Condensing...

I am going to only start blogging at Ramblings of a SAHM from now on. I will keep this up because of the great posts and comments I have had over the last few years...but will no longer be blogging here!

Please come follow me over there!


I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

Incorporate these into your day:

• Rhymes -- rhyming words support the development of languages, both spoken and musical. 
• Movement -- moving large muscles promotes both learning and the development of steady beat. Toddlers especially love movements that challenge, such as jumping and galloping. Add a stopping part and you’ll be rewarded with spontaneous giggles and great partice of self-control.
• Sing, sing, sing! -- no training necessary...only the joyful enthusiasm that your toddler will model. From "The Wheels on the Bus" to "Yellow Submarine" to some silly nonsense song you make up, singing creates sweet moments, fosters creativity, and establishes a great sense of pitch.
• Play, play, play! -- anything is a potential drum or shaker. Explore the house for sound makers and accompany your singing, dancing, and favorite iPod hits. (Sound discrimination supports language development and auditory skills.)


I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

Letter of the week activities Monday, August 9: Letter Z

Zz
"Z" week Zippity Do Dah, it's Z week!
1. Zoom across the room.
2. Gallop like a zebra.
3. Act like your favorite zoo animal.
4. Put zero fingers in the air.
5. Name ten zoo animals.
6. Zip your jacket.
7. Write the letter Z.
8. Zig zag across the room.
9. What words rhyme with zoo?
10. Go to sleep. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Becka

Letter of the week activities Monday, August 2: Letter Y

Yy
"Y" week
1. Count all the yellow toys in your room.
2. Yell, I love you to someone in your family.
3. Draw a colorful picture, with a bright yellow sun.
4. Clean your room, please.
5. Write the word, Yes.
6. Eat something yellow.
7. Look at yourself in the mirror, and pat yourself on the back for being such a special person.
8. Play with a yo-yo.
9. Name a yellow bird.
10. Do you have yarn in your home? What color is it?
11. Show your parents a big yawn.

Becka

Letter of the week activities Monday, July 26: Letter X

Xx
"X" week. This is another listening experience for the parents to do with their child. 
Directions: 
1. Put a green X on the animal that gallops.
2. Put a red X on the animal that was once a caterpillar.
3. Put a purple X on the largest animal.
4. Mark an orange X on the animal that lives in the water.
5. Put a X on the animal that chases cats. Etc.

Becka

some tips for developing your child's language skills right from the start

The more you expose your baby to language, the stronger his verbal skills will be. Language acquisition is a gradual process that involves many facets of development including listening, imitating facial expressions, playing peekaboo, and babbling. Your child will learn language naturally by hearing it used in context when you sing, read, talk, sign, and listen to him.


• Your Baby: At two months, he coos and babbles. In his first year, he’ll begin making vowel sounds (oohs and aahs), and then move to new sounds and vowel-consonant combinations. Your baby is also learning the art of conversation. Bring your face close to his, and talk to him. Ask him a question and let him respond. He is learning that conversation is a two-way street.

• Your Toddler: In a verbal growth spurt, your toddler’s vocabulary expands from about 50 to 200 words. When your toddler displays emotion, give him the language to identify it. “You’re happy!” or “I can see that you’re sad.” You’ll enhance his emotional intelligence as well as his vocabulary.

• Your Preschooler: Playing rhyming games is a fun way for a preschooler who is developing phonemic awareness – the recognition that sounds make up words. Encourage him by making up rhymes and laughing together. 


I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

Letter of the week activities Monday, July 19: Letter W

Ww
"W" week
1. Look for signs of winter.
2. Walk around your house five times.
3. Count the windows in your kitchen.
4. Walk like an elephant
5. Wiggle like a worm.
6. Try to whistle.
7. Eat or drink something warm.
8. Look outside. What is the weather like?
9. Count the number of wheels on your car.
10. Write your name.
11. Make a wish upon a star.
12. Watercolor a pretty picture for our classroom. (If you don't have watercolors, use crayons instead.)

Becka

Letter of the week activities Monday, July 12: Letter V

Vv
"V" week
1. Smell vanilla.
2. Run very fast. 
3. Count the vehicles on your street. 
4. Talk in a very soft voice. 
5. Write the letter V 
6. Sing in a very loud voice. 
7. Taste a vegetable. What color was it? 
8. Visit a friend.
9. Smell vinegar.
10. Crawl very slowly.
11. Make a V with your arms

Becka

Letter of the week activities Monday, July 5: Letter U

Uu
"U" week
1. If you were a unicorn, where would you play?
2. How many umbrellas in your home?
3. Reach up to the sky.
4. Look at seashells. Put them underwater in the bath tub.
5. What is your uncle's name?
6. Do you need an umbrella today?
7. What would be unusual to eat with ice-cream? (How about pickles or mustard?)
8. Pretend to fly up in the air.
9. Look up at the sky. Is it cloudy?

