The Importance of Play in a Child's Life

It�s true that education is like a building block for a child�s future. All parents dream for a better career for their child�s life. Everybody wants their child to be doctor, engineer and wants to see them in high posts. In this cut throat competition children get pressurize with their activities to the extent that they don�t get spare time for their own entertainment. Teachers also keep the child busy during the holidays by giving them assignments and homework. Earlier children used to play with their siblings. So, the children easily got a play environment at the home. However, now the time spent by children in playing was very less as compared to the past two decades. Parents should understand that play is an important activity and they should not deprive their child from this opportunity.

Group games allow children to learn the values of team spirit. It also teaches them to cooperate with other members of the team and develop self discipline. This also enables them to face negative situation in life and make them strong when they get defeated. Many studies have proved that children playing games which have lots of violence are likely to be more short tempered and aggressive.

It is the duty of the parents to find out whether the child knows the difference between fantasy and reality. When this problem is not uprooted in the initial stages then it can take very ugly turn in child�s life and they will start presuming that real life is also like the games which they play. It will have a negative impact on children mind because inappropriate games will impart wrong set of values in them. Through play children develop essential life skills; they also learn how to interact with their peers and adults. It is through play that children develop essential life skills; they learn how to interact with their peers and with adults.

There are certain benefits that child get after playing. These benefits are given below:

1. Reduces fear, anxiety, stress, irritability

2. Creates joy, intimacy, self-esteem and mastery not based on other's loss of esteem

3. Improves emotional flexibility and openness

4. Increases calmness, resilience and adaptability and ability to deal with surprise and change

5. Decreases tactile defensiveness

6. Healing process for hurts

7. Enhances feelings of acceptance of difference

8. Increases empathy, compassion, and sharing

9. Creates options and choices

10. Models relationships based on inclusion rather than exclusion

11. Alternative to aggressor-victim model of relationships

12. Decreases revenge and need for self defense

13. Improves touch and nonverbal socialization skills

14. Increases attention and attachment capacities

15. Positive emotions increase the efficiency of immune, endocrine, and cardiovascular systems

16. Decreases stress, fatigue, injury, and depression

17. Integrates sensor motor, kinesthetic and emotional responses

In conclusion every child should be allowed to play as they learn so many skills from playing, and from defeating. Play is essential for every child�s development as it make them well balanced grown up and prepare with all the essential life skills needed.

Why Some Pregnancy Books Cause More Harm Than Good

With the rise in holistic medicine and alternative healing, it�s surprising Dr. Jennifer Barham-Floreani�s Well Adjusted Babies is one of the few pregnancy books available on the subject for mothers and babies. �Dr. Jen� as she is known, must be an overachiever type, because the book is over 700 pages!

The length also tells us that there was a huge untapped need for pregnancy books about holistic healing for babies and kids.

Well Adjusted Babies has been out a few years now. And yet nothing seems to have changed in the world of traditional pregnancy books. There is barely a whisper in most of them about anything holistic.

That�s like a 90-story skyscraper being built next to your house and you pretend you don�t see or hear anything!

A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Center for Disease Control and Prevention study said the use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine has grown by leap and bounds from 2002 to 2009.

In Australia, the Alternative and Complementary Medicine industry is estimated to be worth over $1 billion and growing at over 30% per year.

And yet, traditional pregnancy books reflect the values of the larger world of mainstream medicine in general: treat the symptoms while avoiding or ignoring the root cause.

The only thing involving preventive care for most traditional medical practitioners is changing the oil every month in their luxury cars.

It�s funny they call it �traditional medicine� when over reliance on drugs and symptomology is fairly recent in history. Some so called �alternative� medical practices have been effective for 5,000 years!

So has Dr. Jen mellowed her message?

Let�s see�in recent years she�s published the 2nd edition of Well Adjusted Babies with new chapters, case studies, and the latest research; expanded her website and blog WellAdjustedBabies.com; and recently she completed a series of TV and radio appearances around Australia.

Looks like she�s in to win it.

...

About Dr Jennifer Barham-Floreani

Recently awarded �Woman of the Year� (WCWC) and �Australian Chiropractor of the Year�, Dr Jennifer is an accomplished pediatric chiropractor with four children of her own. Aside from pregnancy books, Dr Jennifer also regularly writes information for parents and chiropractors about holistic parenting in her blog.

