The Alternative Broadcasting Online News Station

As aunt of a preschooler and an aspiring voiceover actress (I knew all those hours of watching Bugs Bunny would come in handy), I know all the kids’ shows as well as every kids’ DVD out there.

In my opinion, there’s no better way celebrities can recoup their outrageous salaries than entertaining and sometimes educating kids. And They Might Be Giants get the “cooler than Elvis” vote for singing the theme song to one of Playhouse Disney’s newest hits, “Higglytown Heroes,” which is also on their CD/DVD for kids, “Here Come the ABCs.”

For those of you not familiar with all things Higgly (an adjective used as much as “Smurfy” but not, thank Higgles, as a verb), the series centers on a small town and four tots named Eubie, Kip, and siblings Wayne and Twinkle. Think “South Park” with better art and no foul mouths. The strongest language is, “Aw, pickles,” usually uttered by Twinkle (pinker than Trista Rehn Sutter!) after her fanciful ideas for solving the kids’ dilemmas get gently punctured by Fran, a friendly squirrel voiced by Edie McClurg.

In each two-episode half-hour show, the Higgly Kids experience common, innocent childhood events such as finding a caterpillar, hosting a television party for the Happy Hairy Higgly Monster Primetime Special, losing a tooth, Kip’s Grandpa locked in the bathroom, or caring for an unhappy bird. The kids try to solve their problems, guided by Fran who is the voice of reason, helped by their loving families and the ever-enthusiastic oddly Bill and Ted-ish Pizza Guy…plus someone special. Then comes the inevitable song…

“Someone special, who could it be?
This job’s too big for you and me.
We need some help!
But never fear-o,
It looks like a job for a…Higglytown Hero!
A Higglytown Hero!”

Some of the heroes are natural choices, especially after September 11: Police Woman, Firefighter, etc. But how many of us think of sanitation workers, electricians, plumbers, gardeners, mail carriers (voiced by Kathie Lee Gifford) and farmers as heroes? Or a telephone operator (voiced by Cyndi Lauper)? Although the heroes have celebrity voices, the Higgly Kids discover that the real stars all around them are the people who solve problems every day.

Some of the dilemmas get a little ridiculous from an adult perspective. For example, when Kip climbs a tree to save a beloved neighborhood cat and her kittens, his friends help him. Why, when he gets stuck, can’t they help him back down? Ahem…when was the last time you tripped and panicked? You need help in your own life every day without thinking about it.

The beauty of “Higglytown Heroes” is that it celebrates working together, “having fun together,” and the Higgly Kids as well as their families never take for granted the Heroes in their lives. The Electrician (Lance Bass) gets invited to share in the “Higgly Monsters” TV party after repairing the circuitry for Kip’s house. The Fire Fighter (Donald Faison) who gets Kip out of the tree shares in a birthday party for the neighborhood cat. How many of us go out of our way to thank the people who make our lives easier? Sometimes we forget to see them as people with needs and feelings.

We even forget to see our own families as heroes. Kip’s Grandmama (voice of “Golden Girl” Betty White, with Rose Nylund-like hairdo) knits the kids sweaters. Kip’s real-estate agent Mom, Bitty, acts like the soul of ’50s domesticity, but gets rewarded when Kip and his friends make her a get-well card. Wayne’s Mom, Plunkie, shows the kids a caterpillar and drives them to the beach, while Wayne and Twinkle’s Uncle Lemmo cooks them breakfast at his diner and, in the Christmas special, drives Wayne and Twinkle about in his sleigh.

Interestingly, Higgly families aren’t always nuclear families, something Disney portrays as normal without calling attention to it. Kip’s family is the proverbial nuclear family, with twin sisters, a baby sister, a mom and dad, Fripp, (who operates a hot dog cart), and two grandparents who either live in Kip’s large house or visit constantly. Twinkle and Wayne’s mom seems to be a single parent (although all are African-American, no one has screamed racism yet), and Eubie is apparently being raised by his Southern-accented Aunt Mellie and Uncle Zooter, with visits from his Southern-accented Grandpop Crank (a farmer).

In many ways, Higglytown is idealized. No one really seems to worry about jobs, money or status. People go to the library, and a Librarian is a Higglytown Hero! The kids “work real hard” and take responsibility (gasp) by thinking up ways to help themselves and their families, and in each episode there are little moral lessons and advice (take care of your pets, don’t use too much electricity, make someone smile) to show the kids how they can grow up to be…Higglytown Heroes!

Cynics and naysayers will deride this as kiddie pablum. I call it a refreshing dose of reality and a tribute to the heroes all around us. The Disney animators are Higglytown Heroes for creating this show.

