by Julianne Deveraux
Making the transition from breast or bottle to solid foods is a big event for both you and baby. Starting on solid foods is not just about nutr... Read more
Imagine That! Parents' Guide to Playing Pretend
Kids think that playing "supermarket" and dress-up is fun; child development experts know it's much more than that. Pretend play is a learning experience for young children. It lets them explore the world around them and experiment with social and...
Kids think that playing "supermarket" and dress-up is fun; child development experts know it's much more than that. Pretend play is a learning experience for young ch... Read more
FrugalMoms Guide to Kid's Sports Equipment
by Angela Heidt
We all want our kids to be involved in sports activities, as we know that doing so will keep them healthy, happy, and out of trouble.... Read more
You've survived the up-every-two-hours newborn period, and you're finally slumbering peacefully through the night. Out of nowhere, your toddler starts showing up like an uninvited guest at all hours. "I lost my blankie," she says. "I'm thirsty." "I wanted to give you one more hug." There's a million reasons your merry wanderer may give for crawling out of bed, but there's only one thing you need to know at that time of night: It's critical to get your child back to sleep for the full 12 or so hours she needs.
Families need to make sleep a priority because it affects every aspect of a child's well being -- health, behavior, development and the ability to learn," ... Jump to full text of this article.
Kids love summer vacation, but parents often find it difficult to keep them engaged in productive activities. And most kids experience a summer learning slump during their time away from school. According to the National Summer Learning Association, at best, students show little or no academic growth over the summer, and at worst they lose one to three months of learning.
It's possible to give kids a fun way to keep up with learning by providing engaging books that feature hands-on activities. Three new books from DK Publishing will help kids of all ages fill their summer with science fun.
"One Million Things: Space" (July 2010). Perfect for backyard sleepovers and camping trips, this book serves up imagery and information about all things cosmic: from planets, moons, and comets, to black holes, nebulae, distant solar systems and more. Young readers won't be able to wait until sunset to start exploring. Elementary-aged kids will:
* Learn about spherical and irregular asteroids by playing a computer game.
* Find out about volcanoes in the solar system by comparing them to firecrackers.
* Explore the universe with stunning photographic galleries.
"I'm a Scientist: Backyard" (July 2010). Part of a new series for younger readers, this book introduces kids to the world of science with a wealth of outdoor experiments. With clear, step-by-step instructions, the book is full of bite-sized experiments that help children absorb science easily. Preschoolers and early elementary students will learn how to:
* Make a sun dial and tell time using the position of the sun.
* Find out a tree's age and then measure its height with just a stick and a piece of string.
* Learn about centrifugal force with a simple bucket of water.
"Big Idea Science Book" (July 2010). A comprehensive guide to key topics in science with a unique difference - an online component with 200 specially created digital assets that provide the opportunity for dynamic, hands-on, interactive learning. Older children can learn from video clips and interactive animations that take them:
* Inside plants.
* Around the human body.
* Deep below the surface of the earth.
Help kids flex their mental muscles during the summer with exciting projects and experiments that make learning fun. For more on these and other summer learning books, visit DK.com.
According to an article on the M2Moms blog, new and expectant mothers are not given much information from their healthcare providers about the possibility of preterm birth and preventative lifestyle measures as well as the risks and options regarding preterm births. You can read more about the survey on the March of Dimes website.
Become a fan of MomTalk on Facebook between now and May 1st and receive a free CD! Five fans, chosen randomly, will receive a soon-to-be-released CD, 'Lullabies: By Request.'
A CD of soothing lullabies by nationally acclaimed and multi-million-selling pianists, The O'Neill Brothers, was developed after a national search for song ideas -- and the touching or inspiring stories behind them. The resulting CD, "Lullabies: By Request," features 16 tunes submitted by moms and grandmas from across the country that are specifically designed to help infants and children relax and fall asleep, and encourage a child's development. It was developed in consultation with a music therapist who has developed pediatric music therapy programs for the Mayo Clinic and several other hospitals.
The CD was also inspired by an experience that impacted the entire O'Neill family. Last May, older brother Tim O'Neill and his wife Annie had premature twins, who spent seven weeks in the NICU. They're doing fine now, and Tim and Annie attribute at least some of the babies' recovery to the piano music they played for them throughout their hospital stay. Tim and Ryan O'Neill were inspired to record the new CD to help families who are going through a similar experience, or who have babies, toddlers or even older children who need help falling asleep.
The CD will be available at PianoBrothers.com, iTunes, Amazon and in gift shops across the country (MSRP: $13.98; individual tracks available for 99 cents).
But find MomTalk on Facebook and receive your copy free!
Take Steps to Prepare for the Cost of a Bigger Family
A couple's decision to start a family leads to one of the most significant periods of transition in their lives. Along with a host of new responsibilities comes the financial impact that children have on a household. This is not something to be taken lightly. You may be focused on immediate expenses like diapers, booties and baby food, but that's just the start. By some estimates, the cost of raising a child from birth to age 18 can fall in the range of $200,000, and possibly much more depending on any number of variables related to lifestyle, education and healthcare costs.