Becka

Letter of the week activities Monday, June 28: Letter T

Tt
"T" week
1. Move slowly like a turtle.
2. Touch your toes, two times.
3. Draw ten triangles.
4. Talk on the telephone to a friend.
5. Make yourself tiny.
6. Make yourself tall.
7. Tickle your tummy.
8. Tip toe around your kitchen.
9. Tell someone your telephone number.
10. Touch something soft.
11. Taste a new food.
12. What time is it?
13. Try throwing a ball as high as you can.
14. Tell a funny story

Becka

Letter of the week activities Monday, June 21: Letter S

Ss
"S" week
1. Touch your shoes seven times. (While your shoes are on your feet, you sillies!)
2. Count the stars in the sky. **********
3. Draw a picture with a beautiful sky.
4. What kinds of things can you buy at the supermarket?
5. Walk like a spider.
6. Use a scissors to cut out some pictures from an old magazine.
7. Skip around your family room.
8. Listen to a story.
9. Crawl like a snail.~~~~~~~
10. Talk about being safe at home.
11. Make some funny animal sounds. (ssssssss like a snake)

Becka

Letter of the week activities Monday, June 14: Letter R

Rr
"R" week
1. Draw a rainbow for someone you love.
2. Count all the red toys in your bedroom.
3. Listen to the radio.
4. Hop like a rabbit.
5. Draw five red rectangles.
6. Ring your doorbell.
7. Have fun with rhyming words.
8. Read your favorite nursery rhymes.
9. Crow like a rooster.
10. Roar like a lion.
11. Run in your backyard or park.

Becka

Letter of the week activities Monday, June 7: Letter Q

Qq
For "Q" week, make a quilt pattern. 
Number the squares. Then the parents give directions for each square. Boxes:
1. yellow sun 2. brown square 3. green circle 4. purple moon 5. blue square 6. black line 7.red kite 8. orange A 9. brown leaf 10. a happy face 11. a rainbow 12. your name

Becka

Beat the summer blues

Kids should enjoy their summer, but often they waste a lot of time claiming they are bored.

Here are a few places that offer free or low cost programs:

1. The library has their own summer reading program. Kids of any age can participate and be rewarded for their efforts. The library is also a source of free activities: book clubs, art classes, visits from groups in the area. This is a great way to spend a few hours every week to escape the heat.
2. Local cinema. Most movie theaters once a week - usually pretty early in the A.M. - offer a free or reduced cost kids movie. The kids snack packs are usually at a reduced cost as well.
3. Park. A great way to get a bit of sun and some exercise before the day gets too hot. This is a great morning or late afternoon activity. If you go in the morning, bring you lunch for a picnic.
4. Story time. Chain books stores - like Barnes and Noble - has story time at least once a week for various ages. A lot of these stores hold a story night for a wider age range if you can not make the day performances or have kids of varying ages.
5. Art time at home. Have some crayons, colored paper, scissors and a printer? You can print out art projects, coloring sheets and get ideas of additional are projects online.

Another tip: keep a steady schedule. Have you day planned so in the morning you can tell your kids what is going on. This not only give them an idea of how their day will be, but gives them something to look forward to.

I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

Letter of the week activities Monday, May 31: Letter P

Pp
"P" week
1. Eat a piece of fruit.
2. Put your pants and socks on all by yourself.
3. Paint or draw a pretty picture for your parents.
4. Count all the purple and pink things in your bedroom.
5. Say "please" and "thank you." Use your best manners, and try to be polite.
6. Count the pennies in mommy's purse. (Ask for permission first.)
7. Do a puzzle with your parents.
8. With help, pour yourself a glass of juice or milk.

Becka

Letter of the week activities Monday, May 24: Letter O

Oo 
"O" week 
1. Open and close your mouth. 
2. Draw one picture for mom.
3. Put your socks on your feet.
4. Use an orange crayon to write ten O's
5. What does an orange taste like?
6. Climb over two pillows.
7. Go outside and play.
8. Hop on one foot.
9. How old are you?
10. What are opposite words for: on, hot, up, day, slow, left and happy.

Becka

Letter of the week activities Monday, May 17: Letter N

Nn
"N" week
1. Put the napkins on your table for dinner.
2. Count the nickels in Daddy's pocket.
3. Practice saying your phone number.
4. Look at the night sky. What do you see?
5. Jump nine times.
6. Print as many numbers that you know.
7. Write your name.
8. Look at the newspaper with Mom or Dad.
9. Name nine farm animals.
10. Be nice to your friends.


