Author: tony

Categories
Education

Love Of Reading In Your Children

Kid reading book, light in darkness

Ways To Inspire A Love Of Reading In Your Children

If your child is showing little interest in reading, there is hope.

Sometimes moms and dads have to get sneaky, but you can still turn your child into a reader, even if he is reluctant about it.

1. The Early Bedtime trick.
One of my favorite ways to get my kids to read is something they hopefully will not figure out until they have kids of their own.

Two words “Early Bedtime”.

You might be wondering how an increase in sleep can help your child to spend more time reading.

Well, here’s the trick. Set their bedtime for 45 minutes to an hour before they need their lights out.

Here’s how our bedtime routine goes.

The kids brush teeth and use the bathroom.

Then I read them their stories.

This is all done before their official bedtime.

Then, I simply give them an option. I say “It’s time for bed, now.

Would you like lights out or would you like to stay up and read for a bit?”

Unless they are really tired, they’ll always choose to read awhile. I do not have to beg nor manipulate them into reading.

In fact, they think it’s their idea and they have grown to love their chance for a ‘late’ bedtime.

Then, I back off. I don’t try to instruct them in any way, nor help them choose books. This is their time.

They can choose whichever book they like and look at it however they like until I come in to kiss them goodnight and turn their lights out.

Of course, if they want me to stay and listen to them read, I’m more than happy to comply.

Try it. It works.

2. Summer reading incentives.
You can sign up for a summer reading program at pretty much any library in the country.

If your local library does not have a summer reading program, then create one at home, with rewards for reading books.

You can use a Monopoly (or Life) board and allow your child to move one space for each book he reads.

Or if you want to have more fun, let him roll the dice each time he reads a book and have prizes available for passing certain points.

Make sure the rewards are something very desirable.

If your child values time with you more than toys, then set a date together doing his favorite thing.

If he values a certain toy, let him earn it. Or let him earn a chance to get out of his regular chores.

Take him to his favorite restaurant. Just have fun with it and he will, too.

3. Read the book before you can see the movie.
This is a standard in our home.

We won’t go see any movie until we’ve read the book.

Whether my husband and I read the book to the kids or they read it alone, each member of the family can go see the movie after the book is read.

So, if your child is looking forward to seeing the next Chronicles of Narnia movie, the next Harry Potter movie or the next Lemony Snicket movie, they’ll have to read the book first.

That’s it.

Three easy ways to turn your child into a reader for life.

 

[video_page_section type=”youtube” position=”default” image=”https://peekbaby.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/book-and-glasses_M1i0vSvO.jpg” btn=”light” heading=”” subheading=”” cta=”Reading Inspires Children” video_width=”1080″ hide_related=”true” hide_logo=”false” hide_controls=”true” hide_title=”true” hide_fullscreen=”true”]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaATkGIFlxM[/video_page_section]

 

 

Categories
Parenting

Mom Should Have A Hobby

beautiful blonde woman painter in her studio

Moms these days are so very busy, but we’re more stressed than ever before and in need of lifestyle choices that help us be happier.

Pursuing a hobby may be just the ticket.

Here are a few reasons why a hobby is a great idea, even for a busy Mom.

– handcraft, hobby concept

Having a hobby relieves stress and tension

Spending time with a hobby replaces negative thoughts and replaces them with positive thoughts and feelings.

Having a hobby or creative outlet can lift your spirits and help with depression.

Unlike passive activities like television viewing, a hobby provides intellectual stimulation while simultaneously relaxing you.

Repetitive actions like those used in knitting are especially calming.

Hobbies help you parent better

We are so good at signing our children up for lessons and classes and encouraging them to have hobbies, even paying for these classes and driving them to and fro!

But we forget that we also need to learn new things and grow as people.

Hobbies also connect you with other people who share your interests.

A hobby can help you maintain your separate identity as a real person and not just as Mom.

This models healthy habits and boundaries for our kids.

Hobbies provide a refreshing change from your daily routine

If you’re a stay at home Mom, you may be frustrated because at the end of the day you can hardly point to anything you’ve “done”.

Hobby: painter in her studio

This is because of the repetitive nature of housework and childcare.

In generations past, women pursued hobbies like:

  • quilting
  • sewing
  • knitting
  • crochet
  • embroidery

Not only because they were enjoyable but because they provided tangible value to the family, either providing clothing for their backs or much needed income.

Some hobbies like tennis, gardening or belly dancing can even provide great exercise with all of its accompanying benefits.

The best exercise activity is one that combines mind and body and is enjoyable to pursue.

Why not carve out some time to pursue your hobby Mom?

Don’t let a shortage of time stop you.

Rearrange your schedule and put YOU back in it, and start carving out time for your favorite pastime.

Hobby: Sewing needle with bobbins of cotton thread and needlework

 

[video_page_section type=”youtube” position=”default” image=”https://peekbaby.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2018-01-14_19-14-03.jpg” btn=”light” heading=”” subheading=”” cta=”HOW TO | Still Enjoy Your Hobbies When You’re A Parent” video_width=”1080″ hide_related=”true” hide_logo=”true” hide_controls=”true” hide_title=”true” hide_fullscreen=”true”]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Xi6CpEE-T8[/video_page_section]

 

Having 3 children under the age of 3 can be very challenging and take so much energy and time.

But there can be room for enjoying hobbies and having “me” time.

In this video I will share 3 tips on how to make this happen so that the entire family benefits.

