Justin Bieber For Any Age

Justin Bieber
Originally uploaded by ' augustocnc

Justin Bieber is everywhere. Teenage boys are starting to wear their hair the same way.
A young boy in a department store who served me today had the flick going, blow waved just right and not a hair out of place.
All I wanted to do was tell him to get a hair cut.

Christmas day my little niece who is 4 years old received a CD player from santa and a new CD which was a mixture of young singers and of course Justin was there too.

Not hearing from her and her other little cousin who is three for some time, I went to check on them.
The bedroom door was slightly closed and Justin Bieber playing loudly, then suddenly two little voices singing
"Baby, Baby, Baby, oohh, Baby, Baby, Baby...."

Just beautiful, if only I had had the video camera.

Still A Kid At Heart

Yer, that's me.
I'd rather spend my time playing with the kids rather than have a normal conversation with the adults.

Kids never take life to serious not like us adults, everything is such a big drama and a hassel.
Now take christmas day for instance, this is suppose to be a joyous day, thrilled to be with the family, but not for some.
It's all to hard, a lady at work today told me she told her children, who are 25 year old twins and married, that she was not doing anything next year, no dinner or tea, no presents. She wasn't going anywhere and if they wanted to see her they would have to come to her.
Does this not make you wonder why somebody like this ever had children.

Christmas is a time for sharing great memories and spreading love amongst friends, family and strangers.
Gifts are not everything, just a friendly gesture is always appreciated.
My mother-in-law (72yrs) had a great surprise last weekend after being in hospital for a few days. Her next door neighbour had mowed her lawns. Now they are not the best of friends or anything like that, they just happen to say hi now and then and they are a young couple with  two children.

NOW THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!!!! 

Be kind to others.

Christmas Childhood Memories

Well didn't that year fly. Christmas is once again upon us.
The craziness starts all over again for another year.
We parents run around franticly chancing that elusive toy or new electronic gadget that our child must have because their best friend is getting it or has it already.

I remember when I was a child how excited I got on xmas eve. Waking at three in the morning and racing to my brothers' rooms to see what they got.
"Did you see him?" I would ask them. Checking out their persents making sure they didn't get more than me.
We would all run to the lounge room to see if he had drank that beer we left out for him and of course it was all gone.

For me christmas is seeing the happy little faces and excitement in my nieces and nephew's eyes when they open up the gifts. Their eyes are huge when expaining where they found santa's gifts and how they think they seen him bring the gifts in to their room. Their little minds are racing with excitement, letting their imagination take over.

Oh, to be young again.

To all, have a happy xmas.
Be safe with what ever you are planning over the holiday season.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

merry christmas

How To Make Wrapping Paper

Here is an activity

 for the kids to do during christmas holidays.
Making their own wrapping paper, be it xmas, birthday or for any special occasion.
Learning how to make wrapping paper is easy and great fun for all involved.

You Will Need:

Some A4 or A3 white paper
Three or four different food colouring. Same in mixing bowls.
Straws for each bowl & water.
Detergent

Mix water, detergent and food colouing in bowls. All separate. Only use about a cup of water and add plenty of food colouring to give depth in your colours on the paper.
Place straws into water and get your child to blow, gentle, just enough to create some great bubbles.
Grab the paper and place it onto the bubbles, do this with each differnt colour.
Let your child get their creative minds working by letting them choose which colours to mix and match.

When done hang outside on the line to dry or inside in a dry area.

Let children decorate their own wrapping paper by gluing old buttons, glitter etc on to it after drying and help them to wrap their own gifts with some cool ribbons.

Tie a bow with some string and thread beads on the ends and tie a knot to stop from falling off.

A great activity to do for the whole family, why not turn off all the tv's and computers and sit down and create and laugh togther.

Have Fun.
ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

merry christmas

Common Infectious Diseases

We as parents are always on the lookout for illness and sickness in our children.
When we see our child scratching or hear them coughing, our instinct is to search and find out why they are behaving this way.
Many times we are unsure what a rash might be, how they may have got it or how long it will stick around.

Here is a list of COMMMON INFECTIOUS DISEASES for you to take a look at:

____________________________________________________
Disease           Cause    Spread        Incubation     
Chicken                  Virus         Direct contact      7-21days         
Pox
Signs & Symptons-fever, red itchy spots become blisters and spread from trunk to limbs  

Measles                  Virus         Direct contact      10-15days  
    
Signs & Symptons- fever, rash on 4th day, runny nose, discharging eyes, dry cough

Mumps                   Virus          Direct contact      7-28days      
    
Signs & Symptons-fever, swelling of salivary glands,
difficulty in swallowing 



Rubella                Virus          Direct contact       14-21days        
 
Signs & Symptons-cold, sore throat, slight fever, rash appears  on days 15 to 21
and lasts 2-24 hrs  


Whooping           Bacteria       Direct contact       10-14days    
Cough                                                                                    
Signs & Symptons-fever, frequent coughing,  often causing vomiting,
may continue for months                                                                        



(Working with children, guidelines for good practice, 2nd edition. Joan Faragher & Glenda Macnaughton)

I am not a medical practitioner but I know what its like as a mother to be concerned about our children when we see things that are unusual.
Please see your doctor if you have concerns about your childs health and well being.  

parenthood                                                                                  

Cooking For Children Encourages Creative Thinking

I am not one that likes to cook. Most times its only if its raining outside or for a special occasion.
Now my twelve year old little niece absolutely loves it. She is right into these master chef shows, the Jamie Oliver shows also.

My niece is a dessert lover, so making a delicious cheesecake with a very tasty sauce poured over top seems to come easy to her.
She is constantly on the net getting recipes from the show and trying to prepare them, her mum thinks its great getting these delicious desserts made all the time, perhaps not the cost to make them.

I think it is great that children are learning to cook, it brings out their creative side. The ability for a child to solve a problem builds their Cognitive development. Developing their own ideas about a recipe gets them thinking and can build their self esteem also.

Children can learn to express themselves through cooking. They can explore, investigate and experiment and be challenged in their thinking.
Working on a project they have an interest in will be more satisfying and when the creation appears the overwhelming feeling of achievement will be great.

So never stop your child from experimenting. Share your child's enthusiasm for exploration and give them encouragement to express themselves with what ever they do.

children

Here is an article that I thought might interest all parents, whether you have teenagers yet or not. We can all do with more help when it comes to this problem.

