Night Terrors and Toddlers

Night Terrors and Toddlers

Imagine This: You wake up to your toddler screaming. You go to her room to find her sitting straight up in bed with her eyes wide open. She's crying and has a startled look on her face. There's nothing in the room that should have caused such a reaction, so you assume that she has had a nightmare. But that might not be the case.

It's possible that your toddler may have had a night terror. These typically occur in children from 2 to 6 years old, and differ somewhat from nightmares. When having a night terror, the toddler is never fully awake and probably doesn't even know you're there. She becomes confused and inconsolable, and after you see such a scene you may feel similarly.

The good news is that night terrors can often be treated without medication. Treatment usually consists of simple changes in routine or interruption of sleep patterns. Even if your child does not completely stop having night terrors with treatment, she will most likely outgrow them.

How Should I Handle a Night Terror?

When they discover their child having a night terror, the first instinct of many parents is to wake her up. But that will probably make the child even more upset and confused. That's the last thing you want.

Some experts advise parents to gently console their child, but others say it is futile due to the fact that she doesn't know you're there. The most important thing you can do is make sure that the child is safe and doesn't get hurt. Many children flail their arms and legs about when having a night terror, and some even bolt out of bed. So safety is a big concern for them.

Prevention of Night Terrors

One of the primary causes of night terrors is going to bed too tired. Making sure that your toddler is getting enough sleep may reduce or eliminate the occurrence of night terrors. You could put her to bed earlier, wake her up later, extend her nap or put her down for an additional one during the day.

If the additional sleep doesn't get rid of the night terrors, you may need to try interrupting your child's sleep cycle. This is accomplished by waking her up after about 1 to 2 hours of sleep, or about 15 minutes before the time the night terrors usually occur. This change in her sleep pattern could ward of the night terrors.

If these methods do not work, talk to your child's doctor. He may determine that she needs medication to get rid of her night terrors.

Night terrors are scarier for parents than they are for children. The child does not know what is going on when she has one, and will not remember it the next morning. But effectively treating them will result in a better night's sleep for both you and your child.

Children and Seperation Anxiety

When your child is an infant, he may have no problem with going to the babysitter. Babies usually adapt to new caregivers well as long as their needs are being attended to. So it often comes as a shock when you go to drop your 1 year old off at his long-time sitter, and he starts screaming.

This is not an uncommon scenario. At some point between 8 months and 2 1/2 years of age, most children experience separation anxiety to some degree. Understanding the underlying causes can help you cope with separation anxiety and help your child overcome it.

What Causes Separation Anxiety?

At around 6 months, your baby will begin to realize that objects do not disappear when they are out of sight. This is a major discovery for him. But it also brings forth worries that things that go away might not come back. And those things include his parents.

So when you drop your child off with his caregiver, he may get very upset even if he has been going to the same caregiver for some time without incident. Some parents panic and see this as cause for alarm. But if there are no other indications of problems, it is probably a case of separation anxiety.

How to Cope With Seperation Anxiety

If possible, avoid taking your child to a new childcare provider when he is between 8 months and 1 year old. This is when separation anxiety usually begins to appear. Although it will likely show itself even with familiar caregivers, switching to a new one at this sensitive time could make things much worse.

Telling your child when you will be back in terms that he can understand may help to alleviate his fears. He probably can't tell time yet, so he'll need something other than a number of hours. Telling him you'll be back after lunch or naptime gives him a familiar event to go by. Sticking to your word and being back exactly when you said you would lets him know that he can count on what you tell him.

Some parents try to sneak off when the child is not looking, but that usually makes things worse. Even if your child is crying, telling him goodbye and meaning it is the best approach. Once you've left, it's not a good idea to come back to check on him. A phone call 15-20 minutes later can ease your fears while avoiding a second meltdown.

Separation anxiety affects most toddlers at some point. It is just part of growing up. Remaining calm, saying goodbye, and leaving when the time comes will help your child adjust. Setting a time to be back and sticking to it will alleviate his fears and build confidence.

