Tips to Prevent Accidents at Home
Children spend most of their time at home and indulge in various activities both indoor and outdoor. Home is the place where accidents are most likely to occur, one should be aware of the dangers in home so that the accidents can be prevented. Here are a handful of tips to prevent accidents at home: Keep small objects out of the reach of small children. Encourage older children to keep their electronic toys away from small children. Don’t let small children sleep on an adult bed or on the sofa. Make sure that chairs and other climbing objects are kept away from windows and balconies. Restrict the children to climb on window shelves or any high surface, as they might hurt themselves. Make sure that the windows are at a height of 3-3.5 ft. Do not use door closers, as it will push the door against the child. Safety latches must be high so that they are out of children’s reach. Take proper precautions to prevent children’s fingers from being trapped in the doors. Do not use door stoppers. Electrical sockets must be at a decent height so that they are out of the reach of the children. Also, unused sockets must be covered. All the electrical sockets should be childproof. Children should not be allowed to touch electrical wires. Keep poisonous objects such as household cleaners, garden products etc. in a locked cupboard. Close cabinets, drawers and doors after use. Use containers with child-resistant tops. Keep medicines and cough syrups out of children’s reach. Don’t let toddlers hold anything made of glass or anything sharp like scissors, knife etc. Strictly use plastic bowls and glasses to serve food to kids. Turn off and unplug all the appliances before leaving home. Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children. Supervise young children in bathtubs or when they are near water. Keep a list of emergency numbers in a highly visible location. Include phone numbers of family and friends, doctors etc. Install nightlights in the bedrooms to prevent falls during the night.
Somewhere Safe to Play
In an ideal world we would all love our children to play in a large sunny garden with a swing, a sandpit and a tree house. Sadly reality often paints a different picture. High rise flats, postage stamp gardens and rainy days can mean finding somewhere safe for children to play is often a major problem for Mum. Yet somewhere to run around and let off steam is a real need for children. If the weather is fine, a ball, a frisbee or a kite and a safe open space are all that’s needed, although you can double the fun by taking a friend and a picnic too, but for a large part of the year a hall is the best alternative. Firstly, check out what is on offer in your area. Community centre or church hall notice boards are often a good starting point as Mother and Toddler groups, playgroups and Bumps and Babes clubs advertise there and are usually pleased to welcome new members. Sports centres are also worth investigating. As well as pool fun for all ages, there are often skating and dancing sessions and sometimes ball pools and soft play areas. Exercising at home can be fun too. Stretching like a cat, prowling like a lion, walking like a monkey and wriggling like a snake won’t take up much space, yet will have little ones giggling in no time. Flexibility is the key word to finding space to play within the home. A little used dining room or large hall can be a daily used playroom with just a little rearranging and covering of furniture. Many garages, first cleared and checked very carefully for sharp tools and dangerous car or garden chemicals, can do double duty as bike riding space for toddlers and somewhere to paint or play with sand on wet days. You can put up some of their pictures to cheer the place up a bit and paint the floor with garage floor paint if dust is a problem. It is sometimes possible to fence in a drive or car standing to give a really useful amount of skipping, riding and ball bouncing space. Some friends of ours, desperate for play space for their two girls actually moved out of their large bedroom and into a neatly fitted out boxroom so that the children had a large nursery cum playroom where games could be left to return to and friends entertained, and now, one year on, vote it a much better use of their limited space than the original conventional layout. This can also be worth considering when two young children have a bedroom each. Would they be happier sleeping in together for a few years with their very own playroom next door? Using the furniture as part of an obstacle course can be great fun on a rainy afternoon. Use cushions as stepping stones and a rug or duvet to scramble under. Make a string or wool jump tied between two chairs. Or a bed can become a pirate ship with pillow “islands” in a stormy sea leading to a larger duvet “treasure island”. Dens under tables or behind sofas will never be short of a resident, especially if you add a torch, comics and a few toys too, yet are easily made by throwing a duvet or large sheet over a table or the backs of chairs. A smooth shelf or plank of wood makes an indoor slide if placed carefully on a sofa or the bottom few steps of the stairs with a pillow at the bottom. A useful addition to most children’s bedrooms is a piece of hardboard cut approximately to the size of the bed (most diy stores will do this for you for a small fee) giving a large flat surface which is ideal for laying out towns or train sets, doing puzzles or playing with all those toys that just won’t go along properly on the carpet. The added bonus is that the board should slide away neatly under the bed when the games are over.