If you would like to find out more information about Dr Jennifer, her books, or visit her free Pregnancy & Parenting resource blog, please take a look at http://www.welladjusted.me

High Chairs for Babies - A Guide to Candid High Chair Reviews and Bargains

Parents in 2011 can relax a little bit if they are on the hunt for the perfect seat for their little one. The reason that they can is because the internet has made it so easy to find deals on brand name high chairs for their babies. From Al-be-baby to Zooper and everything in between, it feels like shopping for the right one with the right features can give you a headache. Whether you want a reclining high chair or maybe you only need a booster seat because you have limited place to fit a rolling chair in, the net is where you should be heading to do your searching. There are a few sits in particular that we recommend that you do your hunts.

If you want to find a site that only gives honest high chair reviews then you need to look no further. This site is built upon reviews of all the popular brands and models and we even sometimes review accessories such as extra trays, pads, and even high chair covers. If you want a better known site that doesn't skimp on their reviews then your best bet would be to check out Amazon. They have a pretty solid reputation and we've noticed that the mothers that are giving the chair reviews are putting in the time and not just jotting down a two word review like "It's great". Make sure you check Amazon for the latest and greatest deals.

Those are our recommendations for moms on the prowl for deals and reviews. If you are a super picky mom and are looking for only top of the line stuff, then you need to definitely head over to Stokke and check out their chairs. Their tripp trapp chair has made some headway in taking the High chair into the dining room without sacrificing style. There are plenty of other well created and crafted wood chairs that might tickle your fancy, so be sure to put in a solid effort before purchasing the first thing that you see. You may regret it later on.

The truth of the matter is that picking the right high chair is something that family's encounter on a daily basis. There is no right or wrong or single chair that is better than the rest because they all have unique features that make them stand out. Everyone's scenario and needs differ so make a list of what you are looking for then take that list to the store and starting writing down chairs that meet your standards. Then when you've narrowed down your list to a few winners choose from those and be done with it. Don't second guess yourself and realize that you truly love your child.

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Best Advice For Breastfeeding in Public

The advice on breastfeeding seems to flow thick and fast. Please forgive the pun. Some advice is often quite prescriptive; particularly to new mothers in the beginning, from well intentioned and busy midwives. Often the best advice comes from other Mums who have been there recently and learnt from their experience. Forums such as �mumsnet� are often invaluable sources of frank and honest advice. If you read just some of the posts, the main thread of advice that comes through is; relax, take the prescriptive advice with a pinch of salt, let baby take the lead a bit and don�t get stress about it! After all, the alternative is far from the end of the world!

It is important to know that babies are individuals. They may have slightly different feeding patterns, or yours may have a bigger appetite than others! Newborns can cluster feed in the evenings. Feeding all night for the first few weeks doesn't mean they've got night and day mixed up and is actually not to bad a situation, because night is when levels of hormones are higher and it helps get breastfeeding established. Also, wear a sleeping bra, but make sure it isn't too tight or you could end up with mastitis.

One of the main initial problems women encounter when breastfeeding is �latching on�. There are many sources of advice on this, not least your midwife, and it is wise to establish that the baby is latched on properly and is getting milk before you leave the hospital. If you are unsure what you are doing is working, don�t be afraid to get a second opinion. Another great source of advice about latching on is on the Dr Jack Newman website.

Then comes the issue of feeding in public. After all, baby does not know when you are meeting a friend for coffee or sat in the doctor�s waiting room waiting for a check up. This can be another substantial source of anxiety and another reason why mums choose to stop early on.

This need not be the case though. It is virtually impossible to organize your life around feeding times and therefore it is best to be more relaxed about it and just be prepared. There are many products available that can assist mums (and their babies) to gain confidence in the early days of breastfeeding in public. The breastfeeding cover (or apron) is one such product. These covers can work well throughout your days of breastfeeding in public, particularly as baby gets older and is more prone to distraction. The breastfeeding cover / apron creates a nice cocooned environment for you both. This way, if you do feel a little self conscious when breastfeeding in public, you can cover up using an apron. Many mothers use cloths but this tends to not be as comfortable for the baby, and as a mother, you lose eye contact with the baby and can�t check as easily whether they are feeding well.

Advice comes from all directions when you are a new mum, and much of it seems contradictory. It can be a great strain when you are worried about doing the right thing. Probably the best advice is to listen but in the end, judge what seems to be right for your baby.