Teen Substance Abuse: 7 Myths of Addiction

By: Sarita Uhr. M.D.



Teen substance abuse is a serious problem world- wide. The teen years are a time of experimenting and risk taking. Many teens experiment with drugs and alcohol. Many are influenced by peer pressure.



Frequent, repeated use of any substance changes brain chemistry over time and can lead to substance dependence. Dependence means it takes larger amounts over time to get the same effect from that substance (example: alcohol). Another sign of substance dependence is experiencing withdrawal symptoms when a substance is abruptly stopped.



Teen drug addiction and teenage alcoholism develop over a period of time. Dependence is a gradual and insidious process.



Here are 7 addiction myths parents should be aware of when dealing with teen substance abuse:



1. My teen's addiction will get better on it's own.



2. It's just a "phase" my teen is going through.



3. Teen substance abuse is the parent's fault.



4. Teen addiction is a choice.



5. Helping my teen by relieving his stress such as "covering" for him when he doesn't  do his homework, skip classes, or skip school will lower his need to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol.



6.  My addicted teen can use willpower alone to quit his substance abuse.



7.  My teen should never use medication to treat his addiction or he is just trying to fix his problems with another pill.



As a psychiatrist that specializes in drug addiction and alcoholism, I see parents struggling with these myths. Here are some examples of parents from my practice holding on to these myths:



HR told her parents she had an alcohol problem and wanted to go to rehab. Her father responded, "You don't need a vacation". Her father just wanted her to quit drinking. Several months later, after HR had a seizure, he realized her alcohol problem was very serious and she needed professional help to overcome her addiction.



TJ smoked pot every day while living at home. When I confronted his parents about why they tolerated this, the dad said, "I smoked pot at his age, too." He changed his attitude after his son's second DUI and got him some help. When I treated his underlying anxiety with a non-addicting mediation, he quit smoking pot.



AJ dropped out of college for alcohol and drug use and went to rehab. She called her mom from rehab and said she hated the program and was coming home. Her mom sent her a plane ticket and AJ relapsed with a friend on the way back from the airport. When I confronted her mom about enabling AJ, she said, "She was just having trouble adjusting to college. Her father and I have had some trouble which has her stressed."



Parents; throw these 7 myths out the window! You will then be in a position to help your child. Your family must be able to face teen substance abuse head on. Addiction is not any one's fault.



Addiction is a medical disease that progresses over time. It can be life threatening and should not be ignored.



Addiction is not a matter of will power. The brain produces cravings for the substances that have been abused because those substances have altered brain chemistry. Significant cravings can overpower rational thinking and lead to relapse.



Medications that combat cravings or treat underlying depression or anxiety may be key in helping your teen quit drugs and alcohol. Be open to having your teen evaluated by a psychiatrist.



Communicate with your teen in a calm manner. Listen to their point of view. Face the addiction problem as a family. As you know, every family member is affected. Go to Al-anon or Families Anonymous for support. These meetings are a place to learn how to set boundaries with your teen. Therapy can help too. Then family healing can begin.















About the Author




Dr. Sarita Uhr is a psychiatrist that specializes in addiction. She has written 2 revolutionary books to help families with loved ones that suffer from alcoholism or drug addiction. If you think your teen or young adult child is abusing drugs or alcohol, click the link http://teensubstanceabuse.org/ to get her free report on, "How To Avoid the 5 Biggest Mistakes Parents make With Their Addicted Teen or Young Adult Child." It may save your family's life. Dr. Uhr's system of helping families with an addicted loved one has stunning results.

(ArticlesBase SC #3431583)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Teen Substance Abuse: 7 Myths of Addiction

teens

Too Much TV Can Send Your Child Mad.

Well, what do you know, the researchers have come up with this crazy notion that too much tv
is bad for your child. (Really).

Most parents know this, why tell us something that we have known for years.

But really, come on, how much tv did we all watch when we were kids? I remember watching a fair bit and so did my brothers and it never did us any harm. We all played a lot of sport and kept active but we watched our fair bit of television and I can honestly say that we are not all psychologically scarred from it.

I do believe that tv can be educational and can be calming and relaxing for some children, depending on the program.
But the programs have changed a lot over the times and can be a lot more real these days compared to our day.

Computer screens I believe are much more of a problem. Children sit and watch this screen so much closer than a tv screen and can sit on it for hours talking on chat sites and playing games. I don't think that they understand that there is a real world out there to explore. Communicating face to face with others becomes harder as they rely on technology more and more.

We as parents know how much time is too much for our own children.
Monitoring our children is something that I am sure we all do effectively. It's an instinct knowing what is best for your child.

parenting

Packed To The Rafters

I'm back.
Holiday is over and went way to fast. My daughter looks great but I can tell she is very home sick.
She has now just moved to hamilton island, beautiful place of the world but very expensive and for a couple with a mortgage and only one working it is very hard.
Getting a job around there is finding to be difficult but I'm sure if she perseveres one will come.

Most of us parents believe that when our children leave home that our lives will be less complicated and we will be free to do more, in a sense yes, but we will always be very mindful of what our children are doing and how they are coping in the outside world.
I keep sending my daughter money to help her get by, here's the funny thing, I told her not to tell her father about it. The other night when I was talking to her on the phone he yelled out and asked her if she needed any money. (Daughter could't stop laughing).
I firmly said "no" not letting on that I had already given her some.

They have decided to rent out their home, so guess who gets the job of cleaning it all out, both mothers.
They have only been in the house for a year but with all the stuff they have accumilated it seems like 12 years.
So mostly everything has come back to my house and guess where they want to live when they come home?
(Yes, they are talking about coming home, perhaps sometime next year).
They want to move in here until they can afford a new place. (Packed to the Rafters). Wouldn't have it any other way.

Children never really leave home forever.
If they are loved unconditionally they will always know that they are always welcome back when times get tough.

Holiday in Brisbane

Tough times ahead.
No not really, I'm off to Bris Vagas to see my daughter, finally.
Two weeks of shopping and spending quality time with her before she moves further away.

Yer, that's right, 3000klm away now. Job on Hamilton Island, hopefully. The boyfriend already works there so of course she is following.
But I'm not concerned, I tell her to do all this travelling and see Australia now while she can because once she has children there will be no chances to do it then.

You never know, I may get a free holiday out of it. Here's hoping.

