|
Welcome To Child Basics Blog
Friday, October 24, 2008
Getting your children to brush their teeth routinely can be an interesting experience. Some small children enjoy the experience because they like to imitate what mom and dad do. Others don’t enjoy the experience at all because they are nervous about starting something new. There are multiple ways to introduce your little ones to brushing their teeth. Regardless of the way you teach your child to brush their teeth; there are some important steps to take along the way. Here are some helpful tips for you and your child: · Use a soft, child-size toothbrush. · Brush the top of the tooth using a back and forth motion. · Angle the toothbrush in a way that allows the bristles of the brush to clean out the plaque at the gum line between the teeth and gum. · Brush the lingual side of the teeth (the side nearest the tongue). · Brush lightly; brushing too hard can damage the gums. · Brush and rinse completely. Teach children how to spit using water before attempting to spit toothpaste. · Brush the tongue and rinse again to ensure fresh breath and a clean feeling in the mouth. Labels: child-tips, children-information
by: Child Basics
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
 The fall season has arrived. Now is the time to start thinking about getting a flu shot for your child. Many only think of getting flu shots for the elderly. Many experts believe that Influenza spreads to the elderly from young children. With your child around so many other children and germs in school, daycares and babysitting environments, don't underestimate the importance of getting your child a flu shot this season. It is important to note that flu shots are only recommended for children above 6 months of age. Contact your child's doctor to make sure they recommend your child getting a flu shot. Some doctors may recommend that your younger children get two flu shots if they have not received one previously. Usually, these shots are given about a month apart. Flu shot injections are an inactive, or killed, vaccine that is changed yearly to stay on top of the latest strains of influenza. Although there is not a 100 percent way to vaccinate your child from the flu, this is one way to protect them. There are small chances of a reaction from the common flu shot. Talk to your child's doctor about any questions you may have about allergic reactions. Childbasic.com wishes you and your children the best of health this fall and winter seasons. Labels: children-information, Flu-shot
by: Child Basics
Friday, September 19, 2008
 Many of us have been at restaurants and have heard or seen children acting a bit rambunctious. The majority of the time it is just kids being kids. But, there are ways we can teach our own children some basic manners that will help them learn the proper way to eat and behave in public. It will help your child learn responsibility while still having fun. -Bring quiet toys for your younger children when eating in public. A coloring book and crayons are a great way to keep children busy while eating out. If there is time, have your child finish a picture and let them know that you will hang it up when you get home. -Children are curious beings. Teach them how each utensil is properly used. Explain that at salad fork is used for eating salad, etc. -Allow your child to order off the adult menu. It will make them feel as if that they are grown up just like mom and dad. This will allow their comfort level to rise. More than likely your child will not finish this meal, but the leftovers can be used as lunch the next day. -Play a game while you are waiting for your food. A great game to play is I Spy. “Spy” something in the restaurant and give clues to your child about which object you are talking about. This will keep their little minds busy. Reverse the roles and let your child give you clues for their object. There are multiple ways for parents to teach their children the proper way to eat in public. But, it can be a fun and enjoyable experience for all involved. Experience with different ideas. Find the right way to teach your child. Labels: children-information, tables
by: Child Basics
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
 Potty training is a unique experience for any parent. Each situation is a bit different. Some children are ready before other children. Determining if your child is ready to be potty trained is important. There are some important steps to take when determining if your child is ready to be potty trained. Watch for your child's awareness that they have to use the restroom. Have you overseen grunting or facial expressions when your child has to use the restroom? It is important to know if your child's motor skills are ready for potty training. Can they pull their pants up and down? Are they able to dress themselves? If your child can follow instructions that may be a sign they are ready for potty training. This is important because if your child cannot follow instructions, he or she will have a difficult time understand what you mean. This will lead to frustration. There are many questions that you have to ask yourself when starting the potty training process. As was mentioned, each situation is unique. Only you, your child and your family will know if your child is ready. If they are not, don’t push the process. Gradually get them to feel comfortable about using the restroom like an adult. Labels: children-information, Potty-Training
by: Child Basics
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
 When children are young they have great imaginations. As they grow and learn, they start using the knowledge they obtain in different projects. Blocks are a great way for children to show off their imagination. They can also be used as an educational experience. The Guidecraft Rainbow Blocks are a great way for your child to have a fun experience with blocks. Also, this is a great way for your child to learn colors. Forty-Two blocks are included in this set. The colors of the blocks are red, green, yellow and blue. Take some time and build with your child. While in the process, teach them about these wonderful colors. These blocks are also a perfect way for your child to learn shapes. Fun times can also be creative times for your child. Many of these recreation times can be used as educational experiences. Your child will learn while they play. Blocks are a great way for your to learn and express their creative side. Labels: Blocks, children-information
by: Child Basics
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
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
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
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
 Next month, schools everywhere will be starting up again and children will be heading back to cover another year. Those little ones just starting in school will more than likely have a hard time getting used to the idea of being in school. It is a new atmosphere that they have not experienced before; new kids to interact with, new adults to warm up to. They might be apprehensive at first, and you will probably have just as hard of a time with it as they will, obviously for different reasons. You will want to try and make the transition as easy as possible for your child and yourself also. If your child is attending school for the very first time, they will not know what to expect, and if this is your first child then you probably will not know either. But even you can admit that it is much easier to warm up to new surroundings if you are with someone you know, even if it is an acquaintance. If it is at all possible, find out a few names of students and their parents names and contact them for a play date. Let your child meet and encourage that they play together for a few afternoons before school is set to begin. When you lead your child through those doors for the first time, your departure will be a lot easier to accomplish if they see a few familiar faces; not to say it is going to be easy for you. When you first start talking to your child about going to school, sound excited and enthusiastic. If they see how excited you get about it, they will be just as enthusiastic. When they are looking forward to something, their apprehension will ease away. As the first day of school draws nearer, you are going to want to make bedtime a little earlier than before to prepare them for a new schedule and practice laying out their clothes before they go to sleep. When they have a routine that they can easily follow, your mornings will go smoother. So you are dropping your child off for the first day of school. Chances are they will cry. This is where you need to be firm, but do not detour away from being understanding. Going to school for the first time can be a scary experience at first, and you cannot let yourself seem annoyed with your little dear. Make their first day as easy as possible. It might be hard for you; after all, your youngster is growing up. But this is a positive experience for the both of you. Labels: children-information
by: Child Basics
Monday, July 21, 2008
 Every parent of young children knows that when it is bedtime, the battle then commences. New tactics arise that keep them from touching their beds that hit you before you realize it is coming. You catch on after the third trip to the bathroom that they are just avoiding sleep, but you miss the part where they got you to give them a full glass of water. And so the rounds begin again. As they bring you to the battlegrounds, you need to come prepared with new and never-before used schemes to keep them on their toes and their little bodies in bed. Getting them to bed is one thing, but how long do they need to be sleeping? Generally, children 3 to 6 years old need from 10 and a half hours to 12 hours a day. At 3 years old, they need to be laying down for naps and getting rest through the day, whereas children around the age of 5 should be weaned off of those mid-day naps to prepare for school where they will not receive them anyway. Children ages 7 to 12 years old need 10 to 11 hours a day. Just because they are getting older does not mean sleep is any less important. When they do not get enough sleep, they wear out sooner in the day and they are less apt to pay attention in school. When they are not paying attention, then they are not as capable to retain information that they need to learn and grow. As you are fighting for new and improved ways to get those little ones to bed, keep in mind that they still need those hours of sleep to keep them alert and ready to learn! Labels: children-information
by: Child Basics
| 