Benefits of Child Care Centers

There are several reasons why taking your children to quality preschools in St. Petersburg can be a huge benefit. For one, it allows you to go to work and make money, while you are reassured that your kids are safe and being looked over. It gives you the peace of mind that you need to leave your children for a few hours. While some families have both of their parents working, preschools in St. Petersburg are a perfect option for them. Likewise, if you are a single parent, child care centers are a great alternative to hiring a babysitter. There are a lot of benefits to taking your children to preschools in St. Petersburg. It not only allows you to go to work and make money, but it also is beneficial to the overall development of your child. Think of all of the skills that your child can learn at child care centers. They are surrounded by other children their age for a few hours each day. This is important because it teaches them significant social and communication skills that will help their cognitive development and have a positive impact on them throughout their whole lives.

Several preschools in St. Petersburg specialize in using a national curriculum with age-appropriate learning modules. This means that when your children visit child care centers they are doing more than just playing with toys. Preschools in St. Petersburg should have an interactive, learning environment that is safe and appealing to children of all different ages. This will help ensure you that while your children are at the preschools in St. Petersburg they are actually learning something and getting a lot out of it. The various things that are taught at child care centers usually depend on what age the majority of the children are. For example, several preschools in St. Petersburg teach younger children age-appropriate task, the alphabet and older children are given time to complete all of their homework on a daily basis. This is a great way for parents to be ensured that their children are being successful in school and throughout their entire education.

You should make sure that everyone that works in the preschools in St. Petersburg is certified early childhood education. For example, the workers should know basic skills that could possibly help your children in emergency circumstances. They should be up to date on their first aid training, especially CPR. This is definitely something that you will want to look for before you take your children to any type of facility. You will want to make sure that everything looks safe prior to leaving your children. Also look for a preschool that is licensed.

You will also want to make sure that they facility that you leave your children with has a positive reputation among all community members. You can find these out about all preschools in St. Petersburg by looking at online forums and reading people's opinions. You can also learn a lot about a facility by asking your family and friends what they have heard. For example, you can learn a lot about someone through word of mouth. Make sure that you research the facility before leaving your children.

preschools St. Petersburg

School Readiness for Boys

Is He Ready for School?
Parents of 4, 5 and 6 year olds begin to wonder about first grade readiness: Is he ready for school? How is he ever going to be able to behave in school? He can�t sit still!
It is important to think about what schools are asking of children. The pace of education has increased. However, our brain structure and development has not changed since our brains evolved when we were hunters and gatherers.
What are we asking our children to do that they don�t actually have the brain structure and development yet to do?
When you observe kindergartners or first graders, the boys are typically 1 to 1.5 years behind the girls in their fine motor development, their ability to sit still, and their ability to follow directions.
Send him to school as late as possible! That way, he�ll be the oldest in his class. This will benefit him through all the years of school
An extra year of kindergarten is advisable. A rising trend in America, and more established in Europe, are outdoor kindergartens. This gives boys, especially, an opportunity to be outside, to be physical, learning in a way that suits him much more. It is better than teacher (93% chance she is female) saying, Here you are in the classroom, it�s time to sit still and learn.�
Another part of development is the language areas of his brain. They are slower to develop than girls. So, while there are girls in first grade who can write complete stories, follow sequences, and read, your boy may not be ready to read until second or third grade.
Of course, there are boys that read when they are 3 or 4, each child is different. But overall, trying to teach a 5 year-old boy to read is like teaching a 3.5 year-old to read! Can you image?! Developmentally his brain is not yet ready to process language, track words across a page, and be able to match sounds and symbols.
In school, we�re asking too much, too early, of many of our boys.
Having boys enter school before they are developmentally ready and attempting to teach them to read before they are ready, sets them up for failure from the beginning. In first grade, they feel school isn�t for them, they see the girls succeeding where they can�t - yet.
What are their alternatives to this stress? They become withdrawn. Or they get even more rambunctious, perhaps becoming the class clown because somehow they have to act out, to process what they�re feeling.
We see this pattern of failure manifest at the other end of school, too. Fewer males are graduating from high school than ever before. And even in college, here in America, only about 44% of the college population is male. The males that do go to college are less likely than their female counterparts to finish their degree program.
We�re setting them up for failure by putting them in school too soon.
10 Ways to Bring out his Best at School:
- Boys need to move. If he travels in a car or rides the bus to school, he needs to move before he enters the classroom.
- Arrive early and jump rope, play basketball, run around the block.
- Recess. While schools are shortening recess, it�s being shown that academic performance actually increases with more movement.
- Active learning. Lessons designed with an active learning component builds social relationships and increases memory retention.
- Water. Frequent sips of water reduce stress and hydrate the body and brain.
- Relevance. Boys want their learning to matter and they want to know how to apply it and how it will impact the world.
- Allow gross. Boys express themselves with different subject matter. We need to make blood and guts as acceptable as unicorns and flowers.
- Free time. The kind of free time you remember when summer days seemed to stretch endlessly because there was nothing on the schedule. Be sure to schedule in some quiet, free play time every day. He needs time to process his day.
- Nature. Nature is the antidote to all the stress of school, media, family dynamics, and just simply growing up. Time in nature is essential to healthy bodies and minds.
- Teachers. Gently bring them on board. Let them know about resources such as Boys Alive Bring Out Their Best! by Janet Allison and Boys and Girls Learn Differently by Michael Gurian. Both available at Amazon.

