Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Selecting The Right Baby Name Can Be Hard

Hey lets face it it's your child and you have the right to name the new infant whatever your heart desires. Do not be influenced by in-laws or pestering family members. In this article I will give you a few tips on what you can do when deciding your newborns name.First thing is first is to take your time. Don't rush into it that is the worst thing you can possibly do when narrowing down a baby. . .

UP TO YOUR NECK IN PARENTING DOGMA-DOO? Step into somethi...

WHO’S MAKING YOUR PARENTING DECISIONS?You… or the Mommy Police? The Mommy Police? They’re just a fiction--an adult version of the Bogey Man, aren’t they? Well, maybe they don’t actually inhabit the bodies of the living dead like your mother-in-law, your ex-pediatrician and that busybody next door. But there is one place this Gestapo may be alive and well and controlling your life. And that’s i. . .

Start a College Fund for Your Baby- Now!

If you're like me, the last thing you'll be thinking about when changing your baby's diaper at 2 AM is, "I need to get this kid a college fund." Parenting is about love, attention, piggy back rides, and vitamins, right? Its true that most of us don't think about starting a college fund for our babies while they're still in diapers, but should we?The truth is, college tuition is on the rise, a. . .

Learning to See by Traveling with a Teddy Bear

"We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly" Sam KeenThis week, I had the pleasure of going to Knoxville to film two segments with the NBC station. One segment included my daughter. We had one long 9-hour-day of travel, then a day of filming, and then a day of travel to return home. She held up like a trooper, constantly assisting me in. . .

Chore and Reward Systems That Work

Chore and reward systems are one of the most important keys for managing the busy household. A good system can inspire children while teaching them responsibility and discipline — not to mention easing your own commitments.The basics, a chore and reward system is a visual tool that lets children perform household tasks in order to earn something they would really like.Make a list of what you ne. . .

A Good Memory Will Change Your Child's Life

Would you like to help your child develop an amazing memory quickly and easily? Have you ever envied someone because of his or her incredible memory? Did that person seem to learn and remember everything ... effortlessly? Chances are that your answer is...Yes! As children begin their education and face the mountains of facts and formulas ahead of them, they will need tools to simplify th. . .

Designing Relaxing Evenings for You and Your Child

After a long day’s work many parents look forward to a relaxing evening at home. Yet a parent arrives home only to be bombarded with news broadcasts of their child’s events, demands for dinner, housework that needs to be done, homework that needs to be assisted with, baths and teeth to be brushed, laundry to be done, next day events to be organized—the beat goes on.Evenings can be the enjoyable. . .

What To Do If Your Newborn Has Jaundice?

Don't panic if your doctor tells you that your newborn baby has jaundice. Jaundice in a newborn baby is a common condition. Most newborns have normal physiological jaundice and in very rare cases is the jaundice due to serious liver disorders. Why my baby?The blood cells in your baby's body are broken up into a yellow pigment called bilirubin. The level of bilirubin needs to be kept normal by t. . .

Developing a Healthy Self-Esteem in Your Child

Children with healthy self-esteems try hard in school, get along well with others, hold a "can-do" attitude about life, and feel positive about their environment. They can accept ups and downs graciously. The opposite is true of children who suffer from low self-esteems. These children compare themselves to others and never feel they have done well enough. They are frustrated easily and fear ri. . .

Wood Chips

I wanted to share with you one of the most valuable lessons my daughter taught me when she was sixteen-months-old. I call this essay, “Cherish Your Wood Chips.”Today was one of those days where I just couldn't get enough done. No matter how many times my pen scratched off a to-do list item — a new one seemed to appear. But you, Samantha, didn't have anything on your agenda.At sixteen-months you. . .

The Right School is Crucial for Aspergers Children

Mainstream or Special Schools for Asperger Children? There has been a lot of emphasis over recent years on "inclusion". The idea is that integrating children into mainstream schools rather than placing them in special schools is a "Good Thing". But is it? Children with Aspergers syndrome see the world in a different way. With their fixed ideas and concrete thinking they can often come across as. . .

Parents, Kids And Time Alone

“What are some of the ways in which you explain to kids that mom and dad need time alone, without feeling guilty about it?”A journalist, writing an article on having time alone and couple time when you have kids, asked me this question.Parents will feel guilty only when they believe that they are doing something wrong by spending time alone and couple time without their children.This is a false. . .

Halloween Safety

Between the Harvest Festivals, Halloween parties and social gatherings, this Halloween season could be very busy for you and your family. This is why all parents should make safety the number one priority while having fun. It also never hurts to be reminded of the precautions all Halloweeners should take while gathering candy.Before leaving the house, every person going out to Trick-or-Treat . . .

