Parenting Tips

How To Choose Learning Toys

JR — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:27:12 +0000

When choosing learning toys or developmental toys for your child, consider safety and each area of your child’s development. Children should have access to a wide variety of toys that offer a wide array of learning experiences. Use these guidelines to choose the best learning toys for your child at their current level of development.

1) Make sure that the toy is age appropriate. Many toys will have a suggested age range on the packaging. Use your best judgment. If your child is seven and the package says for ages 7 to 9, but you think that your child will be frustrated with the complexity of the toy, then choose something that is closer to your child’s level. If the package says for ages five and up, but you know that your five year old still puts small parts in their mouths, then don’t buy the toy with small parts. Just evaluate why you think they labeled the package for a certain age before you buy. If you’re not sure, call the manufacturer and ask.

2) Make sure that the toy is something that will hold the child’s interest. It could be the most educational toy you’ve ever seen, but if your child is not interested, then it will go to waste. Young toddlers love bright colors, textures, sounds, and patterns. Older children get more interested in small detailed items. If there is a learning cube or something that you think your toddler may not be really interested in but you want them to be, consider letting them put stickers of their favorite character on it. Children will usually like things that they are familiar with or associate with something else that they like. Another tactic is to give it to them right after or during the time that they are playing with what they love so that they associate the two things together.

3) Choose toys that help with an array of developmental areas. Some toys will help with a few different areas. Make a check-list of developmental goals and make sure that there are toys available to the child that will help with each area. Children should get experience in each area every day to develop properly. Here are the five major areas to concentrate on:

a. Cognitive Development

b. Speech and Language Development

c. Social and Emotional Development

d. Fine Motor Skills

e. Gross Motor Skills

Making sure that you provide toys that concentrate on these five areas will help you to ensure that you are giving your child the tools that they need to succeed. A lot of preschool toys will focus on these developmental areas. You can use toys that hit multiple areas of development as staples in your child’s play room or living area. An example of a toy that may help in many areas is an activity table. Keep development in mind when you shop and your child will have many developmental opportunities at hand.

Jim Ford is the President of KinderMark, a family owned and managed business which sells waiting room toys and waiting room furniture used in doctor’s offices, hospitals, auto dealers, dentists offices and libraries. Preschool toys such as an activity table and learning toys are favorites for pediatric offices. For more information, visit www.kindermark.com .
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Sleep Is Golden For The Whole Family

JR — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:27:11 +0000

We’ve all heard the stories of parents with newborns having to constantly feed, change diapers and get up throughout the night when baby awakens. It seems parents’ only focus is on baby and baby’s needs, leaving parents exhausted and sleep deprived. Sleep is not only important for baby, but for parents as well. Lack of sleep can have a direct impact on your baby’s development and can strain your relationship with your partner.

Did you know?

1. A typical baby will double its weight in the first six months and triple it by its first birthday. Growing at such a rate, a good night sleep allows baby to rest its rapidly changing body.

2. Research shows that losing just one night of sleep causes a 30 per cent decline in cognitive performance. This can affect your decision-making ability around baby and leave you incapable of multi-tasking.

3. Adults require a three-hour stretch of uninterrupted sleep to prevent feeling impatient and edgy; a feeling that can negatively affect your interaction with your partner.

Three ways to help you and baby sleep better

1. Sleep when the baby sleeps. It might seem hard when there are so many other things to do, but the rest will help rejuvenate your body making you more alert and energetic.

2. Help baby sleep like a baby. Pampers Baby Dry — a diaper with an extra layer of absorbency compared to the other leading brand, offers up to 12-hours of overnight protection so the whole family can rest comfortably.

3. Don’t be afraid to call for help. Ask family or friends if they can look after baby so that you can enjoy a night to yourself or with your partner. More often than not, they’re happy to pitch in and help.

More information is available online at www.pampers.ca.

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Tips For Helping Your Child Exercise

JR — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:27:11 +0000

Getting plenty of exercise is important not only for children’s health, but also for their emotional and physical development. More and more kids are becoming obese. Even children that are of a healthy weight now are in danger of becoming sedentary adults. Our society and lifestyle doesn’t require much physical work. With cars, computers, telephones, and busses, we may feel like we’re doing a lot, but in reality, more of us are sedentary than we may realize.

Children can be extremely influenced by TV, computers and video games. These things can offer learning experiences, but only in small doses. Many parents concerned with their child’s inactivity may get frustrated feeling like they’re competing with all of the marketing and instant gratification of television and games. Use these steps to get your kids moving and more importantly, help them to like their active lifestyles so that they carry it into adulthood.

1) Set a good example. Signing your child up for a sport will only get them active for so long. You need to think long-term. Get involved in a sport yourself. Go on a walk every day. Challenge your child to a sit-up contest or a race across the back yard. Get on that trampoline with them! Kids that see parents involved in physical activity are way more likely to be involved when they become adults.

