Djeco Dresses Glitterboards Kit

Fabulous art and craft gift for children aged 8 to 12. Create sparkly pictures of girls in dramatic dresses by using 6 tubes of different colours of glitter and a special tool and brush to apply the glitter to sticky areas revealed when the covering is peeled back. Non messy because the box serves as a worktop and glitter can be returned to the container by a handy hole in the corner of the box. Absorbing,creative and imaginative. Find this and many more present ideas at http://gillsonlinegems.myshopify.com

Djeco Rainbow Fish Glitter Art

Djeco Rainbow Fish Glitter Art Create a wonderful sparkling picture to brighten up a bedroom or a shelf. This will absorb and occupy young children with worthwhile activity and lure them away from the computer for an afternoon! Non messy due to the handy nature of the presentation box which can be used as a worktop and has a hole in the corner through which glitter can be returned to the container. Contains 6 glitter tubes, a special tool and a brush. Enjoy a creative,imaginative and memorable activity with your children. http://gillsonlinegems.myshopify.com

Can Learning Languages make your child more intelligent? by Lee Mwiti

Can learning languages make your child more intelligent By Lee Mwiti Updated Monday, February 15th 2016 at 11:22 GMT +3 inShare Photo:Courtesy Naima Karimi is proud that her daughter Tiffany Nkatha can speak four languages. English, Kiswahili, French and her mother tongue, Kimeru. Tiffany, 16 years old and in Form Three, started learning French when she was 13 and seems to have an affinity for languages. “She is good at languages and always excels in them. She is also good at writing. She intends to learn German too and, if possible, Chinese,” Ms Karimi says proudly. Such a revelation from a parent, no matter how humble, brings to the core the level of importance we place on children learning other languages apart from the English they encounter in schools and in middle class homes. To a larger extent, Kenyans are progressive when it comes to mastery of languages since most children grow up learning English, Kiswahili and, for some, their mother tongue. Majority of schools also teach a host of foreign languages including French, German and recently Chinese. But encouraging your children to learn more than one language is not merely a response to a fad or a means to show off how clever your children are. There are incredible psychological benefits of learning another language. These benefits extend way beyond being able to ask for a glass of water or order a plate of food, according to research. The brain, like any muscle, functions better with exercise. Learning a language involves memorising rules and vocabulary, which helps strengthen that mental muscle. Edwin Mwai, a Sociology and Communication lecturer at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology says that learning additional languages increases critical thinking skills, creativity and flexibility of the mind in young children. “After learning their mother tongue at home, which is crucial for their cultural identity, children learn other languages at school and adapt them better than adults can. The elements of spoken English and Kiswahili are practiced and enhanced through songs, stories and nursery rhymes, and modelled and explored as the children enter their little, fun world of role playing. This is absolutely critical for psychological growth,” says Mr Mwai. Suffice to say western societies are disadvantaged when it comes to the language issue since many use their languages as the means of instruction in schools, and children are therefore not exposed to any other language. See Also: Are you looking out for your child's best interest? The colonial legacy left Africa dependent on foreign languages as a means of fostering nationalism amid societies fragmented by ethnicity. The idea worked well since African children were exposed to European culture through European languages and this broadened their world outlook. http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/evewoman/article/2000191746/can-learning-languages-make-your-child-more-intelligent?

