(Written by Henry Abernathy) Through the generations, the invention of video games and other types of digital media have taken a toll on the exercise regimens of our youth. Gone are the days of playing freeze-tag and hide-and-seek until the street lights came on. Now, children are socializing with their friends from the comfort of their rooms on social media platforms and video gaming systems. It’s important for parents to recognize this change and find a way around it. Incorporating exercise into a child’s daily routine will set a platform for them to follow throughout their lives. It’s important to instill this into them while they are still young.

Get Your Kids Involved

Enrolling a child into a sports program such as baseball, basketball, dance, gymnastics, or soccer is a fun and interesting way for them to get into exercise without even realizing it. They will be able to not only stay healthy but they can socialize and play games with friends outside of their homes keeping them more entertained and wanting them to go back for more.

Make Exercise Fun

Another great idea is to make up some sort of activity for your children to do which involves exercise. Taking your children to the zoo or aquarium for a few hours is a great way for them to learn about new and interesting things while walking around and burning calories. Take them to the park for a game of handball or basketball, walk places instead of driving, take the long way home. It’s small changes like this that can make a big difference down the path to keeping your children healthy.

Spending time with your children outside is a great idea. When parents get involved it makes a child more often want to participate in an activity. You could schedule weekly family bike-rides around the neighborhood, or go to a local swimming pool together, go to the beach and play volleyball, take a long walk in your neighborhood, there are so many simple things that parents can do to keep their children healthy and involved.

Make Gaming More Healthy

Video game creators have realized that parents are concerned with how much time their children are spending in front of the television, which is why they have come up with games that incorporate exercise into them. There are so many games on the market now a days which keep your children moving while they are playing them. Some games are specifically about exercise, such as yoga or Pilates, whereas others have the child interacting as the character in the game having to do the physical moves themselves in order for their character to move.

If you want to limit your child’s gaming time then perhaps you could offer it as a reward for exercise. If they agree to play outside or do at least one hour of physical activity outside of the house then you can allow them to play their games afterwards.

About the author: Henry Abernathy is a guest blogger.  Growing up he was an Eagle Scout.  He now lives in Tucson and stays involved in the youth program Catalina Boy Scouts of America.

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(Written by Ken Myers) Grandparents can have such a wonderful impact on their grandchildren’s lives. I know this because I have watched my mother and my grandmother interact over the years with all the children. I owe so very much to my grandmother for all the wisdom, insight, and just plain wonderful memories she left in my heart. My own children were close to my grandmother until she passed away and still talk about their great-grandmother to this day. My mom is passing along this legacy with my children and my sibling’s children as well. It is not hard to be influential in your grandchildren’s lives; it is not as hard as you might think. It just takes love and being involved from the start with those little grand babies.

My grandmother was different from my mom in the way she bonded with us kids. She would sit and talk to us and watch us play. Her health was not as good as my mom’s at the time but she always made herself available to all her grandchildren. She would suggest different games for us to play or talk to us and tell us stories from when she was a kid. She loved to read and would read to us often and would share things she had read. We loved to listen to gramma talk. She was silly and had a twinkle in her eye. The main reason we loved gram so was that she loved us with all her heart. That is something you cannot miss and children pick up on that real quick.

It did not matter how that gram did not have a lot of money or gave us expensive gifts. It did matter that she took time to sit with us and get involved in our games and suggest new ways to do things. When my daughter was small my gram found her a cloth hand sewn barn with a handle filled with farm animals at a garage sale. It quickly became her favorite thing to carry with her wherever she went. Gram would sit and play farm with my little girl and they both had amazing imaginations. They would go on such adventures just sitting there in the living room. My gram not only made my childhood wonderful but she had such an impact on my children’s lives as well. My son only knew her until he was five but he still has fond memories and talks about her often.

