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Preparing Your Child For College

Every parent wants her child to be successful, and that usually means getting a college degree. In today’s shaky economy, it may seem like something you simply cannot afford to give your kid. With a little shift in the way you think, commitment from your child, and willingness to work while going to school, you can still offer that education.

Most parenting resources will discuss the venerable institutions like your state University or the great ivy league institutions. However, more and more, associates degrees and technical education are coming to the forefront. We live in a technical world, and you’ve witnessed its effect on child development in your home.

Kids are computer whizzes. Therefore, think about enrolling your child in online college courses. You’ll be able to save money because housing costs disappear. The transportation costs will be almost non-existent, and you can urge your young student to work while going to school. Online courses are often available at the student’s convenience.

Here are a few tips and tricks for making online learning successful for your child:

  • It’s about discipline. If he lives at home, you can still set study times to make sure the course work gets done.
  • It’s about responsibility. Demand you child has a job while in college. This will also improve time management.
  • It’s about money. As your child becomes more responsible, ask him to take part in paying for his education.

You have, in essence, become the school counselor. You’ll be preparing your child for the real world. If he understands self-discipline, it will equip him for success in his first job after college

 

Filed Under: Child Development, Education, Parenting Tagged With: , ,

Agreement on Child’s Discipline Should be Talked About Early On

Children in Hanoi 

Image via Wikipedia

 

Parenting is one thing that everyone seems to have an opinion about – even those who don’t have any children have advice. Everyone has an idea of how to do it better, whether better is for the child or the parent. 

 

One thing (of many things) parents need to agree on is discipline. Children need discipline occasionally and if the parents always fight over what disclipine is utilized, it teaches the kid to always fight the decision handed out by their parents. It becomes the normal, natural way to handle things. 

 

If a couple cannot agree on some responses, they should at least agree to explain the reasons for their decision and what their line of thought was on it. That way kids aren’t absorbing how to fight to get their way and a better principal is instilled in growing children. 

 

They Might Have Good Reasoning 

Once one parent says why their decision is best, discussion can happen, bringing the parents to an informed compromise that‘s best for the child. 

 

A good way to start a conversation about this with the other parent is to straight out ask what they think. For instance, “I believe that swearing children should have their mouths washed out with soap. What do you think we should do if our child swears?” 

 

Starting a conversation about discipline tactics can eradicate the need to fight about it later, and it gets the couple to talk to each other for the best end result. It’s all about the child’s well-being and not who is the more argumentive or aggressive parent. The only one who should ‘win’ is the child.

 

 

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What to do During a Child Temper Tantrum

It’s inevitable during child development that your son or daughter will have a temper tantrum or two. Tantrums at home are one thing, but public temper tantrums are often embarrassing and more difficult to control. Here are a few tips and tricks on how to deal with your child’s next tantrum.

My humorous rendition of Nikki Grahame and her... 

Image via Wikipe

1.) Identify the cause of the tantrum- There is usually a method behind the tantrum madness. If your child has not eaten recently they may just be hungry. On the other hand, it may be attention they desire, so if there is a tantrum going on and you’ve been working on your own things for a while, it’s likely your child is just looking for some attention.

2.) Keep communication open- Most times while a child has a tantrum they are also screaming and yelling. If you reciprocate this behavior and yell back at them, you will surely only escalate the situation. Instead, continue to get at the root of the tantrum by asking your child simple questions. Eventually they will get around to what’s really bothering them and the tantrum will subside.

3.) Isolate the child until the tantrum runs its course- If your child continues to tantrum and being calm and communicative isn’t working, they may need a little private time. Find a room in your home or a quiet area where you can place your child in a time out. Often when they are no longer getting the negative attention they are seeking, the tantrum will subside and behavior will once again become stable.

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What to Expect from the Terrible Twos

The developmental stage known as the “terrible twos” involves a number of negative features from the child at this age. However, there are some things that you can do to aid your child during tough stages such as these. In the end, there are questions whether this is even a fair title for such a difficult stage.

During this stage you can expect some mood changes and temper tantrums. You might hear your child start making use of the word “no.” Additionally, during this age, it can become normal for them to have difficulty expressing themselves, and they may thus resort to hitting and biting.

