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Child Basics Archive Page
Friday, August 29, 2008
 Encouraging your child to read can be a difficult process for some of you. With the invasion of television, iPods and video game systems, it seems hard to get our children to read more. Reading is such an important element to a childs education. Encouraging them to read more can help them with vocabulary, comprehension and with their grades in school. Here are some helpful tips to encourage your child to read. Allow your child to have a book allowance. Once a month, or more frequent if you choose, take your child to the local bookstore. Allow your child to pick a book out to buy with your permission. Have your child read the book over the course of the weeks or month. Once your child has completed the book, head back to the bookstore and repeat the process. Read the same books as your child. After each of you read a chapter in a book, discuss the chapter and allow your child to express his or her views. You may have different opinions of what happened in the book, but you are opening a line of communication about his or her reading. This line of communication will allow you to understand your child’s retention rate. Schedule family visits to the local library. Let your child check out books on different subjects. This will allow your child to find the types of books that he or she enjoys the most. It is also an inexpensive way to encouraging your child to read. Librarians can also recommend books to your child. Librarians will have an idea of topics that your child may enjoy reading about based off their age and a few simple questions. Labels: children-information, Reading
by: Child Basics
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
 Children love to spend time with animals and pets. There may become a point in time that you child will ask if he or she can have a pet of their own. Although pets are a fun and enjoyable experience, they also bring with them an important responsibility. Pets need training and daily care. Helping your child learn how to be responsible and care for a pet can be a great learning experience. Parental interactions are the beginning steps in a wonderful child and pet experience. The best way to teach your children how to be responsible pet caregivers is to be one yourself. This should start before you even get a pet, make sure you have realistic expectations about pet ownership. Take steps to select the right animal for your family at the right time. Rules should be enforced as soon as you bring a pet into your home. Teaching your child about the basic rules regarding your new pet is essential to helping your child become a responsible pet owner. Include your child in your interactions with the pet. It will help them if you explain what you are doing and why. Children have a tendency to mimic the adults around them. The child will listen and watch how you treat the pet. For example, if a puppy barks, make sure you react in a responsible way. Also, involve your children in pet-training activities, which not only make your pet a more well mannered family member, but also teach your child humane treatment and effective communication. Labels: children-information, Pet-care
by: Child Basics
Friday, August 22, 2008
 There is a chance that you have walked into the living room and seen your precious angel drawing a wonderful masterpiece on your wall. Or maybe, you may have found that your little Michelangelo decided to paint the front door with his watercolor paints. Many of us have experienced art accidents. We need to channel that artistic creativity. Children and art come hand in hand. Art at home, or art programs at school, have been important factors in your child’s education. Studies have shown that children are much more likely to become higher academic achievers if they participate in some type of art or art program. Art can also help develop attention spans, commitment and tolerance levels. There are many benefits to letting our children explore their artistic abilities. Your child has an imagination. It is important for them to express their beautiful skills. Sadly, some school corporations have cut art programs from their curriculum. If this is the case in your area, create a period of time when your child can be creative at your home. Ask them about their art. It is also important to showcase their artwork in your home. It will help build confidence in expressing their views. Labels: Art, Child-Art
by: Child Basics
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
 With summer winding down, many children are stuffing in all of the outdoor hours that they can. After the long summer, they might be a bit bored with the normal routine of outdoor activities. Outdoor games can be fun for the kids. Today, we will highlight a fun, outdoor game for the kids to play. Belly Double Circle Tag is a fun game that will tire out your little tikes. The game is easy to play. The game can be played by a small or large group of children. Explain these simple rules to your children. They will have fun playing this game for hours. Belly Double Circle Tag: Choose one player to be the runner and one player to be the chaser. All other players are to lie in a big circle in groups of two. The players lay side-by-side, then a space. Next, two more players lie down with their heads facing the center of the circle. On go, the chaser will try to tag the runner. The runner will run on the outside of the circle and try to fin a space to lie down next to one set of players. The player on the opposite side of that group will have to get up and start running from the chaser. It the runner is tagged, then they are to turn around and chase the chaser. The new runner will find a spot to lie down. The player on the opposite side will start running because they are the new runner. Enjoy! Labels: games, outdoor-games
by: Child Basics
Monday, August 18, 2008
