Protecting Kids From Sun Dangers

With the hot summer, we have been having many of us are heading to the beach, pools or water parks to keep our kids cool, but being outside can pose a big risk to our children.


Protecting your child’s Skin
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, even one or two blistering sunburns can significantly increase a child's risk of developing skin cancer later in life, With that said, you don’t need to hide indoors during daylight hours to protect your kids.


Here are some tips for how to keep your kid's skin healthy:

• Schedule your play times before 10am or after 3pm
• Pay close attention to cheeks, backs of hands, and the tops of feet when applying sunscreen
• Wear hats and t-shirts to protect faces and bodies
• Sit in the shade under a tree or an umbrella
• Choose a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15 or higher
• Remember just because you have sunscreen on doesn’t mean children can’t get burned
• Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before leaving the house
• Reapply after swimming or perspiring even if sunscreen is waterproof, or reapply every 2 hours.
• Apply the appropriate amount of sunscreen. A quarter size dollop will cover one toddler arm.
• Stock up on sunscreen. During the summer months, you will go through a lot to keep the kids protected.
• Teach your kids to apply sunscreen regularly and you will be protecting and teaching them good healthy skin protection habits.

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Thumb Sucking

Parents worry if it is normal if their toddler is still sucking their thumb. In fact, it is generally considered normal until a child is 2 ½ years old.

Why do kids suck their thumb?
Thumb sucking often begins in the womb, as a natural reflex. For babies, they learn about their bodies and the world around them through sucking. Everything goes in their mouth. They suck on their fingers, clothing, and toys.
Thumb sucking can also be a comfort mechanism for young children. It can induce a child to sleep and it can be a signal to parents that their child is tired.

However, most dentists discourage thumb sucking after a child's permanent teeth come in because it can cause problems with teeth alignment, and cause changes to the roof of the mouth.
Here's how you can get your child on track.
Link giving up the habit to growing up
Reinforce that giving up the habit is part of growing up. Point out that they never see big kids sucking their thumb. But don’t embarrass them or scold them as a way to discourage them.
Keep their mind off of the habit
Children often suck their thumbs at around the same time of day everyday. Give them something to hold to keep their hands busy. Try to distract them with another bedtime ritual. Let them look through a picture book to help keep their minds and hands busy.

Point out the issue
Sometimes kids aren’t aware of that they are sucking their thumb in public. Develop a verbal signal to help them recognize when they are thumb sucking. This will help not to embarrass them but it will get the point across.

Let nature take it’s course
In most cases peer pressure will kick in and your child will stop publicly sucking their thumb in school and around friends. If the habit starts to have real dental and medical consequences you can always consult your child’s doctor for advice and guidance.

7 Everyday Ways to Stimulate Development and Learning

Scholistic.com talks about 7 great ways to stimulate development and learning in your young child.  I like the easy everyday ways they suggest.  For instance reading, singing and dancing are great ways to stimulate your baby’s mind and interact with them. Click here to read the whole article.

Summer Safety Tips

Now that summer is in full swing I thought it was a good time to share an article with you about Summer Safety. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers some great tips on keeping kids safe in the water, around those pesky bugs, fireworks and many other tips. Click here to read the full article.

Teaching Your Child About Strangers

Every parent's fear is how your child will deal with strangers when you are not around.  You don’t want them to think everyone is bad, but you also don’t want them to be overly friendly to people they don’t know.  This article from Family Education gives some great advice on how to teach your kids about strangers.  Clickhere to read the whole article.

Teaching Kids To Learn From Failure

No one wants to see their child fail at something but you need to remember that kids can learn from failure. This article from Parenting magazine gives some great tips to help your child along this bumpy road. Click here to read more

Teaching Preschoolers about Time

Younger children can have difficulty understanding the concept of time. When children ask when they are going to the zoo and you say Friday, they might not completely comprehend that they have to wait 4 days until the trip to the zoo. Education.com offers tips on helping your preschooler understand time. Click here to read the article.

Interaction is Important for Your Baby’s Development

Experts suggest the first three years of life are extremely important in the long-tern development of young children. You can jump start your babies emotional and intellectual development by providing the right kind of stimulation.

· At a basic level, facial expressions, like playing peak-a-boo or smiling can begin to stimulate your baby’s brain from a very early age.