Author’s Note: After this review originally made the rounds on the Web, actor Rory Thost, who provides the voice of “Kip,” was kind enough to be a “Higglytown Hero” and make my day by telling me how much he and the cast liked the review. For all of those who think our kids are complete troublemakers, young Master Rory Thost is thirteen: http://imdb.com/name/nm1191277/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnxteD0yMHxzZz0xfGxtPTIwMHx0dD1vbnxwbj0wfHE9cm9yeSB0aG9zdHxodG1sPTF8bm09b24_;fc=1;ft=4. His showbiz career is already longer than mine! More importantly, in a world where bad behavior by celebrities is sadly the norm, this young man remains polite, mature, well-educated and well-grounded.

Author’s Note II: This series gets better and better. The continuity is even on a par with most primetime shows. Kip has adopted a dog named “Shadow,” who makes guest appearances; we meet Fran’s parents after seeing them in the Christmas special; Eubie’s Grandpop becomes a Higglytown Hero; Eubie’s bird Flappy makes appearances from time to time. The Firefighter returns. And Pizza Guy’s role keeps expanding. He comes to the rescue more than once, but when oh when will he get to be a Higglytown Hero? I want to hear that song!

Author’s Note III: Disney has created JoJo’s Circus toys, so I assumed that Higglytown Heroes toys were not far behind. Stacking Russian-doll toys? What could be simpler? But after receiving e-mails from some of you inquiring about Higgly toys, I double-checked. Sad to say, there are no Higgly toys out there.

Aw, pickles!

The best thing to do is go to Playhouse Disney Online (http://playhousedisney.com) and e-mail the Mouse about making Higgly toys!

Kristin Johnson is co-author of the “enthusiastically recommended” Midwest Book Review pick, Christmas Cookies Are For Giving: Stories, Recipes and Tips for Making Heartwarming Gifts (ISBN: 0-9723473-9-9). A downloadablemedia kit is available at our Web site, http://www.christmascookiesareforgiving.com, or e-mail the publisher (info@tyrpublishing.com) to receive a printed media kit and sample copy of the book. More articles available at http://www.bakingchristmascookies.com

It is a hard call on whether to involve siblings in the
active birth of their new brother or sister. You may feel
societal, family or institutional pressure not to have the
children involved, to protect them from potential “trauma.”
But you know your children best. The two main questions
are:

1) Are they interested in birth and have you intellectually
prepared them for the birth?

2) Will their presence help or hinder you?

1) Are they interested in birth and have you intellectually
prepared them for the birth?

Do they want to be there? Some children will specifically ask to come to the birth. They may ask, “where will I be when the baby comes?” or “who will take care of me?” Advise them ahead of time if they will be left sleeping if labor happens at night. They might be shocked to wake up to sitter or even a new baby!

Do they understand the labor and birth process and the anatomy of how the baby comes out? Do they understand the normalcy of the noises, faces and fluids that are part of labor and birth?

Prepare them by showing them books and pictures. Start
with black and white and work toward full color. Use
proper words for the parts of the body.

If you wish to show them a video, I highly recommend “Birth
Into Being,” The Russian Waterbirth Video, as the births
depicted have a calmness and serenity to them that make it
an ideal introduction to birth. The anatomy of birth is
well depicted, without the fear and stress of some birth
videos. I also find that the involvement of children in
some of the births is intriguing to other little ones, as
well as the swimming and the dolphins. (Yes, dolphins. Just watch the video, you’ll see what I mean)

2) Will their presence help you or hinder you?

Will you be comfortable expressing your needs and your emotions in front of your children? Some children are very soothing
for their mothers in labor, as the very act of being a
mother gives you strength and serenity. It may be
impossible to lose hope or express fear in the presence of
your child, as your protective mother instincts take over.

My then 4-year-old son was very helpful to me in early active
labor, as he patted me, gave encouragement, and best of
all, made me laugh. That said, he has been pretty direct
about his wish not to come to my next birth!

If they do attend the labor and birth of your new baby,
ensure that there is a support person there for each child.
Children will be experiencing all the emotions that you
and your partner are. They will feel anxiety, fear, hope
and love. They need emotional support and care. They
need entertaining and explaining. They need hugs and toys.
They need reinforcement of how normal it is. They may
simply sail through, with funny comments and tender
moments. Or they may get overwhelmed, tired or upset.

That is the time for a caring person to take the initiative
to offer support and distraction or a cuddle to the little
person in their care.

You know your children best. If they want to be involved in the arrival of their new sibling, find a way to make it happen, to their and to your own comfort level.

