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Top 10 Tips to Organize Your Children

January 31, 2012 By 1 Comment

By Bonnie Joy Dewkett

 

shelves of our house

Children’s artwork is a bittersweet thing. It’s beautiful and can represent a glimpse into the world as seen through a child’s eyes. It can also be a great indicator of your child’s development. However, artwork can add up. Before you know it, artwork can over whelm your counters, refrigerator, and walls. By implementing the following steps you will make sure your memories are kept in tact, and decrease the clutter.

  • Before you do anything with a piece of artwork, decide what it means to you. Is it the best piece your child has ever done or is it just another piece they drew while waiting for dinner at a restaurant? Be honest with yourself.
  • Do you have family members that live far away? Have your child sign pieces of artwork, then write a quick note and send the artwork to friends and family who live far away. It may sound silly to you because you have dozens of pieces, but to them it may be the only piece they have!
  • For three-dimensional pieces of art, the easiest thing to do is take a photo of your child with the piece; keep it for a little while, and then dispose of it. I usually suggest moving it to another area of the house, such as the garage, after a period of time. If its not missed, you can easily get rid of it.
  • Use frames that are easily changeable to house artwork. Job tickets are small plastic sheaths that are designed to house contractor’s paperwork on dirty and wet job sites. They are inexpensive and easy to hang on your wall. Papers slip in and out quickly and easily. Changing artwork is a snap.
  • Pizza boxes make great artwork storage. Ask at your local pizza place to give you some unused boxes. Most restaurants will give them away for free. You can group artwork by date, child or academic year.
  • For artwork that is flat, consider scanning it in and storing it digitally.
  • Take photos of your child with their artwork. Then you can print them and put them into an album or you can print a digital photo book. This gives you a printed record of your child’s progress. Print multiple books and give them to family members.
  • Set limits with your child on just how many pieces of artwork you will keep. Stay within these boundaries and it will help them learn to determine which pieces have meaning and which pieces do not.
  • Combine storage with display. Use a string and clothespins to display a large number of items in a small amount of space.
  • Make sure you hold yourself accountable to sit down and sort through artwork. It will build up as the school year progresses. Putting a date into your calendar to make those difficult decisions will make sure it gets done and make sure the artwork doesn’t pile up too high. For the pieces you have determined should be kept and are important, take the time to have them laminated and to protect them in clearly labeled plastic containers.

Bonnie Joy Dewkett, CPO® is an organizing expert, author, and motivational speaker. Her company, The Joyful Organizer®, creates and implements organizational systems for the home or office. These changes allow her Customers to create calm from chaos at work and at home. Bonnie has achieved the prestigious designation of Certified Professional Organizer, CPO®, fromThe Board of Certification for Professional Organizers.She is a member of The National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) and has published The Joyful Organizer’s Guide to a Joyful Move which is available on her website http://www.thejoyfulorganizer.com.

 

Image courtesy of Flicker

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Amber Alerts: What to Do If Your Child Goes Missing

January 10, 2012 By 1 Comment

By Marc Courtiol

International_Missing_Children_by_deviantonis1

It is one of every parent’s worse nightmares. You take your eye off your child for a minute only to find her gone when you turn around. Or one day he does not get home from school at the normal time. Or she goes outside to play and does not come back in. Scenarios like these are fortunately uncommon, and when they do happen there is usually a good explanation, and it is usually pretty easy to find the temporarily missing child. But what about those very rare cases where the child is not easily found?

If this should happen to you, your first instinct may be to panic. Any parent would. But it is important to keep a level head, think rationally, and do what needs to be done. Should the unthinkable happen and you cannot find your child, here is what you need to do.

Step 1: Someone who knows the child should be out actively looking while you are going through the first few steps of the process. If you wish to be the one out looking, have someone else go through these steps on your behalf. Ideally, multiple people should be out looking-at least one person on foot around where the child went missing, and at least one other person searching the surrounding area via car. But make sure someone is always at home.

Step 2: If there was ever an emergency, this is it. Pick up the phone and dial 911. Do not worry-they will not dismiss you or tell you your case is not an emergency. Calmly inform them of how long your child has been missing, and give them all the relevant information they need. They will likely ask take you through a process that involves a series of questions about your child’s age, appearance, clothing, and last known whereabouts. If you do not feel your call is being treated seriously enough, ask to speak to someone in charge.

Step 3: Notify other authorities of the missing child. Your 911 call will get the ball rolling on some crucial aspects of the investigation, and they may tell you that you do not need to call anyone else. But just to cover all bases, call the local police as well as any other police departments whose jurisdiction covers the area where your child went missing. You might also get in touch with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Each of these resources should have a process for dealing with missing children.

Step 4: Notify local media. Many local news sources are always willing to help out in cases like this by sending out alerts and notifying their viewers and readers to be on the lookout.