In this time-frame you will need to implement effective techniques to help your child. Setting limits and using timeouts can be effective in terms of discipline. You also might have regular routines for meals and naps, and offer choices which will enable your child to make decisions. There is no single easy answer, though, and persistence is the key here.

You could also implement rewards for behavior. This is particularly effective if your child is in daycare, but also relevant at home. Perhaps you could reward your child with American girl doll clothes or another favorite object.

Your child may experience this difficult stage around two or three years old. Do your best to find ways to help your child cope, with effective discipline, routines, and rewards as part of the mix. It may not be easy, but you can help your child get through this troubling stage.

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Dressing Your Children in Designer Labels

It is becoming increasingly common to put more time and attention into how we dress our children. It used to be that the department store brands were enough, as long as the outfit was cute and had a train, a butterfly or a cartoon character on it. Today, parents are becoming more conscious of designer labels, and so they are striving to buy the best brand names for their children just as much as for themselves.

Dressing Your Children in Designer Labels

Many designer brands are now offering younger audiences inspired clothing, including clothing for young adults, teens, children and even babies. It is not uncommon to find onesies for babies with brand names scrawled across their fronts and designer jeans with logos embroidered across them. Many brands are now offering this type of clothing line for younger audiences, including LRG Clothing for example.

If you want your child to grow up with the very best, then you should consider allowing them to have some of these top-notch clothing pieces. Designer brand clothing is not only hot because it bears designer labels attached to celebrity designers, but also because these pieces of clothing are higher caliber in terms of quality and craftsmanship, and so they are pieces that will last a long time rather than simply falling apart as a department store brand piece might. These are important considerations to make when it comes to buying clothing for your children, because you should want pieces that last and are worth the investment that you make on them

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Top 3 Reasons to Refinance Your Car Loan

Refinancing a car loan is a good way to save money in uncertain economic times. If you’re uncertain about refinancing a car loan, there are several good reasons that could change your mind.

If you or your spouse have recently been laid off or demoted, money is probably tight. Refinancing your car and extending the time of the loan can free up money every month, helping you keep up on other bills. This could be a way for parents who just brought a child into the world to maximize the money available for their baby.

Many people buy cars when they are young and have either poor credit or very little credit history. Banks often give higher interest rates to people in this situation. If you’re locked into a car loan with a high interest rate, refinancing may get you a lower rate. Doing this will save you money every month. Additionally, having a lower interest rate means that you’ll pay less interest over the life of the loan.

While some people with no credit take a higher interest rate, others may have a cosigner on their car loans. If you have a cosigner, but time has elapsed since initially agreeing to the loan, you may be able to find a more competitive interest rate. Paying on time raises your credit score and makes you eligible for a loan with a lower interest rate and no cosigner. Looking up car refinance loans in this situation not only saves you money, it takes a burden off of your cosigner.

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New Mother, Newborn: Tips for Parenting

mother in nuclear family

Image via Wikipedia

There’s no force in this world more natural than motherhood. This is the expectation all women share, with knowledge meant to be gleaned through pregnancy and efforts meant to be easy.

The truth, however, is far less simple.

New parents may instead falter. Their children can prove to be enigmatic: with every desire misunderstood and every need mistaken. And this can lead to anxiety — which can greatly impact attempts at mothering.

It’s imperative therefore that first-time parents remember these suggestions:

Understand Limitations

Perfection isn’t easily won. It’s gained instead through time (earned with years, not instinct). It’s vital then that all new mothers recognize their limitations. Never assume that experience isn’t needed. Choose instead to remember that each day will offer new lessons and new understandings.

Seek Support

Help is an unfortunate word: this is the belief of many first-time mothers. No aid should be needed; no support should be sought. Their children should be reliant only on them. This is the natural order of parenthood. That order must be forgotten, however. Ask for assistance. Allow those with practical knowledge to provide suggestions. Learn from their mistakes. Accept their advice.

