Archive for the 'Articles' Category

Jan 10 2009

Resource Management For Parents

Published by admin under Articles, Juggling the Family

Everybody has a dream. Whether you know it or not, at one time you dreamed all the time. As children grow, their imaginations grow with them. Then they become adults, and the reality of the world sets in. Have you forgotten how to dream? Do you feel as if you have no time to breath, much less make your dreams reality? Then read on.

Time, energy, and money are chronically lacking in parents’ lives. They are too tired because their children keep them up at night; they are strapped for time between juggling work and family; and they spend all their resources on their kids, the house, the car, and the mortgage. Below are some simple solutions to these chronic problems:

Time

Make a list of priorities each week. Ask yourself: what do I want to achieve this week? Put the list in a place where you see it a lot, if not every day. When you have a roadmap, you can find out where you are going much more easily. Those scarce minutes will suddenly be there when you need them most. Check off the list as you manage each task.

Cancel your cable. Sound scary? It isn’t. Really. When my husband and I cancelled our cable right before we made an international move, we suddenly had three free hours at night. We could not believe how much time we suddenly had on our hands. Unless your dream is to watch four hours of TV each night, do it. You will find much more relaxing and fulfilling ways to spend your time.

Make a schedule. Similar to your list of priorities, you will want to organize your time according to events. If you have to work late one night, don’t expect yourself to go to the gym and help your child with his or her homework anyway. Rearrange the schedule as needed. Remember: being flexible is a part of being human.

Energy

Exercise is time well-spent. Three twenty-minute activities a week is all you need to stay relatively fit. Schedule a walk at lunch time with friends; swim at the local gym or run on the weekends. If you need a support system, ask a colleague to join you. Take a class that meets once a week and carpool with friends. Chances are you will go more often if you have someone honking at your sidewalk to take you along.

Sleep management for parents with very small children is one of the most challenging areas to handle. Make certain you get in a nap on the weekends to tank up your energy. Take occasional weekends away from the children if possible and ask a relative or trusted friend to watch the kids while you are gone. It will be good for your relationship with your partner as well as assuring you get the rest you need.

Nutrition is a well-neglected realm for busy people. Instead of swinging by the local fast food chain, bring smaller snacks with you until you get home. Not only will you have more energy by eating better, you will save money, too.

Money

Make a meal plan for the week. Create a list of food items needed at the grocery store. It will reduce the urge for impulse shopping and save you time later. Instead of standing in front of the refrigerator and asking, “What’s for dinner?” you will already know because you planned it in advance.

Coupon shopping can have its advantages. It may save you a few dollars, which can add up over time. Buyer beware, however. Frequently, coupons require you buy two of one item to qualify. Ask yourself if you really need two gallons or liters of juice before jumping at the sale. If you do bulk shopping at warehouse stores, calculate the price of the item before you buy it. Sometimes it is actually cheaper to buy smaller amounts at local grocery stores. Pay attention to Sunday circulars. You can use it as a basis for making your weekly meal plan. Whatever is on sale is what you eat that week.

Entertainment doesn’t have to be expensive. Libraries often have a good selection of videos you and the kids can watch. The loan time is usually one week, which saves you time from having to run back to the video store the very next day to avoid extra charges. The best benefit? Loaning from the library is free.

Maximizing your resources can free up the time, energy, and money you need to pursue what you really want in life. Instead of spinning your wheels, you will be further along in your journey to reach the dreams you imagined as a kid.

Christine Louise Hohlbaum, American author of Diary of a Mother (2003), SAHM I Am (2005), “American Housewife Abroad” (AnotherChapter.com), has been published in hundreds of publications and has appeared on numerous parenting radio shows. When she isn’t writing, leading toddler playgroups or instructing an on-line course in book promotion, she prefers to frolic in the Bavarian countryside near Munich where she lives with her husband and two children . Visit her Web site: www.diaryofamother.com

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Sep 13 2008

After-School Activities - Finding a Balance

Published by admin under Articles

soccer ball

Photo taken by Katie@!

