Temper Tantrum

Many children exhibit bad behavior beginning at around age two. This is a very normal part of growing up as at this age, a child begins to want to become more independent. They realize that they are their own person and not just a part of you and seek ways to exert that independence. Many children at this age start to throw a temper tantrum every time they do not get their own way.

The temper tantrum is usually very disconcerting, to say the least, for parents. This is especially true because it is done in the presence of others who look on with shock and horror. No place is safe when it comes to a child throwing a temper tantrum- the supermarket, the bank, a party – anywhere. In fact, it seems that the more a parent may be on guard from bad behavior of the child, the worse the behavior gets.

So what is a parent to do when their little darling starts exhibit the bad behavior that suddenly seems to turn them into a little monster? There are many ways to handle bad behavior in children. The number one way is to not react with your own bad behavior.

One way to handle a temper tantrum is not to react at all. This is best when the child is in a place where they are disturbing as few people as possible.  Obviously, you do not want to just ignore them when they are putting on this display at church, a restaurant or other place when they are truly annoying others. Bad behavior usually starts at home. The best thing to do is to ignore the temper tantrum until the child is over it. The child wants you to react, which is the sole purpose of the tantrum. By not reacting, you are not giving your child the satisfaction. They may soon learn that this is not an effective way to get what they want.

But suppose the bad behavior of your child takes place in a public place where you cannot just ignore it? What if the temper tantrum is at a store or venue where they are disturbing others? You should then remove the child from the environment and place them somewhere that they are not around others. If they want to continue the temper tantrum, fine. Allow them to continue until they are finished. Then go about your business. They will soon learn that this bad behavior is not getting them the desired results.

It can take some patience to deal with bad behavior in children. The second worst thing that you can do is to react to the temper tantrum. This gives the child a sense of control. They quickly figure out that this behavior will get them attention and are more likely to do it again.

The worst possible thing that you can do is to give in to their demands. This will encourage them to continue with a temper tantrum every time they want something. This also continues way past the age of two and can last until adulthood.

Hitting the child does not work, although you may be sorely tempted. The time out chair only works for an older child who can understand the consequences of their actions. But as this type of bad behavior starts at the toddler age, punishment is ineffective as they do not yet have the ability to reason. In order to quell the bad behavior in children, you need to catch it at an early age and realize what is making them act out. By not reacting to the temper tantrum, the child will soon realize that this is not a way to get what he or she wants.

Will Lee
Physician Network Writer

Raise a Child

If you want to raise a child who not only learns but loves to learn, you need to understand about what motivates children learning to the best of their abilities. Raising children involves more than just making sure that they have the basics for survival. Raising children who have a thirst for knowledge is not as difficult as you may think.

Tip #1- Make Learning Fun!

When it comes to children learning, many parents feel that the school will do everything that is necessary to prepare a child academically for life. This is not true. While schools promote academics, children who love to learn usually are taught early on that learning can be fun. The secret to children learning well is to make the learning seem like fun as well as challenging for them.

One way that you can get children learning to the best of their abilities when you are raising children is to make sure that they understand that learning is one big adventure. When it comes to children learning, they will get a boost of self confidence every time they learn something new. It is far easier for children learning than adults learning as well. When a child is young, they are able to learn much more quickly than adults.

Tip #2- Start Early!

Start early when you are raising children, when it comes to making children learning fun. You can start by teaching them their letters and numbers. Just setting aside this time for you and your child where you focus all of your attention on them will make learning fun for them.

Tip #3- Go At Your Child’s Pace

When you are teaching children learning, you want to go at their pace and not yours. One of the biggest problems that parents encounter when they are raising children is that they tend to compete with other parents who also have children of the same age. Children learning have to do so at their own pace. If you try to pressure them into learning to fulfill what you want from them instead of what they are capable of achieving, you can end up giving them a negative impression of learning.
Tip #4- Set Goals

The best way to get children learning is to set small goals for them to attain and establish a sense of routine. When you are raising children, you will learn that they thrive on routine. You can set up these goals and thus help children learning various concepts that will lead them to larger goals. You should also set aside a certain time for children learning. You still want to allow them time to have fun and be kids.

Tip #5- Use Your Resources

Another thing that you can do to promote children learning is to take them to museums and places where they can explore as well as learn. Raising children is, in itself, a learning experience for parents. By exploring the world of knowledge together, you can not only make children learning a lot more fun for them and help their self esteem but you can also find that raising children who love to learn is rewarding in itself and will enable you to be a better parent to your kids.

