The Baby's Breasts Grew and Issued The Liquid

Me and mywife could feel worried because of our little baby son that just aged 2 weeks his breast were seen swelled and issued the liquid similar to ASI. But evidently after being consulted this matter was not problem. This matter will be lost in 2 months or even faster.

If these symptoms appear in the early months, the cause is the influence mother hormone estrogen, either when pregnant or breastfeeding. Symptoms of in medical terms named ginekomastia this, the girl babies usually marked with the spot-spot of blood on her vagina. Similar with menstruation. There are also marked out with clear liquids, such as leucorrhoea that will be lost more rapidly again, between 2-3 weeks.

Ironically, because of ignorance, the parents had push the breast. They think, the milk must be stored in baby bust up that breast collapse. Actually, that isn't effective, push breast baby will clearly cause extraordinary pain. Especially if the mother's hands dirty, so
increase opportunities for infection of the skin and his breast.

We must be aware about this matter if being not lost in 4 months or more and necessary immediately consulted to the doctor because it could be signs of the deviation like :
1. The hormone surplus the mother resulting from herbal tonic
2. Tumor
3. The Klenefelter syndrome
4. The disturbance of the Gonad Gland
5. Hipertiroid

reference : Tabloid Nakita

Various Sleep Pattern Of The Baby

Freely translated from the writings of Santi Hartono

For a baby, sleep not only means the rest, but also the special time to optimize his growth. That's why a lot of sleep will create better conditions of his physical and his emotion. Let we know various sleeping baby out as described dr.Jo. Edy Siswanto, Sp.A., from RSAB Harapan Kita, Jakarta.

SLEEP BENEFITS

For babies, sleep has a huge benefit for his growth. First, It was as an opportunity to rest the body. Second, to give opportunities to improve the process of metabolism, the processing of food into energy needed. When sleep, physical growth will encouraged. So, time sleeping of baby closely related with the increase in weight, body height, and physical health in general. Infants who sleep less are usually not as physical growth of infants who sleep enough.
Another benefit of sleep can also found from a research at London in 1998. The studies reveal that the infant who sleep a lot, his brain development will be optimal. Why? Sleep activities is one of stimulus for brain growth. This is understandable because 75% growth hormone is issued when the children sleep. Especially on the stage the third and fourth stages of sleep (see box stages of sleep below).

Growth hormone is served to stimulate bone and network growth. In addition, growth hormone also allows the body to improve and update all the cells in the body, from skin cells, blood cells to the brain nerve cells. So, the process of cell renewal will be held more quickly if the baby oftenly sleep.

SLEEP STAGES OF BABY

Sleepy process from the baby to fall asleep was differentiated into 2 phases. The first phase is sleeping quietly or non-REM (Rapid Eye Movement). Second is the active phase of sleep or Rem.

* REM Sleep

Stage called REM or dream stage. Generally, the pattern of respiratory and heart beat of the baby has not regularly yet, and was not produce perspiration. Sometimes, he sleeps with a smile, laugh, or even gibbered. Hands and feet can also sway. Although he is so active, the baby will remain sleep and difficult to awoke up. REM phases are supposed an important role in restoring the mind, mind power, and maintain the function of brain cells.

Babies have REM sleep since his age 6-7 months in the womb. Premature baby use 80% of sleep time in REM state, while the baby was born normally only around 50%. Although not yet known why the baby spends much time in REM state, there is an opinion stating that REM sleep is important for the development of the baby.

* Non-REM Sleep

Non-REM sleep is deep sleep. In this phase the baby is in a relax state, lie quietly with the heart beat and breath regularly. At this stage, growth hormones are produced to recover the body, repairing cells, as well as build muscle and network support. Often he sweat, so he feels up so fresh and new.

Too Long or just a moment?

Normally babies do not have a problem sleeping. It can quickly fall asleep and not easy to wake up. However, there is also sometimes difficult to sleep and awakened easily. The ideal length of sleep could not be generalized. In the first months the baby can sleep up to 16 hours per day and this number will fade reduced in line with increasing age (see table).

How long the baby to sleep on must be considered as has been described as the duration of sleep effect on the development of his physical and brain. Unfortunately, the baby often had less sleep as a result of mistakes that parents may not be intentional. For example, because they want to make him stick in terms of food / drink, parents wake him up. Besides if the baby feels hungry, even though he was sleeping, he would wake up by itself and crying. As if he wants to urine or feces.

That also need to known by parent; babies do not know the terms difficult to sleep or less sleep as adults because they generally have their own sleep patterns are different from adults. Conversely, there are not babies that too much sleep because they will immediately awake when he feel hungry, thirsty, etc. The important thing is, time and earn enough sleep quality. How? Note comfort room sleep. Make sure ventilation is good and the lighting is not too bright or too dark, not noisy, and temperatures are not too hot or too cold.