Increase Your Chances Of Having A Baby

Get Your Bodies ReadyWhen you have decided you want a baby, get your body ready:* Take folic acid in supplement form, 400mcg a day, or it can be found in some foods like cornflakes.* Cut down on your caffeine intake.* If you've come off the pill, there's some dispute about how long you should wait before trying to conceive, but it's probably best to wait 2-3 months.* The man should take zinc su. . .

Baby Your Baby -- And Give Birth To A Big Reader

There are a lot of options out there when it comes to helping your baby's development along, including piping Mozart to your child in the womb or teaching her to sign shortly after she's born. But you're still giving your baby a great start just by providing her with the building blocks she'll need to learn to read.Just about all the important things that modern science suggests when it comes t. . .

Does Voice Recognition Replace The Need For Typing?

A few years ago we thought typing was passé. We would no longer have to struggle with typing. And our children may not have to learn how to type anymore. My aged mother was thrilled because she never learned to type and thought this was the answer to her prayers. Typing, at last, was on the trash heap of technology, because of this "new and improved" invention ... Voice Recognition Software. Di. . .

Getting My Child The Additional Help In School He Or She ...

The British government promised "that a child with special educational needs should have their needs met" (sec. 1.3, SEN Code of Practice, 2001). Even though it's printed for all to see, they won't be able to keep the promise, as they don't have the resources. The British government has promised that "a child with special educational needs should have their needs met" (sec. 1.3, SEN Code of Pra. . .

Mommy & Baby: Nursing Questions & Answers

Q. How often should I nurse a newborn infant?A. No fewer than 8 times per day, depending on how long he gives you at night. If he can go 4 hours, you’ll probably see two feedings in between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. If you tank him up right before you go to bed, you may only have one.Q. How often should I nurse an older baby?A. Depending on your child’s age, you should be on a 3-4 hour routine d. . .

Conception: Myths and Facts

There are a lot of old wife's tales about conception, some have an element of truth in them, most do not.Does Having Sex In The Missionary Position Determine Whether You Have A Boy Or Girl?No. There is no evidence to suggest that, nor are you likely to have a boy if you have sex standing up or when your partner enters from behind. Nor is there any evidence that lying on your back with your legs. . .

What Do You Do When Baby Outgrows His Clothes?

You've recently had a baby. It's been a few months now, and the baby has outgrown virtually two full wardrobes. Sure it's expensive, but there's a whole other issue at hand. What is a mother to do with all of this extra baby clothes?There are a number of ways to deal with this problem. First of all, there is the donation route. If you don't have close friends with similar aged babies, you can p. . .

Making Your Baby’s Clothes Last!

As any mother with a young child will tell you, babies grow very quickly. So for new mothers, making the most out of baby clothes is of the utmost importance. So what do you do when those onesies just don't quite snap anymore? How do you get an extra month out of those jeans that are a little too short for the winter months?The great thing about onesies, is that they're a very workable cotton f. . .

What Should I Buy For Baby—An Experienced Mom’s Advice

Baby's coming home soon - have you got what you need to take care of the little angel properly? You know you need footie pajamas and onesies, baby towels and bibs - but how many is enough? Having done this five times now - please hold the applause and gasps of shock - I consider myself a bit of an expert on bringing baby home to a prepared household. Most estimates of 'what you need for baby' a. . .

What To Do When Your Baby Won’t Wear Clothes!

A lot of time and energy goes into clothing your baby during the first year. From the color debate, to the rapid speed at which most infants outgrow their clothing, new parents have their plates full with keeping their babies clean, comfortable and clothed. So what do you do when all of a sudden, the baby doesn't want to wear any clothes at all? How do you deal with the exhibitionist stage of y. . .

Parenting: Strategies to Get Your Baby to Sleep

As with most aspects of parenting, you’re sure to come across a wide variety of opinions about baby’s sleep! Friends, relatives and others have their views on how much sleep babies need, the best sleep routines and more. Here are some practical guidelines you can follow. They’ve worked with many babies and so are worth trying out. Of course, every baby is different, so nothing works all the tim. . .

Amusing Facts About Babies

* Men are officially the best at changing baby! Research shows that the average time taken by a woman to change baby is 2 minutes and 5 seconds, whereas the average man takes 1 minute and 36 seconds! Expert in male and female behaviour Corinne Sweet says 'Changing baby is essentially a mechanical process, men approach it like a pit stop; they want it over as quickly as possible'. So come on guy. . .

