Prevent Childhood Obesity - Is It Possible?

We are all quite aware of the growing concern of obesity in our children today. Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions in our society, and we've all heard the various statistics regarding this growing trend. But what really are the childhood obesity facts and what are we prepared to do about them?

Plain and simple these are your childhood obesity facts: our children are consistently eating too much of the wrong foods, and have become the most inactive generation in the history of our society. This is not a genetic problem (which is not to say that there are some adults and children that have a genetic and hormonal predisposition to obesity), this is for the most part a behavioural problem, and behaviours can be changed.

Think about it, is it really necessary for our children to be ingesting the vast quantity of refined sugars, processed foods, and hydrogenated fats that they do every day. Foods and beverages that are consumed in such large quantities that their bodies cannot process and eliminate at the rate that these foods are consumed. And because our children are not 'moving' any more, the results are inevitable: skyrocketing obesity rates, an alarming incidence of type 2 diabetes in children, a significant increase in childhood behavioural problems, with low self-esteem and a rise in depression rates.

These are your childhood obesity facts! The question has to asked, why are we allowing this to happen?

It certainly is not because of a lack of education or knowledge about what the proper foods are and what constitutes a balanced diet: complex carbohydrates (fruits, vegetables, whole grains), adequate proteins, and the right amount of good fats. And we all have an idea of the benefits of exercise both from a physiological and psychological level. We may not know the specifics but we know the generalities. The information and knowledge is at our fingertips, more available and accessible to us than at any time in our history.

Our problem lies in our habits and behaviours. How can we prevent childhood obesity? Change our behaviours. It sounds so simple, yet why don't we? Because changing our habits, changing our behaviour is the most difficult thing we do in our lives. We resist change, we are creatures of habit, with the same thoughts, and the same patterns of behaviour day after day. This leads to complacency and comfortable laziness, and we pass this on to our children.

Yet we must change for our children's sake. All change begins with awareness. Once we become aware of our behaviours and the consequences of them, we can begin to make conscious choices to change our behaviour and the behaviour of our children. And yes it is a greater challenge in our society today than in past times. It is so much easier to grab a quick dinner from a fast food chain and spend hours interacting with friends on some social media network.

But if we are to change these childhood obesity facts, conscious choices must be made for our children. Behaviours can change, and when they do, the results will change, and the growing trend toward childhood obesity will change as well. Change begins with a decision to change, and that choice is ours.

Your Infant At Two Months

It is truly amazing how much a baby grows and learns the first year of his life. Those 1st couple of months see tremendous change. The 2nd month of one's baby's life is fun because you both have learned so a lot about each other and now you begin actually experiencing viewing your child grow. You can find some things you'll be able to expect within your baby's second month.

At 8 weeks your baby starts to communicate with you more. He or she is now able to focus on you and also other objects that are in front of him. You also notice that he or she has started to follow you with his eyes. He may also begin to make more sounds. Some of the sounds are merely gurgling noises yet others is going to be cooing noises, all of the sound is going to be adorable thus making you smile.

Your baby is starting to smile and laugh. So this can be a fun time simply because your infant can genuinely concentrate on you along with other objects and show his delight by smiling and laughing. Your baby will nonetheless be a little wobbly, but is getting more powerful every single day. He'll begin to hold his own head out for a few seconds at a time, even though you nonetheless have to support his head. You will also recognize that his movements grow to be much less jerky and seem to smooth every day.

Not only does your infant start to focus on items, but now he can hold on to things for brief durations of time. He will maintain onto the object and move it about, so make certain the toys you're giving him are gentle to ensure that he will not hurt himself with them.

This month is chock-full of milestones for your child will commence reaching. He turns into more social this month in that he'll begin to understand other individuals voices. Another social milestone this month is that he will begin smiling at other folks. He will also begin to sleep less this month. Your little baby is truly commencing to develop this month and become his very own small individual.

This is a fun time for you and child. This can be a time of discovery for both of you. Get time every day to appreciate your baby's growth and learning.

Enfamil Formula Need to Know

Not long ago, giving babies milk formula from day one, instead of breastfeeding was common. We now know how beneficial effect on health of the child has a mother's milk and dairy formula should be given only when breastfeeding is not available as an option. If you must use a formula, there are several different types, so you can choose.

For babies up to six months it is best to choose high adapted food, and for older or less adapted. High adapted means that the part about the quality of breast milk. The basis of most artificial food makes cows' milk despite similar nutritional values substantially different from the mother. The artificial milk has higher content of protein, calcium, potassium, sodium and other minerals, while level of carbohydrates, fats and vitamins is lower. Cow's milk is in the process of enriching essential vitamins and trace elements, and there are formulas with soy protein that do not contain proteins of animal origin.

