Child Creativity Development and Education Through Play Time
We take pride in saying that this article on child creativity development and education is like a jewel of our articles. This article has been accepted by many parents as a most informative article on child creativity.
Here are five play time activities you can use to help your children develop their creative faculties and other senses faster. Many other techniques exist, but the following have been found to be the most effective in several studies. Enjoy!
1. Please Help Me Pack
What are the main benefits for the child
- exercise communication skills
- enrich vocabulary
- practice reaching, thereby strengthening arm muscles
What you need
- a shopping basket or plastic bag
What to do
- This is a fun way to putting away all your children’s toys after playing. Start putting toys and other objects in the bag while announcing
“It is time to pack away all your toys.”
- Then encourage your child to join in and help too.
- While filling up your own bag, name and identify each object that you pick up.
Try this activity when putting items into a laundry basket, or fixing up their toy storage.
2. Dump and Haul
The child begins using pre-verbal gestures to communicate starting ages 10 to 13 months, associates words with objects, enjoys waving goodbye and speaks his first recognizable word. At this stage, they initiate familiar routines and games with parents and adults.
What you will need
- a big pail or basket
- toys that fit into the pail or basket
- 4 feet of cord
What to do
- Tie a piece of cord through the pail handle. Let the child dump small toys into the pail. Then drag the pail across the room as the child holds the cord.
- The child can dump everything into another pail or on the floor again.
- Dump and haul, then dump and haul again.
3. Paper Cup Thrower
Your child is like a little Einstein, trying to discover and explore everything about the world as he can every minute. A child learns to solve problems through trial and error and tries to figure out the cause-and-effect relationships of every object he holds and the actions that are being done.
What are the benefits for the child?
- introduce a cognitive activity that allows the child to explore shapes and spaces
- continue developing cause-and-effect links
What you need
For toddlers, better education is achieved through playing constantly. Children respond well to visual stimuli and have been found to learn quicker and more if information is incoporated into their playtime activities. Children’s creative and development traits are best addressed through the world of play, since they are not yet equipped with enough speech and visual faculties to effectively communicate their feelings and thoughts with adults.
- 10 pieces of paper cups or plastic cups
What to do
- Things fit together! What’s more, the objects look different when they are put together! These are some of the many “great” discoveries of your active child. Let your toddler play with the cups, seeing how they are put together and apart, and then come back together again.
4. Dramatic Play
At age 24 to 35 months, the toddler is able to concentrate on his or her self-selected activities for la onger time. Pretend-play with parents, siblings, and other kids becomes the highlight of his day as he muses on other people’s facial expressions, actions, and gestures, then attempts to copy them.
Pretend-play is very important in the early years. It is also among the big favourites in a child’s play choices. The first interest in pretend play begins as a 10 month old picks up a rattle, places it near his ear, and starts babbling words like an adult would with a cellular phone.
Dramatic play is just one activity that strengthens holistic development. It touches these aspects in a child’s growing years - emotional: playing out scenes with emotional weight, cognitive: learning to use symbols through toys, social: interacting with others children, creating friendships, bonding with family, language: talking to each other, thinking of plans, brand new words, expressions, and physical: using gestures, facial expression, and playing “dress up”.
Since children still lack the capacity to communicate effectively, play is often their way of education. Thus, as parents, we must allocate sufficient time for play, in order for our children to develop creative faculties in the early stges of their life. Since children are not yet equipped with enough speech and visual faculties to communicate heir thoughts and feelings effectively with adults, their development and creative traits are best addressed through the world of play. Children respond well to visual stimuli and have been found to learn a lot better and more if information is added into playtime activities. For toddlers, better education is achieved through constant play time.
Andrew P. Chin is a recognized authority on the subject of Creativity. His web site http://www.SelfImprovementsGuide.com provides a wealth of information on everything about Creativity.
Baby’s First Birthday Party - Let Them Eat Cake!
As the story is told, on my first birthday I saw the cake on the coffee table and took my first steps as a toddler to seize the prize. Photos show an adorable outfit with new white shoes and what started as a clean face all totally smeared with gooey pink icing. Even though I was the star of the show I don’t remember a thing! Thank goodness for the old Kodak camera.