· Reading aloud to a baby can provide stimulation and the basic building blocks of speech and language development.

· The stimulation your baby receives by touching various types of fabrics, shape blocks and even playing with water during bath time can help develop a baby’s motor skills as well as stimulate their brains.

· Hugs, kisses and other positive interactions can help stimulate your baby’s brain and provide emotional development and support to make your baby feel secure.

· There is a fine line between providing enough stimulation to your baby and too much. Soothing music and baby massages are a great way to stimulate your baby’s brain why at the same time calming them.

The best way to make sure your baby is getting enough stimulation is to fill their environment with books, colorful objects and pay toys of all different sizes and shapes.

Winter Photos

If you haven’t noticed, we are lacking some snow this winter and while it makes adults happy, kids do miss it.  Here is the perfect wintry, snowy craft that will encourage your child’s creativity without the need for cold or a shovel.

Transform an old photograph into a lovely winter scene, with a few strokes of the paint brush.  Children can make their scene a tranquil snowy morning or a blizzard at night.  The choice is up to them.

What You Will Need:

• Old photo that you don’t want anymore
• White tempera paint
• Thin paint brush
• Newspaper to protect your work surface

Steps:

1. Cover your work area with newspaper
2. Have your child paint snow on the photograph using the paint brush and white  paint. There are lots of different ways they can paint snow. They can add lots of small dots so it looks like it's snowing, or create large splotches piled up high to make snowdrifts.
3. Set aside the photo to dry.

New Year's Resolutions for Kids

Here are some great New Year’s resolution ideas for kids:

Young Children

• I pledge to clean up my room once a week.
• I will be kind to animals.
• I will wash my hands after going to the bathroom and before I eat.

Older Kids

• I will eat healthier (reduce sodas and junk food).
• I will try to stay active by exercising or playing a sport.
• I will wear appropriate safety equipment when playing sports or activities.
• I will always wear a seatbelt when riding in a car.
• When driving a car I will never text.
• I will use social media responsibly.
• I will not tease or bully others.
• I will volunteer in the community to help others.
• I will resist peer pressure to try drugs and alcohol.

You can find other New Year’s resolutions by searching on the web. Use New Year’s resolutions as an opportunity to reinforce good habits, healthy living and safety with your children.

What To Do With The Kids During Break

With the kids off from school this week parents are looking for activities to do with the kids and here are a few ideas:

· Kids Movies Playing Now - There are plenty of kid’s movies out this holiday season. Try checking out The Muppets, Happy Feet 2, Arthur Christmas, Hugo and, for older kids, War Horse.

 · Museums- Many museums have holiday displays or even special events for the kids to check out over the holiday break.

 · Roller or Ice Skating- Have your kid’s burn energy while skating. Just make sure they wear protective gear.

 · Take a Hike- Take a family hike and discover the outdoors.

 · Be a Chef– Let your kids help you in the kitchen while you supervise. This can be a great learning experience. Reinforce counting as you measure the ingredients. Let them help you pour the ingredients in a bowl to practice coordination and fine motor skills.

 · Science Experiments – You can do some really interesting home science experiments with household items. Teach them about static electricity by rubbing your feet on the carpet and touching each other to see if a static shock develops. Mix some baking soda, vinegar and raisins and see if you can get raisins to dance. Search on the Internet for some more interesting science experiments you can do at home. Just use your best judgment to determine what’s safe for you and your child.

 · Pen Pals– Teach your child how to send a good old fashioned letter. Let them create their own holiday cards and send them to relatives or even classmates. Your child’s friends will be excited to get mail and your child will have fun creating their own holiday cards, for just the cost of some stamps.

 The holidays are a special time for children. Take the time off to slow down, spend quality time with the family and enjoy the special moments.

Car Seat Safety

With so much information about car seat safety many parents wonder and worry if they are keeping their child as safe as they should be.  Below are guidelines set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA).

           * Select a car seat based on your child's age, height, and weight.

           * Keep your child in a car seat for the maximum age, as long as your child 

              fits the seat's height and weight requirements.

 * All children under 13 should ride in the back seat.

Birth – 12 months

Your child under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat.

