Potty training can be a daunting task for both the parents and the child. Some kids, for their own reasons, are terrified of going potty on the toilet and need a little extra incentive to do it. Parents who have already experienced trying to potty train their kids know what tactics work. They also know that what works for one child might not work for another. Remember that each child is different and that you always need to have patience for your reluctant child. Here are 20 of the … [Read more...]
Home-care & Safety, Teach Your Child ‘how to’ Call 911
Preparing your child to act calmly under unthinkable circumstances is a scary and disheartening responsibility, but it is an essential one. Ensuring that your little ones are equipped to properly handle an emergency situation at a young age gives them the ability to reach out for assistance when they need it most, even when you’re not available to point them in the right direction. Teaching small children how to reach emergency services is less of a practical challenge and more of an … [Read more...]
CHILDCARE, 10 Strategies for Teaching Your Child to Read
Learning to read is one of the first major educational milestones in a child’s life. The sense of pride and accomplishment that kids feel the first time they read a book all by themselves is something that neither you nor they will forget. Helping your child master the skills that lead up to learning to read will make the lesson an easier one for him to learn, instilling a love of reading and learning that can follow him throughout his life. While there are as many approaches to teaching a … [Read more...]
Engaging Versus Entertaining the Kids
Engaging Versus Entertaining the Kids When it comes to spending time with children, do you spend your time engaging them, entertaining them or doing a little of both? Before you can fully answer that question, you may need to explore the difference between the two. When caregivers engage children their time is spent being actively involved with the kids. Engaging children requires active participation from both the caregiver and the child. When caregivers actively play with children, … [Read more...]
CHILDCARE: Stuttering in Your Child (especially 2-5 years)
There are a variety of speech difficulties that are common in children, especially between the ages of two and five. A stutter is one of these more common conditions, and causes children to repeat fragments of words every few words, sometimes several times before they’re able to say the word fully. For young children, the frustration of having difficulty communicating with others can be the primary complaint, but older children often become quite self-conscious if the stuttering … [Read more...]
How to Raise Responsible Kids: teens, tweens & toddlers
The ultimate goal of parenting is to raise children who grow into adults that are capable of handling their own lives. In order to accomplish this, it’s important to instill a sense of responsibility in kids when they’re young, creating an attitude that will carry over into their teenage and adult years. Responsible kids become successful adults, but that behavior is learned. Helping your kids to learn the importance of taking personal responsibility and ultimately grow into self-reliant, … [Read more...]
8 Ways to Help a New Nursing Mom Return to Work, Marcia Hall
It can be very difficult for a new mom to return to work when her maternity leave is over, and there is a great mix of emotions that accompany this transition. On one hand, she might be enthusiastic about returning to a job that she loves and excited to be able to get out of the house again. On the other hand, however, she almost always feels guilty about leaving her child with anyone, even if it is someone that she trusts emphatically. There is a maternal instinct that kicks in and … [Read more...]
Childcare, 10 Chores Your Toddler Can Do !
The trying and terrific toddler years are upon you! Your baby is growing up and there are so many 'milestones to celebrate'. Parents often wonder and worry about if their child is on track with his growth and development. What should an 18-month-old be able to do, and how can you foster his development? Parents may have great intentions of getting their children involved in chores around the house, but life can frequently get in the way of even the best of intentions. Here are a few … [Read more...]
Child Caregivers: 5 Job Tools Nannies May Want to Get for Themselves
After years of experience, a nanny may develop a favorite brand of bottles or model of car seat that she feels is superior to others she’s tried. But since a nanny works in her employer’s home, she’s typically limited to using the items and gear that the parents have already selected. While many nanny employers are open and appreciate the suggestions of their nannies when it comes to purchasing items, gear and supplies, often times a nanny enters the picture too late, after all the shopping has … [Read more...]
Children Sleeping in Car – 10 Tips How to Keep them Awake!
Keeping your small child on a reliable sleep schedule is challenging enough without any additional complicating factors thrown into the mix. While some parents swear by the power of a long drive to send a child straight to dreamland, others refuse to let their children sleep in the car because they don’t transition well from the car to their bed. A short spin can lull a toddler into sleeping for a few minutes, but also result in him refusing to nap later in the day, or completely not sleep … [Read more...]
“Latch Key Kid”, is your child old enough for this?
How do you know if your kids are old enough or responsible enough to stay home alone? With more and more households becoming two income households, the number of latchkey kids, or kids who are left home alone for a part of each day, is also steadily growing. According to NBC’s Today Show there are over 3 million children who are latch key kids today. But before you decide to let your own child be a latch key kid, it’s important to evaluate if your child is ready for that … [Read more...]
Parenting – How to host a kid-friendly ‘Afternoon Tea’
While the concept afternoon tea originated in France, contrary to what most people believe, the English made taking an afternoon tea fashionable. The English usually take their afternoon tea between 4 and 5 o’clock in the afternoon, whereas Americanized versions of afternoon tea tend to be held between 3 and 4 o’clock in the afternoon. Children may not care for tea, most enjoy the pomp and ceremony that comes with a traditional high tea experience. Here’s how to host a kid-friendly … [Read more...]