***Educate Our Self To Educate Our Generation***


It's not only children who grow. Parents do too. As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours. I can't tell my children to reach for the sun. All I can do is reach for it, myself.
~Joyce Maynard

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

ATTENTION : The Number Is Increasing



   "Motherhood is a challenge for any age mom, but being a teenage mother poses so many more obstacles". 
A teenage mother 
must make sacrifices and decisions that she never thought she would have to make so soon. She may be alone and have no one to turn to. With a little planning and confidence, teenage mothers can make it. Follow these steps for parenting ideas for teenage moms.

       *Step 1
Stay in school. There are schools that work with your schedule. Some schools allow you to bring your child with you and have onsite childcare while teen moms are in class or studying. Another option is homeschooling. You can take all your classes online while the baby is sleeping or while the baby is sitting in your lap. There are other schools similar to Westminster Academy in Richmond, VA that are schools where home schoolers can take classes. This option allows you to go to school and be there for your child.

      *Step 2
Continue the relationship with the father if it is a healthy one. The father of the child has a legal right and duty to see and care for the child. Many men are scared to take on the responsibility, but need to for theirs and the child's sake. Define your relationship with the father to coordinate parenting. Determine where the two of you are going and if you are going there together. Allow him to be part of the child's life. If it is an abusive relationship, use caution and think not only of yourself, but also the child. You don't have to continue a bad relationship, but it does need to be defined so everyone knows their roles.

         *Step 3
Allow your parents and the father's parents to be a part of your life. Some parents will be angry, others hurt, and still others okay with the pregnancy. They will go through different feelings so let them heal the emotional wounds as you heal. Don't hold their feelings against them. Forgive them, so you can move on with your life and avoid bitterness. The bitterness will only destroy you and could guide you into a depression. Let them baby-sit and take full advantage of their hospitality. You will need them. As much as we want to do it on our own, it can't always happen. You will get further in life as a teenage mother by allowing people to help you get there in developing your parenting skills.

     *Step 4
Forgive yourself. Don't get down on yourself for where you are. A child is a blessing. It will be hard and you will have to persevere. But, perseverance creates character. If you can raise a child as a teenage mom, you can do anything. Look at parenting as an adventure and not as a curse.

      *Step 5
Have fun. Life is busy and tiresome. Have fun with your new baby. Go for walks and meet other teen and young moms. The baby will grow up fast and you will miss the times when you could just sit in a chair and rock a sleeping baby.



Your Time Effects Your Childs Development

Today's parents talk quite a bit about spending quality time with their children. Some parents believe that if they've spent an hour of "quality" time with their children, they've done enough. This hour is usually focused on an enjoyable activity: watching t.v., going out to eat, going to the movies, etc.
Although today's world turns at a frenetic pace and parents are often overwhelmed by all they have to do, our parenting tips will highlight the importance of spending both quality and what I call quantity time with your kids.

To illustrate the difference between the two, let me share a brief story...
     The other day at the supermarket, I ran into an acquaintance. In order to protect his identity, we'll call him Joe. After we exchanged greetings, I asked about his nine year old son, Austin. Joe is divorced and has custody of Austin every other weekend. He told me: "Let me give you a parenting tip. Every time I do something with Austin, I make sure it’s something fun. Last weekend, I took him to Sunway Lagoon. I’m spending quality time with him all right … yeah, that’s what I’m doing." When I asked how Austin was doing in school, Joe stammered for a moment, then waved me off, "That kid’s got the world by the tail."

     Let’s begin by recognizing Joe’s efforts to spend time with his son. Given his situation, time constraints and his understanding of what Austin needs from him, he’s trying to be a decent father. It seems, though, that his need to make sure that Austin is always entertained might stem from feelings of guilt over spending little time with him. It’s a modus operandi that I refer to as "guilty parenting." Here's the first of my parenting tips: when you feel bad about your inability to do something for your child and try to make up for it through some compensatory action, you can create an ill affect.



So How Would You Spend Your Time With Your Child???

