Know the Toddler Phase

The toddler phase in a child’s life can be sharply marked by an increasing need to assert its independence. This will be a time fraught with challenges for you, as you try to support your toddlers’ impulses to explore his environment, while also safeguarding them from any harm.

If the battle to assert your authority may sometimes lead to frayed nerves or tempers on your part, be sure that you will also be rewarded by the development of a new and complex level of interaction between your child and yourself. The toddler phase can indeed be very demanding, especially at the initial stage of the phase.

Here are some ways in which you can encourage and extend your support during this difficult and yet essential and interesting phase in your child’s life:

• Let your toddlers explore within a limit: It is the parent’s task to set acceptable limits and as long as your toddlers do not cross those limits, allow complete freedom to explore. Your toddlers will learn to appreciate this and broaden their horizons through the use of their newfound curiosities.


• Honor and appreciate the choices made by your toddler as long as they do not harm anyone.


• Be calm and composed: Do not get irritated by your toddler’s tendency to refuse or rebel. This is actually a good sign to tell you that your toddler is developing a mind of his or her own.


• Do not neglect your toddler’s urge to play: Get your child various types of games appropriate for a toddler’s age. Your toddlers will learn important things in the process of enjoying the games such as eye-hand coordination, an understanding of logical sequences in events etc.

Also read this Useful article for single parents.

Moving is the Best Exercise for Babies

We know that exercise is important for our health as adults, but did you know that the same philosophy applies to babies? It is recommended that babies should work their muscles at least half-hour each day, although not necessarily all at once. Here are basic exercises that you can do with your baby, to stretch and tone the muscles:

Stretching

With your baby on his tummy, roll a ball in his direction so he has to extend his arms to grasp the ball and then roll it back to you. Alternately, you could sit facing each other with your feet bottoms touching and roll the ball back and forth, stretching in the process.

Standing

If your baby is trying to stand, encourage him by making him want to move towards you. Make sure you do this within the safety of a crib or on well-padded baby bedding. Play with a toy to get his attention and then re-position yourself on the other side of the crib or bed to get him to come to you. You can also make the stretching motion yourself and show him what it looks like when you stand up.

Crawling

Your infant's attempts to crawl are naturally going to help him exercise his little body since he will work hard to push himself forward with his arms and legs. Motivate him to move by clapping your hands and motioning your child to come towards you. You can also use a noise-making toy to grab his attention.

Jumping

Toddlers require a more advanced activity like jumping to help practice motor skills. You can make a line on your carpet using a folded piece of construction paper and help your baby hop from one side to the other. To add to the excitement, make up rhyming tunes as you go or listen to music.

Taking Your Baby for First Shots

Babies usually make their first visit to the hospital by the age of two months. Even if your baby appears healthy, it is important for you to make an appointment for a routine checkup. Visits to the doctor are also necessary to protect the babies from several infectious diseases by using vaccine suitable for their age.

By the age of two months, children are typically given vaccines for the following:

• DPT / POLIO / HIB or (Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Haemophilus Influenzae type B)


• Hepatitis B


• MMR or (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)


• Varicella
• Pneumococcal conjugate

In addition, some babies may receive Vitamin K shots to protect them from rare bleeding disorders.

Some important tips for parents:

• Ask the doctor or health professional for more information on the disease prevention, schedules, and the mandatory vaccines.


• Regular vaccinations suitable for your baby's age are important. Stick to the schedule prescribed by your doctor.


• Do not miss a dose. Even if you start late or miss a dose, speak to the doctor about the right time to administer a vaccine.


• After immunization, babies may experience redness, soreness, fever, or swelling at the injection site, which is no cause for worry. Keeping a cool cloth on the affected site will help to reduce the reaction.


• In rare cases, some children tend to develop allergic reactions such as high fever or loss of consciousness. Consult your doctor immediately.
• Contact your doctor, if your child develops a fever. Your doctor may prescribe medication to make the child feel comfortable.

