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Fire Safety For Kids

March 17th, 2010
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Fire Safety For Kids

There are talks that all parents have to have with their children at some point before they go out on their own. The sex talk is one that most parents fear, and some do not have it because they do not know how. This is often a mistake, but it happens. You also have to talk to your children about things that are right and wrong, and also about how to stay safe from strangers. One thing that you should talk with your children about at a young age is how to survive a fire. Fire safety for kids has to be presented in a way that children get a respect for the power of what fire can do, but also so that they are not scared stiff and have nightmares about it. Help is out there.

If you talk to your children about fire in a way that scares them, it could be that you were too stern or that they are just too young. However, there is a fine line there, because they should know what to do in the event of a fire as soon as they can understand. This could very easily save their life. Children often do not grasp what a fire can do and how quickly it can do it unless they see it on their own. That is obviously not an option in most cases, so you have to think of other ways to talk about fire safety for kids with them.

Children have short attention spans, so you have to be short, sweet, and too the point when you go over fire safety for kids with them. You want them to know that it is a serious issue, but you do not want to go into so much detail that they lose the main point of what you are trying to say. Teach them what fire is, what it can do, and then how they are supposed to get out of the house if there is a fire. There are many parts of this, so go over them many times so they know what you are talking about, what to do, and how to do what is expected of them.

You should start with teaching your children how to feel a door for heat and what to do if the door is or is not hot. They should know where the smoke alarms are, what they sound like, and how they get out of the house if one is going off and they smell smoke. They should be told that they are not replaceable, but everything else in the house can be replaced. They should never go back for toys or anything else. They should instead know where to go to call for help and where to meet up with the rest of the family in the event of a fire. These are main points in fire safety for kids.

You have help with this if you do not know what to do or how to go about doing it. Fire safety for kids is a big issue, and many schools have a time when firefighters come in and talk to the children about fire prevention and what to do in the event they are in a house that is on fire. They do drills at school and they are encouraged to do them at home. If your child comes home and wants to do drills, be sure to make time to come up with a plan (if you do not already have one) and to do drills with them so they can sleep better at night. You may find that you do too.

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Good Parenting

March 13th, 2010
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Good Parenting

There?s no such thing as a perfect parent, and there?s no manual that can teach you how to be a good one. Yet there is such a good thing as good parenting, just as sure as there?s bad parenting. Almost everyone gets married and many of those people have children together and end up being parents, so knowing how to parent effectively is something good to know and worth learning. However, a lot of the learning comes not from an outside source but from yourself. There?s no template for being a good parent; you might encounter examples of good parenting out there but every set of children and parents is different, so you can?t take some other family?s model and just apply it to your own. You have to figure out what works for your family, drawing from your experiences and from common sense.

Of course being a parent isn?t easy. You have to take care of someone who depends on you, fulfilling their needs and giving them guidance while paying attention to your own life as well. You?re playing the role of protector, role model, nurturer, friend and disciplinarian all at once. When you put it all into perspective, good parents are really amazing people indeed.

So what does good parenting consist of? Simply put, a good parent raises their child to be capable of surviving in the world. Some people confuse good parenting with just providing their children with everything possible like food, money and possessions but this actually inhibits children by not allowing them to fend for themselves. In order to survive in the world, one needs to be able to stand on their own two feet while depending on support every so often. Support often comes in the form of social relationships. In order to form relationships, one needs to be reasonably kind and open. In order to be kind and open, people need to have that demonstrated and enforced in them, and this is where parents come in.

There?s bound to be many bumps along the way, sometimes you?ll feel like putting your kids up for adoption but in the end you stick together because you love each other. Loving your children and showing it the right way is at the heart of good parenting. Be there for your children when they need it, don?t overindulge them, equip them with the tools necessary to be self-sufficient so that when they have their own children, they will do the same.

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Index of /articles/articles

March 8th, 2010
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Index of /articles/articles

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Overweight Children

March 7th, 2010
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Overweight Children

Childhood obesity and diabetes are epidemics of increasing concern in many nations, not just our own. It seems to inevitably be a consequence of the excess that arises in developing cultures. The average size of an individual has increased over the years, and we are seeing more and more overweight children in recent times. This is a cause of alarm because childhood is a crucial period for healthy development. There are many negative consequences for overweight children?not only for them, but for society as a whole.

