Are you spoiling your child with too many gifts?

There are some children in this world who are fortunate enough to be part of families who love them and have the financial means to shower them with gifts.

Some of these children though, get so many presents for birthdays and the holidays that at times it can be too overwhelming for them. They go from present to present without really appreciating the thought and generosity that went into the gift. Dolls, mini cars, train sets, play kitchens, bikes... and more that was on the wishlist is now a wish come true.

Even though your child wanted all these fun and amazing toys and will probably have a great time playing with them, are you helping or hurting your child by overwhelming them with too many gifts?

So as the gift giving and receiving adventure ensues, there are some things to keep in mind.

The first is this: If a young child has too many toys, it can be too distracting, and even create some difficulties in attention. Too many toys means too many choices and it's so easy for a child to go from toy to toy to toy, without any structure or meaningful play. They may not learn to sit and play with just one toy for a while because there are just so many to get to or because they just don't have to.

The next thing to keep in mind is: What are we teaching our children when we spoil them with everything they want? Children need to be taught generosity and young kids don't really understand or appreciate all the gifts they get, especially if it's a common occurrence. A scene from a Harry Potter movie comes to mind when Harry's spoiled cousin gets upset because there were only 36 presents for his birthday when the year before he had 2 more than that. Sound like anyone you know? I hope not! This type of mentality is what we are trying to avoid in a child.

Obviously babies have no idea what they get if anything, and toddlers are usually happy with anything they get. If you have a child who is more aware of gifts, think about whether or not your child already has too many of something already, and also think about the gifts they are getting. Are they over the top? Too expensive? Are they necessary? Does your child need that $200 play kitchen? or the $1300 doll house? or new bike? new PS3 or Xbox? Will s/he be able to go on being happy without these things or maybe with slightly less expensive or grand versions?

You can also put some gifts away to be opened at another time. If your child is getting too many big gifts, then put some of them away, and give them to your child at a time when s/he may need a little pick me up or when s/he has done something extra special.

As you think about what your child will be receiving or after all the gifts have been opened consider taking some inventory and cleaning out the old to make room for the new.

Clear out old toys or toys your child doesn't use anymore, is too old for, or are broken or have lost pieces. Take the toys that are in usable condition and donate to those less fortunate and make sure you explain to your child exactly what you are doing and why. Also bring your child with you when you donate them. Most people go to Salvation Army type places but there are many preschools and elementary schools with large populations of children at the poverty level who would love the toys.

Donating at this time of year gives you a great opportunity to explain to your child that not all children are as fortunate as your child is and some of these children don't even have crayons, books or even a teddy bear. This will help you teach your child about generosity, about others outside of his/her world and hopefully teach your child to appreciate what s/he has while you are helping those in tough situations.

So as you celebrate your holidays, let us try to remember what this time of year really means... and it's more than just how much stuff we get. And even though it's fun for kids of all ages to receive gift after gift, there is such a thing as too much.

Happy Holidays and Wishing you and yours a Happy and Healthy 2010.

Holiday Gifts for Young Children

It may seem like there are still plenty shopping days left until the Holidays, but they will be here before you know it. It can be hard to know what to get and we've all spent hours online, at tons of different stores looking for the perfect gift and then there are the times you just give up completely and just get whatever. Well, when it comes to buying gifts for toddlers it may be easier than you think. Whether you are buying for your own children, a friend's child or your nieces and nephews sometimes less can really be more. Sounds a little crazy I know, but I've seen it for myself!

Children who are 2, 3 and even 4 are fairly easy to please. Sometimes something as simple as stickers and a coloring book can keep them happy for hours. Other choices include: Playdoh, Mr. Potato Head accessories, pinwheels, trucks, cars and fun bathtime toys like bathtub paints or a basketball hoop for the tub can be the perfect gift. Many times these simple gifts are the ones that the kids love and use over and over.

Not good enough? Here are two sites with great gifts that are not the same 'ol thing you see in the stores over and over again.

spoonsisters.com not only ships quickly but they have a site full of unusual things that are fun to look at, fun to buy and fun to give to others. One product that would make a great gift is their yellow pages booster seat. Remember the days when the "kids seat" at a restaurant or diner was the thick yellow pages book? Well spoonsisters has a better version... it's plastic.

Another great site is uncommongoods.com the name actually says it all. Some gifts for kids are colorforms, chalkboard placemats, fun socks and more. When you are shopping, keep in mind how many gifts these children are probably getting. They get presents from their own parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts and other friends and family so they will already be overwhelmed by the amount of gifts that you really don't need to stress over the one you get. This is not to say you shouldn't put any thought into what s/he may like, but there is no need to spend hours in agony over what to buy. Think about the child's interests and buy one or two simple and fun items that s/he can enjoy using and voilà you are done! So whether you are shopping in the stores or online, keep simplicity in mind and you may be able to have some fun in picking out these things that may bring us back to our childhood days when life was so much easier.