There are different types of rear-facing car seats: Infant-only seats can only be used rear-facing. Convertible and 3-in-1 car seats typically have higher height and weight limits for the rear-facing position, allowing you to keep your child rear-facing for a longer period of time.

1 – 3 years

Keep your child rear-facing as long as possible. It’s the best way to keep him or her safe. Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, your child is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness.

4 – 7 years

Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the forward-facing car seat with a harness, it’s time to travel in a booster seat, but still in the back seat.

8 – 12 years

Keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. For a seat belt to fit properly the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face. Remember: your child should still ride in the back seat because it’s safer there.

Many local stores and organizations offer safety checks were certified technicians are available to check your car seat installation for free. Click HERE to find your nearest inspection station.

Source: http://www.nhtsa.gov/

Learning to Write Letters

Writing the letters of the alphabet is a skill that preschoolers who plan to enter kindergarten next year should be learning. Here are some tips on how to help your child learn to write their letters. 

• Have paper and big easy-to-grasp crayons available to your child. Tell them to scribble and have fun writing as much as they want.

• Don’t be that concerned if when you child starts writing letters, they are all over the paper. Children learn individual letters first and it takes some time for them to grasp the concept of words.

• Don’t be that concerned if your child spells words without vowels. As kids enter school they are taught the concept of vowels, proper spelling and the difference between upper and lower case letters. The concepts really begin to develop as a child learns to read.

• Don’t expect handwriting to be neat initially. Motor skill need time to develop.

Remember patience is the most important thing you can bring to the table when you are teaching your child how to write.  It will come over time and with lots of practice.

Learning another Language

December is learn a foreign language month, so now is a perfect time to teach your child a second language. Because the brain of a young child is in language hyper-drive learning mode, they can learn a foreign language much faster and much more effectively than a teen or adult. In fact, by the time your child reaches middle school that part of their brain is developed.

Here are a few steps you can take to introduce a foreign language to your child:

•       Use bilingual books and toys
•       Have them regularly interact with someone who speaks a different language like a babysitter or caregiver
•       Immerse your child in foreign culture through travel or by visiting areas of your city or town where one culture is prevalent
•       Take your child to cultural events like fairs, food markets and restaurants
•       When teaching your child the names of objects and body parts, refer to them in both languages
•       While playing games say the words in both languages
•       Begin to use basic words in the second language
•       Listen to music, or television in other languages
•       Watch your child’s favorite movie in another language

Have fun teaching your child to embrace different cultures and languages.

Hands-and-Feet Turkey

Since we are talking about the meaning of Thanksgiving this week, why not make a turkey with your child and talk about all the things you are Thankful for.


Materials

• Construction paper in brown, tan, orange, red, yellow and white 
• Scissors 
• Glue 

Instructions

• Trace 1 foot (with shoes on) on brown construction paper. 
• Trace two hands on tan construction paper. 
• Trace two hands on red construction paper. Trace two hands on orange construction paper. 
• Trace one hand on yellow construction paper. 
• Cut out all the pieces 
• Make the turkey body and head, placing the heel at the top (the heel will become the face) 
• Glue the red, orange, and yellow construction paper hands behind the brown body to make the tail.

Dealing With Bullies

Schools, the press and society are starting to improve our countries response to bulling. But, bullying still occurs every day.  As parents and guardians, we want to protect our little ones but we cannot be there all the time. What steps can you take to help prepare your child to deal with bullies? Here are a few tips:

·         Tell your child to avoid the bully as much as possible. Stay away from him/her on the playground.

·         Have your child practice standing and walking with confidence. Bullies usually pick on people who are smaller and physically weaker than they are, or who they feel will not retaliate

·         Don't let a bully make your child feel bad. Teach your child that when someone says something bad about them to think about something positive about yourself.

·         Don't reward the bully with tears. The bully wants to hurt your feelings, so act like his name-calling and taunts don't hurt.

·         Teach your child to use humor when dealing with a bully. Throwing a joke back at a bullies taunting, can often diffuse the situation.

·         Most importantly make sure your child is comfortable keeping the lines of communication open with you.

If you think the bullying has gotten out of control, contact your child’s school for help. 

