Cyber Parenting 101
October 31, 2007
Many parental units are not “techies” and openly admit they are not. They seem to use that as an excuse to not be informed and “trust” their children to do what is right in an environment that is clearly risky. When it comes to underage children being online, there should be a set of household rules that are in place and followed or no online connections are allowed.
Parenting:
n: The rearing of a child or children, especially the care, love, and guidance given by a parent. One who begets, gives birth to, or nurtures and raises a child.
Nothing there about “except when they are online.” 
Here are my suggestions for technochallenged parental units:
1. Keep your computer in an open place such as the family room or rec room. No negotiation here! Online activities are only allowed in this public area - when you are home. Allow a computer connected to the Internet behind a teenager’s closed bedroom door and you are asking for trouble!
2. Keep your computer and online connection password protected. Use passwords that cannot be guessed by ingenious teenagers. This way, if you are preoccupied or not home, online access is not possible. Change your password on a regular basis when they are not around. Better safe than sorry.
How to Help Your Child be Successful in Kindergarten
October 30, 2007
Your child’s first year of school should be a fun and exciting time. Children who are comfortable with and prepared for this first school experience are more likely to have rewarding and productive years, and therefore associate positive feelings with education. Since parents are children’s first and most important teachers, you can play a key role in preparing your children for a successful school experience by pre-exposing them to key concepts they will experience in school. This can be done in a fun, enjoyable manner by making everyday play experiences learning experiences as well.
New learning builds on prior knowledge, therefore the more exposure or background a child has with a concept the easier it is for new learning and deeper comprehension to occur. Providing your child with pre-exposure to concepts such as the alphabet, numbers, following directions, listening, reading, cutting, tracing, etc. will help them feel more comfortable and confident when they experience these similar concepts in school, thus better enabling learning to occur. Schools are becoming more academic, dependent on standardized tests, and fast-paced. Giving your children some familiarity with concepts they will encounter can help lessen the anxiety and stress that often accompany these experiences. Children who are overly stressed or uncomfortable are less likely to be able to concentrate and learn.
Babies Born With A Cleft Palate Or Lip
October 29, 2007
As many as one in 700 babies are born with either a cleft palate or cleft lip. Often these can cause a number of related problems including glue ear, crooked teeth and hearing difficulties. The good news is that almost all babies go on to have successful corrective surgery.
How Clefts Develop Clefts begin to form at about the 6 weeks gestation and are gaps in the palate, lip or gum. For reasons that are unknown, these parts which should join together do not do so in a small number of developing babies.
The causes are unknown, but some studies have suggested that smoking during pregnancy is linked with the condition. An ultrasound scan when you are 18 weeks pregnant will pick up around half of the cleft lips, but cleft palates are not diagnosed until after the birth.
Feeding Your Baby Babies born with a cleft palate will often have difficulty sucking. There is a special soft bottle that will help here, ask your pharmacist for details. Babies with a cleft lip are usually able to feed satisfactorily.
Twelve Tips To Connect With Teachers At Conference Time
October 28, 2007
It’s that time again! Parent-teacher conferences are coming. Are you nervous? Excited? Confused? It takes teamwork to raise kids. Teachers are part of the team, but sometimes it feels like you’re on opposite sides of the fence. Connecting with teachers can help bring out the best in your kids. Here are twelve tips to make conference time a productive, team building experience.
1. Talk with your child before conferences. Ask: "What’s the best thing and worst thing about school for you right now?" "What would be most helpful for me to know before meeting your teacher?" "How are you feeling about school, and what are you needing?" Listen more than you talk to draw out their thoughts.
2. Identify feelings and needs. Look at the situation with empathy for everyone’s needs, (your child’s, the teacher’s, and your own.) This puts you in a better position to engage cooperation from all parties.
3. Be on time and end on time. You may want to linger to bask in the glory of your child’s accomplishments, or stay to find resolution to additional issues. Rather than creating tension for the teacher and waiting parents, set up a follow-up phone call or meeting.
A Diploma Or A GED? Some Important Facts
October 27, 2007
A Diploma Or A GED? Some Important Facts
by: Kris Koonar
Deciding whether or not to stay in school and finish your diploma or to drop out and take your GED can be a rough choice. There are a number of reasons you may choose either, but before you make that essential decision, it is best to get all of the facts about both options.
The eligibility for a GED is determined by your particular state. You will need to do a bit of research to decide of you fit your state’s criteria. Moreover, you cannot be enrolled in a high school to take the GED. You also cannot have graduated from a high school. You have to be over the age of sixteen before you can even consider the GED as an option. A GED will only be awarded to you if you pass a number of tests within five different academic subject areas. You must score at least a sixty percent on each individual test before you will be considered to have a passing grade. Chances are good that you will have to spend some time studying to get your GED. The exams take a total of seven hours, and you may need some preparation to help you prepare for the test.