 

[gmap-embed id=”19″]

 

 

Categories
Education

Homework time and stress

Parents have asked us why homework takes their child 2, 3 and even 4 times longer than their peers and what they can do about it.

This article defines the 3 key issues and what parents can do about it.

Student’s key issues often include:

  • Attention is a major problem, both in class and while doing homework
  • They often have one or more vision issues – too often these student’s eyes are either: not working together; skipping words or lines when reading; or they have difficulty copying off the board
  • They become tense when doing homework and often lose it

When a student has trouble paying attention in class, they often must be re-taught the information at home.

What makes matters worse is that the students homework time which should have taken 45 minutes gets stretched to 1 and ½ hours due to re-teaching, and then to over 2 hours because they cannot stay focused.

happy school girl on math classes finding solution and solving problems

Vision issues impact their homework in several ways:

  • They have trouble copying the notes off the board correctly and you spend time trying to understand the assignment
  • They skip words or lines when reading, further complicating life
  • When they do math problems they do not often align their work correctly, they miss minus and division signs so they make careless errors

Students often get tense when doing homework and battles often follow.

What often happens is:

  • Students are too intimidated to ask questions in class and they simply get stuck
  • The student or parent gets angry and then …
  •  An argument starts which often escalates into a battle royale

What we recommend is that parents:

  • Stay clam when doing homework with your child
  • If your child gets stressed, give them a 1 or 3 minute break
  • Hydrate them before doing homework and while doing homework
  • When reading, use an index card or their finger to keep them on the right line
  •  If the attention is a significant issue, consider getting an ADHD diagnosis
  • if they have a learning disability or attention issues significantly impact their academic performance, the student could qualify for an Individualized

 

Education Plan and they could get accommodations for homework which might include:

  • Getting copies of notes – either provided by the teacher or by another student
  • Seating by the teacher to improve attention
  • Having the teacher check to make sure the student has written the assignment correctly
  • Having you sign that they completed the assignment and putting it in a place they can find it
  • An early warning system, where the teacher alerts you to issues early on
  • If vision is a major issue see an optometrist – even if your child has 20/20 vision.

  • homework

 

[video_page_section type=”youtube” position=”default” image=”https://peekbaby.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2018-01-14_13-10-32.jpg” btn=”light” heading=”” subheading=”” cta=”How to reduce homework stress” video_width=”1080″ hide_related=”true” hide_logo=”false” hide_controls=”true” hide_title=”true” hide_fullscreen=”true”]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifEbfSWbaNU[/video_page_section]

 

The simple question, ‘Have you done your homework?’

can lead to tears, tantrums and tirades.

But homework time doesn’t have to turn your home into a battlefield.

Here’s excellent advice from family and lifestyle correspondent Ylonda Caviness.

Kid reading book, light in darkness
Categories
Baby

Children and water

happy young family have fun on swimming pool at summer vacation

“Safety First” Tips For Water Fun

There may be few better ways to spend a hot day than at the beach, lake, water park or swimming pool but amid all the fun and games it is important to put safety first.

Learning to swim and be safe in and around the water are important survival skills.

Accidents only take a few seconds to occur, but they can often be prevented by ensuring your loved ones follow simple water safety guidelines.

Pioneers in swimming instruction and water safety, the nation’s YMCAs are celebrating 100 years of group swimming instruction to children and adults.

happy kids have fun on outdoor swimming pool at beautiful aquapark

The YMCA offers these tips to help keep you and your loved ones safe in and around the water during the summer and at any time of year:

  • Make sure children are supervised by an adult at all times.
  •  No one, not even adults, should ever swim alone.
  • Be prepared in an emergency by learning lifesaving, first aid and CPR techniques.
  •  Always have a stocked first aid kit, phone, emergency numbers and sunscreen close at hand.
  •  Follow the posted rules in any water environment.
  • Backyard pools should have posted rules, ring buoy and security fences with self-closing gates and childproof locks.
  •  If you have an above-ground pool, secure and lock the steps or remove them completely when not in use.
  •  Be aware of water depth, incline and any underwater obstructions before diving. Never dive in water less than nine feet deep.
  •  Children should use U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets.
  • Avoid inflatable toys including armbands or “swimming”-they can be dangerous, giving a false sense of confidence.

And finally, everyone should learn swimming and basic water safety skills.

The YMCA offers swimming classes for all ages and levels.

water fun
  • Approximately 830 children ages 14 and under drown every year. Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional death in children ages 1 to 4 years and ages 10 to 14 years. For those less than 1 year old, drowning is the third leading cause of death
  • An average of about 3,600 injuries a year occur to children due to a near-drowning incident.
  • More than half of drownings among infants occur in bathtubs.

Where and when:

  • Most infants under the age of 1 drown in bathtubs. Other drownings in this age group tend to occur in toilets and buckets.
  • Most childhood drownings in pools occur in the child’s home pool. About one-third of these drownings occur in pools at the homes of friends, neighbors, or relatives.
  • Most drownings and near-drownings occur during late spring and summer (May through August).
  • More fatal drownings occur in the South and West.
  • More fatal drownings occur in rural areas than suburban or urban areas.

Who:

  • The majority of children who drown in swimming pools are between the ages of 1 to 4.
  • Children ages 4 and under are more likely to drown than other age groups and account for most home drownings.
  • Boys are two times more likely to drown than girls.
  • African-American children ages 5 to 14 are three times more likely to drown than white children.
  • Non swimming pool drownings are more common among low-income children.

http://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=water-safety–injury-statistics-and-incidence-rates-90-P03004

A MAN and a woman have been arrested after a five-year-old boy drowned in a water park.

