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5 ways For New Parents To Get More Sleep

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bril2The joy of a new baby is something so special that only new parents experience. However, lack of sleep is collateral damage. New parents notoriously get very little sleep, if any at all. Fortunately, there are some strategies and tips to help new parents get snatch snippets of sleep once the new baby arrives. Of course, with a baby you will never get an over abundance of sleep, but these tips will help you to at least get enough sleep to keep your sanity intact.

The key here is to be prepared before you get to that phase. Forewarned is forearmed. This adage is true for all new parents.

Tip #1 Take Turns:

A new born baby has no sense of day or night. Irregular feeding time, potty and pee are a never ending cycle that keeps new mothers awake all night. For the first few days, time the baby’s waking and then takes turns waking up. There is no point in the father waking up to a crying infant who only needs to be fed. Similarly there is no need for a mother to wake up when the baby needs a change of diaper. Generally, taking turns is really the best option and will help everyone get just a little more sleep.

Tip #2 Nap With the Baby:

If you are the only one caring for the baby, then when the baby goes to sleep, you should take a nap as well. This will allow you to get some rest. So, whether the baby naps in the morning, afternoon, or early evening you should also get a little rest because you never know when the baby might wake up. Don’t be tempted to do chores in this time. The laundry basket may overflow, the dishes may need doing, or the house may look generally like a hurricane just hit it. Don’t bother about these things in the first three months. Just remember, this will pass when the baby regulates her sleeping pattern naturally.

Tip #3 Accept Help:

When you have a new baby, there are plenty of people willing to help, be it parents, siblings, friends, and other family members. So, when you really need to get some sleep, just accept some of the help that is being offered. Having your mom or mom-in-law care for the baby for just a couple of hours will allow you to get some much needed sleep. If enlisting the help of a part time help is feasible, get it immediately. This will allow you to rest when the baby is napping.

Tip #4 Keep the Baby in the Nursery:

The baby should sleep in the nursery and not with the parents. Although there is another school of thought that promotes co-sleeping. Many times it is tempting to allow the baby to sleep with the parents, but this may form a habit that is difficult to break in the later years of the baby’s life. After the baby is six months old, you can slowly start the transition of making the baby sleep in the nursery. A video or an audio monitor is a must in these cases.

Tip #5 Feed the Baby Before You Sleep:

If your baby typically wakes up just before your sleep time, it is safe to wake the baby up for a feed and then put her back to sleep. This way she won’t interrupt your sleep immediately and hopfully sleep for longer. This is a long shot, but worth a try. All the best!

5 Reasons To Send Your Kids To A Summer Camp This Summer

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Summer CampsA summer camp is one that generally begins in April or May and continues through June. This type of recreation is popular among children in the age group of 1.5 yrs old to 18 year old. It gives them the opportunity to experience new things, meet new people and embark on a journey of independence. With that being said, the following are 5 popular reasons to enrol your child in a kid summer camp.

Independence:

Children get their first taste of independence in a summer camp. Away from home for the first time, this time can be scary, but new friends and fun activities help to make the transition easier. For the older kids, this is an important step toward college or school preparation, which often requires that the child leave home for a few months at a time.

Responsibility:

Summer camp inculcates responsibility in a child away from home for the first time. Subsequent summer camps only reinforce this virtue. Typical responsibilities in a summer camp include the organization and safe keeping of their personal items. Away from home, they will be personally responsible for maintaining their living quarters and personal items. In addition, they will be required to pack their belongings at the end of their stay with no motherly help from anyone. An ideal way to teach children to be responsible is by first hand experience.

Teamwork:

Sibling rivalry, group conflicts, resolution of those conflicts and negotiation are all part of growing up and learning about team work. One of the most important experiences at a summer camp is that of learning to work together as a team. The activities which form a part of a summer camp imbibe this virtue in children. Any games that are played here require team-effort and a competitive spirit. Much like in adulthood where teamwork is essential to everyday life, children will learn the valuable lessons of working with their peers toward achieving a common goal.

Friendship:

Summer camp is also fun time, where new ties and friendship is made. Learning to make friends and how to be a good friend is an important life lesson that is not only important at a summer camp, but also in every day life. Situations are always presented when individuals are placed amongst new faces in school, the workforce, families, etc. Therefore, it is important for children to learn the value of friendship and how it can make every day a little brighter.

