Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Pregnancy Planner - A Quick Guide

Weeks 1 to 3 are the first weeks of pregnancy. Week 1 begins on the first day of your last menstrual period. You will have no pregnancy symptoms yet, it’s too early right now. By week 4 nearly all of the organs and structure of the fetus have formed, you will start to feel the first pregnancy symptoms which will feel a bit like period symptoms such as tiredness and tender breasts.Weeks 5/6/7. B. . .

Baby Cold Symptoms and How to Give Care

Remember how miserable you felt when you last had a cold? Can you imagine what your baby must feel when he experiences a cold for the first time?Viruses are responsible for causing colds. Infected people spread the viruses when they sneeze or cough nearby healthy people. The virus gets into the nose and throat where it multiplies.What Are The Symptoms?When your baby has a cold, there will be. . .

Guilt Free Parenting

I don’t know about you, but I do guilt very well. At times, it seems like I can feel guilty for almost anything. Also, as a parent I mess up routinely. I can be short with my temper and my words are not always pleasant. Also, there seems to be a new parenting article out daily that tells you how to parent and of course it feels like to me anyway that I always come up short. My hunch is I am n. . .

Breastfeeding - Breast is Best

Women have been feeding their children this way from the beginning, and it is of course natures intended food, therefore the best nourishment for your child. The decision to breast-feed is entirely up to you and each woman should make up her own mind, it is an individual choice.There are a number of reasons why a mother would decide not to breastfeed, including infection e.g. hepatitis or HIV t. . .

How Is Peaceful Parenting® Different?

Peaceful Parenting® ideas are very different from other kinds of parenting practices that you have learned or read about. Certainly it is harder to practice Peaceful Parenting® than to simply threaten or bribe your child into following your directions or making what you consider to be the “right” choices. But what is the heart of the difference between Peaceful Parenting® and other programs?S. . .

Aging Parents Need Love Too!

Most of the questions that I get asked these days concern Ed Jr. He’s seventy four years of age now, and most of y’all know that he had major heart surgery several years ago. Most of y’all also know that he’s prominently featured in my first two books. His exploits seem to have been appreciated by more than a few, and I guess it’s only natural that some of y’all would like an update on what’s b. . .

A Shift in Focus

It’s a pretty well established fact that our genetics combined with the influences of our family and environment provide the foundation for how we think and act in our adult years. I call it programming. Not necessarily in a bad sense – it frequently works to our advantage too. It’s just the way it is.It should be apparent that our children – and all of us – benefit most from a positively or. . .

The Mystery Of Picky Eaters

If you were to ask 100 parents why they think their children are picky eaters, chances are you would get 90 different answers. Although we know some children are picky eaters for no apparent reason, most are hard to please when it comes to food for two reasons – they are naturally fussy about tastes and textures or they have a learned behavior about food.If you have a picky eater in your house. . .

Build Character Now! Practical Tools for Busy Parents

Character is in crisis. Everyday your children see their sports heroes, movie stars, and music idols acting badly. How can you help your children become the people they were meant? As a busy parent, this article offers you an excellent method for building character in your children and bonding with them too.“To educate a person in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.” -Theo. . .

Teaching Your Children with Coupons

Coupons can be a great tool in educating your child about saving money, being frugal, and shopping smart. Who doesn’t want their children to grow up knowing how to save easily on every purchase? With coupon clipping you’ll show them money saving skills they can use throughout their life!Teaching your child with coupons can start at an early age. Pointing all of the inserts of the coupons in . . .

Dinner Table Drama

It has been a long day. Home from work, you put together a nice, healthy dinner for the entire family to enjoy. Gathering the family around the table, you sit down to eat and within a minute, a voice pipes up, “I don’t like anything.” Encouraging, you say, “I’ve made some of your favorite foods and even put a couple new things on the table that I’m sure you will like if you just try. I real. . .

Raise Awesome Kids! This 4-Point Plan Gets Results

Are your children truthful, kind, and helpful? If so, read no further. If not, please listen to Colby and his mom.“All my friends cheat,” announced 11-year-old Colby. “What?” exclaimed his mother? “You don’t cheat do you?” “Sometimes,” answered Colby. “But I never get caught.” “It’s not all right to cheat, young man,” scolded his mother. “How many times have I told you cheating is wrong? What i. . .