Article written by Christine Woolard

How much is too much?
Many parents feel that it is important for children to participate in after school activities. Certainly, sports, gymnastics, music and language classes do serve to create a well-rounded child, but overscheduling our children can become an issue. We as parents may be hard-pressed to find a balance between home life, school life and after school activities. We want our children to have fun and be creative outside of school, but we also must step back and give them room to grow and to breathe. How do we decide how much is too much?

In Kindergarten, even if your child has attended preschool, he is just getting into the routine of “real school”. In many districts, kindergarten is becoming more and more academic and structured, emphasizing reading and writing over playing and socializing. In additional, if the kindergarten is full day, then your little one is ready to cut loose at the end of the day. Keep it simple. Perhaps a swimming class on Saturday mornings or one day during the week, or an art or music class. You may even choose not to enroll your child in after school activities at all, choosing instead to let him “hang loose” in the after school hours.

By the time your child reaches first grade, she has gotten into the “swing” of the school schedule and has matured. The concentration level has improved slightly and she may be less antsy after school is over. Who likes sitting at a desk for six hours anyway? Either way, let your little one have a healthy outlet with a playground visit or a playdate with a classmate. Give her this time to romp and have a good time as well as expend some energy. Physical activity is the best as it allows for growing bones and stretching muscles to do their thing. Personally, I would not recommend competitive sports - children need this time to grow and become comfortable with themselves and the physicality of their bodies.

Second grade is the grade to watch! By this time, your child is astute enough to observe what’s going on with his peers and can make an informed decision on his favorite after school activities. The best thing for parents to do is to ask what the child wants to do and follow along; allow for experimentation and exploration. Although the child may begin musical lessons at this time, it is not recommended that you purchase an instrument unless absolutely necessary. Above all, still allow your child some time to just relax and be himself.

Your third grader is much more social. She is interested in friends and at this time may be able to handle team sports. Sports help develop motor skills and the beginning of learning about teams and good sportsmanship. In addition, the artist in your little one may make itself known; painting, drawing and other art classes may be in order. Again, allow your child to explore the areas in which s/he is interested and don’t look for too much commitment. Always remember to schedule in quiet time and family activities.

The fourth grader is an interesting little person. He’s not quite primary, but not yet upper elementary. This a transition period for a lot of children. Involve your child in activities that will help boost the confidence. By doing this, he will be able to combat some of the peer pressure that may come into play at this time. At the same time, however, ensure that you are scheduling enough time for concentration on homework and if extra help is needed, take advantage of tutoring services that are available.

Your fifth grader is now growing up a bit - moving into the upper elementary aspect of her academic career. Her social life is also beginning to move to the forefront. Channel that desire to be with others into community service - teach your child that it’s nice to do for others! Remember that homework and family time comes first; be sure to schedule for both.

Middle school is a real turning point for many students. Keep television to a minimum and keep up the good habits that have been formed thus far. Hopefully, the middle school and/or the community has activities such as the chess club, math club, Girl/Boy Scouts, 4-H and the like. Keep up with the team sports, if the child is willing.

As the parent, you always have the last word. Your child’s activities and how long s/he participates in these activities outside the home is up to you to decide. Each child is different, so there are no set rules: what is good for one child may or may not be good for another. Take the time to communicate with your child to fully understand how he or she really feels about the amount of activities - watch for burnout and adjust accordingly. Above all, encourage your child to have fun!

About the Author
Christine Lowe Woolard, M.Ed, is a Yale graduate with extensive experience in urban education. She has had over 10 years of experience in education extending from preschool to eighth grade. Currently, she is an at home mom of three children and provides educational and parenting resources as well as creates natural bath and body products. Read her blog at http://www.neosoulmama.info, view her products at http://sheaproducts.info.

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Sep 11 2008

Teaching Children About Money

Published by admin under Articles

Article by Rob Willis
As a parent, one of our greatest responsibilities is Teaching Children about Money, the value of money and spending it wisely.I have three children, the oldest of which does not understand the value of money. If he had $10, he would think “What can I afford?’ where my younger two kids would think, “If I buy that for $7, I would only have $3 left.” Same family, bought up the same way, but entirely different mindsets.