My mother was the adventurous type. Where my Gram would sit and read and help the kids use their imaginations my mom was a whole other story and would take them on real live adventures. Ever since the kids were very small she would take them on great adventures. She would find somewhere far away or as near as the back yard to take the kids. She loved to explore and often took the kids to the woods to see what they could find. She bought my son an axe to cut all the dead wood they would come across. They had books about birds so when they saw a bird they could look it up and see the names. She knew so many of the flowers by name and taught my kids and the other grandkids the names of the trees and flowers.

When they did not go out into the woods she was taking them to the bayou a few blocks from the house and let them bring home tadpoles to raise up into frogs. She helped my son find wood for his forts and his inventions. She brought home big boxes and helped them make houses or cars or whatever they could imagine out of the boxes. She put up a pulley system from one of our tall trees in the back yard to another one across the yard. She filled an old duffle bag with rags and tied it to the end of the rope and had a ladder for the kids to climb up and jump on the duffle bag and take a ride across the back yard. She was always thinking up something fun for them to do.

One other time she ordered a truck full of sand and had it delivered and dumped in the driveway so the kids would have a big sand pile to play in. My kids and my sibling’s children never had to worry about having nothing to do while grandma was around! She would make up scavenger hunts and set up relay races and so many other ideas she came up with to make those kiddos happy. It was never a dull moment with my mom. The kids formed a wonderful bond with her, especially my kids.

The kids have a wonderful time with their grandma and she has not only taken them on many adventures but has taught them so many things about nature as well. She has also taught them about our heavenly Father and Jesus who died for them on the cross. She has been teaching the children from the word of God since they were tiny and has taught them to memorize scriptures. What a wonderful relationship to have with a grandparent, not only going on adventures that will leave such wonderful memories but learning about Jesus and knowing that you will be able to see grandma again and spend eternity with her.

My gram did the same for us. She was always sitting and reading the word of God and sharing her love for the Lord. Love is the answer for a wonderful relationship between grandkids and grandparents. An attitude of the heart and a desire to nurture a child for their good is such a blessing. We have been truly blessed in our family to have two such wonderful women. Actually it was three generations of grandmothers; I myself had my great-grandma for twelve years of my life before she went to heaven. I recall going over to her house at least once a week and I always felt such great love. She made us yummy snacks, and if any of us had a doll she would whip out some old material and sit down and make us a new outfit for that doll on the spot. I remember she was tall and always wore an apron; I came up to the pockets on the apron and remember her smell and the cotton handkerchief that was always there.

Sometimes all you have to do is be there and have a loving heart. Just being ready with a snack and whipping up a dolls dress was something very special to a young child. It does not have to be expensive or regal to impress a child. In fact your presence is so much more important than anything you give to them materialistically. Children recognize love and they love spending time with someone who they feel loved by. They love to be talked to and connected with an adult, knowing that someone cares about what they think and takes time to teach them what they know and take them on adventures, even if it is just in the back yard.

Children are not complicated, not when they are really small. If you wait until they are older to begin a relationship it is still possible to do because they are always hungry for the attention and love from a grandparent. But if you start when they are small you will find that this is a relationship unlike any other because for reasons unknown to me children seem to idolize grandparents. I know I did, not because of what they gave me because both my great gram and gram did not have very much but love. My mom is the same but the children have a bond with her that can not be broken. Take the time to spend with your grand babies just talking to them or reading to them or playing marbles or whatever. They need you and you will find fulfillment from the time spent with them as well. Who does not love to be needed and loved just a little bit more and when it comes from a sweet little child it makes it even sweeter.

* Photo Courtesy of Pinterest

About the Author:Ken Myers is an expert advisor on in-home care and family safety issues to many websites and groups. He is also a regular contributor to http://www.gonannies.com. You can get in touch with him at kmyers.ceo[at]Gmail[dot]com.

