Good manners and respect toward others matters in our daily activities. If parents, teachers and society instill the importance of appropriate behavior toward each other in children at an early age, it can help them navigate this world of ours with a reasonable amount of grace.
College students lead busy lives and often have to juggle assignment deadlines, study for upcoming tests, work at part-time jobs and manage their finances on a small budget. The stress of college life leaves little time to think about eating and living healthy. Skipping breakfast, eating convenience foods and drinking sugary energy drinks are common unhealthy practices. College students also smoke and drink alcohol at high rates. Making unhealthy choices in college may not directly interfere with your immediate health, but it can lead to long-term problems in the future.
Babies should be fed breast milk or formula for the first 12 months, according to the National Institutes of Health's website, Medline Plus. Formula is available in powder, concentrated liquid and ready-to-use forms and is designed to provide all the nutrients babies need to grow properly. Many babies prefer to drink warm formula, but it doesn't need to be heated. If you decide to heat your baby's formula, take precautions to protect your baby against burns.
Teenagers may look like adults, but they are still forming identities and maturing. Teens' desire for boundaries and approval often leads to inappropriate behavior. This behavior can be dangerous to peers and take time away from school work and healthy activities. The struggles may spill into family life as well. When parents learn of misbehavior at school, they should work with their teen at home. By providing structure and modeling proper communication, you can help put an end to your teen's rude and obnoxious behavior.
If you want your child to learn the basic attitude of trust, then you have to take advantage of the first few years of her life. According to Angela Reinhart, family life educator from the University of Illinois, it’s these years that are the most formative when it comes to teaching your child how to trust. You are the most influential person in your child’s life, which means it is during these years that you must respond to your child and her needs in a trusting manner if you want to instill that basic attitude in her.
Preschool children must develop gross motor skills before they can develop the more fine motor skills needed to learn to write. According to the EarlychildhoodNEWS website article, “Optimizing Early Brain and Motor Development Through Movement,” by Carl Gabbard and Luis Rodrigues, experiences that strengthen gross motor skills through movement and physical activity improve brain activity in early childhood. Children who develop gross motor skills during preschool will be better prepared for the requirements of kindergarten.
For an adult, illness is uncomfortable and inconvenient. For a child, illness -- whether it is with a stomach virus or something more serious -- can elicit a whole range of emotions including anger, frustration, guilt, confusion and fear. It's important to explain illness to your child in words that he can understand and to help him process his emotions. If you are unsure how to comfort your sick child, ask advice from his pediatrician and hospital counselors.
When your child took to a pacifier, you breathed a sigh of relief at the ease of soothing him by just popping it into his mouth. As he gets older though, you might start to worry about the cost of orthodontics. Fortunately, extended pacifier use isn't necessarily a prescription for bad teeth, but you do need to be on the lookout.
Diaper pins can be a little intimidating, especially if you don't have experience with them before using them. Learn about great alternatives to diaper pins with help from a former family case worker for CPS in this free video clip.
Boiling diaper inserts is a great way to strip them of all the impurities that have built up. Boil diaper inserts with help from a former family case worker for CPS in this free video clip.
When you check a diaper, you're always going to want to remove the diaper very carefully to avoid making a mess. Check a diaper the right way with help from a former family case worker for CPS in this free video clip.
It’s no secret that Americans today are, for the most part, overweight and out of shape -- and this unhealthy lifestyle has strong roots in childhood. Yet a 2012 report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services highlights the importance of 60 minutes of daily physical activity for children and teens. The physical benefits are obvious -- strong bones and muscles, lean bodies, healthy blood pressure and blood sugar levels -- but the emotional benefits, though they lurk below the surface, are perhaps even more significant.
Parenting your teen can feel like parenting a complete stranger. Gone are the days where your adoring child placed you on a pedestal -- now, your teen questions your every decision, willfully disobeys your rules and seems always ready for a fight. While he might seem like an enigma, understanding your teen's behavior can help you better understand and anticipate the rest of the teen years. There's a lot of development happening and the more you know, the less confusing the teen years will be for both of you.
Play is an important part of a child's development. Eminent developmental psychologist Jean Piaget described play as being a child's work. During play, a child practices motor skills, lingual skills and even social skills. She will reenact things she has seen and heard, turning them into elaborate games of make-believe. Because play often includes an element of pleasure, children are more likely to stay with their skills practice than if it were a required classroom exercise or a chore given by parents.
During puberty, hormonal changes in a girl's body cause physical changes such as breast development and acne. Most girls reach puberty between the ages of 8 and 13, although some girls reach puberty at 6 or 7 years of age, according to GirlsHealth.gov, a website of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Talking to your kids about puberty helps them know what to expect.
A baby’s tiny body goes through crucial physical changes in the first years of life and he’ll need properly mixed formula or breast milk to meet his needs. To help your baby get the right amount of nutrition, follow the exact water-to-formula instructions on the package. Improperly mixed formula can lead to health issues and illness, and can negatively impact your baby’s growth.
