Our Children & Our Environment

It is not news to hear that children mimic the actions of the adults around them; However, as parents of young children we sometimes need to be reminded of this.

With code orange & code red days, the price of gas increasing, the affects of global warming, droughts … now is the time to teach our young children how to take care of our planet.

As a family, we try to do our part in taking care of environment by:

• recycling every week
• not wasting water
• purchasing a hybrid vehicle…

To Preschool or Not to Preschool

…. this is one of the current hot topics with SAHM (stay-at-home-moms) today. Parents make choices for their family every day: from what to eat for breakfast, when to schedule appointments, to what activities the children will be doing on a given day.

When the decision is made for one of the parents to become a SAHP (stay-at-home-parent) that doesn’t necessarily mean that the parent and child will be joined at the hip -never to part.

Children will grow & thrive in whatever situ…

Natural Remedies for Children

Thumbing through the May issue of Parents magazine I stumbled upon the article, Natural Remedies for Children. Knowing that there will come a time when one of these remedies can be put to the test in our house, I ripped the article out for future use.

Well that time is upon us! Our entire family has caught a bug and we are doing all that we can to help it pass quickly. When my children come down with a cold/virus I do not hesitate to call our pediatrician; That…

… And Now We’re a Family of Five!

So now the fun begins. Family is gone, husband is back at work, and it is just me and the kids: Mommy, Josie (2.5 yrs), Rob 1.5 (yrs), and Lily (3 weeks).

Week number 1 is coming to a close and we have survived. Granted all 3 kids & I have yet to leave the house in our family vehicle, and mommy and Josie are starting to get cabin fever … but we are still (relatively) sane and generally stimulated by our home surroundings.

The wonderful & supportive mom’s group that I belon…

Are you ready for another baby?

While it is a little late in the game for my husband & I to be asking ourselves this question, many women (and fathers) find themselves wondering if the timing is “right” to try for another child.

Our first pregnancy was planned, and while we knew that we wanted more children we were a bit surprised when we found out that our son was on his way. Having survived a year with two children under the age of two, we knew that we wanted our next child close in age to our son; our second daug…

Potty Training Tips!

Have you found yourself wondering if your child will ever become potty trained?! I have recently asked myself that question. Josie is just over 2 years old, and I am of the mind set, that it will happen when it happens; this is something that I am not going to rush. However, as we are expecting baby #3 in March of 2008, I am hoping that Josie will begin to show an interest in using the potty for more than just a reading chair.

There are some children that are potty trained (for th…

Seperation Anxiety & The Toddler Years

Monday morning & it is the first day of “school” for Josie (it is actually a structured mother’s morning out program) and we are all excited!

The weekend leading up to Josie’s first day, we talked about the children that she would see in her class, the theme that they would talk about, and the projects that they had planned! Josie was excited about everything that we talked about, which in turn made me excited; However in the back of my mind I knew what was going to happen as soon a…

Young Children & Healthy Eating

It’s no secret that eating healthy keeps you fit, energized, and feeling great! This goes for children as well. When children begin eating table food, that is the time to introduce healthy eating habits. This sounds easy, but not every child is open to trying new foods.

However challenging your little eater is, just remember to keep introducing foods. Your child may not like green beans the first time they try them - but it takes some children several tries before finding that they…

Happy Birthdays

First birthdays are always a treat! Many children love the attention and parents have fun creating just the perfect atmosphere to celebrate this special day. Whether you are putting together a huge 1st birthday bash, or you are keeping it low key, anyway you choose to celebrate your child’s 1st birthday is a very special occasion.

Both of my children are celebrating their birthdays in the month of August; Josie is turing 2, and Rob is turing 1. We are planning on having a small party with…

Happy Travelers

Picture this:
A toddler & an older infant pleasantly eating, sleeping and laughing all the way through a 14 hour car trip …. Is this possible?

Not in our family! We recently returned from a car trip to upstate NY that w/o children takes between 11-12 hours & w/children between 12-15 hours. This trip took approximately 14 hours each way.

Overall, the kids really did travel well, considering the length of the drive. What we found was that the first 3-4 hours were no…

Sleep … routines are key!

A baby that is always rocked to sleep will always want to be rocked to sleep.

I rocked my daughter Josie to sleep for the first 12 months of her life. Which was actually not a problem - until our son Rob was born and we needed to change up the sleep routine. When Rob was born Tom took over the bed time routine with Josie. That went over all right, however Josie needed to be rocked to sleep - that is what we had done since her birth. Josie is a delightful little girl … un…

Summer Safety = Summer Fun!

As the weather heats up there are many situations you need to think about in order to make summer time fun - FUN - for you & your kids!

Temperatures are rising & this heat can become dangerous if you are not being hydrated. Adults & children need to drink water or other non-carbonated, sugarless drinks, often & throughout the day. Outside play is important for children - for their development - however as the temperatures climb, limit time outside. It is a good i…

Kindergarten Readiness

As the summer approaches many parents & children are thinking ahead to the upcoming school year. The question that I often hear from parents in regards to entering kindergarten is, “Is my child ready?”.