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Photo Courtesy of Pinterest

(Written by Sam Mulder) Father’s days come and go and they rarely remain in the memory for long, but you can do something about that. There’s a limit to how many pairs of slippers, embroidered handkerchiefs or boxes of chocolates a man can go through in one year. If you want your father to know how much you appreciate them, then you must think outside of the box.

• How Do You Impress the Man in Your Life?

You need to be creative and present your father with something either that he hasn’t done before or with something that obviously takes a lot of effort to pull off. Even the most reserved fathers, the ones who do not usually like a fuss, enjoy the day when someone they love goes out of their way to make them feel special.

• Teaching Old Dogs New Tricks

There are many experience days that are ‘once in a lifetime’ events for many people, such as a flying lesson, driving a super car around a racetrack or off road driving and these are typical boys days out that appeal to the child in every man. These are usually a lot more affordable than people realise and so it is always worth checking out what’s available in your local area.

• The Personal Touch: Father’s Day Poems From Daughter

There are few things that can bring a tear to a man’s eye as easily as a great display of love. That’s achievable when people move mountains or relatives, long lost friends or some pull off some other logistical feat to make a day special. This is something that takes planning, research and lots of consideration to get right.

• Absent Friends in Faraway Places

If people are too far away to make the journey because of ill health or the costs involved are too prohibitive, get in touch with them and ask them to record a message on their phone and send it to you. Include about five or six messages in a collage and you will impress any father with your efforts.

Alternatively, ask old friends and family for old photographs and combine them to either make a photo-book album, calendar or a slide show that can be played on DVD. These kinds of gifts are low-cost, but show a lot of consideration and effort has gone into their creation.

• The Odd Mention

This should be an obvious way to choose a gift, but it’s so easy to think of the same old father’s day fodder each year that many people overlook hints or opportunities to get their father exactly what he wants. If you father has been complaining of anything like a bad back, cold feet or anything which could give you a gift idea to help him, use it.

Gifts that improve circulation, aid relaxation or improve quality of life in some other way are always appreciated. If your father  is a picture of health and has no need for comfort aids, think about the small mentions of something they like in the months leading up to Father’s day and consider buying in advance. That way, it appears as though you remembered a passing comment and put a lot of thought in to the purchase.

• Things to Avoid

How many times have you given a gift and then ‘borrowed’ the gift at some point in the future. If your father is a handyman, he will love new tools, but when you ask if you can borrow his drill and forget to return it, the gift has little value. Similarly, if you buy a tool that conveniently is just what he needed to fix your tap, curtain pole or hang a picture in your living room, it can’t really be a great gift.

About the author: Sam Mulder is a writer who believes that you should avoid the mundane and obvious when searching for Father’s day gift ideas. He recommends getting your dad something which is practical, that he can use or something which will shock and interest him such as a racing experience for example.

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Source: aspca.org

(Written by Melanie S.) Research shows that you can boost your child’s cognitive, social, and emotional development by having a pet at home. Pets have the capability to teach kids values and they may even help improve your child’s self esteem. It’s important to note, however, that while pets may have a positive effect on your kids they can also become harmful and dangerous. It is your responsibility as a parent to make sure that you take the necessary measures to keep your children safe around your pets. You can ensure your child’s safety in five different ways. These include, choosing the right pet, supervision all the time, training your pets, taking care of the pet, and by teaching your kids how to respect your pet.

 Children Safety Tips with Pets 

• Choosing the Right Pet

The first step to take to make sure your children will be safe with a pet is to choose the right pet. You should begin with an open mind. Think of all the possible pet options and then list them. Research the longevity and growth of the pet and begin to narrow down your choices. Discuss the responsibilities of the pet with the family and figure out whether or not your family will be able to take care of the pet efficiently. Also, make sure to check for allergies before you bring your pet in the house.

• Supervision all the Time

Supervision is the key to safety. If you want to make sure your kids are safe, NEVER leave them alone with the pet. Make sure that either you or someone else is always there to supervise the children and the pets. Even if you have to step out of the house for a moment, take the child with you. It’s important that you understand that your carelessness can allow pets to harm children in a matter of seconds.