So what is it that causes them to think so differently and how can we as parents start teaching children about money?

One of the most common suggestions is to teach by example, which is very valuable advice. However if we ourselves are not great money managers, then we would need to start with ourselves in understanding money management, which is very important in itself.

Teaching children about money needs to be done in such a way that our kids learn not simply how to make money, but I believe they first need to understand the value of money & how to save and spend it wisely.

If we simply teach kids to make money, this does not help if they do not have a healthy financial understanding. If you teach a child to make money first, he is simply going to buy more stuff. However if you start with teaching children about money, they will have a better understanding of the value of money, and how to save & spend it wisely.

Too many people tend to put the cart before the horse & get this around the wrong way, or think that teaching children about money is the same as teaching our kids to earn money. It is not. Earning money & learning about money are two polar opposites.

Simply look at many adults who have great jobs, earn lots of money, but are always in debt because we tend to spend more than we earn. We have developed very bad money habits, and without the right direction & help of financial planners, we end up being stuck in the rut of financial ruin.

This is why we need to start teaching children about money almost as soon as they begin counting. However it is not too late to teach teens about money either. In fact as parents we owe it to our children to teach ourselves about money also.

So as you can see teaching children about money while they are young, can help to set them on the road to financial security. If we can develop good money habits in our children now, they will be in a far better position to make correct financial decisions as they get older, such as delayed gratification, ie not getting into debt to simply buy a luxury item.

So start teaching children about money today to save them un-necessary grief in the future.

About the Author
Rob Willis is a parent of three wonderful boys, who have spent many years studying Personal & Professional development.

As a parent I have noticed the lack of information available on Teaching Children About Money.

As such I have developed a site to focus specifically on How to Teach Children About Money. http://www.howtoteachchildrenaboutmoney.com

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Sep 09 2008

Healthy Packed Lunch Ideas for Children

Published by admin under Articles

Written by Rach Eden

Are you concerned about you children’s health? Aware that certain fats are bad but not sure how to avoid them? Well, read on because you will find lots of tips and ideas for healthy packed lunches.As a parent, you might have gone through the anxiety of wanting to give your child health packed lunches, but also providing something that they will actually eat. After all, a child that won’t eat their packed lunch is probably just as unhealthy as one that eats a packed lunch made up of junk. It’s a huge pressure - I know all too well - but there are certain things you can do to help ease the stress of it all.The key is in the word “balance” - making sure that your child has all the essential nutrients to help them be healthy and grow, but a little bit of naughtiness so that they don’t get hung up about food and see it as being a bad thing.

Lunchbox ideas: Sandwiches - ideally, these should contain protein (cheese, meat or egg) plus either a vegetable or fruit - if your child won’t eat veg, adding fruit to sandwiches gives a bit of sweetness and adds to their five a day. Using relish or salad cream/mayonnaise will also make it more flavoursome. For example: cream cheese and banana, cheddar and tomato relish, chicken and thinly sliced tomato, ham and tomato, egg mayo with sultanas, chicken and grapes (try it!).

Bread - well we all know that white bread is no good. To try and wean children off white bread if they won’t eat anything else, try making sandwiches out of one slice brown and one slice white - you could even make this into a bit of fun, let them know that it’s a special sandwich for a super special child!

Fruit - children are much more likely to eat fruit if it is already chopped and in its own container or Tupperware, rather than if you give them a whole piece of fruit which can be a bit daunting. Try a mixture of grapes, blueberries, strawberries and raspberries for children that “don’t like fruit” or the more traditional mix of orange, grape and apple (squirt a little lemon over it to help stop it turning brown) for those that do.

Snacks - hummus with carrot sticks, cheese slices and tomato, nuts with dried fruit, homemade cake made with honey (instead of sugar) and banana, root vegetable crisps instead of potato ones (look in larger supermarkets).

