|
|
News: We are constantly looking for news and events to share. If you are a writer, or if you have something that may be of interest, contact us with all the details.
Regards,
Julie & Kevin – More4kids Inc.
"More4kids, because kids don't come with instructions"
Pregnancy , Early Signs of Pregnancy and Baby Names
Homeschooling ResourcesBaby Development
Children's Health
Kids Safety and Internet security
Tips to Help Parents Save Money
Personalized Childrens Gifts – by More4kids
Parenting at More4kids Sponsor Spotlight
Amalia Starr
There are thousands of children being diagnosed with autism everyday and as those children grow up, we need to have the resources in place to help them, and as parents and professionals we need to know what to do.
Amalia Starr is an Autism Motivational Speaker. Her presentations are uplifting, empowering, informative with 36 years of experience. Amalia has helped her son, Brandon achieve independence, despite having Asperger's, untreatable epilepsy, and severe learning disorders.
Amalia's new book, Raising Brandon has answers and solutions that every parent needs when raising a child or adult with autism.
Remember, growth comes from experience. Allow your children to learn life by living life, and grow into their full potential.
Visit her website at http://amaliastarrspeakerautism.com/
To book Amalia for your next event call: 800-939-1046.
Thankyou Amalia for helping to Sponsor More4kids and keep us going another year!!
by Stephanie Partridge
How do we, as parents, know when it is time for our offspring to leave the nest? And at what point should we push them out of the nest? This dilemma has been plaguing parents for ages. But the bigger question is how do we prepare our children for independence? If you have seen the comedy, “Failure to Launch,” about an adult man who still lives with him parents, you may have chuckled a few times, but in the back of your mind you were probably thinking, “That could be me!”
The confusing thing about this is that if you ask ten different parents you will get ten different answers. When it comes to raising kids, parents tend to have strong opinions.
The adult child in the movie was equipped for the “real world,” but had little motivation to “launch.” His parents made his world cushy and he had no motivation to leave the nest. As parents, it is instinctual to try to do things to make our children’s lives easier. We want them to be happy and we don’t want them to experience discomfort or pain.
Unfortunately, life isn’t so kind – and we won’t always be around to shield them from the harshness of reality.
This means that it is our duty as parents to prepare them. We have to teach them the value of hard work, just how far a dollar really goes and that not everyone is as nice, forgiving and accommodating as mom and dad. And the pain from that growth is almost as hard on us as it is on our children. But it is very, very necessary.
I had an “easy” life when it came to chores, money and “stuff.” I didn’t have to do chores, my parents gave me money whenever I wanted it and whatever “stuff” I wanted or needed was supplied to me with little or no effort on my part.READ More on Parenting Your Teen Towards Independence
courtesy: www.hospital.com
Every American knows that one of the most pressing issues in our country is related to the greasy hamburgers and fries that our citizens wolf down on a daily basis: obesity. Recent statistics have shown that obesity is present and continually growing in our country, with over 25% of Americans being considered obese. While more present in adults, American children are not immune to obesity. In fact, in the past 30 years, childhood obesity rates have more than tripled, from just of 5% to nearly 20% of children aged from 6-19 being characterized by obese.
The problem should be of utmost interest to parents of young children. In a society where obesity is seemingly the natural progression of growth, parents are becoming more and more aware that the responsibility lies on their shoulders to encourage their children to live a healthy, active lifestyle. While many children have no interest in sports or exercise, there are many other ways to keep your children active and healthy. For example, children playing with their peers on a playground get enough exercise for their growing bodies. Exercise, like the aerobic workout of playing tag, can help children develop stronger muscles and bones, decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes, lower blood pressure, and prevent obesity.READ More on Keeping your Kids Active
Filed under Health by 
by Jennifer Shakeel
It does not matter how you feel about your child and romance you are probably not going to be ready for them to have a boyfriend or girlfriend. That time will be here before you know it and as the parent you have the privilege of setting the tone and guiding your young person through this exciting time in their young life. It just recently happened to us; our 15 year old daughter had her first boyfriend. As much as you know the time is coming, it takes your breath away when it does happen.
Some tips may help you and your child navigate this milestone and draw even closer in your relationship.
1. You first need to admit that this day will come and prepare for it, long before it gets here. Before your young person jumps into the romance pool, you will have had the chance to set the platform for their romantic relationships. Help them make friends of sexes, modeling the standards of your family and labeling the good qualities in the friends they bring home. If your family is socially responsible, values faith and education then help your kids appreciate those qualities in themselves. Liking themselves and knowing where they stand, before they fall into a romance gives them a good framework for healthy relationships.
