Security Comes From Improving Ourselves Every Day!

Have you ever held on to an old pair of worn out sneakers for too long? How about an old pair of jeans? Of Course! They feel good, don't they? Have you ever held onto an old boyfriend or girlfriend for too long? I know I have. And I'm thinking that you have too! Why do we do this? Why do we hold onto things past their expiration date? I believe the answer is because we feel comfortable and secure with what we know, and what we don't know is kind of scary.

We falsely tell ourselves that we wouldn't dare let go of any of these items of comfort and security mentioned above. Sadly, these items of security are really not items of security at all, but rather items of familiarity. Hmm... There goes that law of familiarity again. We have the hardest time giving up familiar things; even if we have been tipped off by a downwind scent of greener and brighter pastures just on the other side of the opposing fence.

All of these false securities that we hold onto so dearly in life are just that... false... So why do we hold on to them so tightly? Well, quite frankly, it's because of our own insecurities... We all have these insecurities that keep us all deathly afraid of sailing our ship out of our own self-imposed harbor. Thus, we never get to live our lives to our fullest potential... This is sad, wouldn't you agree? We should do something about this, right? But, what should we do?

A little bit at a time... Improve just a little bit every single day, and we'll eventually be able to create our own luck, or our own sense of security in ourselves. By improving a little bit every single day we'll find ourselves eventually mastering our specialty. And once we have mastered a particular subject then other subjects will be easier to master. Then we'll find ourselves in demand, and even getting paid for what we know! Now we're starting to talk real security!

By Daniel Blanchard 
Source : http://ezinearticles.com/ 

Loving Your Child Is Not About Being Nice

Hearts and flowers, hugs and kisses. This is the image that comes to mind when we hear the word love. How well is that working when it comes to your kids? Does being nice, agreeable and generous result in responsible, respectful behavior? The answer to that is often 'no', especially when looking beyond the moment. Love and how it manifests have to change as your children grow, if you want them to grow up. Let's take a look at a new definition of this complicated and evolving emotion.

Do you equate loving your children with being nice and agreeable? Does being nice keep the peace, but leave you feeling frustrated and ineffective? If so, you're not alone. It may be time to rethink this belief, this definition of love.

Love begins as being nice and warm and full of hugs and kisses. After all, as babies they are completely dependent on you and thrive in the warmth of your love and protection. As they grow, this diet of hovering and protection must change.

Love means giving your children what they need. Aside from food, clothing, shelter and education, what do they need? What does love mean?

Love means saying 'no'. From two to twenty-two, they are unprepared for the multitude of opportunities and temptations life offers them. Someone has to be there to say 'maybe' or 'no' once in a while. You know what happens when there are no limits, how the chaos grows. Sometimes giving them what they need means not giving them something. When you find it difficult to say 'no', remind yourself that 'no' is a love word.

By Fern Weis Source : http://ezinearticles.com/ 

Is Your Child Ready?

I have a question for you... and just so you know, the answer is supposed to be "yes", okay? Here's my question: Has your child every had a negative experience in a situation, and you just knew it was going to happen? In other words, you weren't surprised when it happened, maybe you were even "counting down" until the tantrum, meltdown or shut down took place? Of course you have. As a parent, you know your child better than anyone else, and you probably have an uncanny ability to predict how your child will reach in certain situations. I know I do. This can be frustrating, because although you may know what's going to happen, you may not always feel prepared to handle it when it does. Today, I'm going to teach you how to prepare yourself (and your child) for better experiences that will leave you both feeling happier and more in control of the situation.

Perhaps your child "acts out" in crowds, throws a temper if they don't get what they want, or completely shuts down if things don't work out the way he/she would like it to. Whatever it is, as a parent you already know what that *thing* is that sets your child off, right? Now let's turn the tables and look at YOU for a minute. How would you respond if you weren't prepared to deal with whatever it is in your own life that you don't enjoy? What would it be like for you to be "thrown in" to something that you're not ready for (speaking in front of a group, leading a meeting, etc.), without any advance notice or opportunity to get ready? You'd probably be quite annoyed and upset. Not many of us enjoy being put on the spot. The same goes for your child... the only difference is that he/she may not be able to articulate what they're feeling, and therefore, aren't able to deal with the situation properly when it occurs; hence, the meltdown and freaking out.

By Milissa L Harding Source : http://ezinearticles.com/ 

Getting Your Teens Involved in Charity

Today, more than ever, we find giving back to those in need and living selflessly more and more important.

If you are a parent, grandparent or even older sibling, of a teen, you know the power of showing them that life is more than fun, friends and celebrities. It's nice to take a couple hours a week to give to those in need, to make a difference in someone's life and help someone else without any real benefit to ourselves.

If you want a teen to do something, rather than pushing it on them, the best way is for them to pick it up on their own. Teens like what they like, what their friends like and what the celebrities they follow like. It's extremely difficult to tell a teen what to like or to try to advertise to a teen - they are just too smart for that.

We understand the importance of charitable giving and know that many parents want to raise kids and teens who have in interest in giving back. So we have put together a few tips and tricks to help you get your teen started out on the path towards philanthropy.