If you involve your children in making snacks at the weekend, they may be more likely to eat them in their packed lunch. For example, making healthy muffins with blueberries, wholemeal flour and half honey/half sugar to sweeten. Or slice potatoes really finely, dowse in healthy olive oil and a pinch of sea salt and bake in a hot oven until golden brown, for perfect homemade crisps.

If you’re really at a loss and are not sure where to start, a good place to begin is by first establishing if your child prefers sweet taste or savoury taste. If children prefer sweet taste, try and encourage fruit eating, and for savoury eaters, try and encourage them to eat veggies sticks chopped matchstick thin and eaten with something tasty such as cheese.

They key is to take small steps and to not give up. You will get there, even if you are not sure how! One small step at a time.

About the Author
Rach Eden writes in association with Compare4kids, a website for comparing childrens bedroom furniture from the UK’s top online retailers.

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Sep 04 2008

Is It Okay For Moms To Get Bored?

Published by admin under Articles

When Desperate Housewives first came on the air I was glued to the program not because of the sex and scandal, but because of the character Lynette. She seemed so real to me and represented so much of what I felt and still feel today about motherhood.

In one episode Lynette was in the grocery store, looking frazzled and obviously terrorized by her boys when she has an encounter with one of those perfect mothers. This lady was done up beautifully with an angelic child that sat quietly in the grocery cart. This Stepford beauty smiled over at Lynette and said, “Don’t you just love being a mother?”

Lynette then did what anyone would do in her situation and simply smiled and nodded. But the truth was that she didn’t really love being a mom, that she didn’t fit into that mould like she thought she should and that she missed her old role in the workforce.

I feel like Lynette from those older episodes. As though there is a certain motherhood mould that I will just never be able to squeeze into. Although I love my kids with a fierceness I’ve never experienced before, I am ashamed to say that I do get bored with our day-to-day lives. I don’t find Treehouse TV intellectually stimulating and most children’s books are kind-of annoying (I mean, read Jack and the Beanstalk and think about what you would do as a poor woman with a stupid boy that just sold your last cow for a couple of magic beans!). To top it all off, cleaning the house causes my already mentally stunted brain to shut down. I usually count down the hours until Ken gets home from work each and every day.

I watched 20/20 the other week and they did a segment on an article from London’s Daily Mail by Helen Kirwan-Taylor entitled, “Sorry, but my children bore me to death!”. The author of the article is a little extreme in her boredom, but it made me feel better that I wasn’t alone in feeling a little mentally numb at the end of the day.

Well, until 20/20 interviewed other moms about the article. They crucified Kirwan-Taylor. One person wrote on their blog that she should “do the world a favor and don’t reproduce.” Another post read, “Your lack of parental love borders on child abuse.”

To be honest, after reading her article and listening to the scathing responses to it, I guess that it’s okay to be in the middle of the road. Even though I feel completely bored and brain-dead by the end of each and every day, at least I know that being a stay-at-home-mom is the most important thing I can be at this point in life. I truly do think it’s worth the sacrifice of a little less cash and a little less mental stimulation to be with them everyday during these important infant and toddler years. Plus, I do make a consistent effort to help my children explore the world around them through a variety of different activities.

We read books, watch some TV together, play with Play-Doh, build block castles, play with trains, do crafts and colouring and play outside (well, maybe not all those activities every day, but some or most of them each day). I take the girls to swimming lessons and take Devin to ballet (even though I may bring a book on the days that Teri and Cassie can’t make it). Despite not feeling like I fit the mould, I still try to squeeze into it on a daily basis.

So even though I do feel bored with many of the day-to-day aspects of being a stay-at-home-mom, at least I try, right? That should win me a few brownie points.

