just parenting advice

Things No One Told You About Work-Life Balance With Kids

Hong Kong Tran — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:40:35 +0000

Being a stay-at-home parent is hard enough…how do people balance full-time jobs AND kids at the same time?

There are so many things new parents may not know about balancing work, life, and kids. Kids may be that tipping point, but a balance CAN be achieved. You just need to know a few things first.

Laura T. Coffey of TODAYMoms gives ten things no one told you about work-life balance with kids. Here are a few…

“You will always, always, ALWAYS be tired and always will feel as though you could lie down and sleep for 15 hours straight.” But that’s what you signed up for when you became a parent. Stick through the first few years and things will certainly pick up.
“Just when a real rhythm seems to set in and you finally feel mildly in control, your child will throw up all over his or her daycare provider/preschool instructor/elementary school teacher.” Life happens…and throwing up is just a part of life.

Here’s my favorite. Remind yourself that…

“No matter how tired you are, no matter how hard work is, and no matter how ill-fitting your pants feel, becoming a parent is the best thing you’ve ever done — period.”

Tackling a work-life balance may seem impossible, but hopefully as we at Just Parenting Advice have demonstrated in our articles these past few months, with dedication and a true love for parenting, you can overcome things you never thought you would be able to do.

How do you balance work and kids? Any secrets?

10 Things No One Told You About Work-Life Balance With Kids [TODAYMoms]

Kids Who Get Flu Shots Protect The Unvaccinated

Hong Kong Tran — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:06:46 +0000

This may sound like common sense, but Canadian researchers have recently shown that kids who get flu shots help to protect others who haven’t been vaccinated.

Dr. Mark Loeb, a professor of pathology and molecular medicine at McMaster University says…

There is an additional benefit in immunizing children and adolescents in terms of reducing the spread of influenza in the community. It doesn’t only benefit them, but it will protect their grandparents and older people in the community as well.

Many kids aren’t aware of their potential at spreading germs. In the U.S., the seasonal flu kills around 36,000 people each year. If your kids haven’t gotten their flu shots yet, take them to your doctor or local pharmacy as soon as you can.

Let’s all do everyone else a favor by getting vaccinated.

Did your kids get their flu shots yet? Did they get the flu this year?

Kids Who Get Flu Shots Protect the Unvaccinated [Yahoo!]

Things New Moms Should Ignore

Hong Kong Tran — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:35:18 +0000

Becoming a new mom is something exciting and rewarding. Knowing that you’re about to raise another human being into this world can be scary, but that’s where the excitement lies. You never know what to expect.

Other moms have probably told you what to expect, both the goods and the bads about being a new mom.

Among all the advice that you’ve gotten, here are 3 things you should ignore, as written in Babies Online…

TV Moms
A busy mom with an immaculate house? Yeah, right…
Your Perfect Friend
There are no such things as Supermoms.
Unrealistic Advice

You’re a new mom, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have common sense. Advice that just makes you shake your head in disbelief shouldn’t be followed, no matter how insisting it is.

Do you believe TV moms? Do you have a perfect friend? Have you ever been given unrealistic advice?

3 Things New Moms Should Ignore [Babies Online]

Video: Five Dangerous Things You Should Let Your Kids Do

Hong Kong Tran — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:40:40 +0000

Gever Tulley, founder of the Tinkering School, talks about 5 things you should let your kids do…even if those things are a little dangerous.

1. Play with Fire
2. Own a Pocket Knife
3. Throw a Spear
4. Deconstruct Appliances
5. Drive a Car

These activities will help your kids grow up to be creative, confident, and safe. Throwing, for example, stimulates various parts of the brain, and it will help your kids develop visualization, analytical, and physical skills.

Take a look at the video for Tulley’s short speech. What do you think of Tulley’s suggestions?

5 Dangerous Things You Should Let Your Kids Do [TED]

Kids And Choking

Hong Kong Tran — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:00:11 +0000

Food is dangerous. We all need food to live, but it can kill us at the same time. And for younger kids who are still learning how to chew and swallow, food is especially dangerous.

According to a study in 2001 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 60% of the kids brought to the hospital due to choking actually choked on food.

A blogger for the LA Times argues that pediatricians and food manufacturers aren’t doing enough to protect children from choking. In other words, they’re not taking choking seriously.

And I agree. But the good thing about being a parent is you don’t have to wait for others to tell you that choking is more common than people assume. Take your own steps to protect your kids by being extra careful about what you feed them and what kinds of toys you buy them. And don’t forget that just because the item isn’t labeled as a choking hazard, doesn’t mean that it can’t choke your kids.