Experiences:

Travelling to new places, embarking on an exciting journey and exploring the wilderness are all apart of what makes a summer camp so special. Usually all summer camps have activities that expose them to nature. The loving and fascinating ways of nature is not something that a child experiences in day to day life. Summer camp teaches them to take a moment and experience the wonders of nature. A true love for nature, when built at an early age remains a life long habit and a true friend. There are a lot of life lessons and other take-away’s from a summer camp. Every child develops some special characteristics that were not prominent thus far in his personality. He learns about the importance of having a family and comes to respect familial ties.

When To Say No To Your Children

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Saying NoFor a majority of the parents out there, saying no to your little ones can be a hard task. Even as they get older, saying no to their wants can be difficult. Many parents avoid saying no to their children because they don’t want to be considered unfair, mean or a bad parent. Some parents believe that children should have what they want as we only live once and we should be enjoying life to the fullest. Today, not all parents are able to keep up with the demand of their children. The cost of living is always going up as with the luxuries that we all want and need. We have all these new and advanced toys that come with a high price tag.

It is important that you keep your ground with your children and set boundaries. There will be many times that you are going to have to say no to your child’s wants. Giving in to your child is not always a bad thing as long as you keep it under control. It is okay to say yes, but don’t say yes every single time. Saying no will help your child realize later in life that you don’t always get what you want. Be up front and honest with your child and let them know that you can’t always afford to buy them everything they want.

When telling your child no when they want something, make sure to let them down in an easy way. Again, be sure to be honest and explain to them why you are saying no. Tell them no in a nice and polite voice. Don’t scream or raise your voice unless your child gives you reason to raise your voice. Once you say no, stick to your grounds. Don’t back away and change your mind. Keeping your ground will give your child a feeling of security which is needed. Keeping calm will rub off good behavior on your children. After letting your child down, offer them something in exchange. Offer them to make their favorite dinner, go to the park, watch a movie, etc.

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When They Are Bored, What Then?

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Bored ChildIf you live with children, you have probably heard the phrases “I’m bored” or “What Can I Do, I’m Bored?” a few dozen times, if not more. You will definitely hear it quite often if you have a large family with more than one child. Even when they have someone to play with, they are going to think they are bored at one time or another. If you are busy and can’t entertain them, designate them to clean their room. Tell them they can do some extra chores. Sometimes this will get them off your back. They will either complain about having to clean and walk off or throw you off and want to help you clean. If they are that bored, then you might get some extra help for the day.

If you want to entertain them, there are some things you might be able to do just in your city or town. How expensive it will be to entertain them is going to vary depending on where and what you do. What you do also depends on the age of your children.

A roller rink is an option if you have one where you live. Usually they are affordable and kids love them. If you don’t want to chaperone and they are old enough to drop off, make sure you give them money for admission, skate rental, change for a locker and money for something to drink if they have been fed. The older children usually think the roller rink is the place to go, especially when other school kids are there too!

If they don’t want to skate, depending on their age, they will probably want to go see a movie. Make sure you feed them before though, movie theatre food can be expensive if you are treating multiple children. This usually is one place you can’t go wrong, unless there are too many people there and you can’t find a seat.

Other ideas would be to look online for events in your area. Depending on where you live, your city might have some sort of local website that is updated with events. You also could go on a picnic to the park, take a trip to the mall for some window shopping, go fishing, take a class, etc. There are many things you can do when your children are bored, just have to find what works best for you and your pocketbook.

Image Source: [freedigitalphotos.net]

Tips To Help Teach Your Children Their Numbers

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ID-100170690If you have a toddler, they are probably trying to learn how to count. If they are not trying to learn to count, they are definitely learning how to say different numbers. Most will learn at around three that they are three years old. They might not know what it means, but they remember the number. You will want to help them want to learn numbers so it comes easy to them once they start going off to school. Remember, you are your child’s first teacher. Below are some creative ideas to help teach your child count numbers.

Read books on counting. There are many of these books in your local bookstore, libraries, EBay, etc. These are fun and a majority of the books you find will have great images to go along with the book to keep your child’s interest. Kids love books so stock up! If you are really creative, you can make a counting book with your child.

Use flashcards. You can either buy some cute expensive cards with pretty pictures, some cheap flash cards with just numbers or just make your own. Flash cards have been used for years. They work! You can also go to a school supply store and get some writing tablets that allow your child to trace numbers and also the alphabet.
When asking “How Many?” start with small numbers. Even very young toddlers will start memorizing the numbers one, two, or three. So spend a lot of time counting up to three objects at first. Eventually, your child will be able to say he or she has 2 hands, 2 feet, etc.

Another option would be blocks, depending on their age. Small children love blocks. Many of the small wooden blocks that you can buy at the toy store will have numbers painted on them.

