Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Learning To Be Safe With Your Children On The Road

(NC)—According to recent Canadian studies, as many as eight out of 10 child safety seats may be improperly installed in Canadian vehicles. While most parents understand the importance of child safety seats and make sure they have one for their child, the problem comes from a lack of caregiver education when installing them.Transport Canada's "Keep Kids Safe: Car Time 1-2-3-4" information guide . . .

Pay Attention! It's Your Most Important Job

Anyone can become a parent; there are no tests or interviews to pass. Children can become parents, mentally disabled people – it’s even possible to become a parent while in a coma! When my mother, who is a truly great parent still, became a mom the first time, she was 19 and had very little experience with children. The hospital gave her 1 piece of paper with instructions and sent her on her. . .

How To Stop Bullying

(NC)—According to Family Services Canada, approximately 12% of children are bullies. Additional research confirms that bullying occurs frequently: once every seven minutes on the playground and once every twenty-five minutes in class (Craig and Pepler, 1997).To prevent bullying, it is important to consider not only the bully and victim, but also peers, school staff, parents, and the broader com. . .

Tips For Parents On How To Deal With Bullying

(NC)—Bullying behaviour may seem rather insignificant compared to the trouble that some kids can get into. Many dismiss it as just another part of "growing up." But we can't anymore. Statistics show that one in four children who bully will have a criminal record before the age of thirty. Teasing on playgrounds and at bus stops, taking other children's lunch money, insults and threats, kicking a. . .

Painful Lessons from the Maternity Ward

Whoever dubbed New York, New York "the city that never sleeps" should visit The Maternity Ward. My recent visit included a drop-in on several screenings of "A Star Is Born" at the late-show theatre, right near Mama's Breast (all night milk bar) and Papa's Gas Station ("We burp you on your way.").To a chorus of infant cries, I drafted this column at 1:00 a.m. Of course, it was 3:00 p.m. in Tok. . .

Spelling Games

The following spelling games can be used by parents to reinforce spelling in children:SPELLING GAME 1: USE BOARD GAMES, SUCH AS MONOPOLYPlay any game that is normally played with dice with the child -- Monopoly, for example. The parent can continue to move her token forward in the normal way by throwing the dice, but the child must orally spell a word to move forward.To select words that can be. . .

Marriages May End But Families Are Forever

It was at that time when our marriage was falling apart and we completely hated each other when we needed to work constructively as parents, as our child’s world was crumbling too.I have been divorced for over five years now and have a beautiful eleven year old daughter. My ex-husband has re married. They now have a baby girl. I get along very well with my ex husband and his wife and there are . . .

5 Ways To Help Your Kids Do Math

Uh oh. Your kids arrive home with their school reports and it's poor marks from the math department. Now what do you do? You may not be a math teacher, but thankfully there are ways you can help your kids improve their grades. Studies have shown that children are much more likely to perform well in a subject that interests them. So here are 5 ways to get your kids excited about math and actuall. . .

14 Ways To Boost Customer Response In A Tough Economy

Things are rough today for online businesses. The economy is struggling to get back on track. Spam is clogging up the inboxes of everyone, making email marketing less effective. And anti-spam software seems delighted to target legitimate email as junk.Today, you must step up your tactics to keep your customers buying and away from the competition next door on the cyberspace highway. Study your. . .

Where Will YOUR Kids Get A Job?

Let's face it. The job market is getting tougher every day. Computerization is making many jobs redundant. The Internet and modern telecommunications have allowed companies to outsource jobs to third-world countries where wage costs are much lower. In fact thousands of jobs have already been shed in the United Kingdom as several major banks have outsourced their call center operations to the In. . .

Eight Out Of 10 Kids In Child Safety Seats Are At Risk – ...

(NC)—Even the most informed parents make mistakes when installing child safety seats. According to a recent study by Transport Canada, eight out of 10 child safety seats are improperly installed. DaimlerChrysler Canada recognized the need to help parents properly install car seats and as a result has developed a free safety seat inspection service called Fit for a Kid®, that is open to any make. . .

Oh Baby! You Can Make It Happen

(NC)—Right from the beginning, a baby learns that certain actions within his or her environment can bring desired results. Typically the first sign of reinforcement comes from the baby's parents. For example, a baby learns early on in the development stage that crying will result in a parent picking him up, feeding him or changing his diaper.Throughout this learning process it is important for . . .