Traditional toys or technology? by Sarah Bauer

Study: Traditional toys better than electronics for young children America Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting screen time By Sarah C. Bauer Special to CNN Published 01/13 2016 10:15AMUpdated 01/13 2016 10:15AM Copyright 2016 Cable News Network/Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (CNN) If as a parent, you are trying to spend more time with your family and play more with your children, then perhaps it is a good time to consider the kind of play and what type of toys will be the most beneficial for your child's development in the long run. A recent study from Northern Arizona University found that electronic toys such as a baby laptop or cell phone do not promote language development in young children as well as books and traditional toys such as wooden puzzles, shape-sorters and blocks. As a developmental pediatrician, I am troubled -- but not surprised -- that electronic toys were associated with decreased quantity and quality of language between parents and children. What we are measuring here is time and relationships; traditional books and toys can require more time and personal connection than electronic ones, including games and videos on smartphones and iPads. It is much easier sometimes to allow children to entertain themselves with electronic toys than it is for us to directly interact by reading and playing with them. This becomes a problem when such technology-sitting is the rule rather than the exception. How kids use technology Another recent study from Ireland found that children as young as 2 are able to purposefully use touch-screen technology such as an iPad or other tablet. Dr. Deirdre Murray, the lead researcher of this study, states, "Interactive touch-screen applications offer a level of engagement not previously experienced with other forms of media and more akin to traditional play." This mirrors what I see in the clinic where I work. Parents proudly show me how their toddlers are able to use a tablet to play games or watch a video on YouTube. An interactive screen or smart phone is like a cause and effect toy -- both for adults and children. You touch something and get instant feedback. This is why I think children can sit for hours playing on a screen, but have trouble paying attention in class. While this study establishes that young children are able to use touch-screen technology well, it is different for children to be using a tablet interactively with a parent than playing games by themselves in isolation. Further studies are needed to establish how this dynamic would affect language development. Parents often ask me if electronics, including smartphones and tablets, are good or bad for their children's development. Questions include whether a child should use the tablet at all and how much time is too much. As is the case with most parenting questions, the answer is not as simple as yes or no. Language development is founded in our earliest social relationships. A baby's first smile acknowledges familiar faces, and parents are able to distinguish cries of hunger versus pain in a nonverbal infant. Early social and language development matters, because it is associated with reading skills and academic success. So what happens when another entity enters relationships between parents and children, including the ever-present smartphone and tablet? I advise parents that it is not the technology that is the problem, but rather how much and how it is used. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that total screen time is limited to one to two hours per day and it is not recommended for children under age 2. Because children can watch videos and play video games on smartphones and tablets, these count as screen time, not just the television. The AAP plans to update this policy in October 2016 to reflect the most updated technology that is available as well as the most recent research about media use. For some young children, technology might be helpful for communication and motivation, but it is important to use it thoughtfully, with intention, and in small increments of time. What parents can do Center TV Schedule Search NEWS HOT LINK NATIONAL NEWS LOCAL NEWS KERN'S KEY ISSUES KERN COUNTY IN DEPTH ENTERTAINMENT NEWS WATER WATCHERS VIDEO CENTER WEIRD NEWS POLITICS WAR