Charlie Dunn, from Tamworth, Staffordshire, died following an incident at Bosworth Water Park, near Hinckley, Leics., on July 23.

A man and a woman have been arrested over the death of Charlie Dunn, who died at a water park last year

A man in his 30s and a woman in her 20s have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence.

They have also been arrested on suspicion of child neglect.

Mum Lynsey Dunn, 28, and stepdad Paul Smith, 35, were taken into custody on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence at the time.

They were initially released on bail before charges against them were dropped in December.

A spokesperson for Leicestershire Police said: “A man and woman have this morning (Monday 13 March) been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence.

“It follows an incident at Bosworth Water Park, near Hinckley, on 23 July 2016, in which five-year-old Charlie Dunn, who came from Tamworth, drowned.

“They have also been arrested on suspicion of child neglect.

“The man, who is in his 30’s, and the woman, who is in her 20’s, were arrested in Staffordshire this morning.”

 

[video_page_section type=”youtube” position=”default” image=”https://peekbaby.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/gard00228-801.jpg” btn=”light” heading=”” subheading=”” cta=”5 Year Old Kid Almost Dead in Swimming Pool” video_width=”1080″ hide_related=”true” hide_logo=”true” hide_controls=”true” hide_title=”true” hide_fullscreen=”true”]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOOmooAAc8U[/video_page_section]

WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT

Footage posted to Imgur shows five-year-old Finnish boy struggling in pool Poster claims he was left alone while mother went to the sauna Struggled underwater and desperately tries to get to the side to pull himself out People around the boy are seemingly oblivious to his plight
Horrifying footage shows a five-year-old boy seemingly start to drown at a crowded pool in Helsinki, while other swimmers carry on oblivious to his plight.
Footage posted to Imgur shows the youngster struggling in the water for several minutes before losing consciousness.
User Irongross who posted the video, claims the boy was left unsupervised while his mother spent time in the sauna, although this statement has not as yet been verified.
Thankfully the child was resuscitated after a woman finally noticed his body floating on the surface, and has not suffered any permanent harm.
Categories
Education

No Child Left Behind

‘No Child Left Behind’: What it Means for Parents

The No Child Left Behind Act is a landmark education reform law that is already improving academic performance across the land.

One of its chief aims is to close the troubling achievement gap that separates many disadvantaged, disabled and minority students from their peers.

To do this, it measures student performance and focuses extra resources and attention on those most in danger of falling behind but what about the schools themselves?

Under No Child Left Behind, schools that receive federal funds to help teach and prepare educationally disadvantaged children must make what is called “Adequate Yearly Progress” in reading, language arts and mathematics. These clearly defined benchmark goals, which will be raised over time, have been put in place by each of the 50 states based upon what is appropriate for their local school districts.

If a school does not reach its annual goals, it is given extra assistance and another chance.

If it again does not succeed the following year, the school is deemed “in need of improvement.

” Extra resources are provided to the school, and new options and choices are provided to its students and parents.

As states release their lists of schools that under performed over the last school year, parents should be alert to their school’s status.

They may be eligible for free tutoring or after-school classes for their children, or entitled to choose another public school that better meets their needs.

Parents of children in schools deemed “in need of improvement” should contact their local school officials to find out if their children are eligible for these and other services.

If a school continues to under perform for five or more years in a row, school officials must develop and implement a two-year plan to turn around the school.

The local school district will ensure that the school receives needed technical assistance as it develops and implements its improvement plan.

Parents who get involved – by enforcing attendance, supervising homework and setting academic goals – are less likely to see their children left behind in school.

Ways that parents can help their child’s school succeed include:

* Attending parent-teacher meetings to address academic or discipline problems.

* Participating in school board meetings.

* Volunteering to serve during school hours or in extracurricular activities.

* Encouraging other parents to become involved.

* Tapping into community or private-sector resources.

* Learning about No Child Left Behind and how it can benefit their child.

[video_page_section type=”youtube” position=”default” image=”https://peekbaby.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2018-01-14_11-27-15.jpg” btn=”light” heading=”” subheading=”” cta=”no child left behind” video_width=”1080″ hide_related=”true” hide_logo=”true” hide_controls=”true” hide_title=”true” hide_fullscreen=”true”]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0WUqNO0qo4[/video_page_section]

 

The No Child Left Behind Act was meant to compel states to adopt high standards and rapidly improve K-12 education in public schools.

It is now clear that NCLB has been a failure and has set the stage for even greater federal control over curriculum.

The solution, contrary to what many advocates claim, is to get the federal government out of America’s classrooms.

Neal McCluskey, associate director of the Cato Institute’s Center for Educational Freedom, comments on NCLB’s decade of failure.

 

[video_page_section type=”youtube” position=”default” image=”https://peekbaby.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2018-01-14_11-35-26.jpg” btn=”light” heading=”” subheading=”” cta=”No Child Left Behind, the country’s most sweeping education law” video_width=”1080″ hide_related=”true” hide_logo=”true” hide_controls=”true” hide_title=”true” hide_fullscreen=”true”]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfV6IlL94CU[/video_page_section]

 

Full Transcript

  • GWEN IFILL:

    No Child Left Behind, the country’s most sweeping education law, has long been blamed for a rise in standardized testing and for unfairly labeling schools as failing.

