Reading is an important part of a child’s development, imagination and education. There are a wide variety of books that children can read with and without pictures, little words or big. The possibilities are limitless when you take them to a library and allow them to pick out something. You might just be surprised at what they come back with! We would like to give you a couple of recommendations that are sure to please any reading level!

The Lion, the witch and the what?

There are so many classics out there that will be hard to pick just one. The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe is a book that has remained tried and true for many years and will continue on. What about that barnyard classic Charlotte’s Web, teaching the true value of friendships and acceptance. How about those fun and rhyming books by Dr. Seuss? Now those were some fun books to read no matter your age. For the young, for the old Dr. Seuss still aims to please with one of the newest in the Horton Hears a Who! My daughter loves this book and I too love reading Dr. Seuss books, just plain fun!

What book? What age?

As you may have guessed there are great books for all age groups. For toddlers, kids, and teens what will peek their interest does change and so do the books. Reading is a cherished past time and so much can be learned through reading. The imaginations of children are born in books sometimes. It allows children to go to a different dimension with their minds that TV cannot take them too. They actually have to picture, imagine and even put themselves in that place to get the full experience. There is nothing wrong with a fun book, open mind and a child to investigate the wonders of the pages.

Now you might be asking yourself what kind of books are great readings for middle and high school age children. Well, let us start by explaining that kids of this age deal with a lot more test taking, peer pressure and just their own self being. So, start out with some books that might make the harder subjects a little easier for them, like practice books or even tapes. There is also an array of books out there explaining how to fit in and dealing with peer pressure. We all know that these days, peer pressure is at an all time high so it should be on the front of everyone’s mind. Last but not least, be sure to allow your child a creative angle in their choice of books. If they like the Arts, then let them read on artists in our history or even visit a museum. All it comes down to is letting kids be kids!

Technorati Tags: dr seuss, dr seuss books, education, fun books, great books, imaginations, lion the witch and the wardrobe, reading level, Teaching children to read

No matter the age, every person has at least one bad habit. Some people bite their nails, others leave wet towels on the floor and some people are addicted to junk food. So how do we raise our children not to have any bad habits? Is it possible to change them? The answer may be a little easier than you think! Our children are the clay and we mold them to the productive, self sufficient adult they become later in life.

Bad Habits, what are they?

Bad habits truly can be an array of things. From unhealthy eating, running your car low on gas to always using a credit card or even picking your nose bad habits truly are endless. When your child, no matter the age, picks up a bad habit you should try everything you can to break that cycle. A cycle of a bad habit will continue and can be passed on for generations. If our children see that we are allowing them to bite their nails they will feel it is OK and then their kids will see them biting their nails and the cycle starts again. The younger the child the easier the habit is to break. Most children are going to pick up those bad habits from other classmates, friends and people they are around a lot.

How to break the cycle

The first thing that needs to be addressed is whether or the not the bad habit stems from deeper emotional feelings. If you child bites his/her fingernails they have stuff you can put on them that makes them taste horrible and is suppose to deter them from biting. Or if you child has a habit of not cleaning their room, make it a top priority one day a week that they pick up and clean their room no matter what. If you want the cycle to be broken you have to put your foot down and be heard.

Forming a bad habit takes seven full days, but breaking that habit can take a lifetime. At the first sight of a child that has a bad habit face it head on. Explain to them why this is a bad habit and even set up consequences for doing those bad habits. If they are adults and engage in a bad habit then they have to realize that it is a bad habit and break it on their own. Life is full of habits; it is your choice whether to engage in the good ones or the bad ones.

Technorati Tags: bad habit, bad habits, breaking bad habits, junk food, picking your nose, unhealthy eating

Our generation of TV shows is quite different from the newest generations of shows that are on the networks these days. The language is worse, the nudity is more and the overall premise behind some of the story lines is downright gruesome. So how do we know where to draw the line in what our children watch? It is our job to protect our children from the shows that display immoral behavior. We are here to help with a few pointers on what your kids should watch.

Ratings are not just for movies

Most, if not all, TV shows have ratings these days. Late night television is designed with adults in mind, not a five year old who stays up to late. Most shows now will have a viewer discretion flash before the show airs and these are not to be taken lightly. When a show says there will be violence and possible nudity, expect the worse and do not let your child partake in that show. What age is appropriate for different ratings? All ratings have an age attached to them and they are pretty good guidelines to abide by. You must keep in mind though if we tell our children that they cannot watch a show because of something they will be curious. Monitor everything and if you are in doubt do not allow cable in their room. Set up a DVD player and give those movies/shows that are approved by you and they can watch TV in their own room.

