Sunday, July 11, 2010

Productive and Positive Potty Training


Your child's showing all the signs of being ready to potty train. That's great! But now, where do you start?
Explain to your toddler that going potty is a normal process of life and everyone does it, even animals. Talk with them about the toilet, a special place where they can potty just like the big kids. Tell him how the potty works and let him try flushing himself. Explain that they will be wearing underwear and not diapers. Find some educational and entertaining videos of their favorite characters learning to go potty. Be sure to involve other family members in the process and emphasize the importance of consistency during this process.

Make a special trip to the store and purchase new underwear with your toddler. Let them have a voice in what you get. The underwear will have much more significance if your toddler helped choose them.

Overalls, pants with lots of buttons, snaps or zips, tight or restrictive clothing and oversized shirts will all be an obstacle to your child during this process. Put these kinds of clothes away for the time being.

Decide whether or not you're going to use pull-ups, training pants or regular underwear and try to stick with this decision so your child has consistency and isn't confused. Think about whether or not you want to use rewards or not. Figure out a strategy on how to handle potty issues when you're away from home.

If your child is in child care, ask your provider for their advice and make sure there aren't any hard and fast rules the center or caregiver has in place that may be an issue. Let them know that you're going to start and enlist their help with the process.

Praise your child for each successful trip to the potty, and comfort them when accidents happen and try to remain patient and calm when they do. Avoid using candy or other treats as reinforcement. Let them know that it will take a while to get the hang of using the potty, and encourage and praise each attempt they make. With consistency, encouragement and praise, they'll soon be completely trained.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

How to deal with a crying Baby or Child


Crying is a physiological process in the life of a baby.All normal babies cry to communicate with others.Sine they can't express their feelings in words crying is the only way for communication. If any uncomfortable feeling comes they simply cry.Normally babies cry in situations like hunger,wetting,too heat or cold,tight cloaths,pain ect. Some kids need the presence of somebody otherwise will cry simply.Crying without any cause is habitual in some babies.


Eventhough crying is considered as normal it may worry the family members.Since the reasons for crying ranges from simple causes to serious causes it should not be ignored and hence exact cause has to be identified and managed accordingly.



The following are some points which should be considered while dealing with a crying baby.

1, It is dangerous to shake the baby vigorously.

2,Tight cloaths can cause irritation hence it should be removed.

3,If the room is hot put the fan and open the windows.

4,If the nappy is wet remove it and after cleaning the parts make it dry with a soft towel.

5,Pat her back or stroke her head slowly and let her here your soothing sound.

6,Give breast milk and make her quiet.

7,If the climate is cold cover her in soft towel.

8,Rock her gently in your arms and walk slowly in the room.

9,Take a music making doll and let her listen.

10,Try a pacifier or help her for thumb sucking.

11,If no response change her position.

12,Walk outdors with her.

13,Put her on the cradle and rock gently.

14,If no response ask somebody to carry the baby.


Even after all these steps the baby goes on crying see for the following signs.
( Probable cause is given after every sign)

1,Press her abdomen gently,she may twist or resist you:---Colic

2,Pull her ear gently she may become worse or push your hands away:---Earache.

3,Feel her temperature with the back of your hands:--Fever due to any infection.

4,Examine the skin from head to foot:--Eruptive disease,nappy rash,measles,vesicles,allergy ect.

5,See the nose for any discharge:--Coryza.

6,Move the head gently to feel any neck stiffness:--Meningitis,head injury ect.

7,Keep your ear near her chest to hear any rattling sound:--Increased mucus in wind pipes.
(pneumonia,bronchiolitis,asthamatic bronchitis ect)
8,Examine the anal orifice:--Anal erosion,rectal polyp,crawling of worms.

9,Examine the genitalia:--Any discharge or erosion.

10,In male baby see the testicles which may be swollen or tender:--Orchitis,torsion of testes.

11,also notice the body movements and see for any convulsions,rigors,vomiting,cough,laboured breathing ect.