Happy Shopping!

Government Sites have Kid's Pages to Help Children Learn More

There has been a lot of controversy these days surrounding health care reform, tea parties, the economy and more. Although they may not understand, children hear about these issues on the news, by hearing adults speak about them and possibly from other sources and they learn about the President, history and what is going on in our country through school. Since these children... your children... are America's future and are affected by these issues one way or another, it's helpful for them to learn a bit more about the White House, the jobs and roles of our government employees and government agencies like the FBI and CIA.

Did you know that these agencies all have kid's pages so that children in grades K-12 can learn more about what each does. They provide information, fun games and educational activities that are pretty interesting for adults too.

The CIA also provides information for parents and teachers which can help them talk to children about issues such as internet safety. The FBI has cool info about their working dogs, has interesting stories and has safety tips. On the Government site you can learn about diplomacy and being a diplomat, how laws are made, learn about money, national parks as well as many other things. Additional government departments such as the Treasury Department have links to other sites such as the U.S. Mint department as well as a White House page.

Take some time to look at these sites with your kids and you might be surprised how much you learn. We are the land of the free and our children have the opportunity to learn about the government in a fun way, so why not take advantage?

Swine Flu Parties

Move over birthdays and graduations, there's a new party in town: Swine flu parties. Yes you did not misread, as I thought I did when I first read about this "party". There has been some chatter regarding these "parties" where people purposefully expose themselves to the swine in hopes of getting it. It stems from the idea that exposure will help people avoid a more serious illness in the future.

Back in the day, moms made play dates with kids who had chicken pox, so their child could get it, get it over with, and not have to worry about it as an adult. But these are two very different illnesses and the same rules don't apply. Who knows if people are actually having these parties, but the CDC (center for disease control) strongly advises against these parties. They do however offer some tips to stay healthy, which is what we have hopefully been doing all along, such as frequent washing of our hands etc.

There has been a lot of media regarding the swine flu and personal feelings regarding getting vaccinated or not. The media loves to hype things up and make things bigger than they really are, so what you won't hear them saying is that the 'regular' flu has been the cause of many deaths for years, and that swine flu is no more than a different strain of the flu. For centuries there have been much worse illnesses that people have met with such as the black plague, scarlet fever, tuberculosis, and more. So we need to keep our perspectives in check and realize this is nothing more than the flu with another name and we've been dealing with the flu for our entire lives.

Just because certain strains of the flu are out there doesn't mean any of us will catch them, so to expose your child on purpose to an illness is at the very least a cruel and awful thing to do. We should carry on as we had been doing in the years before we ever heard of swine flu and let nature take it's course. And instead of thinking about exposing children to a potentially serious illness, we should focus on keeping our children warm, fed, clothed and loved.

Halloween Safety

   As we approach this 'spooktacular' time of year, once again I am taken back to when I was a child and would come home from trick-or-treating, excited about all the cool candy I got. Barring the few rogue pennies, apples and raisin boxes (which were always disappointing) I must say I always did well. But before I could get my hands on the candy, we always needed to do the standard candy check, because as we all remember, back in the day there was the razor blades in the apples, poison lacings and injections in the candies legends (or were they?). Although those legends may not still be around, it does bring up a good point; Halloween safety is always important.

   When you go out, if you plan on going when it's dark, bring a flashlight or put a glowing or blinking light on your kids, so drivers can see them. Make sure you walk on the sidewalk (if there is one) or along the side of the road. Don't wander in the middle of the road with your group. If your child is embarrassed to have a parent with her/him, go anyway, but hang back a little. Stay close enough where you can still see your child, but far away enough to give them some space. Also, be aware of strangers that are too friendly. If you feel uncomfortable, just excuse yourself and your child and be on your way.

   Some things to keep in mind after going door to door: Check your child's bag. Is there any open candy? anything s/he is allergic too? anything that you have a gut feeling is not safe to eat. If so, then throw it out. If there is anything homemade, unless it's from someone you know, it's probably best to throw that out as well. You never know what is in the food.

   Lastly, have fun. Halloween may feel like a chore to some parents, but it's a very exciting night for children, so enjoy their fun too. One of the benefits of being a parent is getting to eat some of your child's candy... so just think about getting to pick out some of your favorites, because you may be to old to say 'trick-or-treat' but you are never to old to eat Halloween candy!