2) Make it fun. Take your kids out on regular hikes. See how many playgrounds in your town you can hit in a month. Get out there and go down the slides with them. Pack a picnic lunch instead of stopping for fast food. That ten minute romp around the fast food play ground does not negate the hundreds of calories, massive amount of sugar, and loads of fat that they just ate. You can encourage healthy food choices and activity by taking a healthy lunch on a hike with you.

3) Talk about why you’re doing what you’re doing. Letting your kids know that you care about being active will stick with them. Make sure that they are having fun when you bring it up. The last thing you need is eye rolling and a child saying, “You may like it but I don’t”. Offer lots of positive comments. Avoid yelling and putting down. Some parents find themselves so stressed about getting their child active that they end up fighting the whole time that they’re out. Avoid saying things like, “This is why you’re so big.” Avoid bickering or being over protective while they’re trying to have a good time.

There are things you can do at home to be more active. For toddlers, choose preschool toys that require climbing, like a small plastic slide, foam climbing structures, or a play house. For babies, provide them with things to pull up on, like an activity table. Older children may be interested in trampolines, pull-up or sit-up contests, and bikes. Be sure that you are setting a good example and providing your family with plenty of opportunities to be active and they can benefit for their entire lives.

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Helping Your Toddler Socialize

JR — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:27:10 +0000

Socialization is an important part of childhood development that should not be ignored. Some toddlers socialize more easily than others and many need help and direction from adults to truly get the concept. Socialization starts with the parents early in life and can actually be a lifelong process of trial and error learning.

Start by talking to your baby. Respond to their babbles, laughs, wants and needs. This reinforcement and interaction will help your baby to see that involving someone else in their day is a normal part of life. This is the basis for learning how to interact with other people.

As your baby gets into the second year of life, he may see everything as his own. The “mine” stage can be very frustrating and even cause parents to avoid social interaction with other children. However, this is an important stage in development that should be taken advantage of.

Being protective of toys may make your child throw some real tantrums. They are feeling intense emotions that they have never felt before. Remember that it is good if your child makes it to this stage. Now the goal is to coach and help your child learn how to cope with these emotions so that they can realize that it’s not the end of the world to share. They may not understand your explanations because they are so overwhelmed at first. However, with a little practice (and a lot of patience on your part) they will see with their own eyes that sharing is not the same as giving away.

Around age two, when they start to get past the anxiety of sharing, children will normally start to become interested in other children. Encourage this as much as possible. Make sure that you call other children their “friends” and talk about how fun it is to play with other kids. It may be a good idea to have your child make friends on neutral ground, like at a park, where sharing is not an issue. You can tackle sharing on a separate occasion.

When your child has some regular friends, invite them over to play with your child’s toys. Carefully arrange the room so that it contains toys that are easily shared. Many preschool toys are good for this purpose. Blocks, a train table, an activity table, crafts, and other toys that have multiple items are good for getting started. Once your child learns that it is fun to let other children play with their toys, you can move on to taking turns and other more advanced social skills.

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First Six Months Milestones

JR — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:27:09 +0000

Are you wondering which milestones you can expect during your baby’s first six months? It can be an exciting time, watching your baby develop, sometimes much faster, than you expected. All babies are different, so keep in mind that even the healthiest of babies will develop at their own pace. Use these milestones only as a guideline. You can help your baby reach milestones with a lot of love, patience, and understanding. If you are concerned about your baby, please contact your pediatrician.

Month One: During the first month, your baby will begin to lift their head. They can focus on faces and objects about a foot away from their face. Your baby will begin to turn its head from side to side, maybe even to look at you or to respond to a sound. Encourage your baby to strengthen neck muscles by giving them some tummy time.

Month Two: Baby’s eyes are developing and they will begin to experiment with their voice. Reinforce your baby using sounds by smiling and looking excited when they do. Help your baby learn to track objects with their eyes to encourage development.

Month Three: Baby will begin to develop leg strength. They will begin to reach and hold toys. This is a fun time because baby may begin to smile purposefully when they see or hear you. Encourage leg development by letting your baby stand and jump in your lap while you hold them. Encourage eye/hand coordination by letting your baby grab objects and pass them from one hand to the other.

Month Four: This is when your baby may begin to get mobile. They may learn to roll over and sit up. They will also begin to communicate more through crying. Make sure that you respond to all of your baby’s attempts at communication and help them learn to sit up so that they can begin to entertain themselves.

Month Five: Month five is generally when a baby begins teething and you may notice your baby chewing on everything. They can also see further by five months and you may catch them trying to roll or pull themselves across the room to get to people or toys.