2. When your child comes home with the spark of romance in their eyes, talking about the person she “likes” or “loves” be positive. This is not the time to ridicule your child, and tell them they are too young or make fun of the object of their affection. Instead, celebrate with your young person that they can know such a wonderful person and share such exciting feelings. This will keep you in the loop, and you will continue to have open lines of communication. If your ten year old tells you she is “going out” with the boy down the block, do not just jump in and declare “You are not going anywhere!” but instead get a feel for what this means to her. It might mean sitting on the bus together.READ More on Parenting and Surviving the First Boyfriend/Girlfriend
S-T-R-E-S-S – Helping Your Teen Deal
by Stephanie Partridge
Our kids are stressed. Study after study is confirming this, citing a wide range of stress related complications such as sleep problems, anxiety, depression and eating disorders. Our kids are growing up in a world that is much more stressful than the one we knew as teens. And it is having a significant impact on them.
My kids have expressed to me the various stressors that they have in their lives. My daughter, who is 17, will be graduating in June. She is looking at colleges right now. While she seems to take everything in stride, she has, from time to time, talked to me about the stress she is under. School, grades and finding a good college are all areas that cause her worry. Her teachers adore her and her grades are exceptional, she is even in college prep courses that she loves, but she admits to feeling stressed out sometimes.
My 15 year old son, on the other hand, tends to show his stress more. He has a learning disability which makes an already stressful classroom situation even more difficult. He does well in school and is very popular, but he worries about everything. He won’t broach the subject, but we all spend time in the evenings talking as a family and many times those worries rise to the surface. He worries about me, about my health, about the fact that I am “alone” (despite my telling him that I am very happy being single), about our finances (I have a good job, but what little child support I get is sporadic at best) and so many other things. He worries about school, his sister, his friends. Sometimes even I am overwhelmed.READ More on Stress and Your Teen
Filed under Teenagers by
50 Ways to know when you graduated to parenthood!
Ah, the joys of parenting! It is the most wonderful job you will ever have. It is also the most frustrating, gross and exhausting. Take a break and enjoy a chuckle over these 50 ways that you know you’re a parent.
My kids are 15, 17 and 19 and they still freak out over number 29. Number 27 is one of my favorites too, gets me every time!
- You can’t remember the last time you were able to go in the bathroom, close the door and not be interrupted.
- You know the book “Goodnight Moon” – by heart.
- You have actually acquired a taste for strained peas.
- A full night’s sleep is a luxury – and something you haven’t had in so long you can’t even remember.
- It takes you two days to shave your legs: one leg one day and the other leg the next day.
- You have never been so frustrated and so in love with anyone in your life.
- You are at dinner with a friend, they spill something on their shirt and you reach into your bag and pull out baby wipes to clean up.
- You not only carry smiley face bandages with you, you also carry antibiotic ointment.
- You have at least one story of how your child cut their own hair.
- The three second rule isn’t set in stone, sometimes it’s five seconds, sometimes even more.
- You realize that you are now one of those annoying people who carries a “brag book” of photos of your kids and corners unsuspecting victims with “cute” stories about your offspring.
- Pregnancy and birth stories are interesting.
- You have traded in your silk, wool and cashmere for the more practical cotton and polyester.
- Baby talk is not reserved for just your children.
- You have stayed up till 1 am making cup cakes for an entire class of first graders.READ More on You Know You’re a Parent When…
by Stephanie Partridge
Dogs have it going on. As we are starting the new year, I am becoming more reflective regarding how I live my life. I have decided that I will take some lessons from my dog. I wanted to pass them on to you – maybe you or your kids will be inspired.
1. My chihuahua's best friends were a bulldog, a pit bull and a cat! Talk about embracing diversity!
2. It's the little things that matter. A pat on the head and a hug are far better than a new collar or toy.
3. Sometimes a growl is all that it takes to get your point across. You very rarely have to actually bite.
4. There is nothing more important than food to eat, shelter from the weather and being with those who love you.
5. Protect and guard your loved ones at all costs.
6. Walking in the sunshine is an event to be anticipated and savored.
7. When you need a nap, take it.
8. Drink lots of water.
9. There is nothing so comforting as sleeping next to someone you love.
10. When a loved one comes home, even if only at the end of the day, it is a cause for celebration.
Biography
Stephanie Partridge: I am a mom, not just to my three terrific teenagers, but to the entire neighborhood! I am also blessed with a wonderful husband who married us all and moved into the dad role with an ease that is awe inspiring. We live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with our three pit bulls, Chihuahua (who rules the house) and two cats. I am currently pursuing a psychology degree so that I can counsel young people and incorporate therapy dogs into my practice.