Bonding with Your Kids

Dads' traditional role as breadwinners means that they spend relatively less time with their kids than the moms. Breadwinner dads often need to be creative regarding things to do with their kids. Here are some tips to help dads bond with their kids:

* Make time for them: Reserve some part of your day exclusively for your kids. Spend this time doing something together, like going for a jog in the morning, or playing a game of scrabble in the evenings.

* Plan outings: Take your family out for a picnic. Weekend outings provide an excellent opportunity for bonding and suit even dads who work tight schedules during the week. A longer annual vacation is another time when the family can look forward to spending quality time together.

* Look beyond the idiot box: While television has its benefits, it is generally not a great idea for fostering family togetherness. Restrict television viewing in your home to make time for other interactive activities.

* Talk with your kids: Find things to talk about with your kids; it could be stories from your day at work, or some interesting anecdotes from your childhood. Similarly, encourage your kids to tell you about the details of their day at school.

* Share a hobby: Getting your kids to take an interest in your hobby is another great idea for bonding. Whether you are into gardening, aeromodelling, or photography, sharing a passion with your children is fun, and presents an opportunity for teamwork.

* Help with the homework: Helping kids with homework or school projects is one way for dads to share active parenting duties, while, at the same time, connecting with the kids.

* Enlist their help: Get your kids to help with household chores, such as washing the car or mowing the lawn. They not only learn to be productive, but enjoy the activity.

* Eat with them: The number one way you can make sure they eat right and also keep open communication with you is to eat one meal together as a family every day.

How to Take your Baby's Temperature

If you suspect your baby feels warmer than usual you may need to check for fever. Always use a modern digital thermometer to take your child's temperature. These are not only more accurate and easy to use, but also avoid the risk involved in older designs that use mercury.

While the rectal temperature is the most accurate method for babies and very small children, parents often opt for the less accurate armpit reading because it is easier to do for a first reading. You can take your child's temperature in the following ways:

* Rectum: Let your baby lie down on the stomach or on the side. Then apply a little petroleum jelly on the thermometer tip and gently insert it into your child's rectum. Avoid the use of force and take care not to insert more than about an inch from the tip. Keep the thermometer in place until it beeps, then remove it and take the reading.

This method usually gives the most accurate results. It is best for children who are older than three months old. For reasons of hygiene, do not use a thermometer that you insert rectally, inside your child's mouth. However, if you must, clean it with rubbing alcohol before you do so.

* Mouth: Position the tip of the thermometer under your child's tongue. Ask your child to close his mouth, while keeping it in place with the lips so that it does not shift from under the tongue. Keep the thermometer in place until it beeps, then remove it and take the reading.

This method is ideal for older kids; those over four years old.

* Armpit: Position the thermometer under your baby's armpit in such a way, that it lies in direct contact with the skin. Hold your child steady. Keep the thermometer in place until it beeps, then remove it and take the reading. This is the least accurate method. It is ideal for a primary reading in case of babies who are younger than three months old. If on the higher side (above 99° F), it can be followed up with a rectal reading.

Call the doctor immediately if:

* Your child under 3 months old records a temperature of 100.4° F or higher.

* Your child over three months old records a temperature higher than 104° F.

Being a Single Teen Parent is Not Easy

Taking care of children is harder for single parents. Single parents often don't have someone to help take care of the baby. Single parents often don't have someone to help make decisions. Also, it is harder for single parents to see their friends. Caring for the baby takes up so much time.

But it is important to spend some time with other adults, and not just at work. Go out with friends and family. Make sure your baby is well cared for when you are gone. It is not selfish to have some time for yourself. Take a break once a week to avoid stress.

Your baby, whether a boy or girl, needs to spend time with people of both sexes. Children need to know other adults, both men and women, who are calm, friendly, warm and trustworthy. Also, as children grow up, they need to be with other children. Boys need to play with other boys some of the time. Girls need to play with other girls some of the time.

The teen years are a special time in your life. Being a new parent is also special. Both come with their own joys and problems.