To maintain the quality and the time of baby sleep, parents can make time to sleep regularly. The first thing to do is attend that night is the time to sleep by give breastfeeding and nappy changing with the dimmed lighting at night. After that, do not take him playing. Once finished, lay and call him back to sleep.

Infants who always less sleeps would have detrimental impact on their growth and development. Growth hormone and body cells are will also disturbed and make the body resistance lower. The white blood’s level cells in the body will decrease whereas white blood cells determine the effectiveness of the system resilient body. So he will sick so easy. The Emotional of less sleep baby also usually choosy. Of course, this will make their parents bustle isn’t it?

BABY SLEEP TIME ESTIMATE PER DAY

Age	Day sleep (hrs)	Night Sleep (hrs)	Total (hrs)
0-1 month	± 7,5	± 8,5	16
3 month	± 5	± 10	15
6 month	± 4,5	± 10	14,5
9 month	± 3	± 11	14
12 month	± 2,5	± 11	13,5

DO NOT OFTENLY WAKE BABY UP

Wake baby up at night can be a routine activity conducted by mothers to babies aged less than 12 weeks. They give a reason, to give breastfeeding a baby once every two hours. It's a dilemma because on one hand the baby needs to feed as often as possible, but in other parties a baby also needs a rest.

Babies who wake up many times at night will not sick, but this habit make him long to find the right sleeping patterns. But, for any parents, babies often wake up at night can cause stress.
The researchers from the University of London, such as the BBC News, learn a range of 600 infants aged 1-12 weeks to see the factors that cause them can or cannot sleep all night. Found, the baby is fed more than 11 times in a period of 24 hours a week for the first time will reduce his sleep time until aged 12 weeks. This means, until the age of 12 weeks, the baby does not enjoy sleep soundly throughout the night. If only movable activity to the time before midnight, the baby will sleep better.

The researchers under the leadership Dr. Ian St James-Roberts, also found that the breast-fed babies will learn to make distinction between day and night. Research published in the journal Archives of Diseases in Childhood reveal that the breast-fed that often given in the first week is a significant factor that determines patterns of sleep the next. That's why the researchers hope this study that called behavioural programme can be a reference for medical circles to overcome the sleeping baby problem.

YELLOW BABY SLEEPS LONGER?

Yellow baby generally always sleepy and easy to sleep. That’s because the level of bilirubin in the blood affect the working of the body, including his brain nerve. Bilirubin, which is toxic if this is not overcome soon can even cause damage to brain cells.

A simple way to know whether the baby is suffering from yellow, or not actually was not difficult. Observed the white eyes when he suckle. If true jaundice will usually be seen clearly in the eyes.

Yellow on the baby arise because of the dump bilirubin (substances / components derived from splitting hemoglobin in red blood cells) under the skin. That is why the baby skin look yellow. While still in the womb, the fetus needs red blood cells in a large number because his lungs still not work. This red bloods cells which carry oxygen and the duty of nutrients from mother to baby through placenta.

When he was born, His lungs have to work so that the red blood cells that function as a means of transportation is not needed anymore. Cells were then destroyed, and resulting bilirubin. In case the babies born on enough month, the limit of safe bilirubinnya rate is 12.5 mg / dl. While premature, the safe limit is 10 mg / dl. If classified as mild, babies do not need special treatment. Self-ray therapy with blue (light blue) in the hospital spread out in the sun in the morning.

We need felt concerned about if the rate of severe bilirubinnya more than 20 mg / dl. Or arising signs of poisoning bilirubin, among other convulsions. If this happen need to do exchange transfusion. This action is required to dispose of indirect bilirubin are toxic in the body of a baby. Especially when the nerves have reached the brain because if brain cells are damaged cannot be updated or replaced by anything.

Source : Tabloid Nakita

How to Raise Creative Kids

Written by: Susan Stump

“Where did he come up with that?” Kids often amaze us with their imaginative ideas, and we should give ourselves a pat on the back for playing a role in this development. Innovative thinking is essential for success in school and in life, and it’s our job as parents to nurture our kids’ innate desire to be creative. Inventive play fosters original thinking, an asset when children are confronted with new situations. By providing activities that use their creativity and imaginations, we are giving our children an important tool to deal with life down the road.

Give them ideas.

