Mi Choza De Nipa

From Focus on the Family Ever wonder how your baby sees the world? Well, here’s what doctors have discovered. Newborns under one month of age have vision that is about 40 times blurrier than yours. They can’t decipher fine lines or colours — which is why they respond to black-and-white patterns and deeply contrasting colours. They focus best on things 15 to 30cm away. Between two and three months, they start to distinguish bright colours and see a bit better. But they don’t develop depth perception until the fourth or fifth month. That is when it becomes easier for them to reach for small objects. But their vision is still about eight times blurrier than normal. Somewhere between eight and 12 months they start to see as well as an adult, with keen depth perception. Their short-range vision may still be a bit stronger than their long range, but that will usually change by their first birthday. From TODAY, Voices - Tuesday, 07-Sep-2010 ----- Related articles by Zemanta T...

From Focus on the Family Have your children learned to take responsibility for their actions? Better yet, have you learned it? It is amazing how often we blame others for the things that happen to us. And it is not just a problem with children — I know a lot of adults who can’t seem to accept guilt when things go wrong. But part of growing is learning these five key principles of responsibility. We’ll call them the five “As” of accepting blame. First, admit when you do something wrong. Everyone makes bad choices and the first step in overcoming them is being honest about it. Second, apologise for how your transgression affected others. Make it right if you can. Third, accept the consequences of your actions. And don’t expect others to pay for your mistake. Fourth, ask for forgiveness. Just because you’ve apologised, don’t assume that others have forgotten how you hurt them. Fifth, alter your choices in the future. Decide now how you plan to do things differently the next time...

From Focus on the Family If you want to raise drug and alcohol -free children , make sure they have the right attitudes. If they’ve seen their parents abuse substances like tobacco , alcohol or other drugs , they will likely see it as pretty harmless. They will think to themselves: “If mum or dad drink, or use sleeping pills to get to sleep every night, then how dangerous could it be?“ Their attitude towards drugs, alcohol and tobacco will usually reflect what you have modelled for them at home. How their friends feel about drugs will make a big impact as well. If they hang out with children who see nothing wrong with it, they’re much more likely to give in and try it. When it comes to keeping children off drugs, alcohol and tobacco, a healthy attitude is your greatest ally. From TODAY, Voices - Wednesday, 25-Aug-2010 ----- Related articles by Zemanta Hoke County school official arrested on drug, alcohol charges (charlotte.news14.com) Is It Risky to Drink Alcohol on A...

From Focus on the Family Living with a daredevil can sure keep you on your toes. Especially when they’re just a toddler. Some children seem to thrive on taking risks. One minute they’re hanging from the bunk bed and the next they’re leaping from the couch to a chair. They seem to have no fear and no regard for their safety . They have no idea how easily they could hurt themselves. So how do keep your little thrill-seeker safe without squelching his natural energy ? Begin by explaining to them why you don’t want them using the house as a play gym. It’s not only dangerous, it’s destructive. Then make sure they have a safe alternative. When their juices get flowing, take them to the park where they can run and climb to their heart’s content. And keep a close eye on them. Daredevils tend to take risks wherever they are. Who knows … with a little diligence and planning, you might even keep them alive until Primary 1! How to read a man? From TODAY, Voices - Tuesday, 24-Aug-201...

From Focus on the Family What’s the most dangerous room in your house? For busy toddlers, it’s usually the kitchen . While you’re busy cooking, the best place for a child under the age of three is just outside the kitchen – safe, but within view. Try using safety gates or playpens to keep them away from stoves and kitchen counters. When you’re not cooking, make sure your kitchen is as childproof as possible. Small appliances , such as toasters , blenders and rice cookers, should be kept a safe distance from the counter’s edge. It’s best to keep them unplugged when you’re not using them. Make sure you throw away empty cans and bottles and keep a tight lid on the dustbin. You might also start using the back burners of your stove, and turning pan handles inward. For really curious kids, consider installing a stovetop barrier. Safety locks are a must with active toddlers – especially in the kitchen. And always store cleaning products in a high cabinet. From TODAY, Voices - ...

