. Allergens outside of the body are usually blamed for causing this problem, but even so, sinusitis can be caused by having a hidden food allergy. If that certain food is removed from your diet, the stuffy nose will clear up and usually fairly quickly within a few days or weeks of eliminating that food.
This article discussed baby allergies and 3 symptoms that can be caused by food. Eczema, asthma and even sinusitis all can be connected to having a sensitivity to a particular food. Even headaches can be linked to a problem with wheat, dairy or other foods. Hidden food allergies are very common, if your baby is suffering from the above symptoms, it could be caused by an allergic reaction to something in their diet.
Ready to learn more?
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Kids Love Quality Time
January 12, 2010 by Edie Mindell
Filed under Parenting
We love to spend time with our children and bond with them everyday. But as career-oriented and working moms, we rarely have the chance to do so because of our hectic schedules. We long to be with them for every minute of their lives, but we simply can’t. We just can’t find much available time to do so.
Because of our hectic schedule, we are already tired and exhausted whenever we go home. And one of the quickest and simplest form of bonding we could give our children is watching television together. Just by doing so, we think that we have already spent time with them. Watching tv is our way of bonding with them, at the same time, we get to relax our tired body.
Watching tv can be fun, but letting your children watch too often for you to spend time with them is not quality time.While watching tv can be educational especially if they are watching informative programs, too much of it is not a healthy bonding for you and your children.
TV can give useful information, but toddlers learn best by actual touching, tasting, smelling, hearing, and seeing. We say it is educational, but if we are perfectly honest with ourselves, the real reason we allow our children boob tube time is that it is convenient. The colorful, flashing images grab their attention and glue them to their seats. We get to cuddle them without worrying about keeping them busy. TV gives us the luxury of low-maintenance quality time.
But most of the time, despite the convenience, we still feel bad about boob tube bonding. So we often rationalize- we think of the hundred and one things that our precocious children are learning from TV. Unfortunately, there is increasing evidence of the harmful effects of TV on little children.
TV does not allow experimentation- they passively watch the images and absorb pre-processed facts. They can’t interact with it, and because there is no interaction, there is no feedback. A habit of passive learning dampens curiosity and weakens problem-solving skills. Children grow used to being given information, not actively processing experiences for hidden facts and concepts.
The bottom line is, you don’t need energy to watch TV, but you do need to invest time in support activities to glean any educational value from what your toddler watches. A 30-minute Barney tape on numbers has to be accompanied by games and activities where you and your children learn to count together.
Having quality time with your kids does not rely solely on watching TV. There are a lot of fun and educational activities that you could do together to strengthen your bond. Playing is one important bonding activity that you could share with your children.
There are a lot of educational toys available in stores and even online that are great for your children. For your toddlers, Ride-on toys and pedal cars are a sure hit to them. Toddlers love toys that are mobiles. You can bond with them by teaching them how to play and ride on those toys. Its double the fun and enjoyment, plus educational benefits that could help your children in their learning stage.
Being tired and exhausted is not a reason to disregard your time with your children. Spending quality time with them is the most important aspect of a good parenting.
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Tables Add to the Learning Stimulation of a Child
January 6, 2010 by Edie Mindell
Filed under Parenting
Add a bit of light and a few sound effects and watch the fun grow. Your baby can roll, sit and even step a bit when holding your fingers or clinging to the couch. It might be time this year to get a Christmas gift that will really get the party started. Babies love lights. Toys that blink or flash stimulate brain function and really hold your little one’s attention. You probably already have a variety of toys that come equipped with a light show. The addition of a few sounds and strains of music take the fun to another level.
Yet all the lights and sounds in the world are often no match for the simple pleasure of standing and moving. Babies who have reached the cruising stage are not content to sit in one place and rattle the same toy no matter how many lights it has or different sounds it makes. A cruising baby wants action!
This is where toys that come in the form of a table come in. There is a type of musical lights and sound table to suit any parent or baby’s wildest Christmas dreams. A few of the more common varieties are simply activity tables that stand about a foot or so off of the floor. These elevated toys have knobs and buttons for your child to press, open, roll or slide. In addition to the gadgets for baby’s play your child can now stand and shimmy all the way around their little table. Babies love to press the buttons that play music then perform their own dance routines while using the table to steady themselves.
Has your baby already shown an interest in a certain cartoon character or song? There are tables that incorporate most of the major baby friendly cartoon shows and songs. The familiar colors and sounds enhance baby’s interest and play.
One of the perennial favorite light, sound or musical play tables for little ones are tables that include a miniature key board. It is never too soon to create a love of music in your child. Who knows where this early piano tinkering will take your child?
Parents often think about fun and learning. Babies just want to have a bit of fun. There is a table for that! In fact there are many, many tables that not only stimulate play, but also help your child learn a variety of basic facts. Some tables come with buttons shaped like each letter of the alphabet, as your baby presses these buttons the letter’s name is said. The same holds true of shapes, numbers or animal sounds.
To get the most for your money look for tables that grow with your child both in terms of height and interest. Some tables have different program settings that will change the function of buttons and sound effects. This means your baby will move through the cruiser and toddler stages and not become bored because even for youngsters variety is the spice of life.
For mommy and daddy’s sanity, look for tables that are equipped with volume controls as well as an off button. If your child loves this toy as much as most babies do you may soon wish it wasn’t quite so loud. You will also want to consider how the table is powered. How long do the batteries last? How many, what type and what is the cost of the batteries it uses? Many toys requiring batteries are left lifeless and useless once the batteries wear out if the cost and ease of replacement is too high.
If you are looking for unique baby gifts, check out the large selection of baby shower gift baskets that have educational toys in them, such as Baby Einstein. Enjoy free shipping (lower 48 states) on all the gifts offered there.