    This week, the Senate took up the first bipartisan effort to replace the law since it expired eight years ago. It would remove much of the federal footprint from education.

    Hari Sreenivasan has the details.

  • HARI SREENIVASAN:

    Instead of federal rules for grading and punishing schools, the Senate legislation would let states design their own accountability systems. But serious disagreements remain.

    The White House is calling for rules that tell states when to intervene in low-performing schools. And some Republicans want federal funds for low-income students to follow them to the school of their choice.

    Here to look at what this could mean for schools are Rick Hess, director of education policy studies for the American Enterprise Institute. And Bob Wise, former governor of West Virginia and president of the Alliance for Excellent Education.

    So, Rick, I want to start with you first.

    All schools were supposed to be at this place where kids were learning at grade level by last year. We didn’t get there. How does this piece of legislation think it can fix that?

  • RICK HESS, American Enterprise Institute:

    It turns out that when you pass a law like No Child Left Behind back in 2001 that says 100 percent of children will be proficient in reading and math by 2014, the fact that Congress would like it to be so doesn’t make it so.

    And I think that’s the big lesson here. No Child Left Behind really did two things around accountability. One is, it created enormous — made an enormous contribution, because for the first time we had real comparable data on every child in every state on how they were doing in reading and math grades three to eight, again in high school and science at elementary, middle and high school.

    What No Child Left Behind got wrong was, in their desire to make a difference, Congress wrote this convoluted, problematic, overreaching accountability system, which tried to tell states how to decide which schools were doing well or not and how to intervene in those schools.

    Turns out, Congress is actually horribly configured to do this. And what you wound up creating was a lot of test mania, a lot of compliance, and very little that actually contributed in any way to helping kids get better.

    What I think you see in the laws, in the proposals right now that just passed the House and that is getting debated in the Senate is an effort to keep the part of No Child Left Behind that worked well, this transparency and this regular assessment, but to get the federal government out of that micromanagement business.

  • HARI SREENIVASAN:

    So, Bob Wise, you have been a governor before. Will replacing federal guidelines with state guidelines fix the problem, especially for those parents out there who are seriously complaining about testing and the culture that it’s created?

  • BOB WISE, President, Alliance for Excellent Education:

    So what we have, I think, is a legislative Goldilocks right now.

    Rick is absolutely right. I agree with him that the early No Child Left — No Child Left Behind was too prescriptive, too hot. But at the same token, the House version particularly removes any kind of meaningful accountability.

    And so what you need is, you need the ability to report on students that are having low outcomes, measure them over a period of time, and then for the federal government to say to states, look, you have got to do something. We’re not telling you what.

    That’s what they tried to do in No Child Left Behind. We’re not telling you what, but we are saying that you do need to act and there is a federal role in helping support that. So that’s where I think we still have to get it right in terms of where the Senate bill is.

  • HARI SREENIVASAN:

    Rick, if the federal government says that you can create your own measurements of success and failure, do we basically go to a pre-No Child Left Behind era, where we have 50 sets of measurements in different states?

  • FREDERICK HESS:

    Well, basically, with No Child Left Behind, we have actually had 50 sets of measurements from 50 states, because each state gets to choose its standards and its tests.

    So what you have are data that are comparable for every child in a state, but not necessarily across states. That doesn’t change under the laws being debated. What you really go back to — I describe it as a long way home. What you go back to is what Bill Clinton actually proposed in 1994, which was he said, look, let’s have every state test every child once in elementary school in reading and math, once in middle school, once in high school, and let’s make sure that data is out there, so that parents and policy-makers and educators and voters can make informed decisions.

    What we’re going to wind up with under, say, a House bill is what Clinton imposed in ’94 on steroids. You actually have tests every grade level from three to eight in reading and math, again in high school, and then science elementary, middle and high school

    What it does, is, unlike pre-NCLB, it makes sure that folks can’t hide problems. You’re going to break out data for all these different subgroups by economic status and by ethnicity. And what you’re going to have, what’s going to be different from under No Child Left Behind is the federal government will not be in the business of deciding which schools need to be intervened in and how you’re supposed to intervene in them.

  • HARI SREENIVASAN:

    So, Bob Wise, one of the questions and one of the points of contention between the House and the Senate bills is this idea that the dollars should follow low-income kids if they choose to leave a low-performing school and go either to a better-performing school, which I guess is the goal. But how much money are we talking about? How significance is this and what’s the impact on the states?

  • BOB WISE:

    The impact on the states can be great, and I think it’s significant.

    We’re talking roughly $14 billion to $15 billion in Title I. And those are the dollars that go to concentrations of low-income children. But I think it’s significant to note that the Senate rejected that approach, even when offered by the Republican chairman. In the House, I don’t believe — either they didn’t take it up or they rejected it as well.

    But I think that what Rick talks about is important to note. Yes, there’s going to be more flexibility, regardless of what version passes. But I’m concerned that I don’t want to see the Bill Clinton 1994 approach — he says on steroids — I don’t want to see it run amok.

    If you have got 1,200 high schools that are graduating — or where more than one-third of their kids drop out, I think it’s fair for the federal government to say, why do you have these high dropout rates? We’re not telling you how to fix it, but after this has happened for several years, what are you going to do to fix it and what are the tools you need to fix it?

    That I think is the key debate that is still taking place, particularly on the Senate side.

  • HARI SREENIVASAN:

    Rick, is this legislation essentially reflecting this kind of popular uprising against the Common Core?

