For An Alternative Rush

Safety regs are clearly the chief concern in buying a seat for your young children, but the variations in style aren’t just cosmetic, and it’s important to be aware of exactly what ramifications your selection will have before making your purchase. The standard has been set by big-name brands (Safety 1st, Graco, etc) and this standard has led to an assortment of products intended for children of under twelve months — a total capacity of about twenty pounds. Since the majority — not, bear in mind, all — such chairs face the rear exclusively, it’s crucial to choose which will be best for you and check when purchasing that your chosen item fits the bill. The best of these seats are also baby carriers, meaning it’s less problematic to move from car to house without disturbing your child. If you prefer a car chair your child won’t grow out of, look for a convertible. Lasting throughout the age bracket during which babies need these seats, the more expensive price tag is due to their being useful as long as necessary. As thorough reviews can tell you, generally these chairs aren’t designed to be carried out of the car. An awareness of the notable features of any given model can be drawn from published reviews and comparisons, ensuring that you select the best for your little one. Plus, you’ll discover that examining car seat reviews offers a solid independent opinion to ensure you’re purchasing a high-quality product. The larger child can bank on a booster chair between around thirty to eighty pounds. You have two primary decisions in fastening — a five-point harness design and one making use of the car’s inbuilt safety belt: which leads us to suggest you check both of them with your child in the booster seat to confirm which one fits better and keeps the child comfortable. Toys are often an integral part of these seats, helping to keep your child quieter and occupied as you concentrate on your driving.

It’s our hope that what we covered here has shortened the often long process of determining the right seat for your situation as the decision ahead is an important one. Simply put, the reviews available make for the most useful guide you can hope for.

Make sure you take a look at this brilliant webpage for mountain buggy stroller reviews facts

Big Foot Relay. Have the children fetch two shoeboxes with them. Tape the lids onto the corners, then cut a one-inch-wide and four-inch long slit in to each one top. Have the contestants slip their feet into the slits in the boxes and race.

Batty Bowling. Retrieve a number of ridiculous or different items that can be knocked over by a ball, much as a plastic milk carton, a candle holder, a stand-up doll, a plastic vase of blossoms, a pizza pie box, a tower of void cans, an umbrella stand, an empty oatmeal container, and a book. Draw them up like bowling pins and allow the bowlers try to tap them through with volleyballs, tennis balls, or golf balls.

Pick Pocket Tag. Put a strip of cloth in each player’s back pocket. Have the players try to grab each other’s strips without having their own strip taken. The player with the most cloth strips wins the game.

Kill the Cockroach. Part the players into 2 teams. Line them up, one in front of the other and set an odd object in front of the first players in line. They must kick the object crossways the yard and the across the end line to win a point for their team. Kick things like a pillow, empty can, a sock, and so on.

Honor Cord

Wearing of an honor cord is reserved for those who have graduated with honors from education institutions. This includes those who are graduating with various honors such as summa or magna cuum laude. The cords make excellent gifts to those who are being honored. The cord is also worn by those taking part in the graduation ceremony as members of honor societies, sororities as well as fraternities. To make the cord, several single cords of the same size and color are intertwined together.

Besides being awarded at universities and colleges, some high schools give out the cords to students who are graduating with GPA scores of 3.5 and over. The honor cord

is available in different colors, depending on the colors chosen by the institution or the honor society. The cord is worn around the neck and one can chose to wear either a single cord or double cords. The double cords are joined together using a knot.

Persons can order the honor cord when it is already made or they can request for custom-made cords especially if their preferred color is not easily available. One can also have the single cord made of more than one color. The cords are easy to obtain from online shops.

GraduationSource, a leader in graduation regalia products since 1960.

Much has been said about the “gifted child” but in truth every child is born with unlimited potential. As expressed so well by Orison Marden:

“Deep within man dwell those slumbering powers; powers that would astonish him, that he never dreamed of possessing; forces that would revolutionize his life if aroused and put into action.”

This statement can be true for your child. Not just if he’s a “gifted child” but any child. Indeed, perhaps we should consider a “gifted child” to be a child whose parents have gifted him with a high self-esteem.

Children with high self-esteem are happier and more successful. Low self-esteem is common in children who are performing badly at school, have behavioural problems and suffer from depression.

The Newborn

The “helpless” newborn baby actually comes into the world well equipped with the power to get what she wants. Not only do her cries bring her parents running to tend to her; she also uses her body and facial language to get what she wants. It’s no coincidence that babies learn to smile while they are still very small - it is an essential tool in their armoury of communication. A baby with a disarming smile can frequently wrap mommy or daddy round her little finger!