Becka

Letter of the week activities Monday, May 10: Letter M

Mm
"M" week
1. Look up at the sky. Do you see a full moon?
2. Tell Mommy/Daddy you love her/him.
3. Count how many coins in mommy's purse.
4. Move like a monkey.
5. Make a funny face in the mirror.
6. March to your favorite music.
7. Drink your milk, please.
8. Moooooooo like a cow.
9. Dance the macarena with Mommy.
10. Act like a monster, but only for a few minutes. :)
11. Cut out some pictures from an old magazine.
12. Squeak like a mouse.
13. Write the word, Mom

Becka

Letter of the week activities Monday, May 3: Letter L

Ll
"L" week
1. Listen to a story.
2. Hop on your left foot.
3. Look up in the sky. How many stars in the sky?
4. Draw ten long lines.
5. Tell your family that you love them.
6. Make yourself large and make yourself small.
7. Help sort the laundry.
8. Write the letters of the alphabet that you know.
9. Send a "love letter" to your grandma or grandpa. (Children draw a picture and send it in the mail.)
10. Look at the leaves on the trees. What color are they

Becka

Letter of the week activities Monday, April 26: Letter K

Kk
"K" week
1. Read a book about kittens.
2. Play kickball outside.
3. Watch mom or dad cook in the kitchen.
4. Make a colorful kite with a paper bag.
5. What is the name of baby kangaroos?
6. Use Kleenex when you sneeze.
7. How many keys in mom's purse?
8. Kiss your Mom/Dad.
9. Be a king, and wear a crown.

Becka

Letter of the week activities Monday, April 19: Letter J

Jj
"J" week. 
1. Find a calendar and count all the days in January.
2. Jump up and down ten times.
3. Tell someone in your family a joke.
4. Jump like a rabbit.
5. What flavor Jell-O do you like?
6. Wear jewelry at home.
7. Count all of the jars in your refrigerator. Have someone help you.
8. Do ten jumping jacks.
9. Jog in place for one minute.



Becka

Letter of the week activities Monday, April 12: Letter I

Ii
"I" Week
Get pictures of things that start with “I.” Have your child color and name the objects.

Have your child name things around the house that start with the letter “I.”



Becka

Letter of the week activities Monday, April 5: Letter H

Hh
Hi Kids, It's "H" week!
1. Tell mom what makes you happy.
2. How many pennies make ten cents?
3. Draw your house. Practice your address with someone.
4. Hop ten times on one foot.
5. Cut out a square and then a triangle. Put them together to make a house.
6. Gallop like a horse.
7. Hoot like an owl.
8. Pretend it's Halloween. What costume will you wear?
9. Hug a friend.
10.How many stars are in the sky



Becka

Letter of the week activities Monday, March 29: Letter G

Gg
It's "G" week.
1. Roll like a grape.
2. Wear green on Wednesday.
3. Give someone you love a big hug.
4. Play a game with mom or dad.
5. Move like a grasshopper.
6. Talk about the things you can grow in a garden.
7. Count the green things you see in nature.
8. Go to the grocery store.
9. Gallop around your backyard or in a park.
10. Make someone giggle.

Becka

Infantino SlingRider Baby Slings

Product Recalls: Infantino SlingRider Baby Slings1 Million+ recalled Infantino, LLC, of San Diego, CA, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), have recalled their SlingRider & Wendy Bellissimo infant slings. The slings should not be used for children younger than four months of age due to a risk of suffocation.  These slings were sold from January 2003 through March 2010 at Walmart, Burlington Coat Factory, Target, Babies "R" Us, BJ's Wholesale, various baby and children's stores and other retailers nationwide, and on the web at Amazon.com, for between $25 and $30. Consumers should stop using these slings  immediately and contact Infantino to receive a free replacement product, with a choice of a Wrap & Tie infant carrier, a 2-in-1 Shopping Cart Cover or a 3-in-1 Grow & Play Activity Gym. A Jittery Pals Rattle will also be provided. Click here for more information.

I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

Letter of the week activities Monday, March 22: Letter F

Ff
I'm thinking of Flowers! It must be "F" week.
1. Tell a funny story to your mom.
2. Draw a picture of your family.
3. Jump up and down fourteen times.
4. Count forward, as far as you can go.
5. Hop like a frog.
6. Read your favorite story with someone in your family.
7. Help fix dinner or lunch.
8. Eat one of your favorite foods.
9. Fly like a bird.
10. Draw five triangles

Becka

My blog is Carbon Neutral!

I came across post and thought is was a GREAT idea!

Here’s how you can participate!

Just write a short blog post about our programme “My blog is carbon neutral” and include one of the buttons below on your site (ideally in the sidebar). Send the link to your blog to CO2-neutral@kaufda.de and we plant a tree for you, neutralizing the carbon dioxide emissions of your blog. The trees will be planted in the spring of 2010 by the Arbor Day Foundation. For more information about how and where the trees are planted, see the NEWS section.
Just a few easy steps to make it green:

1. Write a blog post about the initiative + insert your favorite button
2. E-mail the link to your post to CO2-neutral@kaufda.de
3. We plant a tree for your blog in Plumas’!