In some countries, especially in the United States, many mothers use a formula based on soy, because it does not contain proteins of animal origin, which are associated with colic baby and insulin - dependent diabetes. Soy milk is most often used in infants older than six months with cow's milk protein intolerance, and since it does not contain lactose is given and the intolerance milk sugar and galactosemia.

If your doctor recommends, feeding baby with artificial milk, you should think about the choices, which is really best for your baby. Continue with the same milk if a child is fed in maternity hospital in a bottle, and had no problems (allergies, etc.).

Most represented in the market is milk powder, concentrated powder that is soluble in water (plain or sterile) which was heated at 50-60 ° C. This is far cheaper but it takes more time to prepare, however, there is a milk formula from cans that are just pour into a sterile vial and is ready to eat, however, is far more expensive. We also have milk bottles for single use of 125 and 250 ml, which is especially convenient for travel.

In some cases where a child has some health problems, it is necessary to pay special attention to the selection of adapted milk because there are a variety of special formulas. In the case of allergies, it is a canned milk or soy milk formula does not contain lactose, for better filing. Regardless of the problem that has your child, be sure to first consult with a physician about the choice of artificial milk, but also talk to friends and acquaintances, as you any advice about this method of feeding babies welcome.

Mothers are often not sure how the child enough food, whether to make the whole bottle or not?! Amount of milk that is given per serving as follows:

First month: 70 - 90 ml

Second month: 90 - 120 ml

The third - the fourth month: 120 - 150 ml

From fourth to sixth month: 150 - 180 ml

From the sixth month: 210 - 240 ml

World known manufacturers of artificial milk are Mead Johnson US, Nestle Swiss, Milupa Germany Danone Italy, and many more.

What To Look Out For When You Sense You Could Be The Parent Of A Troubled Teen

The term troubled teen is thrown around a lot these days, though the true definitions are not often discussed. Any mother of a teenager will tell you that they are a special brood of people. Teens tend to act very erratically due to fluctuating hormones and mood swings. So for most parents it can be difficult to determine when a kid crosses the line from being an angst-ridden adolescent to a troubled teen. Luckily, there are a few indicators we can look for to know when teen help is required.

In a lot of cases, depression is the number one culprit for a teenager's disruptive behavior, so the more you know about detecting depression the better. Despite the fact that teens are moody and often unpredictable, when they start to fall into certain behavior patterns more help is usually needed. These behaviors can sometimes just be a portion of a quick phase, but if it goes on for more than a couple of weeks then it is time to call in a professional.

If you notice your child becoming harder to deal with as far as using harsh words or violence then you should definitely be looking for any other troublesome signs that follow. If your teenager ditches their current social group and becomes a loner or attaches themselves to a different, often less favorable group then they are likely going through some hard times. When these things take place you need to question your child if possible and try to assess the situation. A teen will often ignore important things like education and friends and become very apathetic. Though it is common for youngsters to rebel, when they do so consistently it is time to seek assistance.

Teens who are suffering from depression, anxiety, and even ADHD that is left untreated often turn to forms of self medication. When your child begins to abuse these types of substances then it is definitely time to get them the help they need as quickly as possible. Though many parents claim that they were oblivious to their teen's drug problems there are almost always warning signs. Uncharacteristic sleeping patterns are some of the more obvious signs along with becoming socially withdrawn and spending a lot of time alone in their room or away from home. Drugs don't have to be of the illegal type to pose a problem, either. The drugs that most teens first experiment with come from inside their own home. It can be something as simple as beer or cough syrup, but if they can take enough of it to alter their state of mind they are abusing it.

Any adult who suspects their youngster might be a troubled teen is probably right. Most parents who start to seek help for their young one do so based solely on parental intuition. Teenagers rebel and will often reject your help at first, but later on in life they will thank you.

Potty Training 101 – Potty Seats, Dances and Regression, Oh My!

Potty training is the moment we as parents dream about. It is the milestone that will take us from diaper duty to a modicum of freedom. Sure, we still have clean up little spills, wipe bums and do laundry twice a day until the little gaffer gets the hang of things; yet we clamor towards that small light at the end of the diaper genie that seems to signify a tiny morsel of freedom. There are so many tidbits, articles, methods and products related to potty training that parents can get easily overwhelmed and confused. What is the best potty seat? When is it time? Why won’t he/she stop having accidents? Potty training time can be scary for parents and children, but there are some basics to get you on the way to kissing those dirty diapers good-bye for good (not literally of course).