Children come up with things to do on their own, but we also need to provide them with new ideas of interesting activities. Think back to what you did as a kid. Did you write a diary, create elaborate puppet shows, or sing and dance for relatives? Share ideas from your own childhood experiences. Offer creative writing ideas like writing an episode for a favorite television show or writing a new ending to a favorite story. Craft projects offer another outlet for inspiring imaginations. Craft kits, especially those from Curiosity Kits and ALEX, offer a wide variety of unusual and fun projects. They’ve brought us a long way from the sock puppets of our youth. These manufacturers offer ideas and supplies to make such things as scrapbooks, powerballs, soaps, candy, sun catchers, dolls, planes, dinosaurs, jewelry treasures, and lots of decorative items. Kids can gather ideas from the instructions, and then give the projects their own unique touches.

Keep ideas fresh.

Pick up any parenting magazine and you’ll find lots of ideas to get those creative juices flowing in your kids. Search the web and check out craft stores. Keep a journal or file for magazine clippings and ideas as you find them. Stockpile so that you’ll know how to answer the whiny “I’m bored” call from your kids.

Give them freedom.

Once you’ve given your kids some suggestions and supplies, step back and see which they choose and where they go with them. This unstructured play time gives kids an opportunity to stretch their creative muscles. Watch as they incorporate your ideas and branch out on their own.

Set an example.

Chances are, if you are a creative person, your child will be too. You display creativity in your everyday activities like when you reason with a disgruntled child, change lyrics to songs, and maybe even do some interpretive dancing to entertain a toddler. Your children see your silliness and it rubs off on them. You surely use creativity to juggle your and your family’s schedules. It’s a great idea to point out to your kids how you use creativity in your daily life.

As parents, we always try to do the very best for our kids and provide opportunities that will help them mature into intelligent, capable adults. Nurturing their creative spirits helps them along this road. With their well-developed imaginations, maybe they’ll turn it into a yellow brick, pink polka-dotted road with sparkles!

How To Help Kids Deal With Stress

Written by: News Canada

(NC)-Modern life is faster and more stressful than ever. To cope, many resort to dreaming of their happy childhood days. But for a surprising number of people, this kind solace is unavailable. Childhood can be a very difficult time. Children experience stress just like adults do, and this needs to be recognized. Family conflict, domestic violence, divorce, constant school changes, new neighborhoods and child care arrangements, peer pressure, and bullying all contribute to childhood angst.

Here are a few things that parents can do to help their children deal with stress:


Monitor and modify their own stress levels

Keep communication lines open. Let your kids know what's going on

Encourage friendships by scheduling play dates, sleepovers, and other fun activities

Remember that children need quiet down time to as well as time to play
For more facts about mental illness and how a book called "Catch a Falling Star: A Tale from the Iris the Dragon Series" is helping parents identify and understand early onset mental illness visit www.iristhedragon.com.

The Top 10 Fun Things for Parents and Toddlers to Play With

Written by: Dr. Clare Albright

1. Give your child a spray bottle of water and watch them spray every possible thing outside of the house!

2. Use shaving cream in the bathtub for extra fun.

It is usually possible to find cans of shaving cream that cost only a dollar each.

3. Remember that Barney dolls, Sesame Street dolls, and the like are as real to your child as any other person that they have met.

Respect their relationship with their 'cloth' friends.

4. Buy a small pet, such as a frog, lizard, goldfish, bunny, hamster, etc.

Toddlers need something to love. A pet will add much more stimulation to your child's life than any other toy will.

5. Replace your child's stroller with the wagon for outings to the park, the mall, etc.

Wagons can make both toddlers and their parents very happy. Wagons are symbolic of you and your child making it through the baby stage and entering the world of "big kids."

6. Teach your toddler to march to the beat of "one-two-three-four!" while the two (or more) of you play your instruments.

Your child will never want this marching band game to end!

7. Make a sandbox out of a large plastic container for your child to play in.

If you put the container outside, covering it will keep the cats from mis-using your new toy.

8. Build towers together with blocks.

Your child will learn about spatial relationships, balance, etc.

9. When using Play-Doh with your child, show them how to make little snowmen, snakes, etc,. since it is difficult for their little fingers to mold clay at this developmental stage.

10. Set up finger painting in an empty bathtub with your child wearing only a diaper.

This can make finger painting a much less stressful activity for a parent.

Talk Your Child Clever

Written by: Susan du Plessis

Most parents can hardly wait for their baby to say its first word. This usually happens between the nine months and a year. From about two years, the child should be able to use simple phrases, and by three he should be able to use full sentences. By four, he should be fully able to talk, although he may still make grammatical errors. By five, he should have acquired basic language.

There is little doubt that language acquisition is one of the key milestones in early childhood development. Much of a child's future social and intellectual development hinges on this milestone. A language delay can lead to isolation and withdrawal, and to learning difficulties and poor academic performance. Recent research has revealed a dramatic link between the development of spoken language and written language among children, and the importance of language acquisition to basic reading skills.

Many parents believe that the term "language development" implies that the child’s acquisition of language is an automatic process. This, however, is not the case. There is nothing that any human being knows or can do that he has not learned. This is especially true of language acquisition.