Baby Einstein: Doesn't turn your baby into an Einstein

Disney's line of "genius" videos including "Baby Einstein", "Baby Mozart", "Baby Shakespeare", etc seemed like a good idea at the time. The title's alone bring about the thought of prodigies and geniuses, therefore it's easy to get swept away in the notion that perhaps if you show these videos to your child, s/he too can be more than an average baby (not that there is anything wrong with average). Unfortunately, however, any claims whether stated, inferred or assumed that these videos do anything more than entertain your baby, are now proven to be false.

Disney's admission to this comes in the form of refunds to parents who have purchased these videos since 2004. It does remind us that although it is nice to have something with content that may actually stimulate your child's mind, instead of the type of show that will "rot your brain", clearly there is no substitution for you; the parents. It is a parents job, not a videos, to help foster and support the development of your child through play, books, picture card etc.

Even if these videos lived up to their titles, it's rare that your baby would be a genius or Mozart, but your child can do well and be at the top of the learning curve instead of the bottom, if you support and work with your child. Don't wait for someone else to do it. Don't think to yourself, well s/he'll learn all that in school, or through t.v. Instead, having a good parental work ethic can help your child meet developmental milestones and be prepared when s/he starts school. Basics like colors, counting and knowing the alphabet will start you on your way. For some other helpful suggestions Psychology Today offers really great advice here.

Teacher Uses the Wii to Help Improve Student's Motor Skills

We know kids love video games. And we know that video games require good dexterity and hand eye coordination. The Wii fit also requires it's users to have good balance as well, so it makes a perfect addition to a classroom with multi handicapped students.

As part of a grant, Kevin McDaniel, a teacher at the Elgin West Elementary School purchased and uses the Wii in his classroom, using it to help increase student's gross motor and fine motor skills as well as improve attention.

Also used as a tool in physical therapy this new phenomenon is known as "Wiihab" helping people recover from surgery and injuries and now as a tool in the classroom to aid children with disabilities.

Not a bad way to spend some time in class huh? Who loves video games? Wiiii do!

To read the original article click here

Puppies Behind Bars

Has your child ever asked you for a puppy? They are so cute and cuddly that we all can understand why a child would want one. Having a dog can bring so much fun and joy into our lives but they also require a lot of time and patience amongst other things. Kids usually do not think about or may not understand just how much work it takes to own a dog, which can be just one of the many reasons why a parent says 'no' when a child asks to get a puppy. But what if you want to say 'yes', but circumstances are such that you are not able to? Well...being a volunteer with the program Puppies Behind Bars, may just be a solution to your problem.

Puppies Behind Bars is an amazing program in which inmates in correctional facilities in the New York Tri State Area raise and train puppies. These puppies live in the cell with their raisers who are responsible for caring for and training them. The puppies then go out 2-3 weekends a month with volunteers referred to as "puppy sitters" who as the website describes:

"take the dogs into their homes in order to expose them to things they won't experience in prison. These can be as simple as hearing doorbells or the sounds of a coffee grinder, and as complex as learning how to ride in a car and walk down a crowded sidewalk."

The dogs are golden retrievers and labs whose ages range about 5 or 6 months to about 10 months old. The goal is to have them graduate and move on to further training as bomb sniffing dogs or service dogs. Since these dogs are on such a strict regime, they are house trained and are much better behaved than most puppies. They are not allowed to sit on furniture, eat 'human' food, or bark.

Since my roommate was a volunteer for this program, I was able to see first hand how the program works and enjoy spending time with the wonderful dogs. As someone who has never had a dog before, it was a great way not only to learn what it would be like to own a dog, but to get out of the house and do something different. I will admit it was hard at times to say goodbye, but it was fun being with so many different dogs of all sizes and personalities.

Here is how it works if you are a volunteer: You must commit for one year to the program. After a few days of training, the volunteers then begin taking the puppies for either an overnight stay once a month or 2 weekend days a month. You only need to take the dog for a few hours during the day. The program allows you to request specific dogs but there are times you may not be given that dog. The volunteer is responsible for picking up and dropping off the dog and the correctional facilities.

Depending on if you think your child would be able to deal with saying good-bye to the dogs after a few hours or even an overnight stay with them, this program is a great way to have all the excitement that comes with having a dog without having to own one, and at the same time your child will be learning things like responsibility for caring for another living being. And you all be giving back to an important program.

Learn more about the program by clicking here. Even if you don't think the program is for you, check out the site anyway and pass on the info.