Defy Shame

Uncertainty is too common. Inadequacy is all too familiar. Mothers may find themselves struggling to blend the obligations of their past lives with their new ones. Every gesture may seem to fail. Every attempt can seem strained. And this can summon feelings of shame and anger. Do not accept them. Remember instead to remain calm. Don’t become overwhelmed. Voice all concerns and receive help for them — rather than burying them all.

Use these suggestions to battle worries and gain balance.

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Learning to Love Reading with 10 Titles for Kids

Children with extra pressures and anxieties might find reading difficult or unproductive. It’s possible that the content of the books they’ve read thus far don’t speak to them, or they provide additional tension in their lives. The following 10 books contain subject matter that is peaceful and relatable. The books vary in reading level and subject matter, but all of them are sure to interest young children and produce in them a desire to learn and read more.

  1. All-of-a-Kind Family
  2. The Five Little Peppers and How They Grew
  3. Betsy-Tracy
  4. The Cobble Street Cousins
  5. One Morning in Maine
  6. Cheaper by the Dozen
  7. The Penderwicks
  8. Little House on the Prairie
  9. Homer Price
  10. The Great Brain

The titles above will hopefully provide a spark in children and lead them to love reading. Children and families living in poverty have lower levels of literacy for various reasons. It’s tough for children to find time to read when they have to deal with the stresses of their lives. They might have to take care of their little sister or brother when they get home from school, or they might live in a district with low-funded schools that can’t provide every student with books.

Luckily, there are a number of charities that raise money for families in need. Kars 4 Kids, for example, accepts donations of cars and uses the proceeds of the car sales to benefit underprivileged children. If charities such as Kars4kids can continue to assist families, perhaps the rates of literacy will increase.

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Fetal Development in the Second Trimester

During the fourth, fifth, and sixth months of your pregnancy you will be noticing many more obvious physical changes in your own body. However, the changes going on in your baby’s body are even more amazing!

In the fourth month your baby’s teeth and hair will begin to develop. You will most likely feel your baby’s movements for the first time. Your baby has now developed intestines and his digestive system is beginning to develop. By the end of the fourth month your doctor will most likely be able to determine gender on an ultrasound.

You have now reached your fifth month, which means you are over halfway there! Your baby will start developing fine hairs on his body, which are called lanugo. These fine hairs cover the entire body. During this month other hair grows such as eyelashes and eyebrows. Your baby now has footprints and fingerprints of his very own. His suck and swallow reflexes have developed, and in fact you may even see him sucking his thumb on your ultrasound. At this point, the baby’s ears have developed and he may be able to hear you.

During your sixth month of pregnancy the baby’s immune system is developing and he begins to develop his own antibodies. The lungs are now developing. The baby will have developed the ability to grip. If you have further ultrasounds you will be able to see that your baby is continuing to grow and fill out now. He is beginning to look more like a little person.

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Fetal Development in the First Trimester

When you are pregnant you want to learn everything you can about your developing baby. During the first three months of your pregnancy, also referred to as the first trimester, your baby will go from an egg and sperm to an embryo with a body, heartbeat, and gender!

During the first month of pregnancy much is happening to your baby. From the moment of fertilization your baby’s gender, hair color, and eye color are determined and begin to develop. Seven to ten days after fertilization, implantation occurs. In a normal pregnancy implantation occurs in the uterus, although at times it can occur in the fallopian tube, which is referred to as an ectopic pregnancy. During the first month the yolk sac, umbilical cord, and amniotic sac are already beginning to form.

In the second month of pregnancy your baby is considered a fetus. His heart, arms, legs, neural tube, and major organs are developing. By your sixth week of pregnancy your baby’s heartbeat can already be heard on ultrasound. The placenta will begin to develop during this time as well as bones, eyes, ears, and mouth. The baby’s fingers and toes will begin to form and develop, although they will most likely still have some webbing. The cranial nerves and brain are developing now and his sex organs are becoming visible.

By the third month your baby’s heartbeat can be heard using Doppler. On an ultrasound you would be able to see your baby’s arms and legs moving around. By the end of the third month your baby’s vital organs and heart will be developed. The sex organs are still developing during the third month, but it still may be difficult to ascertain gender yet.

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