Have a great day everyone.

Children, Not All Bad.

Children can sometimes act in a way that outrages us because of their rudeness and others shock us with their politeness.
Not all children are brought up with no respect or kindness for their elders.
My husband works for the water company. One day he was working near a major secondary college fixing a main pipeline. As he was struggling to turn the main line off a group of young teenage boys walked by.

He was quite shocked when they asked if he wanted a hand. He politely said "no thanks", mainly because of OH&S.
Now about 9 times out of 10 most kids would have made some smart remark or comment, laughed and joked between themselves but not these guys.

I think that it shocked my husband at the generosity of these young males but at the same time really impressed him.
I believe that there is good in all people, it just has to be encouraged and developed.

Most parents are teaching their child the right stuff.
We can help make this world a much better place by teaching our child to give help and love to others.

Children Have Worn Aunty Out.

I'm afraid I'm so tied that I may not make much sense in this entry.
Mainly because I have had to look after my niece and nephew today because they weren't very well.
Now, I wish I was that good when I felt sick. They did not stop all day.

This was the mistake I made. I took them to Macca's for lunch (because that's what aunties do) Yes, I know, they are suppose to be sick.
Bad mistake, I was forever chasing them from one end of the shop to the other. They took of out to the play ground before I had ordered. Waiting for the order, I had to tell the girl at the register that I would be back in a minute.
Not quite a minute, I could not get them off the play equipment. I would grab one and the other would disappear up the slide.
(Aunty starts to pull her hair out) When I finally got them both out of there and calmly sitting down to eat, I suddenly realised that my 6 yr old nephew had ordered COKE!

I said "Your not suppose to have coke." He had this little smirk on his face.
"Your going to get me in trouble." I told him. He laughed and said that he was going to tell his dad that Aunty Suzy let him have coke.
I never worry about it too much, my brother goes off a little, he reckons that it makes them hypo and that I have to take him home with me until he calms down. No Worries.

After our outing, I took them home and perhaps that coke had kicked in. Full on activity for two hours. My niece was jumping on the couch and strangling me, pulling me down and laying all over me.

Lots of fun had by all, but so full on. Sometimes I think I wouldn't have it any other way.

My nephew did tell his dad about the coke, so guess who got into trouble, much to the amusement of my little nephew.

KEEPING KIDS BUSY

My Daughter, My Best Friend.

Well it's been two weeks know since I moved my daughter 2000 klms away.
I don't know how parents cope when their children leave home to go to university etc. I was fine when I left her, probably because I thought it was like a holiday and she'll be home soon. But it is just starting to sink in, that no, she will not be coming home for some time.
Who am I going to go walking with, have lunch with, go to the movies with and most important, get advice on clothes when shopping. I'll have to save it all for when I visit her.

We have to catch two planes to visit her and the cost in airline tickets is outrageous, costing over a thousand dollars for my husband and I to travel to see her so this would not happen very much.
Travelling by car takes us two good days and I love travelling but you need to have at least 10 days off work to make it worth while.

I know that it is all good experience and they must learn to stand on their own two feet. I could probably deal with it better if she lived just a little closer. I feel helpless being so far away from her, I'm not there to protect her.
Cities scare me, so am not liking her being in such a large place working long hours into the night.
I have to admit, she is not alone, her boyfriend is with her and there is my husband's family around her also, but that's not me.

I'm an over protective mother. Yes, I know that I am, but doesn't every mother have the right to be a little over protective. I feel that it is our right to be protective of our children.

She would always tell me not to stress and that she is fine. She would often say "Mum, I'll be fine, stop worrying."

Worry, that's all I seem to be doing.
If this world was not filled with so much evil then I probably would not feel so bad.

To all the over protective mums out there, BE PROUD of being a loving and caring mother because there are some who are not.

family

The Joys Of Hearing Children's Laughter.

Love to laugh
Originally uploaded by huragankatrina

Does this not make you smile.
Children should be doing this every day.
Hearing children laughing makes everyone smile, if it doesn't then there is something wrong with them.

Childhood Obesity. One Contributor is Soft Drink

How often do you buy soft drink for your family?
Once a week or is it on supply every day.

The consumption of sugary drinks increases with age and the largest contributor for children of 2-18 years is soft drinks, followed by cordials, fruit juices, fruit drinks and sports drinks.(Health N.S.W gov).

The size of cans has increased over time starting at 200mls fifty years ago, then moving to a 325ml can and now a 600ml.
So what happens to us consumers, we, of course go for the largest size even though we don't need it. This is what the marketers want us to do, buy the super size so they make more money. But because of this, our health and our children's is being damaged before our eyes.

One can of soft drink contains approximately 65 pounds of sugar. This is equivalent to 10 to 12 teaspoons of sugar. (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)
Imagine eating this by the spoonful, you wouldn't, you couldn't. But some how we have no qualms about drinking this amount everyday, sometimes twice or more.

Try this at home with your children-
Pour a can of soft drink into a glass, now place 12 teaspoons of sugar in another glass next to it.
Take a look at how much sugar that is. Way too much for any person, let alone a child.

If they continue to drink excessive amounts of soft drink the likeliness of having health problems will increase drastically. The chances of getting diabetes later in life is of major concern.

Lets be good role models for our children and set by example.
If you must have some sort of soft drink in the house, go for the sugar free types.
When out shopping try to buy water as a thirst quencher on a hot day and encourage your children that water is much healther for their bodies.
A happy and healthier family all round.

children

Aunty To The Rescue

I have to tell you what a great morning I have had.
I was invited to my little niece's(4yrs) kindergarten for grandparents day. Yes, I know, I was second in line.
Both her grandparents are a way on holidays, so I got to fill in, under sufferance. (Not Likely)

It was great. I arrived to pick her up and here she was standing at the door waiting with her bag. How does that make me feel - extremely happy.

When we arrived at kinder, she showed me a picture that she had drawn of myself. Absolutely beautiful. She had drawn glasses on me and I don't even wear them but apart from that it was a very good likeness.

We played with some playdough and read stories, used hammers and tacks to put shapes on to some corkboard.
We had to sit on the mat and sing songs and dance a little. She had made a small present for me and it is proudly now sitting on my fridge.

It was a joy to see all the children beaming when they had to introduce their grandparents or special friend.
The love that shown in their eyes and in their grandparents was truely unforgettable.