1. Start them from a young age:

Of course, we all know that charity starts at home. There are plenty of opportunities to give right in your community. Take your kids to go play with the animals at a local animal shelter, donate used toys to an organization that can use them, visit the children's hospital on holidays and take gifts for sick children. These are all simple ways to begin instilling the importance of philanthropy from a young age.

2. Read About Other kids making a difference

Teens love to stay on trend and updated with what their friends and other kids their age are doing. Another great way to get your teens involved is to make them aware of the ways that other kids their age are making a difference. Teen magazines, online blogs and web articles often write about teen philanthropists.

3. Get creative, there are so many ways to help

Show your teens the many easy and fun ways to help around in the local community or on the larger scale. From having fun with disabled children, to taking candy and toys to the children's hospital, there are a variety of ways to show they care.

By Neda Kad Source : http://ezinearticles.com/ 

Teen Piercing: The Pros and the Cons

Piercings are a very serious thing, but if someone who's an adult wants to get one no one can stop them. Adults are adults for a reason. They are responsible for what they do but when it comes to teens we have to consider everything good and bad about piercings. Parents need to control their sons and daughters, especially when there's a chance they'll try doing it by them themselves. The subject of making piercings available to teens under 18 keeps going on and on. I've had a chance to talk to a professional and get some basic pros and cons.

The Pros:

Some people feel passionate about getting pierced. No one's forcing you to get piercing after piercing and you need to do what you're comfortable with. You can always take them off, and they can be very fun actually. Just like when it comes to other jewels, you can change the earring and choose between lots of shapes and colors.

To be honest they do make you more popular, because they are very cool nowadays. Piercing is not something unique (considering that lot of people have it), but it is a way of expressing yourself. They are a part of your looks so they do represent personality of a person who is wearing it.

I'm sure piercing is not gonna do any harm in any way. Of course, when done properly which is very important to mention too. We know how bratty teens can get, even to the point when they take a needle and try to do it on their own. It's always better to let a professional do it.

Piercings are really not anything bad. If you do it legally, you'll be pleased by the result. They leave little or no scars, so it's nothing to worry about.

The Cons:

Piercings cost, and no one guarantees you, you'll get what you paid for. Some people pass out and others feel sick when doing it. There is always a risk of getting an infection, and it's not anything dangerous but it's not pleasant either.

Navel piercings sometimes cause temperature or vomiting. There are too many types of them but generally speaking every piercing done on cartilage takes more than the usual time to heal.

By Kristina Sisevic 
Source : http://ezinearticles.com/ 

7 Ways In Which Coloring Pages Are Useful For Your Child

A big part of caring for a child is taking care to ensure the child's all-round development. You'll be surprised to find out that this can be achieved with minimal expenditure since there are plenty of resources available for parents and caregivers these days. Simple things such as coloring pages are available for free, or very inexpensively, and are extremely easy to obtain. It is very important to use them since they provide your child with multiple benefits. These benefits include:

• Improved hand and eye coordination as a result of learning to apply color within specified areas on the page. The muscles in children's hands and fingers are not fully developed but regular use of crayons and coloring pencils will develop these muscles.

• Increased patience that comes from having to fill in colors carefully and to focus properly on the job at hand. Children also learn that the desired result can be obtained by putting in gradual and regular effort. The benefits of delayed gratification help build their personality as well.

• Gaining an appreciation of colors and designs and to develop a fondness for art.

• Children can also learn to read and do math quickly since frequent filling of coloring pages helps them recognize patterns quickly.

• Increased confidence as a result of gaining feelings of accomplishment when pictures are completed correctly and beautifully. Since the pages already have printed designs, the child won't have to feel the pressure of creating designs but can do the easy and rewarding job of coloring them.

By Rizvana ManzoorSource : http://ezinearticles.com/ 

Let Nature Whet Your Child's Appetite for Life Science

It is difficult to get most Americans to admit that they are behind other nations in anything. We are a nation who loves winners. Yet in our children's science test scores, we have fallen behind many other developed nations.

This is, however, not a good time for any nation to fall behind in science and technology. Career opportunities in those fields are growing rapidly. If we do not shore up our children's science education, our children will lose out on these valuable opportunities.

To solve this problem, we need only to get our children hooked on science early in life. Even before they start school, parents need to nurture children's need to discover more about how things work in nature. When they reach school age, we need to keep their interest piqued with exciting learning experiences in their science classes and at home. Their natural curiosity and drive to know will do the rest.

Schools should provide labs for students in which they can express their creativity by conducting experiments and building models to test their ideas. When they arrive at home, keep the learning experience going with some of these ideas:

Children Can Study Life Science through Observing Nature

Biology doesn't stop with the classroom. In fact, the world is full of living organisms that provide a giant laboratory that children can observe every day both at home and school. Children love to observe living things-from their baby sister to their pet goldfish. When they go to the doctor, encourage your children to ask questions about how their own bodies work. When they are outside, let them stop and wonder at the world around them.

