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Babywearing
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Babywearing is not a new concept by any means but thanks to many Hollywood celebrities more and more people are getting in on wearing their baby. The idea behind babywearing is simple you hold or carry your baby or young child using a cloth baby carrier. These carriers make it easier and more comfortable, allowing parents and caregivers to hold or carry their children while attending to the daily tasks of living.
While I can see many benefits to babywearing, such as being able to grocery shop and care for baby, I can also see the downside. If you have ever heard the screams of a “lap baby” as my Grandmother used to say then you too can immediately see the downside of babywearing. The constant carrying of your baby may make them become very clingy. The other downside I can see is the carrier breaking and baby falling. Now I don’t not know the statistics on how often this happens but it is a possibility.
There are plenty of people that swear by babywearingand if done correctly there is no reason why it could not be a joy for everyone involved. The truth is that babywearing allows parents to get things done without having to lug around all that baby equipment.
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May 11, 2012
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Craft Idea: Paper Flowers for Mother’s Day
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Mother’s Day is on Sunday and if your child hasn’t already gotten you something why not let them make you some beautiful flowers that won’t wilt. Paper Flowers are the tried and true classic Mother’s Day gift craft for kids.
Tissue flowers for Mother’s Day are very simple and easy to make. They can be made easily by anyone who is not too inclined on spending hours on creating a craft, but wants some simple ways of pleasing the mother and add a splash of color to the table.
All You Need Is Some:
- Tissue Papers
- Pipe Cleaners
- Markers
- Cut squares out of the tissue paper making sure that all the squares are of the same size.
- Decorate these tissue papers using the markers or however your child wants (maybe a little glitter?)
- Crinkle the individual pieces of tissue to give flowers a more natural look. After you crinkle lay them lay flat on a table.
- Place the tissue papers on top of each other and fold them into a rectangle. Cut a small v shaped notch in the center of the rectangle.
- Slide in the layers of tissue up the pipe cleaner and twist it around the notch.
- Once all the layers have been pulled, fluff them up for a more natural look.
- Make as many flowers as you want in different colors and sizes to team them up together into a bouquet.
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May 9, 2012
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The Clean Up Game
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Getting children to help you clean up can be a chore all unto its self. I found that making it fun can make the kids want to do it, Here are a few of my tips for getting your kids to help clean:
- Set a timer. See who can get the most toys put away by the time the bell dings. I usually give a small reward to whoever wins this game. My children race around and LOVE it.
- Customize their storage boxes. Each of children have a box in the living room that they themselves decorated. They have to put any toys, shoes, etc that need to go to the bedroom in this box at the end of the day. This makes getting the items in their correct place easier for me.Anything not in the box and found in the living room I put into the donation box. I tell them if they don’t care enough to pick it up then they don’t really want or need it.
- Let them spray. I have them help with wiping things down I put a teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in warm water in a spray bottle and let them go to town cleaning the table or whatever. It’ll clean just about anything without ruining it.
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May 8, 2012
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Music, Language, and Baby’s Brain Development
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We all have heard the benefits of music being played to babies. Question is how much do we play for them? The answer is there no too much. Toddlers who hear a variety of music and language from the time they were infants have a larger vocabulary than those who don’t. Play all the music you want, all the different genres you love, and you will help baby’s language part of their brain develop better.
Music isn’t the only that helps, language does as well. Not just exposing your baby to different language but language in general. Talking to your baby from birth helps him or her learn more words and learn to speak much more easily than babies who aren’t spoken to often. As your children grow speak directly to them asking him or her direct questions that require more than a yes or no answer.
Take the time to play word games, rhyming games, read aloud, and sing songs together. Make up songs to sing or stories as both will help your children develop problem solving skills on top of language skills. The biggest thing to remember is that music and language not only introduce children to words, but help them learn rhythm, sequences, and spatial and math skills.
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May 4, 2012
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Cinco de Mayo
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Cinco de Mayo, Spanish for 5th of May, is on Saturday and you don’t have to be Latino to have fun with your family. Some family friendly activities that are popular with my children include:
MEXICO (to the tune of Bingo)
At night there’s mariachi
And the sun shines hot all day-O!
M – E – X-I – C – O,
M – E – X-I – C – O,
M – E – X-I – C – O,
Let’s all clap for Mexico!
Papel picado (punched paper)
- You need tissue paper (whatever colors you want)
scissors
string
scotch tape - Directions:
- Fold tissue paper a number of times.