Ready, Set, Go!Knowing your child is ready to start potty training is the start of your journey. The general rule of thumb is if your child is between 18-24 months old, they have the basic motor skills to start. That doesn’t mean they’re ready, however. Every child’s maturity level is different in this area and kids do not like to be rushed! Here are some signs to look for:

A general bathroom schedule– regular bowel movements and diaper changes are a good start;

Is anxious or excited to use the toilet;

The ability to get their own pants on and off;

The desire to wear underwear;

Your child knows what “poop” and “pee” are;

A general dislike of dirty diapers, feeling dirty and wet, etc.

Dry periods of several hours at a time – nap time is a good indicator

If your tyke is showing any of these signs, he or she may be ready to try the potty.

Potty ParaphernaliaAs is true with the baby product industry on a whole, there are dozens of different potty- related products to help your child through this monumental task of saying good bye to the nappies once and for all!

Potty Dolls: These dolls can help your child learn the basics of potty training while at the same time give him or her the chance to show the doll how to do it. This may give your child the little smidge of responsibility that is necessary to get them doing it on their own.

Potty Seats and Potties: There are several different kinds out there: chamber pot style, potties that turn into stepping stools, potties that congratulate kids when they’re through, and simple potty seats that fit over a regular toilet. Heck, they even make travel potty seats for those on the go! The best potty seats and potties are: comfortable, easy to use and easy to clean. Beyond that, if your kid will sit on it you’ve won a small part of the battle.

Potty Books and Computer Games: Yes, they even have computer games that feature popular kids’ characters talking about “potty time”, as well as books for your child to read up on your new favourite subject.

Potty EtiquetteEveryone has their own best way to potty train in mind when they start. Some people have smooth sailing while some start to see the good side of diapers. The biggest virtue of potty training is patience. Your child will get the gist of it when he or she is ready to do it. Reward systems are popular, but the best reward is for your little one to receive a big hug and a celebratory kiss or yes the fabled potty dance, so they can see how important it is that they learn this skill.

Negative, frustrating or angry reactions or punishments are a natural response to accidents but they will NOT help your child achieve his or goal. It is normal for kids to have accidents for about 6 months after they start. Most Canadian baby stores sell products that can take the edge off of “oopsies”.

Training pants: cotton lined waterproof underwear that hold in the wetness and remind kids they have to go.

Crib and Bed pads: for nap and night time bed protection, until they get the hang of things.

Dry Seats: an insert you can place in their car seats and strollers for travel protection.

If your child is having a rough time and constant accidents, it is time to put the training on hold. This is a hard thing for Moms and Dads to do, but necessary. Some kids don’t want to use the potty until they are around 4 years old, and although this is frustrating for parents, every child develops at their own rate. (Never compare your child’s learning to anyone else’s.) Getting into a power struggle with a toddler over bathroom habits never did anyone any good.

The bottom line is your child’s happiness and developmental well-being. Whether you choose to reward, dance or just let them run around naked for a few weeks, your child will get the hang of it. Hang in there and remember, your little one will not be wearing diapers to high school… They’ll get it, eventually!

Worrying About Your Newborn Baby

It is definitely normal for any parent to worry when they bring a new baby home. You may not have confidence in your skills yet and be nervous about any cough, red spots or irregularities. One common issue among new parents is the nappy rash that seems to affect many babies. Though it is not such a major issue, it can be if not addressed properly. Staying on top of keeping baby dry will take care of many problems including the skin irritations that are frequent in young children.

Worry is a way that parents look out for and see to the needs of their children. However, constant concern over small issues will not make things better. If you see an issue or note something out of the ordinary with your newborn, address it without panic or call your pediatrician. You can make yourself very nervous if you go

on the internet and read about sudden infant death syndrome, croup and other situations. Any respiratory problem should be looked at by a physician and monitored but keep in mind that getting a cold or cough is very common.

New parents, especially, tend to worry over every whimper or cry, blemish or scratch, but usually it is nothing but normal responses or reactions. Take care of baby, but don't stress yourself out. Most parenting books have a balance approach in helping someone know the signs of when to seek medical attention. Your confidence will increase with time and experience. Remember, that children can pick up fear and you want to help your child feel secure and comfortable. If your child does have a rash or any illness, use laughter and play to help them relax. The immune system is effected by our environment and emotions. As a parent your own judgement and

decision making process is also improved by relaxation and staying calm. It is easy to make impulsive decisions when we are very nervous.

Turning to another adult in the family by phone can be a help when you feel that you are too clouded by your emotions. You'll be able to get another perspective on your child's condition and this can help you get your balance back.