Month Six: After six months, your baby may copy small words. They can sit with little or no help and purposefully plays with the intention of seeing cause and effect. Six month olds can hold their own bottle and should be able to roll over both ways.

After six months, you should be encouraging your baby to learn how to pull up. Learning toys, preschool toys, and things like an activity table can be motivating for babies to learn how to get around. Be patient and encouraging. Remember not to get into too big of a hurry to help your child grow up!

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What Shall We Call The New Baby?

JR — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:27:08 +0000

Choosing a name for your baby is a big job, but it can be a lot of fun. Choosing your baby’s name is important to you and your family, and it allows them to play an active role in the baby’s life even before the the baby arrives. So rather than waiting to the last minute, take your time to go through the process, and you will be sure to select a name that is perfect for your baby for a lifetime!

One of the biggest challenges a set of new parents faces is choosing a name for their new baby. This seems like an easy task and may be low on the list of priorities, when faced with the daunting world of parenthood. Even so, choosing baby names can be very frustrating and even a source of consternation for new parents.There are so many things to consider when selecting the perfect name for your child. Quite a few of parents don’t have a clue about where to begin and may feel completely overwhelmed. The best place to start is with a list.Try writing out the names and make sure to say them out loud, to to hear how they roll off the tongue. Check for any similarities to negative words or phrases that may be formed by certain name combinations.

Both parents could take a few minutes and jot down the first ten baby names that come to mind that they would consider suitable for the new baby. It’s not as hard as it sounds – it’s actually surprising, how many unique and quality names will come to mind. Make sure that you list names for both boys and girls, unless you already know the sex of your baby.The next step, after this first pass at the name choosing session, you should define some agreed upon parameters for your baby names. Think about and discuss your preferences for cultural backgrounds, family names and number of syllables. You could limit it to include only names starting with specific letters. Be sure that you keep plenty of paper handy–this could take awhile. Listen for potential names when you are in the grocery store, listening to the radio and reading the paper. You’ll be surprised at how tuned in you become.
Once the lists are complete, both parents should sit down and eliminate any names that either parent objects to. Even if there is only a couple of names remaining between the two lists, this is a good start.

Make sure to use the Internet when hunting for baby names. So much of the work is already done for you. Using any search engine, type in the phrase ‘baby names’ and a huge amount of websites will appear, giving you all kinds of baby name information. You can refine your search any way you wish. Forums are a good place to browse other people’s name ideas and post your own to get feedback as you work through your choices.As you make your way through your lists, pay special attention to the potential for teasing. Think of any negative words that may rhyme with or sound like the names you are considering. Consider letter combinations formed by the initials of any baby names on your list.

It will certainly be a welcomed idea, to ask friends and family for their thoughts and ideas. But beware! Your parents are from another generation and they may have their own ideaswhen it comes to good baby name choices. Siblings can be very original with their ideas. Just remember, that getting opinions on your baby names can be helpful, but at the end of the day, what you name your baby is up to you. This is your legacy here. If certain people have a different opinion about a name that is high on your list, you are the one who has the final say. Once people get to know your baby and form an affectionate bond, you will find that they quickly forget any negative connotation they may have had with the name, and come to love the baby, name and all!!

StorkandVeil.com has been a long time source for gifts for babies and continues to help parents and families of new babies celebrate the arrival of a new family member. For more on the gifts and accessories available, visit http://www.StorkandVeil.com.
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Reasons To Buy Silver Baby Rattles As A Gift

JR — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:27:08 +0000

If you are looking for a toy to buy a baby you may like to consider purchasing something made from silver. This is a precious metal which could add an extra special something to your choice. There are quite a few types of baby toys that you could select. A couple of Interesting options that you could think about buying is a baby rattle or maybe a toy ring for your child.

There is a wide range of toys that are made from silver. This can be something that is both functional as well as practical.

Baby Rattles

Baby rattles are a great gift idea to buy for an infant. You can choose to buy one for any special occasion or you can decide to buy one just because you see one and know that your little one would have lots of fun playing with it.

These toys can be a great investment if you decide to buy from one of the well known stores that supply quality products. You could even make this toy into a wonderful heirloom for the future. This could be presented at the baby’s christening and then kept as a super keepsake. In the future when your little one grows up, you can then present it to their own newborn baby. This could be the start of a beautiful tradition that could be shared from generation to generation.

A Silver Baby Ring

If you prefer the look and style of a baby ring, you will find that they can come in a range of sizes. The best thing to do is to look at the styles that are on offer so that you can pick the best one. You will want to find one that is big enough so that your baby can hold it in their little fingers without any difficult. These rings can be a mixture of a baby teether as well as a toy rattle.