Sarah Hilbert-West is a Childbirth Educator, Birth Doula, Breastfeeding Counsellor and Post-Partum Depression Support Group Facilitator. She owns and operates http://www.birthwares.com, offering birth stools, unique teaching aids and useful resources for childbirth educators, doulas, parents, and midwives.

http://www.birthwares.com - the site for YOU!

In the last 20 years we’ve all been introduced to a new style of parenting that is much more democratic than most of us experienced, growing up. Families are more child- centered than they were before, we no longer advocate spanking as an effective form of discipline, we often allow children to negotiate for privileges or things, and we’re much more involved in our children’s lives than most of our parents were in our lives. Parenting is much, much less autocratic than it was in previous generations.

As with many other changes we make over time, sometimes we take a good thing too far and it no longer serves the purpose it was intended. Offering choices, using natural and logical consequences, and using a kinder tone in our voice are all excellent tools to achieve desirable results. However, often we forget that it’s still OK to simply say “no” when a child asks for something we consider unreasonable. They might be asking for a toy that is not suitable for their age or is beyond your budget. They might already have more toys than they can possible use. They might be asking to go somewhere and you know you don’t have the time or energy to take them there. They might be asking for a sleep-over or for a friend to come over to play and you’re simply not in the mood. You have the right as a parent to say no and then leave it at that. We don’t have to always give long explanations as to why they can’t have something or go somewhere. We don’t even have to raise our voice. A simple, “No, not today” is enough. If we let them, they’ll try and manipulate us with cries, whines, temper tantrums and any number of other ways to get us to change our mind. If we ultimately do change our mind to please them, we’ve essentially taught them that they can control us to get what they want. How do you stop your child from manipulating you into changing your mind? First of all, believe in yourself. Know that you know what is best for both you and your child and it’s not in anyone’s best interest if you give in. Also, tell yourself that you’re not going to get hooked and simply walk away or change the subject. Children are very skilled at making us feel guilty. Remember that children that have unclear boundaries are less secure than those that have clear boundaries.

Now that you know it’s fine to say no, it doesn’t mean that you can’t change your mind. If you’ve said no to something and later change your mind after you’ve thought about it, it’s OK to go back to your child and say: “You know, I’ve been thinking about what you were asking about and I’ve changed my mind.” We don’t want to be doing that all the time, but changing your mind doesn’t make you an indecisive parent. Who doesn’t change their mind now and again? Remember, we’re human.

Barbara Desmarais
Parenting and Life Coach
http://www.theparentingcoach.com
barb@theparentingcoach.com
604-524-1783

A number of scientific studies have shown the way a baby uses her senses in the early months of life is crucial to future development. A baby, whose senses are stimulated develop a sharper memory, inquisitiveness and a better concentration. Besides, babies who are stimulated attain developmental milestones earlier have superior muscle coordination, and a safer and sounder personality.

Here a few effective tips that you will find particularly useful to stimulate your newborn’s senses and development, right from the beginning.

1. Make your baby touch fabrics of different textures, e.g., smooth, rough, cushiony. This would help develop her sense of touch.

2. Hold up bright colored blocks or other colorful objects 10 to 12 inches away from your baby’s eyes. When she focuses, try moving it left and right, up and down and then in circles. Doing so will improve her sight.

3. Provide your baby high-contrast toys such as mobiles with black-and-white or primary color patterns, or hang them in the crib. These would help stimulate the parts of the brain controlling vision.

4. Play “Pat-a-Cake” while you hold your baby and gently move her hands.

5. Sing to your baby. Change the pitch of your voice from high to low. Doing so will help hold her attention. Babies generally respond well to mom’s singing and will often help her to settle.

6. Talk to your baby whenever you are with her; describe her all that you are doing to her: bathing, changing, feeding. “Are you enjoying your bath? Do you like your new soap? Here comes a new diaper for you.” This type of descriptive talking will not only liked by your baby but is also the base of communication between the two of you. The more you talk to your baby the more she is able to learn.

7. Encourage your baby to imitate you. Try sticking out your tongue. Most of the babies, when they are a couple of weeks old, imitate sticking out the tongue after you did so 2-3 times before them.

8. Get a crib mobile and hang it on your baby’s crib. When your baby is quiet and awake, she will gaze at it. This will help arouse her interest in the world outside the crib.

9. Get a wind chime and hang it where your baby can gaze at it, move and hear the pleasant music it plays. Doing so will stimulate her sense of seeing and hearing and she will learn to correlate a pleasant sight with a pleasant sound.

10. Shake a rattle before your baby. Shake it first on left side then on right. Allow your baby time to recognize that the rattle is producing the sound. This activity will also help your baby correlate sound with sight.

