Friday, September 18, 2009

Home alone: is this your child?

Sooner or later parents have to leave the child at home alone. Take such a decision is not easy, because nobody knows exactly at what point the child is ready for such responsibility. His maturity from this point of view is determined by many things, so the decision should be based on comprehensive assessment. Equally important is the maturity of the older child, if you're going to leave him alone with the baby. The following questions will help you assess the independence of the child and make the right decision:

1. Can a child to repeat by heart home phone number and address? Whether he knows how to dial a phone number? Can answer phone call?

2. Can a child without leading questions to tell about the day? In the state whether it thoroughly and clearly describe what he was doing in school?

3. Does the child to stay alone at home? Not too shy he? Not afraid of a noise or dark?

4. Does the child how to behave with strangers, and in a situation when someone rings the doorbell?

5. Does the child what to do in case of fire?

6. Is the child first aid? Does he know what to do with nosebleeds, burns, bruises, cuts?

7. Have had seizures or heart attacks, leading to loss of consciousness?

8. Does the child how to call an ambulance? What has to say?

9. Does the child the basic rules of behavior at home? For example, if he knows that you can not touch a match, that there are places where it is forbidden to approach, etc.

10. Can the child and wants to follow the rules? In due time he performs the work at home and school assignments?

11. How mature a child thinks when he is given the opportunity to take an independent decision? Can I trust him the keys to the house? Can the child find a meaningful occupation, if they are no leads?

12. Are you sure that the children that you leave the house together, do not quarrel? Are they able to solve their own conflicts? How do they cope with the problems before? Is it necessary for the intervention of parents in this situation?

If you answered yes to most questions, your child is likely to be sufficiently prepared to stay home alone. Negative answers do not mean that he is slavish. This is just a signal that it should discuss with your child before you leave it unattended.

At first, better to leave the child briefly (15-30 minutes). Make sure he understands where you're located. Write down all your contact numbers and addresses, and just tell me how long you will be absent. If you are late, tell the child.

Leave the child to telephone the person with whom he can communicate in an emergency, if you do not find you. Warn the person about a possible call. All phone numbers and contacts should be prominently displayed.

This is not all you need to understand to assess the maturity and independence of their child. Here we are told only about the main points on which to focus, to make the right decision.
Rx Louisiana

If the child does not go home

In winter, when outside is cold and getting dark quickly, children have much time to spend at home. After several days of seclusion, even a TV, computer and board games are beginning to seem dull and uninteresting. Not to mention the fact that all these classes passive, and the child is almost not moving.

It is especially important to think for a son or daughter some interesting mobile occupation, when it is time for the winter blues. Otherwise, they might spoil the mood, and they become irritable and withdrawn.

If it's too cold outside for walks and games, take the child one of the following methods.

Mobile Games

* Basketball with boxes. Put one end of the room a few open boxes, and the other end of the note folded blanket throw line. Give your child the competition, who were packed into boxes rather balls or, for example, bags of dried beans. For older children, you can throw line to push away.
* Swimming in the bathtub. Let the child would put on a bathing suit and popleschetsya in the bathroom (supervised, of course).
* Jumping rope. Arrange a competition, who can jump rope longer. Record results. Let your child (and you, too!) Tries to break the record.
* Garage - stadium. Put the car on the outside (if the snow is not too much) and allow children to ride in the garage on roller skates and bicycles. 'll Have to dress them warmly, but the icy wind they will not terrible.

Art classes

· Making greeting cards (for example, on Valentine's Day). Zagotovte paper, glue, scissors, markers, magazines, glitter, and let the will of the children's imagination.

· Diary of the drawings. Give each child a small notebook, and let them paint it every day something. For a start can set the theme of the week or day, for example, family, places, favorite food, etc.

Improvised · puzzles. Take a nice picture of the magazine and stick it on a piece of cardboard. Then cut into several large pieces (or smaller pieces for older children).

Nature home

* Plant a mini-garden. Together with the children sow seeds in a pot herb and put on the windowsill. Every few days of watering. When the plants reach the desired height, cut the grass for use in the kitchen, or simply podravnyayte grass with scissors.
* Decorate the windowsills. Together with the children Plug artificial flowers and plants in the upside-down boxes for shoes, get a cheerful decoration for windowsill or kitchen table.
* Make the name plates. Assemble outside the thin branches and mangled them so that the pieces of the child is able to lay out the letters. Let the children glue the twigs out of them their names on colored cardboard and hang signs on the door of the room.

