Separation anxiety – Three tactics you may want to try
Although separation anxiety might be common in babies and toddlers, some parents may be surprised to learn that it can continue well past their son or daughter’s kindergarten years. The truth is that some children are simply more susceptible to the fear of being away from those who introduced them to the world. If your little one shows signs of this at a late age, there are several things you can do to quell the symptoms.
Try, try again. If it makes things easier, you should view separation anxiety as a football strategy – practice makes perfect. Leave your child with a babysitter you can rely on and evaluate the outcome. After some time, you’re likely to see some improvement.
Don’t emphasize the fact that you’re leaving. Although it might be amusing for both of you to make funny faces and tell a few jokes before you leave the house, this might only lead your young one to miss you even more. Give your kid a simple hug and make a continuous ritual out of it every day.
Stay firm to your duties. It’s tough for the little ones to comprehend the idea that you’re filling their bellies by going to work. If they complain and whine a little as you’re making your exit, don’t succumb to their behavior. Instead, confirm to them that everything will be all right.
Managing a play date for dads: The basics
Sure, you love spending time with your son – playing superman, tossing the little guy into the air and sharing a spoonful of peanut butter from the container are all in a good day’s fun. But as he gets older, it’s important that he socializes with other youngsters – and the etiquette of these play dates can be difficult for dads to navigate. Here are a few pointers to keep in mind.
1. Keep groups in even numbers. The old adage “three’s a crowd” is especially important to remember when organizing play dates for little ones. One-on-one meet-ups are often the most successful. When another child comes into the fold, it’s only natural that two of the kids may team up and leave the other one hanging.
2. Don’t let adult politics force a play date. Encouraging your son to hang out with your boss’ child, your best-friend’s daughter or the newest neighbor’s kids may not work out as well as you hope. If a fight breaks out among the kids, it could cause tension among the grown-ups.
3. Supervise. It’s imperative that you keep tabs on your youngster and all of those under your charge. Similarly, if you’re dropping your little guy off for a visit at his newest friend’s house, make sure that he’ll be carefully watched over. If you don’t know the parents well, stay at the house with your son, or suggest that you all meet up at a public place, like the park.
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Movie Review: The Smurfs
Hollywood always has a way of adding a “realistic spin” to a beloved classic tale, and the trend rears its ugly head once again in the latest family friendly flick to hit theaters – The Smurfs. Here, those little blue creatures struggle to break free from Gargamel’s grasp and somehow end up being transported through space via a portal that takes them to New York City.
Although it’s nice to catch a whiff of ’80s nostalgia through the franchise that practically had a monopoly on Saturday morning, dads should also be prepared for a two-hour cheese-fest sprinkled with bits of blue.
Hank Azaria remains the highlight of the film. Evolving from his recent quirky roles in Mouse Hunt and Year One, the actor unleashes his dark side as Gargamel, an evil wizard who seems to have a verging-on-creepy love-hate relationship with his cat, Azrael. Azaria, the man who voiced Apu from the Simpsons, hasn’t been this captivating since his turn as Agador in The Birdcage.
Neil Patrick Harris, who plays Patrick, the oblivious human who gets stuck with the Smurfs, does a decent job tackling the role of a soon-to-be father. Even though most dads might prefer to see a character who bumbles his way through the situation with foolishness and paranoia (Hugh Grant in Nine Months, anyone?), Harris’s portrayal provides a somewhat more realistic and lighthearted take on the uncertainties one faces at the start of raising a family.
Read More The Smurfs Review
It’s a girl? How to cope when your baby isn’t a boy
Some dads do get disappointed if their new born bundle of joy is a female. If you too are in such kind of dilemma, don’t worry – all of your hopes and dreams aren’t shattered. In fact, there are many reasons to be proud of having a girl instead of a boy.
Many dads as well as mom pray for a boy as dads want someone to teach their athletic wisdom to and mom’s wants someone to take care of them. Moreover, fathers are more overprotective of daughters – whereas sons are sometimes easier to guide when it comes to growing up and dating. Boys are more notorious, the sense of responsibility comes in a daughter at quite an early age.
Most of the times daughters speak openly with their dads which helps to improve father and daughter bonding. That’s why there is the phrase “daddy’s girl.”
As father, it’s important that to understand gender of the child doesn’t affect the way you raise the child. So sit back and relax knowing that your little princess will likely mature in ways that you’ve never imagined as long as you’re there for her. Just don’t spoil her too much!