First birthdays are an important event - but they’re truly more for the parents than the baby. The real memories are yours, but the embellished stories become ‘real’ to your child over time. This is why it’s so important to plan a party that will not only be a highlight of your life but will hold special lifetime treasures for your little one, too. Of course, the baby will delight in opening their first birthday gifts!
Careful, thoughtful planning is the key to a happy, fun occasion. It’s best to keep things simple and to invite only children and adults that your baby enjoys being around. If your one-year-old is shy, keep the guest list small. On the other hand if you have an outgoing, ‘life of the party’ baby - the more the merrier! At this age it’s best to have the party at home rather than trying to entertain a group of crying babies who are uncomfortable in new surroundings, such as a restaurant or other public venue. Consider the temperament of your guests as well as the ‘guest of honor.’
Give some thought to how many of the tiny guests are crawling, walking or running. Make sure you plan the party in a space where there’s plenty of room to move around in a safe environment. Loud noises can startle little ones, so avoid loud music and balloons that may burst. It’s a bit early to have ponies to ride and clowns that may frighten rather than entertain. Keep it simple!
Your birthday boy or girl may be a ‘clinger’ at this age. If so, make sure that you have someone to help with the party hosting duties and activities so you’re free to hold your baby during the party, if necessary.
Let’s give some more thought to the guest list. Of course, you’ll want to invite everyone who remotely knows your sweet birthday baby, but it’s easy for the list to get out of hand. Of course grandparents and other close relatives with their children should be invited. If you’ve connected with other parents who have babies around the same age, absolutely invite both the baby and the parents. Do be aware, though, that they may bring their child’s siblings whether invited or not. Probably 2 or 3 other adorable babies is enough at this tender age.
Now, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. How long should the party last and what time of day is best? An hour and a half is more than enough for a first birthday party. If it’s nap time, any baby can become cranky. Consider the weekend so you can have a late morning or early afternoon event. If babies need a nap during the party - so what! Plan a quiet place in the room with a comforter or two on the floor just in case.
Is cake and ice cream enough, or do you feel compelled to have a theme for the party? Again - keep in mind that it’s really for you, but it’s not necessary to go overboard to impress the guests. Your baby could care less if the plates, napkins and tablecloths feature their favorite cartoon character.
But, if a theme makes it easier for you to plan a fun party, then go for it! Some general ideas for baby themes might be teddy bears or other cuddly stuffed animals for little girls and cars and trucks for little boys. If your baby has a favorite book or toy, maybe that will give you some ideas.
Define an area on the floor with a colourful rug or blanket and have a collection of similar - or even the same - toys. Not all babies at this age have learned to share. Be sure to have one for each child to take home if you like, or consider other age-appropriate party favors such as a coloring book and washable crayons or soft or inflatable balls.
One fun idea is to set up a maze made from soft materials that the babies can crawl through or roll over. Anything new will attract their attention and keep the fussing to a minimum. Let the older children be the ‘helpers’ so they feel they’re a part of the activity, too.
Party food should be simple, and the easiest plan is to provide something that everyone attending the party can enjoy. Avoid anything that could cause choking, such as whole grapes or nuts. Better choices are cheese and crackers, fruit cut into small pieces, pizza, animal crackers, and of course cake and ice cream.
The most important thing to remember is to make baby’s first birthday a fun event for all and as stress-free as possible for Mom and Dad. Be sure your camera is ready to capture this special event - then ‘let them eat cake!’
Janet Winter delights in providing great resources for parents and unique gifts for first birthdays, newborns, toddlers and baby showers at http://www.WelcomeBabyGifts.com. She is a web designer, travel agent, and writer on many topics including babies, wild birds and dogs.
Things You Should Know About Your Newborn Baby
Having to take care of a newborn baby can seem like a daunting task in the beginning,. You’ll probably have lots of concerns, which is totally normal, but don’t be afraid to ask questions even if you think they are silly ones.
One of the things you will probably notice about your newborn is that his proportions don’t seem quite right. His head will seem large in comparison to the rest of his body while his abdomen will seem very rounded - this is due to muscle weakness. His arms and legs on the other hand may appear to be very skinny.