Potty Training Toddlers

The terrible twos can be a trying time, but also a rewarding one. Your toddler is at a stage when he is trying to establish independence. One of these steps toward independence is the transition from wearing diapers to using the toilet.

Potty training can be a trying time for the child and the parents. But the rewards of saying goodbye to diapers and seeing the look of accomplishment on your toddler's face make it well worth the effort.

Know When Your Child Is Ready

One of the most important things to consider in potty training is whether or not your toddler is ready for it. He may be ready earlier or later than his siblings, cousins, or your friends' kids. Some signs that your little one is ready for potty training include:

* Going two hours or more without wetting a diaper
* Awareness of urination and bowel movements, before or while they happen
* Being bothered by a dirty or wet diaper or telling you that he has one
* Expressing interest in using the potty

Two years is a common age for potty training readiness. But some kids are ready earlier and some later. Most experts agree that there is no need for concern unless your child is 4 years old and still expresses no interest in using the potty.

Preparing for Potty Training

When your child is approaching two years old, or sooner if he shows interest in using the potty, there are some ways you can encourage his curiosity. There are many books about potty training designed for toddlers that use pictures and fun rhymes to discuss learning to use the potty. Reading these to your child can educate him about bathroom etiquette and encourage him to ask questions. It's also good to let your child in when the parent of the same gender is using the bathroom. This lets the child see in person what is expected of him.

Once your child is ready, you can start encouraging him to use the potty. You will probably want a potty chair, but there are also some other products on the market that can help you with this. Diapers that have disappearing symbols or let your toddler feel wetness can help him learn when he needs to go to the potty. There are also sticker charts that you can use to keep track of your child's progress. A small reward each time he gets a set number of stickers can provide an added incentive and encouragement.

When to Go Potty

Looking for signs that your child is about to use his diaper can give you cues as to when you should try to get him to use the potty. If it's hard to tell with your little one but you can try taking him about every two hours. It's important to be in the bathroom with him the whole time in the early stages. Once he begins to let you know when he needs to use the potty, you can gradually begin to let him go in himself and come in to help as needed.

Potty training is one of the most important phases of a child's development. It is also a frequent source of stress for parents. Following the child's lead and giving rewards and encouragement can make the transition much smoother for both toddler and parents.

Simple Pumpkin Painting

With each annual visit to the pumpkin patch, teachers, room mothers, scout troop leaders and parents alike often wonder how to make the most of the prize pumpkin that was chosen by a child.

Forget the messy and dangerous ideas of carving. Pumpkin Painting is the perfect solution to a creative dilemma!

Painting silly, goofy or scary faces or other designs can be a fun, yet relatively simple activity for children and adults.

Preschool age children can even participate in creating their own designs for their pumpkins. You certainly can't say that about carving pumpkins!

The easiest design to paint on a pumpkin is a traditional jack-o-lantern face. But here are some other ideas for festive designs:
- silly or goofy faces
- favorite cartoon characters
- fall leaves
- scarecrow
- witch
- princess
- turkey
- spider
- ghosts
- cats
- goblin

Painting pumpkins is a very economical craft as most supplies are readily available (you probably already have some of these in your home):

- washable markers
- acrylic craft paints
- newspaper
- spray sealer
- accessories such as raffia, jewelry, hats, etc.

Before beginning, decide what design you are going to paint and trace that design onto a clean pumpkin. You can freehand the design or select one of the many designs in the ultimate e-guide for pumpkin painting, Easy Pumpkin Painting.

Once you or your child has painted their first pumpkin, chances are you’ll want to paint an entire pumpkin family to proudly display at your home.

Pumpkin Painting is an annual family tradition at our house. We hope it will be at yours as well.

Easy Pumpkin Painting is a guide that contains step-by-step instructions and color photographs of exactly how to paint the cutest Halloween pumpkins. It also contains templates that you can use to paint your first pumpkin in about an hour! Easy Pumpkin Painting makes painting pumpkins, well, Easy!