- It should be folded edge to edge, not corner to corner.
- For younger children, don’t fold too many times or it will be difficult for them to cut.
- Cut shapes from the paper, but don’t cut off any corners (you want the rectangular shape of the tissue paper to remain)
- Unfold
- Edges may be straight, scalloped, zig-zagged or fringed.
- Fold over the top 1/4 inch of the papel cortado over a long piece of string and tape to make a pocket
- Add additional sheets to form a long decorative streamer
Pinatas are always fun, and you can always cook up some Mexican food with your kids. We will making tortillas!
- tissue paper (I cut store bought sheets into 4 pieces — each about 8×10 inches)
- scissors
- string
- scotch tape
Directions:
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May 1, 2012
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Co-Sleeping Pros and Cons
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I have heard a lot about co-sleeping here lately and was very curious. Co-Sleeping is where you allow your baby to sleep in the same bed as you. So after a little research I found that parents on both sides are very passionate. Most parents are either completely for or completely against co-sleeping.
PROS:
- Makes nighttime nursing more convenient
- Helps sync mom an baby’s sleep cycle
- Helps baby fall asleep more easily when they wake up in the night
- Leads to more overall nighttime sleep for baby
- Helps parents have a sense of intimacy and bond with their baby
CONS:
- American Academy of Pediatrics is against co-sleeping for safety concerns and a higher risk of SIDS
- Infants can be noisy which may mean less sleep for you
- Your super-attentive acts such as picking up baby the slightest may mean less sleep for baby
- Less intimacy for you and your spouse/partner
- You may have trouble later making the transition to your child’s own bed
Whichever you decide make sure you do your research so that you make the right decision for you. I don’t co-sleep simply because I toss and turn so much that I am afraid I would roll over and smother the baby .
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April 24, 2012
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Food Allergies and Playdates
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When your child has food allergies sending them off for playdates can be stressful. However with a little pre-planning they can be fun for all involved. Once you have arranged the essentials such as time, place, and children invited make sure you call the parent(s) whose home your child will be going to. The call is to inform them that your child has food allergies and that you will provide your child’s snack so they don’t have to worry. Make sure you ask if they have any special snacks planned, you don’t want your child to eat a sandwich while ll the other kids have cupcakes.
The day of the playdate have your child’s snack(s) ready and in a marked container. Also have a list of foods that they should not be given, the doctor’s information, the number where you can be reach, the number for someone who can be reached f you can’t be, and any medications they may require. Don’t pack every single them they “may” need,just the essentials. You don’t want to scare the other parent or make your child feel like different from the other kids.
When you drop your child off speak with the other parent giving him/her the information you have and any last minute instructions they may need. The important thing is that your child have a good time and you feel comfortable allowing him/her this freedom.
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September 14, 2011
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Young children’s TV viewing should be monitored
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Ok, I’m sure most parents know that – that you should pay attention to what your kids watch on TV. Some new research shows that fast paced cartoons like Spongebob may compromise the learning abilities of young children, at least on a short term scale.
The Journal Pediatrics has published research showing that 4 year olds who watched Spongebob for a few minutes had difficulty afterward with being able to pay attention, problem solving and moderating their behavior.
I don’t think I would completely keep a child from watching shows like Spongebob, but I think the study makes a good point about how slower paced, more realistic shows have a more positive effect on kids. I think moderation is the key here.
High action TV and movies meant for adults should be avoided for young children though – whether or not they contain a lot of violence. Slow paced shows made just for young children are much more appropriate.
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September 12, 2011
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Ideas to reduce your kids video game playing time
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According to research from Michigan State University, parents who nag their kids a lot or fail to monitor their behavior very closely tend to spend more time playing video games.
So if you want to reduce the amount of time your kids spend playing video games, try to be less negative around them and pay more attention to what they are doing.
Not that that will keep them from playing, but it might help to reduce the habit at least by a little bit.
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August 25, 2011
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Ask your school to implement the KiVa anti-bullying program
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Ask your kids’ school to implement the KiVa anti-bullying program. It is an anti-bullying program developed in Finland that has been shown to be much more effective than other anti-bullying programs.
It takes a holistic approach utilizing various methods and recognizes that bullies, like other kids, are trying to make friends and improve their social status. The program seeks to create an environment within the school where kids who intervene in bullying episodes increase their social status by doing so.
You can read more about it here: Researchers push to import top anti-bullying program to US schools
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