Will Lee
Physician Network Writer

Habits

If you are like most moms, you must be looking for ways to get your kids to develop healthy eating habits that they can take with them for the rest of their lives. The habits that children develop early on tend to stay with them as they grow into adulthood. Here are 5 ways to improve your kids eating habits no matter what their ages:

1.  Stop The Fast Food

Fast food is loaded with fat as well as sodium. Chemicals are usually used to preserve foods so that they can be used for longer periods of time. Kids eating fast foods all of the time tend to gain more weight that puts them at risk for obesity and diabetes. Instead of fast foods, try to prepare healthy meals during the weekend or even in the evenings that can be heated up for dinner. This will not only be healthier for your children and yourself, but will also save you money.

2.  Introduce A Balanced Meal

Are your kids eating whole grains and vegetables? Many children scoff at vegetables but giving them a balanced meal that contains all of the foods from the food pyramid will greatly increase their health. Good eating habits include eating the right foods, especially the green vegetables that are loaded with vitamins and antioxidants. Introduce a balanced meal into your kids eating schedule.

3.  Make Them Try Something New

Many children will eat things like macaroni and cheese every day if you let them. They are often reluctant to try new foods. You can introduce them to good eating habits by teaching them to try different foods. If they do not like the food after trying it, then do not force it on them. But by introducing them to different foods, you will make them less picky and better eaters. You may find kids eating foods that they previously scoffed at but now like that are good for them.

4.  Cut Down On Sugared Drinks

It is not only kids eating that you have to watch but their drinking as well.  Eating habits are often watched by parents who then neglect drinking habits.  Giving your kids sugared drinks all of the time is not good for their health or their teeth. Give them water when they are thirsty instead of soft drinks and juices. When watching kids eating habits, be sure to take a look at what they are drinking as well.

5.  Watch Your Own Eating Habits

Adults pass on their own eating habits to their kids. Kids eating typically reflects what they are taught by their parents. If you improve your own eating habits, you will also be able to help your kids eating as well. Try to follow the above advice yourself and you will not only see that your children develop better eating habits, but you do as well.

Kids eating has always been something of a problem for parents. But you can help them eat the right foods as well as eat properly if you follow the advice on kids eating that is found in this article.

Will Lee
Physician Network Writer

Cold

You have the common cold.  You are miserable.  Your nose is runny and you can’t stop sneezing.  You lay in bed unable to sleep because of your symptoms.  Your body aches and you lay in bed restlessly.    There are cold cures that will minimize your discomfort.

Causes of Colds

The common cold is caused by viruses.  It is because the cold is viral that makes it so difficult to treat.  When you go to the doctor and he tells you have a virus, you usually have to let the virus run its course.   Of course, you feel poorly and want to feel better now so this is little comfort to you. The known viruses associated with the common cold include the rhinovirus, parvovirus and parainfluenza.  Rhinovirus is known as the cause of the common cold in 30% to 35% in all people.  Parainfluenza is commonly associated with respiratory illnesses.  Parainfluenza agglutinates red blood cells; it also contains a receptor-destroying enzyme.

Symptoms of the Common Cold

There are identifiable symptoms of the common cold.  They are:  cough, runny or stuffy nose, itchy or sore throat, low grade fever, congestion, watery eyes, sneezing, slight body aches and mild fatigue.  You can experience some of these common cold symptoms or all of them.  There are cold cures based on your symptoms.

Entry Point

If you are wondering how you get the common cold in the first place, look to your nose.  Most viruses entry your system through the nasal passage.   A reason that it is so vulnerable is that the nose has receptors that permit the virus to enter your body.

OTC Remedies

There are aisles available at most drugstores that have extensive sections of over-the counter (OTC) remedies.  Most cold cures will target the most significant symptoms exhibited.  Most of the major pharmaceutical companies realize that as incidents of the common cold rise, so does the need for their product.  For example, one of the cold cures might treat just the runny nose and congestion.   Yet another will treat the sore throat and the cough.  Additionally there are OTC drugs that will treat many of the ailments of the common cold in one dosage.

Natural Remedies

Cold cures using natural remedies are very popular as well as effective.  As you look for natural ways to improve your health, you are less likely to use a product loaded with chemicals as one of the cold cures.  Water remains as one of the #1 common cold essentials.  Water flushes the toxins out of your body and helps to healthy cell growth   Cold cures includes some older traditions; they still have value as a cold cure because they still work. Gargling with a mixture of salt water is another one of the cold cures.  Approximately ½ teaspoon of salt is combined in 8 ounces of water for an effective cold cure.      Other cold cures that are natural include saline nasal spray which moistures the nose while it flushes toxins out.  The classic in cold remedies is delicious chicken soup.