• Training your pet

It’s obvious that pet training is key to your children safety. There are many institutions that have professional trainers to provide obedience training, so that they become safe for kids. However, if you aren’t willing to hire anyone, just follow a few steps to ensure safety. Make sure you use a leach for your pet and that you teach them the basic commands such as “sit” or “stay”. Also, train them to stay away from the child’s food. Further, instruct them to stay away from the child when he/she is sleeping.

• Taking Care of the Pet

Firstly, ensure that your pet’s vaccinations are up to date and that you take your pet to the vet for regular checkups.  Also, treat your pet with a lot of love and affection around your kids. Avoid yelling or punishing your pet in front of the children. This will form a positive image of your child in the pet’s mind. Further, be sure to take out time for your pet. Go out for regular walks and reward him for every good deed. This will strengthen the bond between you two and the pet will be less likely to harm you or your family.

• Teaching your Children how to Respect the Pet and his/her Belongings

Training your children to respect your pet and its belongings will not only teach them an essential value, but it will also play a role in the safety of your children. Firstly, instruct your children to never hurt the pet physically. Coach them to care for the pet and to treat them as part of the family. Further, tell your kids to stay away from your pet’s food bowl, water bowl, litter box and any other personal belongings that your pet may have.

To sum it all up, if you desire a pleasant and joyful family environment, you must make sure that your pets are safe around your kids. You can ensure their safety by following five simple children safety tips. These include, selecting the right pet, constantly supervising your kids and pets, training your pet, efficiently taking care of your pet, and teaching your kids to respect the pet and his/her belongings.

About the author: Melanie S. is a regular blogger, who loves pets. Over the last 4 years, she has written numerous articles and has been featured on prominent pet care blogs. Aside from blogging, Melanie also writes reviews for cat products and children safety tips for various retailers.

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(Written by Fran S.) “I don’t know how you do it!” If you’re a working mum, you’ll almost certainly have been on the receiving end of similar comments. Yes, juggling motherhood with a career is no Sunday saunter through the park, but today there are more UK mums in work than those choosing to stay at home. Unfortunately, our floundering economy, stagnating wages and increasing living costs are making life increasingly difficult for those returning to work. If you are itching to return to work then here are some top tips from mums across the web to help make life easier, both practically and emotionally. The tips cover 4 main factors every working mother should think about to balance work and family.

• Reach a home working arrangement

In the age of the virtual office and flexitime, many employers are prepared to be flexible about where and when mums work – to a degree. Some industries, like IT, are traditionally more accommodating than others, but if you’re going to ask your boss if you can work from home, it doesn’t hurt to prepare a convincing argument.

First things first, make sure you have childcare arrangements in place and can demonstrate that your entire attention will be devoted to your work, even when you’re at home. Your employer could request to see these arrangements to ensure you are not looking after your little one whilst on the job.

Secondly, put together a strong list of reasons why home working will benefit the business. It is often tempting to approach your employer with a list detailing how a home working arrangement will benefit you, but outlining how it will improve your concentration, decrease stress and make you a more productive member of the team will be much more convincing.

Finally, be prepared to turn all this talk into action. Some mums recommend slacking off a little during office days before putting in some serious hard graft at home. We don’t condone this kind of sneakiness, but make sure you’re coming up meeting your targets during your home working days if you’re expecting further flexibility and understanding from your employer.

• Go guilt-free

Whether you’re stuck in the office feeling  bad about the time you’re missing with your children, or at the park feeling guilty about not putting extra hours into that project at work, you need to let go of the guilt. Guilty feelings will only increase the pressure and stress you feel, impacting on your ability to be the stellar working mother you know you are. You may sometimes put your knickers on over your tights amidst the chaos of the morning rush, but you’re not Superwoman. Working mums have to make compromises, so cut yourself some slack.