You can also create organized activities that keep your children out of mischief while they learn about the world around them. Here are some good ideas that can keep your future scientists busy for hours learning about nature.

Children love scavenger hunts - This activity can last for an hour or an entire day, depending on your available time and the children's ages. It takes only a little planning on your part, but can keep your children and their friends intrigued with finding the items you list. You can allow the children to work as teams or as individuals. Prepare a list of objects from nature that they can search for. Various kinds of leaves, grasses, flowers, pinecones can be on the list, as well as photographs or drawings of animals on the list.

By Linda A JohnsonSource : http://ezinearticles.com/ 

The Difference Is Books and People!

My Granddaddy once told me that the difference between two people today, and ten years from now would be the books that they have read and the people that they have talked to. It doesn't matter what their circumstances are, or how similar they are; in ten years from now, believe it or not, there will be some obvious differences between the two of them.

Now, just to make a point on how true this is, let's look at the extreme in similarities with identical twins. We can all agree that identical twins are very similar, right? Even more so than best friends right? Well, in ten years from now the identical twins may still look pretty much alike on the outside because they are twins, right? However, I guarantee you that they won't be the same exact people on the inside anymore.

Since the genes and the nature part of this equation are the same, then one might think that these identical twins would end up the same. But, regardless to this apparent logic, these identical twins won't end up the same. Regardless of them growing up together, the nurture or environment part of this equation will still be slightly different for these identical twins in the things that they are exposed to, such as, books and people. This slight difference between the two must be a very powerful variable considering how much twins usually do have in common and how much time they usually spend together. But, in contrast, twins still develop differences in taste, friends, dress, language and even mannerisms as they age.

So here is the million-dollar question: Which person, or which identical twin, will end up as a higher quality and more successful person ten years down the road from today? That's simple. It'll be the one that read higher quality books, and spoke with higher quality and more successful people.

Now teens and even tweens, go learn, lead, and lay the way to a better world for all of us. Remember, change is inevitable. And in ten years from now you and your friends, and even the members of your own family will be different. How so depends on each individual and the books they've read, and the people they have talked to. Hmm... Choose your path wisely... And once again, thanks in advance for all that you do, and all that you will do...

By Daniel BlanchardSource : http://ezinearticles.com/ 

Fun Ways to Prepare Your Child for Early Reading

Your young child is eager to learn. He is curious. He is open to new things. His brain is developing and needs to make new connections through new experiences. It also needs to strengthen those connections through repetitions of those experiences. This is the stage where you provide him with experiences that prepare him for learning.

Don't leave it too late. When your child is of school age and begins formal education, she needs to already have those learning experiences. Children exposed to early learning experiences are at an advantage and do far better at formal education than children who are only just starting.

Nowhere is this more true than in reading. Young children who are exposed to reading will display pre reading characteristics. This is where they mimic reading by looking at pictures in a book, sometimes they retell the story in their own words, they look at words and pretend they're reading and even make their own stories or books by drawing and 'writing' then retell it.

Pre Reading Through Play

When you introduce your child to reading, do not make him sit down and drill into him letters and words. Young children learn through play. Whatever you teach him needs to be done through play. If it's fun then he'll want more of it so base the pre reading activities around play.

Since these activities are preparing your child to read, you can start as early as babyhood. It is basically surrounding her with sounds, letters, words and books.

By Jameela HoSource : http://ezinearticles.com/ 

Eating Healthy - How to Get Your Kids Involved

1. I've dealt with my fair share of picky eaters through all the years of nannying, and let me tell you I have learned some tricks along the way! We could go the route where we sneak spinach into everything without the kids knowing, or we could be honest and get them to LOVE what they eat!
2. Here are a few tips I have learned along the way to get your kids to not only eat healthy, but getting involved in the process.
3. Sit down and create a food schedule together. Kids love routine and they love creating schedules, lists, or anything that lets them get involved. Make a weekly schedule of your meals with only a few rules: one veggie and one fruit must be included in two meals for the day.
4. Eat what your children are eating. Don't get into the habit of making multiple meals a day! You can't tell your children to eat healthy if you are not eating meals with them and modeling good behavior.
5. Use a two bite rule. Maybe your kids will REALLY hate broccoli, and that's fine. They can get their nutrients from other vegetables. Each new food that is introduced needs a two bite rule. If they seriously dislike it after two bites, then there is no need to finish the meal. You want them to enjoy their food, not dread it!
6. Let the kids help you shop. Involving the kids during grocery shopping can help them understand where the food they eat comes from. It's also fun for them to pick out the food so they feel that they've made that choice.
7. Cook together. Along with shopping together, let your kids throw on an apron and get dirty in the kitchen. When children feel that they are helping with their food prep, they are more willing to eat it because it's something they have made.
8. Make a list of foods they enjoy, and foods they really dislike. It's okay to not like every single food we eat, but we should communicate which ones we truly dislike. Make it a habit to stick with the two bite rule and introduce foods they have previously disliked a few weeks or month later to see if their taste buds have changed.

By Heather Beckman
Source : http://ezinearticles.com/