Kids Trick-or-Treat Safety Tips

Halloween is a great day for kids, but is also one in which caution and safety should be utilized. Here are some tips, some of which have been recommended by the National Safety Council.

* Ensure a parent or guardian accompanies the kids when they go out trick-or-treating.
* If you have older kids who are going out with friends, instruct them to stay within the neighborhood, and to walk along a well lit route.
* Do not enter homes or apartments without adult supervision.
* Only visit those homes in which you know the families.
* Remind them to look both ways when they cross the street. Kids who wear dark clothing are especially vulnerable to drivers who cannot see them at night.
* If your child is going out with a group of other children, ensure that his or her name, address, and telephone number is tucked inside his or her pocket. This is just in case they get separated from the group.
* Walk; do not run, from house to house.
* Walk on sidewalks, not in the street.
* Walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic if there are no sidewalks.
* Do not cross yards and lawns where they cannot see objects or come across uneven terrain can cause them to fall.
* Don’t accept any rides from strangers or talk to them either.
* Always know where you are.
* Avoid pets you don’t know.
* Treat bags carried by youngsters should be light-colored or trimmed with reflective tape if children are allowed out after dark.
* Masks can sometimes obstruct a child's vision. If masks are worn, they should have nose and mouth openings and large eye holes.
* Give your kids a time when they should return home.
* Advise your kids not to eat any treat before they come home.
* After your kids bring home their treats, inspect everything in their treat bag.
* Wash fruit and slice into small pieces.
* Check for any holes in candy or candy bars or partially open candies. Throw out baked goods that are homemade, unless you know the origin.
* When in doubt, throw it out.

Driving Safety Tips for Teens Who Drive to School

Well, it’s nail-biting time. Your teen has just passed the test and has received a license to drive. Whether you taught your teen to drive or a driving course was taken, your teen now feels ready to drive to school.

Driving to school encompasses a myriad of rules and regulations, not only those mandated by law, but by parents as well.

* Always wear a seatbelt.
* Never talk on a cell phone while driving.
* Do not drink and drive at any time.
* Do not engage in putting on makeup while driving.
* Do not comb hair while driving.
* Do not eat or drink while driving.
* Do not blast the radio or CD.
* Do not use the horn unless absolutely necessary.
* Park in a safe area at school or use their parking lot, if applicable.
* Follow all of the rules and regulations of the road, including:
o coming to a full stop at stop sign
o adhering to pedestrians crossing the road
o stop at a yellow light and not try to drive through it
o if a school bus has its stop sign poised at the out position, stop and wait until the bus moves before driving
o always check front and side mirrors for approaching cars
o always signal before making turns
o turn on headlights during inclement weather
* Ensure no one is behind or in front of you when parking.
* Observe all street signs and speed limits.

Since this is the first time your teen is using the car to drive to school, it is understandable that you are a bit anxious. However, trust in the fact that your teen fully understands all of the rules of the road, has driven responsibly with you, and has followed your every direction.

Cell phone use is only for emergencies. Parking the car and then making a call is recommended. Teens know they are responsible for their actions. If they falter in any way, there is always public transportation. You can be sure they would never want a parent driving them to school, so they fully understand their actions have consequences.

Disney Mix Stick- High School Musical

New Mom Review: Disney Mix Stick- High School Musical

Disney Mix Stick High School Musical

Description: The Disney Mix Stick-High School Musical in Orange is a MP3 player for children that will play songs two ways. The first way to play songs is by the SD/MMC card slot, this slot plays WMA/MP3 songs that have been saved to SD/MMC cards. You can also buy SD/MMC cards that already come preloaded with music onto the cards. The Disney Company sells them under the name of Mix Clips. The Mix Clips offer the convenience of a full CD's worth of songs in one little SD/MMC card.