At this early stage, it’s important to respond to all your baby attempts at communication. Attend to her when she cries (this does not preclude training her gently into a stable routine), mirror her attempts at facial communication and reward the infant sounds she makes by praising her and talking back to her.

The “Can-Do” Toddler

Toddlers are into everything! They are learning so fast about the world around them and want to explore everything, touch everything and even try to eat many things.

It is such a crucial stage and one that is stifled by many parents. Yes, you need to control your child’s behavior so that he doesn’t hurt himself or damage valuable property. But you also need to give him opportunities to express this exploratory behavior without constant criticism and telling-offs.

Put valuables out of reach and supply your child with toys or household items that he can play with safely. Try to find time to get down on the floor and play with your toddler. Let him watch you and imitate you. He could play on the kitchen floor with some pots and wooden spoons while you are cooking.

Discipline

I want to emphasize up front that I believe discipline is very important, because I don’t want you to think in any of what follows that I’m advocating spoiling your child. Some parents call this “allowing the child to enjoy the freedom of youth.” These parents are entitled, of course, to raise their children however they wish.

But if you want your child to grow into a successful adult, you would do better by teaching her firmly what is and isn’t acceptable in present day society. And, just as importantly, helping her to learn self-discipline and that you will support her in achieving anything she wants, as long as she does so ethically.

Discipline should be sensitive, thoughtful and appropriate. You should strive to never lose your temper but to discipline your child calmly and firmly. When is discipline appropriate? When your child’s actions (or lack of them) may harm herself or others. When is discipline not appropriate? When it is purely for the parent’s own selfish preferences.

Talk to Your Child

Positive talk with your child and generally within the household cannot be over-emphasized. Avoid criticism wherever possible; it is praise that produces good, successful behavior. Be sure to find at least one thing to praise in your child every day. Even better, give praise as often as possible.

Are you having problems finding good behaviors to praise? If so, give your child a task to do that you know he is capable of. Children love earning their parents’ approval. Also remember to praise your child for trying, on those occasions that he is not successful.

Set a good example; talk about your goals and successes, and teach your child by example to accept compliments gracefully. Resist the temptation to put yourself down when you are complimented - instead, say a simple Thank You. That’s an important sign of a healthy self-esteem.

The other side of the coin to talking is, of course, listening. It is very important to listen to your child. When there is something he is upset about, don’t sweep it under the carpet by saying “Don’t be silly!” Whatever it is might seem totally trivial to you but often all your child needs is for you to empathise. “I’m sorry you feel sad about that.” He may then come up with a solution, or put the incident behind him without further help. Or, you can suggest a solution.

The Power of Desire

You can give your child the best possible schooling, teach all the important techniques of success, encourage goal setting and set a fantastic example. But that is not enough! All these good things have one vitally important pre-requisite. Before you can achieve anything, you must know what you really, really want.

A burning desire is the first, most important and essential step towards any major achievement. As a parent, you are in a unique position to influence another person’s desires - your child’s. By the time they reach their teens, you will have lost this influence to a significant degree, as young adults are swayed much more by their peers’ opinions than their parents’.

So make the most of the early years by instilling positive, beneficial desires in your children. The desire to do well academically could shape your child’s further education and career much more than her innate ability.

How can you instil desire? Telling stories is a great way. Children love stories! Be creative and tell stories where the hero or heroine has a burning desire for something, overcomes challenges and set backs, and achieves the desired outcome. Try telling stories where a child achieves academic success, which in turn results in something even more desirable. For instance, one story could tell of a child who has a burning desire to travel to the North Pole. She succeeds academically and thus wins an award, which makes her dream come true. Tailor the stories to your own child’s life and experiences as much as you can.

The famous author Napoleon Hill used story-telling to instil in his almost-deaf son both a burning desire to hear, and a firm belief that his disability would actually bestow upon him a great advantage (although at the time even his father had no idea what that advantage could be). By the time this boy left college, he had against the odds acquired a hearing aid that enabled him to hear clearly for the first time in his life. More remarkably, he had justified his father’s belief by securing a marketing position with the hearing aid manufacturer to bring the same benefit to millions of other deafened people.

“Gifted child”? Give your child the gift of self-esteem, and you will give him the gift of happiness.

About The Author

Cassie Simons is the author of “How to Help Your Child Succeed”, a revolutionary approach to guilt-free parenting.