Childs’ Safety is Not to be Taken Lightly
Since you have brought your bundle of joy home, your life is now beginning to change in an amazing way. Being a parent, you have to be more alert of what is in and around your home. If you are not prepared, your child’s interest could be unsafe or deadly. As your child is getting older start childproofing your home. A child is always constantly getting evolved with things around the home. The most excellent way to avoid any accidents from taking place is to supervise your child and childproofing your home, that’s important. When shopping for child safety products and baby safety products, be prepared with your measurements for doorways and spaces where the child safety gates will be needed. Find out whether you will need pressure or hard mount gates for your baby safety or what safety products you will need for your windows, appliances, furniture and etc. Depending on the age of your child, parents should childproof with safety products that are one stage ahead of their baby’s abilities. Shop now for safety products for beginner walkers or if your baby is crawling. Then your baby safety products will be in place when your baby takes his or her first step. Child safety gates, Safety 1st and Kidco outlet covers, baby safety products for your kitchen appliances and table bumper safety products are all the basics you will need to stock up for your baby’s safety. It is recommend that you get down to your child’s level and glance around the individual rooms. This will give you a new standpoint on your child safety issues that you possible may have missed. These baby safety products are needed from the floor up. Look for issues with tablecloths, window blinds and table lamp cords as well.
Tips to keep your child safe at home
Safety concerns are relevant for every individual ranging from a small child to a grown-up adult. However, the only difference is that small children have a care-free attitude, whereas adults are conscious and alert enough towards their safety concerns. Due to this reason, adults are more concerned about the safety of the children. Moreover, the safety concerns increase when the child is at home-a place where she spends most of her time. If safety is a cause of concern for your child, simply follow the tips listed below to keep your child safe at home: Make sure that you know where your child is at all times. Know your child’s friends and clearly instruct her not to go to any strangers house alone. Get actively involved in your child’s activities. Have child-proof locks and doors in your home. Discourage your child from digging in the dustbin. Keep it covered and at a safe distance from the children. Ensure that you do not leave things ideal on the floor like small toys and other objects such as coins, marbles, buttons etc. that can pose choking hazards to your baby. Restrict your child from climbing on the window shelves or any high surface, to avoid getting hurt. Use toughened glass instead of the ordinary glass for the windows. Never leave hanging cords; unplugged items when not in use and store those that are used, keep cords wrapped tightly with a twist tie. In toilets, use a special child seat for your baby, so that she can keep her balance more easily. Keep the toilet seat closed. Store cleaning fluids in locked cabinet out of your child’s sight.
The Top 10 Tips for Potty Training Your Child
Toilet training usually begins when children attain toddlerhood. By the time they are ready to enter into the big school, they get the basic idea about how to use the washroom. Visiting the restroom becomes a part of normal routine for the children because they are no more dependent upon training pants and potty chairs. However, children may panic and find it difficult to stay dry all through the day in the big school, due to the change in the environment, restroom and in the routine for visiting toilet. Moreover, children get indulged in different activities to the extent that they may even forget to go to toilet and thus, make their clothes dirty, which is undesirable. Therefore, parents should take initiative to teach the basic bathroom etiquettes to their school-aged children, by imparting proper toilet training at home so that the little ones get used to the restroom in the big school. Make your child understand that it is important to use the washroom properly in the big school and also keep it clean. Tell her that unlike home, she may not always get assistance for using the toilet while in the big school. Moreover, there she will be expected to exhibit the basic bathroom etiquettes. Thus, develop your child’s ability to look after herself in the toilet at home, by giving her proper guidance. Here are useful tips that will give you a clear picture about how to toilet train your child. Tell your child that she should learn how to take care of her personal hygiene and the cleanliness of the washroom she uses. Encourage your child to speak up about her need to go to the washroom and instruct her to ask permission politely for the same. Explain your child that it will be mandatory for her to seek permission from her teacher in the big school, whenever she wants to use the toilet. Teach her how to make use of water judiciously in the bathroom as she may slip and fall if the floor is wet. Teach her the basic restroom etiquettes like always knock the door before entering into the toilet and close the door after leaving. Instruct her to go to toilet before going out for play and also after returning from the activity. In case of prolonged outdoor activities, make sure that your child finds suitable washroom nearby to use. Ask her to go to toilet every time before going to bed; before going for an outing; prior to starting outdoor activities etc. This practice will reduce your child’s tendency to make her clothes dirty. Help her to stay dry during daytime naps and while sleeping in the night. For this, instruct her to go to toilet before going to bed. Also, limit her intake of liquids before going to bed. Tell her to avoid heavy drinks & food that act as stimulants, such as chocolates and fruit juice, just before sleeping. Do not annoy your child with reminders and stop being too conscious when she is out for play because it may make her conscious too. Further, show confidence in her and make her feel independent to maintain personal hygiene herself without being prompted repeatedly. Praise your child for her efforts to stay ‘dry’ In the end, remember that a child is considered toilet trained only when she is able to make proper use of the restroom without help. Hence, provide your child with plenty of opportunities at home, to learn how to use the restroom appropriately. Also, remember that at this young age your child may take longer time than normal, to get toilet trained thoroughly. So, show your patience and be persistent in your efforts because your child is too young to follow all the instructions at one go.