Why the debate?

Yes there are TV shows out there that are not designed with children in mind that is OK. We have to take the bull by the horns because we know adult programs are out there, we even enjoy it sometimes. However, there are children TV channels that play nothing but programs that are suitable for all kids’ ages. Our children are vulnerable and their minds absorb so much and exposing them to violence, bad language or nudity can really damage them in the future.

Be a parent, step up and monitor everything your child watches. The programs they watch should be suitable for them and when it is your time to watch TV they go to bed. I do not think that there are networks out there trying to sabotage our children, I think there are parents who do not care what their child watches. Then when they retaliate in a way they saw on TV the parents are quick to blame TV, when it comes down to them not overseeing what they watched. You must take charge of what your child watches, it is your job.

What are your thoughts on this?

Technorati Tags: adult programs, children and TV, Childrens TV Programming, late night television, tv channels, viewer discretion

Babies, young kids and even older kids take naps. Sleep is a very important part of growing, learning and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Even adults need lots of sleep even though all too often we do not get enough rest. So, how do you cope with a child that is overtired because they did not get a nap or did not sleep well through the night? Dealing with a child that has not had enough sleep is like waking a hibernating bear at times. We are here to help you deal with those tough times by giving you some suggestions on keeping peace in the valley.

No reasoning….

Have you ever had a child, who was overtired, try to pick an argument? Of course we have all dealt with this at some point or another. So how do you reason with an overtired child? Let’s begin by saying if dinner is done and bath time is done, put them to bed. There is no reason that a child who is tired has to stay up until a certain time.  The arguments are only going to get worse, more whining, more crying and no real reason behind any of it. If it is early in the day and a child is not being reasonable because he/she is overtired, make sure they get a nap. Remember power naps can be your friend! All children are different so some need 30 minutes while others, like my child, wants a 3 hour nap on the weekend. Let them sleep until they wake up on their own.

Routines

If you know that your child has a big day ahead of them like a field trip or party, then try to get them to bed a little earlier the night before. This will ease the overtired child during the activities that they should be enjoying. When your child comes home tired just get their food, bath and read them a book. No overstimulation in the evening, especially when they are tired. They are going to act out because that is the only way they know how to respond to being tired so try to teach them other methods of showing they are tired (when they are more alert.)

Coping with an overtired child can be a tough job, but we all have to do it at some point. Do not try to make a huge deal about it with your child; this will only worsen the situation. React the best way you can by putting them to bed earlier and allowing naps no matter the age. All kids need sleep to grow and grow they will!

Technorati Tags: maintaining a healthy lifestyle, nap, over tired children, overstimulation, power naps, sleep

No matter where you turn, TV, newspaper, or magazine you are bound to come across an article discussing children and food allergies. This discussion really hits home because we are dealing with a child that has a food allergy so this article comes from the heart. There are many scientist, doctors and parents that cannot find a common bond between children and the rise of food allergies. Allergies can range from lactose intolerance to a peanut allergy that can kill a child in minutes. So how can you protect your child? That is debate at hand, no one really knows.

What are food allergies?

Well just like seasonal allergies, it is when your child’s body rejects something that is in the food and just says, “I don’t like you.” Whether it is your baby who is allergic to milk based formula, your toddler allergic to peanuts or your teen that cannot eat anything with gluten, accommodating a child with special food needs can be difficult. However, since the rise of these food allergies across the country more and more food companies are finding alternatives to the basics. If you ever take a gander at the ingredients list at the very bottom you might see an allergy list. This has become a mandate that this information be placed on all packages and believe it or not it has saved many lives.

Why the rise in allergies?

This question is continuing to stump many people out there. Different locations of the country have been tested and it does not seem to be just one area of the country affected. Scientist havelooked at the history of the families and believe it or not, most families do not even have food allergies even though their children do have them. The significant increase over the last 10 years has perplexed many and will continue too until someone breaks the code and finds some kind of clue. Maybe it is genetics, maybe it is location, or maybe it is food that the mother ingests while pregnant. From a parent dealing with this situation in one of my children, I hope they find the answer and soon.