Jamie Leggatt is a freelance writer, wife and mother to two little girls. She spends her days changing diapers, preparing snacks, chasing after an active and spirited toddler and doing lots of other “mom” stuff. You can share her daily challenges as a stay-at-home-mom by visiting her blog, “Discovering Motherhood: Navigating the Tumultuous World of Parenting” at http://www.discoveringjamie.blogspot.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jamie_Leggatt

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Aug 09 2008

Family Fun on a Budget

Published by admin under Articles, Kids Activities

Cheap activities for families

Being the mother of 5 young children, I have found that family fun can be very costly. A family meal at McDonalds can cost us 40 Australian Dollars. A trip to the movies can cost us $100 if we buy popcorn and drinks for everyone and admission into zoo’s and theme parks cost us a small fortune. So I have become quite good at finding affordable and sometimes even free activities for us to do as a family.

One thing that has become quite clear to me over the years is that children don’t need to be taken on expensive trips to have quality family time. Parents need only spend time with their children, get down on the floor and drive cars around a pretend track, dress up some Barbie Dolls or have a tea party with lots of teddy bear guests. Quality time spent with your children is much more valuable than any costly outing.

Below are some ideas to keep the family entertained while sticking to a budget:

Visit the local library – Public libraries often offer free activities for families, storytelling sessions and kids craft activities.

Go for a swim at the local swimming pools – Pack a picnic lunch and spend the whole day at the pools, provided the weather is nice.

Take a walk to the local park and play in the playground.

There are some activities that you can do at home too:

Dress ups – get out the dress up box and use your imagination.

Make a home movie – get out the video camera and get the kids to put on a play or just make a video of everybody being silly.

Finger painting – Make a batch of finger paint in some nice bright colors and have fun getting all messy. Here’s a recipe for some easy finger paint:
Ingredients - 2 cups white flour, 2 cups cold water, food coloring
Directions - Put water into a large bowl. Slowly add the flour, while the children are stirring. Once it’s all mixed together, divide into smaller bowls and add food coloring.

Beading – Make some bracelets, necklaces, earrings or mobile phone dongles from cheap plastic beads and fishing line.

Bake a cake or some cookies – this is always my kids favorite activity to do with me.

Camp out in the backyard – Set up a tent or make a tent out of some sheets or blankets and pretend that you are camping out.

Build with play dough – Who can resist playing with dough?. Even I can’t resist squishing it through my fingers.
Here is a recipe for Play Dough that you don’t have to cook.
Ingredients - 1 cup salt ,1 cup flour, 1 tablespoon vegetable Oil and food coloring.
Directions - Mix all ingredients together. Add a little water if the mixture is to dry. If your kids are a little older you may want to make some Salt Clay to Bake with them. Stir together: 2 cups plain flour, 1 cup salt, 1 to 1 1/2 cups cold water and 2 tablespoons cooking oil. Knead well until it forms a soft ball.
Use cookie cutters or mold the clay by hand. Your children can create refrigerator magnets, jewelry, ornaments, key chains, necklaces, and much more.
Line a baking tray with aluminum foil, place the clay creations on the tray and bake in a 300 degree F. oven for about one hour or until they are hard.
You can use food coloring to color dough before you bake it, or paint it afterwards. A finishing coat of clear acrylic or even PVA glue will make your salt clay products last longer.

Make a movie theatre at home - There is nothing better on a miserable day than curling up with some cozy pillows, a warm blanket and a big bowl of popcorn and watching a movie. Turn off the lights, shut the blinds and pretend you are at the movies.

Spend the day playing board games – Let the kids take turns choosing their favourite board games to play and get everyone involved.

These are just a few inexpensive ideas that you can try with your family. Remember the main thing is to just relax and have fun, spending time with your children is much more important than taking them on expensive outings.

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Aug 06 2008

Resource Management For Parents

Published by admin under Articles

Everybody has a dream. Whether you know it or not, at one time you dreamed all the time. As children grow, their imaginations grow with them. Then they become adults, and the reality of the world sets in. Have you forgotten how to dream? Do you feel as if you have no time to breath, much less make your dreams reality? Then read on.