If you see the above signs or any other abnormal signs consult your doctor for proper treatement.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

How to Discipline your child in the best way


Disciplining a child is one of the most important, yet difficult, roles of being a parent. Effective discipline teaches a child to be self-disciplined later in life. It helps your child grow up to be happy and well-adjusted. Effective and positive discipline teaches and guides children, and helps them to feel safe, secure, and valued. Discipline should be based on a child's age, development and temperament.

A parent's goals by disciplining their child is to protect them from danger, to help them learn self-control and self-discipline and to develop a sense of responsibility. Children should be respectful of their parent's authority. If they're disciplined harshly or unfairly, especially if it includes shouting or humiliating, will make it difficult if not impossible for a child to respect and trust their parent. Parents must be consistent in their discipline. Discipline that's not consistent is confusing to children, no matter how old they are.

If parents are inconsistent in the way they discipline their children, children may find it hard to respect them. It can also indirectly encourage misbehaving and result in confusion and frustration for the child. Discipline must also be fair. Parents must make sure that the punishment fits the crime and doesn't punish too severely or is too lax.

The consequences of their actions should be related to their behavior. In order to discourage bad behavior, give your child choices about what to do. He will appreciate the chance to make decisions. Make sure rules that protect the safety, health and well-being of your child are given top priority. If your child is irritable, tired or upset, be understanding and try to help calm them. It's important to keep in mind that bad behavior can sometimes be circumstantial.

Encourage positive behavior in your child by spending quality time alone with your child each day. Give your child hugs, cuddles or a gentle pat on the back, and give praise when praise is due. If your child is angry or sad, try to understand why. Teach your child good behavior by setting a good example and behaving properly and appropriately yourself.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Bathing and Cleaning for Infants and Children


During infancy

cleanliness is essential to the infant's health. The principal points to which especial attention must be paid by the parent for this purpose are the following:

At first the infant should be washed daily with warm water; and a bath every night, for the purpose of thoroughly cleaning the body, is highly necessary. To bathe a delicate infant of a few days or even weeks old in cold water with a view "to harden" the constitution (as it is called), is the most effectual way to undermine its health and entail future disease. By degrees, however, the water with which it is sponged in the morning should be made tepid, the evening bath being continued warm enough to be grateful to the feelings.

A few months having passed by, the temperature of the water may be gradually lowered until cold is employed, with which it may be either sponged or even plunged into it, every morning during summer.

If plunged into cold water, however, it must be kept in but a minute; for at this period, especially, the impression of cold continued for any considerable time depresses the vital energies, and prevents that healthy glow on the surface which usually follows the momentary and brief action of cold, and upon which its usefulness depends. With some children, indeed, there is such extreme delicacy and deficient reaction as to render the cold bath hazardous; no warm glow over the surface takes place when its use inevitably does harm: its effects, therefore, must be carefully watched.

The surface of the skin should always be carefully and thoroughly rubbed dry with flannel, indeed, more than dry, for the skin should be warmed and stimulated by the assiduous gentle friction made use of. For this process of washing and drying must not be done languidly, but briskly and expeditiously; and will then be found to be one of the most effectual means of strengthening the infant. It is especially necessary carefully to dry the arm-pits, groins, and nates; and if the child is very fat, it will be well to dust over these parts with hair-powder or starch: this prevents excoriations and sores, which are frequently very troublesome. Soap is only required to those parts of the body which are exposed to the reception of dirt.

During childhood

When this period arrives, or shortly after, bathing is but too frequently left off; the hands and face of the child are kept clean, and with this the nurse is satisfied; the daily ablution of the whole body, however, is still necessary, not only for the preservation of cleanliness, but because it promotes in a high degree the health of the child.