• Set technology boundaries

When you’ve cleared your schedule for quality time, switch off all of your gadgets, turn off your blackberry and shut down your tablet. This is time for you and your family. Implementing a technological ‘no fly zone’ will create a little oasis away from work where you can concentrate on your children, without letting work creep in distract you.

• Trust your intuition

Finally and most importantly, don’t underestimate that time-honoured adage: “Mother knows best”. Whatever lifestyle you’ve chosen, you know what works best for your family. Try not to compare yourself to other mums or to colleagues at work. Everyone will have their own helpful tips on making life easier but, when it comes down to it, you instinctively know what’s right for you, your family and your career.

Infographic by Mercer Insights

About the author: Fran works in PR and is a single mother. She realises the difficulties facing busy mothers when attempting to balance work and family.

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Free Parental Involvement Calendar

(Written by Byran Smith) It is not always easy to stay abreast of the many things children do in school on a daily basis. By the age of 5, school becomes an integral part of a child’s life, and parents can connect with their children in ways that were once not possible. Being part of this new world is exciting, different and can be a bit overwhelming. Parents need to take part in their child’s academic world in various ways to show they care, understand and value education. It is of utmost importance that young students are aware that parents are there for them along this great journey with parental involvement in education. By using the tips below, parents can stay on top of their children’s academic, social, emotional and developmental needs as they grow and change from year to year.

5 Simple Ways Parents Can Encourage, Connect And Stay Engaged In Their Child’s Academic World

As busy parents, it may not be easy to find the time for in-depth conversations, however, by asking a few questions or starting a short chat, parents can ensure an ongoing and engaging relationship, while keeping up with their academic progress. Here are 5 tips to encourage this new relationship:

• Be Specific: When a child attempts to show schoolwork, always be specific when giving compliments. Rather than stating “Good job,” parents can offer detailed encouragement, such as: “I like how you drew the sun and the yellow and orange really make the picture bright.” By sharing details, parents are engaging with their child’s work and showing their genuine and organic interest. Take the time to make detailed statements, rather than general comments.
• Ask Open-Ended Questions: Ask questions that will cause children to reflect on their day. Instead of the typical “How was your day?” question, attempt to ask, “What was your favorite part of school today, and why?” This type of question opens up conversations and will provide the child with an outlet, while providing the parent with important information that may have never been shared.
• Surprise: After evaluating their new academic interests, surprise kids by going on mini field trips to the local library or museum. Once parents know their children’s new academic interests, they can use these specialized areas to create engaging and long-lasting memories. Children love to be surprised, and will be happy to find out their parents have been paying attention to their new skills and special academic interests. For example, if a child loves science, taking a trip to a science museum can be a great way to bond while encouraging love of the academic area at the same time.
• Kids Teaching Parents: Kids love to play teacher. Parents can ask their children to teach them a short lesson about something they learned at school. Parents can use this technique for various reasons. When children teach others they learn the material better. They can also use this technique to prepare for tests and quizzes. Lastly, and most important, it encourages great self-esteem. Parents can also see where their children may be struggling or greatly excelling, and get help or find supplemental material as needed.
• Bedtime Chat: Before bed, parents can ask their children to talk about one thing they learned in school that day and one thing they hope to learn in school the next day. Each night, parents can go through the prior questions to see if their new learning wish was fulfilled. If the wish was not fulfilled, parents can make the new material a priority for the weekend. Introducing online games, researching and finding fun ways to discover new information are all ways to bond and learn at the same time.

Creating this new relationship can be fun, engaging and will help everyone keep a beat on what is going on in school. Kids will feel valued and parents won’t feel overwhelmed by the demands of their child’s new life outside the home. This relationship is important for everyone, and these small tips are sure to make the process a bit easier.