Time, energy, and money are chronically lacking in parents’ lives. They are too tired because their children keep them up at night; they are strapped for time between juggling work and family; and they spend all their resources on their kids, the house, the car, and the mortgage. Below are some simple solutions to these chronic problems:

Time

Make a list of priorities each week. Ask yourself: what do I want to achieve this week? Put the list in a place where you see it a lot, if not every day. When you have a roadmap, you can find out where you are going much more easily. Those scarce minutes will suddenly be there when you need them most. Check off the list as you manage each task.

Cancel your cable. Sound scary? It isn’t. Really. When my husband and I cancelled our cable right before we made an international move, we suddenly had three free hours at night. We could not believe how much time we suddenly had on our hands. Unless your dream is to watch four hours of TV each night, do it. You will find much more relaxing and fulfilling ways to spend your time.

Make a schedule. Similar to your list of priorities, you will want to organize your time according to events. If you have to work late one night, don’t expect yourself to go to the gym and help your child with his or her homework anyway. Rearrange the schedule as needed. Remember: being flexible is a part of being human.

Energy

Exercise is time well-spent. Three twenty-minute activities a week is all you need to stay relatively fit. Schedule a walk at lunch time with friends; swim at the local gym or run on the weekends. If you need a support system, ask a colleague to join you. Take a class that meets once a week and carpool with friends. Chances are you will go more often if you have someone honking at your sidewalk to take you along.

Sleep management for parents with very small children is one of the most challenging areas to handle. Make certain you get in a nap on the weekends to tank up your energy. Take occasional weekends away from the children if possible and ask a relative or trusted friend to watch the kids while you are gone. It will be good for your relationship with your partner as well as assuring you get the rest you need.

Nutrition is a well-neglected realm for busy people. Instead of swinging by the local fast food chain, bring smaller snacks with you until you get home. Not only will you have more energy by eating better, you will save money, too.

Money

Make a meal plan for the week. Create a list of food items needed at the grocery store. It will reduce the urge for impulse shopping and save you time later. Instead of standing in front of the refrigerator and asking, “What’s for dinner?” you will already know because you planned it in advance.

Coupon shopping can have its advantages. It may save you a few dollars, which can add up over time. Buyer beware, however. Frequently, coupons require you buy two of one item to qualify. Ask yourself if you really need two gallons or liters of juice before jumping at the sale. If you do bulk shopping at warehouse stores, calculate the price of the item before you buy it. Sometimes it is actually cheaper to buy smaller amounts at local grocery stores. Pay attention to Sunday circulars. You can use it as a basis for making your weekly meal plan. Whatever is on sale is what you eat that week.

Entertainment doesn’t have to be expensive. Libraries often have a good selection of videos you and the kids can watch. The loan time is usually one week, which saves you time from having to run back to the video store the very next day to avoid extra charges. The best benefit? Loaning from the library is free.

Maximizing your resources can free up the time, energy, and money you need to pursue what you really want in life. Instead of spinning your wheels, you will be further along in your journey to reach the dreams you imagined as a kid.

Christine Louise Hohlbaum, American author of Diary of a Mother (2003), SAHM I Am (2005), “American Housewife Abroad” (AnotherChapter.com), has been published in hundreds of publications and has appeared on numerous parenting radio shows. When she isn’t writing, leading toddler playgroups or instructing an on-line course in book promotion, she prefers to frolic in the Bavarian countryside near Munich where she lives with her husband and two children . Visit her Web site: www.diaryofamother.com