The first place that you should start looking is on the internet. Compare all the different offers that are available and you are sure to find the perfect silver baby toy.
There are some great choices of baby rattles available today. Find out more about buying silver baby rattles online today.

Linda Bennett has varied interests including reading, singing and amateur dramatics.
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Silver Baby Rattles & Silver Baby Rings – Perfect Gift Ideas

JR — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:27:07 +0000

Baby toys are something that can be functional as well as pretty to look at. Good examples of the type of plaything that can encompass both of these things are toys made from silver. This is an item that is excellent as a gift idea that you can present on a special occasion like a christening or baby’s first birthday. Wonderful choices of silver toys are baby rattles and silver baby rings.

Silver Baby Rattles

There are a lot of different types of baby rattles that you can now get which are produced from silver. If you really want to push the boat out, you could possibly order a rattle from one of the well know department stores like Tiffany’s or Harrods. There you will get something that is manufactured from solid silver and it’s going to surely last forever. This could become a beautiful memento that you’ll be happy to give to your kid while they are a baby and then again once they turn into a grownup. Contemplate establishing a family tradition and this can be something which could be handed from generation to generation.

These rattles are still playthings and should definitely still be used as such. If you don’t have that much money to shell out, you’ll will be happy to know that you can still discover fantastic choices of toys made in silver that will not be too expensive.

A Silver Baby Ring

There are lots of silver baby rings that you could also choose to invest in. They can be toys that are big enough for your baby to grip firmly in their hands or you can find something that will slip easily over their wrist. If you want something that is multi functional then you can buy a baby ring that also works as a toy rattle.

Whatever your final decision is, you will be happy with the wide range of silver toys that are on offer. Any one of these would make a great gift idea. Take a look on the web to find out more about prices and availability.

There are some great choices of baby rattles available today. Find out more about buying silver baby rattles online today.

Linda Bennett has varied interests including reading, singing and amateur dramatics.
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Baby Wrist Rattles – Choosing The Right Baby Rattle For Your Child

JR — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:27:06 +0000

If you are searching for a toy to buy for a little baby, you may like to think about buying one of the many different types of baby rattles that are on sale in stores or online. These toys come in all shapes and sizes and can be made from a whole variety of materials and fabrics.

A baby rattle is the perfect toy for any child for several reasons. It is fun to play with. It can be colourful. It can be educational and it can help to improve several of a child’s senses. Here is just one example of the sort of baby rattle that you can find to buy which will surely keep a baby entertained for hours on end.

Reasons To Buy A Baby Wrist Rattle

There are lots of rattles that can be attached to your child’s wrist safely. They are usually made from soft woollen fabrics, similar to the fabrics used to make socks. Some of these toys have little toy animals attached with a rattle inside them. A child can learn very quickly that if they move their wrists, they will be able to hear a sound.

A good example of this sort of rattle is called the Lamaze garden wrist rattle. These are very popular with parents because they are fun for babies to play with and they are very easy to look after. If you are looking for a great gift idea for your child or for a friend’s child, then buying a baby wrist rattle could be the solution. Compare and contrast what is on offer on the internet and you may be lucky enough to find a great bargain.

All you need to do is to evaluate the different prices and you are sure to find the right rattle for your baby and within your budget.

There are some great choices of baby wrist rattles available today. Find out more about buying the best baby rattles online today.

Linda Bennett has varied interests including reading, singing and amateur dramatics.
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Wooden Baby Rattles – The Perfect Baby Rattle For Your Child

JR — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:27:04 +0000

Buying a baby gift can sometimes feel like a real chore. This is because there is so much to choose from. However if you are looking for something that will keep a baby amused for hours on end, you may like to consider buying one of the many baby rattles that are for sale.

A rattle is a great toy for any baby or toddler because it is not only fun and colourful. It can also be very educational. Every parent wants to ensure that their child is learning new things all the time so this toy will help to incorporate playtime as well and increasing their educational development.

Once you start looking at the different baby rattles that are available, you may be surprised to find that these toys come in all shapes and sizes. A good way to narrow down your choice is to think about buying a product made from a natural fibre like wood.

Reasons To Buy A Wooden Baby Rattle

You could opt for a toy that is made out of an all natural source like wood. These can come in a range of colours and shades, so you could find something that looks completely homemade and organic. Products that have been made from wood tend to be less toxic that other materials. This is because there tends to be less chemicals involved in the process of creating toys with this raw material.

You can find a wide range of rattles that use wood as the main component of the toy. They can be purchased in their natural hue or you can find great gift ideas painted in brightly coloured shades.

Start doing a search online to find the best wooden baby rattles and you are sure to find some great options that are available to you.

There are some great choices of wooden baby rattles available today. Find out more about buying baby rattles to online today.

Linda Bennett has varied interests including reading, singing and amateur dramatics.
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