If you ever get the chance to spend time with your grandchildren or any other child, take it because they can grow up so quickly.

As we get older time becomes precious.

2009 Popular Baby Names

Baby Cartoon
Originally uploaded by Ian Kershaw

Whats in a name?

A hell of a lot, it can be one of the most difficult decisions that new parents have to make.

This child that they have created and brought into this crazy world needs a name that belongs to them, an identity which will be with them for the rest of their lives.

All through their school years, which is one of the hardest times for a child, when growing up.

As parents we think, What about when they get their university degree? How will it sound behind Dr or Prime Minister, President or Professor.

We parents contemplate on this for many months before our baby is born and some couples still do not make their decision until after the child arrives.

Many parents will choose a name because of its meaning, others will just go for the sound of it and how it fits with their surname. Everybody has their own ideas on how to go about picking a name.

So I thought that I would find out what the 10 most popular names for 2009 were. (Babycentre.com.au)

Girls                Boys

Isabella          Jack
Olivia             Lachlan
Lily                Cooper
Chloe            William
Emily             Joshua
Charlotte       Thomas
Ella               Oliver
Ava              Riley
Amelia          Noah
Sophie          Max

Some of the most unusal names that are out there are:-

Girls - Lululu, Kirraley, Blooper, L'annie, Keanah, Janae, Jypsie, Nikala, Ameeka, Zipper, Silvanna.

Boys - Gideionn, Xorne, Junmal, Dridge, Rockett, Hetcher, Clicker, Wyl, Ashur, Zarson.

These are just a few that I found, I have trouble saying most of these. If you like unique names then these are probably something that you would go for. I honestly don't mind a few of them.

According to a site Babynames.com.au some names that have stood the test of time are:-

Girls:- Julia, Grace, Alice, Charlotte, Rachel,
Sarah, Maria, Emma, Rebecca, Olivia, Lydia.

Boys:- Andrew, David, Edward, Jesse, James,
Nicholas, Patrick, Matthew, Thomas, William, Daniel.

If you can't decide on a name for the new bundle of joy that has entered your life, perhaps you just might see something here that grabs you. Just remember, what ever you choose, your child's personality will grow and you will see as they grow the name will suit them.

Good luck.

How Do You Know When To Take Your Child To A Funeral?

I have just had a very tramatic week. My grandmother past away last Friday, after suffering much pain in her life, it has finally now stopped and she can rest in peace.
She was a terrific woman who lost her husband at age 56yrs and  had to struggle through life courageously without the love of her life.
I am so glad that she was my nan, she was so loving, generous and caring.
Nan, I will love you forever and never forget you.

A funeral can be a very distressing experience for an adult, let alone a child, so should a child be taken to a funeral?
To me, it is up to the individual person to decide. If you believe that your child is very mature and able to understand what is happening then it will not harm them to experience sadness. I do believe though that a child should experience death with a pet first, go through the burial with them and help them through the grieving process this way first. (each to their own).

My little nephew, who is 10 years, was very upset throughout the service, but he is very mature and I believe that he will cope okay. My neice (12yrs) was upset, but seemed to handle the situation a lot better. Better than myself I thought.

It is a very hard decision to make. As a parent, you know your child better than anybody else. You will know if your child is ready for this emotional rollercoaster, if your unsure, ask if they would like to go, give them the opportunity to accept or decline.

here's the code G5ME4HFM5TJW

Children Need Positive Not Negative Talk To Succeed In Life.

Have you ever thought about the way that you talk to your children. I have been reading this book called The Power of Positive Talk by Douglas Bloch, M.A,  it is very educational for us parents, it makes you think.

Stop and actually listen to yourself one day. Are you giving negative talk or positive talk?
I realise now, that I am guilty of this with my daughter, not even realising how much impact it would have on her later in life.

When we're watching our children play sport, how many times have you heard a parent say to their son or daughter "what was that? You can do better than that or What do you call that, I bet your brother could do much better.
Instead of using positive words like- great shot, you better teach me that or I loved that move, you had him fooled.

Using positive words builds a child's character. Their self confidence and self esteem is built up immensely and they feel as though they can achieve anything.
This will later help them to succeed in their adult years. They will have more confidence when applying themselves to their work and when they get into difficult or hard times they will be able to work through it.
Problem solving will seem a breeze.

I'm sure that a lot of parents don't even realise what they are doing. But putting a child down or giving negative feed back can sometimes cause them to withdraw and maybe become depressed. Children that here negative words all the time lose their self confidence and think that they are not good enough and may even give sport away.
This then can lead into their studies, where they give up far to easily because they do not have the confidence. They believe that its to hard and theres no possible way they are good enough to work it out and why wouldn't they believe this when they have heard it all their life.

Remember all children would like to here is praise and encouragement. They want your love and understanding that they are doing the best that they can. Be supportive, not negative.
They will thank you in years to come. (read the book, it will change the way you speak to your children)

Happy Parenting......Happy Children.

parenthood

Raisin Biscuit Cookies

Here is a healthy recipe that I found in a Great Book called Healthy Eating For Kids by Anita Bean.
Great as a snack and lunch box filler. These raisin biscuit cookies are low in sugar and high in fibre.
Easy to make and fun for the kids to make with your help.

Makes 20

INGREDIENTS

225g (8oz) wholemeal plain flour
40g (11/2 oz) brown sugar
85g (3oz) raisins (you could also try sultanas or cranberries)
2 tblsp (30ml) rapeseed oil
1 egg
4 tblsp (60ml) milk

METHOD

1/ Preheat oven to 180 degrees C.

2/ Combine flour, sugar and raisins ina bowl.

3/ Stir in the oil, egg and milk and lightly mix together
until you have a stiff  dough.

4/ Place spoonfuls  of the mixture onto lightly greased tray.

5/ Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden brown.

Happy Baking!

healthy eating

10 Tips On Being Organised When Bathing Your Baby

Bathing your child can become a big ordeal but being organised before hand can make it a relaxing time for both.


To make sure all runs smoothly you will need:

1/ A small bath that can be put on a sturdy stand or on top of a large table or fit into a larger bath.

2/ Fill with water, using the cold water first then the hot. Test the temperature of the water with the elbow. Have the bath set up in a room that can be kept warm and with no drafts.

3/ Shampoo and soap. Both should be suitable for babies. Some normal soaps can be very harsh for little babies skin.