  • FREDERICK HESS:

    No, I think it’s more accurate to say the Common Core got caught up in the frustration of No Child Left Behind.

    I think you have got parents who feel like their children are being overtested. It’s not so much the federally mandated tests under No Child Left Behind. It’s more all of the urgency put behind getting kids to make sure they’re proficient on those tests, which has led school districts to do lots of formative assessment, to make sure kids are ready for the tests, lots of test preparation.

    The idea is, by keeping the transparency, but by loosening the terror of being on the federal government black hat list, that what’s going to happen is school districts will be able to be more sensible and measured about these tests.

    And I think what is going to happen is on debates around testing, around evaluation of teachers, around standards and Common Core, you would actually see a lessening of some of the temperature, because people are going to feel that the stakes have been reduced to a more moderate range.

  • HARI SREENIVASAN:

    Bob Wise, a quick last word?

  • BOB WISE:

    Yes, Rick, I think, has summed up well a lot of the situation.

    I just want to add that let’s also remember that it was the states, whether they adopted the Common Core or they adopted their own college and career ready standards, every state has now moved to a college and career ready standard. We want to make sure that the federal government is supporting that state initiative.

  • HARI SREENIVASAN:

    All right, Bob Wise and Rick Hess, thanks so much for joining us.

    https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/replace-child-left-behind#transcript

     

Categories
Nutrition

Childhood obesity and nutrition

Health risk factors - child obesity

According to obesity researchers, the United States obesity rate has more than doubled for preschoolers and adolescents-and more than tripled for ages 6 to 11-over the past 30 years.

Obese children are at greater risk for health problems such as diabetes and heart disease, and often carry these problems into adulthood.

So, how do parents help children, and the entire family, eat healthier, both at home and away-from-home?

“Talk to your pediatrician, family doctor or registered dietitian to determine the healthiest weight goals for the entire family,” said nutrition expert Jenifer Bland-Campbell, “then make a plan to tackle the issue.”

She offers these tips to help parents help their families eat more healthfully:

  • Eat at least one meal together daily, at regular intervals to discourage snacking.
  • Prepare healthy dishes for the whole family, not just special foods for an overweight child.
  • Don’t use food as a reward, comfort or punishment.
  • Watch portions. “Clean your plate” is not always the way to go.
  • Eat slowly. It takes almost 20 minutes for the brain to register that the body is full.
  • Encourage water or skim or 1% milk instead of high-calorie, sugary drinks.
  • Getting kids to eat at least five servings of vegetables and fruits each day will not be easy, but focus on the colors to make it more fun. for more tips. 5 a day
  • Use low-fat or fat-free dressings, mayonnaise and dairy items at home as if they are the full-fat versions. Kids will take your cues. Ask for the same items on the side when eating away-from-home.
  • Take the stairs. When you go shopping, park the car farther away from the store and walk.
  • Limit television, video games or computer time.
  • Replace mayonnaise and cheese on burgers or sandwiches with ketchup, mustard or barbecue sauce.
  • Stick with items that are baked, broiled, steamed or poached-not fried.
  • Ask for nutritional information when eating out.
  • Look beyond the children’s menu, often limited to fried, high-calorie, high-fat foods and split one healthier adult entrée between two children.
  • Ask for a takeout container and put some of the food in before you eat.
  •  Ask that bread, beverages and tortilla chips be served with the meal, not beforehand.

“Parents can help children reach wellness goals by first making healthy changes at home, then teaching kids what to do away from home,” said Bland-Campbell.

“Healthy eating does not happen overnight, but children take cues from their parents and will learn behaviors over time.”

Nutrition:`Obesity being a Health risk target

Bland-Campbell is a registered dietitian with ARAMARK, a company that manages food service programs at businesses, colleges, hospitals, and approximately 4,000 schools across the country.

You can find research on the away-from-home nutritional preferences of Americans at ARAMARK’S web site.

There, parents can find their own dining style and receive tips from dietitians on more ways to eat better.

 

[video_page_section type=”youtube” position=”default” image=”” btn=”light” heading=”” subheading=”” cta=”Childhood Obesity: Are You Dishing Up Too Much?” video_width=”1080″ hide_related=”true” hide_logo=”true” hide_controls=”true” hide_title=”true” hide_fullscreen=”true”]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4XUgeVA-CY[/video_page_section]

 

We speak to Bethany Walton, who weighed 6 stone at 5 years old and currently weighs 27.5 stone.

Bethany says that her mum should of controlled her eating habits when she was younger.

But how much is too much when it comes to children’s meals?

Dr Sara Kayat will be showing us and will advise on what to do if you think your child is overweight.

 

Categories
Parenting

Harry Potter And Gender Equity

Harry Potter would be eligible for entry into a contest sponsored by up-and-coming young adult novelist R.J. Nimmo – on one condition.

“He would need some magic spell or potion to change himself from a ‘Harry’ to a ‘Harriet,'”

joked Nimmo, who is an expert on entertainment for children and young adults.

“Describing how the famous boy wizard would behave as a witch would be enjoyable for author and reader alike,”

Nimmo said. “It is just the kind of fun, witty and creative submission our judges are looking for.”

Nimmo, author of the emerging “Mustard Twins” fantasy series, says that trends in literature aimed at young people risk trapping kids in what he calls a “kind of reading time-warp.”

“Certainly, where representations of gender in fiction heroes and characters are concerned, kids’ books lag way behind today’s society,” he said.

“A lot of popular fiction reflects outdated stereotypes of masculine and feminine roles.

