First Day at School...

The first day of school can be both an exciting as well as stressful for children and parents alike. Exciting because it's a milestone, stressful because it means separation. I remember I was almost in tears when i had to leave my daughter at her first day at pre-school and guess what when i arrived to pick her up the tears were back again but this time for happiness. Likewise in most families the separation is acompanied with tears. Preparation - yours and your child's for a smooth transition for the new adventure

• Start Early: breaking the bond with your child could be painful even if it has to be for a few hours -- it can be a traumatic experience, particularly for a toddler. Experts say that until the age of three, children are usually unable to retain a mental picture or understand the concept of time. When your child can't see you, he or she might assume you're gone forever. Even a slightly older child may experience fear in your absence.
  Start early to help your child adjust to your occasional absences. Gradually increase the number and length of visits with relatives, friends and other caregivers to improve your child's comfort level with those outside your immediate family.
• Laying the Foundation: School is just one of many new situations your child will have to face in life, help your child see change as a challenge. Be sure to concentrate on all aspects of development-emotional, social, physical and intellectual.
• Are You Both Ready? First, ask yourself how you're feeling about this milestone in your child's life. If you're experiencing fear and anxiety, try not to communicate this uneasiness to your child. Attend meetings and activities at the school or set up brief meetings with the principal and teachers. And once you believe school is going to be an exciting experience, there's a good chance your child will feel the same way.
  Just because your child knows colors, shapes or letters doesn't necessarily mean he or she is ready for school.
• The Big Day: Tell your child in advance that he or she soon will be going to school. Be positive and reassure your child that school is a good place.Prepare the night before by planning meals, clothes and transportation. Consider riding the bus with your child the first day. Let your child bring a security object to school, like a stuffed toy, or give your child your photo to keep.
  
• Don't be too concerned if, in spite of your best efforts, your child cries and refuses to leave your side the first day of school while another youngster dismisses his or her parent with a wave of the lunch box. Clinging and crying are healthy coping mechanisms in very young children, so try not to overreact. Gradually lessen the amount of time you stay, but don't sneak out when you leave; it may make your child feel abandoned and unloved.
• Encourage a Love of Learning
  Your job doesn't end once that first school bell rings. Learning is a lifelong process, and there are many ways you can help your child succeed, both in and out of school.
  Teach your child that learning is not confined to school and that every new experience broadens life.
  Always be positive. Don't set your child up for negative attitudes by saying how much you hated school or a particular subject. If there are older siblings, talk to them about conveying a positive attitude about school to their younger brother or sister.
• Read to your child.
  Set a good example yourself by reading more than you watch television. Show your child how books, magazines, newspapers, computers and other learning tools help you in your daily life.
• Ask your child's opinions: Encourage family discussions and critical thinking. Attend meetings and school activities. Visit the library routinely. Also schedule trips to museums, galleries, science centers, zoos, etc.
• Ask questions about school and pay attention to the answers - verbal and nonverbal.
  Remember, not all children will enter school with complete comfort. Starting school is one of the earliest and most challenging goodbyes between a child and parent. But successfully mastering this new challenge can increase a child's feeling of self-confidence and security. It can also strengthen a child's emotional health, which is as important as physical health.

Teaching Toddlers

Toddlers do not need to be subjected to structured learning, but as they are naturally curious, it makes sense for us to harness their curiosity and channel it in the right direction.
Sing and wash along with the alphabet song so that they treat the exercise as a game. They will come out with clean hands and a lesson learnt.
Eat while identifying the shape be it chapattis, fruits, vegetables etc. This way not only does your child learn something about shapes, but she gets distracted and doesn't fuss as much. Point out the round bowl, round plates and rectangular or square table.
Play the color game To begin with, pick one color for one day, say green. Point out all green objects to your child through the day. When she is playing with her toys, separate all the green ones into a heap. When eating, show her the green vegetables. When you go to the park, you are surrounded by green grass and green leaves.
Use flash cards as teaching aids. Keep separate sets for alphabets, numbers, colors, shapes, vegetables, fruits etc.
Use familiar tools to teach your child letter recognition with the help of his favourite objects. N for Noddy, P for papa, M for mummy, D for didi or dadaji and so on. Count out the toys aloud. Soon you will realize that you are surrounded by learning tools and it is up to you to extract their potential.

Toddler Growth Chart for Girls (0 to 36 months)

Toddler Growth Chart For Boys ( 0 to 36 months)

12 Most Creative Nursery Themes

1. Stripes: could include great color themes include turquoise, brown and white; white, red, and taupe, or yellow, grey, and white.
   Jungle: Imagine! Bright colors, trees, and animals.
2. Black and White: you use stripes, patchwork, or just a combination of black furniture and white furniture, your black and white nursery will be beautiful.
   Teddy Bears : perfect for any baby.
   Stars: Great wall decorations.
   World: maybe a 'world traveler' theme, with décor such as maps, globes, and pictures of landmarks from throughout the world
   Circles: may include circle decorations, or colored circles painted on the wall, along with a bold circle area rug.
   Aquatic: with lots of bright colors! you can create an underwater themed atmosphere in your nursery.
   Artistic: modern bright-colored art to inspire your little one.
   Numbers: Inspire a little mathematician by creating a nursery full of numbers. Maybe include an abacus, numbers on the walls, and numbered bedding.
   ABC's: inspires a little writer, baby blocks, wooden letters painted on the walls, and famous literary works.