A child of a vigorous constitution and robust health, as he rises from his bed refreshed and active by his night's repose, should be put into the shower-bath, or, if this excites and alarms him too much, must be sponged from head to foot with salt water. If the weather be very cold, the water may be made slightly tepid, but if his constitution will bear it, the water should be cold throughout the year. Then the body should be speedily dried, and hastily but well rubbed with a somewhat coarse towel, and the clothes put on without any unnecessary delay. This should be done every morning of the child's life.

If such a child is at the sea-side, advantage should be taken of this circumstance, and seabathing should be substituted. The best time is two or three hours after breakfast; but he must not be fatigued beforehand, for if so, the cold bath cannot be used without danger.

Care must be taken that he does not remain in too long, as the animal heat will be lowered below the proper degree, which would be most injurious. In boys of a feeble constitution, great mischief is often produced in this way. It is a matter also of great consequence in bathing children that they should not be terrified by the immersion, and every precaution should be taken to prevent this. The healthy and robust boy, too, should early be taught to swim, whenever this is practicable, for it is attended with the most beneficial effects; it is a most invigorating exercise, and the cold bath thus becomes doubly serviceable.

If a child is of a delicate and strumous constitution, the cold bath during the summer is one of the best tonics that can be employed; and if living on the coast, sea-bathing will be found of singular benefit. The effects, however, of sea-bathing upon such a constitution must be particularly watched, for unless it is succeeded by a glow, a feeling of increased strength, and a keen appetite, it will do no good, and ought at once to be abandoned for the warm or tepid bath. The opinion that warm baths generally relax and weaken, is erroneous; for in this case, as in all cases when properly employed, they would give tone and vigour to the whole system; in fact, the tepid bath is to this child what the cold bath is to the more robust.

In conclusion: if the bath in any shape cannot from circumstances be obtained, then cold saltwater sponging must be used daily, and all the year round, so long as the proper reaction or glow follows its use; but when this is not the case, and this will generally occur, if the child is delicate and the weather cold, tepid vinegar and water, or tepid salt water, must be substituted.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Why Tutoring at Home is Important


Through the years, the academic setting has become less and less friendlier for students, especially for children. Although today, there are far better classrooms, more skilled teachers, and even tools like such printed materials, these—oftentimes—are not enough to change the fact that there is more pressure on the kid's shoulder. This is why it is very important to supplement this setting with tutoring as early as toddler hood years in school.
Today, many parents as well as teachers—probably because of very busy schedule and lots of work that need to be done—tend to become less observant to the child's behavior when it comes to their academic life in school. In fact, up to now, many of them still do not know the reason behind the steady loss of children's interest in their studies—too much assignments and less tutoring.
Many experts believe that assignment is one of the things that the students—especially the younger ones—hate the most because they feel that they no longer have time to enjoy and have fun inside the house. For parents, this is the time to take a good look at your child's behavior when it comes to school or to doing assignments because this will enable you to help the child the soonest possible time.
Seeing the signs
For you to know if your child or your sibling needs tutoring at home, the best is you confirm that the child is somehow suffering from what is commonly called, "school fatigue" due to tons of assignments. Any student who show three or more of these signs need immediate tutoring sessions especially when they are at home so they could easily catch up with the lessons that they might have been missing. Experts say that the child needs constant tutoring if he or she:

• Manifests persistent frustration. This is the major sign of kids who are losing interest in school due to lack of academic help from people around him or her. At first, this may be vague and can be mistaken to tantrums—especially to younger kids—but eventually, this behavior will become more and more noticeable because it will manifest in other things as well as places not only at school but inside the home as well.

• Is too much overwhelmed. This sign can be easy to distinguish in a child especially to those who usually don't get overwhelmed in other things. You will know that there is decrease in academic interest when a child starts to complain about assignments and other school work even if these has not been explained by the teacher fully.

• Fails repeatedly in completing any assignment or a school project. This is a very alarming symptom for the child because this shows that the problem affects his or her everyday function in school. If nothing is done the soonest possible time, it may manifest to his or her other behaviors later on in life.

