Parenting Blog

Children today are more computer-savvy than ever before, and every parent wants to be sure that their child is getting the most out of all that computer time. There is a huge variety of educational computer software that your kids will love to use.

You can’t go wrong with that tried and true classic, the popular Zoombinis’ Logical Journey. Young adults today fondly remember playing the Zoombini game in elementary school, and it’s still a big hit with kids today. Your children learn logic and problem solving skills as they guide their Zoombinis through a variety of critical thinking tasks, and they will have tons of fun doing so. The Learning Company has even come out with new titles like Zoombinis’ Island Odyssey and Zoombinis’ Mountain Rescue. This computer game is even installed in many elementary schools’ computer systems.

The Cluefinders series, also manufactured by The Learning Company, features a group of preteen characters who set out on various mystery-solving adventures. Unlike Zoombinis, which focuses on general problem solving skills, Cluefinders covers specific subjects – math, reading, language, science, and more – in four difficulty levels. The Cluefinders has different adventures for grade levels three through six.

Math is always a tough subject to make interesting for a child, which is why educational math games have gained such popularity. Given the choice between playing Math Blaster and completing twenty repetitive problems from a textbook, a child will choose Math Blaster every time – and that’s important because if your child is interested in what he is doing, he’s more likely to learn from it. Math Blaster is another tried and true favorite. Popular for over two decades, this game is even used by math teachers to get kids engaged in the subject. Your child will journey through three universes and learn everything from addition to division along the way. Now you can find Reading Blaster, Spelling Blaster, Geometry Blaster and Science Blaster as well.

Math Blaster is manufactured by Knowledge Adventure, the same company that makes the JumpStart series. JumpStart has stood the test of time because it gets proven educational results and it has such a huge variety of specialized subjects, so there’s something available for everyone. You can find software for any age from zero to twelve, as well as educational tools for real-world skills that are perfect for older kids. JumpStart carries workbooks to accompany some of their software. You can find programs for subjects ranging from math and science to social studies, language, art and music. There is even a JumpStart Typing and a speed reading program.

Your kids will love and look forward to playing any of these games. Whether you are looking to give them a boost in a subject they struggle with or you want to make sure your child isn’t wasting his time on the computer, educational computer games are a wonderful investment and make the perfect gift for any child.

You’ve probably heard of autism, but chances are you don’t actually know what it is. If you are a parent, it’s important that you find out, because early diagnoses and treatment is essential for a child with autism to live a healthy and productive life. After all, it’s estimated that one in every 100 children born will be diagnosed with autism, so it’s important that you educate yourself. Every child develops their social and communication skills at a different rate, but if you are concerned about your child’s development, read on. An autistic child does not necessarily have a below-average IQ. In fact, many autistic children go unrecognized because they have exceptionally high intelligence. The cause is unknown, and the disorder is more prevalent in boys; in fact, some forms of autism appear almost exclusively in boys, and there’s a higher chance your child will develop the disorder if you have a family history of autism.

Autism may be recognized when a child has exceptional difficulties socializing with his peers, forming relationships, developing a wide variety of interests, adjusting to new environments and situations, or communicating with others. These difficulties depart from the norm; all young children will experience challenges in social situations, but a child with autism will refuse to adjust by developing the necessary social skills. This is because children with autism may be particularly sensitive to stimulation such as light and sound, and will therefore avoid bright or noisy environments. Also, children with autism perceive their surroundings and the actions of others in a very different way; they are not able to understand and imitate normal social interaction.

An autistic child may avoid eye contact with others, and may ignore you when you call his name. He might seem oblivious to his surroundings, which is why many autistic children are thought to be deaf. He will probably show little interest in “normal” activities that other children his age enjoy. If your child has difficulty in social situations that persist for a significant amount of time, you should speak with a doctor and get more information on the spectrum of autism disorders. It’s very difficult for a parent to recognize autism, so if you are concerned about your child’s abnormal behavior it is best speak with a professional. Even if you doctor concludes you’re your child’s behavior is normal, it’s always safe to monitor his development over the years to avoid problems that result from an undiagnosed disorder later on. Though there is no cure, children with high-functioning autism can grow up to lead independent lives if they get the help they need when they are young.

Crafts are a wonderful way to help your child explore their creativity, especially around the holidays. With Easter coming up, you’re probably looking forward to some messy egg-coloring, but here are some more activities you can enjoy with your kids.

The next time you make scrambled eggs, save the shells! Rinse them out and leave them to dry, and pick up a bag of large pom-poms. They can be yellow if you want to make baby chicks or white if you want to make bunnies. Your child can pick out craft eyes, pipe cleaners, or construction paper. To make baby chicks, cut an orange diamond from construction paper, fold it over and glue to a yellow pom-pom. Add craft eyes above the beak, or perhaps smaller pom-poms or yellow feathers for wings. These chicks are then glued inside egg shells for an adorable Easter decoration! For bunnies, you can use pipe cleaners for ears, smaller pom-poms for front feet, and you can make a nose and whiskers out of construction paper. The bunnies can sit in egg shells too, and you can display your child’s work in an egg carton or a decorative basket.