With technological advances, entertainment for children now consists more of sedentary activity instead of active movement. Instead of playing ball in the yard, kids are sitting indoors watching TV or playing video games. They also consume larger amounts of junk food, much of which is targeted at them through advertisements. The combination of little exercise and increased consumption contributes to the overweight epidemic in youth. Overweight children suffer socially as well as physically. They might get teased at school and ostracized by peers, which can lead to low self esteem and eating more to cope, resulting in a vicious cycle.

This is not to send the message that overweight children need to lose weight so that peers will stop making fun of them. The reason they need to lose weight is because they are potentially at risk for diabetes, heart disease and stroke as they become older. And peers have no right to pick on them because this stigmatizes overweight children and rests the blame solely on their shoulders, as if being overweight is all their fault because they?re the ones who are making the decision to eat more and exercise less. While we do have free will and we make our own choices, these choices are heavily influenced by what?s around us. Parents set an example for their kids and their eating habits strongly impact how and what their children eat. They might also overfeed their children thinking that they?re showing their love, or they might not be able to afford healthier food. Indeed, obesity rates are highest in low-income families?fast food is the cheapest food in the nation, and it?s also the unhealthiest.

Overweight individuals are among the most stigmatized in our nation, possibly because the condition of being overweight is clearly visible as opposed to other ?flaws.? It also doesn?t help that society is telling us to eat more, yet ridiculously expecting us to stay skinny. Pick one or the other, and pick health without enacting unreasonable demands.

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Tips on training your puppy the easy way!

March 4th, 2010
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Tips on training your puppy the easy way!

A puppy is always a pleasure to welcome into your home. These cute little rascals are friendly, funny, curious and mischievous, but just like kids – ;} – , they’ve got to be introduced to the ground rules of your home life in order for them to integrate into your family life as easily and pleasantly as possible, to your mutual satisfaction. Training your puppy may sound like an overwhelming prospect ? where do you begin? However, training a puppy need not be arduous and trying. On the contrary, training your new family canine can be easy and fun. Your puppy comes complete with attitude. For the best results and shortest learning curve, all you need to do is apply your lessons consistently, calmly and with a gentle manner. Here are a few tips to get you started, training your puppy the easy way.

When you first bring your puppy home, he’s bound to be excited and curious. Everything is new to him. Before you bring him in the house, lay a few sheets of newspaper down around the house. In his excitement, don’t be surprised if there’s an accident deposited on the floor somewhere. Treating carpets with a water repellent spray, prior to bringing your new family member home, may be a good investment! If a potty accident occurs, don’t flip out and shriek at the poor little puppy … he doesn’t know this is undesirable behavior. Instead, use a low, firm voice, saying ?No, no…?, and get him over to the newspaper. Granted, the deed is already done, but if you don’t scare him with shrill chastisements and excessive hand-wringing, your puppy will soon come to the party, associating the act with the newspaper as a people-pleaser.

One of the coolest characteristics of dogs is that they have an in-built desire to please you, which is certainly not the case with kitties! Keep this fact in mind as you begin training your puppy. He ? or she ? intuitively regards you as the master in this relationship ? unless you give your puppy reason to think otherwise! Never use a heavy-handed approach when training your puppy. If you do, he may dig in his heels or simply become afraid of you and less willing to go along with your program.

Being patient during the all-important potty training period lightens your load in future lessons, such as the ’sit’, ’stay’ and ‘heel’ training sessions. Sure, for you, the potty training is one of the least attractive aspects of training. On the other hand, try thinking of this stage as an opportunity to bond with your new puppy. He’s only doing what comes naturally. Given praise for the ‘right’ behavior is like a ray of sunshine in your puppy’s mind. Eager to please, he’ll learn the ‘correct’ behavior and bask happily in your praise. If he seems a little slow on the uptake, continue to be patient. He’ll get it, eventually. In the process, you’ll find him paying closer attention to your wishes, just for the sheer pleasure of hearing your praise.

During the first few days, allow your puppy to explore, so he becomes familiar with your home. Your puppy training program does require that you keep a sharp eye on him. Chewing on furniture and your daughter’s favorite sweater must be discouraged! The key to success lies in you keeping your cool, interacting with your puppy in calm and measured tones and consistent behavior.

Once you’ve mastered potty training, training your puppy to obey simple commands is a piece of cake. Now, your puppy knows all about the worst offenses. Teaching him to sit becomes easy. With a little biscuit or other treat in hand, push his behind down as you say ?Sit!?. Sitting is natural to a dog, but he’ll certainly love you all the more when he gets a treat for doing something that easy!