These numbers make it apparent that it takes not just a village to raise a child, but a fair amount of money as well. But take heart: families have been managing to make this work since people first roamed the earth. The key is to make sure you have your financial house in order before the new arrival comes on the scene. Here are some critical factors you can't afford to overlook:
Medical costs
The first expense that comes to mind is the cost of delivering a baby. Are you covered by medical insurance? How about dealing with any potential complications, either for the mother or child? Beyond that, will you have to pay additional costs to add the child to your existing insurance policy?
Child care expenses
Some new families prefer to have a parent stay home to raise the child. Though ideal in many respects, this option also comes at the cost of one potential income, which can put a big squeeze on a family budget just at the time when the headcount has expanded by one. On the other hand, if both parents plan to be back at work full-time, daycare costs become part of the equation. Depending on where you live and the options available to you, this can easily amount to several hundred dollars of additional expense per week--a significant cash outflow even in most dual-income households.
Other everyday living expenses
Is your house or apartment big enough to handle the arrival of a new child? If not, you may need to move into a larger space. A new addition to the family also means another mouth to feed, so your grocery bill is likely to go up. Clothing is another ongoing cost, and your entertainment budget may rise as well, if for no other reason than the need to pay a babysitter when you want to go out.
Education expenses
If you choose to send your child to a private school for grade school and high school, you could be in store for some hefty tuition bills. And the cost only escalates for higher education. If you're planning to assist your child with college expenses, you may want to consider making monthly contributions to an education savings fund. The sooner you begin saving, the better financial shape you'll be in when it comes time to write out the checks.
The arrival of a new child into the family is an exciting and exhausting time in a parent's life. On top of the day-to-day tasks involved in running an expanded household, you'll have new responsibilities related to the development and well-being of your new son or daughter. Given all you'll have to juggle, you won't want to waste time worrying about whether your financial future is secure. Talk to a financial advisor to etch out a plan to reach your long-term goals. Being proactive today will mean more time to enjoy the treasures of parenthood that lie ahead.
Each year, millions of students gear up for a battery of pre-college testing. In order to help students do their best, Americans spend about $4 billion dollars on classes, tutors, study guides and books.
While helpful, many test prep resources can be dull, making it more difficult for students to stay focused. To help make effective test prep more engaging, Wiley Publishing, Inc. has created a unique and exciting way for students to build their vocabulary and raise scores using Stephenie Meyer's popular "Twilight" series.
The "Twilight" books have a very loyal following, particularly among teens. Many parents looking to harness that passion into constructive study time find that the "Defining Twilight" guides are a perfect fit.
The series first began in June 2009 with "Defining Twilight" and then expanded to include "Defining New Moon." The third and latest book in the series, "Defining Eclipse: Vocabulary Workbook for Unlocking the SAT, ACT, GED, and SSAT," will arrive in stores on May 24, just in time for the release of the movie "Eclipse."
Author and test prep expert, Brian Leaf says, "Every time I see a newly administered SAT test, I am amazed at how many of the vocabulary words appear in the 'Twilight' books - words like solicitous, macabre, inexorably, inure, baleful, ecstatic, blithe, placate, haggard, belligerent, stymie and nebulous. Students who learn all the vocabulary words in the "Defining Twilight" series will absolutely raise their test scores."
"Defining Eclipse" has 40 four-page chapters with well over 600 vocabulary words and synonyms. Just grab a copy of "Eclipse," refer to the page where each vocabulary word appears, read the word in context, and come up with a definition. Then check definitions against those provided in the workbook, make corrections, and complete the drills. Students will acquire vocabulary skills, learn synonyms, word parts, and memorization tools, and get drills and quizzes to integrate what they've learned.
To find out more about "Defining Eclipse" and other books in the series, visit cliffnotes.com.
Adolescence: "What the heck?!" (Do your kids say that all the time? Mine do.)
By Julie Burton
As I entered the parenting arena nearly 15 years ago, I began to hear all sorts of talk about colicky babies, the terrible twos, and the f-ing fours (sorry, that's what my friends called it). But I noticed that people started to clam up a bit as their kids hit the earliest stages of puberty. When I'd complain about something my toddler was doing, like wetting the bed or throwing food at the dinner table, people with older kids would respond with a little chuckle, "Oh yeah, just you wait." And that's about all they would say. But they would be grinning... in an almost evil kind of way.