MACHINES BUSINESS NEWS CRIME WATCH SPECIAL REPORTS ASK 17 NEWS MUST SEE WEATHER WEATHER INTERACTIVE RADAR WEATHER ALERTS CLOSINGS AND DELAYS FORECAST MAP CENTER ALMANAC SKI REPORT WEATHER SNAPSHOTS TRAFFIC HWY 99 NORTH HWY 99 & AIRPORT DRIVE HWY 99 & PACHECO TRUXTUN AT MOHAWK ROSEDALE AT MOHAWK GRAPEVINE GAS TRACKER SPORTS SPORTS NFL NBA FFX MLB NHL NCAA GOLF AUTO RACING OUTDOOR SPORTS BIG GAME COMMUNITY CALENDAR SAFE RIDE CONTESTS HONOR FLIGHT YOUR PHOTOS HELLO HUMANKINDNESS SUNRISE SKETCHES WELLNESS NETWORK VALLEY BAPTIST PET OF THE WEEK HIGH SCHOOL BLOOD DRIVE NOT IN MY TOWN OBITS ONDEMAND LIFESTYLE HEALTH NEWS HEALTH RESOURCE LOTTERY HOROSCOPES HEALTHY LIVING WEDDINGS GREEN LIVING MOTHER'S DAY AUTOMOTIVE ESSENTIALS REAL ESTATE ESSENTIALS ABOUT US MEET THE TEAM TV SCHEDULE ALERTS CONTACT US STAY CONNECTED ADVERTISE WITH US WORK FOR US MARKETPLACE BUSINESS DIRECTORY COUPONS & DEALS OUT IN THE GOLDEN EMPIRE FREE CLASSIFIEDS JOB LISTINGS REAL ESTATE Have you been injured at work? Mail Icon Mail Icon Mail Icon Study: Traditional toys better than electronics for young children America Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting screen time By Sarah C. Bauer Special to CNN Published 01/13 2016 10:15AMUpdated 01/13 2016 10:15AM Copyright 2016 Cable News Network/Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. (CNN) If as a parent, you are trying to spend more time with your family and play more with your children, then perhaps it is a good time to consider the kind of play and what type of toys will be the most beneficial for your child's development in the long run. A recent study from Northern Arizona University found that electronic toys such as a baby laptop or cell phone do not promote language development in young children as well as books and traditional toys such as wooden puzzles, shape-sorters and blocks. As a developmental pediatrician, I am troubled -- but not surprised -- that electronic toys were associated with decreased quantity and quality of language between parents and children. What we are measuring here is time and relationships; traditional books and toys can require more time and personal connection than electronic ones, including games and videos on smartphones and iPads. It is much easier sometimes to allow children to entertain themselves with electronic toys than it is for us to directly interact by reading and playing with them. This becomes a problem when such technology-sitting is the rule rather than the exception. How kids use technology Another recent study from Ireland found that children as young as 2 are able to purposefully use touch-screen technology such as an iPad or other tablet. Dr. Deirdre Murray, the lead researcher of this study, states, "Interactive touch-screen applications offer a level of engagement not previously experienced with other forms of media and more akin to traditional play." This mirrors what I see in the clinic where I work. Parents proudly show me how their toddlers are able to use a tablet to play games or watch a video on YouTube. An interactive screen or smart phone is like a cause and effect toy -- both for adults and children. You touch something and get instant feedback. This is why I think children can sit for hours playing on a screen, but have trouble paying attention in class. While this study establishes that young children are able to use touch-screen technology well, it is different for children to be using a tablet interactively with a parent than playing games by themselves in isolation. Further studies are needed to establish how this dynamic would affect language development. Parents often ask me if electronics, including smartphones and tablets, are good or bad for their children's development. Questions include whether a child should use the tablet at all and how much time is too much. As is the case with most parenting questions, the answer is not as simple as yes or no. Language development is founded in our earliest social relationships. A baby's first smile acknowledges familiar faces, and parents are able to distinguish cries of hunger versus pain in a nonverbal infant. Early social and language development matters, because it is associated with reading skills and academic success. So what happens when another entity enters relationships between parents and children, including the ever-present smartphone and tablet? I advise parents that it is not the technology that is the problem, but rather how much and how it is used. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that total screen time is limited to one to two hours per day and it is not recommended for children under age 2. Because children can watch videos and play video games on smartphones and tablets, these count as screen time, not just the television. The AAP plans to update this policy in October 2016 to reflect the most updated technology that is available as well as the most recent research about media use. For some young children, technology might be helpful for communication and motivation, but it is important to use it thoughtfully, with intention, and in small increments of time. What parents can do Reading with children from infancy promotes early language development, which in turn promotes early literacy. These skills are essential for kindergarten entry and long-term success throughout the lifespan. For parents and caregivers, media can also be a positive mode of social connectedness with their children. The Daily Vroom is a new app for parents to assist in facilitating early development using everyday items and activities. It is personalized to the age and gender of each child and takes advantage of everyday activities that parents and children do together, such as mealtimes, dressing and bedtime. I recently started talking with families about this app, especially if they are looking for ideas on how to play and facilitate development in their children. In my clinics, I see children who are learning differently than expected and may have developmental differences such as autism and communication disorders. Technology can also be a way to understand how children who struggle to communicate see the world, but cannot always tell us. Smart phones and tablets can have a different level of importance for communication, including pictures that depict wants and needs, as well as schedules for various daily activities. Autism Speaks has compiled a list of known apps as well as the evidence supporting their use. Children may have difficulty transitioning from the tablet to another activity, and its removal can precipitate a tantrum or meltdown. It can be difficult to recover from these tantrums, and continuing use sometimes helps a parent just get through the day. Moderation and mindfulness of how children use technology is imperative. Relationships establish the foundation of children's development. Technology can connect us, but it can also isolate us. Reading with children from infancy promotes early language development, which in turn promotes early literacy. These skills are essential for kindergarten entry and long-term success throughout the lifespan. For parents and caregivers, media can also be a positive mode of social connectedness with their children. The Daily Vroom is a new app for parents to assist in facilitating early development using everyday items and activities. It is personalized to the age and gender of each child and takes advantage of everyday activities that parents and children do together, such as mealtimes, dressing and bedtime. I recently started talking with families about this app, especially if they are looking for ideas on how to play and facilitate development in their children. In my clinics, I see children who are learning differently than expected and may have developmental differences such as autism and communication disorders. Technology can also be a way to understand how children who struggle to communicate see the world, but cannot always tell us. Smart phones and tablets can have a different level of importance for communication, including pictures that depict wants and needs, as well as schedules for various daily activities. Autism Speaks has compiled a list of known apps as well as the evidence supporting their use. Children may have difficulty transitioning from the tablet to another activity, and its removal can precipitate a tantrum or meltdown. It can be difficult to recover from these tantrums, and continuing use sometimes helps a parent just get through the day. Moderation and mindfulness of how children use technology is imperative. Relationships establish the foundation of children's development. Technology can connect us, but it can also isolate us.