How to Teach Anger Management to Your Child

Most of us recognize the continuing escalation of violence around us, due to intolerance, and many of us blame it on somebody else. Parents teach their children, all the time, and when one of us displays “road rage,” while our child is in the car, we teach a brand new skill set. Although, road rage is inappropriate behavior, at any time, and can get you killed, most children who are exposed to . . .

Teach Your Child to Live for Maximum Potential

At times, everyone feels a little depressed about life, and children are no exception. Just like you, children often experience “the same old grind.” They get up for school, day care, or camp to travel the same road each weekday. Some children even look forward to weekends in the same way their parents do. How can you put some excitement into life and teach your child to be successful? Sometime. . .

Back to School Responsibilities Again

It’s that time of year when mom and dad look for ways to improve their child’s academic standing during the upcoming scholastic year or, at least, they should be. There are many options to weigh in such as: new school clothes, school supplies, peer pressure, after school care, homework, league sports, and transportation.This is time of year for great changes, but here are two changes that will. . .

Modern Baby Swimwear

Are you ready for some summer fun with your baby? Doctors and health professionals agree that there is no reason that even newborns as young as one month old can’t go in the pool (the old school thought that parents should wait until babies have at least had their two-month immunizations no longer holds water) and say that introducing children to water early on can be conducive to teaching them. . .

Buying Gently Used Baby Clothing

Remember that adorable outfit you bought for your newborn - the one that cost you nearly $40, and got worn three times before it no longer fit? For such tiny things, baby clothing is expensive - and as fast as babies grow, they seldom see much wear. For parents on a budget, those are potent arguments for cutting costs where you can when dressing baby.Designer duds for baby DO make sense though . . .

Give Your Child Life Skills for a Lifetime

Many parents struggle with solutions to put their child on the fast track to success, and one such solution is not usually far from home. It is your local martial arts school. How will martial arts change your child's life? The difference could be, as simple as, keeping your child away from peer pressure that leads to drug abuse. Although, the answer is much deeper, martial arts will give any . . .

The Truth About Layettes

Recently, I was at a baby shower for a young friend of mine who is expecting her first child. Most of the attendees were college friends of ours, and almost no one in the room has had a child yet. Needless to say, some of the gifts took some explaining. For many young mothers, some necessities may come as a surprise. In fact many may not know what the phrase "baby layette" means. For those, and. . .

Out, Darn Spot! Removing Stains From Babies’ Clothing

Do you remember the television commercials for the laundry detergent that claimed to remove the embarrassing “ring around the collar?” The husband and wife would be at some social gathering, perhaps dining on Lobster Thermador at the Rotary Club or some such thing, when one of the Gladys Kravitz-esque attendees would notice a stain on Mr. Commercial’s shirt collar and point it out loudly enough. . .

Science Toys are Educational Toys

My son Jack had been quietly playing with his Meccano set when we heard him scream, sweet!What a cool toy, my friend Dave said, it's a ferris wheel. It's a solar powered ferris wheel, said Jack.Dave asked me, How did you get him to play with educational toys, my son only wants to play video games. I asked Dave whether he had ever played educational games or built rockets or space toys with hi. . .

Integrate Fun and Learning with Games

Children are always up for a good game. Well, who isn't? Pretend that you are back in school. For the rest of the class period you have two choices as to how you can spend your time. Option #1 is to struggle through endless arithmetic and English worksheets without any feedback except for a stamp that says "Great Job!" Option #2 is to work on the same arithmetic and English content, but on a co. . .

My Kids Think I’m Their Maid!

Ever feel as if you are running around like a chicken with your head cut off?Are there way too many things on your to-do list every day?Are you constantly fighting at keeping your house picked up and orderly?Do you have children?Are they doing their fair share???Or are you doing it for them?Think about that. Are your children doing their fair share around the home, or are you doing their share . . .

Watch Out For Allergies With Baby Laundry!

So you're having a baby. You think you've thought of everything, but at the same time you're terrified that you've missed something. Here's one thing you may or may not have thought of: laundry. Yes, you know that you will have more, but have you considered the basic differences between your baby's laundering needs and yours? If you regularly use perfumed detergents, bleach, or fabric softener,. . .

Let Your Child Get Dirty! It’s Essential for Physical and...

Are you still following your child around worrying that they might stain their clothes? Do you forbid playing outside because they might get dirty? Do you see germs and infections in every step they take? Are you trying to keep away friendly dogs or cute kittens because they might be disease carriers?Do any of the sentences above represent your attitude towards your child? If yes, you must reco. . .