Dads Are Heroes

My friend, Dovid Grossman, who is the father of nine children, told me he intended to have a website and teleclass series dedicated to the Hero’s Journey for Dads. He wanted to use the framework of a Hero’s Journey to engage in a discussion with fathers on parenting.I was somewhat aware of the idea of the Hero’s Journey from the PBS series The Power of Myth with Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers. . .

If You'd Like To Know Why Reading Matters

Here Are Some of the Reasons Why Reading Is So Important for Children Why Do We Tell Children to Read ?We're always telling children that books and reading are good for them, but have we ever really thought about why that's true ? Exactly what do older children get out of reading novels ? What do younger kids get from reading children's stories and being read to ? Does reading matter ?The purpo. . .

Stop Lying NOW

Do you have a consistent problem with your child lying to you, even though he or she is normally a “good” child? Sometimes the lies are even about things that don’t really matter or your child continues to lie in the face of overwhelming proof to the contrary?It is my firm belief that we will not end lying behavior in our children until we take away the consequences for telling the truth. This . . .

Crisis in Child Care

Today there is a crisis in the child care industry. Parents are looking to the government to solve the problem by not cutting away at programs that will give them help with quality childcare, health care and training for the caregivers in these settings.As an advocate for quality childcare in every center, home and daycare that is in charge of the children that will “lead” our country tomorrow . . .

The Facts About College Financial Aid

The cost of a 4-year college education is soaring! Every year tuition, room & board and other related expenses increase 9% to as much as 15% at some schools, and have already climbed to $160,000 and more! Despite this, American families are sending their children to college in record numbers. So how are they paying for it?The Facts About College Financial AidMost American families are offsettin. . .

Parenting Success

At a Women’s Bar Association lunch one of the attorneys ordered a diet soda and then explained to the rest of us that her children were doing a “healthy living” program so she stopped buying diet soda to drink at home. She said having this diet soda was a real treat for her. She then confided in us that the real difficulty her kids were having with their “healthy living” was eating 5 fruits and. . .

The 5 B's of Effective Parenting

I hear the questions again and again: “How do I get my child to … …quit whining?” …do their homework?” …clean their room?” …do the dishes?”And I hear all kinds of answers for each situation. Here is my proposal, rather than handle each situation as an isolated event, let’s look at them in light of what we know about human behavior. Events that appear to be random, isolated behaviors actuall. . .

Basic Guide To Choosing Toys For Babies

Basic guide to choosing toys for babies A baby’s only activities until the age of two months are sleeping and eating. He is not interested in anything else. After two months, the baby starts being more curious about the world around him. At first, he just watches the activity in the room. At the age of 4-5 months, he is already moving his arms and legs with a lot of energy. At this point, as a . . .

Baby Room Themes: Fun Ideas Your Baby Will Love

Decorating a nursery for your new baby can be a fun and exciting experience. It will be the first place for your baby to dream, to experience, and to grow. Here are a few things to keep in mind: Location. Calm surroundings are critical to a newborn's development. Avoid room's that are close to a busy street, where there could be more noise. Will the baby's room be on the same floor as your bedr. . .

Why Teach Thinking in Singapore?

The word ‘creativity’ has so many diverse meanings and interpretations. I remember telling an audience of teachers that creating a mess is also creative as long as new things and views are being conjured up. This led to much laughter and discussion about the meaning of ‘creativity’ (This notion of ‘creative mess’ was taken from master-thinker, Dr Edward de Bono). Most people feel that creativit. . .

Road Trip with Kids

Boredom, limited space and overflowing energy are a source of nuisance for a child when in a restaurant - how much more in the narrow cage of a car on a hour-long ride. You have barely left your home when the notorious "Are-we-there-already" starts, sometimes replaced by the equally infamous "How-long-is-it-still-going-to-take" and "I-have-to-pee" (the latter preferrably on highways with no pos. . .

Plane Trip with Kids

Though you can cover even very long distances by car if you have the guts to, as soon as it comes to crossing water, you'll have to stick to a plane. The equation is the same as usual: limited space + long time of inactivity = whiny, annoying children.The big difference towards a car is that when you're on a plane, you can't just stop and let your children run around a bit, and you even have to. . .

Teething Symptoms and How to Treat Them

Teething is what your baby experiences when her first set of teeth begins to appear.Some babies will go through this event without a problem. However, other babies will experience discomfort.To tell when your baby is about to enter this phase of growth, this article describes the teething symptoms to be aware of. Then if you think your baby is experiencing these symptoms, some pain relieving . . .