Find something that both you and your child will enjoy doing. There are many different ways you can help your child learn their numbers, just picking out the method is going to be the fun part.

Image Source: [freedigitalphotos.net]

Tips For Taking Your Children Shopping

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ID-100182426Okay, so you want to go shopping but are dreading going because you will have to take the kids along too. For those that have been shopping at a store with children, you know that it can be a very stressful experience, especially if the children or child is young. If you plan ahead, you might just be okay.

Before you enter the store, you will want to set the rules. Make your rules nice and clear. You can tell them to “Stay close to me” or “No begging for anything”. If you are shopping for someone else, be sure to let your children know, so they don’t expect you to start shopping for them. For instance, if you are buying a toy for a birthday present for another child, let your child know this before you even begin shopping. Ask them to help pick out the gift.

If you’re in a giving mood, agree to buy them a reward for good behavior. You could also reward them by playing a game at home, watching a movie together, a trip to the park, cook one of their favorite meals, etc. If you think that your child might misbehave, this might be something you might want to try. It has been known to work for many moms and dads.

Depending on their age, you might want to pack a snack or treat for your child to eat while you are shopping. Some nutritious snacks might include raisins, nuts, grapes, sliced apples, nuts, granola bar, etc. Bringing a snack might also prevent them from asking for food while you are shopping.

Other ideas of items to bring with you could be a book for your child to look at or read. You could bring their favorite blanket or their favorite toy. A pencil and paper could also entertain them. The idea is not to go empty handed. Be prepared so your shopping trip is successful and you don’t end up turning around and going home.

If your child is hungry before you go shopping, make sure you feed them. This will prevent them from complaining about hunger pangs. If they are tired, have them take a nap beforehand, this will save a ton of stress. The best time to go is when your child has a full tummy and is well rested.

While you are shopping, you can play games with your child to make the trip fun. If you are shopping for food, you can play a game of who sees the bananas first. You can sing songs about what you are buying. You can talk about what is on the packaging. At the end of your shopping trip, let your child help give the checkout clerk the items you are buying. Kids love helping out. Just remember to keep them distracted from the candy isle unless you want to buy them some extra energy.

Image Source: [freedigitalphotos.net]

Taking Your Kids Out To Eat

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ID-100208309When you have young children, taking them out to a restaurant can be a big task. It can be aggravating and embarrassing. When you have toddlers, they tend to wiggle around and want to climb under the table. The main cause of this is your child is getting bored or just wants to explore new surroundings. If you are debating on going out, look at your child’s current mood. Are they already acting up? If they are having a bad day or acting hyper, you might just want to cancel your plans and make dinner at home. If your children are older and they don’t want to go, don’t force them. If they are old enough to stay at home, let them. This will cause a more enjoyable experience and might just save you some money.

If you decide on going out to eat, bringing toys might just be a good idea. Some of the “kid friendly” restaurants will provide something for the children such as coloring sheets and crayons. The fast food chains usually have kid’s meals that come with a toy. If you are going to, say, a small non-chain restaurant, they might not provide anything, so going prepared might be a good idea. Some ideas of things to take are: books, dolls, action figures, coloring books, crayons, paper and hand held games. If you carry the games, make sure you can turn the volume off. You wouldn’t want to see other’s snicker at you for your kid making noises at the table with the game.

If you have a picky eater, have a backup plan. Make sure you bring snacks in your kid bag in case your child does not eat what is being served at the restaurant. Your goal should be to have an enjoyable experience. If you are going out to a popular restaurant, make sure to see if you can reserve a table. Waiting for a table, then waiting for your meal can bring the mood down and make your outing less enjoyable. Going out to eat should be a special event for your family. Make each outing special so that they look forward to going out to eat again.

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Setting Rules And Limits With Your Four Year Old

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ID-100195076Your child is no longer a baby or toddler; they are now on their way to learning self-discipline. This is an important part of your child’s life. Because your four year old has begun the journey to self-discipline, you are going to have to set some limits. When your child is four or near four they are at a stage of development where they are going to want their own independence. They are still wanting to be the baby but also wanting to be the big boy or girl. When creating limits with them, you will want to try to be creative. Remember to be firm so they know who the boss is but give them a little independence too.

When you say “no” to your child, stand your grounds. Keep the answer as no even if they beg. Be firm in your decisions. Remind them of the rules and correct behavior. Keep your rules reasonable. You will find your child will be much more likely to honor your rules if they are fair. Try not to always use the word no. Try to use a variety of words like don’t or please stop. You might also want to use the words no and don’t when you want to say no to whatever they are doing, permanently.