The child begins to learn language from the day he is born. From the very first moment it is the parents’ responsibility to lay a proper foundation that will enable the child to acquire adequate language skills. Just like parents must ensure that a child follows a healthy and balanced diet for optimal physically development, they must take steps to ensure optimal language development.

HOW LANGUAGE IS ACQUIRED

Parents should start talking to their little baby from the day he is born. Some mothers are by nature quiet and reserved. Others have the unfortunate idea that it is foolish to talk to their babies, knowing that they do not understand. The mother, who does not talk continually while feeding, bathing and dressing her baby, is laying the foundation for a late talker.

The baby learns language in one way only, and that is by hearing language as the parents talk and talk to it. The more a parent can talk to a child, often repeating the same words, the same phrases, the same structures over and over, the sooner the child will learn language.

An important thing to note here is that by the time a baby is about nine months old he should be able to understand simple words and commands. He may perhaps also be able to say a few simple words already. Invariably, however, one finds that the baby understands much more than he is able to say. In fact, this remains so of any person throughout his life. One is always able to understand more of any language, even one’s mother tongue, than one is able to use in active speech. This is even more so of any second or third languages that a person is able to speak.

This shows that we have two more or less separate masses of language knowledge, our PASSIVE knowledge (also called receptive language) on one hand, and our ACTIVE (expressive language) on the other. When we listen or read, we make use of our passive vocabulary, and when we speak or write, of our active vocabulary.

An important thing to note here is that the child’s passive vocabulary came into being through constant and continual repetition of words, phrases or structures. Once a word, phrase or structure has been repeated often enough, it also becomes part of the baby’s active vocabulary. This shows that the active vocabulary can only be improved VIA the passive. Research has shown that a child who is just beginning to talk must hear a word about 500 times before it will become part of his active vocabulary. Long before that it will already form part of his passive vocabulary. This means that parents should create as many opportunities as possible in which their baby can hear them talk.

THE SECRET OF READING TO YOUR CHILD

Parents should read to their children as often as possible. The secret, however, which will lead to optimal language development, is to read the SAME stories over and over and over.

In the "good old days" there was not the abundance of storybooks that there is today. Parents were compelled - it was also part of the child-rearing traditions - to tell over and over to their children the few stories that they knew, or to read over and over to their children the few books in their possession. They also spent a lot of time teaching their children rhymes and songs. As I discovered for myself through my own son, this over and over repetition of the same stories and rhymes was extremely beneficial for the acquisition of language. In fact, I took this tradition to the extreme, exposing my son to only ONE book for nearly two years.

Soon after my elder son, Gustav, was born, I bought him a book with the story of Pinocchio. The book was aimed at four-year-olds. Except for talking to him continually, I started to read to him from this book when he was only two or three months old - as often as I could, over and over and over. I found this tedious, of course. Gustav, however, loved it, and the results of this experiment made all my efforts worthwhile. Not only did he start talking much sooner than most children do, but when he was just over two years, he could recite nearly all the pages from Pinocchio. When turning to a new page, one only had to read the first word or two on that page and he would recite the rest of the page like a parrot. In itself this may seem quite useless, but of great importance was that the vocabulary in this book soon became part of his everyday speech. In terms of language development, he was soon miles ahead of his age group. In fact, to this day, his vocabulary and his ability to speak with clarity are quite astounding.

When a child is a bit older, one should start teaching him nursery rhymes. Research has shown that knowledge of nursery rhymes among three-year-olds was a significant predictor of later prereading skills even after the children’s IQ and their mothers’ educational levels were partialed out.

While an apple a day keeps the doctor away, talking forever makes your child clever!

7 Easy Ideas for Organizing Kids Artwork

Written by: Maria Gracia

In school, kids are encouraged to create, draw, color, paint and build. These activities can certainly stimulate children, and help them grow.

Very often, these masterpieces that your children create are brought home and proudly displayed. But what do you do when all of the artwork begins to take over your home? Here are 7 great ideas:

1. FIND THE DIAMONDS. Rather than keeping every single piece of artwork your child creates, sit down with your child on a regular basis and ask him to choose the one or two he likes best. By the end of the year, you should have no more than 5 pieces of artwork that your child believes to be his "best" pieces. This will help keep the artwork under control, and will still give you an opportunity to save his creations for future memories.

2. A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS. Take photos of the artwork that your child creates and keep these photos in a scrapbook. This way, even if the artwork is discarded for space purposes, you'll still have the memory!

