Parenting for Beginners

Author: Jamie Jefferson

Toddlers have lots of energy. In fact, they may have more energy than their parents, if they’ve just had a nap and they are cooped up in an airplane or carseat for hours at a time. And once they reach their destination, a whole new set of challenges begin.

So what’s a parent to do?

Here are five tips for keeping your toddler happy during vacations and long trips, whether on the road or through the air.

1. The most important thing when traveling with toddlers is proper preparation. Have plenty of activities on hand, as well as snacks and drinks during the trip. By all means, stay away from sugary snacks and drinks, which can amp up your child’s energy when you least want it to.

2. Keep your child busy. Pack your child’s old favorites, as well as a fresh new activity book and pack of crayons or colored pencils. You’ll want your child’s favorite book, as well as soft blanket to cuddle up in.

A little snuggle time with mom or dad or an extra afternoon nap can make a big difference in your child’s mood. If nothing else seems to work to calm your child, try simply reducing the stimuli around your child for 20 minutes or so. Take her on a quiet stroller ride or take her into a quiet room and hold her or rock her until she either falls asleep or you can see her tension start to subside.

3. Encourage your child to wash his or hands often. Wipe down grocery carts, rented strollers, and other surfaces with antibacterial wipes when possible. With your child’s new sleeping and eating habits, she might be more susceptible to illnesses and you don’t want to cap off your trip with a sick kid.

4. Do your best to stay calm, no matter what. You know how children tend to mirror your emotions, and that is never more true than when they are away from the comforts and routine of home.

If you encounter delays during your journey or if your child shows signs of a meltdown, keep your voice steady and talk soothingly. Gently rub your toddler’s back and sing a song softly. This can do wonders to soothe both your nerves.

5. Keep in mind that your child might need more sleep than normal. On vacations, families tend to go, go, go – but a small child can easily become overwhelmed and overstimulated, especially with new sites, smells, tastes and noises.

When visiting relatives and friends who don’t have toddlers themselves, be polite but firm about respecting your child’s naptimes and bedtimes. The more you can manage to keep your toddler in a predictable routine, the more likely she’ll be to take the journey in stride.

Few things are as fun and rewarding as discovering the world anew through your toddler’s eyes. Enjoy this special time, take lots of photos, and enjoy the adventure.

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_1056189_40.html

Your baby can easily learn to read if you follow the 12 Golden Rules of Teaching Babies to Read. If you want to know how your baby can learn to read, just read on. It is easy to do and you can get started immediately.

From birth to five years old, babies are learning language at an amazing rate. This includes any language. It can be spoken language, sign language and even written language. Thousands of parents have already taught their babies to read using these rules.

• Be joyful. – The only way to get started teaching your baby to read is with a joyful attitude. Your perspective will determine your baby’s response.
• Make the words big. – Whatever words you set out to teach your baby, make sure they are big. Don’t aim to show your baby words in the font size you are reading now.
• Show words frequently. – Whatever words you aim to teach, show them around 15 times to your baby.
• Move quickly. – Your baby is learning at an incredible rate. Don’t bore your child by moving too slowly. Once they have seen a word for a second, move on.
• Always follow your child’s lead. – Never pressure baby to read. Just show your baby words and tell them what they say. Read words your baby finds interesting, and always stop just before your child loses interest.
• Get creative. – Use everything as a tool to teach your baby to read. Read words on paper, labels, and signs; there is no shortage of words. Use them to teach your baby to read.
• Give freely. – Freely tell your baby words as you point them out. Don’t expect to get anything back immediately. Every word you show your baby is creating some kind of brain connection. Don’t expect your baby to figure it out in a day. Most parents talk to their babies for 6 months before they hear baby attempt to speak.
• Add new materials. – Introduce plenty of words to your baby. Don’t limit your baby to reading 5 words. Your baby can learn hundreds and thousands of words. Show them plenty of new words.
• Have fun. – Teaching your baby to read is an amazing and fun experience. Teaching a baby to read is much different than teaching a school-age child. Enjoy it!
• Point to words. – By using your finger to point to words, your baby is making the connection that the symbols we use for language are the sounds he is hearing you say. Run your finger under words as you say them.
• Read to baby often. – Babies easily learn language when they are familiar with it. By hearing how the written word sounds, your baby will easily make connections that will help him learn to read.
• Just do it! – Jump in and get started. You can start with a marker and a piece of paper right now! There really is nothing to it.