Note: We plant a tree for each domain. Please copy the html-code and paste it in your blog. Make sure the carbon-neutral button works, the html-code must not be changed. Use the carbon-neutral-white button for a white background or the carbon-neutral-transparent button for different colored backgrounds. If you need help, please contact CO2-neutral@kaufda.de. We are looking forward to planting your tree!

This is such a great and important idea! It is great that, for every post you make, they plant a tree! I have seen SO many trees mindlessly cut down and then the space has either sat there for years, or buildings have been built, but not used, buildings that have been halted and just standing there unfinished, or spaces abandoned.

I want my blog carbon neutral and want to see MORE trees!!


I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

Letter of the week activities Monday, March 15: Letter E

Ee

On to the letter "Ee!"

1. Walk and dance like an elephant.

2. Jump up and down eleven times.

3. Eat eight grapes or strawberries.

4. Go outside. What do you hear with your ears?

5. Cut out pictures of eyes and ears from old magazines.

6. Try to touch your elbow to your ear.

7. Use your eyes. What things do you see on the way to school?

8. Empty your glass of milk. (Drink it.)

9. Do some exercises.

10. Let a bowl of water evaporate.

Becka

Feeding With Love (An API Blog Carnival Entry)

So for this months Attachment Parenting International's Blog Carnival, the subject is Feed With Love and Respect.

When your baby is born, one of the first things you do is hold her, comfort her, and then feed her. Whether you plan to nurse or bottle feed, you always want to let your baby know how much you love her, care for her, and respect this new little person in your life.

Nursing: 

If you are a nursing mother, you know it is important to listen to your baby's cues. Since nursing babies tend to eat more often, at least in the beginning, then formula fed babies, it is important to listen to your baby, and feed her, before she is to the point of crying. Beyond this point, it may be harder for her to latch until she has calmed down.

Remember, breastfeeding has mutual benefits for both her as well as you. She gets antibodies and brain building nutrients, and you get burnt calories, possible prevention against future breast cancer, and, of course, bonding time with your little one. It is also a natural comforting tool for your little one when they are hurt or sick.

Nursing beyond 1 year is also very beneficial. Mom's milk changes with the child's needs and age. It increases during growth spurts, and helps a growing toddler's brain develop during crucial periods of brain development.

Don't listen to those who tell you when you should stop nursing your child. Practice child led weaning. Forced weaning has been shown to cause other problems, such as attachment problems, down the road. Let her be your guide, as to when SHE is ready to stop nursing.

If there is an older sibling who wants to participate, let them, by giving them jobs during a nursing session...like getting a burp cloth, or, depending on the age of the child, getting mom a drink! (You should always drink plenty of water during every nursing session!)

Bottle Time:

No matter how you decide to feed your baby, feeding time is always a great way for mother child bonding. When you bottle feed, remember to NEVER prop a bottle. This may not only cause choking, but inhibits your child's bonding experience.

Hold the bottle as close to the breast as possible. This works for comfort, and it may help your baby to relax so she has a better meal. Always maintain eye contact, and try to switch sides, just as you would for nursing...this also helps to develop eye muscles!! Always talk, sing, and

Just as you would with nursing, feed on cue! Many mothers who are bottle nursing are led to believe their baby NEEDS to be on a schedule. This is NOT true! Just as a nursing baby, a bottle fed baby will let you know when she is hungry. Even if she only drinks a little, she may just need a little extra mommy time!

If you are using a pacifier, hold your baby while she sucks. This is also a great way to calm and comfort your baby. :)

Weaning off the bottle should go just as weaning off the breast. Granted, from experience, you should not let your child ever go to bed with a bottle, or use the bottle for extended periods of time during the day, lest you have a child with dental problems.

If your baby has older siblings, help them feel a part of the baby's feeding by letting them hold the bottle, or even the baby and the bottle, depending on the age of the child.

Introduction Of Solid Foods: 

Just like you should not force the weaning of a breastfeeding child, you should never try to force solids. For the first year of life, a baby only needs breastmilk or formula. Solids are really only for practice, and have no real nutritional value. Always offer the breast or a bottle before offering solids. If your baby does not seem ready, then try again in a week or so. Let your baby be your guide on what they like, how much they want, and if they even want any. Lastly, always start with foods that will not cause an allergy, and always start with single food items.

Leading The Way For Good Nutrition: 


You want your child to eat healthy. We all do!!! When we model proper nutrition, our children will follow.

Make sure you are choosing a variety of healthy fruits, vegetables, and other foods, so that your child will also want to try these foods as well.