Books aimed at children and young adults share much of the blame.

Gender Equity

I am not only talking about mainstream books either, but Newbery and Caldecott medal winners as well.”

To challenge the status quo, Nimmo is encouraging contestants to describe how a favorite fiction book or story hero would act or react in a dramatic situation.

But there’s a twist: Entrants are first required to swap the hero’s gender role or characteristics.

With the contest, Nimmo hopes to positively attune parents and kids alike to the subtle messages being transmitted through popular entertainment.

“Readers – especially younger ones – are constantly being exposed to values that are completely out of step with modern times,” he said.

Studies show that, from Harry Potter to Artemis Fowl, boys outnumber girls about four to one in books and TV shows, including those written by women.

Furthermore, Nimmo points out, even books with female or gender-neutral names in their titles frequently revolve around a male character.

 

Why should parents be concerned?

“Society’s values are largely transmitted to children through fiction,” Nimmo said. “It is therefore important that parents be aware that self-esteem and personal development are influenced by the sort of book and story heroes we emulate as kids.”

Nonetheless, Nimmo said, there are things parents can do to sensitize kids to the issue.

“Make sure to include books in your reading selection where individuals are portrayed with distinctive personalities irrespective of gender, where achievements are not evaluated on the basis of gender and where individuals are logical or emotional depending on the situation,” he said.

To encourage young people to challenge the conventions in stories and books written for them, Nimmo is offering a $300 cash prize, plus signed copies of his latest novel,

“The Ancient Egyptian Ennead,”

Which tells the story of two spunky teenage female heroes and their exploits in ancient Egypt in the time of the pharaohs.

 

[video_page_section type=”youtube” position=”default” image=”https://peekbaby.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2018-01-13_23-46-01.jpg” btn=”light” heading=”” subheading=”” cta=”Gender Roles-Interviews with Kids” video_width=”1080″ hide_related=”true” hide_logo=”true” hide_controls=”true” hide_title=”true” hide_fullscreen=”true”]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VqsbvG40Ww[/video_page_section]

A great example of children before they’ve grown into adults and have been completely socially engineered and manipulated, generation by generation. You will find these same answers amongst tribes people world wide, with but very very few exceptions. This should say something. Ironically, there is a myth sweeping the nation that parents and teachers are engineering the kids to think and respond in this manner, as if the kids are held at gun point and told,”you will act like a boy, you will act like a girl.”. Though if you will look around, the Tell-lie-vision is crammed full of homo and unisexual propaganda every day, and such concepts are now being taught in schools as the social norm, so where exactly is the agenda that is trying to scare children in the other direction? It is nowhere to be seen.

 

 

 

Categories
Parenting Uncategorized

True confessions of a compulsive caretaker

Crowd of children, different ages and races in front of the school, breaktime

You cannot catch a child’s spirit by running after it and his became evident to me many summers ago, when I spent 6 weeks suffering with a severe case of hives all over my body.

When the itching first began, the only way to find relief was to lie absolutely motionless.

“You cannot catch a child’s spirit by running after it. You must stand still, and for love it will soon itself return.”

–Arthur Miller

My kids, who are delightfully self-entertaining, went about their business for the first few hours, checking in on me occasionally to see if I needed anything.

As the day wore on, they realized that I was a sitting duck.

They set up camp on my king size bed, and we proceeded to have some very deep and thought-provoking conversations.

I doubt these interactions would have occurred if I had been my usual productive and bustling self.

I probably would have interrupted the quiet time that was necessary for their questions to emerge in order to jump up and fold the laundry before it wrinkled.

I hardly ever sit still when I’m healthy.

There’s always so much to do.

Hives taught me lots of important things … not the least of which is that the world will not collapse if I don’t hold it up.

Sure, I fell behind on things.

For the first time in my life I left phone calls not returned, and dishes in the sink, and laundry wet and wrinkled for days.

But the sun continued to rise and set anyway.

I didn’t lose any friends due to my poor response time and my kids learned how to take care of dirty dishes and clothes.

My son is a budding chef, and he had lots more freedom in the kitchen when I wasn’t there telling him what to do or how to do it better.

He was so proud to serve us the delicious meals he had prepared.

I’m sure you know where I’m going with this.

Sometimes the best thing we can do for our kids is drop out and let them experience their own competence.

My kids blossomed during my down time.

I think it was really great for them to feel needed and important; to make a contribution to the family that really mattered.

Yeah, it’s sad that it took a nasty case of hives for me to realize that I was not giving them enough opportunities to experience their own competence, but so be it.

Now I know.

True confessions of a compulsive caretaker.

Testing my lessons learned, I asked my son if he would fix a towel hook that had fallen off the wall.

He seized the mission with zest, gathering all his tools together and tackling the problem with great concentration.

I stayed busy elsewhere in the house and left him alone.

I’ll never forget the look on his face when he came to tell me the job was done.

Not only had he fixed the hook, but he had even cleaned up the mess and put all the tools away!

I’ve realized that the best way to love my kids has changed as they’ve grown older.

It’s not so much about taking care of them anymore.

Now they need opportunities to discover their ability to take care of themselves.

I’ve graduated from being their source to being their resource.

caretaker

My job has changed from a caretaker and doing things for them to expressing my confidence that they can learn to do things for themselves.

Just in the nick of time, too. I’ve been craving uninterrupted opportunities to write and think and meditate.

I’m relieved to know that I can take this time for myself without feeling that I am depriving them somehow.