4/ Cotton swabs to wash around the eyes, ears and genital area.

5/ Clean Clothes and new diapers, a couple because accidents often happen and it usually does when you have just put a clean diaper on.

6/ Have two buckets close by. One for dirty clothes, the other for dirty nappies.

7/ Any baby creams that may have to used and talcum powder. Make sure the powder is for babies, as it can be very strong with perfume and this will be to powerful little noses.

8/ Have two towels aired and ready to use hanging close by. You will also need a small hand towel to dry his/her face and head.

9/ Make sure all equipment that is needed is placed close by, In arms reach because you should always keep one hand on your baby at all times. This will prevent your baby rolling of the table and getting hurt.

10/ Just before you start washing, recheck the temperature of the water again, just to be sure. If the water is to hot it can scald the sensitive skin of a new born very quickly.

Take your time when bathing your child and don't panic. Relax and enjoy the experience because they grow up so fast.

Bath Time!

Originally uploaded by Seth Likens

Young Drivers Need To Experience The Effects Of Bad Driving

Originally uploaded by ardenwray

It's the weekend again and another terrible accident

involving a young person.

Are you a parent that dreads the weekends when they arrive because you know that your son or daughter will be out with friends. Are you an over protective mother like me, as my

daughter calls me. I always have this dreadful feeling that if I don't tell her to drive safely that something terrible will happen.

I know I'm being stupid but its just how I feel. I have said it to her from day one of getting her license.

I remember when she had finished school. Heading to Adelaide to celebrate schoolies week as we call it here in Australia. I didn't get to see her before she left so did not get to say it and I couldn't concentrate at work until I had phoned her. Once I had

spoken to her and said it, I was fine.

Statistics have shown that nearly one third of people killed on Australian roads are aged between
16 and 25 yrs. (Department
of Infrastructure Transport Regional Development and Local

Government)

Road crashes are the biggest killers of young people.
In 1987 110 people were killed in crashes aged 18-25. The total has declined from then. In 2008,
38 young people died due to crashes.
This is a huge drop but is still to many when your a parent.
Out of these 38 young drivers 74% were male, 74% were in
a single car crash, 55% occured between
8pm and 6am, 26% on Saturday, 24% on Sunday and 13% a Friday. (weekend)

Distractions are a main concern, along with speed. Results published in the International Journal, Injury Prevention say distractions cause 1 in 5 crashes in drivers.
An Australian study showed that drivers engage in driver distraction on average once every 6 minutes.
Mobile phones, ipods, CD players and other friends are major distractions
and young drivers are almost 5 times more likely to
 use a phone while driving according to
(The George Institute For International Health and the University of WA).

Cars these days are made to go way to fast. We are not racing car drivers, why do we need a car that does 280klm hour.

I really don't know what the solution is. Young drivers need help to understand what the consequences will be if they act bad behind the wheel of a car.
Perhaps schools should have a year long course for these young kids. It should be complusory and during the course they perhaps should talk to people involved in accidents at hospitals and prisons. Talk with parents who have lost loved ones.

I feel we need to get it into their heads what the actual result is from making a silly
decision that could ruin their entire life.

teens

No Worries

I went out for dinner last night at a nice restaurant with the family for my sister-in-laws birthday. All the kids were there,(best part), running around madly without a care in the world.
Play equipment and a video games room to keep them amused.
I don't ever remember places like this when I brought my daughter up, only maccas. She and her friends would cause so much caos because they were
bored, so this made it a chore when ever we went out.

Do you remember your childhood? You didn't have much to worry about,
only what game to play next or which friend you wanted to come over to stay the night. Being a kid was so much fun,(please, take me back). This is my goddaughter, no worries about anything.

She is three and a real character, some comments that she makes are hilarious. Funny at this age but perhaps when she is older, not so funny, but cheeky.
I asked for a kiss and hug goodbye, as she moved up towards me she put her arms around my neck and said "Now here's a kiss for you, big girl". Planted one right on the mouth.
It completely floored me,I burst out laughing. Now if it had been said to someone who was overweight, they may have taken it the wrong way.
She also said to her father "your mister stinky, but your still my best friend." Now we all laughed, you just can't help it.
Can be so funny when they are young, but what happens as they get older and they still say these words. It can be upsetting to an elderly person but the child does not know any better because they have always had a reaction out of people and usually it is laughter.
Adults can be at fault sometimes, so don't always blame the child for their behaviour. They have most likely learnt their behaviour form adults.

“Cry Silent Tears”, A Horrific True Story.

This book has shocked me deeply. I have never read a book that has affected me so much, emotionally.
The book is called “Cry Silent Tears” by Joe Peters. It is a true story about his life with a family that is hard to believe can exist.
This is not a family, you cannot call it a family, no family would ever treat their child the way they did.

This book has been at my work place, sitting in the office for just over two weeks. I have picked it up a couple of times and read the back, thinking this is not for me. But when I was leaving for home this night, I made the fatal mistake of reading the first two pages. This started an avalanche, I took it home and could not put it down, It was well after midnight when I finished it.

I cried at the end and a few times through it. Every time I think about it, I get upset.
I cannot comprehend how a human being can do this to another, especially your own child. A mother is suppose to protect their young no matter what, not bring cruelty upon them. This is her own flesh and blood, she carried this little boy for nine months. Why would anyone want to hurt an innocent child?

The cruelty that was bestowed on Joe is unthinkable, to hate your own flesh and blood so much that it drives you to lock him in a cellar for over three years at the age of five. Treat him like an animal, make him eat from the floor, watch as he is sexually assaulted by your boyfriend and assist to restrain him when he fights back. Watch as other siblings perform terrible acts of sexual abuse and sell him to paedophiles just to make money for alcohol. This is not a mother, you can not call her a mother, she is an animal.

People talk of evolution and god and how the world was created. God would not have produced such insane madness for his world, this is the act of an animal, treating another as an animal. We must have evolved from the animal species to have somebody revert to this cruel act.

I just had to write someting down about this, I was so upset with the authorities and that so many opportunities were there to save this little boy, but nobody did. This happened where there were neighbours near by and not one person noticed that a little boy was not seen out the front playing or crying for years. Wasn't going to school.

