I'm a full-time mummy

I came across this article which I must definitely share with you guys as I'm very interested to know your thoughts on this. Do note that sharing this does not mean I agree or disagree with it. For your convenience, I have copied the excerpts from the article here:

There have been recent cases that are just the latest reminder about the danger, lurking out there for your children.

TIPS:

• Teach your kids that police officers are not your enemy. They are there to help. Approach an officer if you are in danger or uncomfortable.

• Know everything you can about your children's activities and their friends. Monitor children's activities and participate with them. Don't allow children to play alone in isolated areas.

• Teach your children about strangers AND to be aware of unusual behavior in people they know.

• Teach them to listen to their feelings and that it is okay to say no if any adults (including family members) ask them to do something that makes them feel uncomfortable.

• Teach your children to refuse anything from strangers, including money, gifts or rides. Know where new items come from.

• Teach your children how to safely answer the phone if they are at home alone such as stating the adult in the house is "unavailable" to come to the phone.

• Teach your children to keep a safe distance from strangers and not to give strangers directions for help, finding lost pets, etc. Adults need to get help from other adults

• Have a secret code word with your child. ( It will alert you to a dangerous situation without alerting the potential perpetrator)

• Teach your children about appropriate and inappropriate secrets and that some secrets have to be told if children and parents are to be kept safe.

What do you think?

** Note: I have disabled the commenting feature on my blog engine thanks to all the spammers who happily spam my blog every day. If you wish to ask me any questions, you can find me at my Facebook page (I'm there almost everyday) or just drop me an email if you wish to maintain some anonymity.

I came across this article which I must definitely share with you guys as I'm very interested to know your thoughts on this. Do note that sharing this does not mean I agree or disagree with it. For your convenience, I have copied the excerpts from the article here:

Getting your kids to do their chores can be a chore in and of itself, as all too many parents know. Besides keeping the house in order, household responsibilities are important because they help give kids a sense of purpose, and they build confidence, said Julie Freedman Smith of Parenting Power. So how do you manage that challenging battle of wills? Here are four tips that might help.

1. Set clear expectations

Step one is to be crystal clear with your kids what you expect and when you expect it to be done, says Freedman Smith. To start with, take the time to do it with them so that they're comfortable and feeling confident about their ability to do what you've asked them to do. Freedman Smith then recommends taking a picture to set a standard.

"Here's what your room looks like when it's clean. Let's put these pictures on the back of your door. Now you check. Does that corner look like the picture of what that corner is supposed to look like?" she offered.

2. Hold your kids accountable

After you've agreed on a set standard, you need to establish some consequences, Freedman Smith said. "We need to hold them accountable to that, because if we just say it and don't hold them accountable, then they learn to not do it." If you find your kids in the habit of complaining or procrastinating, you might need to sit down and have a conversation about responsibilities and consequences.

3. Be realistic

Don't give your kids chores to do that you know they're never going to do, Freedman Smith said. "If you like those perfect hospital corners on beds, and your kids aren't going to do it, and then you're going to go in and do it afterwards? Totally defeating the purpose, because it's sending a message to the child that they can't do it," Freedman Smith said. She also cautions against dressing chores up so they seem like play. "Not everything has to be fun," Freedman Smith said.

"There are lots of things that we do in our lives that are not particularly fun and need to get done. If we start early, then we set up a pattern, and kids get into the habit of doing it. "Then we go on and do the fun stuff."

4. Mix it up

What's expected of a three-year-old is completely different than what's expected of an 18-year-old, and parents shouldn't be afraid to update their standards as children learn the tasks and how to do them better. "Start small. Pick a few. Get them working well. Then as they get better, you can add to it," Freedman Smith said.

To avoid falling into gender stereotypes when it comes to chores, she recommends alternating who does what. For example, January could be garbage duty for one child this month, and dish duty for the other, and in February the two switch. Most importantly, if it's not working, try something else. "Do it in a way that's going to work for your family so that you will stick to it."

What do you think?

** Note: I have disabled the commenting feature on my blog engine thanks to all the spammers who happily spam my blog every day. If you wish to ask me any questions, you can find me at my Facebook page (I'm there almost everyday) or just drop me an email if you wish to maintain some anonymity.

I came across this article which I must definitely share with you guys as I'm very interested to know your thoughts on this. Do note that sharing this does not mean I agree or disagree with it. For your convenience, I have copied the excerpts from the article here:

Given how tricky it can be to just get your child to sit still for a moment, you'd be forgiven for not analysing the position they're choosing to sit in too much. But there's one position which little kids love to use - maybe you loved to use it, too - and its prevalence is causing a lot of concern.

The common 'W' position is when kids (and sometimes adults) sit flat on their bottoms with their legs splayed out to each side, knees bent and feet pointing outwards - forming the letter 'W'.

But whilst it may be your child's default mode when watching TV or playing, it may be causing lasting damage to their posture. This in turn can affect their growth and development and lead to orthopedic issues.

What it's bad for:

 - Hips
- Knees
- Ankles
- Postural muscles (found in your back, abdomen and hips)
- Core stability development

Why is it bad?

Whereas crossed legs, side-sitting, or sitting with your legs stretched out in front of you engages core strength, the 'W' position does not challenge the muscles in our back and abdomen - which we need to keep us upright.

It's particularly risky for very young children to adopt this position, as they are still very much developing and adapting their posture. Dr Challoner provides some useful tips on preventing your child from sitting in this position for prolonged amounts of time.

One way of ensuring they don't get into the habit is by praising their posture when they are in a different position.

What you can do? 

Everything in moderation. If the child is transitioning in and out of different positions and occasionally chooses “W” sitting then this should not be concerning. But if the child is only sitting “W” style, then alternative positions should be utilized. In this instance, I urge you to encourage other positions like kneeling, ½ kneeling, long sitting, side sitting, cross legged (criss-cross applesauce), or a deep squat.

What do you think?

** Note: I have disabled the commenting feature on my blog engine thanks to all the spammers who happily spam my blog every day. If you wish to ask me any questions, you can find me at my Facebook page (I'm there almost everyday) or just drop me an email if you wish to maintain some anonymity.