Being a single teen parent is not easy. In order to give your baby the best, you need a lot of love and support.

Many school districts have special programs to help teen parents. Some have programs for pregnant teens and teen mothers that include child care for babies while the teen mom goes to school. Some larger school districts have programs with flexible hours. These programs make it easier for teen parents to work and still go to school. Call your school district to find out if there is a program near you.

There are reasons why school is important to teen parents. Here are some of them:

• You can get a better job if you finish high school. A high school diploma is required for most jobs. A high school diploma is needed if you want to go to college.

• You will be a good example for your child. You will be able to help her when she goes to school.

• Ask your school district if it has a special program for teen parents. Ask about how to get your General Equivalency Diploma (GED).

Find Your Style of Parenting

There are many ideas about how to rear children. Some parents adopt the ideas their own parents used. Others get advice from friends. Some read books about parenting. Others take classes offered in the community. No one has all the answers. However, psychologists and other social scientists now know what parenting practices are most effective and are more likely to lead to positive outcomes for children.

Ideas about child rearing can be grouped into three styles. These are different ways of deciding who is responsible for what in a family.

Authoritarian

Authoritarian parents always try to be in control and exert their control on the children. These parents set strict rules to try to keep order, and they usually do this without much expression of warmth and affection. They attempt to set strict standards of conduct and are usually very critical of children for not meeting those standards. They tell children what to do, they try to make them obey and they usually do not provide children with choices or options.

Authoritarian parents don't explain why they want their children to do things. If a child questions a rule or command, the parent might answer,"Because I said so." Parents tend to focus on bad behavior, rather than positive behavior, and children are scolded or punished, often harshly, for not following the rules.Children with authoritarian parents usually do not learn to think for themselves and understand why the parent is requiring certain behaviors.

Permissive

Permissive parents give up most control to their children. Parents make few, if any, rules, and the rules that they make are usually not consistently enforced. They don't want to be tied down to routines. They want their children to feel free. They do not set clear boundaries or expectations for their children's behavior and tend to accept in a warm and loving way, however the child behaves.

Permissive parents give children as many choices as possible, even when the child is not capable of making good choices. They tend to accept a child's behavior, good or bad, and make no comment about whether it is beneficial or not. They may feel unable to change misbehavior, or they choose not to get involved.

Democratic or authoritative

Democratic parents help children learn to be responsible for themselves and to think about the consequences of their behavior. Parents do this by providing clear, reasonable expectations for their children and explanations for why they expect their children to behave in a particular manner. They monitor their children's behavior to make sure that they follow through on rules and expectations. They do this in a warm and loving manner. They often, "try to catch their children being good" and reinforcing the good behavior, rather than focusing on the bad.

For example, a child who leaves her toys on a staircase may be told not to do this because, "Someone could trip on them and get hurt and the toy might be damaged." As children mature, parents involve children in making rules and doing chores: "Who will mop the kitchen floor, and who will carry out the trash?"

Parents who have a democratic style give choices based on a child's ability. For a toddler, the choice may be "red shirt or striped shirt?" For an older child, the choice might be "apple, orange or banana?" Parents guide children's behavior by teaching, not punishing. "You threw your truck at Mindy. That hurt her. We're putting your truck away until you can play with it safely."

Which is your style?

Maybe you are somewhere in between. Think about what you want your children to learn. Research on child development shows that the most positive outcomes for children occur when parents use democratic styles. Children with permissive parents tend to be aggressive and act out, while children with authoritarian parents tend to be compliant and submissive and have low self-esteem. No parenting styles will work unless you build a loving bond with your child.

How to Choose your Work-from-Home Job

Most people wishing to work-from-home or telecommute start with a state of confusion. There are so many work-from-home scams that most newbies end up burning their fingers at their initial attempt to set up home businesses.

If you wish to stay away from the scams, the first rule is to avoid the get-rich-quick schemes. Focusing on job satisfaction instead of big money will steer you past many of the scams strewn across the marketplace.