• Intends to ignore distractions. This leads to the child to juggling two or more tasks in one time without having to finish anything. If ever there one would be finished, it will be haphazard or dissatisfactory.

• Experiences head on struggle to staying in one task. There is no available tutoring help for the child if or her she manifests this symptom. This is because the confidence of the child is greatly affected, thus, disabling him or her to complete anything thinking that he or she will not be able to do it the right way.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Summer and Water safety for children


Summer heralds a great time for kids! The outdoors become their playground and their general frolicking about is a given. But while summer might be a great time for your kids, the outdoors might hold some danger for them.

And therefore it becomes imperative that you take care of what the kids are doing out there. How many of you know about summer safety tips to keep children safe, for example? Not many! For all you know, they might end up doing something that might be putting them in grave degrees of danger. In order to prevent a mishap from happening later, it is better if you are well acquainted with some summer safety tips for children. These summer safety rules will help you be better prepared for any situation and you can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that your kids are safe out there. So just for you then, here are some summer safety tips for children.

Playground Safety Tips for ChildrenWhen sending the kids out to play, keep the following outdoor safety tips for children in mind.Adult SupervisionAdult supervision is one of the best methods to prevent any mishaps from happening. An adult being present on the scene can not only keep a close eye on the child, but the child has someone to call out to in case of any problem. So also, the child knows that there is someone who is around and so he will avoid doing anything that is not considered 'OK' by elders, and which he might have done otherwise.Equipment CheckIf there is a particular playground that the child visits often, or he has a fixed place that he plays in, then make sure that you have the area checked for safety in terms of equipments.

Are the kids playing with something sharp, or which is rusted, or has jagged edges? All of which could pose serious threats. So also, if the kids are in the younger kids bracket, then is the equipment age appropriate for them? Can they handle it well? All these summer safety tips for children, especially, younger children are really necessary to take into consideration.Swings and SlidesMake sure that you give them a thorough knowledge of what should and should not be done when they are on slides or swings. Like tell them that standing in front of a swing when others are on it can cause them to get hurt.

Or not to take skipping ropes onto ladders because of the dangers of their legs entangling in it. So also not to crowd onto equipments, sliding down one at a time, no jumping when at a height etc.Dress CodeMake sure that the kids are wearing clothes which will not get entangled in things and cause a fall.

These would include scarves, loose clothes, stray strings, and hoods. So also hair should be tied instead of left open. Make sure that their feet are well covered because a playground can have several sharp objects lying around.Playground MaintenanceMake sure that a regular check and supervision of the playground is done. This is important because whatever is broken needs to be fixed. So also, better equipments need to be fitted in whenever possible.

This will ensure that the summer safety tips for kids are well taken care of. Read more on child safety.Water Safety Tips for KidsAnother area which one needs to concentrate on when it comes to summer safety tips for children is the water! Many people do not realize it, but accidents can happen within the blink of an eye if water safety is not taken care of. Prepare yourself with these summer safety tips for children as best as you can.
It is always advised that you provide swimming lessons for your kids. It will help them in the future as well.
Make sure that if the kids are too small, there is some form of adult supervision always present.

Make your child wear a life jacket if they don't know how to swim.
Tell them never to jump on other kids or try to push their heads down in the act of having fun.
Never allow kids to dive or jump into rivers and lakes before inspecting for any rocks or logs.

Make sure that there is a kiddie pool and that young kids go there. BUT adult supervision should still be provided.

Make sure that the kids take special precautions when riding on water slides, water parks and any other recreational centers. These include no running, pushing or monkeying around.

When on the beach, do NOT swim when there is a high or low tide. It can be very very dangerous!
Do not swim next to piers and docks, the current there is strong and unpredictable.

Never pretend that you are drowning. Because the next time you really are, no one will believe you.
It is always helpful if you know and teach your kid CPR. It could save someone's life.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Electrical Safety tips for Children


Following are some safety measures to keep your kids or toddler safe in or around your home or apartment.