2 responses so far

Jul 30 2008

How Parents Can Help Their Kids To Have Good Dental Health

Published by admin under Articles

By Adam Hunt

How important is dental hygiene to your health? Good oral hygiene is in fact essential for good health. It is unfortunate if you are an adult and have not figured out how to take care of the only teeth that you have. But dental care is even more important for our youth who have sugary diets and may not yet know the importance of taking care of their teeth. If your teeth and gums are in poor shape, you can not chew your food properly. This can lead to digestive problems and other health conditions. Gum disease can lead to tooth loss. Tooth loss can interfere with eating because you can not chew your food well. This means that your food is more difficult to digest because the primary part of the digestive process, chewing, has been compromised. Based on some recommendations by the American Dental Association, here are the tips that you can help you to keep your teeth: Brush You should brush your 2x a day for at least five minutes. Brushing 3x daily is better of course. (For technique, consult your dentist.) Use a fluoride toothpaste that is accepted by the ADA. You should replace your toothbrush every three or four months or sooner if the bristles break down and become frayed. You should also replace your toothbrush after illnesses such as colds, flu, strep throat and stomach viruses. Children’s toothbrushes usually need to be replaced more often because they wear out faster. Floss It is necessary to clean between your teeth daily using dental floss or an interdentally cleaner even if you brush regularly. Toothbrush bristles can’t reach between teeth where bacteria can linger, causing decay and gum disease. Regular flossing can remove the food particles and plaque from between teeth and under the gum line where your tooth brush cannot reach. Diet A balanced diet that includes fresh fruits and vegetables can help you maintain good oral health. Limit junk foods and sugary foods, especially foods and drinks containing high fructose corn syrup. Dairy products and certain vegetables, such as broccoli, are good sources of calcium. Citrus fruits are good sources of vitamin C which is good for promoting tissue building and overall general health. Dentist Your dentist can tell you if you should come in every six months or once a year. Sometimes your dentist may suggest another schedule. Whatever the case, your dentist can recommend what types of oral care products to use. Plaque accumulates on the teeth within twenty minutes of eating! A daily mouthwash is a great idea to add to your brushing and flossing as well. Tooth decay and gum disease is caused mainly by plaque. Plaque is a combination of bacteria and food. Its stickiness is what causes it to adhere to the teeth. If it is not removed thoroughly each day, the result will be tooth decay. Eventually, if the plaque remains on the teeth, it will harden into a very tough substance called tartar which must be scraped off the teeth using a special tool. Plaque and tartar cause gingivitis, an inflammation of the gums, cavities, holes and soft spots that damage the surface and, more particularly, the structure of the teeth, peritonitis, breakdown of ligaments and bone supporting the teeth which leads to tooth loss, bad breath, abscesses and many health problems including pre-term labor and heart disease. People interested in good health are also starting to use daily glyconutrient supplements.Clinical studies have shown that the body’s immune system can be boosted through glyconutrients supplements.

To buy glyconutrients and get a free glyconutrient consultation, visit http://www.ifoundhealth.com/

Source: http://www.isnare.com/

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Jul 16 2008

Safety Tips for Children if They Get Lost

Published by admin under Articles

What would you do if your child got lost or separated from you?. It’s a terrifying thought isn’t it?. For many of us it is something that we don’t want to think about but it is essential that we all think about what we want to happen in this situation and teach our children how to stay safe.

Below are a few tips to help you find your children quickly and to keep them safe if they do get lost.

Give your child your mobile phone number

We all teach our children our addresses and home phone numbers, but if a child gets lost the handiest thing for them to know is Mommy or Daddies mobile phone number. A good idea is to use a clothing label with your mobile phone number on it. Make sure that your child knows where the labels are placed on their clothing. You could also write your number with a permanent marker or write the number directly on your child.

Dress your child in bright colors

Bright clothing is much easier to spot in a crowd. If you have a large family you could try and have your children all wear similar colors.

Teach your children to ask another Mommy for help

Think about who you would want your children to approach if they get lost. Oh course if they get separated from you in a store you would want them to ask an employee for help. But what if you are at a fair or the beach?. Teach your children to ask another mother for help. I know that I would feel better about my children approaching another mommy rather than just anybody. We have always taught our children to find a policeman or woman if they get lost, but think about the last time you were at a park or shopping centre, how many police people did you see?. Not many I bet!.

Teaching our children what to do and giving them the resources to get help when they need it will help to keep them safe. I hope that these few tips help you if you find yourself in this situation.