There's no excuse for abusing a child....!!!!

What happen to our world nowdays? It seems too much cruelty going on and there is no more safe place for our children to live, play and explore. Even staying with own relatives and siblings also can lead them into danger. This reminds us an article that we saw on the web last few days and it really broke our heart to know about a toddler been sexually abused by babysitter's son.
And yes, children are more likely to be sexually abused by someone they know, including relatives and family friends, than by a stranger. Children may have confused feelings if they are being abused by someone they TRUST. They may not realise that what is being done to them is abuse.





Monday February 23, 2009

Babysitter’s son accused of sexually abusing toddler


KUALA LUMPUR: A mother of a one-year-old girl has accused one of her babysitter’s sons of sexually abusing her child. She found blood stains on the infant’s private parts while changing her diapers recently.
The 20-year-old clerk said she and her husband, a 25-year-old mechanic, had been leaving their only child under the daily care of a family friend for the past seven months, except on Sundays.
“Last Wednesday, I picked up my child from the babysitter’s house and as I changed her diapers, I was shocked to see blood stains on her private parts,” she said at her home in Bandar Baru Sentul here yesterday. Also present was Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng.
The couple immediately rushed the baby to a nearby clinic where they were advised to take the girl to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital. The child was hospitalised for three days.
“The doctor told me there were penetration wounds in my daughter’s private parts and anus, both old and fresh ones. However, the doctor was not sure what was inserted,” she said.
The couple lodged a police report at the Sentul police station on Wednesday night.
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/2/23/nation/3326167&sec=nation


Let those little fingers do the talking.

Can you imagine how lovely if we can communicate with our baby and toddlers. How exciting if we can understand what they see, what they need and even how they feel. It's good isnt? Well, Good news! We just found a program that can make your dream come true! Baby Signs Malaysia offers a variety of classes and products to fit your needs and offer the support and guidance you need to successfully communicate with your baby.

At first we, ourselve have doubts about the program but we did a research to gain understanding and watch video clips and articles on baby sign. And now
frankly to say,we are amazed with the info that we have collected. It is amazing how a few simple gestures can make a big difference. The program teaches babies to use simple, easy-to-do gestures for communicating with their caregivers to aid the parent-infant communication process. It can also decreases frustration, help babies talk sooner, enriches parent-child relationships, and boosts' babies intellectual development. By teaching your baby to sign, you allow them to share their needs, thoughts, feelings and memories before they even have the words for them. Your baby will no longer have to point, grunt and cry to express themselves but instead can now use their hands, face and body to share their world. Interesting?
For more details, drop by their website.




CLICK ME

Brain food for kids

" Breakfast is important "

Yeah, and Mom was right...and we're going to repeat it again.
- Research studies indicate that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. The nourishment and energy from healthy food sources in your child's breakfast
will rev-up motabolisme and spark her cognitive function enormously. Over 30 years of credible research has proven that a healthy breakfast positively impacts brain function and energy level, which is extremely important for school-aged children. Skipping the first meal of the day can hinder academic performance and interfere with cognition and learning among school children.

Why it is so important?

** Children who start their day with breakfast will have a better behaviour because they have more energy, are less likely to exhibit aggressive behavior, and have a better attitude toward school. And from our teaching experience, we found out that children who is always skip their breakfast. They will get more tired, irritable, or restless by late morning. These symptoms lead to aggressive behavior that causes children to get in trouble in school.
Dear parents, believe it or not but research has clearly shown that breakfast can leads to higher test scores in most academic areas.

Why do some children still resist breakfast?
Some children are not encouraged to do so by their parents, while others make arguments for avoiding breakfast. Some common arguments are lack of time, absence of hunger, and distaste for breakfast foods. No matter what the barrier, parents should find a way to make breakfast as part of their everyday routine. Why dont us parent starts to set a good example to your children by eat breakfast yourself or have breakfast together as one family before off to work.
So,parents who want their children to do well in school can give them a boost by ensuring that they get the proper nutrition to keep brain function in optimum condition. The best diet to keep kids brains development and bodies healthy is a balanced one meal, which is rich in fruits, vegetables, healthy proteins and whole grains.
..............................................................................................