Glitter Graphics Maker & MySpace Layouts

How to Prevent a Toddler's Temper Tantrum

How to Prevent a Toddler's Temper Tantrum

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Taming Toddler Aggression

Young children have a tough time controlling their emotions, but there are ways you can prevent big blowouts.
Normal Child Aggression
Did you know that toddlers are the single most aggressive group of humans? In fact according to a University of Montreal study more than 90% of 17-month-olds were sometimes physically aggressive toward others. If your child doesn't hit, kick, push or bite at least occasionally, you should consider yourself fortunate indeed.
The first step in taming toddler aggression is to understand what triggers the unwanted behavior.
What Triggers Aggression?
Kids are more likely to act up aggressively when they are tired or hungry.

They act on the basis of the situations they see around the house - Do you always react calmly to frustrations in your day? You can be sure the kids are watching and copying your actions so be careful to demonstrate the type of behavior you want your kids to model.
Examine Outside Influences
Influences like television, video games, and unruly friends can affect too
Teach Communication
For very young children, the lack of verbal skills can cause frustrations that lead to biting or other aggression. Deal With Aggression
Once you have addressed the triggers for aggressive behavior, there are some steps you can take to deal with situations as they arise.
1. Create Consistent Consequences or punishment that fits the offense.

2. Teach Empathy. I ask- how would you like it if I did that to you?
3. Teach Alternative Resolutions. When our kids fight over a toy for instance, we encourage them to ask their

sibling to share using a nice voice and saying please.
4. Reward Cooperation. If you praise your child for cooperating and sharing you are giving positive attention

to conduct that you want to see more often. This is like sowing the seeds for better future behavior.
Harness Children's Energy
Lastly I've noticed around our house that my kids seem to be more aggressive when they've been cooped up inside all day. So get your kids outside for some active play.

The Importance of Playing Games with Your Toddler

Three is the perfect age to begin playing board and card games with your child. Board and card games help teach your child about aspiration, success, and disappointment. She'll gain experience with both winning and losing.

Games also give you the opportunity to teach your toddler about rules, about integrity and honesty, and about luck.

Games also can help increase your child's ability to focus her attention.

Game playing enables and encourages your preschooler to practice important social skills that she will need to play well with other children. Nearly all games, for example, involve taking turns, sharing dice or a spinner, waiting for your turn, patience, and learning how to be a good sport. (When you play games with your child, try to emphasize the fun of game as much as possible, rather than focusing on "who's winning.")
Besides helping to acquaint your child with "life lessons" and to practice valuable social skills, most good children's games also afford toddlers to sharpen certain academic skills. Most board games for preschoolers involve either counting or color matching, for instance. Games like picture lotto can help expand your preschooler's vocabulary and give her practice at analyzing and matching pictures.

Is your toddler testing your patience when it comes to eating?

Refusing foods, eating the same food day in and day out and taking what seems like forever to finish a meal? Feeding your toddlers requires patience as well as innovation with a great deal of understanding keeping in mind your child's likes and dislikes.

When to say ‘No’

Often, a child behaves ‘badly’ because they know they will get attention (and for children of all ages, negative attention is better than no attention at all). So paying too much attention to bad behaviour actually encourages it.
If your toddler is aware of the ‘right’ behaviour, she will only respect you if you follow through with the matter-of-fact consequence that you agreed on earlier. If she is not aware, then a firm ‘No’ or ‘Stop that now’ is something your toddler should understand, but save these expressions for when it really counts or in dangerous situations.

How to Deal with Your Toddler

Toddlers are naturally curious about their world.
They learn by testing and experimenting with everything and anything around them.

Constantly telling them ‘NO’ can hamper this natural curiosity
You may want to try some other ways to change behavior you don’t like.
Allow exploring: Try to create situations where your child can explore.
Offer two choices: Most children like to have some control over their world. By offering them choices (either of which you are happy with), you can guide them to the result you would like.
Change the environment: When she wants to ‘help’ in the kitchen, don't ask her to go out - instead give her some unbreakable utensils and spoons to play around with.
Show her how you feel: If she happens to pull your hair, pull a sad face and say ‘ouch’. If she keeps doing it, avert your eyes and withdraw a little.
Using ‘I’ statements helps like ‘I don’t like it when you pull my hair’. She will recognize your emotions, and be able to feel for you.
Avoid rewarding bad behavior: Your attention is a powerful reward
for your child. Avoid giving it when your child is doing something you don't like.
Explain the consequences of her behavior so she can figure out why something is wrong: This helps give her a better understanding of the world around her.
Manage transitions carefully: At this age, children can find it hard to change from one activity to another. Some extra time, sensitivity and planning can help.

My Little Angel, Born on 5th Jan '07

A baby changes things
They’ll never be the same
Your life is filled with wonder
Since your little miracle came
There’s lots of things to do now
But with the new tasks you face
Your family gains more love
And bonds time will never erase.