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Jun 21 2008

Top 11 Tips For Photographing People

Published by admin under Articles

Photography tips

By: Martin Wilmott -

There are very few rules to portrait photography. The few rules there are can be broken and still result in good images. What I have attempted to give you here is some quick tips to hopefully help you to improve your image taking.

1. Make it Personal

When photographing people involve sopmething that makes it more personal and about that individual. One of my favourite images shows a little girl in what is to her a very natural environment. Her grandfather breeds and races pigeons and since she could walk she has helped him in the daily tasks of cleaning and feeding them. The photograph shows her with the pigeopn on her lap as she feeds it peanuts. I always look to try and capture images that tell stories and capture a little bit of the true spirit of the person being photographed making it so much more personal.

2. Have Fun

False smiles are hideous and should be banned. Asking someone to smile or say cheese is a last resort. If you want natural smiles and laughs you need to create things for people to smile or laugh about. Personally I much prefer images with people laughing out loud to a posed straightforward Victorian styled portrait.

3. Always be Ready

I always remember a certain portrait session. I had been photographing a family on the beach. The little girl decided she wanted to climb onto a small pier that led out to sea. Luckily I had my camera out and managed to capture a few frames as she crawled along. Had I attempted to set this image up there are a million things that would have got in the way. As luck had it everything went right and a fantastic image was captured.

4. Get in close

Don’t be afraid to get in close and clip the tip of peoples heads out of the frame. Very often it helps the image, giving it a more dramatic approach.

If your camera doesn’t have a zoom facility then move closer physically.

5. Take Photographs Outside

You will get far far better images of young children if you allow them to play. As long as you pick a safe area you can let them run loose and do as they wish leaving you free to concentrate on capturing some magical moments. In my portrait business I take 98% of my images outside. I know this works as I continually receive more and more referral business from happy clients who recognise the joy and happiness in their childs expressions.

6. Catch people unawares

Very often the best images are when people don’t realise they are having their photograph taken. I recently shot a portrait session in London of a young couple. The girl had large ties to a market and wanted some atmospheric images. However her partner wasn’t keen to be photographed in public. I solved the problem by using a long lens and concentrated on capturing some totally natural images as they were walking around the market.

7. Change the angle you are shooting from

I always have a change of clothes with me when I am on a shoot because I tend to end up covered in mud. Don’t be afraid to lay on the ground. You will be rewarded by the images you take.

8. Capture natural reactions

Encourage people to react normally as they would every day. One of the joys of my job is taking images of new mums and their babies. I know if I ask mum to get in close to the baby nine times out of ten I will get a totally natural reaction as the baby and mother react to each other. All that is needed is for me to them judge the right time and capture the image.

I find if you ask people to get closer than they would normally do it will cause them to laugh. However this is not the case with teenagers as they see it as uncool to like brothers / sisters so with this age group differant approaches are needed.

9. Consider your background very carefully

The background is as important as the subject you are photographing. Ensure it is pleasing to the eye without distracting away from the image. Some colours are worth avoiding. Red for example will trigger the eye to look at it immediately and drag attention away from the main subject. People far cleverer than me have attempted to explain why (something to do with it being nature’s danger colour). The best thing to do when lining up your photograph is to avoid red altogether.

10. Practise

You can read a million books and visit every website on the planet but I believe there is no substitute to actually doing something and learning by experience. I personally run training days for people who like yourself just want to have a go at a new style of image making. The people who attend have various skill levels but as I place the emphasis on being as low tech as possible they are of use for everybody from the amateur through to the seasoned professional.

11 Be different

Try and do something out of the ordinary. Use your imagination to create images that stand out. If everyone else does a top ten do a top eleven, it will bring more interest guaranteed because it is out of the ordinary.

I wish you luck on your future image making and hope we can talk at some stage in the future.

Have Fun

Article Source: http://www.articleinterchange.com

Martin Wilmott is a highly successful lifestyle photographer based in the UK who undertakes work all over the world. People with an interest in portrait photography can sign up for his free online course at www.martinwilmottphotography.com.

Martin also runs regular portrait classes for people with an interest in his style of work.

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