Ready Set Grow Connecticut Kids

When Is It Safe To Vaccinate My Kids?

admin — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The subject of vaccinations is one that can fill parents to be with fear. There are a lot of stories out there that tell of a link between autism and vaccines. But there has never been a proven link between these. You may still wonder when it is safe to vaccinate your kids, and there is an easy answer to that.

It is safe to vaccinate your kids when they are babies. It is better to not get combo vaccinations just to be on the safe side, but there are many kids who get vaccinated on schedule who are perfectly fine. If you still feel nervous, you can talk to your doctor about a delayed schedule.

Vaccinations are necessary to stop the spread of infections, and have nearly wiped out diseases like Polio. If vaccinations are stopped, there could be a resurgence of these diseases. This is why it is important to get vaccinations for your kids.

It is safe to get your babies vaccinated, but if you are nervous most doctors will allow you to vaccinate on delayed schedule. It is very important to get these shots to stop the spread of disease and keep kids from getting sick.The hits keep comin’: FAQs About Childhood Vaccines

Help Your Child Make Friends: Join A Play Group

admin — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

A great way to help your child to make friends is by joining a play group. These groups are usually small, help children learn to get along with one another, and offer them the opportunity to participate in new and different activities. They also help support building independence and friendships, and offer a fun outlet for both parents and children alike.

Generally, play groups are formed casually and parents discuss their goals for the group, plan schedules and decide what kind of activities and snacks will be provided. These play groups often meet at one another’s homes, where one parent plans some loosely structured activities, but they can also meet anywhere from churches, recreation centers to parks. Play groups are designed by the parents to best support their children, based on their ages and interests.

Play groups are wonderful social networks for young families. They not only provide the opportunity for children to build friendships, but also offer parents the opportunity to get to know one another. While the children play, parents can share information about their children and gather advice about practices that work for one another.

Making friends is an important part of early learning. Play groups are a wonderful avenue to open doors for children’s learning and establishing friendships.

Fun Bedtime Routines Your Child Will Love

admin — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Fun bedtime routines your child will love involve positive time with you. Make the child the focus and keep it fun and they will look forward to bed. Do not make bedtime a chore, make it fun for you and your child. Choose something fun, then choose something that will relax the child and let them fall asleep in a relax and comfortable way.

One way to encourage the beginning routine of bedtime is to brush your teeth together and sing silly songs with the toothpaste still in your mouth.This/tag helps explain it more. This promote good dental health and it is fun for them. It is something the look forward to as long as you are by their side. Next make a game of counting how many steps there are to the bedroom door, the bed and then get under the covers. Once the child is in bed, tell them a good story from your own childhood while rubbing their little arms for relaxation.

You can change the routine to story time, quiet song time, animal learning time, space travel stories and other quiet time fun. Use the fun of a gift in the morning when the wake up game. It can be anything from a toy from the dollar store or a cookie to something bigger. Just keep it positive and happy.

Things You Can Do For Your Kids RIGHT NOW

admin — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

You’ve read everything about what your child should eat and you’ve been scouring your Satellitestarinternet.com web connection nightly to read message boards about good parenting but here are a few simple things you can do now that your child will thank you for in the future:
Don’t be a Short Order Cook – If your child refuses to eat a certain food, fine…don’t force them. But make sure they understand you only cook one meal for the family and don’t make them anything special – this will help them learn coping skills for the real world.
Get a Dog – A kid friendly one, obviously. Dogs are great at teaching kids play techniques and there’s also an inherent set of responsibilities that your child can grow into. When the time comes they can also teach them about loss.
Take Them to Daycare – Particularly important if you’re a stay at home mom, take your child to daycare at least twice a week. It will give them the opportunity to socialize and teach them how to interact with other kids. Seems counterintuitive but it’s a good idea.

Lunch Time Tips For Parents Of Picky Eaters

admin — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

As parents, dealing with picky eaters can be frustrating, for both you and your child. Thankfully, there are ways you can avoid this common mealtime battle. Two of the biggest and most helpful tips I was given when my oldest was just a baby, was to (1) set a positive example yourself and (2) serve very small portions at a time. So, let’s just assume your child doesn’t like peas. Instead of piling on the macaroni and cheese and forgoing the peas, try mixing a small amount of peas, say 1 teaspoon, with their macaroni. Set the example and do this yourself with your own plate of macaroni. You may not like peas yourself, but children are very observant and figure things out very quickly. Also, serve a tasty and colorful variety of foods at each meal. I have found in my own family that my children are much more excited about mealtime when I take the time to cut their sandwiches into small squares or triangles, dice their cheese, slice their strawberries or bananas, etc. Depending on the age of your child, you can also involve them in simple meal prep. Even allowing them to help set the table can go a long way in a positive mealtime experience.

Teach Your Children The Importance Of A Healthy Diet

admin — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Parents generally know what foods are healthy and what foods are not. As an adult, it may seem like a privilege or an earned reward to grab an unhealthy snack or to indulge in a favorite fast food treat. Unfortunately, our actions as parents are carefully scrutinized and imitated by our children. The old adage “do as I say, not as I do” is not an effective way to teach a child healthy eating habits. Parents have an amazing opportunity to teach their child healthy eating habits just by setting a good example.

A healthy diet does not necessarily mean a person is forced to eat nothing but fruits and veggies. Juicy fruits and crisp vegetables are just one part of the bigger healthy diet picture. Simply making better food choices and being more conscientious about what foods are in the house can help.

Make healthy eating fun and informative. Grocery shopping can be a great way to explain the difference between healthy food choices and foods that are best avoided. When serving a particular food, point out the benefits the food can offer. Kids love to hear they are going to grow up big and strong and will eat whatever it takes to accomplish that goal.