As a society it is our duty to protect all children, any age, race or children with special needs. We must learn to keep our eyes open and not let this crazy world that we live in consume us. Our busy lives eats at us all and we forget to live and enjoy life, but we need to be watchful of what is happening around us. Don’t think that this does not concern you because it does, it concerns each and every person that lives on this planet and the only way we are going to eradicate these evil doings from our world is to keep vigilant.
PROTECT ALL CHILDREN - PLEASE….

Teen Chat Rooms Peer Pressure Statistics

By: Amy Cainfield
If you've seen the recent Frontline special on PBS, as a parent you understand the frustrations many parents go through when trying to raise a child who is growing up online.

Many of the shocking statics regarding teens and online chat reveal some very disturbing trends that parents should take to hart.

A parent's internet monitoring study done in Canada found that:

• Over half (51%) of parents either do not have or do not know if they have software on their computer(s) that monitors where their teenager(s) go online and with whom they interact.

• 42% of parents do not review the content of what their teenager(s) read and/or type in chat rooms or via instant messaging.

• Teenagers who Instant Message use chat lingo to communicate and parents don't know the meanings of some of the most commonly used phrases. 57% don't know LOL (Laughing Out Loud), 68% don't know BRB (Be Right Back), and 92% don't know A/S/L (Age/Sex/Location).

• 95% of parents couldn't identify common chat room lingo that teenagers use to warn people they're chatting with that their parents are watching. Those phrases are POS (Parent Over Shoulder) and P911 (Parent Alert).

• Nearly three out of 10 (28%) of parents don't know or are not sure if their teens talk to strangers online.

• 30% of parents allow their teenagers to use the computer in private areas of the house such as a bedroom or a home office. Parents say they are more vigilant about where their teen(s) go online if the computer is in a public area of the household.

• 58% of parents surveyed say they review the content of what their teenager(s) read and/or type in chat rooms or via Instant Messaging; 42% do not.

And more statistics on teen peer pressure, cyber bullying, and sexually explicit internet use:

• Approximately one in five received a sexual solicitation or approach over the Internet in the last year.

• One in thirty-three received an aggressive sexual solicitation - a solicitor who asked to meet them somewhere; called them on the telephone; sent them regular mail, money, or gifts.

• One in four had an unwanted exposure to pictures of naked people or people having sex in the last year.

• One in seventeen was threatened or harassed.

• Approximately one quarter of young people who reported these incidents were distressed by them.

• Less than 10 percent of sexual solicitations and only 3 percent of unwanted exposure episodes were reported to authorities such as a law-enforcement agency, an Internet Service Provider, or a hotline.

• About one quarter of the youth who encountered a sexual solicitation or approach told a parent. Almost 40 percent of those reporting an unwanted exposure to sexual material told a parent.

• Only 17 percent of youth and approximately 10 percent of parents could name a specific authority, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, CyberTipline, or an Internet Service Provider, to which they could make a report, although more said they had "heard of" such places.

• In households with home Internet access, one third of parents said they had filtering or blocking software on their computer at the time they were interviewed.

We hope that after taking a minute to read these statistics that you will re evaluate your teens use of the internet and chat rooms, and discuss these statistics with your teen.
About the Author
Amy Cainfield is Technology Director for software for parents, such as the Teen Chat Decoder online acronym decoder, and PC Tattletale Internet Monitoring Software.

(ArticlesBase SC #321938)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Teen Chat Rooms Peer Pressure Statistics

teens

I Want a Pony!

I Want a Pony!
Originally uploaded by carvalho

What a beautiful picture. This is how I want to express myself sometimes.
Apparently she was yawning.

DANGER! Facing Babies In Prams

This is something that I have seen many, many times throughout my mothering life. I'm not sure if it is because you are a mother that you notice it, but it stands out to you a whole lot more clearly.

I went shopping with my daughter yesterday and there was alot more traffic around on a Tuesday then there usually is. It had been raining and it had turned cold over the last few days. People were rushing to get where ever they needed to be and to get out of the cold wind.

Now I know mothers are usually very conscious of what they do with their children but I really don't think that they realize what they are doing is dangerous for their babies.

I saw three parents doing this in one day, think this happens everyday all over the world and we all need to see the danger in it.
When standing at stop lights near a busy intersection, many mothers will push their pram out onto the curb, sometimes into the gutter. Can't they see the incredible risk that they put their child into.

If a driver losers control of their car, there would be no possible way that anyone could remove themselves from danger in the split second that it would occur.

I have seen many mothers standing back up on the footpath while their baby is in the pram down on the curb and out on the road.

Please, Please think of what could happen if this accident were to occur and also think of the position that you put the driver into as well. This would be something that they would have to live with for the rest of their lives if they accidently killed a poor child.

A concerned mother

Kids Bored- Here's A List To Help

How often do the kids say their bored?
Many times a day I am sure.
I decided to make up a list that may help to keep them amused, at least for a while.

Make a list of 20 things that they like to do.
Make over their room, rearrange it.
Design a poster.
Cut out pictures from a magazine and make a collage.
Write a letter to their best friend.
Creat their own magazine.
Draw a picture of family at a holiday spot they like.
Design a superhero costume and think up a name.
Do a magic show, practise tricks.
Build a cubby house with siblings.
Make some homemade lemonade.
Climb a tree.
Learn how to juggle.
Read a book and find 30 good words that start with S, write them down.
Make favourite biscuits, with help.
Find 26 things starting with every letter of the alphebet from around the house and garden.
Make a veggie garden.
Spend the day spoiling mum and dad.
Design a card for mum or dad, just for being who they are.
Take some photos, print them out and make up a poster.
Wash the dog, brush him.

Who said they were bored.

More Great Activities for kids

Three in the Bed

I like to baby sit my nieces and nephews, there's five that actually live in my home town and I like to have them all at once. My sister-in-laws both think I'm mad but I absolutely love it. They range from 3-12yrs and when it's time for bed the two little ones end up in bed with me. My husband moves into the spare room for some peace. I feel every movement that the three year old makes, she kicks blankets aside and whacks me in the face on occasions. I wouldn't miss it for the world.
The older kids sleep on mattresses in the rumpus room, they watch dvd's until they fall asleep, which ends up really late.
I sometimes take them to McDonalds for dinner or a snack. My middle nephew is not suppose to have coke (to much anyway). Well, I usually forget this and he cons me into it, my brother always mentions when I bring them home "did he have coke"? I roll my eyes and say it was only a little bit. I know what your all thinking, it's o.k. because I can give him back and won't have to put up with the hype. Hey, What are aunties for?
I don't get to see them enough or the other three who live 2000klms away. I feel that the older ones won't want to come out anymore as it's too boring. There are more exciting things in town for them to do.
They grow up so fast and time slips by before you know it, next it's their 21st, then their getting married.
Until next time.