Goal Setting for Kids

Goal setting is essential for building a successful life. However, teaching kids how to set and achieve goals is not part of most school curriculums, nor is it taught in most homes. Many parents never learned the techniques of goal setting, and are still struggling with their own. You don't need to know it all. While you develop your own goal-setting skills, you can also be helping and encourag. . .

Learning Through Senses – The Key To A Child's Development

(NC)—The first few years of a child's life are full of new and exciting experiences that are absorbed like a sponge through the five senses: touch, taste, smell, sight and sound. From birth, newborns are bombarded with a busy world that they must learn to master. It is the senses that pave the way for a child's development throughout his or her life."From birth, parents must choose toys and lea. . .

Play, Laugh, Grow – Learning To Play With Your Child

(NC)—The first year of a child's life is a prime time for exploring. Babies are excited and eager to learn about the world around them and playing is essential to a child's development. Parents are the best learning resource a child has, and playtime offers a chance for bonding between parents and children. By learning how to play with their children, parents can help them develop a sense of ac. . .

The Importance of Mothers

Moms, did you ever question your value as a role model, caretaker, administer of hugs and Band-Aids? I think we all have in today's climate of "do more, get more, have more." Many of us work to bring home a paycheck and others work for our sanity. Have you ever wondered if your children were better off with the baby sitter than you? Scientific studies are beginning to point to the overwhelming . . .

Really Good News About Your Children’s Video Games

Research published by University of Rochester neuroscientists C. Shawn Green and Daphne Bavelier has grabbed national attention for suggesting that playing “action” video and computer games has positive effects – enhancing student’s visual selective attention. But that finding is just one small part of a more important message that all parents and educators need to hear: video games are not . . .

Digital Natives and Immigrants

Perhaps the least understood and least appreciated notion among those who design and deliver education today is the fact that our students have changed radically. A really big discontinuity has taken place – the arrival and rapid dissemination of digital technology in the last decades of the 20th century.Today’s learners represent the first generations to grow up with this new technology. The. . .

What Kids Learn That’s POSITIVE from Playing Video Games

“Our family engages in "mindless" video games from time to time ... but it's treated like "junk food"…. It really has no "nutritional" value for our minds.” – Ben Armstrong 1Like the observer above, many parents and critics express the opinion that computer and video games are “mindless,” i.e. that kids don’t learn anything beyond hand-eye coordination from the thousands of hours they spend pla. . .

How Kids Learn To Cooperate In Video Games -- A Guide for...

A great many parents are concerned that the electronic games their kids play are teaching the kids “negative” messages such as aggression, violence, and isolation from real people. I want to illustrate here how computer and video game playing, can have positive effects on kids. This includes even the “addictive” game playing associated with many of these games. The learning from these games . . .

Children are People, Not Machines

When growing up, my father frequently reminded me to "pay attention to the details." That saying became very real to me in the area of parenting. While raising children, the details make great differences in development. Being that children are people and not machines, the kind of detailing needed is different. Focusing on the externals of name brand clothing, perfect hair and having the mo. . .

Saving Money on Preschool: Readiness Skills Needed for Ki...

As a mom of 4 who's youngest child is about to start Kindergarten this Fall, I'd like to share with you some things I've learned about Preschool over the last ten years, along with a list of readiness skills every child can be learning at home - whether attending Preschool or not. Preschools, especially those taught in a church environment, are a wonderful resource that help prepare childre. . .

What the Matter Is

When my oldest boy was really young, he tickled my mother with that phrase. I would ask him, "What's the matter?" and he would answer me, "Well, what the matter is..." followed by whatever it was that he needed to discuss with me. He would say it with that very serious face that children get when they are expecting to be taken very seriously. We all loved the cute way he prefaced his conc. . .

The Ten Things That Successful Parents Do

1. They are leaders as well as parents. They don’t rely on the schools, the government, television, the movies or music to teach their children values and the difference between right and wrong. They do it themselves.2. They have a vision for their family and its future, one that is discussed and shared often. And they support the vision with clearly articulated, clarified and communicated valu. . .

Children’s Birthday Party Planning: When and When Not to ...

Age 1: Invite only family members and close friends only because this birthday is more for the parents than for the child. At age 1, a child doesn’t understand the concept of “Birthday Party.” He or she is getting a lot of attention---which is all a 1-year-old wants or understands anyway. You should not go overboard on presents because too much could scare or confuse a child. You should conside. . .