Keep electrical appliance out of reach: Ensure you keep all electrical appliances out of reach and you remove plug form socket after use.
Play centers in the middle of the room: Create large play centers in the middle of the room with their most interesting toys in the center of the rooms. This will make your kid or toddler busy with their toys and utilize center or middle of room. This minimizes electrical accident and makes your home or apartment safe for your kids.

Adult supervision: Kids and toddler are more prompt for accidents and needs adult supervision. Never allow your kids or toddler to play in a room or home alone. Always supervise your infants when they are close to electrics. Ensure you watch your kid’s movement and you can reach them in case required.

Plug sockets covers: Plug sockets, or power outlets, are one of the primary danger spots for children. To prevent curious fingers poking into places where they shouldn’t, install plug socket covers to every power outlet in the home. Choose socket covers that have a twist and pull mechanism or ones that require the plug to be used as a key for removal.
Avoid using extension cords: Avoid using extension cords, especially for a long period. Do not string extension cords together, and make sure that the appliances do not exceed the amperage capability of the extension cord.

Cords and cables should be out of reach: Ideally, cords and cables should be out of reach and hidden because babies in particular are prone to chewing anything they can get their hands on. Cords and cables can also be pulled which may result in toppling over a lamp or other appliance bringing it crashing down on top of your tot.

Avoid touching electrical appliances from wet floor: Teach your child never to touch an electrical appliance, such as a hair dryer, light switch or radio, while he or she is in the bathtub or Wet floor or ground. Teach your child not to turn on lights or electrical appliances when you or others in your family are in or around.

Avoid contact with overhanging wires: Ensuring your children stay away from climbing trees or flying kites near overhanging wires. Never allow your kids to play in or around home where electrical wires hanging to the reach of them.

Do not allow to play near overhanging wires: Do not allow kids to fly kites, balloons or model airplanes near power lines. If one gets caught in a line, do not try to remove it. Leave it alone. Ensure your children stay away from climbing trees or flying kites near overhanging wires.

Safety of your kids or toddler is your primary duty. Cover the power outlets with socket cover that cannot be easily removed by your kids or toddler. Never encourage your kids or toddler to play in or around electrical appliance. Keep electrical appliance out of reach of children and ensure they are safely fixed to wall and do not fall or cause injury if your kid or toddler try to reach them. Don’t touch anyone or anything that is touching a downed wire.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Be Part in your Child's Activities, Hobbies and School


It's probably no secret that children who have involved parents are more happy, healthy, and well-adjusted and excel at their educational and extra curricular pursuing. It can increase their cognitive development,and keeps them more motivated, strengthens the parent-child relationship, and has a direct positive influence on their overall academic achievement.
It help parents achieve a positive view on their parenting skills, increase their own self confidence and self esteem, and will most likely feel more satisfied with their child's educational experience at school.

But when you will be involved? With today's busy schedules between home, work, and school, it may feel that the average family has very little quality time to offer. However, different options and levels of commitment are available to fit every parent's availability, and with some careful planning and dedication, you can make it a positive experience for both yourself and your child.
First of all, discover what your child is most passionate about. what he like the most, music, sport , Art ...etc. and learn more about about you can come up with new ideas and new things to do together.

It's also important to consider what skills, talents and abilities you can bring to the table. Maybe your child's school is in desperate need of your help organizing a fundraiser, but your skills in sewing and designing might better serve the school if you were to help in making the costumes for the school play. Remember, you want this to be a positive experience for both of you, and if your child senses that you're not happy with what you've chosen to become involved in, then they likely will not be happy as well.