Beat morning sickness when with child in 9 easy steps

Morning sickness, I don’t know why they call it this. I am sure that there are a lot of mothers out there that can honestly say that it was not only mornings.
I know that mine lasted well into the afternoon, sometimes into the evening. I was luckier than some because I was not physically sick with mine, but very dizzy and nausea.
Woman who have a history of getting travel sickness or migraines seem to be more affected by morning sickness than woman who do not. Being stressed and tired has also a big role, tell me that you didn’t feel stressed or even tired when you were pregnant with your first child. Morning sickness usually happens in the first trimester, but unfortunately for some mothers it lasts a lot longer, sometimes up to six months.

I have found a few tips that may help you through this uncomfortable time.
1/ Blood sugar levels drop overnight is one theory. Some women cannot go 8 hours without food. Keeping blood sugar levels regulated is a must. Try and have a high protein snack before going to bed or when you get up to the other children during the night or to the bathroom grab a bite to help keep it up.
2/ Try and have a few small bites of toast or dry biscuits before getting out of bed or before you move to much in the morning. Have hubby bring your breaky into you before he goes to work, lets face it, this will probably be the only time you will get it.
3/ Slowly work your way out of bed, don’t jump straight up. Take your time and relax in between each movement.
4/ Avoid foods that cause rapid sugar levels like fruit juices, sugary snacks, processed cereal (ones that come in box). Eat foods that contain protein, they will not rapidly raise sugar levels so they can come crashing down.
5/ Stick to eggs, nuts, veggies and whole grains, meat and cheese. Yoghurt is good but be careful of ones that are full of sugar.
6/ Drinking plenty of water is a must. If you have been vomiting then you could become dehydrated. So keep up fluids. If you can’t drink water try sucking on some ice cubes, brew up some very weak tea with a bit of lemon, have it iced or hot. Smoothies made with fruit, ice and plain yoghurt.
7/ Your nose is over sensitive when pregnant and many smells will cause nausea. Have your hubby or the kids take out the trash, babies stinky nappies will also set you off so try to avoid these.
8/ Ginger is very good for car sickness with the children so why not give it a try. Have some ginger bomboms handy and try some ginger tea, either hot or cold.
9/ Try sucking on a lemon slice when you feel a wave of nausea start to overwhelm you.

Beat morning sickness when with child, don’t let it get you down. I hope that these tips will help you get on with your normal day, like taking the kids to school or dragging yourself off to work.
But don’t forget, we have got somebody to help--Hubby….
I found this site that maybe of interest to you, check it out. MORNING SICKNESS

Benefits of Martial Arts for kids Article By: anuvatech

I thought this article would be very interesting for parents and kids.
In Australia we seem to be having a lot of issues with bullying in schools.
I think that teaching children martial arts will help build confidence and teach respect for others around them.


Most people think that martial arts are only valuable when you need to beat the bad guys. While the confidence that comes from knowing that you can use self defense effectively is important, the true benefits of martial arts training, especially for kids, are much more than just building defensive skills. When taught by the right person, in the right environment, martial arts can be a powerful learning tool to build confidence, determination, focus, and physical fitness.

We are all born different. Some kids are born bold and some with low self-esteem. Does your child struggle with confidence? Have your kids ever been bullied or pushed around or perhaps has your child has been the one who is bullying the other kids? Poor confidence expresses itself in both the bully and the child who is bullied. While both of these behaviors are normal, they need to be corrected as quickly as possible. Traditional martial art training can teach the values of honor, respect, integrity and self discipline. Through martial arts, kids can learn to express themselves in other ways than through violence. Additionally, martial arts contain the best elements of both team and individual activities since your child will have all of the social benefits of interacting with others while simultaneously being able to learn at their own individual pace. Martial arts are also an empowering way for families to bond.

Originating in Asia, martial arts have a range styles and types including Karate, Jujitsu, Aikido, Taekwondo and Kung fu. With the right instructor any of these arts can teach a spectrum of mental, physical and social attributes. When your child learns these valuable life lessons and skills it will help them throughout their life and it will lay a foundation for happiness, fulfillment, and success.

The mental benefits of martial arts for kids include increased learning skills, improved focus for kids and discipline for kids. The physical benefits include personal security and physical fitness for kids. And the social benefits include self esteem, respect, friendship and leadership for kids. These are skills that your child will use for a lifetime on a daily basis.

Many parents have found a noticeable gain in their children's grades in school, focus, behavior and confidence after being involved in martial arts for as little as 3 months. Your kid can benefit a lot from martial arts as they learn the physical components along with the mental and emotional lessons. You can even join your child in the martial arts training and make the experience even more powerful and enjoyable.

Original Article URL: http://kidsandteens.myfreearticlecentral.com/Article_49260_Benefits-of-Martial-Arts-for-kids.aspx

Red Dragon Martial Arts is a owned by a couple; Beau and Sara Norgeot. They are enthusiastically involved in teaching fellow human beings how to be successful in life. To know more about what their classes visit: http://www.reddragonfl.com [http://www.reddragonfl.com/]

bullying

Bonding With Your Baby

By: Susan Carranza

Yahoo! You have been waiting 9 months for this, and here it is! Your new baby is finally here! Now what? It is hard to imagine that you have brought a new life into this world, isn't it? You want the best for your newborn!  You have brought a new person into this world, and you will be accountable for shaping their life. That's an awesome responsibility! All of that begins with connecting with your newborn. Bonding is one of the really significant things that parents can do for their child. When your newborn bonds with you, it uses all of its senses. Here are some tips to assist:

Vision/Sight:  Your baby's eyesight is not too good when it is a newborn. About ten inches is as far as it can focus. That's fine for their requirements now. You may be amazed to know that studies show that your baby would rather look at you, instead of some brightly colored objects. So, make sure that you are close enough for your newborn to see you. During feeding time is a good time to do this. Let them touch your face with their little hands, and make eye contact with them.