Important Information to leave for Babysitter

The weekend is finally here and you've called your babysitter and are looking forwards to a night out without the kids. Sure you have your cellphone with you in case the sitter needs to get in touch with you and you've written down some other information, but did you leave enough info for the person you have entrusted to care for your babies? Some things may be obvious to you but depending on the age of your sitter, these things may not be so obvious to them. And since most likely the person watching your children is on the younger side, the more information you give and have written down the better. Also, if there is any sort of emergency, you want to make sure your babysitter is fully equipped to answer any questions that may come her way because no matter how old you are, it's easy to forget information during a crisis. As you prepare for your sitter to arrive, here are some things to keep in mind...

Things to have written down in a place that is easy to find:

* Your address. Don't assume they know it. Even though your babysitter knows how to get to your house, and may know the name of the street, she may not remember the number of your house. Also, if there was an emergency, it's very easy to forget information like that.

*All current phone numbers: fire, police, doctor,family or friend's to call if you can't be reached or are far away, your cell phone numbers and home phone number.

*The children's information. Make sure your children's birthdays and ages are written down, as well as any known allergies they have. If there was a medical emergency with your child, one of the questions asked would be the age of the child.

*The number of where you will be. Just because you have a cellphone doesn't mean that your babysitter will be able to contact you. There are still many places with poor or no cell service. Leave the name and number of where you'll be so that the babysitter will be able to get through no matter what.

Tell the babysitter you are not expecting anyone and ask them not to open the door for anyone, even if it's the ConEd or UPS guy. Let them know it's ok to call you if there is a question about someone who has shown up at the house.

Things you should leave out (for day and/or night):

-Full bottles and enough of them. Or make sure to leave formula, empty bottles with tops and clear instructions out on the counter if it needs to be mixed.

-Snacks for the kids and sippy cups (if they are of that age).

-Diapers out or in an easily accessible place.

-Pajamas for each child, out on their beds so the babysitter knows whose is whose. If you are leaving your kids during the day, leave out at least 1 extra change of clothes, so the sitter doesn't have to bother with finding them.

-Some food for the babysitter. And have some designated food in the fridge/freezer that she can have as well. Be sure to explain what is ok to eat.

-Movies that your children like to watch and that they have permission to watch that day/night

-A list of t.v. channels your kids watch along with programs names. If possible, put the times of those programs too. If you have shows on the DVR, leave that list then.

When your babysitter arrives, if it's their first time, show them around the house, how to use the remotes and where everything they need is. If it's not the first time, you should still remind the sitter of some things, like to lock up after you leave and to call if there is any problem, etc.

Don't be afraid to ask the sitter to clean up after herself... and your child. Remind her to change your babies diaper before s/he sleeps...even if it is only a little bit dirty. It's helpful for younger babysitters to understand that you change a diaper often.

Once you leave, make sure you have fun and enjoy being out. Don't call every second. There is nothing wrong with calling once to see how things are going, but it is unnecessary to call over and over to 'check in'. Your babysitter knows to call if there is a problem, and you wouldn't have left such a precious package in their hands if you didn't think they could handle it, so go and enjoy yourself.

Get Ready for Kindergarten

It's that time of year again. All the stores are having their back to school sales and that excitement of returning back to school is in the air. Well, for most people except for maybe the parents of the kids starting kindergarten. When your child is starting Kindergarten, it can be exciting, scary and a little sad all in one for both parents and kids. It is a big day which marks the beginning of your child's school days and a lot of new experiences.

"Are you going to be there with me"? a friend's child asks me. Honestly, I wish I could. I love Kindergarten! Although it's not what it used to be. I remember the days of half day Kindergarten classes which included free play, learning to read and write, eating a snack and... yea... well that's all I can remember but I also remember how much I enjoyed it. These days it's way more work. Even so, it's a very wonderful time...but how can you explain this to your skeptical 4 or 5 year old?

Some things you can do to keep you both from getting upset is, to talk about those first days. Be honest. Let your child know that s/he may be sad and miss home and want mommy or daddy, and it is ok and natural to feel that way. Tell your child you will miss them too and plan an exciting activity for them when they get home that they know about. Also, let them know what to expect during the day such as lunchtime, recess, gym, big classes, new people, following rules, etc. Sign up to be a parent volunteer or class mother/father so that you can see what is going on and your child will know that mommy or daddy will be coming to school.

Kindergarten is a right of passage so to speak into the education world your child is entering. Enjoy this time and help your child enjoy it too. Think about and look forwards to all the fun things they will be doing, school trips you can go on together, and artwork to put on the fridge. And remember... some can say that everything they needed to know in life, they learned in Kindergarten!