3. KIDS FILE STORAGE BOX. Office supply stores carry portable file boxes that hold hanging file folders. These generally have a cover and a handle for easy portability. Help your child create her very own filing system. Perhaps one file folder for 2nd grade artwork, one for 3rd grade artwork, and so on. Now, all the drawings, and any type of artwork that lays flat, will be kept safe and organized. You'll even be teaching your child filing skills! It's never too early!

4. KEEP IT CONTAINED. For other artwork that does not lay flat, the perfect container may be a large, plastic container with a lid. Your child will have a space for shadowboxes, and other artwork that won't fit into a file folder. Again, be choosy. If you keep every single piece of artwork your child brings home for the next 15 years, your house is going to be overflowing with it.

5. HANG IT. Get your child his very own artwork bulletin board so he can display his favorite artwork in his bedroom. When organized on a nice cork board, this really adds a nice touch to a child's room. Plus, your child can very easily switch one piece of art, with another.

6. SUPPLY MANIA. If your child produces a lot of artwork at home, she probably has tons of crayons, markers and other art supplies. Keep it all in a portable box, light enough for your child to be able to transport it from one room into the next. In addition, separate and organize the supplies into separate Zip-lock baggies before putting them in the box. This will keep everything organized and easily accessible.

7. THE PERFECT GIFT. Kids artwork makes the perfect gift for grandma, grandpa, sister Jane, Aunt Sue, Uncle Jim, and so on. Rather than buying gifts for your child to give to family members, encourage them to give their creations away as special gifts to special people.

A Dangerous Environment

Writtent by: Richard Lowe, Jr.

The internet is a dangerous place for your children. Don't even begin to believe that your child is safe. There are more dangers than you can possibly imagine waiting to lure children to their doom. You had better be aware of what's happening and take steps to shield them from the danger ... if you don't, your child's sanity and safety are at serious risk.

Does this sound alarmist? Actually, I cannot stress this fact enough ... you have to be just as careful with your five year old on the internet as you would in the worst red-light district back alley in the darkest part of town. If you would not allow your twelve year old wander around a drug den or visit the sex shops in San Francisco, then why on Earth are you letting him or her loose on the internet without supervision?

Let's look at some of the dangers that exist on the internet. The most obvious issue is pornography. There are dirty pictures, video, sounds, movies and anything else you can imagine available everywhere on the web. In fact, it's often difficult to surf without running into a pornographic site occasionally. Just type "whitehouse.com", expecting to get a page about the white house and you'll see that you get a pornographic site.

Oh, and it's not just your run of the mill pornography, no, there is much worse stuff available to anyone who cares to look. Your child can find pictures which will curl your toes at the sheer perversity of the images. While intelligent people can debate whether or not any of this material should be available, even to adults, at all, no one with any conscience and trace of goodness can say it is okay for children to have access to this stuff.

Not only is pornography a danger, but the cyber world is full of other horrible things (just like the real world). Without much work, your child can easily surf to sites which espouse hatred, nazi values, and page after page of extremely graphic, real violence. I even know of some parents who were horrified to find that what they thought were harmless Anime (a style of Japanese cartons) sites that turned out to be hard core, extremely graphic animated sex galleries.

Of course, I'm sure you've all heard of the dangers of unsupervised chat rooms. I have heard that older men hang out in them, waiting for trusting, innocent children. They start up conversations, and before long your child might attempt to travel to meet a nice man - and never come back.

You've got other, more subtle, dangers as well. Your child might surf the internet and find some cool site which asks for personal information. Not knowing any better, he or she might enter your social security number, address, phone number or even your credit card numbers. This could actually put not just your child but your entire family in danger.

I could go on and on about the dangers, but what do you do about it? Is there anything that you can possibly do, short of unplugging the stupid computer, to protect your children?

The first, and most important, thing that you should do is talk to your children. Believe it or not, children are intelligent beings, and they will understand if you use words and concepts that they can comprehend. Explain the dangers, being patient and caring and understanding. It may take a few tries, but they are capable of learning, understanding and obeying. Just be sure you do not portray the dangers as something in any way desirable, and don't forbid them to explore, just explain what's going on.

The second, and equally important, thing to remember is that even if your children do understand and comprehend what you tell them - you should still protect them. Do not let them surf the internet unsupervised if you can help it. Watch them on the web and be sure you know where they are going.

Every once in a while, check over the computer that your child has been using to see what they've been doing. Look at the cookies, the browser history and at images and such stored on the hard drive. I know it sounds like spying, but it's important to know what they are up to before they get into trouble. And oh yes, if you find something, just wait for an opportunity to "discover" what they are doing without giving away that you are looking over their shoulder. Then use this as a means of getting into a discussion with them. You should also take maximum advantage of any and all parental controls that are available to you. Use a product such as NetNanny or Cyber Babysitter to control your child's surfing habits. Set the parental controls of your browser and the major search engines (most of them have a way to filter out adult content).