From Focus on the Family Have you ever had the experience of walking through an open field and feeling the sting of small cockleburs — those annoying thin brown weeds, armed with spines — in your shoes and around your ankles? But there is something interesting about cockleburs. Inside those seed pods are several seeds , and they germinate in different years. If the first seed fails to sprout one year, the second is still waiting in the ground. But if the second one doesn’t take root, there is still a third seed waiting for the year after that. They are the original “ time release ” capsules. How do these cockleburs relate to children? We, as parents work so hard to teach certain concepts to our kids in the hopes some of them are going to take root and grow. But many of those seeds fail to germinate and the effort seems in vain. The good news is that this instruction can be like a time release capsule . It may lie dormant for a decade or more, and then suddenly break through ...

Image via Wikipedia By Dr Bill Maier Having another blue day today? Don’t worry, you’ll feel better. But don’t be surprised if your child misbehaves tomorrow. A new study has found that the day after mum acts sad or angry in front of her children , they are more likely to be defiant and inattentive. Children pick up on our mood and it affects how they feel. When they act out, often they are just reacting to what they have seen from us. Everyone gets sad from time to time but moping around does not make things any better. Try getting yourself out of the house for a while. A walk around the block is a great way to relieve stress or anxiety . Or take the children to the park and let them play while you relax in the shade with a good book. You might even surprise them by chasing them around the playground. It is difficult to stay sad when you are playing and having fun. From TODAY, Voices - Friday, 16-July-2010 ----- Related articles by Zemanta When Anxiety Hits, Do...

By Dr Bill Maier So how early should you start brushing your baby’s teeth ? That is easy – the first time you see a tooth. About one in five three-year-olds show signs of tooth decay . That is because many parents are not starting early enough to take care of their babies’ teeth. Most children get their first tooth around six months and that is the time to start brushing at least twice a day. For infants , use a soft cloth to rub the gum and teeth gently. Make sure you get all sides. When they get to be toddlers , it is time to start using a soft brush and a dab of toothpaste . You might want to get the non-fluoridated kind until they are able to spit it out. Around three, you can start teaching them to do it themselves but, even then, make sure you monitor the job they do. At least until they have the fine motor skills it takes to manoeuvre the brush alone. From TODAY, Voices - Monday, 12-July-2010 ----- Related articles by Zemanta Don't Scream Over Ice Cream...

Image via Wikipedia By Dr Bill Maier You say it’s time to move your child from a crib to a bed? That’s not always as easy as it sounds. Not all kids adjust easily to a toddler bed when they’re used to a crib. One mother remembers her child showing up next to her bed every night at two in the morning. She’d take him back to his room, but the next night, he’d be back again. She finally solved the problem by taping a sticker chart to the fridge and giving her son a gold star for every night that he stayed in his own bed. For every five stickers he could pick out a small toy. It took him two weeks to earn his first little car, but after that he became more consistent. Eventually, the nightly visits stopped completely. Now she’s using the same chart to potty train him. It’s a simple approach, but an effective one. From TODAY, Voices - Monday, 28-June-2010 ----- Related articles by Zemanta What age can a child start to use a toddler bed? (parenting-success.com) What ...

Image via Wikipedia By Dr Bill Maier Nearly every baby develops nappy rash from time to time, and it’s never fun to deal with — especially for the baby. The most common cause of nappy rash is prolonged exposure to a dirty diaper. Often parents will buy super absorbent diapers , and unintentionally go too long between changes. Other rashes are caused by chemicals or fragrances in baby wipes , detergents , or soaps . Some babies react to one brand but not another, so there’s a lot of trial and error involved in finding out the source. Treating a rash is often a matter of common sense. Change the nappy as soon as it gets wet or soiled. Switching to non-fragrant alcohol -free wipes and even tries other brands for a while. If you use cloth diapers, try using soap instead of detergent. You might also let your baby’s bottom air dry after cleaning. And ask your doctor about the best ointment or cream to use. From TODAY, Voices - Tuesday, 15-June-2010 ----- Related artic...