No part of this article may be copied or reproduced in any form without the express permission of More4Kids Inc © and All Rights Reserved
Filed under Family by
by Joy Burgess
If you have a teen in your home, at some point they probably will want to get a job. Of course, there are some things you are going to have to do to prepare them to go out there in the work force. Teens need good preparation for a job at home, great ideas for jobs, and tips for actually landing that job. You can help your teen to make the transition to a working teen, which is not always as easy as teens may think. It is even more difficult to land jobs in this struggling economy, which is something your teen needs to understand. Here is a closer look at how you can your teen can prepare, find, and land a good job, even during tough times.
Preparing Your Teen for Their First Job
The first step in the job process for you and your teen is to start preparing your teen for their first job. It's not easy to step into employment from being a carefree teenager. However, you can make this a process that is smoother for them with some simple preparation.
Analyze Their Interest: One thing you can do to prepare your teen for a job is analyze the interest that they have. If they have some interests in a particular job, consider helping them find a volunteer position so that they can see what it is like. This also will give them a taste of keeping a schedule that balances school, work, homework, and family and friends.
Make Sure They are Responsible at Home: Another thing that you can do to make sure they are well prepared on the job is to make sure they are responsible at home. Ensure that your child is handling their responsibilities at home. If they are not able to keep up with home responsibilities, your teen probably is not ready to handle the responsibilities that come with balancing a job, school, and more.
Teach Them About Handling Money: This is the perfect time to teach your teen about handling money. If they are going to make money, you want them to handle it in a responsible manner. Consider helping them open a bank account, teach them the basics about keeping up a checkbook, and make sure they know about saving money and how important it is.
Great Job Ideas for Teens
Not sure what jobs are great for teens today? It's a good idea to know what jobs are out there for teens. Here is a look at some great job ideas that your teen may be interest in.READ More on Teen Jobs – Preparing Your Teen for a Job in a Struggling Economy
Filed under Parenting Tips, Teenagers by
The teaching of manners has come in and out of vogue over the past several generations. Many parents today consider manners important, but aren't sure when to introduce the ideas or how to broach the subject. Kids don't require formal lessons and learn best in the natural course of life.
Books are a great way to introduce a new concept and start a discussion with your child. There are a variety of books written on topics related to manners. One good example for general manners is Perfect Pigs: An Introduction to Manners by Marc Brown (author of the Arthur series) and Stephen Krensky. This book covers a variety of table and living manners topics and situations.
When you decide to begin focusing on manners, don't try to teach it all at once. Prioritize the issues that are most important to your family and select one or two things to focus on. You don't want to overload your child with a sudden onslaught of lessons in manners. Take it slow.READ More on Teaching Manners
Filed under Parenting by
Tracing Your Family Tree – Getting Started in Genealogy
Discovering your family history is not only a fun activity, but can help bring your family closer together
I was thinking of great family projects for 2010 and I thought about how great it would be to research ones own family history. For many reasons, it is important to know about your family background. It can give you and your family a sense of who you are and where you've come from. It can also be important because knowing how your ancestors died could have an effect on your own medical history. If you're not sure what you need to get started in genealogy, here are some tips to get started.
First off, you will need to have some basic office supplies available when you get started. File folders can be used to keep any blank charts you'll need; they can also be used to keep your ancestors organized. Start a file folder for each surname you find during your search. When it is too full, you can always separate the information further.
If you'd rather not keep everything you gather in paper form, you can invest in good genealogy software such as Roots Magic 3, Family Tree Maker or Legacy Family Tree 7.0 Deluxe. These will range in price between $30 and $100. You can also find free software, such as Personal Ancestral File 5.2 or Family Tree Builder 4.0.
The important thing to remember is to keep things organized, no matter which method you choose to keep notes on your family members. Be prepared, however, as you may find delving into your family background so interesting that it takes over a good amount of space in your home.READ More on Genealogy – Making Geneology a Family Affair
Filed under Activities, Family by