It has been my experience, that children who have attended a high quality childcare or preschool program are most often ready for kindergarten by the time they are four or five years of age. Many of the skills that are required of the children for kindergarten are taught in preschool….

Music, Dance, & So Much More!

There have been days when I’ve wondered if I am providing enough stimulation for my kids. My son is still young enough though - that I am confident I am meeting all of his needs. However, my mischievous little monkey of a toddler (& I say that with nothing but love in my heart) is 21 months old and ready to rule the world!

There are days when I need to stay close to home - to get household chores completed and such, but on those days especially, my toddler is *NON STOP GO GO GO…

Positive Discipline & Your Toddler

We’ve all been there (& if you haven’t yet, you will be): hopping over the duplo blocks, bumping our legs on the end-table, and leaping over the coffee table yelling, “NOOOOOOO”! … to stop our inquisitive & spirited toddler from getting into all sorts of mischief.

However, more times that not there are other words & phrases that we can use as we are disciplining our children. Infants and toddlers need to explore their environment - it is essential for their development.

…

Mommy Wars … are we really at *War* with each other?

According to the article Working Mother’s: Information from Answers.com: *”As of the early 2000s, more mothers in the United States are working than ever before. In the mid-1990s, 58 percent of mothers with children under the age of six, and nearly 75 percent of those with children between the ages of six and 18 were part of the paid labor force. The number of single mothers with full-time year-round jobs increased from 39 percent in 1996 to 49…

TriangleMommies: A great online community for parents

Whether you are a stay-at-home parent or you are a working parent, everyone needs a support system. Ten years ago this July, my husband & I made the decision to move to North Carolina. It was a bold move, considering we just graduated from college & were leaving our families & friends - our support systems in New York State and heading out into the great unknown.

A year and a half ago, we welcomed the birth of our first child - Josie - and it was brought to our attention agai…

Tantrums … The Terrible Twos Begin Before Two

Arching of the back … limbs going limp … perhaps there is some kicking and head banging … we experience these trying occurrences with our toddler from time to time. It helps to know that every parent deals with their child throwing a temper-tantrum at least once.

As embarrassing as a toddler’s tantrum can be when it is taking place in public, or just plain exhausting when it happens at home, it is important to keep in mind that there is a reason that your young child is having this …

More Skills & Activities To Go With Them

The other day I was upstairs getting the kids ready for their naps. As per our routine, I settled Rob down while Josie quietly unwinds in her room with soft music and books. As I ever so delicately tip-toe out from Rob’s room after he drifts off to sleep, I make my way to Josie’s room. But before I walk in, I stand at the door and peek in. The door is ajar slightly & I know I should be able to see her but she isn’t in view. So I open the door a little more, all the while trying not t…

An Introduction to Shapes

As the seasons change I admit that I become a little antsy & take on spring cleaning projects - one of which involves rearranging the living room & the bedrooms. As I stand in the middle of the room, I make note of the shape of the room I am about to rearrange. Whether we are conscious of it or not, we work with shapes daily: rearranging furniture, planting a garden, even cleaning out the refrigerator!

Children are learning and absorbing their environment every minute of every day…

Brain Development in Young Children

Do you remember the first time your child rolled over, clapped their hands, or said their first sentence? Learning is taking place from the time a baby is born. An infant watches as well as feels the world around them. When it comes to early learning it helps to know how the brain works … our environment & the interactions between child and adult play a large part in who we are, & is influenced by what we do.

• [NNCC Brain Development Karen DeBord, Ph.D. Extension State Special…

My Mom Said It & Now I Hear Van Morrison Saying It …

“They’ll be days like this …. “, said ever so wisely by Van Morrison (off the 1995 album “Days Like This). Where did the “me” of 2000 go? When did I evolve in to the person that I am now? I still dig the same music (with a few extra bands added in for more flavor), I still desire another tattoo and another nose ring (the first was way back, but I had to have that close up). I had envisioned myself as a really hip Stay At Home Mom (SAHM), but I have become so entirely consume…

… And They Speak!

Language development & the art of speech … it is amazing to watch children grow & develop, not only seeing them grow, but listening to them too. The other day my daughter Josie who is 19 months called after me as I was upstairs, “Mama where are you?”. When did she start speaking in full sentences?! My son Rob, who is six months is babbling, and mimicking sounds, laughing at me when I mimic the sounds he makes; When I was an early childhood education major in college, I rememb…

Introduction

Rainy days & pretty much any other day where parents have nothing planned for their children, can be trying on the nerves. With every age, even infants & toddlers it is important to have a routine & to implement stimulating activities. As a former preschool teacher I worked primarily with infants & toddlers, and know the importance of providing the structure, and activities that are needed for young children to flourish emotionally, socially, and cognitively.

I earned m…