Make sure to make one meal, usually dinner, family time. When you do this, your child knows that they are part of the family, and helps them feel connected to you. Studies also show that kids who have families that eat dinner together, do better in school, activities, and sports, and have a higher self esteem, then kids with families who do not share dinner together.

Never use food as a reward or punishment or force foods, or force cleaning their plate,  and if you are afraid of what your child may eat if not restricted, make it a habit to keep only healthy snacks and foods in the house.

Remember, no matter what the age, mealtime should be fun, healthy, and a relaxing time for the whole family!

My older 2 never really nursed, I still get quite upset over it! But luckily, my 3rd, who also did not eat much solid food until over a year, nursed until 2 years!!! I am hoping that the baby nurses that long as well!

I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

Letter of the week activities Monday, March 8: Letter D

Dd
"Dd" Week Activities
1. Have your dad read you a story.
2. Pretend to be a dog.
3. Quack like a duck.
4. Help mom and dad with the dishes.
5. Knock on your front door five times.
6. Dust the furniture.
7. Count a dozen dimes.
8. Draw a colorful picture.
9. Give dad a hug!

Becka

Product Recalls:

Product Recalls: Britax "Blink" Strollers Britax Child Safety, Inc., of Charlotte, N.C., along with the Consumer Product Safety Council (CPSC), have recalled their Britax "Blink" umbrella stroller. The stroller's hinge mechanism poses fingertip amputation and laceration hazard to children when the stroller is being folded/unfolded. The recall involves ALL Britax "Blink" single umbrella strollers manufactured between May 2009 and Sept. 2009. The strollers were sold nationwide at Buy Buy Baby, amazon.com,babiesrus.com, target.com and diapers.com from July 2009 through Feb. 2010 for about $150. Consumers should stop using the strollers immediately and contact Britax to receive free stroller hinge covers.

I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

What your child should know before entering Kindergarten

As an early childhood educator, it saddens me to see many 3 and 4 year olds who are not even close to being prepared for Kindergarten. So may parents rely too much on their day care or preschool to teach their children, and, when they don't do an adequate job, the parents get upset.

Problem there is, parents are a child's first teachers, and what is learned at school, should be enforced at home. This is very important for a child's future school career. A 3 and 4 year old child needs to be prepared for the competition ahead of them throughout their schooling.

More importantly, education starts at birth. The moment your baby is born, is when they should start learning about their world...talk to them about colors, textures, smells, and do forth. Signing and reading are both excellent ways to help your child start to understand their world.

By four years of age (or sooner), a typically developing child should be able to:

• write their full name 
• count to and write numbers 1-20 and possibly more
• say, write, and recognize all 26 letters of the alphabet 
• know their address, phone number, and parents names 
• drink from a regular cup 
• go to the bathroom on their own 
• recite the days of the week 
• recite the months of the year
• dress themselves 
• brush their own teeth 
• know how to share and take turns without whining or arguments 
• shapes 
• colors 
• reading at least 100 basic sight words (2 and 3 letter words) 
• do a 100 piece puzzle by themselves
• know how to follow rules 
• walk in lines 
• sit at a desk (unless, of course, you are sending them to Montessori or the like) 
• understand simple concepts (yesterday, tomorrow, night, day, today) 
• hold a writing utensil the correct way 
• color inside the lines 
• basic letter phonics 
• retell a story
• know the main parts to a story and the main characters

That is the basics they should know before kindergarten! PLEASE help your child know these concepts. When a child does not know basic concepts entering Kindergarten, it hinders the teachers ability to teach the rest of the class. It may actually hold the class back, which will not properly prepare them for 1st grade (and so on). This is a highly competitive world, and we want our children to succeed! 

I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

Read Across America Day!!! Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!!

Today is Read Across America Day, celebrating the birthday of Dr. Seuss. Today is a great day to volunteer in your child's classroom, at any level, to share a few good books, and talk about the importance of reading to children of all ages.

About NEA's Read Across America

The National Education Association is building a nation of readers through its signature program, NEA's Read Across America. Now in its fourteenth year, this year-round program focuses on motivating children and teens to read through events, partnerships, and reading resources.

NEA's Read Across America Day, NEA's national reading celebration takes place each year on or near March 2, the birthday of Dr. Seuss. Across the country, thousands of schools, libraries, and community centers participate by bringing together kids, teens, and books, and you can too!

On March 2, the National Education Association calls for every child to be reading in the company of a caring adult.