Does this sound extreme? Any psychiatrist will tell you it is. They will tell you should allow your children to explore at will, along with lots of other, similar garbage. But would you trust your children to the people who funded Adolf Hitler, who give drugs to your children in school and who claim that hardened criminals are really just misunderstood and unloved. (That's a subject for a future article perhaps - how we can improve our civilization and bring peace to the world by lining all of the psychiatrist's up on the nearest wall).

Anyway, digressions aside, the responsible thing to do is to ensure that your children are safe, just like you would if they were wandering around in the mall or in the red light district of a big city. If you don't, you may find yourself taking up a new hobby - looking at milk cartons

Special Education: 6 Parenting Tips to Help You Assertively Participate in Your Child's IEP

Writtent by: JoAnn Collins

Are you the parent of a child with a disability in special education, who would like parenting tips on how to be an equal participant in your child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) development? Are you afraid to give your opinion because you are not a professional? Then this article is for you; learn six easy to use tips that will help you assertively participate in the process for the good of your child.

Tip 1: Ask a lot of questions. The process can be overwhelming; The IEP meeting usually has 5-10 disability educators plus the parents. Ask questions whenever you need to, so that you can understand what is being said by school personnel.

Tip 2: Ask the disability educator to slow down, and explain something that you do not understand. Sometimes school personnel speak very fast, and do not stop to explain what they are talking about. This is especially true, when they are giving parents results of a psychological evaluation. You should ask them to show you the results of the tests and explain what the scores mean.

Tip 3: Bring a written list of items that you would like to discuss at the meeting; it can be hand written or typed. Check off each item as it is discussed. Leave space at the bottom of the list to handwrite any new issues that come up at the meeting.

Tip 4: Consider bringing a parent input statement to your child’s IEP meeting. A parent input statement is a one page document that states what you believe your child’s needs are, and what special education services your child needs. It should be typed, if possible, and ask that it be attached to your child’s IEP.

Tip 5: Use the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to support your position. Peter and Pam Wright have written several books including Special Education Law; second addition. This book is easy to read, and use as a reference at any school meetings.The book can be purchased at http://www.wrightslaw.com.

Tip 6: Read the IEP document before you leave the meeting. What was said at the meeting is not important, what is important is what is written in the document. Make sure that any important discussions about your child are included in the meeting notes, and that all educational services promised are listed.

With these 6 tips, you are well on your way to learning to assertively participate in your child’s IEP meeting. You know your child better than school personnel, so you have a lot of valuable information to share with the team. Good luck in your advocacy journey!

Daddy-daughter Dating

Written by: Lynn Powers

Whether you realize it or not, you alone are the greatest factor in determining what type of man your daughter ends up marrying. Quite likely, she will choose someone just like you. Or, if not a man exactly like you, one with very similar tendencies and characteristics. Scary thought, isn’t it?

You have your daughter’s best interests at heart, right? You want her Prince Charming to come along (many, many years down the road!), sweep her off her feet and treat her like the princess she is. Assuming that you want that fairy tale ending for your little girl, it’s at least partly up to you to see to it that she starts getting the royal treatment at an early age. Let her know that settling for anything less is just plain unacceptable.

A great way to do that is to date your daughter. Set aside specific date nights (or mornings or afternoons) to spend with her and only her. Because girls usually love extra little things that make them feel special, perhaps you’ll want to even give her a personalized invitation. You might decide to reveal all the details of where you’re planning to take her on your date. Or call it a “Mystery Date,” heightening her anticipation even more. If the date is a mystery, however, you might tell her to how to dress – should she wear her fanciest dress or will jeans do?

The most important thing isn’t what you do, or where you go, but that you’re spending some one-on-one time with your baby girl (and no matter how old she is, she’s still your baby).

Not sure where to start? Need some daddy-daughter date ideas? Here are a few to get you started:

Ages 3-8: Your little girl is starting to crave her daddy’s attention so anything you choose to do on these “dates” will probably make you a hero in her eyes. At this age, you’ll want to keep it simple. Fast food restaurants with play equipment (McDonalds) may be okay, but be sure to set aside some time for eating and chatting, first.

Other options:

• Swimming at a local public pool, followed by pizza.

• A picnic in the park and a nature walk or a few pushes on the swings.

• Toss her bike in the back of the van and head to an empty parking lot – this is the perfect spot to practice without those training wheels.

• Pitch a tent in your own backyard and play Barbies for a couple hours.

• Send the rest of the family away and set your kitchen table with chocolate chip cookies and china cups of Kool-Aid. Invite her dolls to dine with you.

Ages 9-13: This is the age when your daughter is beginning to notice boy / girl “roles” in relationships. Make a point of opening doors, pulling out her chair, lavishing on the compliments, and showing her the proper way to treat a lady. If money allows, this would be the perfect time to give your daughter her first taste of fine dining.