Positive Parenting, Gifted Child

Visit http://www.KidsGoals.com today for the secrets of raising successful children.

cassie@kidsgoals.com

Whenever we talk of the flawless and united Society, we always think that the responsibility lies in the hands of the youths. But, we have been witnessing many undesirable activities everywhere in the world and sadly, created by the youths. So, it would be more appropriate to declare that future is in the hands of the parents. Now it is the most needed issue, which should be solved without any further delay.

There is no other way except educating the children, in such a way that there would be no more unwanted happenings in this world in future. When a child is born, it is quite a nice child till it grows. But, when he grows, everything is changed. In other words, it is the bounden duty of the parents to guide them properly. There are different stages for the kids to understand what is what. Here, the brought up is the most important factor for the future society. The children should be educated right from the beginning of their career.

The responsibility of the Mother: In a family, when a girl is pregnant, everyone is happy about it and she herself is looking forward with joy and eagerness that she is going to deliver a child. But, no one thinks about other factors, which would go a long way in future of that particular child. When she is carrying a baby, she should be given energetic food and required medicines so as to enable her to deliver a smart and healthier child. But, at the same time, we should keep it in our mind that moral strength is more important than physical strength and we should act according to that. For this purpose, during the pregnancy time itself, we have to take care of the child, while the child is her womb. She should think and speak only in the constructive ways. She should avoid the destructive thoughts. She should even avoid seeing cruel movies and unwanted fearsome scenes. She should avoid seeing lunar or solar eclipse. Since there is a possibility of the impact of these, to the child, these must be completely avoided. When the child is born, he should be taught only the good things. The mind of the child is very soft and tender. It would be having the tendency of believing everything. The world of children is totally different. The child always thinks that his parents are very perfect and they know all. This is the most delicate but appropriate time for the mother to teach him what the real love is. She should make him to love her. During this period, the child should be taught about the self discipline, which is the foremost quality required to lead his life. He should be taught the morals by way of stories, which would be very interesting to him. In this way, the morals would be registered in the child’s mind very strongly. The child loves mother as well as his father and that is the main reason that he learns fast and follow the morals he learnt from them. The mother, at any cost, should not express her anger feelings in her face, while feeding him. She should never scold him, even when he does a job wrongly. He should be taught the way of doing the same in a perfect manner. The child should always be dealt with soft hands, in such a way that he realizes his mistakes.

The responsibilities of the Father: The child always feels that his father is the only perfect gentleman in the entire world. In his view, his father is his hero. The child loves to follow the activities of his father. Here, the way of approach of the father is very important for the child. It would follow the activities of his father ever, since he believes that the acts of his father would be perfect. The father of the child should be very careful in handling the child. For example, when a man smokes a cigarette in front of his child, it would be registered in his mind strongly and if future, it would not be a surprise if he becomes a smoker. So to say, no unwanted things should be done when the child is watching you. We may think that the child is just seeing us. But it would be entirely different, as far as his mind is concerned. He would be thinking the same thing in his mind and would be repeating the action mentally. It is the moral responsibility of the father of the child to educate him. He should be given proper education while he is very young. When he joins the school, it is the duty of the mother to give him the food and dress him properly and make him happy, while he is ready for the school. When he comes back from the school, the father should enquire about the lessons that were taught on that day. He should devote some time exclusively for the child in his studies. He should clear all the doubts in his school works. Cultivating good habits is essential for his future life. When the father of the child is having the good qualities, naturally the child would surely have the same qualities. The parents of the child should never quarrel or fight in front of the child. The misunderstandings between the parents should be solved while is the child is away from that place. Otherwise, the child would have a fighting quality in its mind, which is not desirable.

Next stage of the child is the adolescent age. This is the most dangerous stage for the child as well as for the parents. This period is a very sensitive and delicate one to handle. If the child is not protected and guided properly, then the result would be an intolerable one. In this stage, the thoughts of the children would be dramatically different from others. Each and every child would have its own imaginations and it would like to move in that way. Here, the parents have to be very careful to move with their child. The child should always feel that you are his friend. When the child is a girl, the mother should take care of this and when the child is a boy, it would be the responsibility of the father of the child to take care of him. This is the stage, when he is in need of a very sincere friendship. If the father or mother moves with him as his friend, then he would be groomed in the exact direction to achieve his goals in his life. Otherwise, it would be very difficult to learn about his qualities and his habits. It is very easy for the child to hide his habits and move as an innocent boy or a girl. The parents must watch their child without his knowledge and observe his attitudes. This is very important for his future life. We have to go deep about his friends. Unless we have an eye of his friendship, in future the parents would have to face unexpected twists in his life. It depends upon many factors. Though there is a vast difference in culture with each and every country, the parents should always insist their child to follow the best culture that would be suitable for the future of their child. In many countries, there is no binding at all in the family. Of course, it is a must that the child should understand how to live independently, without other’s help. But at the same time, he should be in the position to realize his responsibilities. No one could blame a child, if it is not bestowed with good qualities, since it is simply because of the negligence of the parents. When the parents have the self realization, surely the brought up of their child would be at its best. By all means, he will surely shine, and his presence in the society would be very useful in the betterment of the future society. If the child grows in this way, in future there would be no wars and we can definitely look forward to an undivided and united society.