Introducing your child to a lifetime of reading

admin — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 12:00:26 +0000

Before we begin, let me reiterate that if your child isn’t reading by the time they enter kindergarten, there’s no need to be alarmed. Every individual learns at their own rate, and it may be mid-kindergarten or even 1^st grade before it clicks. That doesn’t mean you can’t introduce your children to the love of reading at an early age, though.Storytime is a great way to bond with your child while introducing them to basic ideas like characters, plot, and language. Watching adults read is also the easiest way for children to learn the basic mechanics of reading, such as the fact that words go from left to right and front to back and that the top of the pictures matches the top of the page. If your child is especially interested, you can start teaching them about sounds and letters and the relation between the two of themthis is the basic idea of phonics.Even if your child can’t read himself or herself, it can still be an interactive experience. Make sure to ask your child about what’s going on in the book, and ask them to point out different characters or animals. You should have a good selection of books for your child to choose from at regularly scheduled reading times. When you’re not reading to your child, make sure they see you reading the newspaper or a recreational book of your own. This is a good opportunity for them to practice working through a book on their own, making up their own stories based on memories and the illustrations.Finally, show your child that reading is a part of everyday life, from street signs to grocery lists. As they see how important this skill is, they will be more excited to begin learning it on their ownthe first step towards a lifelong enjoyment of reading.

Making a masterpiece: preschoolers and art

admin — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 12:00:01 +0000

Whether its painting or making hand puppets, every child can use arts and crafts as a way to expressive themselves creatively and imaginatively. One of the best things about art projects is that they require very little purchases, as almost anything can be art when looked at creatively. Save paper bags, popsicle sticks, cardboard boxes, tinfoil, and other items that may seem like garbage on first appearance, but reveal the makings of a masterpiece to the imaginative eye. You will need to get some crayons, colored pencils, paint, and markers if your child is interested, but make sure you teach them how to use them properly and these supplies can last for quite a while. Be sure to purchase non-toxic, washable paint and glue.More construction-based arts and crafts projects can easily be found online at sites like EnchantedLearning.com and PreschoolRock.com. Paper puppets (made from construction paper, bags, or plates) can lead to many hours of creative play in the future, and only take a little time to make. While it’s important to follow the basic directions, encourage your child to think outside the box and put their own spin on each project. Who says a ladybug can’t have sunglasses, or a panda can’t be a fireman?Some art projectsespecially those involving paint and gluecan lead to messes with younger children, but this shouldn’t keep you from encouraging them. After all, that’s part of the fun of growing up. Instead, give your child a smock and spread out some newspapers in their art area, and let him or her go wild. Better yet, get involved yourself and see what you both can make together, and don’t forget to sign it. After all, the finished product could end up on your refrigerator door.

Cooking up fun with your child

admin — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 12:00:20 +0000

While the kitchen may not seem like the first choice for bringing a young child, cooking is actually a great way to spend some time together while learning important lessons. Among other things, cooking can teach children motor skills, science, following directions, shapes, fractions, time, and other concepts. Plus, cooking is a great way to instill nutrition in your child and get them to try new healthy foods, since it’s always more exciting to try something you’ve made yourself. Seeing and tasting the finished product is a great way to teach your child confidence and give them a sense of accomplishment.Obviously, you won’t be asking your child to slice potatoes or use the stove. It is best to start them with something they can do on their own, so let them pour water into a mix or roll cookie dough. Anything they can tear or pound usually works well. Some children will just want to start out turning the pages of the cookbook, which is fine, too.You can find lots of recipes geared toward children online or in cookbooks. PreschoolRock.com offers several ideas, including Strawberry Yogurt Crepes. The only help they might need for this one is slicing the strawberries, but with a plastic or butter knife some preschoolers may be able to do this on their own. Homemade flour tortillas, made with whole wheat flour, are a great snack that preschoolers can help make. Your child will love balling up the dough and rolling it flat. When finished, you can top these tortillas with almost anything, from veggies to fruit to meat.Start your child slow, and they’ll quickly get the hang of it. With any luck, you may even see your own culinary skills improving.

Baby bodybuilders: exercise in early childhood

admin — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 12:00:34 +0000

Despite this article’s title, it’s unlikely (read: impossible) that your preschooler will develop the sort of body that Stallone or Schwarzenegger had in their prime. But the general idea of exercise in early childhood set isn’t laughable on its own. By the time American children reach the ages of five-to-eight, 40 already have at least one risk factor for heart disease. Arteriosclerosis, the hardening of the arteries, can also appear in children starting at age five. Without guidance, many children will not avoid these risk factors on their own. That’s why it’s important for you, the parent, to emphasize the importance of exercise at a young age. But what’s appropriate?According to the USDA, a good goal is 60 minutes of physical activity per day. The type or intensity of the exercise is less important, which should be a relief for parents with busy schedules. However, it sets a better example if you involve yourself in your child’s exercise. Some activities which you can do together are family walks, bike rides, catch, and various sports like baseball and basketball. Otherwise, you can supervise younger children at playgrounds or in races. Bringing an element of make-believe to the proceedings never hurt, either, so encourage your child to pretend to be an animal, a fireman, or an equally energetic role.While the above activities are usually best saved for outside, there are still options and opportunities for indoor workouts. If you do an exercise video, invite your child to “play along.” You can also look for video games that encourage exercise and active movement.Finally, take the initiative to plan an outing for your family that will include exercise, whether it’s bowling, skating, swimming, or walking around the park. The earlier you instill the love of exercise in your child, the more likely they are to continue with it through life.