Mommy & Baby: Weight Gain & Failure To Thrive

A guide to appropriate weight-gain and what to look for if you suspect failure-to-thrive:Weight Gain:Birth – 2 weeks of ageRegain birth weight plus some2 weeks – 3 months of ageTwo pounds per month or one ounce per day4 – 6 months of ageOne pound per month or one-half ounce per day (should double birth weight by 6 months)One year of age2.5 to 3 times her birth weightFailure to Thrive:There is a. . .

Pink, Blue Or Undecided?

The pink or blue question is a moot one these days, isn't it? After all, it's so easy to tell the gender of a baby before the happy day, so there's no need to guess. Well, that's not strictly true. Even with the advances in technology, ultrasound pictures aren't always one hundred percent certain, and many parents prefer to be surprised. If you're shopping for a new baby without knowing the gen. . .

Is It A Boy? Is It A Girl? I Don’t Know… Find Something G...

There are some things we take for granted in today’s world. Day in and day out we know the sun is going to rise in the morning and set at night, the freeway is going to be jam packed with traffic every Friday afternoon from about three pm until six or seven, and people who are having a baby shower will be able to tell us whether the cute blue sailor suit or the pretty pink dress will be an appr. . .

Parenting: Ten Things You Can Do to Develop Your Baby’s L...

The growth of your baby’s language skills is an amazing process. In the short space of a year, she goes from crying to speaking intelligible words. Can you do anything to help baby along? Apparently yes. There are ways to help the baby develop her language skills more easily and quickly. Keep in mind that these are only general guidelines. All babies do not respond equally to these actions. In . . .

Gun Safety

There are 21,700,000 websites on the subject of GUN SAFETY. If that doesn’t tell you just how important this subject is…nothing will! Police Departments all around the country, medical groups, gun safety organizations (including the NRA), and thousands of other agencies, organizations, and associations have all dedicated websites to this subject.Articles appear discussing the 10 commandments of. . .

Traditional, Classic, And Old World Baby Clothing Dressin...

In today’s world there are nearly as many styles in baby clothing as there are babies crawling about. Parents who want modern clothing can find it at the nearest Wal-Mart, those who desire alternative forms of clothing for their babies can usually find it online, some people make their baby clothing by hand, cutting cloth and sewing together designs from patterns purchased at the nearest Hancoc. . .

Mommy & Baby: Keeping Tabs On Baby’s Growth

Lactation difficulties are not completely prevented by using PDF; you are rested and eating properly, your baby is getting enough food and growing, and your life is relatively predictable. So you might think that you’re immune from production issues, right? There are many more factors which play in to milk production that just the ones I listed.Factors that can affect milk supply include: Amoun. . .

10 Points on Children for the New Parent

Everyone has their own ‘special’ way of parenting – some good and some that could be improved upon. I remember when my daughter was born, later my son. I should’ve done this, should’ve done that and maybe improved in some areas. Comments were all from well meaning individuals trying to help me out.Most times I appreciated their pearls of wisdom because they made sense. At other times the li. . .

Cloth Diapers – A Thing Of The Past?

New parents have heard the argument time and again from their own parents or grandparents. “You young people don’t know how good you have it with those disposable diapers for your babies! When you were a baby I had to use cloth diapers on you and they smelled terribly, I had tons of laundry to do, I stuck myself with pins, and I walked uphill in the snow both ways to get to the diaper service…”. . .

Oppositional Defiant Disorder Treatment

About a year ago I wrote an article on Oppositional Defiant Disorder discussing the condition, symptoms and treatment options. This article is an update describing what is new.-IntroductionOppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is a psychiatric behavior disorder that is characterized by aggressiveness and a tendency to purposefully bother and irritate others. These behaviors cause significant dif. . .

Extra-Cute Baby Outfits

Parents live vicariously through their children and play dress-up.One of the joys of being the parent of an infant comes in the form of choosing cute outfits for the baby to wear. Over the years, parents have narrowed this down to an art, finding and choosing the most adorable outfits that they can imagine and making it seem that every day is Halloween for their infants and toddlers. While scar. . .

Preparing Your Young Actor or Actress for Industry Success

Helping your young acting hopeful prepare for a successful acting career can be an incredibly rewarding experience for the parent. All parents like seeing their children being creative, expressing themselves, and, most importantly, having fun.It should be stated, however, that forcing a child to participate in any pursuit they don’t like is not just counterproductive but harmful to the child. Y. . .