Choosing a nursery theme for your baby

It is a huge responsibility to plan for the baby’s nursery. Furniture must be selected; walls painted and most important is the criterion of safety measures. But the most interesting part of the entire planning is to select the theme of the nursery. Zeroing on the theme of the nursery would be the first step towards the planning process because it would set the basis on which you would decorate the entire nursery of the baby. For the room of baby, you would never run of themes because of the sheer number of them available. You can select a theme that is masculine or feminine depending on the gender of the baby, or you could go for a neutral theme in case you plan to have more babies. This will ensure that you will not have to redecorate the room when the next baby arrives with a different gender. If your next baby is a girl then a blue based theme for your boy would not work for her. Similarly a boy would not be entertained in a nursery with a pink princess theme. If you want to create a nursery that will cause stimulation to the baby’s mind as he or she grows, try going for geometric patterns and shapes and bright primary colors. Yellow, blue and red are the most common colors that provide stimulation to toddlers. And if the shapes and patterns are big enough, you can try using them on walls and bedding, it would be equally helpful. Since it takes a few months for a baby to fully realize his vision, the bright and huge patterns would be a welcome exercise for him. No matter what theme you finally settle for, prepare yourself to be in it for some years. The majority of babies are not prepared for a room of a toddler until they reach the age of two or three. Because toddler beds utilize similar size bedding and mattress as does a crib, you can go on with the theme you chose for him as an infant if you so wish. Enjoy yourself while planning the decoration of the nursery, irrespective of the theme chosen. This is one of the happiest moments of your life, moments that you would cherish all your life.

21 Reasons to send a child a greeting card

When was the last time you saw the face of a child light up and glow because they got a piece of mail with their name on it? Children love to get mail. My children, even at 10 years of age, run to the door and ask if they got any mail today. It doesn’t even matter if it is junk mail. They just like to get anything with their names on it. Of course, it means that much more if there is a special reason for the mail. Sending letters or greeting cards is a good way to foster a love of communication and writing in children. In our society, instant messaging, text messaging, and short emails have all but killed the art of good communication. Studies indicate that the more a child reads, the smarter they are. However, it can often be difficult to get some children to read due to lack of interest. I bet there isn’t a child around that wouldn’t be interested in reading a card or letter addressed to them from someone they care about. And, of course, if a child is raised to expect that letters and greeting cards are a regular occurrence, they are more likely to become better communicators themselves. So take some time and send a greeting card to a child in your life. Here are just a handful of reasons you can use to send a greeting card to a child you know and help to make their day that much brighter. 1. They got an A on a test or report card. Make the joy of doing well last just a little longer. 2. They said, “Please”. 3. It’s their birthday, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, etc… 4. They were well-behaved. 5. They did something special for someone (even if it wasn’t you). It helps to foster the trait of good will when they get some feedback for what they have done. 6. They helped with dinner. 7. Just to say, “I appreciate you”. Do they really know how valuable they are to you? 8. They said, “Thank you”. 9. Just to say, “You’re Special”. 10. They did a great job on their chores. Rewards for a job well done encourage more of the same. 11. Because you haven’t seen them and want them to know you miss them. 12. Say thanks for being my ...(son, daughter, grandchild, niece, nephew, friend, etc…). 13. They made the honor roll. 14. They helped in the yard. 15. Remind them of an exciting event that is coming up. 16. Remind them of a neat experience you had together. 17. Tell them something special about yourself. 18. Tell them something special about someone you both know. 19. Share a joke you just heard. 20. They brought home a warm fuzzy note from the teacher. 21. Just to say you love them. Do you really need any more of a reason than that? Will you be taking just a few minutes out of your busy schedule today to foster the emotional and mental development of a child in your life? I know I will.

Tips to relieve your child s adhd symptoms

When you think of your child having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, do you automatically think of a lifetime of your child popping pills? Medication isn't always the answer to treating ADHD, a neurobehavioral disorder that causes problems with attention, impulsivity and overactivity, according to the National Resource Center on AD/HD. In fact, experts say that using medication to treat the chronic disorder that affects between 3 percent and 7 percent of school-age children is not necessary in all cases. However, what is necessary - whether your child is on medication or not - is using other elements to control the effects of ADHD. The following tips can help your child become more successful in aspects of life, such as school and peer relationships, that are impaired by the condition: * Create a daily schedule. Since organization is often a problem for children with ADHD, the National Institute of Mental Health recommends keeping your child on a routine. Post the schedule in your child's room or other area in the house and try to make schedule changes far in advance. * Provide a supplement. Some experts recommend ADHD sufferers take a supplement specifically designed to help relieve symptoms of the disorder, such as Focus from "The Spray" line of sublingual sprays, which is made with natural ingredients. Clinical studies show that Focus is effective in reducing lapses in attention, poor concentration and the tendency to be easily distracted. This spray was developed by doctors and meets all Food and Drug Administration guidelines for good manufacturing practices. * Help break down large assignments. Break projects or big tasks into smaller steps. This will make the assignments more manageable for your child. * Encourage peer activities. To help your child alleviate pent-up hyperactivity and develop social skills, get your child involved in extracurricular activities, such as sports.