Mommies and Me Special Time

Creating and making special memories with your child is very important, especially for your child’s development. Special memories also help build a relationship with your child that will last a lifetime. Moms often do not have the money they would like to spend to do things with their children.With that in mind, I have put together activities I used to do with my son (who is now 17 and still re. . .

5 Steps to Raising an Optimistic Child

I had just completed a session with 17-year old Julie who suffered from severe depression. Julie believed she was a total failure and would never be able to change anything in her life. Julie also felt all her shortcomings were her own fault.Where, I ask myself, did such a young person acquire this negative and fatalistic thinking?The answer soon became apparent when I invited her parents into . . .

For the Love of Mommy

For most of you being a mother is one of the most wonderful and rewarding experiences that you will have in your life. It can also be a time when you feel lost and out of touch with who you are outside of being a “mommy”. Maintaining an identity outside of your children is vitally important, not just for you, but for your family as well. So here are ten strategies that not only keep you conn. . .

Soul Mate - a Pain in the Neck

"and they lived happily ever after...That is how our favorite childhood fairytales have always ended.That is how the romantic movies from Hollywood always end.And that is what the media agencies advertisements promise will happen if we'll purchase the right toothpaste, car, T-shirt or life insurance policy.In short, ""...and they lived happily ever after..."" is what we have been conditioned to. . .

A Dad's Thoughts On Dad's day

(21 Reasons I Love Being A Dad) © Lee Wise All rights reservedWhat you will read in the next five to eight minutes will not qualify as one of the top ten professionally written articles of the year: guaranteed. But you will read this, guaranteed: thoughts created on Father's Day from a guy who loves being a dad. 21 REASONS I LOVE BEING A DAD... AND AN OLDER ONE AT THAT I love the privil. . .

Breaking the Cycle of Emotional Blackmail

Family decision-making is an intriguing phenomenon. Many factors become part of the decision-making process. Emotions play an important part in this activity. Parents and children each use emotions to steer decisions favorable way to themselves. Using emotions to influence decisions develops naturally. The use of emotions becomes harmful when they are used as threats to control or intimidat. . .

Tips for Keeping Packed Lunches Fun and Interesting

• Let the child choose his or her own lunch box or reusable lunch bag. Encourage the child to add decorations, too.• Children like finger foods. Cut chicken, cheese, or meat into bite-sized pieces for easier handling.• Sandwiches don’t have to be boring. Use a variety of breads and fillings. Cut sandwiches into squares or triangles, or use cookie cutters to cut out fancy shapes.• Insulated . . .

Friends Are A Gift You Give Yourself

My oldest boy is fifteen and was a real jerk about a month ago. He had gotten pretty full of himself and acted like he was too cool for the rest of the family. Pretty typical teenager behavior, but I didn't like it. I had gotten to the end of my patience with him and laid into him about how lousy it felt to be treated that way. We ended up in a huge fight. He argued that he wasn't acting a. . .

Dressing A Toddler, Whomever She Is Today

Some things we take for granted. Like getting dressed. Unless we are paraplegic, an absolute klutz or have just smoked far too much cabbage, getting dressed is a cinch.Sure, if you happen to be the winner of the 2004 Imelda Marcos Shoe Collection Trophy, you might have trouble choosing just the right shoe for the occasion. But actually slipping your foot into your selection should be a cinch. . .

6 Tried & True Fun Ways to Educate and Entertain Your Pre...

1. New Word of the DayIntroduce your preschooler to a new word each morning at breakfast and define it for him. Keep it simple by using synonyms for words he already knows. Example: vehicle can be another word for car, truck, van, etc. Make a game of using the word as many times as possible each day. This is a fun way to build your child's vocabulary.2. Create a Reading Hide-AwayA large cardboa. . .

Surviving a C-Section

After 42 weeks of pregnancy, two days of undergoing inducement and physical stress on the baby, my daughter was delivered via an emergency C-section. Oh, it was music to my ears when my gynecologist arrived in my hospital room at 4:30 a.m. and told me they were going to do an emergency C-section. I must have been in shock or delirious! However, after going through a traumatic two days, I had ha. . .

Fighting the Pregnancy Blahs

Every pregnant woman has experienced the pregnancy blahs. I can remember feeling so big and unattractive throughout my two pregnancies, and secretly wishing for the pregnancy to be over so that I could have my body back and fit into my normal clothes. It’s sad to say, really, because pregnancy is such a beautiful experience and the fact that you created this little human being that is developin. . .

Family Night on a Budget!