Baby Clothing You Should Get For The Baby

Congrats, you are going to have a baby! You will need lots of things for the baby. And now let the checklist making start. You want to make a couple of lists, one will be necessities that you will wish to get, along with a second list for objects that will go on your registry for the baby shower gifts you would really like to receive. Do not feel guilty about the second list. Friends and relatives want to celebrate the upcoming birth of your baby, and most wish to help you prepare by giving you baby gifts. Assist them by letting them know what you really require and want. So let’s go over the things that ought to be in your necessities list.

Clothing is the first thing for the ‘must have’ checklist. And honestly who can resist all of those sweet little outfits, but remember that babies develop quickly so don’t buy a lot of those -3 month size, and baby clothes shouldn’t be tight fitting. Also resist the urge to purchase a lot of those little socks and booties, they're adorable, however the child won't be in them long.

So what should you purchase? Let’s begin with the basics; each and every child needs onsies and bodysuits. Because this really is an everyday item you want to have 7- 12 on hand. The reason I recommend so many is that infants do get messy, so you may need a couple of every single day. Secondly those first couple of weeks at home with baby can be extremely hectic and you might not get a chance to do the laundry as often as you would like.

You need clothes for child that makes your life easier and gowns do just that. Gowns are wonderful for nighttime. Those overnight feedings and diaper changes could be a bit groggy and gowns will assist with those diaper changes. Gowns supply easy access and a great deal less fumbling. You will want seven of these on hand. Infants grow out of gowns quickly so you want to possess sleepers are on hand. Simply because you will find so several fairly sleepers available these days many moms have infants in sleepers all day long. With this in mind you will want to have a dozen of those on hand.

You see many things come and go when it comes to what is used for infants, but some thing never change and baby bibs are one of those things. Some days it'll appear much more is coming out of baby’s mouth than is heading in. Bibs help to maintain your baby clean. You want a least a dozen of baby bibs on hand and this really is 1 thing you should not worry about having too many of, you will be amazed how many bibs you'll use throughout the course of a week. One more thing to include on your must have checklist is those adorable newborn hats. These hats will help baby keep warm, and they look so cute.

There are many other things that you will want to purchase, but the above will get you started. You will purchase and obtain many adorable outfits for the new child, the best advice I can give you would be to wear them on your child. Several new moms save outfits for special occasions, only to have baby grow out of them before they had been ever worn. There will be a time soon enough when your little 1 will be vocal about what they want to put on, so take the time now to dress them how you please.

Baby Clothing You Should Get For The Baby

Congrats, you are going to have a baby! You will need lots of things for the baby. And now let the checklist making start. You want to make a couple of lists, one will be necessities that you will wish to get, along with a second list for objects that will go on your registry for the baby shower gifts you would really like to receive. Do not feel guilty about the second list. Friends and relatives want to celebrate the upcoming birth of your baby, and most wish to help you prepare by giving you baby gifts. Assist them by letting them know what you really require and want. So let’s go over the things that ought to be in your necessities list.

Clothing is the first thing for the ‘must have’ checklist. And honestly who can resist all of those sweet little outfits, but remember that babies develop quickly so don’t buy a lot of those -3 month size, and baby clothes shouldn’t be tight fitting. Also resist the urge to purchase a lot of those little socks and booties, they're adorable, however the child won't be in them long.

So what should you purchase? Let’s begin with the basics; each and every child needs onsies and bodysuits. Because this really is an everyday item you want to have 7- 12 on hand. The reason I recommend so many is that infants do get messy, so you may need a couple of every single day. Secondly those first couple of weeks at home with baby can be extremely hectic and you might not get a chance to do the laundry as often as you would like.

You need clothes for child that makes your life easier and gowns do just that. Gowns are wonderful for nighttime. Those overnight feedings and diaper changes could be a bit groggy and gowns will assist with those diaper changes. Gowns supply easy access and a great deal less fumbling. You will want seven of these on hand. Infants grow out of gowns quickly so you want to possess sleepers are on hand. Simply because you will find so several fairly sleepers available these days many moms have infants in sleepers all day long. With this in mind you will want to have a dozen of those on hand.

You see many things come and go when it comes to what is used for infants, but some thing never change and baby bibs are one of those things. Some days it'll appear much more is coming out of baby’s mouth than is heading in. Bibs help to maintain your baby clean. You want a least a dozen of baby bibs on hand and this really is 1 thing you should not worry about having too many of, you will be amazed how many bibs you'll use throughout the course of a week. One more thing to include on your must have checklist is those adorable newborn hats. These hats will help baby keep warm, and they look so cute.