I guess I needed the reassurance that it was ok, even good for them, that I wanted space to myself.

Mama Bird at some point needs to get tough on her babies while getting them ready to fly.

Maybe Mother Nature gives her a helping hand by offering her the tool of irritation to toughen her up so she does what must be done.

Traditionally it’s been hard for me to trust that even my irritation could be ok.

Once more, I have been reminded that all is truly as it should be and for that, I am grateful.

[video_page_section type=”youtube” position=”default” image=”https://peekbaby.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2018-01-13_23-25-23.jpg” btn=”light” heading=”” subheading=”” cta=”How to raise successful kids — without over-parenting ” video_width=”1080″ hide_related=”true” hide_logo=”true” hide_controls=”true” hide_title=”true” hide_fullscreen=”true”]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyElHdaqkjo[/video_page_section]

 

 

Categories
Adoption Breast Feeding

Adopted Babies

baby

Breast Feeding Adopted Babies

Not only is breast feeding an adopted baby easy, the chances are that you will produce a large amount of milk. It isn’t complicated to do,  although it is different than breast feeding a baby you have been pregnant with for 9 months.

Breast feeding and milk

There are two objectives that are involved in breast feeding an adopted babies.

The first is getting your baby to breast feed, and the other is producing enough breast milk.

There is more to breast feeding than just milk, which is why many mothers are happy to feed  without expecting to produce milk in the way the baby needs.

It’s the closeness and the bond breast feeding provides that many mothers  look for.

 

Taking the breast

Even though many feel the early introduction of bottles may interfere with breast feeding, the early introduction of artificial nipples can interfere a great deal.

The sooner you can get the baby to the breast after birth, the better things will be.

Babies will however, require the flow from the breast in order to stay attached and continue to suck, especially if they are used to gettingflow from a bottle or other method of feeding.

Producing breast milk As soon as you have an adopted baby in sight, contact a lactation clinic and start getting
your milk supply ready.

Keep in mind, you may never produce a full milk supply for your baby, although it may happen.

You should never feel discouraged by what you may be pumping before the baby, as a pump is never quite as good at extracting milk as a baby who is well latched and sucking.

Breastfeeding has many advantages for both the baby and the mother.

There are many substances in breast milk that can’t be found in cow’s milk. More so, there are fewer complications associated with breast milk than with cow’s milk.

It has been advertised time and again that it is best for the babies if they are breastfed for the first six months even up to two years. So why is breast milk so beneficial for the baby?

First of all, only breast milk contains colostrums which are essential for the baby to take.

Commercially-made milks cannot simulate the colostrums made by a mother.

The colostrums contain natural antibodies and immune globulins that are responsible for keeping the baby free from illness for the first few months of its life.

Another advantage breast milk has over cow’s milk is that it allows the mother to save as cow’s milk can be expensive. The baby can better adapt to breast milk.

Their feces are not smelly and they don’t have any difficulty defecating compared to cow’s milk.

Breastfeeding has also been approved to be one of the family planning methods that a family can observe.

Since breastfeeding has been given so much importance, many women have been made aware. However, despite the awareness, many mothers still report of breast problems associated with lactation.

These problems are most often than not, associated with improper breast feeding techniques.

In order to lower down the incidence of breast related problems due to lactation, it is important that mothers observe the proper techniques of breast feeding.

Ultimately, both the mother as well as the baby will benefit from the proper observance of these techniques.

First of all, you need to prepare your breast for milk-production.

There are various nipple exercises to perform in order to prepare your nipple to deliver the breast milk to your baby.

One of these exercises would involve routinely pinching the nipple.

Second and what most mothers fail to realize is how to keep the nipple clean before the baby latches on to it for feeding.

When you plan to breast feed, you should avoid using soap on your nipple.

If this cannot be avoided, your nipple should be wiped using a soft cloth soaked in clean water to make sure your nipple is clean before your baby feeds from it.

Third and perhaps the most important step is to allow your baby to properly latch on to your nipple.

You will know when your baby is latched on properly when your baby’s mouth covers the entire areola and not just the nipples.

It is essential that your baby should latch on properly so that he or she can properly stimulate the “let-down reflex” of your breasts wherein the milk will go down the ducts and out your nipple.

To aid your baby in latching on properly, you should make use of their rooting reflex.

This is manifested in the first few months of life. You stimulate your baby’s cheek, near their mouth using your nipple and their head will automatically turn towards the stimulation.

Their mouth will open and be ready for receiving your nipple.

Once you’re done, you can aid your baby to stop latching on by inserting a clean pinky finger into the side of their mouth and propping it slightly open.

Your baby will stop sucking and you can remove your nipple.

To prevent sore nipples and breast engorgement you have to monitor the amount of time your baby sucks with each nipple.

It is usually advisable to spend 10-15 minutes each breast to make sure that the breasts are completely emptied of milk.

This will prevent breast engorgement.

The next time your baby feeds on your breast, let your baby feed from the last breast he or she fed on.

This will completely empty the milk on that breast before you move on to the other breast.

 

[video_page_section type=”youtube” position=”default” image=”https://peekbaby.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2018-01-01_22-01-43.jpg” btn=”light” heading=”” subheading=”” cta=”Adopted Babies” video_width=”1080″ hide_related=”true” hide_logo=”true” hide_controls=”true” hide_title=”true” hide_fullscreen=”true”]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrvDPT1HXVU[/video_page_section]

 

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Categories
Breast Feeding

Breast Or Bottle Feeding

Little cutie holding a gift-box behind the back to surprise her mom

Bottle 

Or

Breast  Feeding–

Which Is Best

There are lots of decisions to make when there’s a baby on the way.