Do you think that pediatricians and food manufacturers should take choking more seriously?

Are You Sufficiently Worried About the Risk of Choking? Probably Not, Pediatricians Say [LA Times]

Getting Kids To Clean Their Rooms

Hong Kong Tran — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:40:10 +0000

Let’s get one thing straight: kids hate being yelled at. So it’s no wonder that your kids don’t listen to you when you yell at them to do things like clean their rooms.

If you want them to listen to you, cater your demands to what they want to do.

Take a look at these 6 steps from Modern Mom to get a better idea of how to do that…

1. Turn cleaning into a game.
2. Sing your commands instead of straight up telling your kids to clean.
3. Practice counting toys with your kids.
4. Suggest a little competition by timing the cleanup.
5. Establish organization to make cleanup easier.
6. Remind your kids of a clean room by taping a picture of the cleanliness outside the door.

Recognizing these steps is one thing, but actually carrying out the steps is another. Give this a try and see if it works for you!

How to Get Kids to Clean Their Own Room [Modern Mom]

Kids and Pets

Miss Mona — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:30:48 +0000

If you’ve never had a pet in the family, the idea of kids and pets can be an attractive one.

But before you decide to get your kids that cute puppy or kitten, there are 3 main things you should keep in mind…

Are the pets age-appropriate when it comes to children?
According to Anne Vasquez on SunSentinel.com, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) recommends smaller pets for children ages 3-5. If you’re going to get a larger animal, like a grown dog, make sure the animal is friendly towards kids.
Pets can be teachers
A pet in the family is a great way for your kids to learn responsibility. Assign chores like feeding and socializing the animal. Quality time with pets will help your kids recognize trust, companionship, and compassion.
Your current pet may not be used to a new bab
Pets need to get used to new additions to the family, too.

Do you have a pet? How do you kids get along with the pet?

Kids and Pets: What Parents Need to Consider [SunSentinel.com]

Protect Your Baby’s Smile

Hong Kong Tran — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:00:29 +0000

Your baby’s first smile is something you’ll remember forever. There’s something about the innocence of babies’ smiles that is contagious and heartwarming…you can’t help but smile back!

But as babies grow older, they begin teething. Soon, teeth become a part of their smiles. And it’s important to protect those teeth to protect the smiles.

Here are 7 tips from the American Dental Association to keep your kids’ teeth healthy…

Visit the dentist regularly.
Remove plaque and prevent tooth decay by cleaning your baby’s mouth within a few days of birth, and wiping the gums after feeding.
Don’t breastfeed for long periods of time.
By age 1, your baby should be drinking from a cup.
Discourage use of a training cup.
Consider encouraging use of a mouth protector for older kids who ride scooters or bicycles.
Know the dentist’s emergency number in case of an emergency.

Protect Your Baby’s Smile [Yahoo!]

TV Commercials Targeting Tots

Hong Kong Tran — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:40:36 +0000

TV commercials aren’t just for adults. And although your kids may not necessarily understand every word in a commercial, the images and messages in commercials can be easily understood, even for a 5-year-old.

According to CafeMom.com, researchers at the University of Wisconsin and Michigan found that even kids ages 3-5 are subjected to marketing pressures, too.

I don’t think this is a new concern. A commercial isn’t a novel idea, and kids who watch commercials may be persuaded, but they grow up and realize that some of the products they see in commercials aren’t that great.

It’s all a learning experience, and I don’t think it makes sense that parents and researchers are realizing the effects that commercials have on viewers just now.

If you’re worried about your kids’ being influenced by commercials, why not just turn off the TV during commercials, or limit TV time altogether?

TV Commercials Are Targeting Your Tot [Cafe Mom]

Snacks Even Your Kids Can Make

Hong Kong Tran — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:40:13 +0000

We at Just Parenting Advice recently published a blog that features Jamie Oliver’s TED speech. Oliver emphasized the importance of home-cooked foods as opposed to the fast food that is making so many kids today obese.

It’s important that kids learn how to cook at an early stage so that they don’t rely on eating out when they get older.

Here’s a list of snacks that your kids can make. These aren’t recipes for food; however, they have to start with foods that they can handle. And what kind of child can’t handle snacks and munchies?

Trail Mix
Fruit Salad
Cereal Bracelets
Sandwich Kabobs
Painted Toast

These are all things your kids can easily make. With a little supervision from you, your kids will be on their way to a much healthier lifestyle by starting with these simple snacks.

Check out the link below for all 10 snack ideas, and specific instructions on how to make them.

Do your kids know how to cook simple foods?

10 Easy Snacks That Kids Can Make [Modern Mom]