Feel inspired? Then with the children think of other exciting games and write them on cards. Once children become bored, they can draw, not looking, any card, and fun and useful employment for the house will be found!
Rx Nevada

Child tantrums under control

Many parents know the uneasy feeling one experiences during childhood tantrums. When you did not have their own children, you are probably not seen at the shop sobbing and stamping his feet baby, which Mom said terrible for two children, the word "no".

Hysterics - a real test for adults and for children. Parents are embarrassed and feel ashamed, especially if the child was made a row in a public place. Children at this moment, too, suffer confusion, anger and frustration.

Causes of child tantrums

Hysterics - a natural stage of child development. He simply learns self-control. Small children find it difficult to restrain emotions or express them in words. Therefore, in moments of anger, embarrassment or frustration, children often cry, cry, stamp their feet and even rush to the floor. Hysterics when, according to the baby, something goes wrong, when he wants to attract the attention of adults, or when he was just tired, hungry and feels helpless.

Almost all children aged 1-3 years occur hysterics. Some call this age of "terrible 2 years. After three years of hysteria are down because child learns to express his feelings. The children who found it difficult to describe their emotions words, tantrums may continue. They can occur in a later age, due to sudden changes and stress in the child's life.

Do not be surprised if your child has tantrums only occur in your presence. So he feels the strength you set the rules and restrictions. In addition, children try to show their feelings to people who you trust.

Can I prevent tantrums?

They can not completely prevent, but you can reduce the likelihood of their occurrence. Here are some tips:

* Ensure that your child is well rested, especially in front of a difficult day or an important event.
* As far as possible, stick to the regime of the day. Children - the Conservatives, it is important to know what to expect in the future.
* Do not wander too long, put your baby to bed on time. If you go on a trip, bring your favorite toys and books the child to entertain him.
* Encourage your child to express feelings in words. Can you tell a child some of the descriptions of feelings, for example, "I am very angry", etc.
* If possible, give your child the right choice. For example, if he does not want to swim, you can insist on its straightforward, and you can ask him what toys he wants to take to the bathroom.
* Before the change of activity give your child time to reorganize. He needs to switch to another activity. If approaching lunch, and the child is playing, to warn him that after 5 minutes will have to sit at the table.

What happened if hysterics?

What if nothing helps, and hysterical yet started? Here are some useful tips:

* Distract the child, switching his attention to something else: a new occupation, a toy or book. Can suddenly interrupt his words, like "Oh, look, that makes out she pussy. You can move away to another place, distracting the child with the words "But let's go out and look at the flowers. A joke or a funny mug, too, sometimes triggered.
* Try to remain calm. Cries and anger only make matters worse. The more attention you give hysterical child, the more likely it from happening again.
* Ignore the weak hysterics. Silently wait until the child stops screaming or Take him to another place where he can relax. If you go and be alone is impossible (for example, if you're in an airplane), hug a child. This will help him calm down.
* Sometimes hysteria can not be ignored. Here are examples of unacceptable behavior:

· Child pushes, beats the parents or other people

Child throws · dangerous items

· Child cries for a long time and calms

Take a breather, let your child cool. In children older than this period may last for many minutes, how many years of a child (eg, for 3-year-old child - 3 minutes).

What to do during the hysterics?

* Never punish a child for hysteria. In this case, it starts to accumulate in his anger and resentment, and it is harmful to health. Behave calmly and with understanding. With age, the child learns to better control their emotions.
* Do not praise, encourage the child for the fact that he stopped hysteria. Otherwise, he will arrange them on purpose to get what he wants.
* Do not try to reason with the child during tantrums. The logical explanation at this point is unlikely to help.
* Do not change the decisions already taken to calm the child. This will work once, but realized that with the help of hysteria can accomplish our goals, the child probably will take advantage of this and begin to manipulate you.

Teach your child to understand the word "no"

First, your baby cries, demanding to buy him a toy. Child older than "simply vital" fashionable jeans or going out with friends until midnight.

Parents are hard to master the art of saying "no". Child will go to any lengths to get her, and sometimes easier to make a concession. But do not be.

What you will encounter

Children continually check on the strength of parental authority. The older they become, the better they are able to persuade. However, children need a framework so that as they grow older they could feel safe. The ability to say "no" - an important component of the process of creating this safe zone.

