For parents of children who never seem to listen and who do not seem to care, a sensitive child may seem a more welcome problem to handle. However, raising a highly sensitive child has tremendous challenges of its own.

How do I know if I have a highly sensitive child?

It is common for young children to be easily upset by small things. The breaking of a toy, a wish not fulfilled, the refusal of a friend to play with them. All these things could cause a child to be angry and upset. At times, they even cause furious outbursts. These are natural in small children. However, in a highly sensitive child, reactions are more often extreme and highly melodramatic, even for minor occurrences. Being very empathic and sensitive to others, at times, feelings of hurt and anger in others also tends to upset highly sensitive children. So if you think that your child is overreacting or reacting without cause, you could be dealing with a very sensitive child.       Continue Reading

In an ideal world, children would be spending a lot of time outdoors playing, jumping, running, climbing and engaging in a great many other activities that would keep them physically fit, and enjoying their world on their own terms. Let’s face it, this is no longer an ideal world.

Children spend much more time indoors sitting in front of computers, playing in the virtual world, rather than discovering the wonders of the real one. In today’s world, child fitness activities often have to be scheduled into an already busy schedule.

Childhood obesity rates have reached epidemic status, and that does not bode will for the next generation. For parents who are worried about their child’s fitness, this article will provide some helpful tips about how you can improve the health and wellness of your precious offspring.     Continue Reading

Raising a child can be a learning experience for the parent as well as the child.  The various child stages are milestones to be achieved from being an infant to becoming a teenager.  The stages are to be celebrated and enjoyed as they grow into successful young adults.

Child stages begin with preterm infants, which are when the baby was born earlier than expected and not around the forty week period which is for a term baby.  Preterm infants, otherwise called “preemies” are smaller in size and require a longer stay in the hospital until they can successfully eat from a bottle, sleep without any breathing apparatuses and when they have reached a certain weight limit which is generally around five pounds.  They many require certain additional help at home until they can feed and sleep as a full term baby would.

Next in child stages would be the infant stage, which is from around one month to almost two years old. During these months the child will grow immensely and learn to walk, crawl, feed themselves, sleep all night, speak and even begin potty training.  These are the biggest years as far as development is concerned for the child that they will endure their entire lives.  There seems to be a new change in their skills and progression each week until the child is two years old from walking to climbing and these months are the ones when you must watch the child at all times until they can safely move about the home without suffering from any injuries from falling.

The next years in child stages are the called the children stages.  This is from the ages of two until they are eleven years old.  These years are when the child will graduate to attend school, begin to play on team sports, begin to dress and care for themselves and not be as dependent on you the parents as they previously were.  While the child is growing they may begin with attending preschool classes then progress to a kindergarten setting when they are five years old.

These years are generally not mandatory for a child to graduate, but it is encouraged to prepare them for a smooth transition into first grade and those to come so they are not so attached to you the parents.  After the elementary school years the last in child stages is the adolescent one, which is from a twelve year old until an eighteen year old.  This is the teen years that can be a tad tricky, but it is important to support your child and to allow them to become the people they want to be as adults.

Always have open communication with your children and be a good listener even when they are preschoolers, as when they want to tell you about their day and their lies they are doing so to engage with you.  For information on child stages, you can do some research on the web for free to ensure your child is right where they should be.

Mothers that are interested in giving their babies a healthy advantage in life should consider breast feeding. Many health professionals have long praised the benefits of breastfeeding. There are numerous reasons why breast milk is preferred over store bought formulas for providing nourishment to babies. While breastfeeding may not be the most convenient option for some mothers, the number of benefits offered to both mother and child is surely an incentive to give breast feeding a try. Both babies and mothers have much to gain from the very natural process of breastfeeding.

As many people are aware, there are many benefits for a baby that is breastfed. Many mothers choose to breastfeed as oppose to using more convenient formulas as a result of the good effects that breast milk has on a baby’s growth and functioning. Breast milk is loaded with antibodies and nutrients that are not found in the synthetically made formulas that are available in most stores. The antibodies within the formula are very effective at helping to boost the immune system of a baby.