There are many important milestones that must be achieved in the first month. Infants experience a wealth of developmental and cognitive achievements in their first month of life. Stimulate your newborn’s sense is also part of this important milestones.

Amy Fadden, author of “Newborn Guide, Nursing A Baby in Its First Month.” She said, bringing a baby into the world should be one of the most exciting and rewarding times of your life. Visit her Website NewbornSecrets.com at http://www.newbornsecrets.com

What’s one of the things all successful students have in common? The can memorize easily. They remember the facts and details of battles in history, the formulas in math and the unending list of elements in science.

So what can you do to help your child develop memory strategies that can instantly help them be more successful in school?

The answer…mnemonic memorizing techniques!

They’re fun, simple and incredibly effective. And in one evening you can show your child how to apply them to any vocabulary list, series of facts and figures, or just plain remembering what to do after coming home from school.

Who uses mnemonics?

According to Dr. Joel Levin, Educational Psychologist at the University of Arizona, ” Many folks - motivated students included - use memory enhancing techniques, especially when there’s a ‘memory payoff,’ such as obtaining higher academic grades or admission to some elite professional school or graduate program.”

To put it simply, mnemonics are memory aids that help make a connection between what you already know and what you need to remember. You probably use mnemonics in your daily life and don’t even know it. (Does “I before E except after C” ring a bell?).

How about the order of the planets? (My very educated mother just served us nine pizzas - look at the first letter of each word in that sentence and you’ll have the names of the planets, in their correct order).

All you need to do is follow one of the three memory strategies I’ll list here and you can help your child create funny (goofy is ok, too) and effective mnemonics starting tonight.

First method: Acronyms.

Take the first letter of the series of words you need to memorize and make a word out of them. The more famous acronyms we have are SCUBA (Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus), NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), and AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).

Ask your son or daughter if there’s a list of vocabulary, facts or figures they need to learn for tomorrow or the next day and see if you can help them come up with an acronym.

Second method: Acrostics

Take the first letter of a series of words you need to learn and create a sentence. In my Spanish classes, we have many acrostics (it’s easier to just call them mnemonics). One in particular is for “-GO” verbs in the present tense (Harry Potter Teaches Cool Students - Hacer, Poner, Traer, Caer, Salir).

I also remember an acrostic from an 8th grade math class: Old Houses Are Houses Of Age - (Sine) - Opposite/Hypotenuse, (Cosine) - Adjacent/Hypotenuse, (Tangent) - Opposite/Adjacent). Other friends of mine from different schools learned the mnemonic SOACAHTOA.

Third method: Keyword

Take the word you want to learn, find a similar sounding word (or similar spelling) and come up with a sentence that includes the keyword and the meaning you’re trying to remember.

This approach works beautifully in my Spanish classes. Let’s say your child wants to learn the verb “Dormir” (to sleep). You decide on a keyword (we’ll use dorm) and then you create a sentence. My class came up with “Norm sleeps in the dorm.”

When you add an illustration to this sentence, it helps your child remember even more quickly, and retain it longer.

Why aren’t mnemonics used more often in schools? That’s a good question. Levin, who’s studied mnemonics for over 25 years and understands their effectiveness better than most, considers it “a mystery.”

Anyone of these mnemonic techniques will work depending on the material. It all comes down to finding the best one for your son or daughter.

And they can be learned (and applied) in one night. That means your child can improve their memory skills from one day to the next.

Jim Sarris has been teaching Spanish for 15 years. He’s used mnemoncs with great success in his high school classess as well as at night with adults.

In today’s world one of the hardest parts of parenting is trying to figure out how to discipline your child/children. There are so many conflicting beliefs. It seems everyone’s discipline style is different, so how are you supposed to choose which “style” is right for your family and what is really best for your child?

This article will be mostly about our discipline style (with some general ideas thrown in), which is called Positive Discipline. What exactly IS positive discipline you ask? Well, let’s start with what successful discipline IS! Successful discipline requires many things. However the most important of these is, respect of both parent and child. The initial objective is to end the behavior in question, but the goal for the long run should be, not only to stop this behavior but also give your child guidance that reaffirms his value and self-worth. Thus, enabling him to develop a way of thinking that will ultimately make him want to avoid the behavior in the future. The goal of Positive Discipline is not to “punish” but more to guide.

Often I hear parents say that they spank or yell at their kids. This is not because these parents do not care for their children but because they really don’t know any different. If you look at the world today, what do you see as socially more “acceptable”; yelling at a child doing something “bad”, or creating a “yes” environment for that same child? The first of course, it’s the way it’s “always” been done, right?