Head
A newborn baby’s head is roughly one quarter of his entire length. An adults head is about one eighth of his length so it therefore not surprising that newborn babies seem to have large heads - they do. The head will probably not be perfectly round either. This is due to the fact that the bones in the head have to move over each other during the birth process to allow the head to fit down the birth canal. But don’t worry as this will not affect his brain and the shape of the head will soon go back to normal.
Skin
Some babies have a white greasy substance which can cover some or all of their heads and bodies when they are born. This is called vernix. Sometimes the hospital staff remove this straight away but other times it is left to absorb into the skin naturally over a couple of days.
Dry and peeling skin is also common in newborns but this soon goes away. Another thing you may notice are tiny white spots on the face. These are called milia and result from blocked sweat glands. Don’t try and squeeze these as, again, they will soon clear up.
Birthmarks
Sometimes a baby has small red marks on the skin. These are most likely to be seen on the forehead or back of the neck. They are due to enlarged blood vessels near the skin’s surface and are nothing to worry about. They usually disappear sometime between six and eighteen months.
Jaundice
It is not unusual for a baby to become jaundiced in the first few days after birth. When a baby is born he has a high level of primitive red cells and when these get broken down one of the components, a yellow pigment called bilirubin, increases in the blood. This causes a yellow discoloration to the skin and whites of the eyes but in most cases it disappears in the first week or so. Occasionally a baby may need special light treatment to bring the bilirubin levels down but this is not normally a cause for concern.
Eyes
Babies sometimes look as if they have swollen eyes. This occurs because of the pressure applied during birth but the puffiness will subside after a few days. Another interesting thing about babies is that they are unable to actually shed tears until they are about four or five months old. Surprising really given the amount of time they can spend crying!
Lisa Davies is a writer and mother of two.
To find out more about newborn baby care visit our website at http://www.babies2toddlers.com
Cord Blood Banking: Invest For The Next Generation
Cord Blood Banking is one of the hottest trends that have come up in the past decade. Why is cord blood banking so popular.
What Is So Special About The Umbilical Cords Blood
Your babys umbilical cord blood is rich in stem cells. These stem cells work like a factory. They manufacture fresh blood cells wherever they are transplanted. They have the power to create red blood cells and the platelets that can ward off the diseases, which the patients current blood cells have been unable to do. You are injecting the patient with those same cells that created him
This Can Be Done With The Bone Marrow Transplants Too
Yes, stem cells are found in bone marrows too. However, many hurdles can affect the chances of the patient being cured considerably. The bone marrow of a leukemia patient needs to be transplanted so that new fresh blood cells are created. For this, the patient needs a donor whose tissues and cells match his own. This is at times quite hard to find. Besides, bone marrow has lesser concentration of stem cells compared to cord blood which usually 10 times more If the patients stem cell cord blood was preserved, he need not have worried about a perfect donor. He himself would have been his savior
How Do I Collect My Babys Umbilical Cord Blood
Collecting your babys stem cells is quite easy. All you need to do is decide that you want to do it while you are pregnant. Yes, cord blood-banking needs planning. Register yourself at a good cord blood bank. A few tests might be done, if the doctors suspect something is not right. Collecting the umbilical cord blood does not hurt your baby. Neither does it hurt you. The blood is taken from your umbilical cord after your baby is delivered and is disconnected from the umbilical cord. The specialist drains the placenta and the umbilical cord and stores the blood in vials or special bags. The entire process usually takes 10 to 15 minutes. Please note that if there is any complication during the delivery, the doctors can choose not to go ahead with the process.
Is Cord Blood Banking Free
Unfortunately, you cannot save your babys blood free of cost. You have to be mentally prepared to pay considerable amount on a regular basis. However, looking at the benefit your child or may be his siblings may get 20 years down the line, you can definitely think of it as an insurance premium. After all, nothing is more precious than your childs health. You however, have the option of donating or giving for some consideration the blood to a needy patient a few years down the line when you are sure of your babys health.
Nevertheless, do not feel guilty if you are unable to save your babys stem cells through cord blood banking due to financial or other reasons. Enjoy your baby and remember that she is one of the greatest gifts you have and for you she is prefect.