I am Sampath Kannan, a freelance writer, writing articles as anian. I have written many articles in various web sites. I would be glad to receive suggestions from the readers, which would be very helpful to gain proffesinalism. My contact address is anisampath@hotmail.com.

When speaking to parents about child identification, the first things that come to mind are fingerprints and DNA information. However, there seems to be a complete lack of awareness regarding fingerprints and the crucial need in updating them on a regular basis.

Most parents, with the exception of people who have studied medicine or criminology, believe that their children’s fingerprints remain the same from birth to death.

We all believe our fingerprints to be as permanent as a tiger’s stripes since they are formed before our birth, while in the womb. Though this is absolutely correct, here is the kicker; children’s fingerprints are actually changing for the first five to seven years of their life.

The easiest way to explain this contradiction to you is with the following example; picture an under-inflated balloon with a picture on its surface, as this under-inflated balloon has air added to it, the picture becomes larger and becomes somewhat distorted.

With this in mind, think about the size of a newborn’s fingers. Pretty darn tiny!

On average it takes children approximately eighteen to twenty one months before their very tiny fingerprints have developed enough to be of any use. We have all heard the expression “As smooth as a baby’s bottom” this also applies to fingers!

That is why footprints are taken for children younger than twenty-one months of age.

Now getting back to our “balloon”, think of your child’s fingerprints as the picture on the balloon, as they grow older, their fingerprints, though they are actually changing, remain the same. One thing to keep in mind is that as your children grow older, their fingerprints might also change due to their skin’s flexibility and also due to disfiguration caused by a scar(s).

When studying fingerprints, the authorities use certain identifying features or characteristic points: ridge endings, dots and bifurcations, in order to make a positive identification. With every passing year of your child’s life, their fingers are growing in size, and these characteristic points become more pronounced, it becomes easier for the authorities to read your child’s fingerprints.

For this reason, it is your task, as a responsible parent to update your child’s fingerprints at least once a year. The thought of the fingerprints ever becoming useful is in itself a bone chilling one, for they are only used after the unimaginable has happened, passive identification. However, if needed, do you not want to provide the authorities with your child’s the most accurate and easiest to distinguish identification?

Our next tidbit of advice is on the location in which parents keep their children’s fingerprints. We recommend you keep them in a Ziploc baggie in the bottom of the freezer.

Here are some of the reasons for this suggestion:

- Your children do not play in the freezer and other than food nothing is kept in the freezer, therefore, you will always know exactly where they are.

- If you are not at home, you can easily direct a babysitter or neighbor to your freezer.

- Unlike a bank safety deposit box, you always have access to your freezer.

- Unlike a home safe or strong box, if in a state of panic, you don’t have to try and remember a four, five or six digit combination, or try to explain to a babysitter how to open your safe.

Our logic behind this suggestion is; should the unthinkable ever happen, the minute the authorities knock on your door, you want to have your child’s identification/fingerprint kit in their hands. Time is of the essence; you do not want to be tearing the house apart trying to remember where your child’s fingerprints are.

Last tidbit; when leaving town on holidays, don’t forget to pack your children’s identification kit. Once again if something ever happened, your kids identification will not be of much use, two thousand miles away in your freezer.

Our fingerprints are completely unique, one of a kind! Identical twins do not have the same fingerprints, although they do share the same DNA.

Keep in mind, as you are now aware, fingerprints and DNA information will only ever be used after something happens. When looking for a Child ID provider, please remember the old adage “an ounce of prevention far outweighs a pound of cure”, think “proactive”.

Scott Irwin is the Marketing Director for Child I.D. Labels inc. Founded in 1995, Child ID Labels has been protecting North American children for more than 10 years. For more information on their unique proactive approach to child identification and how you can help keep your children safe visit http://www.childidatlantic.com. Child ID Labels inc. is growing and open to international distributorship inquiries. Email us at info@childidatlantic.com.

The numerous car accidents each year that are resulting to deaths and injuries of young children necessitated the use of another car safety device: baby car seat.