 Quality childcare has become a focal point in the minds of any parents that need such services. With older children away at school, it may leave some parents in a bind to find safe childcare. We all want our children to enjoy a safe, educational and developmental experience. There are a few points that all parents should remember when beginning the search your search. 1. Start your search early. Finding quality childcare can take time. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to explore all of the options available. 2. Speak with loved ones. Talk with family and friends to gather any valuable information that you can from them. Their experiences may lead you into the right direction. 3. Ask about the caregiver’s qualifications. Many childcare facilities employees are educated in childhood development. If this is a requirement for you, make sure the facilities can assist with your child’s needs. 4. Ask about employee turnover. It is important for young children to develop relationships with those who they will see on a daily basis. The search for quality childcare does not need to be stressful. Ask as many questions as possible to inform yourself about the facilities. You will come to a point when you find a situation that fits best for you and your child. Labels: Childcare, information
by: Child Basics
Friday, August 15, 2008
 School is back in session. Unfortunately, for many students that will mean lugging home a heavy load in their backpacks. According to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), backpack weight has become an increasing problem. Studies show that heavy backpacks can lead to back pain and poor posture for your child. Here are a few helpful tips to make sure your child’s backpack is correct for them. ·Bigger is not necessarily better. The more room there is in a backpack, the more your child will carry and the heavier the backpack will be. ·Make sure your child's backpack weighs no more than 10 percent of his or her body weight. A heavier backpack will cause your child to stoop forward in an attempt to support the additional weight. ·Wide, padded straps are very important. Non-padded straps are uncomfortable, and can dig into your child's shoulders. It is important to note that there are backpacks made for smaller children. Small children cannot be expected to carry a backpack made for a teenager. Our Rodeo Backpack is an example of a product that is made for a young school aged child (preschool to 2nd grade). Labels: backpacks, information
by: Child Basics
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
 With children heading back to school many parents are interested in finding healthy after school snacks for the kids to eat at the kitchen table. The time between school ending and dinnertime can be critical in a child's day. It is important to teach our kids proper nutrition with healthy after school snacks. ·Peanut Butter and Crackers: Peanut Butter is a good food for instant snacking and good nutrition. Have your children choose whole grain crackers for a tasty treat. ·Ready to eat cereals that have small amounts of sugar are healthy snacks for the young kids when they arrive home. Pour the cereal into a bowl and let the kids snack on them while doing homework. ·One hundred percent juice boxes are a healthy drink for your children. They provide nutrients that you child needs daily. These snacks are simple and easy. The two main parts are nutritious snacks and easy preparation. Labels: After-School, Healthy-Snacks
by: Child Basics
Monday, August 11, 2008
 Most of us would like to think our children are going to be scholars and soar through their education without hassle or complication. However, this is rarely the case. Your child can be extremely dedicated to their education, but could still have some problems grasping the concepts being taught to them. Or they may be the opposite; they could have no trouble at all learning the material, but they have little or no motivation. There are always those who are right in the middle, too. They don't have a problem learning, and they do as they are supposed to without much effort. But when do you need to consider bringing in a tutor? For those students who are average, right in the middle of the extremes, the recommendation would be to let them go. If they are doing as they are supposed to and they are doing well enough, then you should congratulate them and encourage them. But for those children who work so very hard and struggle, or the ones who do not really care and do fine, perhaps then you should bring in a tutor. The ones who work their tushies off and still cannot seem to get anywhere might need a change of pace, or a new way of looking at the material. A tutor can work one on one with them and approach the subject differently. The same idea goes with the child who is brilliant, but does not put forth the effort. Having a tutor could make things interesting for them. They could show the child a new way of looking at something so that they do not have to dread homework and studying. It is more a judgment call on your part than anything. If you feel that your child would benefit with a tutor, then by all means, look in to it. But if you do not feel comfortable enough helping them on your own, then it is stressed even more that you get a tutor involved to simply insure that your child is getting the most help possible. Labels: information, tips
by: Child Basics
Friday, August 8, 2008
 We all love the smell of the house when mom is cooking up something. Especially in the fall, when the house seems to switch from a cool haven from the blistering heat, to a warm and cozy place to relax. The home cooked meals just seem to get better with that simple switch in the atmosphere. But while mom is cooking those fantastic meals, the little ones are running around like little chickens. Before mom knows it, little Timmy just put his hand on the coil burner for no particular reason. He is shrieking out from the pain, and while trying to console him, Timmy's mom is trying to figure out what on earth possessed him to do that and why he didn't realize it was hot. One thing you might not realize is that a child's sense of touch and hot and cold is not fully developed at those young ages. We know that when we put our hand up to something hot, we can immediately feel the heat radiating from the object. The same is not true for children. By the time their hand reaches the hot object, it is too late and the burns are already setting in. What possessed little Timmy to stick his hand up there? Just remember that children are inquisitive creatures. If they haven't asked why or how yet, they will. Common sense has not reached their brains yet. They either have to learn from experience or you can preach up a storm to them. And chances are, they will learn from experience. Watch your children not only when dinner is cooking, but even when you do something as simple as give them a bath. If you are not mindful of the water temperature, you could scald them and not realize it until it is too late. Labels: information