Cord blood banking is the process of storing umbilical cord blood stem cells. These stem cells could be a lifesaver and used for treatment of many diseases. http://www.cordblood-banking.org offers all the information you seek about process, costs and issues related to cord blood storage.
Choosing a Plush Toy for a Toddler
Most toddlers go nuts over plush toys. When my brother was three, he went everywhere with what looked to me like an over-weight cat a missing eye. It went with him to the backyard; it was with him watching his favorite shows on TV; it accompanied us for meals at the dining table; and finally cuddled up with his toddler owner to sleep. I think it was my brother’s security blanket — a friend for all seasons. So when I had to pick up a gift for my best friend’s two year old daughter’s second birthday, it was a no-brainer. I would get her a plush toy!
However, now comes the tough part. How do you go about getting that perfect plush toy for a kid that has just barely developed taste buds, let alone preferences? Well, I suppose, this is where the cuteness factor comes in. Pick a toy that makes you go “Oh! How adorable!” But bear in mind factors such as: Is the child afraid of dogs? Would she want to hug a rabbit with a hard plastic guitar?
If you ask me, it is best to get a plush toy that looks and feels simple. If you are buying a plush toy for a toddler, rest assured that he or she will be extremely happy with a traditional teddy bear or an elephant that is as soft as one can get. The softer the toy, the more likely will the toddler be to shower it with loads of love and affection.
Of course, you must look out for a plush toy of good quality. This would include comparing the material of different plush toys, assessing the quality of the stitching, and making sure that the eyes, nose and other parts of the toy are not loose. Toddlers are especially prone to swallowing anything they see. You would not want to gift a choking hazard would you?
Even after having gone through this process of finding the best plush toys, there is no guarantee that the plush toy that you are gifting will be a big hit with the toddler. As it is, giving gifts is a difficult art to master. The difficulty level gets multiplied several times over when the receiver of the gift is two or three years old. But take comfort in the thought that even if you did not gift the kid a toy that he would take everywhere, at least you have finally experienced the complicated process of getting a gift for a toddler.
Ajeet Khurana is a web enthusiast and an author. He recommends Plush Toys at http://www.plush-toys.com, Snow boarding at http://www.boardthesnow.com and Sports Coaching at http://www.sportycoach.com
Journaling Prompts for New Mothers
If there is one story my kids love to hear again and again, it is the story of their birth. But they are interested in more than the birth statistics. They want to know how I felt. They want to know how much their new presence in the world meant to me.
The most meaningful baby albums, scrapbooks, and journals go beyond the details of birthweight and time of day to capture the true emotion behind the birth.
Here are some questions to help you remember the details, whether it was yesterday or years ago.
When responding to each of these journaling prompts, do not do so directly on the pages of your scrapbook. Write the answers in a journal or even a piece of scrap paper first, and make sure to keep your pen moving across the page. If you get stuck, write “I remember” and then write the first thing that comes to mind.
Try not to think too hard about what you are writing. Just try to just keep that pen moving, and do not cross out anything. You will edit your journaling later and choose which details to include on your scrapbook pages. The most powerful words and emotions often are not the first to flow from your mind.
Sit with these questions and journal your way to poignant memories and the most sentimental of scrapbooks.
What do you remember about your surroundings at the time of the birth? What was the temperature like? The lighting? Detail the sights and sounds. What small, specific details can you recall that really bring the memories home? For me, it was the cherry Popsicle the nurse wanted me to eat and the coffee my husband was drinking, the smell of which made me so nauseous that my nurse made him take it a trashcan clear down the hallway. What was it for you?
What about the process of childbirth did you find surprising? (I know, the answer is “everything!” but try to find some specifics). You will notice that the more specific the memories you recall, the more poignant they will be to those who shared the experience with you.
Describe the feeling when your baby was first placed in your arms. Think about the experience in terms of a snapshot. Imagine someone had taken a photo, just then. Describe the photo. What one or two details most stick in your mind about the experience?
Who were your first visitors?
What was your first meal after childbirth?
What was it like to feed your baby for the first time? Make a mental snapshot of those first feedings and describe it in as much detail as you can.
What are your memories of your spouse or partner? What feelings washed over you when you were together with the baby for the first time?