There are many other things that you will want to purchase, but the above will get you started. You will purchase and obtain many adorable outfits for the new child, the best advice I can give you would be to wear them on your child. Several new moms save outfits for special occasions, only to have baby grow out of them before they had been ever worn. There will be a time soon enough when your little 1 will be vocal about what they want to put on, so take the time now to dress them how you please.

Advice for a Healthful Baby

It is never too early to keep your baby’s heart healthy, and there are numerous little things that you can do just that. Probably the most critical things you should do is fill your pediatrician in on any heart problem history the family may have. You know that smoking may be bad for you lungs and heart, so naturally you don’t smoke around your baby. However the toxins from smoking can get on your skin and clothing and be bad for baby. So though it may be very hard you need to stop smoking. It also important as your baby grow into a toddler that they get sufficient exercise. Toddlers need 20 – 60 minutes of exercise every day. You need the exercise too, so block some time aside for you and your little one to run and play. And the last thing you can do to help keep your baby's heart healthy is to feed him the proper proportions. A tot only requires 25% of an adult portion. So they would just need to half of an egg and slice of bread and only 1 ounce of meat. This will help to your baby stay fit for life.

How to Adjust Your Baby's Natural Sleeping Rhythm

Day sleeping is similar to eating, every child is different. Develop a schedule based on what you see in your baby, and once that schedule naturally forms, try to stay to it. You have to bend your schedule around your child's if you want consistency. In other words, if your baby usually goes to sleep at 7:30 P.M., don't take her to a class that starts at 7:00 P.M. or leave for the mall after 6:00 P.M. Plan your day around baby's sleep schedule, and both of you will be much happier because you'll soon fall into a predictable rhythm.

A lot of mothers get upset that their babies can be so fussy at certain times of the day. I say, "Get used to it and deal with it!" Most of this frustration stems from the fact that Mom has not taken the time to get to know her baby's natural rhythm, and she has tried to make her baby work around her own schedule. Just because you can wake up at 6:00 A.M. to get ready and go to work doesn't mean your baby can adapt to your schedule. It might not be convenient for you to put baby to bed at 7:00 P.M. and wake up with her at 4:00 A.M., but you're only asking for trouble if you plan a big gathering that doesn't get started until after 7:00 P.M., and then get frustrated that your baby is so fussy. Of course she's fussy¡ªshe's tired, and it's past her bedtime!

The good news is that sleep schedules change quickly. The first ten days will be a lot different than the first ten months, and the routines won't really stop changing until your child is done with her naptimes. By two months, your child will be physically capable of sleeping through the night without being fed. By three or four months, most babies (but by no means all) should sleep either through one nighttime feeding or through the entire night. At that point, you can be a little bolder about letting him cry. It's your job to help distinguish between naptime and bedtime so that junior can begin to get a feel for what's going on. To do this, create a new ritual for bedtime¡ªgive baby a bath, sing a special song, darken the room, give baby a special toy or blanket. Do something that signifies this is different from a typical nap¡ª and stick with it, but remember to keep it manageable, timewise.

Just remember: You're the mother. You are in charge. If baby starts to sleep more during the day than the night, it's your job to get him turned around. Get him up from his afternoon nap, play with him a little more vigorously before you put him down so he's extra tired and ready for nighttime, and feed him a little extra. You may have to help your child find an acceptable sleep rhythm.

Methods For Earth-friendly Parents

We all want to do our part to help conserve and save the planet. Being “green” has become a routine for many people. However what does it mean to be a green parent, and you can do several things to help your new baby stay free of harmful chemicals.

Annually we understand and find out far more things as a human race. It was a great day when researchers confirmed that dark chocolate is in fact healthy for you. In the past few years we have found that there are many everyday items in our house that create toxins within our home. Adults usually are not troubled by these chemicals, yet they can be really dangerous for infants. Being a green parent today means safeguarding your child from harmful toxins in your house. By just making a good choices you can help to make your new baby's world much healthier and safer for them. Here are several green tips for new parents.

The four walls of the baby's room is a place where you can make a significant difference. A typical paint can create smog when sunlight hits it, so try a low VOC paint. The low VOC paints are readily available on the market nowadays.

There are several things you should think about when considering furniture for your baby’s room. Recycling is an excellent thing for the environment, and lots of parents want vintage furnishings for the baby’s room. First make certain you look into the safety of vintage pieces. Take a look at consumer web-sites for any recalls. Additionally, you will need to make certain that you remove all paint from the pieces. This is very important due to lead paint that had been banned in 1977. Even if the piece is more recent, you cannot be sure if some repainted it and with what sort of paint. You should be cautious of furniture produced from medium density fiberboard since it off-gasses formaldehyde that may cause asthma.