The most common dilemma of most parents is choosing the best baby car seat from among the so many variations (each with its own safety feature) that is being sold in the market. The answer to this is whatever fits the baby comfortable, fits in your car snugly and is within the budget is the best baby car seat that anyone can find.

All baby car seats, and for that matter everything that has to do with vehicular safety, has to pass. The same federal crash testing and safety measures. Baby car seats that are approved by the government has the assurance of safety, the standards is set has to be passed by all manufacturers. Needless to say, even the cheapest baby car seat sold in the market has gone through the same crash tests and will always protect the young against crashes provided these are properly installed.

Extra features are fine but these add up to the cost of the baby car seat. Higher prices do not always mean the best, as there are no “best” car baby seats. Some extra features will only be meaningful if it can be used but the car seat must fit the baby first.

Once you have chosen a baby car seat that you like, the next item on your list is to read the manufacturer instruction manual. The most expensive and multiple featured baby car seat will not be of any use if the manufacturers manual is read thoroughly as those may have special requirements about special fitting and use.

In any event, the same rule will apply. Children and infants that weigh below 20 lbs. should be seated facing the rear of the car. If the child is already one year old and still below the required weight limits the appropriate car baby seat must be the convertible type but the child still has to be seated facing the rear. The convertibles can be fitted to face the front, which could be a good preparation when he/she exceeds the weight limit.

Infant-only seats are small portable seats that often are a part of a stroller system. It has three to five point harnesses and can be used for children up to 22 lbs. The seat usually comes with a detachable base for convenience as it means that you do not have to install the seat every time it is used.

Bigger baby car seats are used for older and bigger babies and are forward facing. Like the infant only car baby seat, this also comes with a five-point harness. Added feature is a padded T-Shield that is attached to the shoulder straps and a padded tray like overhead shields that that swing down around the child.

Baby car seats, no matter what the type is have one thing in common: they are all designed to protect the baby from any untoward accidents that may happen during the trip. And like safety belt that are attached on the seat of the cars to harness adult passengers, baby car seats provide security to the little ones on board.

Robert Thatcher is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides baby car seat resources on http://www.about-baby-car-seats.info

Nothing touches the heartstrings of a parent more than the plaintive cry “nobody likes me” or “I don’t have any friends.” We wish there were something we could do to insure our child will be, if not the most popular, at least included in the games on the playground. Actually, there is something we can do to increase their acceptance by the group and become more approachable to others.

New research shows that all likeable children behave in certain ways. These skills are not in-born but can be taught by parents, teachers and other caring adults. There is a language of likeability that some children cannot pick up by osmosis, but must learn. Not only does fitting in and having friends feel good, it has numerous other advantages including better grades, healthier bodies, less stress, and more opportunities to learn social skills. Children who feel like they have friends tend to stay in school longer, make wiser decisions, and are generally happier.

Parents: Here are 7 secrets to assisting your child to be more likeable. Teach and model them on a daily basis and you will find your social circle enlarging.

1. Look for opportunities to assist others. Studies show that helpfulness correlates more strongly than any other attribute to being liked. Teach them to be aware of other people’s needs and to offer people spontaneously, before they ask for it.

2. Find something that makes you feel special. Encourage your child to find an activity, hobby or interest that they really enjoy. They don’t have to excel at it, just enjoy it. Do you enjoy drama, dance or railroads? Join a group of enthusiasts.

3. Say “hello” first, and smile. People who smile are perceived as nice and approachable. Friendly and optimistic people act as a magnet to others. Have you ever gotten mad at someone who smiled or said hi to you?

4. Don’t stand out from the crowd. Whether we like it or not, kids are judged by the way they look. Try to help them fit in socially.

5. Don’t take it personally. Help your child understand that another person may just be having a bad day and may not be mad or dislike him or her. Teach them that people are really less concerned about us than we would like to think.

6. Watch your body language. Verbal communication is the language of information. Body language is the language of relationships. Appear open, friendly and eager to join in and make friends. Stand up straight and look people in the eye. Respect other people’s space by not standing too close.

7. Recognize the difference between friendship and popularity. Friendship is more important and will last a lifetime. Popularity is fleeting and dependent on the group. You really only need one good friend.

© Judy H. Wright, www.ArtichokePress.com

This article has been written by Judy H. Wright, a parent educator and PBS consultant. You will find a full listing of books, tele-classes, and workshops listed at www.ArtichokePress.com. You have permission to use the article providing full credit is given to author. She may be contacted at 406-549-9813 or JudyWright@ArtichokePress.com