Tim Du
Physician Network Writer

. Childhood Immunizations

You would be very surprised to find out that there are many childhood immunization facts you may think are facts but are actually myths. And perhaps there are some childhood vaccination myths you know of but don’t know the actual statistics of. If you do have children it is important to look into their childhood immunization requirements and find out the statistics on the many different childhood vaccinations out there. Many parents don’t take the time out to research childhood immunization requirements because they figure everything will be taken care of by the doctor. A lot of parents also make the mistake of not taking any action until it’s too late and realize that they should have looked into a specific childhood vaccination.

One popular childhood immunization myth is that young babies are too small to receive any childhood vaccination. It is that much more critical for young babies to receive required childhood immunization requirements because they are so much more vulnerable to diseases that could be prevented with childhood vaccinations. You must keep close watch of your baby’s childhood immunization requirements that should be completed by the time they are six months old. Although it may look overwhelming for your tiny baby to be receiving such strong childhood vaccinations; babies are much stronger than you’d figure. Because they become vulnerable to hundreds of bacteria and viruses when they are born, they are able to develop the antibodies needed to fight off the different viruses. Although it may not seem like childhood immunizations and childhood vaccinations are easy on these young babies, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t necessary.

Be rest assured because babies can actually handle up to twenty childhood vaccination injections even before they reach the age of two. Another myth is that childhood immunization could be unsafe. This came about due to the fact that childhood immunizations are given to your child even though they are fully healthy. Think back as to why childhood vaccinations are necessary and see if you can come up with the correct answer. The correct answer would be to prevent any possibility of a severe illness that could even be fatal by receiving these childhood vaccinations and building up your immune system against such illnesses. People tend to have a misconception that perhaps there is no need for the childhood immunization and prefer to just wait until something bad occurs. Only then do they see it fit to go seek the help they need. This is most definitely not the proper steps you need to take for your child when it comes to his/her childhood vaccinations.

Make sure that you prevent any harm from being done well before it happens. Side effects due to these childhood vaccinations are possible however should not be anything to stress over. Childhood immunizations are completely safe and would not be distributed to the worldly population if it were tested to be otherwise. Now that you have become aware of some of the false myths that have been circulating, go out and get the right childhood immunizations fit for your child.
Will Lee
Physician Network Writer

Eat Healthy

With all of the garbage that people are consuming on a day to day basis, it’s become quite difficult to complete the simple task of raising healthy kids. Or perhaps raising healthy kids was never that easy to begin with. Of course as with all young children everything is a battle, especially getting them to eat healthy snacks. Will there ever be an easy way to wean those carb loving sweet teeth of theirs? If you dare to utter the words “healthy snacks” in the same sentence in front of your children you will have already taken a step back from your aspiration of having healthy kids. The term ‘healthy snacks’ will have your children running in the opposite direction without even glancing at the food in front of them.

A key factor in trying to get your kids to eat these healthy snacks would be to make them look fun. Children are attracted to any out of the ordinary or fun looking objects. They love it even more when these fun-looking objects will be going into their mouths. It’s funny how they won’t dare stick anything green or healthy looking in those mouths but they’ll put just about anything else in their bellies. Out of all healthy snacks as a child, there was one that particularly stood out – and that is ‘Ants on a Log.’ If you can try to picture it, the ingredients are really simple: celery, raisins, and peanut butter.

Healthy snacks are usually not as fun as Ants on a Log. Here’s all you have to do to get your healthy kids started on these creative healthy snacks! First, you chop up the celery stocks nicely and your healthy kids can all grab a few. Next, ask them to spread peanut butter along the dip within the celery stocks. They can apply as much peanut butter as they want. Lastly, hand out some raisins to each child and then have them place them along their celery portion on top of the peanut butter they have just spread. If you can’t tell why exactly these healthy snacks are called Ants on a Log here is the explanation. The celery portrays the grass, the peanut butter depicts the log, and the raisins signify the ants. Your healthy kids will be able to relate and have tons of fun making their own healthy snacks through this activity.

These healthy snacks should incorporate as many vegetables, fruits, and vitamins as possible. Another tip in making the most out of getting your healthy kids to consume these healthy snacks would be to find vegetables with subtle flavors so that you could blend it easily with other foods. Once you camouflage these vegetables with their usual food hopefully they won’t even be able to tell the difference. Just follow these simple tips and you’ll have 110% healthy kids in no time. It could be a fun adventure if you are creative in finding other healthy snacks for your healthy kids.

Tim Du
Physician Network Writer