The antibodies are known to help prevent many diseases that formulas cannot. Such diseases and conditions that may be prevented by breast feeding include respiratory infections, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), diabetes and even leukemia. All of these health benefits are the main reason why breastfeeding is highly recommended.

Just as there are numerous benefits for babies that are breastfed, mothers also experience positive effects from nursing their newborns. When women choose to nurse their children there is a chance that they are improving their own health. Many women decrease their risk of breast and ovarian cancer and diabetes. Likewise, the chances of developing the very emotionally draining psychological condition known as post partum depression is reduced as a result of nursing. In addition, women that breastfeed are more likely to return to their pre-pregnancy weight than those that use formula to nourish their babies. These are the many reasons why women should consider nursing their babies.

One of the most important benefits of breastfeeding is the establishment of the mother and child bond. Numerous studies have been done to analyze the effect of breastfeeding in the development of the bond between mother and child. Many studies suggest that children that are breastfed receive many mental and emotional benefits that other babies do not receive. It has been noted that children who were breast fed are more emotionally secure and tend to have less mental and behavioral problems.

Finally, it is more economical to breastfeed. Breast milk is free whereas the cost of formula can equate to hundreds to thousands of dollars over time. Mothers that are interested in breastfeeding their babies on the go can purchase special pumps and hooter covers that will allow women to provide their babies with the benefits of breast milk. Even the purchase of these items is significantly less than purchasing formula from a store. Overall, breast feeding is a healthier, cost effective way to provide infants with the nourishment they need.

Even if you have lived in a community for as long as you can remember, it is never safe to assume that it is safe and secure, particularly when it comes to kids. Accidents happen all the time, so take extra precaution and do not let it happen to your child. A little common sense and direction can go a long way towards keeping your kids safe and keeping you as a parent a little more at ease.

Kids need to be taught the basics on how to be street smart and teaching them things such as when it is safe to cross the street and how to handle distress will help them to learn. They need to know how not to put themselves in danger. They need to recognize potential danger ahead of time and in order to do this they need to have the sense and street smarts to recognize it.

Here are some of the strategies on how to raise a street smart kid:

The Basics:

1. Make sure that your child memorizes basic security information, such as your home address, contact numbers, police hotlines and 911.

2. Make it a habit to know your child’s whereabouts; where he goes, how much time he spends there and who his friends are as well as their parents. Train him to tell you where he is going and whom is he going to be with every time he leaves the house.

3. Make sure that he always goes somewhere with a friend.

4. Avoid hanging around deserted areas such as parking lots, schoolyards, woods or parks.

5. Teach your child not to walk on unfamiliar streets alone.

6. Even before you allow your child to go out the house, familiarize him with road signs particularly of the traffic signs (i.e. walk and don’t walk signs on streets)

Dealing With Strangers:

1. Don’t talk to strangers. Never trust a stranger. Make sure that your child understands the danger of going with someone they don’t know.

2. Teach your child not to take rides with people he doesn’t know

3. In case of distress, tell your child to scream for help if necessary.

4. In case of attacks, train your child to drop everything he carries and run while    calling out for help.

In this light, knowing your neighbors is crucial to your child’s safety and security. A community that knows one another is generally a place that is safe for children to live.

When Shopping:

1. Train your child, particularly those under 10 years old, to remain close to you.

2. Make arrangements in case of separation; agree on a place to meet.

3. Train your child to ask for help only from store employees or security guards.

4. Some parents will place a slip of paper with contact numbers and home address information inside a child’s pocket just in case the child wanders off and gets lost.

When it comes to safety, you must emphasize to your child the importance of trusting one’s instincts. It is part of human nature to be protective of one’s self. If a child feels threatened or in danger, makes sure that he knows how to handle the situation. Parents can only do so much in child-proofing the community. What they can do work on raising a street smart kid.