We want to protect our children from anything and everything harmful. When it comes to food though, this can prove to be a challenge if they are allergic to it. One of my friends has taught their 3 year old that peanuts and peanut butter make her sick. Just informing your child when they are able to understand and even then, make sure that anyone who cares for your child is aware of the allergies. For all the children dealing with food allergies I hope scientists find a cure or find some answers soon. Something is causing this and we just keep our fingers crossed that all the questions will be answered.

What are your thoughts on the increase in food allergies our children experiencing today?

Technorati Tags: allergic to peanuts, food allergies, food allergy, gluten, peanut allergy, seasonal allergies

Technology has advanced so much in the past 10 years. We went from CPU units (computers) to laptops and now portable computers or iPads! The iPad is a great invention for people that stay on the go because of the ease of portability. We were thinking you might want in on the top games for kids to put on your iPad, especially for those long road trips and vacations. This article will suggest the top 10 we found and hope your children enjoy them!

Fun and Educational

Just because a child is in front of a computer screen does not mean that the games they are playing have to be mindless. Many games have some sort of educational value to them like

1. Animal Matching, which is like the game Memory. Simple, easy and puts the brain to use!
2. On the flip side many games are just plain fun like Smurf’s Village which is like a kid’s version of Farmville.
3. Phineas and Ferb Arcade actually has four games all in one so definitely worth the money!
4. Or the entire rave now, Lego Harry Potter which the age range is 1-4 but they can play their way through over three chapters of the real thing by casting spells and more!
5. How about cut the rope, where you are feeding your monster rope; yeah we know it sounds weird but from what we hear it is addictive!

Fun for all ages

It does not matter if you are getting the games for your kids, you too must have fun with your iPad.

1. Have fun with the Drawing Pad. Be creative, sketch a picture of your child and let them find it next time they are on there!
2. Super Monkey Ball is fun and allows your child many extra levels and mini games that will keep them entertained for hours.
3. How about the classic, Frogger! Many of us might remember this awesome game back from Nintendo years, but our kids get to enjoy it on an iPad!
4. Let your children have a little fun splashing some fruit with Fruit Ninja. One simple swipe of a finger and fruit goes splat on the screen!
5. Finally, to round out the top 10 games is Angry Birds. This version makes the iPhone version seem like nothing.

All in all, the iPad is just becoming a product of “today.” No need to keep our children held back in the 90’s technology of a full gaming console that just does not seem right. These games will keep your children craving more. Fun, portable and entertaining! What more can a kid ask for?

Technorati Tags: educational value, frogger, game memory, games for kids, ipad, iPad games for kids, lego harry potter, monkey ball, phineas, smurf

“Sharing is caring” – this is one of the most important rules a child can learn when growing up. Teaching your child how to share will make him well-loved by other people around them and can help in developing better relationships with friends and those that come into their life, whether that be a day, a week, a month or a lifetime.

Kids naturally think that once they have something in their hands, it can be considered theirs and theirs along.  “It’s mine!” you hear them cry.  Keep in mind, if you child lives in an environment where they  see people doing the same thing, they will grow up thinking that it’s really alright. Remember, monkey see, monkey do?

But, if your child lives in an environment where people share and speak to them about how important it is to share, they will grow up believing it is a natural occurrence.  And if they see  the enjoyment you have of sharing with other people, you will find the same attitude will be instilled in your child.

Teaching your child how to share can be fun, you don’t think so?  Well make it fun! … after all children learn by watching others, and as your child’s special role model you can do it in simple ways, for example: Share what you have with your child, for an instance, if you are munching on your favorite chocolate bar one morning and your child sees you, share it with your child.  At the same time, tell them why you did it and how they can do the same in similar situations with their friends.  Have a special story ready to tell them about sharing, make it funny but ensure it has a special moral about someone who didn’t share and what the consequences were.

Don’t forget to compliment your child when they share.  Say “thank  you” or “very good.” It will encourage them to share more often if they know they are appreciated and valued because of it.

Be patient with the sharing rule, you child  might not  always listen to what you say, although as time passes and as you keep reminding them of the importance of sharing, they  will finally learn to share whatever they have, may it be food, toys or books.  This is because they realize it can be much more fun to share with friends  and way much better than keeping everything to them self!