I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

Letter of the week activities Monday, March 1: Letter C

Cc 

It's "Cc" week! A Counting Questionnaire! Just for fun! Help your child count these things:

1. Count the toothbrushes in your house.

2. How many bed in your home?

3. How many windows in your bedroom?

4. Count the trees in your yard.

5. Count the bathtubs in your house. 

6. How many stuffed animals on your bed?

7. Count your toes.

8. How many clocks in your house?

9. Count the televisions in your home.

10. How many flashlights do you have in your home? 

11. Check the smoke detectors in your house, and check the batteries.

Becka

Tips for how to choose books by age

Here are some suggestions for choosing the best books according to your child’s age:

birth – 1 year
Look for small, brightly colored books with photos of babies and familiar objects like balls and bottles. Draw attention to the objects by saying things like, “Look at the ball,” or point to pictures and ask, “What’s that?”

1 – 2 years
Look for sturdier books that can be handled and carried; few words on the pages or simple rhyming themes. Talk about the pictures — you don’t necessarily have to read the book to tell the story.

2 – 3 years
Look for silly or funny books with subjects like food, animals, or making friends. Simple word books are good choices. Keep stories short and read them with few interruptions. Then, re-read them.

3 – 4 years
Look for books that tell simple stories with a beginning, a middle, and end; stories that relate to life, like overcoming fear; information books about children’s interests. As you read ask your child questions about the story: “What do you think will happen next? Why?” Keep them engaged.

5 – 6 years
Look for stories and information books that evoke children’s lively imagination and interests; books about space, machines, time, and other cultures. Ask your child to tell you what interests her most about the story. Use open-ended questions to encourage her to relate her ideas. Allow her to ask questions as you read.


I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!  

 
Celebrate the 106th anniversary of Dr. Seuss' birthday on March 2nd! Print a fun coloring page, play in the virtual land of "Seussville," or try one of the recipes or craft below:

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish Prepare red and blue Jello according to package directions and pour each flavor into a shallow pan. Allow to set. Once set, use a fish shaped cookie cutter to cut the Jello into fish shapes or use a knife to cut the shapes out freehand if you don't have a fish shaped cutter.

Green Eggs & Ham
Super easy and fun to make-- beat egg(s) in a small bowl with a couple of drops of green food coloring. Scramble and serve with ham slices (add a green hue to the ham by brushing it with food coloring).

The Cat in the Hat's Hat
You'll need...
Empty, clean oatmeal canister
Red and white paper
Glue
Ribbon
Scissors
Measuring tape
1-hole punch

To make...
Cut out 4" thick red and white strips from your paper; use the measuring tape to measure the circumference of the oatmeal canister to see how long to make the strips. Glue each strip in a red and white pattern, with red being the bottom color (closest to the open of the canister).

On the open end of the canister, use the 1-hole punch to make holes through either side about an inch up from the opening. Tie a few feet of ribbon to each hole.

Create a rim for the hat by cutting out a circle from white paper. Make sure the circle is larger than the opening of the hat and then cut out its center (like a donut) so that it will fit on the canister like a hat's rim. Glue the white rim into the open end of canister. Let dry.

After the hat is dry, try on, tying ribbon under chin. Trim any excess ribbon.

I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

What do you want out of a class?

EDUCATORI want to be a good teacher.
I want to connect with the children.
I want to enrich their lives.
I want to develop their skills.
I want class to go smoothly.
I want to have fun.
I want the parents to get their money’s worth.
I want the parents and children to like me.
I want them to re-enroll.
I want to feel successful.
CHILD
I want to give love.
I want to be loved.
I want to be noticed.
I want to be accepted.
I want to be engaged.
I want to have fun.
I don’t want to make mistakes.
I’m leery of new people.
I’m sometimes afraid to try something new.
I want to have friends.
I want to learn.
I want to move.
I want to be close to Mommy/Daddy.
I want to be independent.
I want to do it myself.
PARENTI love my child more than anything in the world.
I am an expert on my child.
I want the very best for my child.
I am doing the absolute best I can.
I often feel insecure.
I delight in my child’s successes.
I’m impacted by everything my child does.
I sometimes feel alone.
I frequently feel overwhelmed.
I need to feel supported.
I need you to love and accept my child.
I feel judged as a parent by the actions of my child.
I want the other parents to like me.

I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

Awesome jewelry site! Chunkybling.com

My friends over at Free Sample Freak posted about a contest on ChunkyBling.com, giving away some awesome jewelry! I checked out the site, and they have some REALLY pretty interchangeable beaded watches, where you can change the watchband to match the face. I really like these! They also have some interchangeable charm necklaces. These are my favorite, since I love charm necklaces!! I think I may get this one after I ask the hubster! :) It seems you can also host an online jewelry party! This may also be something i would possibly be interested in!!!! They have some really great chunky jewelry. I highly suggest you check them out today!




I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

DISCIPLINE AND THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES

The word discipline comes from a Greek word, which means ‘to train’. Discipline and punishment are not synonymous. Punishment is but one form of discipline and one that, if a child’s love tank is full, is seldom required. Discipline is a type of love and the more a child feels loved, the easier he is to train.