Potty Training That Actually Works!
Valerie Garner I used this on both my boys when they were potty training aged, and it worked perfectly, it was so easy. First, make sure your child is ready for potty training, shows interest, has an interest to wear “big kids pants” etc. Make this a game, make it fun and you will not run into stubborn opposition (after all it is the child’s body). Go out and buy or find around the house items you don’t normally let your child play with that could fit into this category, some kind of toys that can be water toys (3 or 4 things), could be little plastic pitchers, balls, whatever, but make them SPECIAL. The only real rule to this game is these special “potty” toys can only be played with while the child is sitting on the potty!!!!! Very important, no giving out on this one rule, if you’re not strict with this one rule, it won’t work! Once the child is sitting on the potty fill a large bowl or small bucket with lukewarm or tepid water, place the new “potty” toys in the bowl and set the bowl of water in front of the child. On the floor if the potty seat is low, or if it’s a potty seat that sits on top of the regular toilet, set the bowl of water on a TV tray in front of the child. When the child places his/her hands in the lukewarm water to play with the toys, if the child needs to physically go potty, they nearly instantly go (it’s almost an instinctive type physical reaction), then cheer, cheer, cheer! Give lots of praise, and if you wish to give some type of a treat, go ahead. Let them play as long as they want, as long as they sit on the potty. When they are done playing, put the toys away for next time. This is really great because it makes it fun for them so they cooperate, it totally ends all power struggles, there are NONE, and also no more waiting and waiting for them to go, only to go potty as soon as the diaper goes back on. They also feel good because they have immediate success. Potty training NO. 2 was more difficult I found, that just came with some time and patience and them learning in their own time and way, relax, it will happen. You know how I got this idea? It’s kind of a funny thing, my husband used to be in the military and when he was young in boot camp they used to always play jokes on each other in the night by dipping a hand of someone who was sleeping, into a pan of lukewarm water, thus making the person wet the bed. It just seemed like a natural progression to use this trick for good in the potty training area and it worked great!!!!!
Tips for Creative Kids’ Parties on a Penny Budget
The most exciting event for any child is to celebrate her birthday and every birthday is incomplete without a party. To have the best creative kids’ party organised on a penny budget, it is imperative to plan the party in a systematic manner. Moreover, it is advisable to write down all the ideas and plans on a paper. Also, encourage active participation of your child by taking her inputs as to what kind of a party she would like, who all she wishes to invite etc. Here are the top 10 tips to organise creative kids’ parties on a penny budget: Organise the party at home, instead of outside. Depending upon the weather, you can even organise the kids’ party in a nearby park that will offer plenty of space for free-play. Fix a budget for the kids’ party and try to stick to it. Limit the guest list by inviting your child’s close friends and family only. Instead of splurging on expensive party invites, send e-invites or invite via phone calls. Bake the birthday cake instead of buying one. Organise the kids’ party in between lunch and dinner to save on the food costs. Think of party of games yourself instead of having a child’s entertainer. Instead of giving away individual return gifts, put all the gifts in a khoyi bag and burst it towards the end of the party. Decorate brown paper bags with colourful ribbons & papers to give them the look & feel of unique yet creative party bags.
Baby Gift Ideas
Baby Gift Ideas Are you confused about what to buy for a new born baby? Want to know about some of the best baby gift ideas? Do not get hassled; as with a variety of baby-care products, apparels, toys etc. available nowadays, it becomes easy to choose the right gift. Before anything else, think about what the parents actually need and how much money are you willing to spend. If you know it is a baby girl or a baby boy, then you can purchase the gift accordingly. Buy gifts that are used for daily care of the newly born baby. Moreover, the new parents will surely appreciate on receiving supplies of daily use such as baby pillow, blanket, new-born size clothes, booties, mittens, etc. An assorted basket with baby items such as teethers, rattlers, feeder bottles, tumbler, bib, napkins etc. will make a good baby gift option. Baby care gift set is another wonderful gift idea for new babies. The set of daily care products includes essential items for the little ones such as baby cream, baby powder, baby lotion, baby oil, baby shampoo, baby top to toe wash etc. that are safe for baby use. You may opt for gifting a larger gift; something must have for the newborn like a pram, walker, stroller or baby car seat etc. You can also keep a few toys along with one of the aforesaid gift items. Presenting a gift that the baby’s parents will cherish throughout their lives is to gift a keepsake/memento. Keepsakes such as silver spoon with baby’s name engraved on it, engraved baby photo album, a set of plaques with the baby’s hand and foot impressions etc. will help the parents make memories and make the gift stand out from amongst other baby gifts. So, choose from any of the baby gift items suggested above and do not forget to wrap it in a unique & attractive wrapping paper, making it a memorable one for years to come.