Parent Involvement

It’s a proven fact that children with involved parents or guardians do better in school and are more successful in life. Involvement can come in several forms. You can get involved with your child’s school, get involved in their homework or simply ask them how their day went and take the time to listen.

Why Should I Get Involved?

In this economy the only way for schools to function is with the help of volunteers. Almost all school budgets have been cut with the downturn in the economy. Arts and music programs, athletics, library and classroom resources are all needed in schools and community centers.

Becoming involved in your child’s school, the community or local sports as a coach will help you develop common ground with your child. It gives you a way to talk about a common interest and goals you can work together to achieve.

And the school, organization and your child aren’t the only ones who gain from your time and effort. You get to meet teachers, coaches and other children that your child interacts with every day. You can begin to better understand the challenges and successes your child experience every day. And you help and share in the successes as a volunteer.

Here are just some of the things your child's school, teacher or community center can help you do as a volunteer:

• join the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA

• act as a classroom aide/helper

• volunteer in a school computer lab

• help with fundraising activities such as bake sales or spring fairs

• tutor students

• assist children with special needs

• build sets or sew costumes for theatre and musical productions

• volunteer as a lunchroom or playground monitor

• help the school administrators write grant proposals or press releases

• attend school board meetings

• work as a library aide in the school library

• volunteer to speak in the classroom or at a career day

Find the type of involvement that makes you happy and fulfilled. Find something that suites your schedule and your level of commitment. Don’t forget to find something that interests both you and your child.

Nap Time Tips

Naps are an important part of your child’s life. It’s like a physical and emotional reset switch. When children nap it calms them down and gives their bodies a chance to rest and relax. But, what if your child fights you every time you try to get them to take a nap? Here are some tips for establishing a good nap time routine.

Routines help children understand what to expect in today’s fast paced life. Young children often lack the coping skills to be able to adapt, on the fly, to a changing schedule. Here is an example of a typical morning routine:

• Wake Up
• Breakfast
• Playtime
• Activity (crafts, reading books, ect.)
• Morning Snack
• Outdoor Play
• Lunch
• Playtime

Read a story or play soothing music to signal that it’s time to calm down for nap time

Avoid interaction with your child while they are trying to fall asleep for example cuddling in bed with them. If they start crying, you can check on them, but you don’t speak to them or stay in the room. Hopefully with a consistent routine your little one will fall asleep on his/her own.  

Sock Pumpkin Craft

What You Need

• Orange paint
• Green paint
• Black construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Paint brushes (medium size)
• A tube sock or athletic sock
• Stuffing for the sock (crumpled paper will work)
• Rubber bands or green yarn/string

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Take your crumpled up paper and stuff the foot section on the sock and tie it off where the foot and tube part meet with a rubber band or green yarn. 
2. Paint the entire foot of the sock (the area below the tied off area) orange and allow it to dry before continuing.
3. While waiting for the paint to dry, cut shapes for a jack-o-lantern face using the black construction paper.
4. Paint top of sock (the remaining white part of the sock) green, this will be the pumpkins stem. Allow it to dry and trim it to the desired stem length. 
5. Take the black paper face pieces and glue them onto the sock to create your sock jack-o-lantern.
6. Use different size socks to create pumpkin families or your very own pumpkin patch. 
   
   

Surviving Errands with the Kids in Tow

Between work, kids and school it’s hard to get errands done and even harder when your kids are whining, crying, and throwing temper tantrums in the process. Here are a few tips to take the some of the stress out when running errands.

 • Explain the game plan – tell the kids exactly where you’re going on your errands and how long it should take.

• Set the rules – tell them what is, and is not, acceptable behavior and that you’re shopping for others not for them. This will help to alleviate the “mommy or daddy can I get” questions.

 • Tell them what’s expected - no running, inside voice, stay with the parents. • Review car etiquette – no yelling in the car, buckle your seat belt, no throwing anything in the car.

 • Keep your kids busy – play I spy when you are going through the store. Let them help push the cart. Have them help you find items you are looking for like a scavenger hunt. Sing some songs if your car ride is longer than expected or, you are stuck in traffic.

 • Give time off for good behavior – reward your children with a play date or something they like to do if they are good during errands. Just make sure you are not bribing them but rewarding them to reinforce proper behavior.

With these tips you might get done all of your errands and actually get some time for yourself.