First, it’s important to understand that children love in a self-oriented fashion, meaning they know what they need to feel loved, but they don’t know, or necessarily care, what others need. They also test our love continuously with their behavior. To discipline a child with love, one needs to figure out what the child needs when he misbehaves as opposed to trying to correct the behavior. The latter often leads to thoughtless punishment.

A child who misbehaves has a need for something. Knowing his primary love language allows you to know how to address his need, whatever it may be. The first and most common cause of misbehavior is an empty love tank. The second is physical pain or discomfort of some kind, which could include hunger, thirst, tiredness, or feeling unwell.

If a child feels remorse for something he’s done, there’s no need to proceed any further, other than to discuss it and then forgive him. Punishing a child for something he already feels guilty about hinders his ability to develop a good conscience and produces anger and resentment.

Here are 5 methods that can be used to effectively discipline with love. Notice that two of these are positive methods of discipline, two are negative and one is neutral. Always use these methods in order and stop when the desired effect has occurred.

1. Make a Request. This sends 3 important, nonverbal messages to the child:

• That you respect his feelings;
• That you realize he has a brain and is able to form opinions; and
• That you expect him to take responsibility for his own behavior.

2. Issue a command when making a request fails. Issuing commands are more effective when used infrequently and not as the main method of controlling behavior.

3. Gentle physical manipulation is especially effective with young children who often do things that are not necessarily wrong but not to your preference. For example, be careful not to confuse ‘negativism’ with defiance. When a 2-year-old says “No!” he is demonstrating a normal stage of development, where he begins to separate psychologically from his parents. If you make a request and he says “No”, move to a command. If he still says “No”, you might be inclined to punish him, but instead gently guide him to what you need him to do. If he resists, it’s defiance, so act accordingly. But, most often the child will just go along with your gentle physical manipulation. He was just practicing his independence.

4. Punishment is the most negative way of training a child, and the most difficult for the following reasons:

• The punishment must fit the crime since children have such a strong sense of fairness;
• The punishment has to be appropriate for each particular child;
• Punishment is often administered inconsistently according to the punisher’s mood at the time. When you’re feeling good, you tend to be more lenient than when you’ve had a bad day; and
• Punishment when used as a primary means of discipline provokes needless anger, and causes the child to develop passive-aggressive attitudes and behaviors.

If you have to punish the child, give her a conscious expression of love in her primary language before and after administering the punishment.

5. If the child shows no remorse for his behavior, the next step would beBehavior Modification. It utilizes three components:

• Positive reinforcement (giving a reward for good behavior);
• Negative reinforcement (taking something away); and
• Punishment (ie. removing the child/isolation).

Behavior modification is best used only for recurring specific problems for which a child shows no remorse. Overuse causes a feeling of being unloved because behavior modification is completely based on conditions. This results in a ‘I have to give to get’ attitude and teaches the child how to manipulate authority figures.

In order to respect a child’s love language and discipline (train) with love, do not select their love language as a method of discipline. For instance, if you use condemning words with a child whose love language is words of affirmation, your words will communicate not only that you are displeased with the behavior, but also that you do not love the child. If the love language is quality time, do not use isolation as a form of punishment. If it’s physical touch, don’t withhold hugs or respond in a physically negative way. Imagine what a spanking would say to this child! Understanding the child’s primary love language allows you to discipline with love and makes any discipline one has to do far more effective.

Source: The Five Love Languages for Children by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell. ISBN 1-881273-65-2.

I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

Crying It Out Causes Brain Damage

Research suggests that allowing a baby to "cry it out" causes brain damage.

by Dr. Stephen Juan

Experts warn that allowing a baby to "cry it out" causes extreme distress to the baby. And such extreme distress in a newborn has been found to block the full development of certain areas of the brain and causes the brain to produce extra amounts of cortisol, which can be harmful.

According to a University of Pittsburgh study by Dr. DeBellis and seven colleagues, published in Biological Psychiatry in 2004, children who suffer early trauma generally develop smaller brains.

A Harvard University study by Dr. Teicher and five colleagues, also published in Biological Psychiatry, claims that the brain areas affected by severe distress are the limbic system, the left hemisphere, and the corpus callosum. Additional areas that may be involved are the hippocampus and the orbitofrontal cortex.

The Science of Parenting (2006) by Dr. Margot Sunderland points out some of the brain damaging effects that can occur if parents fail to properly nurture a baby -- and that includes forcing them to "cry it out." Dr. Sunderland, who is the director of education and training at the Centre for Child Mental Health in London, draws upon work in neuroscience to come to her conclusions and recommendations about parenting practice.

In the first parenting book to link parent behavior with infant brain development, Dr. Sunderland describes how the infant brain is still being "sculpted" after birth. Parents have a major role in this brain "sculpting" process.

