CRAWL-PROOF YOUR HOUSE

From TODAY, Voices
Friday, 13-March-2009

By Dr Bill Maier


Once toddlers learn to crawl, it’s time to baby-proof your house against exploring little hands.

Begin by clearing out some space for your little crawler to shuffle.

This helps them develop mobility and strength in their arms and legs. You may want to try building a mini-obstacle course with pillows and cushions to boost their agility.

As soon as they make the transition from shuffler to “baby on the go”, you may want to take a tour on your hands and knees, to get a toddler’s eye view of any potentially dangerous items that may be within easy reach, like sockets and electrical cords.

Watch for corners and edges of furniture that might get in his way. It’s better to remove a coffee table for a few months than to have to patch a bruised head.

Finally, make sure to put gates at the top and bottom of all staircases. Then just sit back and watch your baby go!

Knowing When To Let Go

From TODAY, Voices
Thursday, 12-March-2009

By Dr Bill Maier


Every parent wishes they could protect their kid from the cold, cruel world.

But sooner or later, we have to let them go.

I recently received a letter from the mother of a 12-year-old girl who wanted to ride her bicycle to school every morning.

The school was 3.2 kilometres away, and the mother was worried that something might happen to the child.

She asked me: “How can I grant my daughter freedom without being either too relaxed or too overprotective?”

That’s a great question and it’s something all parents have to deal with. But there’s no one answer for everyone. The key is to know your child’s level of maturity, and to trust your instincts.

Some kids are more responsible and savvy about dangers that might lurk around the corner, while other kids are more naive and trusting. Also, some neighbourhoods are safer than others.

It’s our job to assess our kids and the situation before allowing too much freedom.

Turn them loose gradually — but not before they’re ready.

The cure for tantrums

From TODAY, Voices
Wednesday, 11-March-2009

By Dr Bill Maier


Ever seen a toddler throw a temper tantrum in the middle of a grocery store? It usually makes their parents feel like crawling under a rock.

Tantrums usually start around the age of one or two and just about every toddler will throw one in public eventually.

How we react as parents makes all the difference in whether or not it becomes a habit.

It’s natural for kids to defy their parents. When they want a toy or candy and we say no, they may scream or fall on the floor in order to get their way.

The best medicine is to ignore it – even though it may be embarrassing for you.

Don’t make eye contact or give in, simply keep on shopping. When your child calms himself, praise his improved behaviour.

And then redirect his attention to something else.

Research shows that any kind of attention during a tantrum is actually reinforcing it. It’s good behaviour we want to reward, not the bad.

Dialogue to know your kids better

From TODAY, Voices
Tuesday, 10-March-2009

By Dr Bill Maier


There is a big difference between “talking” and “dialoguing”. Most of us spend plenty of time talking to our kids, but do we spend enough time in active dialogue? The difference is, dialoguing gets us past the surface and into deeper issues of the heart. It is taking the time to ask sincere questions about how our kids are doing and how they feel about certain issues. And it is the backbone of any good relationship.

And dialoguing is a two-way street. Not only are you getting to know your kids on a deeper level, you are allowing them to see inside your heart as well. Parents tend to think that lecturing is the best way to teach and when kids are very young, that may be the case. But as kids get older and start to think for themselves, they respond better to active dialogue. When we engage them in conversation on a personal level, we are teaching them what it means to truly care for others. And we are instilling relational habits that will stick with them for a lifetime.

INFANT FEEDING GUIDELINES

From TODAY, Voices
Monday, 09-March-2009

By Dr Bill Maier


If you have a baby or toddler at home, it might be time to review those recommended dietary guidelines for kids. A new study shows that too many parents are ignoring doctors’ advice when it comes to feeding babies.

A significant number of babies are starting out on solid foods too early. About a quarter of the infants studied between 19 and 24 months of age were being served junk food like hot dogs, bacon or sausage every day, and they were not eating a single bite of fruit.

The best age to introduce solid foods and juices is around four to six months. Babies should not be given cow’s milk until after their first birthday.

Paediatricians also recommend we do not feed babies low-fat dairy products until after the age of two. Infants need the fat in whole milk to develop properly.

OUT OF WORK

From TODAY, Voices
Friday, 06-March-2009

By Dr James Dobson


Unemployment doesn’t just affect individuals; it can devastate entire families.

Author Donna Partow, a mum with an unemployed husband, says unemployment is just plain hard work and it’s tough on everyone.

Her husband, Cameron, began a job search with high hopes and newly acquired time for their little girl. But the “Aha” of finding a new job just didn’t come. Cameron networked, knocked on doors, circled classified ads and even dialled recruitment hotlines until midnight. He and Donna began to answer their daughter’s daily requests with, “Well, we’ll do that when Daddy gets a job.”

Soon, they realised that life can’t be put on hold! Today is where we live. So the Partows began to do things their daughter asked about, like going out for fast food. But they would only buy one item and eat the rest of their meal at home. They learned to give their daughter a “yes” or “no” answer, and they discovered that keeping up social contacts provides encouragement and support for both parents and kids.

Now, none of this will bring employment, or relieve the overall financial strain, but it may help keep things in perspective. A family struggling through the strain of joblessness can be a family that grows together, living each day to the full while planning for tomorrow.

ROBIN IN A RAINSTORM

From TODAY, Voices
Thursday, 05-March-2009

By Dr James Dobson


Single parenting can be like a robin in a rainstorm. Sometimes the loneliness of single parenting can seem almost unbearable.

I’ve heard that so often from those trying to parent without the aid of a spouse – and how frequently they long for companionship in this monumental task. But let me share a story that was related to me by a single mother.

She was looking out her window one drizzly day and saw a mother robin with a brood of chicks, perched in their nest in a scrub oak tree. As the rain poured down, the mother covered her chirping chicks beneath her extended wings.

But then hail began to fall, and instead of tucking her own head safely into the nest, the mother robin extended her head upward and took the blows to protect her young. And they made it safely through the storm.

Now, I don’t want to oversimplify the complex task of the single parent, but I do want to offer a word of encouragement: I know you are taking the blows today to protect your little brood. But there is a better day coming.

Storms don’t last forever and there will be a rainbow in the sky for those who refuse to panic and fly away. We extend our love and respect to you today.