Should you track your kids?
It possible to keep track of almost anything nowadays with the invent of smartphones or computer – from your stocks to your team’s score. And if you are thinking of keeping track of your child then many gadgets are available in market for it. You may be wondering whether it’s okay to use tracking devices to ensure that your children are staying out of trouble. If this is the case, there are a few things for you to consider.
According to recent study conducted by Retrevo Gadgetology, 59 percent of parents think it’s alright to track their child’s location without his or her knowledge. Researchers found that 64 percent of moms would opt to track their kids, while 53 percent of dads think these methods are acceptable.
In addition to physical tracking applications even easy to understand programs will allow you to read your children’s text messages and emails, as well as monitor who they are calling.
Although these methods will likely keep your children safe, they might also make the young ones feel alienated.Whether you choose to limit your children’s privacy or not, it’s suggested that you monitor their communications discreetly. Some level of trust should always be established within the parent-child relationship.
Top 5 books every dad should read to his kids
Reading to your children is one of the best ways to teach them about the world. While many books are targeted toward a specific gender, we’ve picked five of our favorite gender-neutral books written specifically for younger kids. The list is as as follows:
1. Dr. Suess’ “The Cat in the Hat.” This Dr. Suess classic is full of important lessons, crazy characters and fantastic rhymes. While your kids may quickly side with the super-fun eccentric cat, try to reinforce the values of honesty and responsibility at which the book hints. Ask your kids if they think the children will ever tell their mother what happened in the house that day.
2. Richard Scarry’s “What do People do all Day.” While the writing is pretty straightforward, this colorful work is bound to enthrall your children with its detailed pictures. The animal characters will add a fun twist to teaching your children about the different jobs and activities of people around the world.
3. Dr. Suess’ “The Lorax.” This book has been a children’s reading mainstay for decades. The wonderful illustrations and wacky wording will have your children laughing for hours. Make sure not to ignore the obvious environmental overtones, as this is a great way to instill some eco-friendly values in your kids.
4. Maurice Sendak’s “Where the Wild Things Are.” As the basis for the 2009 film, this book has surely stood the test of time. Instilling the values of imagination, creativity and ultimately the safety of home, this story of the “Wild Things” and their king will thrill your kids, who undoubtedly have a wild imaginations of their own.
5. Margaret Wise Brown’s “Good Night Moon.” For bedtime there may be nothing better than a reading of “Good Night Moon”. Geared especially toward young children, the rhythmic progress of the rhyming paired with the verbal action of saying goodnight to each object in the room will lull even the fussiest child into a peaceful sleep.
Handling teen tantrums: What every dad needs to know
Children throw tantrums, it’s what they do. Until they learn of a better system for getting out their inner dissatisfaction, you’re going to have to deal with the often impossible arguments and screaming fits that come with parenthood. However, if your kid is in his teenage years and still hasn’t learned to cope with inner turmoil in a non-destructive way, it’s time for you to step up and be a role model.
When dealing with tantrums, self-control is the name of the game.
“I know that!,” you may be saying to yourself, “But what do I do about it?”
Luckily, we’ve organized a few helpful tips on what to do to help your teen control his emotions.
To begin, the fundamental aspects of self-control have to come from you – the parent. Children won’t learn how to control their emotions unless a role model demonstrates that it’s possible. Consequently, it’s important to make a connection between how you act when you’re frustrated, and your child’s behavior. Chances are there may be a few similarities.
The first step to establishing control of the situation mid-tantrum is to remain calm, and to aim to calm your teen. This can be done by speaking slowly and evenly, and briefly telling your child what he’s doing wrong. For example, “Robert, you’re screaming again.” Don’t be vague or judgmental, and never resort to name-calling. Exhibit your empathy by saying things like “I understand how you feel…” or “That happened to me once…”
When offering advice, always make sure to be even-tempered and collected. Tell your teen exactly what he needs to do to center himself. Give him clear and concise instruction like “Take a few deep breaths and sit down.” Don’t repeat yourself as this can be interpreted as nagging.
Finally, give your child a few moments to assess the situation. If he’s visibly perturbed, give him some alone time to cool off. Later, when all has settled, try to work out what caused such an emotional response.