Training your puppy is easy, when you exercise patience and give him a lot of love!

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Hello Kitty Party

February 27th, 2010
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Hello Kitty Party

Celebrities and fans alike came together and attended the Hello Kitty party of Hello Kitty?s 35th anniversary at Royal/T located in the Los Angeles area on October 22. Apparently, Sanrio isn?t a brand just for kids?the event included go go dancers, Hello Kitty maids and plenty of alcohol. Notable celebrities in attendance at the Hello Kitty party were Kimora Lee Simmons, designer of Baby Phat, Paris Hilton, who?s known for being Paris Hilton, and surprising guests like Dave Navarro of INXS and Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy, evidence of Hello Kitty?s widespread appeal.

The main attraction of the Hello Kitty party was the launching of an exhibition called Three Apples, which will display the multitude of artworks that have been inspired by the Hello Kitty icon. The name ?Three Apples? refers to the equivalent of Hello Kitty?s alleged weight, but it includes way more than 3 events. In addition to the art exhibit, there will be an apartment completely decked out in Hello Kitty d?cor plus another exhibit showcasing unique Hello Kitty products that are unfamiliar in the US since after all, Hello Kitty belonged to Japan first. Following these attractions are a series of happenings so numerous that it?ll be impossible to get bored at 2009?s Hello Kitty party extravaganza. There will be a Hello Kitty brunch, a meet and greet with Hello Kitty designers, Hello Kitty art, jewelry and sushi/bento workshops, Hello Kitty happy hour, Hello Kitty karaoke, photo sessions with Hello Kitty, Hello Kitty trick or treat, a Hello Kitty tattoo parlor, Hello Kitty party games, a singing of ?Happy Birthday? to Hello Kitty herself, a meet and greet with the Three Apples artists, a Hello Kitty masquerade, and a Hello Kitty fashion show. It?s nonstop fun all day over several days, and you won?t want to miss any of the action going on up to November 14.

So if you?re anywhere near LA, the Hello Kitty party is going to be the most happening place in town for people of all ages. Come with your friends and meet Hello Kitty, drink a toast to her, learn to make Hello Kitty trinkets, appreciate some unique Hello Kitty renditions, pick up some Hello Kitty swag or just come to goggle at the level of devotion and numerous followers Hello Kitty has managed to attract. Who knows, you might even find yourself becoming one of them. But if you manage to resist her charms you?ll at least have a really great time.

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Make Your Own Jewelry Making Kits

February 24th, 2010
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Make Your Own Jewelry Making Kits

Jewelry making is a hobby that not everyone can do, as it takes a lot to time, concentration and imagination, but it can be fun if you have the time and love to create new things that you can use or give away as gifts. There are many types of jewelry making kits out there that you can buy for yourself, or you can buy them for someone else as a gift. What can be even more fun is to buy the items that you have found the most useful to put in kits to give away as gifts. Even if someone has never made jewelry before, they may love to get a kit and start out on their own.

If you want to put together your own jewelry making kits for adults or kids, you have to know a bit about making jewelry, but you certainly do not have to be a professional jewelry maker, or even do it that often for that matter. You just have to know the basics and what a person has to do to get started. You can make jewelry making kits out of the very same items that you found that you needed when you first started. If you used a kit, you probably remember what you thought should have been included and perhaps what was left out that you would have found useful. This information will be very helpful while you are putting together kits.

You are always going to need some types of tools for making jewelry. The basics are what most people use for any level of jewelry making. There are different sizes of wire cutters out there and it pays to include a few different ones. A small flashlight might be a nice touch, and pliers of a few different sizes work well for jewelry making kits as well. A metal nail file is a good idea too. There are more advanced tools out there for making intricate or hard to make jewelry that you can buy if you are getting something for someone who is not new to jewelry making.

What you want to include in your jewelry making kits in the way of stones and other items greatly depends. Everyone likes something different. There are hundreds if not thousands of different options out there for the main parts of the jewelry so you can go with what you think someone will like. Do not forget to get the wire and chains needed, as well as the other pieces you may need like earring bases and the like. Again, just get what you think someone would use and enjoy, and what would be easier to use when first starting out if the recipient is a novice.

If you want to make jewelry making kits for kids, you do not have to buy all of the same tools. Young girls will especially enjoy these types of kits so they can make necklaces and bracelets on their own using their own imaginations. You can get the string and plastic cord along with safe scissors and all types of beads for their kits. These are cheaper and easier to make, and will be greatly appreciated for Christmas, birthdays, or for any other occasion in which you would give a gift.