When looking for a work-from-home opportunity, here are a few questions you need to ask yourself:

1. What do I enjoy doing?

There may be several things you enjoy doing; list them all. Don't leave out anything. List also those activities that you suspect might not earn you money, for example, watching TV. You may be surprised; there are work-from-home opportunities also for people who would like to watch TV for a living. The only criterion in this list is that it should be an activity you enjoy doing.

2. What are the activities I would rather not do professionally?

Doing something professionally means doing similar tasks everyday, even repetitively. There may be activities you enjoy doing, but rather not do professionally. Many people stop enjoying certain activities if they have to do them for a living. For example, you may enjoy watching a certain TV program. However, would you enjoy watching the same scene repeatedly about 20-30 times? This is what you might need to do if you became a video or movie editor.

3. What are the activities I have the skills for?

Make a list of all the skills you have used in the past. Don't limit yourself to workplace skills. Include work that you may have done for your family, friends, or charitable organizations.

4. What are the skills I would enjoy learning?

Make a list of all the skills that you would enjoy learning. For example, you might enjoy learning how to play a musical instrument or story writing.

5. What are the required skills I can learn in the shortest time?

Based on your interests, make a list of the skills it would take you the least time to learn.

6. What are the tasks I hate doing or what working styles do I hate the most?

List tasks related to the workplace as well as tasks in other informal settings. For example, you may hate creating detailed reports or working under a boss.

Now identify an activity with the most occurrences across all the "like" categories and absent in the "hate" category. For example, your most frequent "like" activity may be watching TV. Then search for work-from-home opportunities that involve activities like editing or categorizing videos.

This exercise will help you narrow down your search and possibly land you a job that will bring you job satisfaction. In most cases, when people enjoy their job, they produce quality output and consequently are more successful. Remember also, that success and money don't always go hand. While ideally, a job you love will mean money and happiness, you may have to sacrifice some (or a lot) of the former to achieve the latter.

Divorced Dads - Dealing With Broken Home

The thought of what has happened interrupts you seven times a day. You have lost everything you helped build, all sense of love and belonging in the world. The crisis has left in its wake the disorganization of your instincts and ideas.

Every divorced dad has to carry his own grief and try to begin a new life again in the world. Remember that you are still a father. Taking care of your children during this crisis is your first priority. It's the only way to break the inertia. It's the only way to get back in control of your life, take responsibility and start fixing that broken heart, that broken home.

It is time to get help:

• Along with the correct legal advice, consider seeing a family therapist or psychologist.

• Coping isn't easy. Feelings of rage and vindication can overwhelm you at this time. Be aware that these feelings are normal, but acting on them is not.

• You need to talk it out-with friends, a support group or with a therapist. Newly divorced dads often find this helpful to regain a sense of control over their situation.

• Remember that it takes time to get back to what will pass for "normal", given your new situation. Set realistic expectations for how long it will take to get back on track.

It takes a lot of sanity to make the right decision when it comes to deciding the fate of your fatherhood after divorce. That is exactly what is at stake in the situation.

Knowing your rights as a father is the first positive step towards understanding your legal position. Once you have familiarized yourself with the legal basics, you can decide on the individual merits of your case with the help of your lawyer:

• If you feel the divorce is "not your fault" or if your spouse is an incompetent parent, you may choose to sue for sole custody. However, this may involve unnecessary separations and prolonged battles with your family, and resulting alienation and resentment among your children.

• You may decide to negotiate for joint custody and generous visitation rights-decisions which go a long way in repairing the damage of divorce and gives time to everyone to deal rationally with each other.

You may find that a commitment towards creating conditions for a stable environment for your children is more important than taking revenge on your spouse for the divorce. Divorced dads have a lot to prove since they will likely take at least half the blame for the break up of the family.

Stay-At-Home Dads Face a Challenge

According to 2006 data from US Census Bureau, there were 143,000 stay-at-home dads on Father's Day two years ago, not including single parents, compared to 5.6 million stay-at-home moms.

That number has grown slightly in the last few years, the Associated Press reports, but then so has the number of moms.