The second way that the Disney Mix Stick-High School Musical in Orange plays songs are to take them directly from your computer. To do so is very easy, simply take the end off of the Disney Mix Stick-High School Musical in Orange and plug it directly into your computer. Any songs from your computer that are in the MP3/WMA format can be loaded unto your Disney Mix Stick-High School Musical in Orange player. It also comes with software to load to your computer to help you with the copying of music files from your computer to your Disney Mix Stick-High School Musical in Orange player.


Review: Both my son and my daughter have the Disney Mix Stick-High School Musical in Orange. They received them for their birthdays. They are made very sturdy and have lasted very well. I have had no problems with transferring songs from my computer to the player. I give this product a 5 star rating.

The buttons on the Disney Mix Stick-High School Musical in Orange MP3 player are very easy to use. There are buttons for functions that include, fast forward, rewind, play, pause, mix it and loop.

The Disney Mix Stick-High School Musical in Orange MP3 player also comes with a built in rechargeable battery that has an 8-hour playback life, ear buds and a lanyard with a safety release. Every time you plug in your Disney Mix Stick-High School Musical in Orange Mp3 player to transfer songs from your computer to the player you are also charging the rechargeable battery.

==>Disney Mix Stick High School Musical

Tips For Choosing A Daycare Provider

As a working parent, it becomes necessary for you to enroll your child in a daycare center. While you may be understandably leery, here are some tips for choosing a daycare provider which will help in allaying any fears you may have.

* Check out the daycare centers in your area, either on line or by calling.
* Find out if there are any vacant spots so you can enroll your child.
* Ask where they are located and their hours of operation.
* What is the cost?
* Ensure the daycare provider is licensed.
* Ask how many children are currently enrolled in the center, and their ages.
* Ask if they supply meals to the children.

The next series of steps you take are very important. Visit the daycare center and check on the following:

* Is it clean and safe? Is the ratio of caregiver to child appropriate?
* Are the children actively engaged in activities?
* Do the children seem happy and are being taken care of individually.
* Are there enough toys and materials with which the caregiver is able to engage the children in activities?
* How do the caregivers talk to the children? Are they warm and friendly?
* Ask the administrator to give you background information on the staff. Are they licensed in this particular area?
* Ensure these caregivers have been trained and have the proper credentials.
* Does the center have exits which are readily available to use in case of emergency egress.

The final step is first hand inspections. Visit several daycare providers during the early morning hours. Determine which center provides the best care and treatment of your child, and has plenty of activities and materials to keep your child active and focused. Then choose accordingly.

The other alternative is to choose a daycare provider to come to your home. This may produce another set of problems, especially if you bring in a family member. You need to weight your options carefully, and decide which is more affordable and better choice for you and your child. Research, talk to other moms, and network.

Kids After School Sports Activities

Since the advent of after school sports activities, there has been an explosion of programs offered in most schools.

There are so many choices available to kids, the list is endless. They often include: tennis, volleyball, soccer, softball, baseball, football, and volleyball. Most of these sports activities are held during the school year and each one is geared toward the different seasons in a year.

Softball has become immensely popular for girls. In fact, there is a softball category in the Olympics. In addition, in middle schools tennis is offered during the spring and summer, as is baseball, basketball, soccer and volleyball. In the early fall kids can participate in football.

These activities not only encourage kids to join teams in schools, but afford them the opportunity to maintain an exercise program which they may not normally participate in at home. In addition, it invokes sportsmanship among the players as well as camaraderie among the team mates.

With cable TV offering every single sport available for kids to watch, they become more than interested in the games, and choose a sport they very much want to engage in. Moreover, once in the sport of choice, they can go on to high school and college and become members of their sports teams as well.

While sports have always been considered a “guy” thing, it is wonderful to see more and more girls entering the sports arena. Women in sports skyrocketed over the last ten years, and girls who have been inspired by these women want to emulate them by participating in the same sport.

After school sports activities gives every boy and girl the opportunity to participate in any sport, and it is a credit to all women in sports for paving the way for young girls to be able to play along with their counterparts.