Tactile or Touch:  1 of the most highly developed senses in your baby is touch. It is vital to make them feel safe and secure. So, snuggle and caress your newborn! Studies confirm that massaging babies actually may make them learn better as well. Don't fret if you are executing it correctly, just do it! Many have discovered that putting their newborn in a Snugly while they do household chores, is very soothing. Baby will probably fall asleep, listening to your heartbeat.

Auditory or Their Hearing:  An infant is stimulated by a mother's voice. Mothers use calming words, and are inclined to speak to their baby in a naturally higher pitched voice. Say your newborns name, coo and sing to them. You can make a monkey of yourself, and they like to hear it!

Smell:  Studies confirms that your baby clearly recognizes your smell. This recognizable scent soothes your baby.

Do not forget that your baby is an individual, and will be different from any other child. Do not overwhelm or over stimulate your child. Your baby may give you signs that they are tired of play or stimulation, such as yawning, frowning, rubbing their eyes, breaking eye contact or wriggling away. This may show that they are ready for rest time.

Many specialists advise that you put your newborn on its back to sleep. Lots of parents become anxious, because babies can develop a condition known as “occipital plagiocephaly of positional origin”. This simply means that the infants head is flatter on one side than the other from always sleeping in the same position. Giving your newborn some “tummy time” can help to avoid this condition. Use play time to do this. Your baby will improve their muscles, by trying to push themselves up using their arms. Get down with your baby, and smile, stick your tongue out, chuckle and croon to them. Hold a mirror up to baby, and see their response! Move brightly colored items in front of their eyes, and see them track movement. This is a great way to bond with your infant.

Do not leave out Dad! Mom's already have created a physical biochemical bond with the baby before it was born, by carrying it for 9 months. Many times fathers feel left out. Involve Dad in Dr. appointments, and the pre-natal care of baby. Have him feed baby whenever possible. Even if you are breastfeeding, Dad can be included. Moms can take a break, and let Dad take charge of a crying infant from time to time. Dads can participate in bathing and dressing (and of course, changing diapers). Everything that Mom does, such as cooing, and cuddling the baby; are things that Dad can do as well. As baby grows, they require more and more stimuli. Dads are normally wonderful at providing that. Play time and “tummy time” are wonderful times to make sure that Dad is involved.

Showing off the new baby to friends and family is an added benefit. Babies love all of the extra attention that they get from family and friends, and bond with them as well. So take pleasure in the attention that your baby creates.

The experience of bonding with your newborn is what matters the most. Just a gentle touch, simple smile, or laughing together, will help parents place their child on the track toward a favorable future.

About the Author

Surround your baby with soft things. Get all of the wonderful soft and sweet things that your baby needs at: http://www.grandgiftsforbabies.com/

Susan has been a nurse for over 30 years with expertise in many areas. She has 3 children and 15 grandchildren.

(ArticlesBase SC #1916975)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Bonding With Your Baby

Baby Sleep Safety - Reducing the Risk of SIDS

Children are the greatest gift of all. All children mean the world to me, no matter what nationality. I thought that this might be interesting for some new mothers out there.


Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, is the largest known cause of death in children under the age of one. This terrifying syndrome occurs while the baby is sleeping. To date there is no known cure, or reason for that matter, as to why some children are affected while others aren't. But the simple fact is that
over 2,500 babies die in the US each year from SIDS. Although the number of deaths have been lowered by around 40% by taking several preventative approaches and incorporating baby sleep safety methods to safe guard children from SIDS, there is no known way to fully avoid the occurrence of SIDS.

Baby Sleep Safety Tips

Here are some tips that can help to reduce the risk of SIDS:

*Lay baby on his or her back. SIDS has been closely linked to children sleeping on their tummies.

*Use a firm mattress. Avoid fluffy toys or pillows that may cause suffocation.

*Don't let baby get over heated during the night. Babies have a higher body temperature than we do and don't require as many blankets - Don't let baby freeze either though!

*Don't smoke, drink alcohol or take drugs before or after baby's birth. Cigarette smoke is a known contributor to SIDS.

*Participate in early and parental care clinics, especially if you are a first time parent.

*Breast feed baby if at all possible. Babies that are breast-fed are statistically less likely to die from SIDS.

*Offer your baby a pacifier during the first year of life. It is not known why but babies that are given pacifiers in the early stages of life are less likely to be claimed by SIDS.

*Don't sleep with baby in the same bed or let baby sleep in an adult bed. The baby has a greater risk of suffocation when in a bed designed for an adult. It is ok to comfort and feed baby in bed as long as he or she is returned to his or her proper bed afterward.

SIDS is unlike any other syndrome or disease. Most conditions surrounding an infant’s death are diagnosed by the symptoms associated with the death. SIDS on the other hand is only given as a diagnosis once all other possibilities are ruled out.

Risk Factors

There are several specific risk factors or notable trends that can be seen in data relating to SIDS. These risks should be addressed and noted by parents that have babies in a high-risk category.

*More boys than girls die from SIDS. There is not much that can be done about this statistic, it is more of
a notation.

*Smoking, drinking alcohol and drug use are believed to be among the main contributing factors to SIDS. Simply put, if you value the life of your child, refrain from using harmful drugs such as these!

*Poor parental care. Inexperienced or young parents are the highest risk. As long as a parent takes the time to get early and regular parental care checks and have the support of family and friends, there is much less risk of this occurring.

*Premature babies are at a high risk of SIDS. Premature babies are born with a disadvantage to begin with and are usually very weak and under developed. This is more a notation than a prevention.

*Mothers who are younger that 20 are at risk of having a baby die from SIDS. This can be for a variety of reasons such as inexperience or unintentional neglect.

By using the above tips and making yourself aware of the risk factors and taking baby sleep safety precautions you can reduce the likelihood of losing a child to SIDS. For parents who have lost a child to SIDS there are many wonderful support groups available to help go through the grieving process.

Chris Towland

If your baby is having sleep problems then take a look at The Baby Sleep Solution audio program. It's the quickest way to solve your baby sleep problem - guaranteed! Take a look now at: http://679ebsuv59kd4q6aw2zi1pfwbs.hop.clickbank.net/

A Site That I Hope You Will Find Helpful

Hi everyone,
I wanted to set up a site that was full of information about all things relating to children.
Be it illnesses, care, life experiences, education, games, book reviews, development, safety. You name it and I will put it here.
So tell everyone you know about this site and hopefully they will get some helpful tips to help with them to raise their children.