Technorati Tags: a skill for life, consequences, good manners, Life skills, Praise your child, role model, simple good manners, teaching children to share

Build self confidence in your child

The home is your child’s basic training ground. However, there will come a time in your children’s life when they need to move out into the world and begin interacting with other people, especially kids of their age. And that of course happens when they finally go to school.

This important milestone is easier if you have already instilled in your child the basics of good manners like respecting other people and saying “thank you”, “please” or “sorry” when needed. Once your child starts school it is not the time to stop teaching your children good manners. You should continue to be there for your kids and guide them through their every step helping them to continue increasing their skills in manners and grow to be the very best they can be.

School is the perfect place for your children to learn and grow outside the home. And this opportunity should not be hindered by the consequences that can be brought about by being ill-mannered and disrespectful toward others including their peers and teachers. That is why it is also important to remind your kids of why they should behave properly at school.

Don’t forget to teach your kids children how to properly greet a teacher or a classmate. You  may think this is just a small gesture, but it will surely be the foundation of excellent social skills for your child’s future,  it is simple activities such as shaking hands that help  cultivate better relationships as it shows your child is not shy, but is confident enough to introduce themselves to others.

Another thing you may want to teach your child is not only to respect people but also the things which can be found in their classrooms. Teachers put an effort into maintaining classrooms, and so books, toys and other special activity items have their place, so teach your child the importance of  this by teaching them put their own toys away after using them at home.

Teaching your children respect for others starts in your own home, it is continued when attending school.  Be patient, they will make mistakes, but with perseverance  you’ll see that your efforts will eventually pay off especially when your child grows up to be confident and self assured adult.

Technorati Tags: better relationships, children and respect, Confident children, consequences, consideration of others, good manners, Manners at school, peers, self confidence, shaking hands

Remember Remys words of advice on helping kids deal with Bullys

• If you are being bullied it is really important that you tell your mum or dad or even a school teacher.
• Sometimes these bullies have other people bullying them, so to make themselves feel better they do it to other people.
• It is good to talk about being bullied, you might find that your older brother or sister was bullied, or even your best friend, they might be able to give you some ideas on what they did about it.
• Name calling or fighting back isn’t always the answer, someone might get hurt.
• The best thing to do is walk away, hang out with others that you like, and tell a trusted adult about the bullying.
• Try not to get angry or upset by the bully.
• Put on a poker face.   If you don’t cry or go red in the face or look upset,  the bully will leave you alone because they think you are not affected by their bullying.
• You have to act brave, count to 10, tell the bully to stop, and just walk away.

…….. Keep posted for Remy’s  next tip….

Technorati Tags: bullies, children and bullying, helping kids, how to deal with bullying, poker face, words of advice

You did not realize it until you were gathered at a birthday party that your child was invited to. It seems like it is out of thin air, but this did not happen overnight. Where did your child learn their manners? You quickly realize that all the kids are spoiled a little, but only yours is really acting out in a way that makes you want to crawl under the table. Let us expand a little:

Manners….who need them?

• Talk with your mouth full, and always belch after a meal. After all isn’t that considered a compliment to the cook? So after that nice drink of soda your child is the only one trying to belch the alphabet at the table. Some look on in disgust, others with envy!
• Never say please or thank you, to anyone.  I mean you are the centre of the world aren’t you, and everyone else is here to please you. Even though your child is attending the birthday party of a friend your child is the one over at the table trying to open the presents. Who can resist presents right? All while smiling for the pictures!
• Interrupt people in mid conversation, what you have to say is way much more important then what that boring old man has to say. Who does not like a child that comes over screaming, “Mommy, mommy, mommy,” all the while getting louder and louder the more you ignore them.
• Never day goodbye to anyone, just walk out. You want to keep everyone guessing what other important engagement you have to attend? No matter where the birthday kid is, your child is right in the middle of it all. Come on, who can resist blowing out the candles right? Why does it have to be the birthday child that has all the fun?
• Never share with anyone. What’s yours is yours, so why should you give anything to anyone else? Then you look over and your child is trying to stuff a couple of the presents in their pocket. The birthday child will not mind!

We want our children to grow up knowing and expressing proper manners, right? Well, just remember that learning good manners is not something that happens all on its own. Step in and assist!

Technorati Tags: consideration of others, good manners, learning good manners, Life skills, proper manners, Teaching Children Manners