One of the most controversial is the ever raging “breast or bottle” debate.

There are many people who have strong feelings on both sides of this issue, and many of them will try like a televangelist to get you on their side.

I’m not going to do that.

I’m going to give you the facts, and share some personal insight on the subject, which hopefully will leave you feeling good, whatever your choice.

Scientifically, breast milk is best.

There are nutrients in breast milk that help your child’s brain develop, and try as they might, formula makers cannot replicate these nutrients.

Breastfeeding protects your child from illnesses because, as long as he or she is nursing, they are protected by your immune system, which is much more developed than theirs.

Breast milk is very well tolerated by babies, and hardly ever causes gastric problems, and breastfed babies are less likely to be overweight.

But, realistically, the scientific facts are not the only things to be considered.

Women who simply don’t want to breastfeed will probably not be very successful.

Even some women who want to breastfeed will find it so difficult, that they are miserable trying to make it work.

Some women will have difficulty making enough milk to satisfy their baby’s hunger, and some women will suffer more pain with breastfeeding than they can endure.

If you fall into one of those categories, don’t beat yourself up.

Your baby can do quite nicely on formula, too.

When my daughter was born, I was anxious to breast feeding.

I had two boys, but one is my husband’s by a previous marriage, and the other was adopted at ten months, so this was my only chance to be pregnant and breastfeed.

I read all the books I could get my hands on, and like a fool, spent a bunch of money on a breast pump.

Well, it turns out that my nipples are not exactly a matched set, so my daughter completely rejected one nipple.

So, I nursed on the side she would take until my nipples looked like ground beef.

Plus, she was an eight pound eating machine at birth, and no matter how long I nursed her, I couldn’t satisfy her appetite.

Even with pumping from the breast that she rejected, she was always hungry.

I made myself crazy from it, worked with two different lactation consultants and tried every trick in the book, but still every attempt at nursing ended in tears.

After two miserable weeks, I gave in and put her on formula.

We have never looked back. I was happier because I wasn’t constantly frustrated, and she was happier because her tummy was full and because her Mommy was much more relaxed.

Now that I’ve told you that story, I’ll tell you this.

If I ever had another baby, I would try breastfeeding again.

Every baby is different, and a Mother’s body is different with each pregnancy.

I would try again to give my child the best from a nutritional standpoint.

But, I understand now that sometimes it just doesn’t work, or it isn’t right for you, and that doesn’t mean that you’re not a good Mom.

Breast or bottle is a personal choice. Weigh the facts and the preferences, and make the choice that is right for you and your baby.

Whatever you decide, you don’t owe anyone an explanation.

Mother’s milk is one of the best foods for babies that anyone could think about.

It contains ample amount of proteins and nutrients which could beat any other health drink for your child.

The usefulness of this milk becomes more important because it protects the baby from some of the worst health problems.

There is no substitute for breast milk so providing this milk to your child would be the best thing to give to your child.

It has been studied that children who have been breastfed grow faster and are healthier than the ones who have not been breastfed

.

Breast milk contains lactoferrin which helps in absorption of iron and protects the intestine from any harmful bacteria.

The other component called lipases helps in digesting your fats which helps in baby’s growth and development.

It not only serves the purpose of providing nutrients to your child but also in serving the purpose to quench to your baby’s thirst and fill-in your baby’s stomach.

The IQ of the child also increases by providing breast milk.

It saves lot of time and money as you don’t have to sit up late night and mix the formula for your baby.

The cost baby food is also cut which gives more time for the mother to be with her baby.

It creates a bond between the mother and child which binds them together.

Nursing helps the mother to loose the extra pounds which she gained during her pregnancy.

It burns out lot of calories which helps in bringing back the original size.

If there are any chances of bleeding after child birth it lessens due to breast feeding.

The risk of breast and ovarian cancer is minimal.

Some common remedies to help breast feeding

-To arouse lactation for better quality and quantity, consumption of alfalfa is very useful
-To remove the hard feeling from your breast place a wet towel on your breast for 10 minutes which has been soaked in hot water
-Use of chamomile helps in controlling inflamed breast
-To minimize pain and inflammation, use of castor oil is very useful
-Having the baby in different positions for feeding also helps
-Consumption of fennel tea and almonds helps in increasing the milk production
-To relieve pain massaging Vitamin E oil on your breast is very good
-Having good amount of yogurt or curd helps in keeping the bacteria and other infection at bay

 

[video_page_section type=”youtube” position=”default” image=”https://peekbaby.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2018-01-01_20-15-17.jpg” btn=”light” heading=”” subheading=”” cta=”Breastfeeding and Bottle Feeding: My Experience Combine Feeding” video_width=”1080″ hide_related=”true” hide_logo=”true” hide_controls=”true” hide_title=”true” hide_fullscreen=”true”]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlEz4Xcay6c[/video_page_section]

 

 

[video_page_section type=”youtube” position=”default” image=”https://peekbaby.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2018-01-01_20-18-48.jpg” btn=”light” heading=”” subheading=”” cta=”Tips on Combining Breastfeeding and Bottle Feeding ” video_width=”1080″ hide_related=”true” hide_logo=”true” hide_controls=”true” hide_title=”true” hide_fullscreen=”true”]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIQblK0L2ig[/video_page_section]

 

 

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