By Dr Bill Maier What do you do when you’re cooped up indoors with a bunch of bored kids? That’s easy — you get creative! Instead of mindlessly flipping through the channels, hoping something decent is on, why not turn off the television and get busy having fun? Try designing an obstacle course with pillows and chairs, and cardboard boxes . Get a stopwatch and see who can get through it the fastest. After that, try a game of musical chairs , hide and seek or play your favourite board game . I’ll bet it’s more fun than you remember. When’s the last time you played tag? Or jumped rope? There are tons of great indoor games to play if you’re willing to move furniture around and make a path in the middle of the room. If all else fails, get the kids dancing to some energetic music. Anything is better than vegging out in front of the television on those bad-weather days. From TODAY, Voices - Monday, 07-June-2010 -----

By Dr Bill Maier Hey, what’s that in your baby’s mouth ? Is it a rock ... a toy...? No, I think it’s a tooth! Waiting for baby’s first tooth is exciting. Unless, of course, you’re the baby — then it’s just painful. Well, here are some tips you should know while waiting. First of all, if your baby starts drooling a lot more at three to six months, don’t assume that he is about to sprout teeth . Saliva is his body’s way of protecting him from bacteria and viruses. Most babies get their first tooth at between six and 12 months, though it could be sooner or later. And the ones to watch for are the lower front teeth — called central incisors . The next to come will be the upper four incisors. You’ll notice a lot of crying and fussiness. Teeth-cutting is painful business, so make sure you have some medicine handy — and a good teething ring will help as well. From TODAY, Voices - Tuesday, 01-June-2010 ----- Related articles by Zemanta How do I know if my tooth is a baby to...

Image via Wikipedia by Dr Bill Maier You say your toddler’s room is bursting with toys, shoes and books ? I’d say it’s time for a crash course in organisation! Teach your children how to organise while they’re still young, and you’ll be developing a skill that will stay with them well into adulthood. Here are a few key guidelines: Make sure they have the tools they need, like a box for toys, a bookshelf, and a place to keep their clothes and other items. Spend a day helping them get everything set up the way they like it. It’s better to let them choose how they want to organise, as long as it’s neat and tidy. Once this is done, praise them for their efforts and encourage them to work hard at keeping it that way. Check up on their efforts daily. If they have trouble staying organised, you may need to help them more often. Be patient but firm. From TODAY, Voices - Monday, 05-April-2010 ----- Blogged with the Flock Browser Related articles by Zemanta Home libraries give chi...

Image via Wikipedia By Dr Bill Maier It’s hard to watch your kids go through tough times, but struggle is an important part of growing up. We’re all tempted to shelter our kids from grief and heartache, but life isn’t always easy, so they need to learn how to deal honestly with emotions — both good and bad . When sad times come, don’t make the mistake of trying to shield kids from the pain. And don’t distract them from their feelings by pretending nothing is wrong, or by bribing them into being happy. Sometimes they need to grieve; because that’s the only way they will learn to process their emotions properly. Kids need to learn that there’s a right and a wrong way to be sad. Grief is painful, but it’s not an excuse to get angry, or to lash out at others. It’s something everyone has to go through, and good times are always just around the corner. From TODAY, Voices - Thursday, 25-March-2010 ----- Blogged with the Flock Browser Related articles by Zemanta The grievi...

Image by Grufnik via Flickr By Dr James Dobson Have you noticed that routine panic is becoming a way of life for today's families? But guess who's the inevitable loser from this breathless lifestyle? It's the little guy who's leaning against the wall with his hands in the pockets of his blue jeans . He misses his father during the long day but Dad's all tired out. Besides he has a briefcase full of work to be done. Mum had promised to take him to the park this afternoon but then she had to attend a school meeting at the last minute. Children just don't fit into a to-do list very well. It takes time to introduce them to good books. It takes time to listen once more to the bruised knee episode from the playground and talk about the bird with the broken wing. These are the building blocks of esteem held together with the mortar of love. But they seldom materialise amidst busy schedules. Instead, crowded lives produce fatigue , fatigue produces irritability , ...

Image via Wikipedia By Dr Bill Maier Don't you love people who brag about how their little one was potty trained at 10 months, while your two-year-old is still in diapers ? I've never understood why there's so much competition among parents to rush their toddlers along when it comes to potty training. But the pressure is very real, and almost all mothers feel it, even though it has nothing to do with intelligence or ability. Kids are just ready to do different things at different times. The best approach to toilet training is to relax and let it happen naturally. Dr Kevin Lehman suggests buying a little potty chair and putting it in the bathroom without saying a word to your toddler . Let them discover it on their own. Then let them decide when they want to use it. Curiosity is bound to get the best of them, and when they do begin to learn, really praise them and tell them how big they are getting. Before long they'll be out of diapers — and it will happen on their ...