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Be sure your girl’s shoes fit right: poorly fitted shoes cause medical problems down the road!

February 23rd, 2010
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Be sure your girl’s shoes fit right: poorly fitted shoes cause medical problems down the road!

As every parent knows, keeping kids in clothing and shoes takes a big bite out of your total budget. With clothes, you can save by using hand-me-downs and shopping the consignment, thrift and discount stores. However, when it comes to your girl’s shoes, you’ve got to be a bit more careful. Whereas boy’s shoes tend to be plain ? and shaped like the child’s foot ? girl’s shoes, especially the dressy styles, come with pointy toes, which begin to narrow at the base of the big toe. Poorly fitting shoes can cause a lot of problems for those quickly growing bones, which can show up years later in bunions, hammertoes and other painful and needless bone deformations, which may require surgery to correct. Here we’ve got some guidelines on how to be sure your girl doesn’t end up with bone problems by the time she’s in her teens.

Before you ever begin to check out shoe styles, ask the shoe salesperson to use a shoe fitting device (all shoe stores have one) to determine the correct width and length of your child’s foot. Doing this step before starting to make selections helps avoid a disappointed child who finds the ‘perfect’ shoe, her heart’s desire, only to discover it’s not available in her size. After her feet have been measured, ask the salesperson to show you several styles of the type of girl’s shoes you need, be it tennies, boots or dress shoes. If the shoes will be worn with socks, have your girl wear, or bring a pair of socks suited to the shoe. The socks will make a considerable difference in the fit of the shoe!

Always try on both shops before testing for a good fit. It’s common for people to have one foot to be just a tad larger than the other, usually averaging about a ? inch difference between the two. You want to go with the shoe size that fits the larger foot.

Shopping for girl’s shoes can be a little more difficult than with boys. Perhaps girls are just born with fashion in their genes and shoe manufacturers know that. Girl’s shoes come with an array of decorations and ‘features’ not found on boy’s shoes, such as fashion straps, bows, little heels and those pointy toes, making the selection process more exciting ? and longer.

Be prepared to be firm on certain ‘features’, such as pumps and pointy toes. Explain that those pointy toes squish those rapidly growing bones ? and that they’re quite uncomfortable when worn for even a couple of hours. As for pump, while they may look cute, they can also contribute to a misaligned spine. As proof, offer a reminder of old Aunt May and her long standing back pain. ?You don’t want that sort of condition at your age, do you!? The only viable case for the pointed toe or short pump might be when the shoes will rarely be worn for limited periods of time. Just a couple of hours in such a shoe will probably change your child’s mind on the merits of this type of girl’s shoes. When trying on the shoes, have your girl stand up straight. Feel the width across the ball of the foot to be sure it’s not too tight. Now have the child walk several feet away, so you can observe the heel portion. Her heel should not come up as she walks ? this type of fit results in painful blisters. If the shoe fits well in every other way, you still have two alternatives: ask if the store carries inserts for the heel, or if that shoe comes in a narrower heel size.

Following these guidelines, you and your girl can both be happy. If you can’t find a pair of girl’s shoes that fit ? and passes the fashion test, be willing to go to another shoe store. Establishing the shoe shopping rules, right up front, makes subsequent shoe shopping easier. Remember, you’ll be doing this again in about three months!

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Hasbro Toys

February 21st, 2010
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Hasbro Toys

Hasbro toys are some of the hottest must have items because they reach out to a diverse consumer audience, which makes sense considering that Hasbro is internationally one of the biggest toy companies in the market, competing with other big toy companies like Mattel, the creator of the Barbie brand. Hasbro produces toys and games for all ages from toddler to even adult. There are many products you might not have known came from Hasbro?board games like Clue and toys like Mr. Potato Head, for instance. In truth many of these products are owned by other companies, but they are subsidiaries of Hasbro, which means that Hasbro controls their operations and owns all of their products. So when we talk about Milton and Bradley games, Playskool, Tonka, and Tiger Electronics toys, we?re really talking about Hasbro toys and games.