Other options:

• Take her to the mall and let her model a few outfits for you. Then let her choose her favorite.

• Sports aren’t just for boys! Take your daughter to a local or professional baseball or basketball game, or any sporting event she might enjoy.

• Dust off your ball and shoes and head to the bowling alley. You might want to ask for bumpers if it’s been a while. This is for your benefit, as it probably wouldn’t look good if you got beat by your ten year old!

• Get tickets to her favorite concert (Miley Cyrus would likely be a hit!). Yes, it might be torture for you, but I’m willing to bet it would go down in history as one of her best dates ever!

Ages 14+: Now that she’s a teenager, give her the opportunity to decide what to do on your dates. It may be a dinner and a movie, a Christian rock concert, a local theater production, or just taking a drive out to the beach once she gets that learner’s permit.

Keep in mind that she may go through a period where dating her dad seems so, I don’t know…. “ew.” While you don’t want to force her to continue with these one-on-one dates, don’t ever stop asking. Chances are she’ll soon come to miss her time with you and realize you’re not so “ew” after all.

Again, the important thing is not what you do but that you’re taking the time to get to know your daughter. And hopefully, when she does choose that special someone on day, she’ll be proud to say he’s just like you.

Some excellent resources:

• What a Daughter Needs From Her Dad (How a man prepares his daughter for life) by Michael Farris

• Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters by Meg Meeker, M.D.

• The Dads and Daughters Togetherness Guide: 54 fun activities to help build a great relationship By Joe Kelly

Babywearing - One Mom's Experience With Being Hands Free and Heart Full

Written by: Heather Ledeboer

When I became a mom, something magical happened. An inner strength and desire to protect, love and nurture rose up within me. Desires, dreams and fears awakened in my heart that once lay dormant. I felt fit for the task and excited for the adventure of motherhood that stretched out ahead me. When my relatives went home and my husband returned to work I believe I handled the change exceptionally well. That is until our fridge containing a few leftovers and several bottles of breast milk finally forced us to venture out of the house to the grocery store. Until this point, I really felt that I was pulling off my new mommy role quite well. However, I had no idea that my little 5 pound 10 oz hunk of love could require so much extra effort for something as simple as a run to the store. Between loading and unloading the car seat, diaper bag, stroller, and to-do list I felt as though I may as well have been charting territory in a foreign land. After I returned home from that first adventure, I boldly decided that running errands alone with my baby was just too much work. The thought of pulling my Cadillac stroller and heavy car seat in and out of my car for another excursion was simply more than I could bear. Later that week, a lady at church breezed past my son and I, holding her new baby in a sling. Both she and her baby looked happy, content and close. In that moment, I knew I had to have one. I had just discovered my ticket to freedom.

Love At First Sight

I loved my first baby carrier so much that I started buying and trying other types of carriers to see how they compared. Each one seemed to offer something slightly unique and different that I loved. I was amazed at how many types, styles and variations were available. It was like a secret world opening up for me. I started learning that babywearing offered many benefits to the child including crying less, learning more, and increased IQ! I found out that babies that are “worn” also have been shown to exhibit reduced colic and spit-up with increased cardiac output and improved circulation. Not to mention the benefits for me! I could nurse with the carrier, shop without a bulky stroller and I was hands free and able to get things done around the house!

Taking it to the next level

As my collection of baby carriers grew, so did my knowledge of how to use them and the pros and cons of each style. If my son was just fussy and needing to be close on and off throughout the day or if I was making a quick run into the store I loved my pouch style slings such as the New Native Baby Carrier or The Peanut Shell. The simple tube design was quick to slip on over my arm and head to my shoulder. The way it hung on my body looked much like sash. I loved how easy it was to wear it like this throughout the day. It did not feel bulky or in the way and whenever I wanted to wear my son, I could slip him into the pouch in a matter of seconds--it was so easy to use. For days when I really needed to get work done around the house or for longer shopping trips, I often reached for my wrap style carriers. Wrap carriers, such as a Moby wrap or Moby D, are a specially designed strip of fabric. The long, (often stretchy) fabric is cleverly wrapped around your torso, over your shoulders, around your torso again and then secured at your waist with a knot or a d-ring. I found the wrap carriers to have a slight initial learning curve.