Parents today are just beginning to really search out the “whys” of the way parenting works. Deciding, “just because it’s the way everyone else is parenting” doesn’t cut it anymore.

One of the primary things to remember when thinking in terms of discipline is that changing a child’s behavior is much like trying to change them into adults. Usually the behaviors tend to typically get worse before they get better. One of the main reasons for this is because they need to test the limits that you set up to not only see how far these limits go but also to see how consistent you will be with enforcing them as well.

So before you have a child that needs discipline it’s a good time to get your “ducks in a row” so to speak. Think about what you want to do BEFORE the incidents occur. This is one of the hardest things, to do but we all know that there are going to be issues that do arise, how will you handle them? (Easier said than done with a toddler who pushes buttons and tests, I know- toddler wrestling should be an Olympic Sport)

The second thing to remember is that consistency really does work. So, when you and your family decide what the best method is for you, no matter what that method is. Whether you decide time outs, redirects, or another method, then you need to implement them in all or at least most circumstances.

This can get sticky when you’re with people (especially the grandparents) who may not subscribe to your methods of discipline or ‘behavioral response’. Doesn’t matter- you need to be consistent for a variety of reasons. Consistency in everything you do you will find will be the best for your child, much like a dependable schedule your child will come to expect and even count on the limits you set.

The third thing to remember is that approximately 90% of the time the issue is communication. Your child maybe bored, angry, upset, tired, hungry etc. and for whatever reason can’t communicate that. The other 10% well that’s pure scientific experimentation.

Examples would be:

Ok, if I throw my bread onto the floor, what sound will it make, what reaction will my mommy give?

OR

If I throw my juice on the table, what will happen?

Your child has to act out certain behaviors to see how you react, because they don’t know yet!

Positive discipline is basically using positive tools to correct a child’s behavior. Negative and/or aggressive actions such a spanking, yelling, threatening, name-calling, and intimidation are not productive discipline measures. Some may argue that without spanking they are left with no other tools to deter a child’s behavior. However with positive discipline it is more about giving “yes” answers as apposed to “no’s”. Positive discipline in the long-term will contribute to a healthier relationship with your child.

Example:

Child: “Mommy can I have a cookie?”

Mother: “Hunny, it is almost dinner time. So how about you help mommy. There are two things you could do, you could help me stir the corn in this bowl, or you could help me finish setting the table by putting out the napkins.” Now if it’s not dinner time, then instead of redirecting to a “task” you could just as easily say. “Cookies are not something I would like you to have right now. How would you like an apple or some yogurt instead? We will have cookies later.” In this situation, first you’re letting your child know that you heard the question. Secondly, you’re validating that he is hungry and will be able to eat soon, since dinner is coming or letting him know that he can have something to eat. Third you’re redirecting and helping him to help you. Then last you’re giving your child the CHOICE as to which thing he would rather do. Children as adults like to be given choices!

When a parent is frustrated or fearful the seemingly quickest way to end a behavior is through hitting or yelling, when actually these actions can take the focus off of the child’s behavior, confusing the child and stopping him from learning what’s really wrong with the actions he is taking. Aggressive, negative discipline tends to create a sense of distrust with the parent-child relationship. It can, and usually does, cause parents to feel out of control and ashamed. It also tends to alienate us from our children. A baby, toddler, or older child who sees that his parent is angry with him does not understand that this anger is out of worry or concern for his safety or well being. They only see the anger. The younger your child, the even more less likely it is that he will connect a spanking or being yelled at with the unwanted behavior he was doing. He will also be more likely to internalize your negative reaction to him personally, which can then lead to much bigger problems, as he grows older.

Prevention or creating a “yes” environment is a great tool for the positive disciplinarian. If you can anticipate a behavior, then circumvent it before it becomes a problem this is your best line of defense.

A great place to start is baby – toddler proof your home. Meaning, make your whole house baby proof or at least 1-2 rooms. Removing any and ALL “non” baby and toddler items. For instance, removing books and breakables; placing covers over outlets; removing cords or tacking them down; putting locks on any and all cabinets that are not child safe; removing any and all things you see as prize objects that you would not want destroyed by little hands. If you want to keep prized items, place them high up on shelves. Another great way to help child proof, is by getting down on all fours. What do you see, think from your child’s point of view, what looks interesting? Then leave “open” the safe things, like pots and pans, toys, items to “climb over” like pillows etc. within the room for “yes” exploration. This creates in a sense, a purely “yes” environment.

Another suggestion would be if you see your toddler becoming aggravated with a playmate, sibling or you for that matter, stepping in to negotiate (if the child is old enough and will understand) or simply picking up the child and removing them to another fun “area”, may prevent a hitting, screaming or biting episode all together. This is also a great opportunity to help your child express his feelings in a non-aggressive and acceptable manner, like using his words.