Adolescence sneaks up on us and we are almost blindsided by it. It is a FORCE that takes hold of our angelic kids and throws them into an internal turmoil, and one that lasts for years. Adolescents are sweet and kind, they LOVE you; you are the BEST! And then, with a flip of a switch, they HATE you! They are NEVER going to talk to you again, they wish they had different parents, they tell you that you are doing everything wrong, you have no idea how to parent, you DO NOT UNDERSTAND them and that if only you would listen to them, then things would go smoothly. And for a split second you think that maybe they are right. You question yourself as a parent and as a person, "What have I done?!" You wonder if you are indeed qualified for this job. You know you are supposed to remain strong but you feel very, very weak--almost overpowered--but you can't let them see that. You cannot show any signs of vulnerability or wavering because you know what they do with that! They POUNCE!!! And your son is on you once again, explaining with incredible articulation that if he doesn't get to go to the concert that ALL his friends are going to without an adult chaperone, his life will surely fall apart. He will miss the most important event of his life and will NEVER be invited to another social gathering throughout junior AND senior high. His friends will tease him that his parents are over-protective and they will NEVER want to come over to his house to hang out so he just might as well just quit school because he is not going to have any friends! And P.S., IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!!!
It is a very strange time, adolescence. It is a time filled with internal contradictions: A time of independence and neediness; growth and insecurity; confidence and fear; socialization and loneliness. It seems as though you almost have to be a mental health professional to understand how to guide your kids through this time. But do you? Are there some basic presiding principles for parents that can help us to not only survive our kids' adolescence but to actually do some good during it? I am not a professional. I have four kids from the ages of 14 down to 4, and most of the time, I am learning as I go (don't tell my kids). So, I will share some things that I have learned over the years, and then will hand you over to a real professional who will share her insights and tips on raising adolescents by having a better understanding of them and what they are going through.
1) Don't be afraid to say no. Setting limits and sticking to them is crucial to getting your kids to understand and respect boundaries.
2) Know your kids' friends. Know their cell phone numbers. Look at their Facebook pages (as well as your own kid's, of course!) Attempt to know the parents of your kids' friends. And communicate with them. It takes a village to keep adolescents on the straight and narrow.
3) Communicate with your adolescent's advisor or teacher/s. Find out how she is doing is school (not just academically).
4) Take every opportunity to talk with your child. Ask questions. Listen. Remember. Check in. And keep doing this. And when they don't want to talk, come back later and try again, and again, and again. Do NOT give up on keeping the lines of communications open.
5) Remember to be the parent, not the buddy. They have buddies. They need parents to lead, guide, and advise them (even though they would never admit that). Not that you shouldn't have fun with them--au contraire, have a blast! But first and foremost, be a parent, not a playmate.
6) Stay cool when they "freak out." They need the comfort of seeing you stay calm when they are feeling out of control. A parent and adolescent both "freaking out" simultaneously... NOT a good thing (trust me, I've been there).
7) Show them love as much as possible. Even when they are "hating" you, they still need you to love them. And sometimes love comes in the form of tough love: "You can go to the concert with your friends under one condition; I will be sitting in the row behind you."
So, there's my stab at pretending like I know something about parenting adolescents. Who knows, maybe by the time my 4-year-old gets to be 14, I will look back on this advice and have a good laugh. But with a 14-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy, I am certainly in the throws of trying to figure things out in the adolescent arena (and yes, still dealing with the f-ing 4s as well...and then there's my 7-year-old who will soon start to sneak toward the big A just as the older ones, please g-d, are through it!). Thank goodness for professionals, right?! So, here is Katy McCormick Pearson who has worked with adolescents for the past 20 years as a special education teacher, Outward Bound Instructor, and currently as the middle school counselor at the Breck School in Golden Valley. Katy is also the mother of two emerging female adolescents:
Adolescence can be an exciting, turbulent, time for both parents and the adolescents themselves. An adolescent person experiences changes in physical development at the rate of speed unparalleled since infancy. An adolescent's brain is not fully developed until a person is about 20-25 years old. The connections between neurons affecting the emotional and physical development are incomplete at this stage. Many adolescents have difficulty controlling emotions, impulses and judgment due to this incomplete yet ongoing brain development.
The upside of the adolescent brain is that teens are able to engage in more logical thinking. They can handle more options and possibilities in this stage of development and, therefore, can begin to grapple with abstract concepts such as faith, trust and beliefs. Many teens become activists during this stage in life and appreciate being taken seriously. They can be quick to see discrepancies with adult's words and actions. There is a strong sense of a need for justice at these ages. Adults can help by including adolescents in developing rules and consequences for themselves. It is important to provide structure for adolescents especially since their judgment/impulse control is not quite effective and many have a false sense of being invincible when in the throws of adolescence.
The main task of an adolescent is to establish their identity. They are in a phase of life between childhood and adulthood. They are starting to develop autonomy within relationships, establishing their sexual identity and learning how to further interact with intimacy in all of their relationships. An adolescent's body is often awkward as different parts align together. Many adolescents are self-conscious and a bit "me-centered."
Parents can help by encouraging healthy eating habits, exercise, and allowing time for those growing bodies to have a good night's rest. Don't criticize or compare your adolescent to others. Patience and understanding is key when living and loving an adolescent. Parents will need to be "the bigger person" and not take many interactions with their son/daughter too personally.
Remember that adolescence is a stage. Enjoy the journey together. Adolescence is a rite of passage and you are the guide.