Going Out to a Restaurant with Kids

Dining in a restaurant with kids can be very enervating and embarrasing. Not only that you have to desperately try and keep your wiggling toddler seated and silent, you also have to manage the disapproving looks from other (non-parent) guests.The root problem here is again boredom. So before you decide to eat out, observe your child's mood. If it's having a bad day and is getting on your nerves. . .

Child Education

The initial state of happiness about an own child is often overcome with annoyance after even a short period of time. Children quickly grow an own personality, and it's the most vital task of the parents to help develop it and give it a shape. Otherwise, the little angel can turn into a little devil adding considerably to the stress in life you already have.Like everything else in life, child e. . .

Violence in Media

In the news, we hear and see an increasing number of reports about violence among children. This goes from rude fights on the playground to armed incidents in schools that result in injuries or even casualties.Now asking ourselves where this behaviour is originated, we quickly come to media as a scapegoat: TV violence, computer games and the Internet. Often we lack overview of what our children. . .

Building Self Confidence

Several similar terms describe the central attribute of a character that decides on the strength of personality and the degree of inner freedom: "self assurance" describes mostly the behaviour. Counterparts are insecure behaviour or shyness. "self confidence" is the mental and emotional state that causes the outer appearance. "charisma" is the effect that those have on others.Self confidence do. . .

Baby Car Seats Safety - Frequently Asked Questions

In this article you will be provided with information about baby car seats and keeping your baby safe while in the car. There are tips for buying new and used baby car seats. Answers to some of the most asked questions about car seats are provided as well.Q. What is the best baby car seat?The best car seat is the one that matches your baby’s size and weight. It also fits properly in your car an. . .

Teaching Kids to Value Books and Reading

Joys and Importance of ReadingRecent research indicates that seventy percent of highschool graduates are unable to read at the twelfth gradelevel. In many cases, reading is subordinated to otheractvities in children's lives. Is that what you want foryour child? If not, get your kids interested in books atan early age.Your voice is your baby's most beloved sound. Takeadvantage of your baby's . . .

Home And School Education - Your Kids Can Benefit From Both!

Once, as a Learning Support Teacher, I made my way down to the annexe that housed the school's History Department. The annexe was about 100 metres from the main school building, down an attractive, leafy hill. On the way I was irked by two girls in front of me complaining about the hill, the wind ruffling their hair, the distance from one classroom to another, and so on. I joined the History cl. . .

Study Skills - How Can YOU Help Your Kids?

Some years ago when touring the Scottish Highlands, a man I met said something that's stuck with me ever since. He was elderly, yet was still working away on his small farm. He had no intention of retiring, and when asked if he felt the pace of the years he said no, he really enjoyed his work but - and this is what stuck with me! - "It's a day's work getting started." In other words every day h. . .

Is A Baby Allowed To Play In Its First Month?

What should you do to have a happy pregnancy? Many things you could do, but what most pregnant women rarely do is having a vacation. Get a life and try to relax a little bit. Or take an extended weekend just to refresh and recharge your batteries.Downtime is very important, and in a world where nearly all of us are tied to cell phones and lap tops, even away from the office, it is good to get a. . .

Responsible Fatherhood - A Unique And Irreplaceable Role

Something happened the other day that made me feel uneasy. Yet I shouldn't have felt that way! My wife had left for work and I was hanging the washing out to dry. A neighbour from down the way was in his backyard doing the same. 'Good day for drying', he called. 'Let's hope the rain stays away.' I had to think about what made me uneasy. Then it hit me. Two men hanging out the washing! When I. . .

Baby Cribs - Safety Is Key

You have just learned that you are expecting a baby. Even if you have other children, you must take a look at cribs. Is the crib you already have an antique? You should look carefully at your second hand crib whether it is an antique or not.The safety of your new baby makes this necessary. The screws and/or other fasteners such as bolts must be in place and not loose. It is of the utmost import. . .

What Should You Consider When Choosing Baby Clothes

Are you expecting a baby? You might be tempted to buy baby’s clothes, although you know most of the time baby will always sleeping and crying during their first months, which obviously don’t need fancy clothes to wear. But still you find dressing your baby with cute outfit will be an unforgotten moment.You will find various kind of cute baby outfit. Dresses, jumpers, pajamas, and swimsuits are . . .

How to Listen to Your Teenager without Appearing to Have ...

In one of the Family Circus cartoon strips, the little girl looks up at her father, who is reading the newspaper, and says, "Daddy, you have to listen with your eyes as well as your ears." That statement says almost all there is to say about listening. Being a good listener means focusing attention on the message and reviewing the important information.Listening can be considered an art, as wel. . .