Here's a simple breakfast meal suggestions for your little one....

1. Scrambled organic eggs with a few fresh vegetables mixed in, served over a slice of wholegrain toast. Choline is good for the memory and it can found in eggs and nuts. It augments brain and memory development.

2. Try incorporating vegetables into pasta sauces and soups or top homemade pizza with veggies of your child's choosing. Minced in a really tiny piece so that kids wont even notice.

3. Tuna sandwiches with a 2 thin slices of avodaco. Omega 3 fatty acid is an important player in bolstering cognitive function. It is a healthy fats found in a variety of foods including cold-water fatty fish like salmon ,tuna, avocado and nuts. *Note: Young child's shouldnt so much of tuna because its high in mercury content. Aim for one to two times per week, and choose chunk light tuna in water which contains lower amounts of mercury than albacore.

We really hope that this can be useful for all the loving and responsible parents out there. Its our job to keep them healthy and grow prefectly. Happy trying!

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Talking To Toddlers And Preschoolers About Sex


''Sex education often begins with a child's curiosity about his or her body. Here's how to set the stage for sex education and how to answer your child's questions.''


Sex education is a topic many parents would prefer to avoid. And if you have a young child, you might think you're off the hook — at least for a while. But that's not necessarily true. Sex education can begin anytime. Let your child set the pace with his or her questions.



Early exploration

As children learn to walk and talk, they also begin to learn about their bodies. Open the door to sex education by teaching your child the proper names for his or her sex organs, perhaps during bath time. If your child points to a body part, simply tell him or her what it is. This is also a good time to talk about which parts of the body are private.
''When your child asks questions about his or her body — or yours — don't giggle, laugh or get embarrassed. Take the questions at face value. Offer direct, age-appropriate responses. If your child wants to know more, he or she will ask.''

Expect self-stimulation

Many toddlers express their natural sexual curiosity through self-stimulation. Boys may pull at their penises, and girls may rub their external genitalia. Teach your child that masturbation is a normal — but private — activity. If your child starts masturbating in public, try to distract him or her. If that fails, take your child aside for a reminder about the importance of privacy.
''Sometimes, frequent masturbation can indicate a problem in a child's life. Perhaps he or she feels anxious or isn't receiving enough attention at home. It can even be a sign of sexual abuse. Teach your child that no one is allowed to touch the private parts of his or her body without permission. If you're concerned about your child's behavior, consult his or her doctor.''


Curiosity about others

By age 3 or 4, children often realize that boys and girls have different genitals. As natural curiosity kicks in, you may find your child playing "doctor" or examining another child's sex organs. Such exploration is far removed from adult sexual activity, and it's harmless when only young children are involved. As a family matter, however, you may want to set limits on such exploration.

Everyday moments are key

Sex education isn't a single tell-all discussion. Instead, take advantage of everyday opportunities to discuss sex. If there's a pregnancy in the family, for example, tell your child that babies grow in a special place inside the mother. If your child wants more details on how the baby got there or how the baby will be born, offer them.
Consider these examples: 
*How do babies get inside a mommy's tummy?

You might say, "A mom and a dad make a baby by holding each other in a special way."




*How
 are babies born? 

For some kids, it might be enough to say, "Doctors and nurses help babies who are ready to be born." If your child wants more details, you might say, "Usually a mom pushes the baby out of her vagina."








*Why
 doesn't everyone have a penis?

Try a simple explanation, such as, "Boys and girls bodies are made differently."





*
Why do you have hair down there? 

Simplicity often works here, too. You might say, "Our bodies change as we get older." If your child wants more details, add, "Boys grow hair near their penises, and girls grow hair near their vagina."

''As your child matures and asks more detailed questions, you can provide more detailed responses. Answer specific questions using correct terminology. Even if you're uncomfortable, forge ahead. Remember, you're setting the stage for open, honest discussions in the years to come.''