by: Child Basics
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
 Some may view bullying as some kind of rite of passage. However, it is becoming more and more evident that its effects are much deeper than growing up. It can cause severe psychological problems as well as the physical. So how do we handle bullying, and how do we make it stop? First of all, being an adult, the child being bullied looks up to do, and expects guidance from you. You must do everything you can to make the child feel as safe as possible and you cannot tell them one thing and not follow through with it. When you meet to discuss the issue, do so in private. The child needs to feel that this is a quiet issue and that his or her peers do not need to know. You want to gather as much information as you can from the child: the who, what, where, when, and how’s. Let them know that this is confidential, and keep them informed on what your intentions are for solving the issue. The main goal is to make yourself available to this child and try to be present to prevent the bullying, if it is a normal occurrence. If you attempt to talk to the bully, let them know that you have been approached by many people, including adults, about the matter. If they have an inclination that the bullied child was the only one to speak of it, then you will have just caused the situation to get worse. Do not "name drop," while speaking with the bully. Let them know that people are watching, not just yourself. Lastly, communicate as much as possible with other adults who are around the child. Let them know the situation and what you are doing to control the issue. Always keep tabs on the bullied child and do not forget to follow up with him or her. You want them to feel that they always have someone to turn to. If you are aware of a child being bullied, do not stand around and let it happen. It is not a rite of passage. Labels: children-information, information
by: Child Basics
Monday, August 4, 2008
 Getting your children to bed can be a great disaster every night. Everyone involved dreads bedtime. Your children do not want to miss out on any excitement that could possibly take place while they are lying down to sleep, and they plan to fight you every step of the way. You don't want their room and their bed to be a place that they dread; however, you want to make it a place that they look forward to, and you want them to see it more as a reward. When they get plenty of rest, they function better throughout the day, which allows them to pay attention in school, and be more active. Creating their room to be a move inviting place would be a great place to start in getting your children to bed. Keep in mind that you do not want to make it a distraction as well. You want them to go to sleep, not be tempted to get up and play and do other things. Invest in a bed that will encourage them to lie down at night and enjoy the relaxation and rest. Explain to your children that a good night's sleep is a great thing and that it will help them grow in to strong big people. But also make their room a place that they look forward to at night. Labels: childrens-furniture, tips
by: Child Basics
Friday, August 1, 2008
 Summer is nearing its end and school is about to begin. That means it is time to start shopping for school supplies and new clothes; but that also means preparing to begin new habits as well. They will have an earlier bedtime, and they will also have to plan for time to study and do homework. So how can you help your child get ready for the new school year and hold an efficient study habit? From the first day of school until the last, you should have a set schedule for studying and doing homework, that way your children know exactly what is expected of them. They work better with habits; they need structure. Develop a plan for them that starts as soon as they walk into the door after school. It is probably good to allow them a healthy snack and some time to relax from the day. Whether you have their study time set for before or after dinner is up to you, but whenever you decide this time will take place, make sure that is in the best interest of your child. Turn off the TV, even if it isn't in the same room. Children have a tendency to be drawn to the television like moths to a flame. The radio might be a useful tool, however. Some children need a little bit of noise in order to focus, and having the radio on softly might just do the trick. Designating an area specifically for them that has enough space is imperative. If they are cramped, they might lose their focus out of frustration. There is a difference between studying and doing homework. You could set two different times up for studying and doing homework, or you could schedule a two or three days throughout the week to focus on studying. When you study, you take notes and brush up on the material you are learning, and that also includes past material that you covered the previous weeks. It is essential to your child that they not only learn it the first time, but they are constantly reviewing it throughout the year. The main point is just to organize a schedule and do not detour away from it as much as possible. Children need structure, it helps them learn and grow. Guide your child and show them how to study and use their time wisely. Labels: children-information, desk
by: Child Basics
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