Coaching Your Teenagers on the Quest for Good Grades

It is important that as a parent, you create a flexible environment that supports your teen, and provides her with the opportunity to grow into a self-reliant young adult. As a teenager, she will think at times that she has all the answers, and not need you. However, she will be happy to have you as a "safety net" when she realizes she does not have all the answers. This can include how well sh. . .

Think Like Your Kids - And Understand Them More

Seven-year old Michael was on a school trip to a Wildlife Centre in Central Scotland. It was near the end of the day and they were in the Gift Shop before boarding the bus for the journey home. Poor Michael! He couldn't resist the array of lollipops and chocolate animals that beckoned to him. He chose one and was about to pay for it with his last few pennies. His teacher, a kindly soul with not. . .

What's Troubling Your Teenager? - Peeling Back the Onion ...

Onion layers are a good analogy for problem solving. Like onions, problems can have multiple layers, and if you do not dig deeply enough, you may end up not solving the real problem. A good way to indicate whether or not you have "peeled back" enough layers is to see how you "feel" during the problem solving process. At times it will seem like you have discovered the proper solution, but someth. . .

Ten ways to Become Best Friends with Your Teenagers

Best friends! It may seem impossible to believe, but today’s teens do want to consider their parents as friends, even though they think we could never understand the realities of their world. They are also interested in what it was like being a teenager during the Stone Age. Life without cell phones or the Internet must have been unimaginable! So even with this interest, can parents and teens r. . .

Monitoring Your Teens for Drug Use without Appearing to b...

Even if your teenagers do not use drugs, you still need to keep an eye on them. It is much better to realize that things could change, and anticipate that your teen COULD become a user. Essentially, it is not wise to make assumptions about topics such as drug use. Also, having been a high school teacher afforded me the opportunity to witness peer pressure, and how even good kids could be convi. . .

Unilateral Disarmament - The First Step to Improving Comm...

Many times, we are so conditioned in how we speak that we do not realize whether or not we are effectively communicating with our teens. This is especially true when they upset us.To ensure that you are fostering an environment that will encourage your teenager to talk to you, as opposed to fearing you, the first step is to evaluate your communication style. How you express yourself and what yo. . .

Moms - Get More Energy Now

Let's be honest! When it comes to parenting, men expect their wives or partners to do the lion's share. There are signs that we're moving toward a more enlightened age in which ALL parents play their part. But in the meantime, let's concentrate on some help for tired moms. Apparently the number one question mothers ask their doctors is, "How can I get more energy?" Fatigue is a serious problem . . .

Picky Eater Coping Needs To Be a Family Affair

Why does it seem that the pickiest of eaters always try to pass themselves off as the latest upcoming culinary critic? It is especially annoying when you have spent a couple of hours on a special Sunday dinner, only to have your six-year-old son tromp the kitchen loudly declaring... "Something stinks and I’m not eating it!" Trisha, from England, said that her son is still her pickiest eater a. . .

Mom's Car Stereo

Do you remember the car stereo days of youth - windows down, hair wildly blowing and the radio blaring the latest and greatest musical hit? Depending on which friend was with me at the time, my in-dash could be playing dance, hip hop or even heavy metal. But no matter which music was selected, the purpose of volume was to drown out your own exuberant impressions of the coolest music sensation. . .

Surviving Colic

Colic is basically uncontrollable crying in a healthy baby. It can come as early as two weeks and last as long as three months. Typically they will cry for hours at a time and may do this a few times a week. If your baby is crying like this and appears ill of course seek medical attention. If you think your baby has colic but are worried or not sure don?t hesitate to seek a diagnosis. Crying is. . .

From Children's Stories to Study Skills: Help Your Childr...

IntroductionAs a parent who wants the best for your children, there are undoubtedly many things that you already do every day to help your children succeed in school. The purpose of this article is to provide some practical ideas for you to try. Some of these suggestions may be new to you, many will be familiar, and some are just plain common sense but, hopefully, they will all serve as reminde. . .

When Should Your Baby Wear Shoes?

There is actually a bit of controversy about this question. Some pediatricians recommend that your baby not wear shoes until at least 15 months of age. Others feel that a child should start to wear shoes as soon as they're walking. However, you have to consider where your baby is walking. If they are cruising around your own home, then there is usually no need for shoes. But what about outdoors. . .