Examples:

Mother to a toddler: “I saw Billy take away your toy. That was not a nice thing to do, but it is also not ok for you to hit him. Why don’t we go play with your “pound –a-ball” toy”. (Redirecting a child to another toy, especially one in which he can work his anger out is a good tool. Also, it is VERY important for you to acknowledge your child’s frustration, and validate it. Why it is not always possible for a child to get their way every time, it is possible to make sure that he knows that you do understand!)

Mother to older child: “Hunny, can you please help me to understand what happened?” (this for an older child will help facilitate an open, honest, communicative dialog, which as a parent you want to create as much as possible. In talking to your child in this manner early in life, it will help them to trust you when matters and feelings get really BIG and important!)

Preventing a tantrum or breakdown by making sure your child is fed and well rested before group play is also helpful and is often overlooked.

Redirection is another great tool. In a situation that you know a melt down will quickly erupt, redirection can help avoid this implosion. Taking the child outside, or into another room. Getting up and starting to sing and dance is another great way to redirect and get the child to think about something other than what he wanted to be upset or mad about. Really, anything that is going to be interesting to a child will work, most of the time.

There will be times when safety is your primary concern and redirecting or prevention are just NOT options. Such as if your child just takes off into a busy mall or street. Your first reaction will be, most likely, to yell or spank. You’re scared, you want to teach your child that this is not an expectable way to behave. Your main motive here is to keep your child safe. The issue with this scenario is that the child will fail to appreciate the danger, which was in that busy street or mall. Instead this child will ONLY remember and center ALL his attention to your reaction and anger. The cause of that anger will be lost. Your fear is a much more powerful tool for you to use in this situation, rather than your anger.

In order to give you an example, I am going to pull from my life experience as a parent. My daughter Aubrey was a month over the age of two. I was walking with her and a friend, we were talking while Aubrey was walking and exploring behind us. I checked on her every minute or so. One time I looked back and Aubrey was nowhere to be found. Well I freaked out, there was a busy street nearby and she was so young. The first thing that happened was my friend turned to me and told me to breath, we WOULD find her. So I did, and that helped a lot. Next we started calling for her, well there was no answer. The time from beginning to when we found her was maybe a minute, though it felt like a lifetime had past. When I found Aubrey, I did not yell or spank, what I did was cry. I picked up Aubrey and gave her the biggest hug she has ever gotten from me. I was in tears. After I composed myself and let her down, I sat down with her on my eye level. I told her that it was not ok to run away from mommy and that she scared me a great deal. I also told her that there were hidden dangers in the world and that she would have to believe that mommy knew best for her. I went on to say that if she wanted to go to another place, to ask me. Now, I am not 100% sure of what she “got” from this conversation, but I can tell you she has never since this time run away again, and she is 6. She also remembers this conversation she can almost tell you the exact words I said!

The benefits of positive discipline are immense. The level of trust and respect between you as the parent and them as children are preserved and are fostered through the years. Children achieve better “self-discipline” as they grow because each instance of discipline becomes an opportunity for education. Our society as a whole will be thankful for the rewards of positive discipline, as our children learn by example to have empathy and regard for others.

I have found that attachment parenting has not only enriched my life as a parent but helped guide me in my positive parenting beliefs as well. One thing I believe as a attachment parent is that, when in doubt I listen to my heart, and with my heart and knowing my child so well, it leads me to the right answer. I have also felt that in the lines of discipline this is true as well. For instance, my son is 2 now, and still does not speak one verbal word, he has a few signs (sign language) but that’s it. So communicating with him is sometimes near impossible, so we use choices quite often. When I can’t figure out what it is that Zachary wants, I give him the choice between two things. This lets him have some control over the world and also lets me stay in control by controlling which items he has to choose from. We have also created a “play room” which consists completely of things he is allowed to play with and do. From exploring the pots and pans, to learning how open and close the doors.

Attachment parenting and positive discipline work hand in hand to promote the empathy and respect required to guide your child in a way that is beneficial to you both. Equipping yourself with resources and information, and finding a support system to give you a boost when times are tough. It will also help you become a successfully parent and them a successful and well adjusted child!

Jennifer Sprague, co-owner of High Top Baby Designs. She has several years of teaching experience, working with infants through adults and has a passion for helping children live happy, healthy and secure lives. Jennifer has been a nanny, daycare provider, teacher, and is currently studying to become a Doula and a Lactation Consultant. She enjoys spending time with her two wonderful children, Aubrey and Zachary. Jennifer is also an advocate for peaceful parenting everywhere she goes.