Were there any feelings of fear? If so, what were you frightened of?
What advice would you now have for mothers to be?
Reflect on how you told distant family members about the birth.
Recall how you felt upon seeing the other members of your family. In what special way did they each bond with the baby?
Describe the tiny hands and feet of your baby.
Which baby gifts were particularly meaningful? Why?
How did your pets respond to the new baby?
What was the first song you sang to your baby?
Tell the story of bringing the baby home from the hospital. What was the first thing you remember doing?
Do you remember when you were first all alone with your new baby, in your home? Describe how you felt.
What values do you most wish to pass on to your new baby?
What dreams do you have for him or her?
What traditions would you like to instill, to mark the occasion of this birth each year? Maybe you will write your child a heartfelt letter each year on this day, or take a photo of your child wearing the same outfit. A daughter may wear your wedding dress; a son may wear the high school letter jacket of his father.
In what way are you proud of yourself, as a new mother?
How did the instance of becoming a mother change you? How did your worldview change upon becoming a mother?
How did your relationship with your own mother change? Was there a shift in perspective?
Using the above questions as a guide, try to open up and go beyond the surface of the moment. Writing about the birth experience will help you tap the true bliss of this birth. For many of us, this is the most life changing moment that we will undergo. Make it last for generations.
Susie Cortright is the founder of Momscape.com, http://www.momscape.com and Susies-Coupons.com, http://www.susies-coupons.com where she hand picks only the very best online coupons, including coupons for photo processing and photo gifts:
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Does Birth Order Really Matter?
Psychiatrist Alfred Adler was a contemporary of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, the original “fathers” of studying the intricate workings of the human mind. Adler had some very definite ideas about family and social interactions. His primary contribution to understanding human nature was in terms of social interest, which he defined as a person’s willingness to participate in life’s “give and take” with others. Healthy people with an adequate social interest interact with others in a helpful manner.
Building upon his theory of social interest, Adler took the concept a step further and studied the meaning of birth order. Adler focused upon sibling interactions and psychological aspects of birth order. Thinking now about your own family make-up - both your own nuclear family and your family as its composed today, consider Adler’s proposed five psychological birth order positions:
- The oldest child tends to be analytical, detailed, a methodical; this child values control. He/she sets the example for younger children. They are used to being “number one.”
- Second-born children are often in competition with the oldest child; if the oldest is good at math, the second-born will ignore math and find something that he/she excels with in a manner superior to the talents of the oldest child.
- Middle children tend to be the family diplomats. They dislike conflicts and seek fairness and justice. They’re “people pleasers.”
- Youngest born are usually excitement seekers who crave attention so they won’t be “left behind” in family activities and the atmosphere as a whole.
- Only children never have to compete and share within the family. They grow up accustomed to having their own way. They set high goals for themselves and keep a polite distance from others.
Considering Alfred Adler’s concept of birth order, how does this work within your family? Can you see your children taking on these birth order roles? What’s the family atmosphere in your home? Can you see your child or children working towards Adler’s concept of healthy social interest? Most importantly, does the birth order of your children - from the oldest to the youngest toddler - seem to make a difference in how your child’s character develops?
When you consider the birth order of your children, keep in mind that several extraneous factors influence the children’s behavior; the age differences of the children, handicaps or disabilities with any child, and the gender of the children. Adler never meant for birth order characteristics to be written in stone; there are always outside factors that will make a difference in their birth order behavior.
Parents are always looking for answers about why their children behave the way they do. Adler’s theories help provide some answers when it comes to understanding a child’s motivation. Of course, Adler’s theories of birth order won’t be the be-all and end-all of explaining social interactions, as there are far too many other factors involved, but birth order and personality is a starting point to understanding behavior, one that can provide valuable insight.
Graham Johns writes regularly for http://yourtoddler.net/ where you can read many more articles on toddlers and young children. Also go to http://www.family-and-kids.info for more informative articles and tips on family life.
A Parent’s Guide to Understanding Asperger’s Disorder
Asperger’s Disorder is a developmental disorder that can have devastating symptoms and can be seen in children as young as two years old. It is not caused by and infection or virus and why it occurs is not fully understood, however it is not your fault.