About the author: Byran Smith is the Social Media Coordinator at MyLife.com is an online searching tool designed to help you re-conect with long-lost friends, ex-lovers, childhood friends or coworkers, so you can rekindle the friendships that you have made over time. Search by MyLife’s area code database or lookup people by their zip code.

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(Written by Lindsay Holland) Pets are amazing creatures.  They provide unconditional love, support, and a sense of comfort to people of all ages.  In response to the overwhelming supportive research of the benefits of pet ownership, many teachers are bringing pets into their classroom environments in an attempt to recreate the benefits of having a pet.  Teachers are finding that having a pet in their classroom actually provides the students with significant benefits that go beyond those that are experienced by having a pet at home.  Even if the pets just visit a few times a week, the benefits to the students are long-lasting and measurable.  Whether it is a rabbit, a dog, a snake, or a turtle, classroom pets can make a huge difference in a number of ways.

1. Unconditional love and acceptance – Animals don’t care about differences in looks, abilities, test scores, or the host of other ways we judge kids.  Animals just give love and acceptance.  For many kids, the unconditional love and acceptance an animal can offer helps them to feel less pressure to be perfect and just be who they are.  For special needs students, animals can provide a sense of belonging and acceptance they sometimes don’t get from their peers.  Additionally, the animal can serve as a common topic for students to use to being conversations with others in order to build a sense of community in the classroom.  Students who have special needs in speech and/or occupational therapy can benefit immensely from interacting with an animal that accepts them as they are without question.  Many times, therapists in different educationally based disciplines see an improvement in students’ speech, motor skills, and other areas after spending time with the classroom pet.  These professionals can also work the pet into their time with the student to further encourage growth and development.
2. Listening without judgment – Animals listen without judgment or interruption.  They simply listen.  Even if they don’t understand what is being said to them, they still seem to be listening attentively to a child who is speaking to them.  Because the animal won’t tell anyone what it is being told, children will sometimes open up to an animal and tell them things they would never tell a teacher.  Telling the animals is safe; it’s okay to express feelings and fears to the animals because it won’t judge or tell anyone else.  The observant teacher can be listening while the child speaks but appear to be doing something else such as grading papers or reading.  Many times, a child who is being abused or neglected at home will tell an animal what they feel they can’t tell an adult for fear of “getting in trouble”.
3. Skills and test scores measurably improve – Research has shown that children who are regularly allowed to practice reading aloud to an animal perform better on tests and develop reading skills at a faster rate.  While the animal cannot offer correction or help with decoding of words, for a reader who is lacking confidence, reading aloud to a being that won’t laugh if you make a mistake and will offer positive support is one way to encourage that child and build confidence.  Teachers can sit with reluctant readers as they read to the pet, offering support where needed.  Many times, teachers have one-on-one time with the pet as a reward for behavior.  Additionally, other teachers will allow the pet, if it is possible to do so safely for the pet and students, to roam around the room as a reward the group for good behavior.  Still other teachers will allow the pet to roam, again if possible, during quiet work time so the kids can keep working and visit when the pet is close to them.
4. Creating of a sense of calm – Classrooms can be very chaotic.  Thirty young people with different needs and issues, strengths and weaknesses can cause even the calmest teacher to unwittingly allow her/his classroom fall into a state of chaos just from trying to be everything to everyone.  The presence of an animal in the classroom brings a sense of calm.  Sometimes a child who is acting out just needs to spend a few moments observing and interacting with the animal to ward off a major behavioral meltdown.  There has been a significant body of research published on the calming effects of fish tanks in the waiting rooms of doctors’ and dentists’ offices.  The same effect can be replicated in the classroom with just addition of a fish tank – a low maintenance, low noise pet that will provide calming for a high-energy classroom.

It is generally accepted that pets add to the quality of life in very positive, measurable ways.  It only stands to reason, then, that if pets can do this at home, they can also do this in the classroom.  Pets provide unconditional acceptance, love, and support.  In the current educational environment where a student’s worth is usually tied to a test score, students need to feel they have someone or something at school who just wants to be with them unconditionally.  A classroom pet or a visiting pet can fill that need quite nicely.