Dr. Sunderland argues that it is crucial that parents meet the reasonable emotional needs of the infant. This is helped along by providing a continuously emotionally nurturant environment for the infant.

Allowing a baby to “cry it out” when they are upset will probably be regarded as child abuse by future generations.


--

For more on 'sleep training,' 'crying it out' (CIO) and 'controlled crying', see:


BOOKS:

*Why Love Matters

*The Science of Parenting

*The No-Cry Sleep Solution
*The Baby Sleep Book
*Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering
*The Baby Bond
*Natural Family Living
*The Baby Book
*The Continuum Concept: In Search of Happiness Lost
*Baby Matters
*Attachment Parenting: A Commonsense Guide to Understanding & Nurturing Your Baby
*Primal Health: Understanding the Critical Period Between Conception and the First Birthday
*The Attachment Connection: Parenting A Secure & Confident Child
*Attachment Parenting: Instinctive Care for Your Baby & Young Child
*Mothering Magazine

LINKED ARTICLES:

Excessive Crying Harmful to Babies

Being Wise to Babywise [advocates for CIO, 'controlled crying' and 'sleep training']

The Dangers of Leaving Baby to Cry It Out (CIO)

Ask the Experts: Sleep Training
Dangers of Your Baby 'Crying It Out'

The Con of Controlled Crying

Healthy Infant Sleep

Should Baby Soothe Himself to Sleep?

Sleeping Through the Night

The No-Cry Sleep Solution

Biological Imperatives: Why Babies Do Not and Should Not Sleep Alone

Where Should Babies Sleep at Night? A Review of Evidence

Sleeping Like a Baby

10 Reasons to Sleep by Your Baby

Breastfeeding, Nightwaking: Protection from SIDS

Solitary or Shared Sleep: What is Safe?

Babies Not Designed to Sleep Alone

Baby Sleep: A Review of Research [with links to articles]

Train Up a Child in the Way He Should Go

Primal Love & Mothering

Night Time Parenting: A Practical Approach for the Reduction of Attachment Disorders and the Promotion of Emotionally Secure Children

WEBSITES:

Co-Sleeping vs. Crib Fact & Statistic Sheet

Baby Sleep Institute and McKenna Library of Research

To connect with other parents and get in on Sleep Forums:
SafeBedSharing.Org


I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

Speech & Language Development: The First Year

From the moment your child is born she is learning how to communicate with you. In fact, her ears are developed enough to begin hearing and listening as early as the fourth month of pregnancy. As a new mother or even an experienced mother you may have questions about your child's speech and language development.

Speech & Language: Birth to 3 months
Crying is your baby's first and only way of communicating with you during the early weeks of life. She will cry to let you know she is hungry. She will cry to let you know her diaper is wet. She will cry to let you know she is unhappy. As she continues to develop, she will begin to coo and she may be able to make out vowel sounds such as "ah", "eh" and "uh".

Although your baby cannot talk or even really babble yet, her language skills are forming. She is listening and learning about her environment. She should startle if she hears a loud noise and turn her head towards her mother's voice.

You can help promote her speech and language development by singing to her or reading to her. Talk to your baby often and expose her to a variety of sounds and music.

Speech & Language: 4 to 6 months
Between four and six months your child's speech and language begin to blossom. What started out as simple cooing turns into full fledge babbling. She should be able to make single syllable consonants sounds including n, k, g, p, and b. The infamous ga-gas and goo-goos may be heard now. She will laugh and smile and of course still cry to communicate with you.

You can encourage her language by playing with her often. Use her name when you speak to her. Repeat sounds when she says them to you and encourage her to repeat them back. Baby rattles are appropriate toys at this age.

Speech & Language: 7 to 9 months
Your baby's babbling will continue and progress to sound more like real talking. She will make two syllable sounds such as mama and dada. Although these sound a lot like words, she likely has not associated them yet with a person or thing. She will continue babbling, learning more and more new sounds during this period. She is beginning to understand more too. She can understand simple commands such as no-no. She likely has a collection of words she understands now.

You can encourage your child's language development through play. Singing songs such as "Head and Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" or playing games like "Where's your belly?", "Where's your nose?", "Where's your toes?" is a great way to expand your child's language.

Speech & Language: 10-12 months

Between ten and twelve months you may hear your child's first word. By a year most children can say 3-5 words. Besides beginning to talk, your child's comprehension of the spoken language begins to flourish. She may shake her head no, wave bye-bye, and follow simple directions.

Activities you can do to encourage her to talk include continuing to read stories and nursery rhymes and playing games such as peek-a-boo. Learning animal sounds can encourage even the reluctant talker.

Not talking by a year is not usually an indicator of a problem unless there are other signs of delays. Consult your doctor if you are concerned about her language and speech development.



I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here