Methods For Earth-friendly Parents

We all want to do our part to help conserve and save the planet. Being �green� has become a routine for many people. However what does it mean to be a green parent, and you can do several things to help your new baby stay free of harmful chemicals.

Annually we understand and find out far more things as a human race. It was a great day when researchers confirmed that dark chocolate is in fact healthy for you. In the past few years we have found that there are many everyday items in our house that create toxins within our home. Adults usually are not troubled by these chemicals, yet they can be really dangerous for infants. Being a green parent today means safeguarding your child from harmful toxins in your house. By just making a good choices you can help to make your new baby's world much healthier and safer for them. Here are several green tips for new parents.

The four walls of the baby's room is a place where you can make a significant difference. A typical paint can create smog when sunlight hits it, so try a low VOC paint. The low VOC paints are readily available on the market nowadays.

There are several things you should think about when considering furniture for your baby�s room. Recycling is an excellent thing for the environment, and lots of parents want vintage furnishings for the baby�s room. First make certain you look into the safety of vintage pieces. Take a look at consumer web-sites for any recalls. Additionally, you will need to make certain that you remove all paint from the pieces. This is very important due to lead paint that had been banned in 1977. Even if the piece is more recent, you cannot be sure if some repainted it and with what sort of paint. You should be cautious of furniture produced from medium density fiberboard since it off-gasses formaldehyde that may cause asthma.

Among the best ways you can be a green parent would be to buy an organic baby's crib mattress. Organic items are made from toxin-free materials. A non-organic mattress comes from the manufacturing plant with a lot of chemicals. This is evident by the smell. Should you choose chose to go with a non-organic crib mattress, just be sure to give it time to air out somewhere it can get fresh air, however, not directly outdoors.

The great baby diaper discussion has been raging for many years. Disposable baby diapers fill the landfills, but fabric diapers need energy and water to wash. Well let us place the environment aside and take into consideration your baby�s bottom and skin. The cloth diaper is best for baby�s delicate skin. In addition disposable diapers do have off-gassing. One challenge with cloth diapers is that you have to empty the �mess� in to a commode before you launder them. This is where the hybrid diaper includes the best of all possible worlds. You can find cloth diapers with 100% biodegradable inserts that could be flushed or thrown away.

It is very important for you to keep your house clean for baby, however you'll want to stay away from cleaners with VOC. Use the smell test to see if you are using a cleaner containing VOC�s. If when you clean you can smell the chemicals, there is a good chance its content has VOC�s. You can buy environmentally friendly and healthier cleaners, or you may also use steam to clean.

How to Adjust Your Baby's Natural Sleeping Rhythm

Day sleeping is similar to eating, every child is different. Develop a schedule based on what you see in your baby, and once that schedule naturally forms, try to stay to it. You have to bend your schedule around your child's if you want consistency. In other words, if your baby usually goes to sleep at 7:30 P.M., don't take her to a class that starts at 7:00 P.M. or leave for the mall after 6:00 P.M. Plan your day around baby's sleep schedule, and both of you will be much happier because you'll soon fall into a predictable rhythm.

A lot of mothers get upset that their babies can be so fussy at certain times of the day. I say, "Get used to it and deal with it!" Most of this frustration stems from the fact that Mom has not taken the time to get to know her baby's natural rhythm, and she has tried to make her baby work around her own schedule. Just because you can wake up at 6:00 A.M. to get ready and go to work doesn't mean your baby can adapt to your schedule. It might not be convenient for you to put baby to bed at 7:00 P.M. and wake up with her at 4:00 A.M., but you're only asking for trouble if you plan a big gathering that doesn't get started until after 7:00 P.M., and then get frustrated that your baby is so fussy. Of course she's fussy��she's tired, and it's past her bedtime!

