Home safety: Hidden risks to kids

As caregivers we secure book cases, keep the medicine out of reach and use outlet protectors to keep our children safe around the house. MSN.com wrote a great article about some appliances and other everyday things in the home that can pose hidden dangers. Click here to read the story.

Helping Children Adapt To A New Sibling

When a new member of the family is introduced to their sibling it is an exciting time. But it can also be a difficult time for the new brother or sister. Here are some tips that might help make the transition a little easier.

The older the sibling the more difficult it can be for them to adapt.

· Child under 18 months of age may have fewer issues adapting to a new sibling. They might not understand or recognize the change that is about to occur.

· Children between 18 month and 3 years of age may have a more difficult time. They are old enough to recognize and comprehend change, but they still might have difficulty talking about their feelings.

· Older children will have an easier time because they can discuss the impact of a new sibling with others, which can ultimately help them adapt.

Setting the stage for this change is important. Here are a few tactics you can use to prepare siblings

· Read books to your child about the introduction of a new sibling.

· Involve siblings in the preparation activities including shopping, decorating and preparing the new room.

· Ask your child to make a special gift to give to their new sibling.

· Attend a sibling prep class at a local hospital. They learn about topics such as what to expect on the big day and how to be careful around new babies.

· Once the baby is here, ask the sibling to be a little helper.

You might experience regression with your child. Some signs of regression include: being more demanding, more bathroom accidents and trouble sleeping. Keep your cool when your child demonstrates these behaviors because in most cases this is temporary and it will pass after a few months.

When Good Kids Play the Bad Guy

Scholastic.com talks about when your little one starts to act out both good and bad roles and how it’s all part of them growing up. Read this informative article to learn more. Click here to read the whole article. 

Easy School Mornings

Do you suffer from morning madness? I am talking about the mad rush to get out of the house before school. Getting dressed, eating breakfast, making lunch and getting on the bus or in the car. It sounds simple but, it’s not an easy task. I don’t have all the answers to make your morning run smoothly but, here are a few tips that might help.

Your morning will go better with a little preparation at night

• Make lunches the night before and stick them in the fridge.
• Select, iron and lay clothes out at night. This is also a way to make older children more responsible for selecting which clothes they want to wear.
• Make your children pack their book bag to save time in the morning.

Everything works better when you are in a routine

• Make a checklist to keep track of morning tasks.
• Establish times for the completion of each task and stick to them.
• Find a routine that works for the family and try not to deviate from it.

Organize your morning

• Establish a place for shoes, hats and coats so that in the morning you know where they are.
• Have your children organize their books and supplies and keep them by the door.

It’s a hectic life but these tips might help you get back a little control of the morning madness.

Top 10 Packable Lunches Kids Love

Now since school is under way, you may need to pack school lunches for your kids.  Many parents struggle to keep their kids lunches healthy and yummy for their little ones.  FamilyEducation.com offers a few ideas to keep lunches exciting this school year. Click here to read the whole article

Helping your little one to learn rules

Rules are an important life skill. At home, at school and then at work, rules are a fact of life. So starting early to begin to teach and reinforce the importance of your children following rules is a good idea. You might be asking yourself, how early can I start to teach this skill? Well, studies have shown that kids start to understand the difference between right and wrong as early as a year one year old. And, since rules are based on right and wrong you can start with some very basic rules at this age.

• Young babies need one word reinforcement. Use the words no and yes to reinforce good from bad. As your child gets older, begin to introduce the consequence behind the rule. No, don’t do that, because you will get hurt.

• Be specific about rules as your baby develops. For example, no don’t color on that picture book. Rules aren't always black and white; it’s o/k to color in a coloring book but not in a picture book.

• Like teaching any skill, it is important to be consistent with rules. It may be a pain to always be the enforcer but if kids know rules can be bent or broken they will try to bend them and break them.

Your child looks to you and other adults to provide structure to their lives. Rules can actually provide comfort, support and boundaries to your child. This can help them become confident teens and well adjusted adults

When Your Child is Left Out

We all remember how it felt the first time we were left out of something. It may have been a birthday party, or not being picked for a game. SheKnow.com talks about this issue and whether it is intentional or not, that it happens to all children. Click here to read the article

Leaving Your Child On The First Day of School

Leaving your child at school for the first time can be as traumatic for a child as it is for a parent. All children react differently, from full blown panic attacks, to a matter-of-fact kiss goodby with no emotion. Here are some tips for handling the first drop-off.

• Keep perspective, remember that this is a natural part of the growth and development of your child. Try to take comfort in the fact that your child is starting out on a new adventure of learning both educationally and socially.

• Trust in the educational professionals at your child’s school. They have had a career of first school days. They know all the tricks of the trade to help a child work through their separation anxiety.

• Set specific expectations with your child. Let them know that you will be back after lunch. Help them understand that this is a normal part of their new schedule.

• Reinforce the fun they will have at school. Tell them how much fun they are going to have doing activities and learning to become a big girl or boy.

• Stick to the plan. Your child’s anxiety and temper tantrums can become worse of you give in to your child’s request not to leave, or if you take them back home on their first day.

• The great disappearing act can backfire. Distracting your child so that you can sneak out may increase their feeling of abandonment. Tell them you are leaving, give them a kiss goodbye and leave the room without lingering.

Rest assured, the drop of will get better and the school year will be a great success.