You must first decide whether or not need to say "no". Try to understand why the child needed this or that thing. Ask yourself:

* Does your child need this toy or jeans? Maybe he just saw them on TV or from friends?
* Is it possible to compromise? It may be a good fit with generics? Another possible way - to offer a child a deal: let him through work at home compensates for the cost of your purchase.
* Does the friends of your child to do what he asks? Talk about it with their parents.
* Can a child be responsible for an act for which he requested permission?

Remember that:

* Tries to start detailed discussions in a situation where a child waits for an answer "yes", could lead to a quarrel.
* You are, first and foremost, a parent, and only then a friend. Do not blame yourself if the child is angry at you.
* Consent in one case and the denial of another - a good lesson in compromise for the child.
* Sometimes you can and think. Correct solution - a well-considered decision.

Older child or adolescent can try to explain his decision. Understanding the reasons for your refusal to help the child to change his point of view.

The explanations do not help in the case of a small child. It is better to simply eliminate the cause of the conflict.

If the child does not accept the answer "no"

For young children:

* Allow the child from the object, provoked hysteria. Bring your baby out of the store or go with him to another room.
* Talk with your child quietly until he calms down. If necessary, give your child a few minutes respite.
* Give your child an example of behavior by which he can explain to you what he wants:

o Politely ask
o Calmly to show that he (she) wants

For older children:

* Ask whether the child wait until the day of birth or other special occasion.
* Is the child to do some housework in exchange for a purchase?

Being a parent is not easy, and this will have to learn on the fly. It is important to vigorously defend its position. This will be a lesson for your child how important life values. Surplus of freedom will prevent your child learn responsibility, patience and compromise. Referring to a child "no", you may feel a tyrant, but to establish such a framework is very important that the child has grown a responsible person.
Rx Pennsylvania

Session horrors: terrifying treats cinema

On the street it is snowing. You dress warmly and go to the cinema to see a new blockbuster. What could be nicer than to settle in a comfortable chair with a glass of popcorn in your hands?

Is all very well, if you forget that so you add 900 calories and 70 grams of fat to your daily diet. And only if you take the average cup of popcorn, the volume of just over 300 g.

Fashion for snacks in cinemas was born in the United States. But along with increased sales of popcorn, candy and sweet drinks, have increased significantly and waist Americans. In addition, consider yourself: Why sell a pack of sweets in the cinema, designed for six? The universal fascination with large size without a doubt contributed to the alarming rates of obesity.

The sad truth about the snacks to the cinema

Popcorn

* Big hamburger with cheese and sauce and a large portion of fried potatoes on the number of calories and fat are approximately equal to a large pack of popcorn, cooked without added butter.
* Know the local movie theater, how to prepare popcorn. Some manufacturers use more useful for the cardiovascular system is not hydrogenated oils, but even in them a lot of fat and calories.

Candies

* Average packet of sweets in the cinema contains 450-750 calories.
* The least harmful diet bring chewing marmalade and chocolate candy with mint filling. However, overeating is not worth it.
* The most harmful thing - chocolates with a soft filling.

Soda and other beverages

* A small glass of lemonade in the cinema is approximately equal to the volume of bank a 330 ml. In the glass, and the bank contains 170 calories and 42 grams of sugar
* Large glass of soda contains approximately 300-400 calories (depending on how much is added to ice).
* A large portion of soda - is also 70 grams of pure sugar, or about 6 tablespoons (a quarter cup).

How to reduce the consumption of snacks in the cinema

You can not go to the movies and do without snacks? Then you will the following tips:

* Snack before going to the cinema. So you will be easier to deal with the temptations of the buffet.
* Bring snacks helpful. For example, grapes, peeled tangerines, nuts, raisins or cookies from muesli.
* Chew gum. Let your mouth is busy chewing gum or candy without sugar.
* Share! If you have not, separated by small packet of popcorn (400 calories, cooked without oil) with friends. You can not do without sweets? Buy a small pack and share with neighbors.
* Give up the soda water. It is better to take water, tea or coffee.
* Do not be offended price! More is not better. Have you ever been attracted by the promise to get 2 times more popcorn or soda, adding just one third the cost? With such a large portion of you are getting 1500 calories (so you can last for a whole day).
* Save. Snacks and drinks can cost as much as the ticket itself. Do not buy them, put money in your wallet and spend the next trip to the cinema.

Remember, there is a movie entirely optional. There is a bad habit to consider food as an indispensable part of any event. Try to just sit back, relax and enjoy the movie. This is a great way to forget about the unnecessary calories.
Rx North Dakota