Among the best ways you can be a green parent would be to buy an organic baby's crib mattress. Organic items are made from toxin-free materials. A non-organic mattress comes from the manufacturing plant with a lot of chemicals. This is evident by the smell. Should you choose chose to go with a non-organic crib mattress, just be sure to give it time to air out somewhere it can get fresh air, however, not directly outdoors.

The great baby diaper discussion has been raging for many years. Disposable baby diapers fill the landfills, but fabric diapers need energy and water to wash. Well let us place the environment aside and take into consideration your baby’s bottom and skin. The cloth diaper is best for baby’s delicate skin. In addition disposable diapers do have off-gassing. One challenge with cloth diapers is that you have to empty the “mess” in to a commode before you launder them. This is where the hybrid diaper includes the best of all possible worlds. You can find cloth diapers with 100% biodegradable inserts that could be flushed or thrown away.

It is very important for you to keep your house clean for baby, however you'll want to stay away from cleaners with VOC. Use the smell test to see if you are using a cleaner containing VOC’s. If when you clean you can smell the chemicals, there is a good chance its content has VOC’s. You can buy environmentally friendly and healthier cleaners, or you may also use steam to clean.

Teaching Kids to Brush Their Teeth

Kids in general either hate brushing their teeth or they simply couldn’t care less. However, it is important to teach your kids how to brush their teeth to avoid dental and other health problems. With a little patience, creativity, and a handy tool, you should be able to get your kids to brush their teeth in no time.

For preschoolers

It’s relatively easy to teach preschoolers, as long as it’s fun for them and is done through rhythm and rhyme. Let your kids know that there are germs that we can’t see living on their teeth and it’s important to get rid of them. You can even make a song about teeth brushing.

When teaching your kids how to brush their teeth, first show them the proper way to go about it. Once you have demonstrated the up and down, round and round process of brushing teeth, hand your kids their brushes and let them try. Use a safe kids’ step stool to help them reach the sink. Choose one that is self-retracting so that when your kids are done using the sink, the step stool automatically retracts underneath the sink and out of adults’ way. Once they are able to do the whole brushing process themselves, make the event and exciting and joyous one. Clap and cheer for your kids. Tell your other family members how good the kids were and have them cheer for the children as well. Have your kids show other family members how they too can brush their teeth.

Things to do:

• Show your kids how excited you are about brushing, and get even more excited when they brush.

• Make brushing a fun experience.

• Ask them to show you how well they can brush their teeth.

• Make it a point to show other family members how good the kids can brush their teeth.

For Grades K-3rd

Kids this age learn things through presentation and repetition. Offer your kids to watch you as you brush your teeth, explaining things as you go along. Come up with creative analogies: “plaques are invisible bugs that eat away at your teeth. The only way to get rid of them is to brush your teeth.”

Things to do:

• Regularly offer your kids to watch yourself brushing.

• Be consistent with brushing times

• Come up with creative analogies or explanations about brushing teeth

Grades 4th-6th

At this age, there is no better way to effectively teach your kids to brush their teeth than to show them what happens when a person does not brush his/her teeth. Gather pictures of people’s teeth the have serious decay. Or better, get pictures of people with rotten teeth. During your visits to the dentist, teach your kids about proper brushing by asking for pictures of people who do not brush their teeth and explaining to them, “This is what happens to people who do not brush their teeth.”

You can also add that there are health risks when they do not brush their teeth. Some of these include gum diseases such as gingivitis (swollen or inflamed gums), periodontitis, gum infections, bone destruction, and tooth loss. It has even been found that gum disease is a likely risk factor for heart disease and stroke for adults.

Things to do:

• Ask your dentist to share stories, pictures and information of the hazards of not brushing teeth.

Family Dinners

The dinner table can be one of the best places to bring your family together. Eating a nice home cooked meal with your whole family is a wonderful experience, and can bring great discussion, or humor to everyone attending. My family has a wonderful pasta dinner every Sunday night. My mother spends all day preparing her sauce, meatballs, and whatever else it takes to create her masterpiece. After hours of preparing it's finally done. The family gathers at the dinner table and begins the feast. On Sundays we always sit at the dinner table. Your asking, where else would you sit? Well, during the week we have an island counter top which we eat our meals at. The island is simply more convenient, and easy to use for my mother when she's cooking. For our Sunday feast, we always set the dinner table, and sit at the table together to eat our meal.