The Secret Word to Easier Parenting by Abundant Mama

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” ― Benjamin Franklin You want your child to do what you ask. You want them to hear you the first time. You want them to do it right, too. But, they don’t listen. They squawk and argue. You’re feeling hopeless. You don’t want to fight about it. So, I give you the secret word to easier parenting that also happens to invite connection between you and your independent offspring. Are you ready? Here’s the secret word to easier parenting: Let’s (is that really two words?) Let’s clean your room. Let’s go outside and play. Let’s read. Let’s eat all of our veggies tonight. Let’s see how fast we can get the dishes done tonight. Let’s make dinner. Let’s __________. {Fill in the blank on what you’ll say today} Using let’s is a lot nicer than saying GO. It’s more welcoming. More loving. More playful. And, so, even if it doesn’t always work (because it will not always work), by using it you’ve begun transforming how you speak to each other at home. And that makes the world a happier place to live, doesn’t it? What do you think? Is this a word you use often or not? Please share any other words you use on a regular basis to create more peace in your home. If you like this idea of easier parenting, please sign up to get on the Abundant Mama waiting list for April 2015.http://www.abundantmama.com/the-secret-word-to-easier-parenting/

Mothers living with conflict by Elaine Heffner

The revival of Wendy Wasserstein’s play “The Heidi Chronicles” focuses attention on unresolved questions in an earlier form from an earlier time. Having opened on Broadway first in 1989, the play ended the decade that began with Helen Gurley Brown’s “Having it All” in 1982. That decade having begun with high expectations, Wasserstein reflects the questioning and perhaps disillusionment at its end. It is interesting to revisit the evolution of women’s choices and feelings during a period that marked a struggle to transform the role of women. The 1970s, a time of militant feminism, was marked in a sense by avoiding the central conflict women were to face between caring for children — emotionally and physically — while pursuing personal goals. The focus was on personal fulfillment and rejection of the “housewife” label. But women did find themselves with the wish — or need — for mates and children as part of their “personal fulfillment.” In the early ‘80s I was asked to do a survey for Redbook Magazine on how women felt about motherhood. The results revealed a renewed interest and desire to have children as an expression of being fulfilled as a woman. A new baby boom was on the way and the “solution” to “having it all” was to become “superwoman.” This gave rise to the familiar ads in newspapers and magazines portraying a mom with a briefcase in one arm and a baby on the other. The world has moved on, bringing new realities. Women as breadwinners have become the norm. The economy as well as social changes no longer support the traditional picture of father as economic provider and mother as caretaker of home and children. In increasing numbers women have become primary breadwinners and fathers have taken the role of child care. Economic reality often replaces personal fulfillment. Yet the conflict between personal goals and commitment to others continues to find expression — often in unsatisfying solutions. Increasingly, women who have the financial means have returned to full-time motherhood in response to the stresses of combining child care with demanding jobs. The conflict involved in this history and in present dilemmas is not one that can be resolved if the goal is to no longer experience conflict. In our wish to rid ourselves of unpleasant conflicted feelings, we continue the search for a solution to accomplish that goal. But a conflict between personal needs and wishes and those of others is inherent in all human relationships and is especially strong in relationships with our dependent children. Much of life consists of trying to balance which needs predominate in situations that occur daily. Page 2 of 2 - The inherent conflict in relationships is intensified by both internal and external factors that need to be addressed. On the social level, nostalgia for an earlier time has contributed to the failure to provide needed universal child-care supports. On the internal level, destructive feelings of guilt on the part of mothers interfere with an ability to balance their own needs with those of their children. Part of that guilt is an expression of the deep love and responsibility they feel for their children. Part is the legacy of theories about children and mothers and children’s needs. These theories were developed when the norm was mothers as full-time caregivers, which then tied meeting children’s needs to mother care rather than nurturing. As a consequence, ideas about children’s needs and being a “good mother” have been distorted. The real task, which has not yet been adequately addressed, is learning to live with feelings of conflict, recognizing that it is part of the human condition. Elaine Heffner, LCSW, Ed.D., has written for Parents Magazine, Fox.com, Redbook, Disney online and PBS Parents, as well as other publications. She is a psychotherapist and parent educator in private practice, as well as a senior lecturer of education in psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College. Dr. Heffner was a co-founder and served as director of the Nursery School Treatment Center at Payne Whitney Clinic, New York Hospital. She blogs at goodenoughmothering.co.uk http://www.mpnnow.com/article/20150331/NEWS/150339929/2002/LIFESTYLE/?Start=2k

