Kids are as likely to rise to meet your expectations as a helium balloon will float from a toddler’s hand. (They’ll also sink to meet your expectations like a dropped Rolex will fall to the ocean floor.) What you expect, you get. Assume that you have a well-behaved child, and your child will generally meet your expectations. If you assume negative behavior, I guarantee that that’s what you’ll get. Here are a few ways to assure that you’re assuming yours is a well-behaved child:...

At the same time, family day care also gives children a chance to socialize, just with a much smaller group of other children than they would be exposed to in a center. The ability to spend time with other kids makes the family day care home a more attractive option to some working parents than having in-home care, such as a nanny. With the in-home caregiver, the child might end up feeling isolated, with fewer opportunities for social interaction....

Researchers at the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences had over 500 families with elementary-age children respond to questions about food security. They also were asked about meal planning and preparation. The results of the study showed that food insecurity often coincided with other risk patterns like meal planning capabilities or a family’s overall organization, and requires a multi-dimensional solution. Food Insecurity and Organization After receiving responses from study participants, researchers derived three subgroups from the data....

Depending on the time of the year, you and your child can make plans to visit a farm. For example, around Halloween and Thanksgiving there are pumpkin farms to visit. Before Christmas, there are Christmas tree farms. At other times of the year, there are vegetable farms, orchards, dairy farms, flower farms, and sheep or goat farms. Use the telephone to make arrangements and don’t forget to dress appropriately. Do a little research online or get a book from the library so you can read about the workings of the farm....

You can’t stop a child from fussing about food. But you can control the way you react to her demands for special foods served in certain ways. The good news is that food fits don’t have to turn into full-blown food fights. Parents rule. Who’s the boss of your house? You are. Parents decide what foods come into the home, where to dine out, and what type and how much television preschoolers are allowed to watch....

Children experiencing movement difficulties require more time to learn a skill. They need constant feedback and quite often need to be physically taken through movements (kinesthetic assistance). Some difficulties will disappear with maturity; some will not. The longer we allow inefficient physical movement to continue, such as incorrect handwriting grip, the harder it becomes to correct because the child practices poor movements which become habits, and then these have to be undone....

Each surname project is generally operated by the administrator using a single testing facility. Lists of group projects can be found on the Internet at www.familytreedna.com/surname.asp or http://worldfamilies.net/search.php. Be Sure You Understand! Before being tested, it is important to understand the tests offered, and what information can be expected from the results. In addition to what is briefly described, the major companies providing services have extensive websites, including tutorials and other aids:...

“I hate my teacher!” my six-year-old announced last year on the first day of school. Suddenly the academic year turned dark and menacing. Was my child just being difficult or was this teacher really trouble? Hannah’s father said, “This teacher isn’t going to change. We’re going to have to help Hannah to adjust. She’s got to learn to get along with this teacher even if she doesn’t like her.” I decided that he was right and that I had to figure out a way to use this situation for my child’s growth....

The most important criteria you should look for—whether you choose a social worker or psychologist—is someone who sees lots of teens and has plenty of experience with this age group. Help comes in all types of degrees (M.S.W., Ph.D., etc.). It may be helpful for you to know a little about the meaning of what they are: School counselor. The school counselor has a Master’s Degree and counseling skills. If your school also has a school psychologist, that person should have a Ph....

Map of the United States Do you and your young ‘uns have a hankering to travel west? Then we reckon you ought to get a move on and decide which trail to take. First, your kids study a map of the United States. Then each player tells you which states he or she would pass through to get from the east coast to the west coast. Vary the game by calling out such instructions as “Let’s travel through the most states,” “How can we take the shortest path?...

Effort: Quick and easy – no sewing required Materials: Black or brown pants Black or brown shirt Purple or green balloons Safety pins Headband Tape Instructions: Have your child wear black or brown clothing. Blow up all the balloons in the package. Pin them to your child’s upper body, in a V or a grape configuration. Tape a few more balloons onto a headband. Variation: A Bag of Grapes Materials:...

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Traveling with children gets physical quickly. The amount of stuff you have to schlep is slightly crazy. But the Lotus Travel Crib by Guava Family, one of the most highly rated play yards out there, is heralded for its lightweight construction, ease of use, and safe design. We tested it out on a trip to California to see for ourselves. Read on to find out how the pack ‘n play fared....

A. Yes. The H1N1 vaccine became available in early October, 2009. It is expected that by the end of October, 40 million doses will be available. The federal government has purchased and will distribute about 250 million doses in total. Q. How is the vaccine administered? A. The H1N1 vaccine is available as a shot or as a nasal spray. The injection consists of dead viral cells, while the spray contains living but weakened cells, called an “attenuated live virus....

Vitamins are organic compounds (or compounds that contain carbon), which are required in small amounts and are necessary to promote growth, health, and life. Vitamins are produced by living material such as plants and animals. Most vitamins are not made by the body in sufficient amounts to maintain health, so they must be obtained through a person’s diet. Vitamins are classified into two groups: fat-soluble and water-soluble. Vitamins are labeled as “micro” nutrients because they are needed in only small amounts to do their jobs properly....

Healthy Snacks for Kids Stocking Up on Smart Snacks Top 10 Snacks for Busy Moms 10 Healthy, Nut-Free Snacks

Signs that your child may have more than just simple baby gas include frequent fussiness, loose or foul-smelling stools, difficulty feeding and/or sleeping, and crying for long periods of time. These could be symptoms of colic or a food intolerance. On the other hand, for babies who are otherwise happy and feeding well, gas can be normal and not a sign of an underlying medical condition. If periodic gas causes your child discomfort, find out how to avoid common triggers and treat gas pain when it occurs....