I look forward to every Sunday for a number of reasons. The main reason being I love to eat, and I love to eat pasta more than anything. We are an Italian family and we all enjoy a fabulous pasta dinner every week. Besides the eating part of our feast, I enjoy joining my family and starting conversation. It's not often you get to sit down with your whole family at once for an extended period of time. Being able to talk to my all my brothers at once is pretty cool. I got three brothers, and having them all there at once can be quite exciting. Asking one brother one thing can lead to a fun conversation, or sometimes a ruthless argument. Overall it's a fun experience and you get to learn a lot about your siblings, and/or parents.

My brothers all attend school, and two of them work full time jobs, theres just no time to spend time with them. Having a weekly dinner is a very exciting aspect of our family. No matter what is happening that week, I know that the upcoming Sunday I will see my whole family whether it's at our dinner table, or simply out to eat at one of our favorite restaurants. Not everyone can make it every Sunday, but that's understandable and we forgive them. Most Sunday's we have the whole family attending, including my grandma, who I feel is the most important person at the dinner table.

My grandma, who we call "nuni" or "nonna" which is Italian for grandmother. Our nonna came over from Italy over 50 years ago on a boat, and has never been the same since. I love talking to her at the dinner table about the old times in the old country. She teaches us some cool things about cooking, and just being Italian in general. Sometimes my nunna will teach us some Italian phrases, or secrets to different things that she's learned over in Italy. I love comparing her different ways to go about doing certain things to the way we do certain things over here in America, it's very interesting.

One of the coolest things I've learned from my grandmother is how to make homemade pasta. My grandmother grew up in a village in Sicily, and was taught to produce her own pasta noodles when it came to their family feasts. Learning how to make my own homemade pasta was easily one of the coolest things I've learned from here. I currently attend the University of New Hampshire for Culinary Arts, and cooking happens to be my passion. Having my grandma around is so awesome, and I learn a lot from her every day. She taught me the basics of using a Pasta Machine, and how to make my own pasta from scratch. After a few hours of preparing our noodles, our product was done. I had produced enough pasta for weeks! We ate the homemade pasta later that night and it was fantastic. May not taste like it was store bought, but it definitely tastes homemade, and delicious.

The moral of the article is to make more people aware of the power of food, whether your preparing it or eating it. Take advantage of your family dinners, who knows how much longer you'll have with them. Whether you sit and enjoy the presence, or strike a conversation with your family members, a family dinner is a great way to gather the family each week.

Fun Baby Toys For Beach Outings

When babies are brought to the beach to play, parents are always looking for different fun baby toys for their babies to play with on the sands. Of course, babies can’t bring their bunny stuff toys or rattler in the beach because these toys are not manufactured for that purpose. Fun baby toys for the beach are designed to allow babies to form different structures and manipulate the sand to create something. Furthermore, fun baby toys for the beach would be composed of water proof toys that can be soaked with water and still function properly. toys such as toy camera, swimming toy fish, squirters and floaters would significantly bring more fun in the beach. With this toy, babies would not anymore try to play on the deeper part of the water where it can be dangerous if no one is watching over them. There are different fun baby toys designed for the beach. These toys are not designed to be used on the sands only. There are some fun baby toys that are designed to serve as a life saver and a toy at the same time.

This kind of toy will excite babies and keep them safe while on the waters. For concern parents, fun baby toys used for the beach must be baby friendly and

Types of fun baby toys for beach sand and water play

For babies who prefer to play at the sands, the ideal fun baby toys for them are small shovels and rakes. This will spike their interest in digging and cultivating the sands which can be very enjoyable for babies who are curious. There are also toys that are designed for sand castle molding. These toys are considered to be fun baby toys because babies can easily form different shapes just by putting sand and a little water. Fun baby toys for sand play are ideal for children who cannot swim and play on the water. With this toy, babies would prefer to play on the sand rather than on the waters. On the other hand, fun baby toys for the beach can be more enjoyable in the water. There are different toys available for water play. Some common fun baby toys for water play are colorful floaters, squirting rubber ducks, and waterproof cameras. These toys would enhance babies play in the water. They will experience a more fun and enjoyable play in the water without the risk of any danger. This is because some of these toys are designed to be used as a life saver for babies. These toys can float and offer safety to babies who are unable to swim for themselves. This way, parent would feel comfortable when they buy fun baby toys that are specifically designed for babies.

Overall, when choosing from sand or water fun baby toys always consider your babies abilities and never keep your eyes off your babies. Although these fun baby toys are designed for babies, parent’s supervision is still the best.