The Top 10 Interactive Games for Parents and their Toddlers
Almost all toddlers feel a sense of security and contentment when their parents show great interest in their explorations. So, a game that will help to build and enhance the level of security of the toddlers with that of their parents is shadow your child. So, follow your child wherever she goes and act like her shadow. One of the most famous game that you must have also played during your childhood is to bend down on your knees and hands to pretend like a horse and follow your little one all around the house. Your toddler will surely have loads of fun to have your around acting just like her. Kids love to see bubbles both big and small. So, keep a variety of different bubble pipes and bubble wands &blow the bubbles of different sizes and let your toddler try to catch them all. However, make sure that your child does not take hold of the bottle comprising of the bubbles’ solution as there are likely chances that she might drink it, which is hazardous. Let’s play peek-a-boo! Keep on playing variations of peek-a-boo with your child, even though you may have been playing this evergreen game for a couple of years already! Hold your little one firmly in your arms and spin around two to three times, while simultaneously singing “I spin my baby around and around!” now, slowly and gradually slow down your speed of spinning to regain the body balance. Firmly hold your child in your lap just like an infant and roll her up and down, towards your face and over & over again, respectively. This movement will make you feel like you are lifting weights and your toddler shall surely love and laugh over this game. Clap-clap-clap your hands is another simple yet an interesting game that your child will surely love to play. Since your toddler can open her hands wide open but it may take her time before she claps independently. So, till then, hold her hands and clap them together for her, or let her hold your hands while you pat them together. Push me, pull you is yet another fun toddler game that will help your child to pull herself up and practice with a push-pull game. Let your child take the support of an object that is stable and firm such as a plastic box filled with soft toys etc. While she holds the edges of the box for support, you can be rest assured that the box shall remain stable. Then slowly, pull the box towards you to encourage her to step forward. Put your toddler in your arms on the bed and then roll her from left to right while singing, “Sailing..sailing..over the ocean blue.” It will be easier to play this game if you are lying down and you roll your child towards the left and then towards the right side along with singing the song. Children love to hear different sounds. Toddlers love funny words like “zap” and “pop”.So, make funny sounds with your child. You can do this by reading books or listening CD’s that help you with the same.
The Top 10 Fun Things for Parents and Toddlers to Play With
Roll the Ball- Kids love to play with a ball. So, the basic game that you can play with your toddler using a ball is to sit on the floor with your baby, both on different ends of the room. Now roll the ball towards your baby and then tell her to roll it back towards you. Stack the Blocks- Together with your child stack the blocks and build towers. Help her with stacking the blocks and make her as high a tower as she wants to. If any block falls, then let her pick it up on her own and say ‘come-on, let’s make it again!’ to encourage her. Play Knob Puzzles- Kids enjoy playing with puzzles, especially knob puzzles that are one of the basic forms of puzzles, apt for toddlers to play. So, buy plenty of knob puzzles viz. alphabets, numbers, fruits, vegetables etc. for your child and let her play with them. Make Sand Castles- Since children love to mess around while free-play, so what could be better than playing with sand. Buy variety of plastic cups, buckets, spades, funnels etc. and together with your child make sand castles of different sizes and shapes. Beat the Drum- Music lures children especially the beats of the drum. So, get plastic drums, one each for your toddler & yourself. Now, beat the drum and your child will surely imitate you and do the same with her drum as well. Keep on doing the same and hear her make some interesting music. Playdough Fun- Since colours attract children, so provide colourful playdough to your toddler and let her use her creativity to make different objects. However, to ensure safety and avoid the chance of her inhaling the smell of the usual playdough, buy scented playdough for your child. Also, make sure that your child does not swallow the playdough as it is quiet soft & is harmful for her health. All the aforesaid games develop motor skills both fine as well as gross motor skills. So, play these fun games with your little one while she develops her skills.