Although it isn’t as debilitating as autism, Asperger’s is no less impairing. Aspergers syndrome was first describe by Hans Asperger, an Austrian physician, in 1944. It is one of a sub set of what is called Autistic Spectrum Disorders in European countries, or Pervasive Developmental Disorders (”PDD”), in the United States.
As a parent of a toddler with Asperger’s Syndrome there are probably many questions you want to have answered the main one being how will the disorder affect your child and your child’s future?
It can affect them in number of ways. Clumsiness is prominent both in their articulation and behavior however the most common difficulties are to do with communication. Sufferers often have a particularly strong area of interest. This area of interest can range form cars to doornobs to history or astronomy. They appear to be almost obsessed to the exclusion of more normal interests.
There are also problems in social interaction and non-verbal communication. Their speech can be strange due to abnormalities of inflection and a repetition.
Whatever you do, don’t give in to feelings of hopelessness that often accompany diagnoses of serious illnesses and rest assured: Your child will be capable of living a productive life the same as anyone else.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association, Version Four, Text Revision, Asperger’s Disorder is characterized by the following symptoms:
- Impairment in social interaction as evidenced by reduced non-verbal behaviors such as eye contact, facial expressions, body postures, and gestures.
- Failure to develop social peer relationships; the child is uninterested in same-age peers.
- Lack of spontaneous seeking to enjoy bonding with others; the child is uninterested in sharing pleasurable experiences with others.
- Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior such as intense necessity for routine and organization, adherence to strange rituals, movements such as hand or finger flapping, twisting, or rocking.
- The disturbance causes significant impairment in social behavior.
- There is no clinically significant delay in language and communication single words. Unlike autism, children with Asperger’s Disorder have much less social and learning impairment.
Now that you have familiarized yourself with the major characteristics of Asperger’s there are a few more things that you can do to help your toddler cope with the world. Look into getting professional help. A reputable specialist familiar with the disorder can offer advice on your child’s development and a clinical psychologist can work in tandem with your pediatrician to help improve your child’s social skills through therapy and/or medication. When your toddler is of age to begin pre-school, seek the counsel of a special education expert as well, as school is a very social and academic environment.
The exact cause of Asperger’s Disorder is still a mystery, and although there is no “cure” for this condition, there are many behavioral and psychiatric interventions that will help your child achieve a meaningful life. Hans Asperger, an Austrian physician, first described the syndrome in 1944.
Graham Johns writes regularly for http://yourtoddler.net/ where you can read many more articles on toddlers and young children. Also go to http://www.family-and-kids.info for more informative articles and tips on family life.
Is Your Toddler Being Bullied?
When you send your toddler off to pre-school or on a play date with a friend, the last thing on your mind is that something might go wrong. While you are out running your daily errands or simply enjoying a little well-earned spare, there is a possibility that your toddler could be threatened with physical and/or emotional harm in your absence. Would you know the many signs that would indicate that all is not well?
In 2005, a national survey reported that an astonishing 63% of children ages four through ten say they are or have been bullied by other children of the same or similar age. The same survey found that only 18% of these children’s parents or caretakers knew or suspected that their child was being bullied.
Bullying is defined as one person using his/her age, size, and aggressive nature to hurt and control other, vulnerable children. Bullies are people who have a very poor self-esteem and dominate others in a futile attempt to increase their sense of self-worth. Bullies can be any age, gender, or ethnic class. Young bullies, if their behavior is unchecked, become older bullies. In children, the psychiatric diagnosis of Conduct Disorder is just the beginning of the development of cruel, dominating behavior, refusal to follow social and family rules, substance abuse beginning at a young age, gang affiliation, school suspensions and learning disorders, and a lack of remorse for their actions. As these children reach age 18, they are diagnosed with the Antisocial Personality Disorder; in most cases, this diagnosis results in criminal behavior. An estimated 89% of prison inmates in this country are ASPD. This personality disorders are not “curable;” it’s indicative of deeply-ingrained personality characteristics.
The following is a checklist of symptoms that your toddler may exhibit if he/she is being bullied:
- Depression; apathy, irritability, agitation, insomnia, low frustration tolerance, inability to concentrate, bed-wetting and lack of appetite.