By utilizing these tips, you can begin to form an understanding with your child that goes deeper than mere conflict resolution. Instructing him as to proper mood regulation can serve to improve his school work, friendships and future ventures into adulthood.
Ray Romano’s Advice for Dads
Celebrity dads go through the same grind as any first-time dad, including having fatherhood jitters. Ray Romano admits that he was no different. In his recent appearance on the Today show, Ray confessed to Matt Lauer that he was so nervous after his first child was born that he couldn’t get anything right.
The Everybody Loves Raymond star remembered the birth of his daughter Alexandra over 19 years ago, which led to his first dad debacle, followed by his first lesson in parenting as well.
“My daughter was born at St. Vincent’s Hospital right here in New York,” he says. “I went to pick them up, my wife and child, and [with my] newborn baby in my arms, [I] go outside [and say], ‘Where’s my minivan?’ I parked in a tow-away zone so we had to go to Queens in a yellow cab. My daughter came home in a yellow cab.”
Ray and his wife Anna are also parents to 16-year-old twins Matthew and Gregory, and Joseph Raymond, 11. The 51-year-old star admits that raising four kids has made him wiser. He has some very good advice for dads, “My advice is just let the woman tell you where to go and what to do.”
Ray Romano is also the voice of the mammoth, Manny, in Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, which is now in theaters.
Sleeping with your baby
Your picture-perfect view of new parenthood probably involves mom and dad staring lovingly over a crib as the baby sleeps. However, you, especially as a dad, may want to evaluate sleeping options and here’s why:
1. The baby-in-crib alone is a relatively recent and distinctly American practice. If you think about it, before multi-room dwellings and back to caveman days, families used to sleep together for warmth and safety. Most of the rest of the world “co-sleeps” and finds it completely natural to do so.
2. Crib death, or SIDS, is a very American phenomenon, and perhaps can be related to the distance mommy is from a struggling baby.
3. And finally, and most importantly for dads: co-sleeping keeps mom close to baby for middle-of-the-night feedings. When we had our first and second babies, they slept with us for the first 6-7 months. In the middle of the night, baby was hungry and baby reached out and had a snack. My wife often said she barely remembered the feeding. Compare that with the story of some of my friends who kept the baby in a crib across the hall. Very often it was the DAD who got up in the middle of the night (wife had baby all day after all and was still recuperating from delivery) and it was DAD who spent 15 minutes at midnight and 4AM warming the bottle and another 15 minutes feeding and burping the baby. Now, I will grant you that middle of the night feedings have a certain romantic glow to them – there you are, the great dad, alone with your thoughts and your new son and daughter in the moonlight… However, after a week of completely interrupted sleep you may get a little tired of this routine, especially when you count the months before “sleeps through the night” is a reality.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome(SIDS)
Sudden Infant Death syndrome (SIDS) is defined as the sudden, unexplained death of an infant, and is the one of the main causes of death among infants between a month and a year. SIDS is said to occur only when no possible explanation can be found even after:
* Autopsy
* Examination of the place where the death occurred
* Review of medical history of infant and family
The baby typically does not seem to show any sign of suffering and death occurs rapidly. In addition, SIDS is commonly known as crib death because of a strong link with sleep. It is estimated that 2,500 babies in the United States die of unknown causes every year.
Probable Causes
While no single cause can be pinpointed, researchers believe that SIDS may be the result of a combination of several factors.
During pregnancy:
* Consumption of prohibited substances during pregnancy (tobacco, alcohol, drugs, etc.)
* Early motherhood
* Poor medical care during pregnancy
* Short interval between two pregnancies
After birth:
* Exposure to smoke after birth
* Sleeping on the stomach or sleeping on too soft a surface
The last point should be emphasized, as babies tend to pause in their breathing, or re-breathe exhaled air, reducing the amount of oxygen in their blood while increasing carbon dioxide. Babies need clear space around their heads to breathe freely.
Prevention
* Ensure that your child always sleeps on the back. Sleeping on the side is also not a good alternative. For babies, sleeping on the back reduces the chance of accidental death greatly.
* Your infant’s sleep area should be firm, without any pillows, toys, or covering. A firm mattress is preferable to a soft one. Remove stuffed animals during nap or sleep time
* Keep a comfortable room temperature. Excess body heat is seen to increase the chances of SIDS.
* For unknown reasons, breast-feeding and pacifiers are known to decrease the risk of SIDS.
* Keep the air around the baby free of smoke.