Staying on the bottle too long can impact your baby’s health. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies should give up the bottle by their first birthday and no later than age 18 months to reduce the risk of obesity, poor nutrient and tooth decay. If your baby is having trouble parting with his bottle, talk to your pediatrician about breaking the bottle habit.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies be fed breast milk or iron-fortified formula until at least age 1, but formula can get expensive. Some parents dilute baby formula to save money. This practice can be dangerous, however. Of the three types of formula, powdered and concentrated liquid require adding water. If you use either of these types of formula, mix with the exact amount of water recommended on the label.
Attention deficit disorder, also known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a condition that typically surfaces during early childhood and is marked by difficulty controlling spontaneous reactions. KidsHealth, a project of nonprofit children's health organization Nemours, reports that from 8 to 10 percent of children have ADD, and boys are three times as likely as girls to be diagnosed with the condition. Children with ADD typically have difficulty focusing and struggle with paying attention more than children without the condition. These symptoms are present in home, school or daycare. ADD can impact a child's social skills, academics and behavior at…
If your toddler is like most, he gets into everything he can get his little hands onto, including unsafe things like the oven. Because you probably don't want to stop using your oven, you need to take immediate steps to ensure that your child isn't in danger of getting burned while you're cooking. Fortunately, it's a straightforward process to baby-proof your oven so your little one isn't in danger while you're preparing meals.
Health care providers classify a social phobia as an anxiety problem. The KidsHealth website makes the distinction, however, that while most kids with social phobia have a shy nature, not all shy kids develop social phobia. For those with social phobia, feelings of extreme shyness and self-consciousness build up into an overwhelming fear of social circumstances. Fears can reach a point where children begin to avoid social activities that involve people outside of their families.
A hospital stay is a stressful experience for a child, no matter how minor or major the procedure. Once your child comes home, you might breathe a sigh of relief, but you might find that the child who did so well in the hospital develops emotional and behavioral issues once he gets home, or that the child who was anxious and fearful becomes even more so. It's normal for kids to show increased signs of stress after a hospital stay.
Most children love to dance; you may find your preschooler naturally hops, sways or wiggles to his or her favorite music. Dancing is a great way to interact with your child and encourage gross motor skill development and improve social skills. Whether you are enrolling your child in a formal dance class or just jumping and jiving at home, dance is a fun and healthy activity the whole family can enjoy.
Everyone feels some form of stress on a daily basis, including teenagers, who may be experiencing stress in a way they haven't before. They may be concerned about their future or worried about social issues, academic concerns or family problems, for example. Though some stress can motivate people to take action and perform to the best of their abilities. excessive stress might result in poor behavior and decreased feelings of well-being. By talking to your teen and encouraging her to develop positive stress management methods, you might help reduce unhealthy behaviors and increase her overall happiness and productivity.
Teens with high IQs often display troubling behaviors. You might assume that the smarter a child is, the more he'll understand the importance of listening to parents or behaving in socially acceptable ways. But in some cases, being intellectually gifted can increase a teen's susceptibility to behavioral problems or psychological and adjustment disorders, according to a 1999 article in the "Roeper Review," as reported on the website for the Davidson Institute for Talent Development.
Even if you enjoyed the years of preadolescence, your child can do a complete 180 when making the transition to true-blue teen. The teen brain is constantly developing and changing, which means that while your teen might think he's an adult, he doesn't always make grownup decisions. If you find yourself constantly at odds with your once-pleasant child, consider some of the reasons your teen might be sounding the battle cry. Independence, communication and just a plain sour mood can seriously affect your relationship.
A person who shows narcissistic tendencies displays a distinct lack of empathy and concern for other people, according to therapist Karyl McBride with the Psychology Today website. When children have contact with a narcissist, the effects of that person's personality can result in specific behaviors in children.
During childhood and adolescence, young people’s understanding of moral and ethical behavior changes quickly, concurrent with their cognitive development, explains the Association for Middle Level Education. Although most young people naturally grow up to adopt the morals and ethics of the society in which they live, parents play an important role in shaping these behaviors. By being proactive and sharing your expectations with your child, you could foster moral and ethical behaviors in healthy, positive ways.
It's common for a baby to suck his fingers or thumb, even in the womb. The sucking action soothes many infants, and it's normal if your baby regularly pops his fingers into his mouth. If you're worried that letting your baby suck his fingers will make it hard to break him of the habit, you can probably rest easy. Most children grow out of the sucking behavior by preschool or kindergarten.
Although it is developmentally expected for teens to seek out romantic relationships and attention from boys, taken too far, this behavior can lead to social problems and violate your family’s rule and values. While some attention-seeking behaviors might be driven by the natural biological changes that come from puberty, attention-seeking or sexualized behavior might be a sign your child has incurred sexual abuse. Thus, if your child does not respond to redirection or family rules, consider consulting a psychologist, counselor or pediatrician.