About the author: Lindsay Holland is a professional blogger that provides parents and guardians with information and reviews for after school care programs and day cares. She writes for The Learning Experience, a leading after school care center, day care and kindergarten education facility nation wide.

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(Written by Dylan Lott) There’s still a surprising amount of parents that don’t understand what even causes actual tooth decay for kids. A popular myth states that tooth decay is caused by worms in your teeth. An even more popular myth, perhaps one that’s continued by marketing, is the idea that the handle on your tooth brush effects how well a toothbrush fights plaque (which also isn’t true).

Oral Health for Toddlers: 8 Ways to Protect Your Child’s Teeth

The point is, there’s a lot of misconceptions about what teeth need and what does and doesn’t hurt them. Marketing doesn’t help, either. Did you know that electric toothbrushes don’t do any better either? And that putting your tooth in milk after it gets knocked out can help increase your tooth’s lifespan?

In reality, building healthy oral habits should start at a young age. It’s best to get your kids started and teach them why it’s important. But don’t think that excludes you, either. The majority of Americans don’t floss nearly as much as they should, and many that do floss aren’t doing it correctly. In the U.S. each year, every person buys on average 18 yards of floss, when they should be buying around 122 yards of floss. It just goes to show that most people need to step it up when it comes to their oral hygiene.

Don’t wait until it’s too late; Start using some of these tips for toddler teeth today and improve your oral health. Better yet, teach them to your kids and make a habit out of it. It’s better to start today than need a dentist tomorrow.

Reference: HaymoreEndodontics.com

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(Written by Elena White) Pregnancy is not a good excuse to ditch your trainers and lounge around. It is in fact,  a good reason to keep fit and even build awareness about the food you eat, what it contains and how it benefits (or perhaps does not) your baby and yourself. But let’s take a look at some important aspects of exercise and how best to keep active during those nine months of pregnancy.

It makes sense to begin by stating that exercise does not necessarily mean hard-core, exhausting work outs. First and foremost, your body will dictate just how much exercise you can or cannot take. Do you seriously think that in your eighth month you will be able to walk as fast as in your second? You need to listen to your body and be sensitive to its needs. Do not over exert yourself. Whilst pregnant and exercising, always ensure breathing is not too difficult and that you are not panting away. Can you hold a conversation whilst exercising? This is a good rule of thumb to follow. If you cannot talk and exercise at the same time, you are obviously going too fast. In terms of duration, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends 30 minutes daily.

Pregnancy Exercise Guidelines

Whatever type of activity you decide to undertake, always consult your doctor or midwife.

• Can I keep to my usual exercise routine?

Whether you can keep to your usual work out, even in your early months when your mobility will be less affected by the weight of the baby, depends very much on the type of exercise or sport we are talking about. You must keep in mind that you are carrying a baby and despite the above rule we mentioned about breathing and exercise, you need to remember that you want to keep away from any risky sports. This means that any sport that could result in a fall or a collision with another person is best avoided. The consequences could be rather tragic; it could endanger your life and that of the baby.

• Activities to avoid, even if leisurely, include:

Cycling, horse riding, skiing, gymnastics, football, rugby, tennis and even water sports such as waterskiing (although you might think that water is a good surface to fall on, its high surface tension actually can make it pretty hard). Activities that involve body twisting and hopping or skipping you should also avoid.

• What exercises can I do when pregnant?

There are several safe and beneficial exercising whilst pregnant which include, for example, swimming. We have already mentioned the water has a certain property which makes it “tense” and which thus, helps people carry out movements more easily in it by supporting the movement itself. Remember that warming up and cooling down are important.

If you are not really keen on sport, pregnancy is a good time to begin that daily brisk walk. It will help improve your heart, breathing and circulation. Make sure to wear the right shoes and also to protect your skin and eyes on sunny days.