Top Ten Things My Six Year-Old Son Has Taught Me (So Far…)
October 27, 2007
I’ve learned numerous, important lessons on life, motherhood and men by being the mommy of a little boy…
1) Boys really can and will go to the bathroom anywhere. Some of them seem to really like going outside.
2) When little boys tell you they have to go to the bathroom “RIGHT NOW,” they honestly mean it… They either can’t hold or refuse to try to hold it like little girls can.
3) Boys can fake cry just as good as girls. My son actually practices his facial expressions in the mirror - like the sad, hopeless look designed to evoke sympathy and the scrunched up, tears are coming, “I’m really hurt” face, or the mean glare with his little cheeks puffed out as he grits his teeth determined not to smile…
4) It’s true that boys hit harder than girls even when they’re just playing around… I think it’s a testosterone thing.
CRI Releases Its 2003-2004 College Graduate Survey
October 26, 2007
Upper Saddle River, N.J. - May 2004 - Compensation Resources, Inc. has released the results of its 2003-2004 College Graduate Salary Survey. The purpose of this study was to obtain compensation data and information on recruiting and hiring trends for recent and new college graduates. The survey sampled compensation data from 71 organizations, including 1,253 jobs.
The results do not indicate any startling or unexpected results, and for the most part, they are consistent with other studies covering broader employee compensation trends.
Among the most significant findings was that total cash compensation, which consists of salary and bonus/incentives, increased by a respectable 6.1%, even though salaries only increased by a modest 0.8%. This is consistent with the trend of increased use of variable pay elements by many organizations. Variable pay allows companies to offer competitive pay with upside potential, while controlling fixed overhead for payroll costs, and to some degree, lessening the impact of higher salaries on benefit costs (i.e., vacation and time off benefits, retirement, some insurances, etc.).
Some additional highlights:
- Findings for 2004 indicate that the financial services industry is the top paying industry for recent college graduates ($60,900).
On Raising a Child with Disabilities: Sara & the Nail Salon
October 25, 2007
Sara loves pampering. Haircuts, facials, manicures, and makeup bring smiles, giggles, raised eyebrows and kisses. Sara communicates “yes” by raising her eyebrows; blowing kisses signifies a very excited yes, please, and thank you very much.
My oldest daughter Enicia arranged for the three of us to get manicures and spa pedicures Saturday afternoon before Mother’s Day. While making the appointments, she questioned the receptionist to make sure they would give Sara the full treatment (Sara’s been turned away from a nail salon before because she can’t move her arms and legs freely). After receiving assurance that this nail salon would pamper Sara, we set out with a laughing Sara for a fun afternoon.
When we arrived, the salon told us they would do Sara’s fingernails, but not her toenails. Disappointed, Enicia and I sat in the special massage chairs with Sara, seated in her wheelchair, next to us. The manicurists started to work on our nails. Sara picked a pretty, happy pink nail polish by raising her eyebrows and blowing a kiss.
What Toys Did Caveman Kids Play With To Pass The Time
October 24, 2007
What Toys Did Caveman Kids Play With To Pass The Time
by: Peter Legrove
Back in the days, when home was a cave stuck on the face of a cliff.
Kids, babies, cubs, kittens or whatever you like to call the offspring, all have one thing in common. They love to play. So I think we can safely assume that caveman kids played. But with what did they play with.
What amused the minds of our ancestor’s kids. When they were lying around the fire after a hard day learning about staying alive. We are still trying to work out the minor details of the past lives of children of prehistory, but we can dream.
Anyway, were the first jigsaw puzzles just leaves that had been ripped up into little pieces so the little ones could put them back together. Was this a teaching aid so the kids could learn which plants were safe to eat. We will possible never know but it is good to ponder.
Toilet Terrors And Other Potty Training Fears
October 23, 2007
Potty training fears, often called toilet terrors, are common among toddlers and small children. Look at things from your child’s perspective. He is giving up the security of a diaper for a big, cold thing with a giant hole that might swallow him. Up until this point, your child has been able to go in his diaper. He didn’t have to control himself until a potty was available. He could go anytime and anywhere, knowing that someone would always be there to change his diaper. The idea of having to go to a specific location means he will have to stop what he’s doing to use the potty. To top it all off, he looses the warmth of his diaper and must now go potty naked where other people might be watching!
Common potty training concerns and solutions:
Fear of Making a Mistake ? Your child is just beginning to control his bodily functions. He won’t be perfect at it, and might worry that he will be punished for accidents. Throughout the potty training process, assure your child that you are there for him and he can come to you if he’s afraid or worried about something. When accidents happen, don’t make a big deal out of them. Simply clean up and tell him that you know he is trying. Potty training is often a good time to build a trust between you and your child that will last throughout your lives.