Teenage years are hard for all kids, but teenage boys may feel extra pressures. Peer pressure to act in certain ways, raging hormones and anxiety about their future may all contribute to increased negative behaviors in teen boys. Getting these behaviors under control while still encouraging independence and growth can be a balancing act, but with consistency and understanding you can make it through these angst-filled years.
Whether you want to thank your children for behaving properly or hope to change their negative habits, rewards can reinforce the behavior that you want them to continue. According to FamilyDoctor.org, the key to a successful system is to be consistent and offer a reward when you witness positive behavior. Although children love to earn tangible prizes, they appreciate intangible rewards also, which enable them to feel loved.
Children test limits and experiment with different behaviors to see what works best. Unfortunately, sometimes these behaviors are dangerous or harmful. Adults have an important yet difficult job in anticipating harmful behaviors and reacting appropriately when children become aggressive. Remember that children are learning, and teach them with patience and kindness.
When your baby is born, she will be weighed and measured to determine whether her growth is normal for babies of her gestational age. Babies born early and babies born in multiples often weigh less than babies born full term or late, according to KidsHealth. As your baby ages, your health care provider will continue to monitor your baby’s height and weight to ensure she is growing appropriately.
As a parent, sometimes you want to understand your child’s motivation for what she does. If you understand why your child has acted the way she has, it could change how you respond to an instance of misbehavior. Understanding your child’s behavior could also provide answers on how to motivate your child to do the right thing.
Aggression and antisocial behavior may manifest itself at home or school, in social situations or in all domains of a child's life. Although you may observe some early signs of aggression and antisocial behavior in your children, this is not necessarily a cause for alarm. Many aggressive or antisocial behaviors can be resolved by explaining to your child why his behavior is inappropriate. Many problematic behaviors resolve with age as the child matures and develops better coping skills. If your child’s behavior disturbs you or poses a risk to himself or others, however, professional intervention may be necessary.
Cutting grapes in a very specific manner is a great way to reduce their overall choking hazard. Cut grapes to reduce a choking hazard with help from a classically-trained chef in this free video clip.
If your kids have allergies, there are a few key types of pets that you're going to want to know more about. Find out about ideal pets for kids with allergies with help from an expert from the Arizona Natural Health Center in this free video clip.
The main thing you want to do when clearing up skin rashes on your face is consult a dermatologist. Clear up skin rashes on your face with help from a certified makeup artist in this free video clip.
Diaper pins need to be used in a very particular way for the best possible results. Use diaper pins with help from a family case worker for CPS in this free video clip.
Literature is a great way to allow your children to develop socially. Learn about social development of children through literature with help from a practicing therapist in this free video clip.
Having a baby with reflux can be painful both for yourself and for the child. Start whole milk for a baby with reflux with help from a family case worker and parenting coach in this free video clip.
Heating baby bottles requires you to follow a few basic, easy to manage steps. Heat baby bottles with help from a family case worker and parenting coach in this free video clip.
As a dog lover, few things can be more exciting than bringing a new puppy into your life. And just as a family prepares well in advance for a new baby, you must plan for the new puppy before she ever steps into your home. One of the first and most important things you must do with your new companion is to find a skilled veterinarian that you can trust. Your puppy's first visit is typically called a well puppy exam, and generally consists of a mix of educational discussion and preventative measures.
The concept of getting sick may be lost on younger children. Get tips on how to explain a sick child to siblings with help from a licensed marriage and family therapist in this free video clip.
You can successfully work with troubled teens in school so long as you use the right techniques. Find out about techniques for working with troubled teens in school with help from the founders of a nonprofit for troubled teens in this free video clip.
Camping with a baby or toddler can often be a daunting and overwhelming task. Being unprepared with respect to supplies and activities can leave your young children irritable and upset, making the trip a potentially draining and difficult one. According to Faithfully Free, keeping the duration of your camping trip shorter rather than longer will help decrease the chances of your children getting bored or losing interest in the trip.
When doing problems with angles and mathematics, children tend to run up against a few key problems. Learn what are the problems that children have when doing problems with angles in mathematics with help from a high school mathematics tutor in this free video clip.
There are a variety of waste disasters that can occur. Waste disasters can be caused by man or nature. Man-made disasters include nuclear disasters and natural disasters include hurricanes and typhoons. The effects of waste disasters can range in size and scope. All disasters have major effects on individuals and communities. Learning these effects can help you prepare for emergency waste disasters and cope after they occur.
Parents have a number of choices when it comes to diapering their baby, specifically between disposable and cloth diapers, which can be put on in different ways. A key aspect of the process is ensuring that good cleanliness and hygiene are observed, and this requires proper cleanup and antirash cream. It also is important to keep the baby from falling off the changing table or surface. If done correctly, however, the process is simple.