Other good exercises to undertake are exercises that stimulate and work your chest and abdominal muscles. Stronger back and stronger abdominals will make it easier to carry the added weight as pregnancy weeks pass. You will put less strain on your back and get less tired.

• What about post-partum exercise?

Ideally you should keep exercising even after pregnancy. For those mothers who have limited or given up any sports during their pregnancy, resuming their pre-pregnancy exercise routine or sports is absolutely fine. However, it would be sensible to work things back into your lifestyle gradually rather than abruptly. Your body will still be changing and returning to is pre-pregnancy state once you have given birth and this will take about 6 weeks and moreover, your stamina will have decreased and hence, you will need to gradually build it once more. When breast feeding, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists also suggests feeding or expressing milk prior to starting your exercise in order to lighten the breasts[i] (see end note for further guidelines by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists).

About the author: Elena White is a freelance writer and writes articles related to pregnancy and DNA testing.  A variety of articles by the author can be found on many online blogs and info sites.

Tips for Parents via Parenting Quotes, Articles & Stories | ParentingInformer - ParentingInformer is the multi-author website of parenting quotes, tips, styles and stories from real parents like you.

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Reference: Wikipedia.org

(Written by James D. and Edited by Elle Yi) There are several styles in parenting to suit different households and individuals. Even though there is a pattern, each parent uses his or her own set of rules to be a successful one. Parenting types and methods have been highly correlated with their own cultures and background. Parenting is very essential to bring out the best in a child and no amount of parenting can be enough. A child when old enough, may be able to use his/her judgmental skills but all this is possible only when parenting during the first few years have been unconditional.

• Types of parenting methods

There can be a broad classification of parenting methods and it is to a large extent dependant on socio-economic status of parents and their cultural background too. Different cultures approve of different sets of parenting methods; overall the most successful way to develop a child with strong character is through familial support. Both parents need to invest their time and attention on their child to call themselves successful parents.

What Is Positive Parenting?

No parenting method can be classified as the best, but a moderation of authoritative and lenient parents makes a good combination for successful results. It is a continuous process and a parent needs to learn to deal with different situations as and when they arise in a child’s growing years. The right kind of intervention and appreciation is very important for the child to know true values in life. A child that grows in an atmosphere of love, grows up to be compassionate and one that has heard praise learns to appreciate, a child that has been rewarded for truth learns to respect honesty and the list goes on. So living by example is a good way to parent a child and it works wonders with most of them.

• Don’t be an overbearing parent

Many parents these days tend to impose a lot of their character on the children. This is not at all a good way to deal with them, they need to be respected as individuals who have their own future and set of wishes that need to be fulfilled. Thanks to technology, many parents take pride in keeping watch over their teenage kids; mobile phone spy software and tracking software for other devices are all selling like hot cakes. This is the case when there is no mutual trust and is a result of bad parenting methods that does not give space for communication. Right from childhood, listen to your child and pay attention to what is being said. Over reaction may work otherwise, but just listening and reasoning out the situation will help the child make decisions later on in life.

Positive parenting offers great emotional support to the child, a sense of belonging and security too. A family plays a great role in this and social activity has also an impact. Families that are going through a rough patch in relationships can cause serious damage to the child’s morale. Even though it is unavoidable, the parent must handle the situation carefully with minimal stress on the young minds. A lot of support from family and friends comes of great help during this time as the adult may also be going through a traumatic phase.

To sum it up, positive parenting is a continuous learning process and the rules change as the child grows up. The trick lies in changing with the times and a friendly bond with older children is the best option.

About the author: James D. is a father of two who loves days out with his kids and is a part-time blogger with 5 years experience.

Tips for Parents via Parenting Quotes, Articles & Stories | ParentingInformer - ParentingInformer is the multi-author website of parenting quotes, tips, styles and stories from real parents like you.

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