However, the clearly marked instructions quickly eased my mind and after my first few attempts I was a believer. Because their straps go over both shoulders and securely wrapped around me and my baby, he felt very close. I felt very comfortable, secure and ready to move. For long durations of wear, the wrap carriers became my staple. Finally, if I was visiting friends or family that wanted to share in the fun of baby wearing, I brought along my adjustable slings such as a Maya Wrap or Rockin Baby Sling. These adjustable carriers were very similar to the pouch style in the way that they hung from one shoulder to the opposite hip like a sash. However, they had an extra tail of fabric looped though a d-ring positioned by your shoulder. Although I did not enjoy the extra bulk created by this fabric tail when I was using the sling alone, it certainly allowed for an easy, adjustable, customized fit for all body types when I was sharing it with others. These adjustable carriers (as well as the wrap carriers) are also an economical choice for parents to share with each other rather than buying two separate sizes since they are a one size fits all option.

They each have a place in my heart

All of the carriers could be used from birth to 35 pounds and each offered a variety of carrying positions. So when I need a carrier, my question was not necessarily which carrier to use, but rather what need to fill. Each carrier was my favorite in its own special way. I feel that other moms can benefit from my experience when looking for their own ideal baby carrier. After all, just as no two mamas are alike, neither are their preferences for baby carriers. I compiled a sling comparison chart comparing a wide variety of baby carriers side by side under factors such as “reduces back strain”, “easy on, easy off”, and “discreet nursing”. Thankfully, with the myriad of choices available, and the right kind of helpful information, any mom is bound to find the baby carrier that is perfect for times when the arms give out but her heart just won't let go. Equipped with the right carrier, she can join me and venture out of her home to chart new territory in a foreign land with her hands free to record her findings for future generations.

Discipline - Be Clear, Be Firm, Be Consistent

written by: Helen Williams

Children learn best by being given clear, firm and consistent direction from parents who are clear, firm and consistent in their approach.

How to Discipline Children by Being Clear:

Firstly find and maintain clarity within yourself and then follow through on simple, clear instructions. Clarify for your self what being clear means.

It is about being plain, obvious, and understandable in a clear, short sentence that explains exactly what you mean.

It isn't about maybe this or maybe that.

Often parents have no idea that they chop and change their minds within minutes. To become clear about your own patterns of behavior, observe yourself and ask for your partner's help in this.

"We are going to tidy up your toys in five minutes", is clear and direct. Follow this with,

"Please help me tidy up your toys now" and it means just that.

Be firm with yourself about this. It doesn't mean soon, or later, but now.

I have seen parents give out this simple instruction, then become distracted themselves by a television program, conversation or magazine. What their children observe is parents saying one thing and doing another and this gives a much distorted message. Multiplied over many times each day, is it any wonder that children cease to follow simple instructions?

How to Discipline Children by Being Firm:

Firstly find and maintain firmness for yourself and then follow through with firm clear directions in a firm, clear tone.

Clarify for your self what being firm means.

To be firm is to be certain, definite, and determined. It is also being loving, kind and calm.

It means saying no and meaning no, or saying yes and meaning yes and sticking to it. It's about now being now. How often does your no become perhaps, later, maybe giving in, next time, soon, or alright then? This is a very common fault in how to discipline children and again it leads to numerous mixed messages for children.

Resolve within yourself and with your partner's help to ascertain how often you are both easily swayed into changing your decisions. Are you allowing your children to manipulate you? Imagine how simple your life will become when you are clear and firm within yourself.

It is every child's right to KNOW they can trust their parent's boundaries. So firstly, become firm with your own boundaries and then apply this to your parenting discipline.

"It is bedtime, (bath time, meal time) in five minutes" is a clear direction. Now follow through on this.

Giving the direction in a calm, clear, firm tone of voice helps your children to understand that you mean what you say. Being firm is about being in control of both yourself and the situation.

How to Discipline Children by Being Consistent:

Firstly find and maintain consistency for yourself and then follow through with a firm, clear, consistent approach.

Clarify for yourself what being consistent means.

To be consistent is to be reliable, dependable and constant.

These words immediately convey comfort don't they?

Let's look at the opposite of being consistent. Contradictory, unpredictable, changeable. That's definitely lacking in comfort and safety.

So how do you want to be seen by your children?

To begin with it can seem quite time consuming to concentrate on clear, firm, consistent guidelines. Be aware that this is very true. It takes concentrated effort and time to change old habits to new ones, but if you maintain consistency, you will be very surprised how quickly new patterns of behavior are formed.

Parenting Discipline In Summary: With parenting discipline we are teaching our children how to have self control, self discipline and to become self reliant, so they are able to make good choices for themselves.

The only way children can learn to do this is by being given the opportunities for this learning.

This means not over protecting them, or doing everything for them, but maximizing their opportunities to learn through personal experience and observation, even when this means making mistakes.

Can you see the opportunities here to change some of your own patterns of behavior into superior ones?

Clear, firm, consistent parenting is quality parenting. You learn to trust your own responses and your children are surrounded by your loving constancy.

This is the recipe for creating a happy, well adjusted family.