Having problems asking your child to do certain tasks? When you want your child to do something try to be simple in your requests. When they ask why, don’t go into a long explanation on why. You will want to be straight forward and simple with them. Your children will need you to be clear when giving them directions. A long explanation might just confuse them and make it harder for them to understand. You will also want to reward your child for good behavior. As your child grows older, give them more responsibilities. Let them know and feel trusted and give them genuine and generous doses of praise to help them feel loved and appreciated.

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Are we growing children with low frustration tolerance?

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ChildrenI recently read a blog post on a young mother who prepares to send her child to pre-school for the first time. Amongst some of the things she does, she also practises walking with the child to school for a week before it actually begins! Most of her post waxed eloquent about how she has spent the past 2.5 years completely with her child, never leaving him alone, not even with grandparents, and how she was so concerned that nothing disturb his schedule of feed time and nap time, which is why she had put off sending him to school for this long as well.

She seemed a perfectly attentive and hands-on mother, yet the only thing I could think was “how stifling – both for the child and mother!”.

And the whole thing about not disturbing the child’s schedule—I look around me and see that more and more parents are increasingly fixated on not allowing anything to disturb their child’s routines. Theoretically this is a good practice – to have scheduled meal times, nap times, etc for children so that we can inculcate in them good and healthy habits and discipline. However, like any good practise, it needs to be flexible as well, to make adjustments for those days when parents need to stay out a bit longer or expect people for dinner, for errands that must be done.

There are a lot of parents who will reschedule and replan their whole lives to suit their children, but adhered to rigidly, I can’t help feeling that this is creating a breed of youngsters who cannot adapt and who have low frustration tolerance!

I see children who have a meltdown because they are out and their food is a few minutes late (I am not talking about babies or toddlers here, but slightly older children), who become extremely cranky because their bed time has been slightly delayed, who want things ‘Now’ and who hate to even go out anywhere where there is nothing special revolving around their interests.

What are we doing?!

Our children cannot adjust to change anymore, cannot adapt, and going out with them for a holiday or for a meal becomes a chore because we are scared of their reactions and their tantrums; so we cater to all their whims and let our lives be dictated by them. I would rather oblige my child than be dictated to by her.

I can’t help feeling that we need to loosen up a little and let children break rules once in a way – eat junk, sleep late, watch TV, stay out to play longer and delay dinner time by ten minutes. And watch them become more adaptable, more cheerful and less cranky, less prone to meltdowns at the least hint of change. Allowing them some latitude and expecting them to cope with change will teach them to take things in their stride, become more resilient in the face of change and learn to tolerate frustration.

Re-published with permission from the blog of ParentEdge, a bi-monthly parenting magazine that aims to expose parents to global trends in learning and partner with them in the intellectual enrichment of their children. This blog was written by Kritika Srinivasan  who is an Editor at ParentEdge.

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Keeping An Eye On Your Kid’s Online Activities

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Online ActivitiesToday, children are learning how to use computers and the internet. Many of the younger children love to watch funny videos online on websites such as You Tube. When they are at that age, you will have to show them how to use the computer. As they get older, they are going to require some sort of instruction on how to use the computer and internet.

The internet is not safe for little eyes. There are many websites that your kids could easily find that you don’t want them to see. They also might use some sort of chat software/website to chat with the wrong kind of people. There are many predators online that you will have to protect your child from. There is a good chance that without instruction, your child is going to come across some inappropriate content online. Now, not all children are going to be put in this situation, but is better to be safe than sorry.

To start out, you should be aware of what your children are doing online. You might want to create a set of bookmarks that they can visit so they don’t have to go out searching. If you know that your children have a project coming up on a certain topic, you might want to find them some websites, bookmark them and show them how to access those bookmarks. This could result in your children feeling some independence when using the computer to do research for their school project. Another option is installing special software on your computer that tracks the activity on your computer. This may be needed when your children are a little older and curious about things they shouldn’t be.

If your child is at an age where he/she uses the internet already, be sure to talk to them on a regular basis about what they are doing. Ask about their online friends and real names of those friends. A big problem is children signing up for social networking websites such as Myspace and Facebook. They get an account and pretend to be older than they really are. They then can be contacted by users all over the world. Children have been known to share too much information online and then be taken advantage of by predators.

Your children are going to want some privacy depending on their age. Try to keep a trusting and open relationship with them so they don’t have to try to hide anything from you. Keeping your children safe online is very important. Be sure to keep your computer safe from viruses too. Having a virus on your computer could result in unwanted ads being shown on your computer screen.

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