Hasbro headquarters is located in Rhode Island, but today most Hasbro toys are manufactured overseas in China. In its beginnings, Hasbro came up with Mr. Potato Head and GI Joe, and later on My Little Pony. As it subsidized more companies, Hasbro became responsible for Transformers action figures, Candy Land, Jenga, Wizards of the Coast, Star Wars, Twister, Chutes and Ladders, Care Bears, Yahtzee, Play Doh, Pokemon, Zoids, Cabbage Patch Kids, Tinkertoys, Easy Bake Oven, Cranium, Dungeons and Dragons, Scrabble, Pictionary, Trivial Pursuit and you get the idea. It?s practically a monopoly, and they own Monopoly too. Go figure.

So there?s no way that Hasbro is going to miss out on this season, and some of the most sought after Hasbro toys are the Hasbro Playskool Step Start Walk n Ride, Bop It, the Hasbro Games Monopoly Deal Card Game, the Hasbro Playskool Busy Ball Popper, the Transformers Movie 2 Leader Optimus Prime action figure, the Nerf n Strike Raider Rapid Fire CS 35 Dart Blaster, and the Hasbro Nerf n Strike Maverick. All of these are currently on the leading sellers list at Amazon along with other toys produced by Cepia, LeapFrog, Melissa & Doug, Fisher Price and Mattel. Giving Hasbro some competition are the Zhu Zhu Hamster Pets, Twilight Barbies, the Slice and Bake Cookie Set, the LeapFrog Scribble and Write, and the Brilliant Basics Baby?s First Blocks. All of these products will be highly sought after, but Hasbro is bound to have a strong performance in the market and will likely continue to for years to come.

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The challenges of baby feeding: six tips on making it a healthy, happy occasion

February 18th, 2010
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The challenges of baby feeding: six tips on making it a healthy, happy occasion

If you’ve got a baby in the house, you certainly know the challenges that baby feeding time can present. Babies quickly develop particular tastes for certain foods, as well as those they dislike and inevitably refuse to eat. Come at them with a spoon of commercially prepared beef and be prepared for the worst ? either a deft little hand which sends spoon and beef onto the floor, or a big ‘fffflmmmth’ as the remark on what managed to enter baby’s mouth. However, you’re intent on making sure that your baby eats a nutritious, well-balanced meal. Here are a few tips to making baby feeding time a happy time that satisfies your nutritional goals.

1.About an hour before baby feeding time, curtail beverages such as milk and juices. These beverages serve to fill baby up and thus be not quite so amenable to certain items on the menu. You don’t have to deprive your baby, just low-play the beverage end of the meal. This also helps keep baby’s taste buds in the welcome state.

2.Almost every baby has favorites when it comes to foods. Your baby may love bananas and peaches, but be less than happy about applesauce or blueberries. Remember, your goal is nutrition, so check your labels for nutritional value. All things being more or less equal, let baby eat the favored fruits. Pushing disliked foods on a baby can result in a very picky eater down the road.

3.Lots of babies balk at meats, especially the ones that come in jars. If proffering meat at baby feeding time brings the child to tears or tantrums, there are other ways to get that protein into an acceptable form. For example, you can cook a boneless chicken breast, cut it into several serving portions and freeze. When you’re ready to serve, put a portion in a baby food grinder, grinding until smooth. Baby will not recognize this as the same offensive product from a jar. The same technique works for veggies. Fresh is definitely better! After all, which would you rather eat? It’s also a good way to reduce the salt your baby consumes. Commercial baby food usually contains added salt. Of course, there’s no guarantee baby will like this any better, but it’s certainly worth a healthy shot!

4.Much as adults might freshen their palate between courses, with a small sorbet cup, try keeping baby interested by alternating the foods on today’s menu every couple of spoonfuls. A spoon of chicken, followed by a bite of applesauce, may suit baby’s taste. On the other hand, some babies are natural born ‘Dutch eaters’. These kids want to consume every last bite of one food before proceeding to the next. Whatever works!

5.Sometimes, baby feeding requires an ‘intermission’ to obtain the desired results. If baby starts acting fidgety, rejecting all food offers, it’s probably time for a break. Turn on some music, sing a happy tune or play a little game, counting fingers or gently squeezing that cute little cheek. Toys can also provide a diversion, convincing your little tyke that he or she is not being forced to toe the line, spoon after spoon. Get a few giggles going, and offer an empty spoon for baby’s choice of the next bite.

6.The much maligned tube is good for something. Cartoons are a good way to divert baby’s attention, automatically accepting the spoonful as the cartoon character weaves a spell on baby. Aha! Another bite accomplished.

Using these six tips at baby feeding time will surely result in more food in the tummy and less on the bib, high chair and floor! Aren’t babies cute?

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