Step 5: Contact organizations devoted to finding missing children. A great place to start is the National Center for Missing and Exploiting Children, and you may be able to locate nonprofits in your area with expertise in helping out in this kind of situation.

Step 6: Ask for help from those around you. This is going to be a difficult time for you. And even if your child comes home safely very soon you are likely to suffer frayed nerves for a while. Get in touch with anyone who you think would be able and willing to drop everything and help you. And if you do not have any close friends or family nearby, ask neighbors. In situations like these, most people are willing to lend a hand, even if they do not know you.

Step 7: Follow up on everything. If you feel the law enforcement agencies are taking too long to investigate your case or get back to you, do not be afraid to call and visit them multiple times. Meanwhile, keep taking matters into your own hands. Keep searching actively and calling around to anyone who might know something. Do not give up hope. Despite all frightening stories we hear on the news, keep in mind that the vast majority of missing-child cases have happy endings.

About Marc Courtiol: Marc Courtiol is an accomplished health researcher in the field of natural wellness. A graduate from Cornell, Marc is a contributing author for several online journal sites and believes in the many uses of gripe water.

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Breastfeeding: Answers to Five Common Questions

December 27, 2011 By 1 Comment

Most new mothers who choose to breastfeed discover almost immediately that little instruction is required. The act of nursing is instinctive for both mother and baby, and even without outside help the process usually goes relatively smoothly. But even when things go relatively smoothly, it is common for problems to arise. If you are encountering breastfeeding problems or are worried about issues you may face in the future, here are some of the most questions that might arise.

Is breast milk enough?

Many mothers worry that their breast milk will not be enough to satisfy all of a baby’s nutritional needs. Set this worry aside. A mother’s ability to produce copious, vitamin-rich milk is backed by millions of years of evolution, and the body has an almost incredible ability to produce good milk, even if it means the mother has to miss out on some nutrients herself. Try not to let this happen, though. While breastfeeding, make sure to eat a variety of healthy foods, and be sure to eat a few hundred extra calories per day.

What if my baby will not nurse?

There are any number of reasons why a baby might refuse to take the breast. If your baby is otherwise healthy, reluctance to feed may indicate sleepiness, fullness, or too much gas in the belly. Initially, try to have faith in your baby, and trust that he or she will take the breast when it is time. But if the problem persists and the baby goes several hours without eating, get in touch with your doctor or a lactation consultant.

 What if I do not produce enough milk?

For a healthy mother who is breastfeeding, milk supply is based on demand. The more your child eats from the breast, the more milk you will produce. Once you get through the initial week or two of breastfeeding, you may even find that your body produces milk on a set schedule, making at times of day when the baby tends to be most hungry. Try not to worry. Many mothers are initially worried that they will not produce enough milk. More often than not, within a week or two they are producing more milk than they can use (in which case pumping becomes necessary).

 How do I prevent spitting up?

First, accept that your baby is going to spit up sometimes. All babies do it. Some do it more than others, and this does not necessarily indicate any failing on the part of the parents. However, spitting up can be minimized by (1) making sure the baby does not eat too much, and (2) burping during and after the feeding process. For the first point, try to read your baby’s signals. When she pulls away or slows down drastically, she might be done. As for burping, try to do it once halfway through the feeding and once at the end. You will become quite good at it after a few weeks.

What if my baby falls asleep while feeding?

Newborns are especially wont to fall asleep during feeding, but some older babies continue to do it for months. Think of it as a good sign. It shows that your baby is so soothed by your milk and your presence that he relaxes to the point of sleep. However, it is important to make sure that he gets enough. When he falls asleep, gently pat him, tickle his feet, talk to him, sing to him, or break the mouth suction. Do whatever it takes to keep him sucking until he has had his fill.

 

Guest article provided by Lisa Pecos who is a wife and well accomplished writer on natural remedies and natural approaches to family health. She’s written numerous articles for Natural Health Journals.com, Parenting Journals.com and Baby Care Journals.com.

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Communicating With Your Baby in the First Six Months

December 21, 2011 By 2 Comments

By Jamell Andrews

During the first six months of a child’s life, parents go through virtually every conceivable emotion, from elation, to frustration, to hope, to terror. But there is one that stands above all the rest: The pure elation you feel when you begin to truly communicate with their little one. During the very early weeks of the baby’s life, parents are busy taking care of all the baby’s needs, but it is not until a little later that the back-and-forth, loving communication becomes tangible. And when this happens, it is one of the highlights of any parent’s life.

For first-time parents, it can be difficult to know exactly what to expect from a child during the first six months. Every child is different. Plus, new parents who have limited experience with infants often imagine that back-and-forth communication begins immediately after birth. Many are surprised to discover that a newborn cannot make eye contact and barely responds to stimuli. This phase is short-lived, however, and the magic of parent-child communication comes soon.