© 2005 High Top Baby Designs. All rights reserved

When it comes to furnishing nurseries, the easiest bit has got to be getting pregnant in the first place! As a first time mum some 26 years ago, the choice was very limited in what you could buy or make. It was all very practical, but not really attractive. Co-ordination meant having more than two items that matched! In those days, in the UK, everything a new mum needed came from one shop – Mothercare, unless you had the income to allow shopping at the more select department stores. Comparing prices, styles and availability on the Internet was not an option because the Internet did not exist.

When a very close friend found she was pregnant recently, I took time to have a look at what was available. A fan of all things New England (the family will be emigrating from the UK when all the paperwork is agreed), I wanted to see if I could find something special for her.

Looking now at the websites offering bedding for cribs, my first problem was to understand some of the different terms. It wasn’t until I saw some pictures that I realised that in the US a ‘crib’ is a ‘cot’. In the UK a ‘bassinet’ is not a baby bath but a ‘moses basket’ and a ‘cradle’ is a ‘crib’. Confusing, isn’t it? I’ve made a little table to try and make it clearer.

(US) Crib = (UK) Cot
(US) Bassinet = (UK) Moses Basket
(US) Cradle = (UK) Crib

The American sites have so much more to offer than the UK ones. That’s not to say that all the goodies available in the US aren’t available here because they are. However, the choice of design, colour etc. is very limited in the UK. Enter ‘bedding for cribs’ into the search engine and you will find several very good sites in the US offering literally hundreds of different designs, with a good variety of price and quality. No longer is it a matter of just finding matching crib bumpers and quilts, with possibly matching curtains and perhaps a wallpaper border, the whole nursery can be styled in both furniture and material to suit whatever your particular dream might be. I even found a black and white gingham (check) set that looked stunning in the accompanying photograph.

I found some lovely bedding for my friend’s nursery, but in the end I didn’t buy a quilt to match. In New England style, I had one made for her to go with the rest of the linen, with the baby’s name on it too. Hopefully the complete set will be something that will remain in the family for many years to come.

No discussion on bedding for cribs would be complete without considering some important basic safety issues. You will find some good tips on safety by following the link at the end of this article; I strongly suggest that you take a look at the tips on safety before you buy any bedding for your crib.

This article was written for Steve Gee by his good friend Judy then edited by Steve. Check out the safety issues of crib bedding at http://www.beddingforcrib.thegrandfatherclock.com/choosing-bedding-for-cribs-part-1-safety-issues.php

I always believed that life is a fast paced race way. Those that stop get left behind and those that continue despite breakdowns, pauses or interferences will ultimately in the end, win the race. As this relates to car racing, so this applies to your life. You’re in the beginning of the race of your life and you have set out to accomplish whatever you set your heart to: you must keep moving, and you cannot stop.

When I was eleven, I was so fascinated with computers; building them, setting them up and troubleshooting them: you would have probably called me an obsessive nerd who woke up working on computers and sleeping with them. Everyday, I would read up on the latest new hardware, or the latest software so I knew exactly how they worked and exactly how to put it together. I felt that I was fairly competent to fix anything that was wrong with a computer.

Two years later, I decided that my life wasn’t all about computers and I shifted my focus to business; I stopped reading and updating myself on the latest coolest things and I stopped building and repairing computers. When people would call me up to repair their computers, I politely mentioned that I was no longer in the business and that my interest was else well. A year went by and my dad needed a new computer; and because he wanted it custom built, he asked me to build one for him, I agreed.

I ordered all the parts, and I began to put it together: I was in the shock of my life, I haven’t seen these new parts and I did not know how to put together the latest and greatest things. Instead of taking a few hours, it took a couple of days, I was disappointed about myself but I learned a great lesson.

You cannot expect to get back on the race track and immediately be number one when you have taken a pause or stopped. Your momentum is lost, your strength is gone and most importantly your drive and energy have weakened.

Right now, it is summer time and for most teens, they’re out playing and generally having a good time and not worrying about school. If you expect that you can walk in onto your school campus on the first day be it high school or college and immediately get back into the rhythm of studying, working and keeping pace with the grueling work load, you’re wrong. You must work it back, you must set a predetermined about of time during the summer to get your rhythm back, refocus and build back the determination you had prior to summer.

Smart teenagers that succeed constantly plan ahead; failure to prepare is preparing for failure. Life is built on momentum and smooth transitions; if you stop, your momentum is gone but you can always rebuild that rhythm back. It’s not easy, you’ll have to work, work and work at it. Today, I could probably fix any computer without too many problems, but no where like I was when I was really into it. But that’s okay, I’m focusing on other things. Do everything you can to avoid bumps or pauses or stops in your life, because those are costly. Keep the courage, keep the faith and most importantly keep your momentum.