When you and your family are on a tight budget, sometimes one of the first things to be cut out is money for entertainment. When our 3 children were small, my husband and I always tried to find fun things to do as a family that didn't make a huge dent in our budget. One thing we recommend is setting aside one night a week for "Family Fun Night". Turn off the TV and the phone and do something to. . .

New Mom...New Baby...New Debt??

Ah, there is nothing like being an expectant mom. Along with your expanding waistline comes the ever growing list of products for you and your new bundle of joy. Preparing for a new baby can be a costly experience, especially in the areas of clothing and nursery furniture. The good news is that it does not have to be!Let’s talk about buying baby clothes...think RESALE! Every new mom gushes . . .

His Toy, Her Toy

I remember when my daughter was born. Visions of her and I dressed in pinks and purples sitting in her lacy pink room playing dolls danced threw my head. A year later my son was born ;My husbands vision of sports and trucks revved around like mad men threw his manly mind.Those dreams were simply that dreams. Little did I know there are lessons for parents to learn about children’s toys and who . . .

Mutants or Clones?

In a single dose of children's television, I was bombarded with themes of mutants, cyborgs, evolving and the digital world. These words intimidated me at first, until I learned what the shows were talking about. I wondered how this prepares children for living in the 21st century. The answer hit me when I came across the saying, "Don't Clone...Mutate."For those not familiar with the new languag. . .

Remember The "Generation Gap"?

The techniques of managing relationships between parents and their children is as old as.. well, parents having children. It's not an easy job, either for the parent or the child. But, the key to any relationship inside or outside the family is the ability to relate; to have an empathy that allows us a slightly special way in which we can communicate with one another in order to understand, and. . .

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 ?©2004We'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 being read to ? Does reading matter ?The purpose of this article is. . .

Math or Magic?

As someone once said: "There's an easy way to do something, and an unlimited number of difficult ways". Take simple division, for example: Suppose you need to divide 43 by 9. The answer is 4 (the first figure of 43) and the remainder is 7 (4 + 3). Similarly 35 divided by 9 is 3 remainder 8. In the Vedic system we use the natural properties of numbers. The number 9 has the property that it is 1. . .

Teaching Children Good Manners

Last week in my newsletter, I mentioned that my children knew how to behave in nice restaurants because they had been exposed to the atmosphere at an early age. My idea of well behaved might be different from yours, however, I think there are certain basics that are important and universal.When my daughters were babies, we would take them wherever we went. If they began to fuss or cry, one of u. . .

It Doesn't Take Much Force To Cause A Head Injury

(NC)-Head injuries are the number one cause of serious injury and death to kids on wheeled equipment such as bicycles, in-line skates, scooters and skateboards. Few people realize that the human skull is more fragile than it looks."The human skull is just one centimetre thick, about the same thickness as a ballpoint pen," says Amy Zierler, information specialist at Safe Kids Canada. "It can be . . .

Helmets Work: The Trick Is Getting Your Child To Wear One

(NC)-Bikes, scooters, skateboards and in-line skates are popular with Canadian children. But it's important to stay safe, stresses Safe Kids Canada. Head injuries are the number one cause of serious injury and death to kids on wheels, says Amy Zierler, information specialist at Safe Kids Canada. "The good news is that a correctly worn helmet cuts the risk of serious head or brain injury by as m. . .

Helping Parents Cope with Children's Disabilities

(NC)-Parents of children with disabilities face extra demands on their time, energy and resources. Most cope well, despite the fact that increased stress takes a physical and emotional toll. Why do some parents cope better than others? Dr. Peter Rosenbaum, Dr. Parminder Raina and their team at McMaster University are studying 650 parents of children with varying degrees of cerebral palsy to det. . .

Dyslexia: Is the Shoe Perhaps on the Wrong Foot?

Reading is the most important skill that a child must acquire at school, because one must learn to read to be able to read to learn. The implication of this is that the child who is a poor reader will usually also be a poor learner.Unfortunately poor reading skills, and therefore poor learning skills, have become a reality for an alarming number of people. The $14 million National Adult Literac. . .

Stop, Look, Listen! Steps to Better Parenting Communication

As a parent is seems that the majority of your day is spent trying to get your children to listen to what you are trying to teach them. Make them understand how to me a responsible child. Convince them to make the right choices. Kids call these lectures. Some parents call them friendly reminders or teaching opportunities. Dean Rusks said, "One of the best ways to persuade others- is with . . .