But the bottom line is get involved and stay involved. Children of involved parents are less likely to get into mischief, have emotional problems, or have problems in school. You benefit by connecting with and staying connected to your child. It's a win-win situation for you both.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

BATHING AND CLEANLINESS DURING INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD


cleanliness is essential to the infant's health. The principal points to which especial attention must be paid by the parent for this purpose are the following:

At first the infant should be washed daily with warm water; and a bath every night, for the purpose of thoroughly cleaning the body, is highly necessary. To bathe a delicate infant of a few days or even weeks old in cold water with a view "to harden" the constitution (as it is called), is the most effectual way to undermine its health and entail future disease. By degrees, however, the water with which it is sponged in the morning should be made tepid, the evening bath being continued warm enough to be grateful to the feelings.

A few months having passed by, the temperature of the water may be gradually lowered until cold is employed, with which it may be either sponged or even plunged into it, every morning during summer. If plunged into cold water, however, it must be kept in but a minute; for at this period, especially, the impression of cold continued for any considerable time depresses the vital energies, and prevents that healthy glow on the surface which usually follows the momentary and brief action of cold, and upon which its usefulness depends. With some children, indeed, there is such extreme delicacy and deficient reaction as to render the cold bath hazardous; no warm glow over the surface takes place when its use inevitably does harm: its effects, therefore, must be carefully watched.

The surface of the skin should always be carefully and thoroughly rubbed dry with flannel, indeed, more than dry, for the skin should be warmed and stimulated by the assiduous gentle friction made use of. For this process of washing and drying must not be done languidly, but briskly and expeditiously; and will then be found to be one of the most effectual means of strengthening the infant. It is especially necessary carefully to dry the arm-pits, groins, and nates; and if the child is very fat, it will be well to dust over these parts with hair-powder or starch: this prevents excoriations and sores, which are frequently very troublesome. Soap is only required to those parts of the body which are exposed to the reception of dirt.

During childhood.
----------------

When this period arrives, or shortly after, bathing is but too frequently left off; the hands and face of the child are kept clean, and with this the nurse is satisfied; the daily ablution of the whole body, however, is still necessary, not only for the preservation of cleanliness, but because it promotes in a high degree the health of the child.

A child of a vigorous constitution and robust health, as he rises from his bed refreshed and active by his night's repose, should be put into the shower-bath, or, if this excites and alarms him too much, must be sponged from head to foot with salt water. If the weather be very cold, the water may be made slightly tepid, but if his constitution will bear it, the water should be cold throughout the year. Then the body should be speedily dried, and hastily but well rubbed with a somewhat coarse towel, and the clothes put on without any unnecessary delay. This should be done every morning of the child's life.

If such a child is at the sea-side, advantage should be taken of this circumstance, and seabathing should be substituted. The best time is two or three hours after breakfast; but he must not be fatigued beforehand, for if so, the cold bath cannot be used without danger. Care must be taken that he does not remain in too long, as the animal heat will be lowered below the proper degree, which would be most injurious. In boys of a feeble constitution, great mischief is often produced in this way. It is a matter also of great consequence in bathing children that they should not be terrified by the immersion, and every precaution should be taken to prevent this. The healthy and robust boy, too, should early be taught to swim, whenever this is practicable, for it is attended with the most beneficial effects; it is a most invigorating exercise, and the cold bath thus becomes doubly serviceable.

If a child is of a delicate and strumous constitution, the cold bath during the summer is one of the best tonics that can be employed; and if living on the coast, sea-bathing will be found of singular benefit. The effects, however, of sea-bathing upon such a constitution must be particularly watched, for unless it is succeeded by a glow, a feeling of increased strength, and a keen appetite, it will do no good, and ought at once to be abandoned for the warm or tepid bath. The opinion that warm baths generally relax and weaken, is erroneous; for in this case, as in all cases when properly employed, they would give tone and vigour to the whole system; in fact, the tepid bath is to this child what the cold bath is to the more robust.

In conclusion: if the bath in any shape cannot from circumstances be obtained, then cold saltwater sponging must be used daily, and all the year round, so long as the proper reaction or glow follows its use; but when this is not the case, and this will generally occur, if the child is delicate and the weather cold, tepid vinegar and water, or tepid salt water, must be substituted.
 

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