Known as The Miao, Lin Miao Executive Director of LinCity.com - http://www.lincity.com - The Ultimate Online Teen City, is labeled as one of the most powerful and inspirational speaker in the subject of Teen Leadership. He is also the Chief Information Officer for United Planet.

School bullies are manipulators.

They are masters at confusing students as well as adults.

But with these masters of manipulation, we must always look at the big picture!

Hardcore bullies will often try to confuse the issue when being confronted with their bullying behavior. They will blame their victim for the incident that happened between them. They will bring up small transgressions that the victim may have made and try to make them seem huge.

For example, maybe the victim told them to “Shut Up” and the hardcore bully will make this seem like a huge insult the him or her when in reality the hardcore bully has threatened or cursed at the victim, and the victim was just trying to defend himself or herself.

This Smoke Screen technique is one of the hardcore bullies most successful deflecting attempts because it is easy for school staff to get caught up in the details of the incident at hand. And, the hardcore bullies are experts at throwing up the smoke screen.

But through much success and failure at working to resolve the bullying situation, I force myself to look at the big picture with the hardcore bully and not be deflected by the smoke screen.

In other words, I look at the overall pattern and large number incidents the hardcore bully has participated in vs. the small number of incidents the victim has been involved in – if any. I don’t give the bully a clean slate in every incident – I believe the best way to stop bullying is to deal with it on a cumulative level – not each incident individually.

Hardcore bullies are experts at throwing up a smoke screen and making a “mountain out of a molehill” when they have been wronged but minimizing any wrong that they may have done to another student. But, now you will be able to see through the “haze.”

Paula McCoach invites you to subscribe to the Bully Zapper Newsletter published weekly with tons of tips on how to effectively deal with bullies in elementary and middle school. You will receive a free special report for your subscription. To subscribe, go to http://www.bullyzapper.com

©2005 Permission granted to reprint this article in print or on your web site so long as the paragraph above is included and contact information is provided to the email coach@bullyzapper.com and http://www.bullyzapper.com

Paula McCoach invites you to subscribe to the Bully Zapper Newsletter published weekly with tons of tips on how to effectively deal with bullies in elementary and middle school. You will receive a free special report for your subscription. To subscribe, go to http://www.bullyzapper.com

The brain is like a muscle — you use it or lose it. During summer vacation is your child “losing it”?

Picture two different athletes. Athlete A is on a schedule where she trains ten months and then takes two months off. Athlete B trains year round. When Athlete A goes back to training after her two months of being a couch potato, she’s going to feel sluggish, slow, and frustrated, while Athlete B is still in prime shape.

So, how do we, as parents, keep our children’s brains in tip-top shape? Exercise your children’s brains with these activities.

Writing Skills: Do your children have a favorite series of books, like The Magic Tree House or Harry Potter? They can write the next book in the series! Brainstorm the plot with your children. Provide them with a special notebook for writing the story — and let their imagination take them on a journey. A chapter each week will really add up!

Reading: Enroll your children in your local library’s summer reading program. These reading programs reward children for reading during the summer months, and are usually free to join. If your library doesn’t offer a summer reading program, contact your local bookstore. Or make your own reading contest. Simply draw a chart with rewards at different levels. Every time your children reach a new level on the chart, celebrate their accomplishments!

Math: The easiest and most delicious place to incorporate math is in the kitchen. Doubling recipes, figuring fractions, adding, subtracting — plus the experiments are yummy! It doesn’t get much better than that.

Logic: Teach your children the classic card games like Uno, Go Fish, Old Maid, Crazy Eights. Older kids can learn the basics of Poker and Gin Rummy.

Music: Introduce your children to new styles of music on a regular basis — Classical, Reggae, Jazz, Blues, Opera, Soundtracks from Musicals, Classic Rock, Popular Music from the 60’s-90’s, Music from all over the World. Not only will it stimulate their minds, but it’s a lot of fun!

Art: Go to the library and find a great book about famous works of art. With your children, look through the book and ask them which pieces they like and why. Then, give them the opportunity to recreate the art they saw in the book, using whatever materials they’d like — chalk, paint, crayons, glue, etc. Your children will surely surprise you with their creativity.

Summer is a fun time of the year. Take these ideas and run with them. Not only will your children benefit from keeping their brains active and in tip-top shape, but you get the benefit of seeing their creative, brilliant minds at work. Have a great summer!

Visit http://www.ShowKidsTheFun.com and Free Preschool Lesson Plans and Crafts for more fun ideas to spend time with your children.