This is really tough! The worst is, we have to go through this one a few times per playdate, a few times per day, sometimes - a few times per minute. Some parents believe, that kids are not ready to share until they are 4 years old. I believe, if we want our kids to have playdates, playmates, friends... ever - we have to introduce the concept of sharing early on. Common, you don't want your kid to be not invited to playdate, since he never learned how to successfully resolve such conflicts!

We hold a lot of playdates in our house. We visit our friends a lot. Really a lot. Ever since my son was born. I believe in the importance of development of social skills... even over any other skills. So we've worked out a few rules for ourselves that, with love and lots (lots!) of patience, actually work.
read more »

Here is an interesting article about a study conducted by CDC. In short : 1 out 4 toddlers are improperly vaccinated and you better keep track of your baby's vaccination schedule to make sure he/she benefits 100% from it.

Study Shows Genetics May Play Role in Children's Food Preferences

Parents of picky eaters, take heart: It is not your cooking. A new study of twins shows that children who turn up their noses at certain foods may simply be "programmed" to do so.

Myles Faith, PhD and colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia evaluated the eating patterns of more 792 twins aged 7 years old. The researchers found that genetics mostly dictates a child's picky palate and cravings for items like peanut butter and jelly. The findings support earlier animal experiments and adult twin studies that linked eating behaviors to genetics....

Read the rest of the article at WebMD: New Genetic connection on food preferences

Study Shows Children With Peanut Allergies Often Don’t Get Lifesaving Medication

I really like that this article has a little information on how to dine out with your kids safer, how to identify and allergy and how to react to it.

Even though most parents alert restaurant staff if their children have food allergies, a sizable number of the kids still suffer allergic reactions when dining out, a new survey shows.

Adding insult to injury, a second study suggests that children who suffer peanut allergies often don't get lifesaving medication.

Both studies were presented here at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).

Read the rest of the findings at http://www.webmd.com/allergies/news/20080317/kids-food-allergies-damper-...

A Canadian study shows that Children With Good Diets May Be Less Likely to Flunk Academic Tests:

March 21, 2008 -- Children who have a nutritious diet may be more likely to pass academic tests, Canadian researchers report.

Eating lots of fruits and vegetables and not eating too much fat are hallmarks of the healthy diets among the nearly 4,600 Nova Scotia kids studied by the University of Alberta's Paul Veugelers, PhD, and colleagues.

When the kids were in fifth grade, their parents completed surveys about what the children ate. Six months later, in sixth grade, the children took a standardized literacy test that included reading and writing.

Read more at http://children.webmd.com/news/20080321/healthy-diet-may-help-kids-pass-... and feel free to comment below!

Parents who home-school their children need a teaching credential, according to a recent appellate court ruling in California. What does the ruling mean for those who home-school more than 1 million American children?

Homeschooling sparks credentials debate

There is a petition opposing the California decision on homeschooling: http://www.hslda.org/
Thanks to Karen for sharing this information! You can read more in her comment below.

A month ago, when I got an e-mail from a Lubbock mom who told me her 16-month-old baby could read, I didn't really take it seriously - especially when she told me it was her first baby. But after a few weeks and a few more e-mails, I decided to meet her and see for myself.
http://www.kcbd.com/global/story.asp?s=7937573

Very inspiring, indeed!

Congratulations on your little bundle of joy! You are are extatic, a little overwhelmed and very determined - you don't want to lose a second of your little infant's time. Great. There are plenty of things you can already start doing! And the earlier you start, the better!!!
read more »

• How to Teach Your Baby be physically superb: a book by Glenn Doman with a terrific collection of physical excersises that you can start right at the hospital. At your kid's age (age? Number of days or months?!) his physical development is going to be the direct link to his mental development later on, so the earlier you start, the better.
• How to teach your baby to swim: for newborns swimming is a natural skill, that is easy to acquire, and as days progress - they lose this ability. Swimming can greatly influence your child's development.

"The claim, one of 4,900 autism cases currently pending in Federal "Vaccine
Court," was conceded by US Assistant Attorney General Peter Keisler and other Justice
Department officials, on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services,
the "defendant" in all Vaccine Court cases." Full article here.

According to this article, government concedes that mercury contained in many vaccines can cause autism in children. And some of these vaccines are forced on our kids by... you guessed it... GOVERNMENT!!!

Let me get this straight... Is the government knowingly poisoning our kids?
Will someone be held responsible?

The general safety notion is to teach our kids to never to talk to strangers. But is it really so?

If our kids find themselves in uncomfortable situation, shouldn't they turn to adults for help - such as policemen, store manager, school teacher, or just a sweet lady? We don't want our kids to talk to strangers, but yet we do! If our kids get lost, shouldn't they turn to adults who can help them find their parents? Or if they find themselves in a dangerous situation, or if they find their friends in danger, or if there is a busy intersection... shouldn't they turn to a safe stranger?

We, ourselves send a mixed message to our kids: "Never talk to strangers", and then "Oh, she is too shy around people she doesn't know. Common, Grace, tell our nice neighbor what your name!.. Why didn't you call someone for help, when your sister broke your leg on the playground?"
read more »

Terrific article on handling "good" advice: Bean Dip! (for AP Parents)

read more »

I often find terrific toys. I'll post really good ones that I find. Join in! I am always on a lookout, so please comment!

• Music
• Anatomy
• Spanish Learning Toys

Music Toys

• Musical Instrument Bingo - I bought this toy during our last visit to Metropolitan Museum for $25. It has a collection of cards with different instruments from all over the world, a CD with 50 melodies played with these CDs and a leaflet matching music on CDs to the pictures of instruments, descriptions, musical work information and even composer photographs. There are some classical works, some anthems from around the world, some folk melodies from around the world. One of the greatest qualities of this game: the whole family could play, with every kid playing on his age level: my two year old loves finding pictures of the instruments playing, my 7 year old niece is already competitively keeping score and naming the name of the melody as well as the instruments, my 10 year old nephew found some sophisticated level that enticing his interest.

Go to the top
read more »

Book Notes that I print out and hang on the fridge for quick reference.

I was searching for a good book on kind and effective ways of dealing with tantrums, conflicts and even everyday situations, so I looked through Positive Discipline Resources and picked up How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber, Elaine Mazlish.

read more »

Back To Encyclopedic Knowledge Topics Listing
How do I use these books?

Russian
English

 
read more »

Imagine: knowing what your baby wanted before he or she were able to talk! Reducing frustration, encouraging thought, increasing language development... Now you can! Sign Language Works!