When Breast Feeding Isn't Easy (Plus 6Tips) byb Linnea Covington

New Mother’s Anguish: When Breastfeeding Isn’t Easy (Plus 6 Tips) Breastfeeding can be difficult, and a lot of work. One mother shares her experience and tips. * * * For most mothers, feeding your baby is one of the first things you do after your child is born and placed in your arms. That is, if you are lucky enough to have a problem-free birth. Unfortunately for me, when my son entered the world he wasn’t screaming; in fact, he wasn’t breathing at all. That blissful moment of bonding over baby’s first meal didn’t happen for three days, and even then, it was in the neonatal intensive care unit, known as NICU, surrounded by blinking machines, other teary-eyed parents, and a lot of nurses. * * * When our time to breastfeed finally did arrive, I felt the sharp bite of hard gums and the desperate suck of a hungry baby, a sensation both painful and beautiful, and yes, I cried. But just because my son took well to the boob those first few times doesn’t mean it was perfect from there. To start with, like most new moms, I wasn’t making enough milk to properly nourish my child while breastfeeding. The doctors in the NICU told me point blank: You can continue to pump and nurse him here, but he will have to stay on IV fluids — and stay longer. Or, they said, you can supplement his diet with formula and he should be fine in five days. After a labor that completely derailed from my original delivery plan, I didn’t want to change my decision to feed my child only breast milk. I didn’t want the guilt of feeling like the worst mother ever for giving my kid formula. But the need to have my son strong and home won out. When baby Gunnar was discharged five days later healthy and full, I realized it was worth it. * * * There are many reasons why breastfeeding is widely promoted. Breast milk has all the nutrients and antibodies your child needs, it’s the perfect temperature, it’s conveniently right there all the time, and hey, it’s free. But I’ve come to believe that formula is a good supplement or substitute when circumstances require it, especially when it means mom and baby are happier, healthier, or less stressed as a result. Huge developments have been made in the world of formula, and I feel there is nothing wrong with giving it to your baby. There are all sorts of reasons moms end up going this route: issues with milk production, babies unable to latch on, the return to the workplace, or physical and emotional discomfort. One friend of mine said she was so anxious about breastfeeding that it affected bonding with her son. After a few months she decided formula would have to do, for the sake of her child and her own mental health. And guess what? At two years old, her son is perfectly fine. * * * As for me, I figured breastfeeding would be simple and exactly as portrayed in movies, on the street, and in cafes. Easy, right? You just cuddle that little bundle of joy to your bosom and allow him to suck until satisfied. Sure, but what if he keeps falling asleep at say, 1 a.m., while feeding? Every time you try and take him away from the boob, he wakes up and wants more. In the end, I wasn’t sleeping and I had a nagging feeling my son wasn’t getting enough milk, a fear unfounded but none the less real. When you have to feed your newborn every two to three hours, it quickly becomes the biggest deal in your life. As a food writer who has spent most of her time thinking about eating, having someone else’s insatiable hunger as the focus of my every waking hour threw me for a loop. Feeding a baby is completely different than feeding myself, and frankly, not nearly as fun. After a week, I felt like I was losing my mind. I honestly didn’t know how other women did it, but I knew something needed to change, which is why I started bottle-feeding expressed milk at night. The time- and stress-saver helped tremendously and gave me energy in the morning to really cherish nursing. Plus, it allowed my son’s dad to enjoy baby’s mealtime as well. However a mother ends up feeding her child those first few weeks is up to her. Guilt or societal norms shouldn’t influence the decision. The real trick if you’re a new mom is to listen to your body and your baby. * * * Tips for breastfeeding mothers: 1. Don’t expect your newborn to latch on perfectly the first few weeks. If you need help, take advantage of the lactation consultants in the maternity war while you are in the hospital. If you need more help once you are home, contact your local Le Leche League. 2. Herbal supplements and teas can boost milk production (plus the ritual of making and drinking tea helps you relax, which in turn aids lactation). Most of the available products are herbal blends that include fennel, blessed thistle, and fenugreek, which, be warned, can cause gas in some mothers and babies. Good products to try include Traditional Medicinals’ Mother’s Milk tea, Motherlove’s More Milk Plus capsules or tincture, and Yogi’s Woman’s Nursing Support tea. 3. Make sure you are as comfortable or as cozy as you can be. I had a C-section and found the Brest Friend pillow really helped with nursing the baby over the incision. 4. Drink lots of water, approximately 16 cups a day. To help make sure I’m getting enough, I actually keep a tally. Even if you feel like you are consuming enough, you might be surprised. Hitting the 16-cup mark isn’t easy. 5. Eat a lot of good food. Though it’s hard to feed yourself, especially right after having a baby, eating is super important. Breastfeeding burns up to 500 calories a day, so you really need the nutrients to keep you going and to produce more milk. 6. Don’t be afraid to go out. If you’re at a restaurant, coffee shop, or café, try and get seated at a corner table. It’s more discreet and if you don’t like using a feeding cover, you will only be flashing your tablemates. It also helps to let the server or host know you plan on breastfeeding. That way they can stop by at more convenient times and get you the most private table possible, if that’s what you want. https://www.yahoo.com/food/new-mothers-anguish-when-breastfeeding-isnt-114409996806.html