All about Paper Towels

Paper towels are used for a large number of purposes; they are used for cleaning kitchen counter tops, to wipe your hands and even when you are down with a cold. These handy paper towels were invented by Sir Arthur Scott and have been around for more than a hundred years. However, many people do not notice that these items include many variables and choices. Here are few of the variations that will definitely help you with your purchase –

Ply

Ply refers to many single sheets that are used together to form a single paper towel. These are often sold as a one or two ply. One ply towels are used in commercial settings, such as in restaurants or bathrooms. Two ply towels are sold to consumers for home use. Two ply towels are generally thicker and absorb more than one ply towels.

Quantity

These types of towels are sold in rolls with up to a hundred or more sheets per roll. These rolls are either placed on a holder for consumers or inserted into a dispenser for commercial and public use. The number of paper towels on each roll varies. Manufacturers who sell these to consumers set a number of perforated sheets on each roll that is sold. Paper towels used in public dispensing machines also have a predetermined number of sheets on a roll.

Size of each sheet

The size of each sheet is mentioned on the package for consumers. A typical sheet size for consumer products is 11x11 inches. Commercial sheet sizes, such as those used in public toilets, are typically shorter in width. Each sheet is perforated with cut-lines to allow the user to tear off sheets for use.

Packaging

Companies pack them for sale to consumers in retail stores. Packaging is typically based on the quantity of rolls. Common quantities are single roll, three, six and eight roll. Consumer pricing is usually discounted to provide the incentive of savings for purchasing more than one roll at a time. Paper towels purchased from commercial or industrial use are usually void of extensive or decorative packaging.

I am sure that the next time you go to buy paper towels you will definitely check on this information. For quality paper towels, Colorado Springs residents can look up to www.columbinepaper.com. This is of the most reliable stores in Colorado Springs. Avail discounts all year round!

The Many Different Types Of Baby Strollers

You probably know this there's a wide selection of baby strollers on the market to pick from. Your selection of baby strollers is going to be subject to the number of kids you intend to use it for, the way you are likely to utilize the stroller and also where, last but not least your financial budget. Everything aside your baby's level of comfort and also security will likely impact your decision. Let's look into a number of the types of baby strollers accessible to you.

The conventional stroller will accommodate a single boy or girl and there are numerous attributes on conventional strollers including play trays, parent trays, materials, plus handle bars. On a lot of baby strollers handle bars are actually height adjustable which can be a superb back saver.

Double strollers possess 2 chairs. There's a number of seating plans for double strollers. The standard double seat will be 1 at the rear of the other - tandem design. Tandem seating has got the 1st child having a decent view and the 1 at the back views the rear of the other's head. A alternative from the tandem seating is stadium seating. Visualize bleachers in which each individual chair will be elevated somewhat over the one in front of it permitting those in the back to view what's taking place. There's side-by-side seating in addition to face to face seats.

Jogging baby strollers have become widely used since they allow you to take your kids along on a run. The jogging stroller features a triangular steering wheel along with 2 sizeable wheels at the back then one steering wheel in the front. They've got several appealing characteristics. An extra safety feature is a wrist strap around the handle bar. This is put on to ensure that once you come to a halt, your baby stroller doesn't move from you. As always any time you stop the baby stroller the brake must always be employed. The wrist strap will be additional security. Jogging strollers are generally readily available for multiple seating too.

Triple baby strollers are fantastic for triplets or 3 young children. Seating plans may be alongside however many possess tandem seating or maybe stadium seating. Once the baby stroller is filled with children and you are pushing it can help you accomplish your targets of physical fitness.

Convertible multiple baby strollers can be obtained where by they could be converted to double seater's along with extra seating plus a transverse bar. You might like to verify if this choice is offered for the specific baby stroller you are looking at.

Umbrella baby strollers have become affordable. These are typically simpler to collapse and unfold. They're extremely light and portable and store effortlessly inside a vehicle trunk. They are great for brief outings to the Shopping mall or even quick strolls. They don't work effectively upon every surface. They are also available in multiple seating as well. The one downside I had using umbrella baby strollers can be that when something is hung around the handle it induced the buggy to tip back.

Lightweight baby strollers tend to be somewhat weightier compared to umbrella baby strollers as well as a little bit less than the conventional stroller. They will commonly collapse in a single hand movement. They also look like the conventional type baby stroller. Additionally they are available in multiple seats.

Carriage Baby strollers are convertible strollers which you can transform from a carriage into a child stroller. This really is ideal for little ones which are not able to sit up yet. The handle is reversible in order to transform it into a baby stroller which is perfect for young children that are sitting upwards.

Bicycle baby strollers or trailers will be hooked up simply by fixing it to the rear wheel. You can find 2 seated versions on the market. They may be turned from a trailer into a baby stroller without any tools. The restraining method is a 5 point harness for every youngster.