- Fearfulness; reluctant to attend pre-school or play dates, crying, feigning illness.
- Questions about “What would happen if..?” concern about what happens in jail, “What if I told you a secret,” and “If I don’t like Tommy, do I have to play with him?”
- Physical signs that seem suspicious; unexplained cuts, scrapes and bruises. When asked, the child makes up a story that isn’t consistent with the injury.
- Missing personal items; the child comes home without his/her lunch box, loss of small change, missing clothing, games, and toys.
- Regressed behavior; acting younger than his/her age, speaking “baby talk,” clinging to parents, urinating or defecating in clothes, and wanting to eat baby food.
The hardest thing your child will have to do is tell you that he is being bullied. It’s scary for children to speak out, and if you were to think back to when you were your child’s age, you might be able to share a story or two about similar circumstances. At some point in our lives, each of us has gone the long way home to avoid getting caught by the school bully. Make sure that your child understands that he is not in trouble and that you can help them.
Naturally, if your child is being bullied at pre-school or at play dates, you’ll want to know where were the supposedly supervising parents or teachers? Once your child has divulged the secret, you have every right to ask the adults why they failed to supervise what was happening at their home or at pre-school. Don’t send your child back to a home where adult supervision is so lacking that he/she is being hurt. If your child is being harmed in a pre-school, speak to the owner or top-level manager about the lack of supervision by the teachers. If you get no satisfactory answers, remove your child from the school and report the harm done to your child to Child Protection Services.
Being bullied is devastating for a toddler. These children grow up feeling helpless and angry, often developing behavior problems and difficulties in learning. Parents should always intervene if their child is being bullied; don’t take the stance that “they’ll fight it out and get over it.” No, they won’t. Your child will grow up feeling inferior and being angry with you because you failed to protect them. Don’t let them be correct.
Graham Johns writes regularly for http://yourtoddler.net/ where you can read many more articles on toddlers and young children. Also go to http://www.family-and-kids.info for more informative articles and tips on family life.
How Edward Jenner Dicovered The Smallpox Vaccine
There are not many people in the world who are not somewhat familiar with the work of Edward Jenner. Even if they do not know his name, they should know the product he created: The world’s first small pox vaccine. With this discovery, a new world of medical solutions opened up for humanity.
No longer is death by small pox, debilitating pain from polio, death or serious illness from measles, mumps and rubella a constant danger. Through a series of scheduled vaccinations, a child is protected against diseases once capable of wiping out millions of people.
Diseases are usually caused by one of two organisms, bacteria or a virus. A bacterial infection can usually be treated with antibiotics, but viruses don’t respond to antibiotics and often the only treatment is to let them progress until the body produces antibodies.
For some conditions this doesn’t happen early enough and the result is crippling paralysis or death. One way to help overcome these viruses is to create the antibodies before contracting the disease and this is done by way of a vaccine.
The vaccine is created from a modified strand of that particular disease. The vaccine works its magic by letting the immune system conquer and build up a resistance to the disease. Once that has happened, then the immune system is protected from the deadlier strands. Think of it as the same type of protection a computer program can offer against outside attackers.
A vaccine is a version of a specific disease. Take for example small pox. There was the terrible version of the small pox that ravaged the world, and there was a much milder version that infected cows.
Jenner noticed that milkmaids and farmers who contracted the cowpox did not come down with small pox, even when exposed. He tested this theory on a child by injecting him with cowpox. Once the boy recovered, Jenner then exposed him to smallpox.
The result was astounding to Jenner and the world. If a person were infected with a disease or a milder variety of disease, then the body built up immunity and would not be affected again.
Edward Jenner’s discovery of vaccines and his work with small pox have changed the medical world as we know it. The world does not have to isolate itself any longer from other communities for fear of disease and possible death. Houses are no longer marked with signs of plague.
The only recognizable sign of Jenner’s battle is a shot record that shows what immunizations a child has received. There are still diseases that currently do not have a vaccination, but there will come a time in the future when even those are nothing more than a stamp on a card.
Andi Michaels writes for a number of web sites including http://health-and.info/ where there are more articles on healthy living. Also go to http://www.wellspokenaudio.com where there are informative and entertaining audiobooks on health and fitness
