This noisy breathing shouldn’t necessarily cause concern. However, pay attention to signs of respiratory distress. Contact your baby’s doctor right away if you notice any warning signs. Turns blue all over or in areas that typically get a lot of blood flow like the lips, tongue, and the vagina. Even though bluing of the hands and feet can be fairly common due to an infant’s immature circulatory system, if other areas are turning blue, it’s time to get immediate attention....

Even though I believe that note taking should be individualized for each student, this section provides some plain-and-simple good habits that can help all kids take better notes. Yes, I know I just said “all kids.” But these habits are just good habits to get into. What can I say? The world’s a gray place. Bust out the labels: Have your child put the date, class topic, and her name on the first page of her notes every day....

Empower Your Child Here are the tools you need to empower your child to take ownership of what she records during class. Bear in mind that all kids need not copy down the same information. Most people assume that the purpose of taking notes is for the student to record in an abbreviated way what took place during a class period. In other words, kids need to get down the main themes, some sub-themes, and some details, like a reporter might record the facts of a story....

Paper grocery bags Newspapers Packing tape Directions

Peer support programs are counseling sessions where an older student meets with a younger student and offers a listening ear and problem-solving strategies. The C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital at the University of Michigan conducted a poll to assess the possible role of peer support for childhood mental health. According to the report, these peer support programs train students to be good listeners and identify the warning signs of suicide or other mental health concerns....

Pennies One cup or dish per player Directions

10 to 15 minutes Materials Local florist shop Directions A fun outing could include a stop at a florist shop to walk around slowly looking at all the flowers to decide on the prettiest. Extensions Ask your child to decide which 3 flowers would go well together in a bouquet.Ask your child to pick a flower that they would not choose and ask why.Visit a nursery and pick a packet of flower seeds to plant together....

Regardless of whether you had a vaginal birth or a c-section, being concerned about the discomfort of going to the bathroom may cause some stress and anxiety. If you had a vaginal birth, your concerns may have to do with the tenderness you feel in the perineum. And, if you had a c-section, you may be worried that straining will cause pain or affect your incision. Likewise, it’s not uncommon to experience postpartum diarrhea, constipation, or even hemorrhoids after giving birth....

Depending on the complexity of the pattern, preemie clothes can often be created in one night. Hats and booties are especially marvelous gifts that the new mom can use right away. Blankets are also great, typically made in larger sizes so they can be used as the baby grows. Whichever project you choose, be sure to select an extra soft yarn that will be gentle on the baby’s skin. These same projects can be a lifesaver for a mother who has experienced a miscarriage and wants to channel her grief into something positive....

Questions to Ask Your Insurance Representative When you call member services (the phone number is usually printed on your insurance card), have a pen and pencil handy to write down all the information. First ask if your policy, or your spouse’s, is the primary carrier. Then ask the primary provider the following questions: I’d like to find a good doctor to care for me during my pregnancy. Can you send me a list of the family practitioners and obstetricians in my area who participate in this insurance plan?...

Almost two years ago, first-time mom Ellen B. thought she had adjusted nicely to the long-awaited arrival of son Zachary, now a cheerful, energetic toddler. But ever since she brought baby Hannah home from the hospital five weeks ago, the domestic workload appears to have more than doubled, and the daily routines she once cherished seem lost forever. “I used to take Zachary to a toddler gymnastics class and I thought we could still go, but they don’t allow infants because of liability concerns,” she says with a tinge of regret....

Concerns About Pacifier Use Every child is different, with unique needs and abilities. Some babies can go back and forth between breastfeeding and a pacifier without any problems, while pacifiers may pose some challenges for others. Some of the concerns about pacifier use—like the risk of nipple confusion, breast refusal, and low milk supply—are only relevant for breastfed babies. Breastfeeding Difficulty At the heart of these concerns is often the fact that the sucking technique used during breastfeeding is different from that used with artificial nipples on bottles and pacifiers....

Don’t be duped into thinking that mixing breeds will result in healthier offspring. The truth is that puppies, whether purebred or mixed, inherit genes from each parent. If the parents pass along the genes for a hereditary disease, the pups stand a good chance of having that disease. Hybrid vigor—the idea that unrelated parents produce healthier offspring—works only if natural selection is in operation. In the wild, a dog with clinical symptoms of a debilitating disease such as hip dysplasia or epilepsy would not be able to survive, and so would not pass on its genes....

Should we retain our first-grader so that he can get a better base of skills, or continue on to second grade with medication for ADD? Read the answer… Our son with ADHD has tested at fourth-grade level in every area but reading. The school counselor thinks he should repeat second grade. What should we do? Read the answer… How devastating would it be to a ten-year-old to be placed two years behind where he should be?...

Age group: 18-40 months Duration of activity: 20 minutes Materials: 6 paper plates Scissors Red, yellow, and blue cellophane White craft glue Here is a way for your child to truly see the world through rose-colored lenses or through lenses of any other color. This activity can also serve as an introductory lesson on mixing colors.