The good news is that sleep schedules change quickly. The first ten days will be a lot different than the first ten months, and the routines won't really stop changing until your child is done with her naptimes. By two months, your child will be physically capable of sleeping through the night without being fed. By three or four months, most babies (but by no means all) should sleep either through one nighttime feeding or through the entire night. At that point, you can be a little bolder about letting him cry. It's your job to help distinguish between naptime and bedtime so that junior can begin to get a feel for what's going on. To do this, create a new ritual for bedtime��give baby a bath, sing a special song, darken the room, give baby a special toy or blanket. Do something that signifies this is different from a typical nap�� and stick with it, but remember to keep it manageable, timewise.

Just remember: You're the mother. You are in charge. If baby starts to sleep more during the day than the night, it's your job to get him turned around. Get him up from his afternoon nap, play with him a little more vigorously before you put him down so he's extra tired and ready for nighttime, and feed him a little extra. You may have to help your child find an acceptable sleep rhythm.

Baby Clothing You Should Get For The Baby

Congrats, you are going to have a baby! You will need lots of things for the baby. And now let the checklist making start. You want to make a couple of lists, one will be necessities that you will wish to get, along with a second list for objects that will go on your registry for the baby shower gifts you would really like to receive. Do not feel guilty about the second list. Friends and relatives want to celebrate the upcoming birth of your baby, and most wish to help you prepare by giving you baby gifts. Assist them by letting them know what you really require and want. So let�s go over the things that ought to be in your necessities list.

Clothing is the first thing for the �must have� checklist. And honestly who can resist all of those sweet little outfits, but remember that babies develop quickly so don�t buy a lot of those -3 month size, and baby clothes shouldn�t be tight fitting. Also resist the urge to purchase a lot of those little socks and booties, they're adorable, however the child won't be in them long.

So what should you purchase? Let�s begin with the basics; each and every child needs onsies and bodysuits. Because this really is an everyday item you want to have 7- 12 on hand. The reason I recommend so many is that infants do get messy, so you may need a couple of every single day. Secondly those first couple of weeks at home with baby can be extremely hectic and you might not get a chance to do the laundry as often as you would like.

You need clothes for child that makes your life easier and gowns do just that. Gowns are wonderful for nighttime. Those overnight feedings and diaper changes could be a bit groggy and gowns will assist with those diaper changes. Gowns supply easy access and a great deal less fumbling. You will want seven of these on hand. Infants grow out of gowns quickly so you want to possess sleepers are on hand. Simply because you will find so several fairly sleepers available these days many moms have infants in sleepers all day long. With this in mind you will want to have a dozen of those on hand.

You see many things come and go when it comes to what is used for infants, but some thing never change and baby bibs are one of those things. Some days it'll appear much more is coming out of baby�s mouth than is heading in. Bibs help to maintain your baby clean. You want a least a dozen of baby bibs on hand and this really is 1 thing you should not worry about having too many of, you will be amazed how many bibs you'll use throughout the course of a week. One more thing to include on your must have checklist is those adorable newborn hats. These hats will help baby keep warm, and they look so cute.

There are many other things that you will want to purchase, but the above will get you started. You will purchase and obtain many adorable outfits for the new child, the best advice I can give you would be to wear them on your child. Several new moms save outfits for special occasions, only to have baby grow out of them before they had been ever worn. There will be a time soon enough when your little 1 will be vocal about what they want to put on, so take the time now to dress them how you please.

Advice for a Healthful Baby

It is never too early to keep your baby�s heart healthy, and there are numerous little things that you can do just that. Probably the most critical things you should do is fill your pediatrician in on any heart problem history the family may have. You know that smoking may be bad for you lungs and heart, so naturally you don�t smoke around your baby. However the toxins from smoking can get on your skin and clothing and be bad for baby. So though it may be very hard you need to stop smoking. It also important as your baby grow into a toddler that they get sufficient exercise. Toddlers need 20 � 60 minutes of exercise every day. You need the exercise too, so block some time aside for you and your little one to run and play. And the last thing you can do to help keep your baby's heart healthy is to feed him the proper proportions. A tot only requires 25% of an adult portion. So they would just need to half of an egg and slice of bread and only 1 ounce of meat. This will help to your baby stay fit for life.