The first three months

Of course, newborn babies do communicate, as new parents quickly learn. Newborns cry for several reasons, including hunger, sleepiness, hot, cold, stomachache, and discomfort. And while the crying tends to be rather subdued right after birth, it tends to pick up after a couple of days-usually right around the time baby comes from the hospital. From this point, the baby’s communication is steady crescendo of crying that usually peaks after two or three months. For many parents this is the period of greatest frustration and lost sleep. But it passes.

The second month is when the magic really begins. That is when you can expect to see your child smile for the first time, and if you are lucky she may even begin to smile in response to you. Around the same time, the baby will begin to make non-crying vocalizations. By the third month these vocalizations will become recognizable speech like sounds (lots of “boos,” “goos,” “ha’s”), and soon she will begin to make these sounds in response to your speech. Meanwhile, she will no longer have trouble making eye contact with you.

During this time, the best thing to do is follow your baby’s lead. Whenever the baby is in the mood to smile and baby talk, go along with her. Get close, make eye contact (she will see you best if you place your face 1-2 feet from hers), and talk to her. You can say real words to her, sing her songs, or even imitate her vocalizations. The key is to make it a communicative activity. When she is in the mood, she will love it.

The second three months

If you thought those first smiles and early baby talk were exciting, wait until you experience what happens next. Around the fourth month, you can expect your baby’s first laugh. Younger babies often make laugh-like sounds, but these sounds are generally not in response to anything in particular. In these later months, however, your baby will begin to laugh at things you do. And when he is in the mood to be entertained, it is your job to be the entertainer. Let go of your inhibitions and figure out what makes him happy. You may sometimes feel you are making a fool of yourself, but it is worth it.

The other exciting development in these months is that your child will begin to understand speech a little better. He will not be able to understand sentences or make words himself, but he will definitely learn his name along with a few basic words. Meanwhile, his own vocalizations will begin to sound more like real speech. Do not expect real words, though. That will take another year or so.

You can help by continuing your conversations with your baby. Again, these can involve real words, baby talk, or even songs. Supplement the speech learning with books. He may not be very engaged with them, but he will enjoy your voice, and the activity will get him used to hearing a variety of words. Outside your reading, though, it is best to keep speech simple. Speak with simple words and sentences, and be sure to enunciate everything clearly. This will help your baby get a grasp on speech a little more quickly.

Jamell Andrews is an accomplished writer who believes in the power of homeopathic medicine. She is a regular contributor to Baby Care Journals.

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Healthcare tips for your dog during the aging years

December 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Dogs which are growing old need special care for their physical and mental health. A balanced nutrition is very important for aging dogs. You should also consult a vet on a regular basis to keep a tab on the dog’s health. Contrary to popular belief, an aging dog can live for many years if proper care is taken.

Nutrition

Do not administer poor quality protein to old dogs as it can seriously hamper the health of the dog. Aging dogs need more proteins than normal adult dogs; so always give him/her good quality proteins. The diet should consist of high quality lean animal proteins like chicken and lamb. The digestive system of an old dog gets stressed out due to excessive intake of glutens and carbohydrates. The diet should be free from corn, wheat, soy and white rice.

The diet of an aging dog should consist of foods that will support and improve the health of the joints. You can use oral supplements like glucosamine for this purpose. Sea cucumber is also very helpful. The best natural source of glucosamine is the raw meaty bones.

Vet Care

The aging dogs need more care from the vets than the puppies and the young adult dogs. The old dogs needs a check-up thrice a year and a blood work should be done half-yearly. This will help the vet to monitor the health of the dog very carefully. You should be on the look-out for any changes in the behavior of the dogs. The teeth of the dog should be brushed daily to prevent the formation of plaque and tartar.

If you notice any change in the behavior of the dog then you should report that to the vet immediately. The dog may exhibit signs of incontinence which can be due to severe kidney problems. If the dog is becoming a little bit aggressive then it can be due to thyroid disease, brain tumor or may be due to other severe neurological issues. Dementia is also not very uncommon among dogs. A regular visit to the vet from time to time will ensure that your dog is in the pink of health at all times.

Mental Stimulation

You should never keep an aging dog alone at home. She is now not that athletic and agile as before. Mental exercise is necessary to keep away deteriorating health and this hold true even for dogs that are ill or arthritic.

It may happen that your loving dog is no longer capable of walking to the park. In that case put her in the car and take her to the park. Allow her to listen to the familiar sounds and soak in the atmosphere and the smells. You can consider taking her to new places so that she gets exposed to new stimuli. When you are at home you must play those games that will allow the dog to use her mind. Hide her favorite food under one of the three caps and let her sniff out the food. You can even encourage her to play hide and seek in the house. Always allow the dog to sleep near the window so that she can observe the neighborhood. Make comfortable bedding for her beside the window.

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Guest article written by: Alia Haley who is a blogger by profession. She loves writing on environment and technology. Beside this she is fond of books. She recently bought a book on Alternative medicine. These days she is busy in writing an article on Takagi Tankless Water Heater.

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