Dads can decide to act as the primary carer for their children for a number of reasons, including finances, wanting to bond or because of single parenting.

However, the preponderance of mothers at nurseries, playgrounds and social events such as children's parties can make it an isolating and lonely experience for men.

The Associated Press spoke to Mike Biewenga, a stay-at-home dad for the last four years, who noticed that moms would sit further away from him during visits to a reading group at a local library.

"There was a gap, then me, then a gap, then the rest of the circle … I mean, I shave, I comb my hair. I'm a normal-looking guy," he said.

Groups and websites have now been formed to help stay at home dads with their kids to network and share their stories, while moms are getting more used to seeing guys in the playground during the week.

And with increasing work pressures, the role of a stay at home day is becoming ever-more valuable.

A recent study from British children's charity the NSPCC found that 59 percent of fathers questioned believe their careers keep them away from their sons and daughters.

Stay-at-home fathers are still a rarity in the US compared to their female counterparts, but it is a growing trend both among single dads and those in a relationship.

5 Rules for Divorced Dads

As a child of divorce (my parents divorced when I was four), I can personally say that divorce can be, or maybe always is, hardest on the kids. It should be a decision of last resort when kids are involved and very clearly the "least bad" of your options in a bad marriage.

That said, it does occur and divorced dads have special challenges.

Divorced dads have a lot to prove since they will likely take at least half the blame for the break up of the family. If you're a divorced dad, you are also likely to have lost custody of your kids. You're less present for them everyday and need to make the most of your time with your kids.

Divorced dads should follow all the tips for regular dads, but should be especially attentive to these.

• Never date or marry any woman who wants to put herself ahead of your kids. It doesn't matter how pretty, sexy, wealthy, intelligent, funny or seemingly caring she is. When you had kids, you made a covenant to put them ahead of everything. When all else fades, your relationship with them will be the strongest love of your life.

• Never compare siblings. This goes doubly for step-brothers and sisters. If you compare them for any reason, at almost any age, you give your own children a reason to doubt your love for them.

• Make twice the effort to be at every game, school play, and birthday.

• A corollary to #3, move or stay wherever your kids live. Other places may beckon but your place is close to your family.

• Never discuss your ex-wife. This last might be especially difficult given the circumstances for your divorce. However, no matter how great the joy may be in the moment to say something negative about your ex-spouse, you will gain nothing from it in the long run. If your spouse is as bad as you say, it will be obvious to the kids. If not, they will hold it against you.

Every divorced dad has to carry his own grief and try to begin a new life again in the world. Remember that you are still a father. Taking care of your children during this crisis is your first priority. It's the only way to break the inertia.

Stay-at-Home Fathers Could Offer Moms Tips

Stay-at-home fathers are still a rarity in the US compared to their female counterparts, but it is a growing trend both among single dads and those in a relationship.

Now, it looks like dads who act as the primary caregiver to their children may already have a thing or two to teach moms about raising kids.

USA Today spoke to Andrew McDade, a teacher in New Jersey who decided to stay at home to raise his daughter when she was born nine years ago.

He found that many moms would be constantly coming up to him to offer unsolicited advice on how to look after his children, which may not be surprising considering that on average, working fathers provide about 40 per cent less childcare on a daily basis than their female counterparts.

However, the magazine spoke to a number of experts who suggested that fathers that do the bulk of the childcare could have some valuable tips to impart to moms.

For example, stay at home dads generally break with the traditional assumption that the person who raises the children should also do the housework. "When you think about it, the task of caring for kids are logically different from doing the housework," Joan C. Williams, director of the Center for WorkLife Law at Hastings College of the Law in California, told the publication.

In addition, research has found that such fathers are also more likely to take time out for themselves than their female counterparts, keep a hand in the workforce and take an equitable approach to childrearing; all positive traits.

For parents who want to take a totally different approach to raising their children, the New York Times recently reported on the phenomenon of shared parenting, where both moms and dads share all the responsibilities of child care equally.