Another great craft that your kids will love to do any time of the year is to make flowers or butterflies out of coffee filters. This is a wonderful project because no two flowers are exactly alike, and your kids will have so much fun experimenting with colors. It’s very simple: all you need are coffee filters, washable markers, and pipe cleaners. Flatten the coffee filters over newspapers or some other protective surface covering, and have your kids color all over the filter with the markers. They can try using two or three of their favorite colors to make a pattern, or they can use every color of the rainbow. Then, have them fold the filter in half twice, so that if they reopen it they will have four equal sections.  Get a bowl of water and dip only the folded tip into the bowl; the water will travel up the filter, blending the colors together. Reopen the filter and allow it to dry on a newspaper or old towel. Once it’s dry, you can fold it like an accordion and secure with a pipe cleaner in the middle and make a butterfly by twisting the ends of the pipe cleaner into antennas. Or, you can attach a green pipe cleaner to the center where the creases met when you folded it, and crumple it upwards from there to make a flower. You can do much more with these colorful coffee filters, just encourage your kids to get creative and see what they come up with!

Choosing a babysitter, nanny, or daycare center is nerve-wracking for any parent. The best advice for making this difficult decision is actually quite simple: go with your instincts. Many times a person or facility will look great on paper, but you’re still feeling uneasy about the situation. It’s important that you’re comfortable with whoever is taking care of your child. Still, some parents find that they are nervous no matter where they leave their child. There are some things you can try to ease your worries and make your choice.

First, when you are searching for a caregiver, make sure you’re asking the right questions. It’s important that your nanny shares your beliefs when it comes to taking care of your child. Ask how she would react in certain situations. Even if a sitter insists that she will care for your child according to your rules, remember that in difficult situations, she will resort to her instincts, not your preferences. If you are trying to choose a childcare center, try visiting in the morning or afternoon, around their busy times. That way you will be able to see how the center functions when things get hectic. Make sure you meet with the employees on staff who will be in charge of your child, and not just the daycare’s director.

Remember, you can always reevaluate your choice if you continue to feel that things aren’t right. Observe your child to determine if he’s being well cared-for. If his social development has stagnated or his behavior has become abnormally unruly, it may be time to consider a different daytime caregiver. An older child will be able to tell you if he likes a daycare center and what kinds of activities he does while he’s there. Try not to panic over one bad incident, for example, if you arrive to pick up your child and find the center in chaos. Pick-up times are always busy, and every center has its bad days. You cannot expect perfection, because the perfect babysitter does not exist; but you can find a quality center with employees that do their best in every hectic situation. Some compromises can always be made. Perhaps your child doesn’t always pick age-appropriate toys to play with at daycare, but his social skills have improved drastically since you first brought him there. The important thing to watch is your child’s behavior and well-being over time as he continues to go to his caregiver.

As your child gets older, it’s natural for him to “rebel” or make choices that you might not approve of.  If you are afraid that your child is falling in with a bad group of friends, don’t start panicking, because there are some things you should do before you jump to a conclusion. If you see some odd behavior changes in your child and he’s been mentioning friends you’ve never met, encourage him to talk about his social life with you. Ask “He doesn’t sound familiar, is he a new friend?” Give your child the opportunity to have his new friends over so you can get to know them and observe their behavior. You might discover that these new friends are nothing to worry about. On the other hand, if you disapprove of these buddies, try to refrain from discussing this with your child. If he’s trying to break away from you by hanging out with these kids, your disapproval will only fuel his rebelliousness – worse still, it will discourage him from sharing things with you in the future. The only time you should intervene is if you see a direct threat to your child’s safety and well-being – that is, if these new friends are using alcohol or tobacco or leading your child into dangerous situations that could get him into trouble.

Make sure your child understands your expectations for him. Remind him of the values you have worked to instill in him, and make it clear that there will be punishment for breaking the rules. If you’re worried about your child, don’t take any bad behavior lightly. If your child begins to strike up cruel arguments or speak rudely to you, don’t turn a blind eye, even at the smallest incident – make sure he realizes that there are consequences for such actions. Let your child know that he should not act that way around you or anyone else. Friendships come and go throughout childhood, and chances are your child won’t maintain relationships with kids whose values conflict with his own. As he matures, he will make lasting friendships and his rebellious phase will come to an end. While it is crucial that you watch for signs of danger and threats to your child’s safety, you have to remember that you cannot make decisions for your child. He must learn who he is and how to maintain good friendships for himself and experiences like these are an important part of the learning process.