Underwater Swimming Babies: Little Dippers
Teach your baby to swim underwater - new dates and locations in February.
Source: www.studholme.net

Staveley Area Toy Library
Staveley Toy Library runs on Wednesday mornings 9.30 - 11.00 am during term time at The Stables, Staveley Hall for toy loans, stay and play, and coffee and chat. Loan prices are 30p - 50p per toy per fortnight.
Source: _http

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It's a beautiful day and your toddler or preschooler is begging to go outside. What to do when you get out? Here's some simple ideas:

Walk to Park The walk alone is enough to keep them busy. When you there, of course they'll even have more to do. It's a great time for you to relax a bit and enjoy the day, keeping an eye on them while they bounce from one activity to the other.

Play Fresbie If you have a small backyard, you might need to go to the park to do this. However, if your yard is big enough this is a simple activity you can do at home.

Baseball/T-ball Another possible at home activity if your yard is big enough. All you really need is some cheap baseball equiptment (plastic ball, plastic bat) for younger children.

Walk around neighboorhood There's many interesting things to do while walking around the neighboorhood. You can count the animals and birds you see, count certain colored cars or house, or any number of fun games.

Pool Time If it's a nice enough day, you can either fill up the kiddie pool in the backyard, or head to the local public pool. Either way it's sure to please the kids!

Be sure to see our other ideas for things to do with your children!

About the Author

About the Author: Kara Kelso is the mother of 2 and owner of several online businesses. For more ideas like this, visit: http://www.idea-queen.com

# posted by QcynqSWG : 5:00 AM 0 comments

Customer Review: Poor Craftmanship for Higher Priced Toy Chest
Very disappointed upon assembling this toy chest to find out that the holes drilled for the screws d... Click Here For More Info!

Building a home business while raising a preschooler? Make life easier on both of you! Try these ideas today!
So you've made the leap.

You've decided that working from home is the plan you want to pursue.

Maybe you've worked out telecommuting arrangements with your current job.

Or perhaps you've decided to begin a whole new business and you've found the one you know will be a perfect fit for you.

But now reality sinks in.

You've got a toddler!

Perhaps this little creature is the very reason you decided to stay home in the first place. To be there day by day. To see the 'firsts'. To ensure yours is the main voice in your small sweetie's life.

All valid reasons for working from home.

All reasons that will have you tearing your hair out before very long!

Take heart!

People ARE making home-based businesses work! But you'll have to lay some ground rules for yourself and your toddler if you want it to work for you!

The keys? Organization and Patience!

You're going to be running two different operations at the same time for this scenario to work. You'll need to run your work/business schedule as well as your parenting/household schedule. This means you need to plan out both completely and then merge them appropriately. For example:

- plan out your toddler's days. Monday through Friday. 8-5 (or whatever your work hours will be). Make it fun and entertaining for the maximum effectiveness!

- plan out your work days, also for the full week. Focus on results so that you aren't wasting valuable time on busywork.

- merge the two schedules and see where they naturally work together and where they won't work together at all!

- then adjust, and adjust some more.

Helpful hints:

- build small breaks into your daily schedule and use one whenever a meltdown occurs.

- realize some days will go smoother than others. And let it go.

- plan a variety of what I call 'Focused Workdays/Focused Play Days. This is a day or two a week (or whatever you need) where your child is involved in a super-fun activity for them. Could be a playgroup, preschool, or simply a day with Grandma. Or find another at-home parent with little ones who would like some extra cash and pay her/him to let your toddler spend the day with their kids. Then, while your baby is busy and cared for, YOU get busy! Focus on your business the whole day and you'll be amazed at the results you can accomplish!

- be patient with yourself. Toddlerhood is a fleeting time; choosing to be a part of it is very rewarding, but not in the same manner that a successful business is rewarding. Both endeavors deserve your best commitment and focus; obviously neither will receive 100 per cent of your time! Don't make the mistake of missing your child when you're working your business and wishing you were working while you're showing a young human being the wonders of the backyard.

So...relax! Everyday may not go perfectly but at the end of each day you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you are producing results, both personally and professionally.

And you'll have the paycheck and smiles to prove it!

About the Author

Colleen Langenfeld delivers deals, tips and creative resources to working moms who want the most out of their homes, families and careers at http://www.paintedgold.com . Sign up for our FREE online newsletter and get a digital Creativity Toolkit as our gift to you!

# posted by QcynqSWG : 7:18 AM 0 comments

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Honestly, self-esteem is not taught to little babies and toddlers. It's an innate sense that drives them to roll over, to crawl, to walk, to begin speaking, and to learn how to get their basic needs met. Children are naturally self-confident. Babies and toddlers don't say, "What if I can't accomplish this goal? Perhaps I should settle for less and just do without that toy. I don't really need to learn to walk. I can lay here forever." We don't have to coach a baby to feel good about themselves so that they'll learn how to hold their own bottle or how to manipulate a toy. The toy exists and they simply want to reach for it. The bottle is there and they simply want to hold onto it. Learning new things is just what they do without any thoughts about self-esteem and their ability to succeed. Either we reinforce their sense of self, or we systematically destroy it.

Why would anyone destroy a child's self-esteem? Rarely do parents and other adults in a child's life make a conscious decision that they want to raise a child to have low self-esteem. Typically, the parents have no idea they are even doing it and worse, if you tell them so, they become quite defensive about it. After all, they love their child so how can it be their fault that their child's self-esteem is low? The word 'parent' is meant to describe any adult in the role of guardianship. A 'parent' is a steward who must watch over the child's well-being and insure that nothing happens to mess with the child's development.

It's the parents' job to protect the child's self-esteem by setting up and monitoring their environment so that the child can grow, learn, reach, aspire, and accomplish goals. Through real accomplishments and real achievements, real self-esteem is reinforced. Children know when they are being handed a ribbon just for showing up and win they are receiving a real award that took hard work and determination to earn it. The parent doesn't give the child self-esteem, but sets up opportunities and lessons that allows the child to develop and grow into a balanced sense of self that knows their own personal limits and their own personal gifts.

It's the parents' job to make sure that siblings, family friends, teachers, and others who come into contact with the child are not allowed to verbally tear a child's sense of identity apart. Nobody, including the parents, should be allowed to belittle the child, abuse the child, or in any way make the child feel that they are an inferior human being. No name-calling should ever be allowed. The child should not be allowed to say such things, as "I'm stupid." The child needs to be taught the power of words and thoughts and if someone calls the child stupid, dumb, or in any other way ridicules the child's ability to accomplish their own dreams, the parent has an obligation to stand up to the bully and say that they are wrong. Children need to hear adults speaking up in their defense.

Through trust and honesty the adult earns the child's respect and in times of doubt, hearing a trusted adult say that they believe in the child's ability to succeed can mean the world to that child. If the adult is someone who always offers sappy unearned praise for inferior performances, then that adult is not going to be a real cheerleader in the child's eyes. They will discount that parent's statement as simply being prejudice or worse they'll think the adult is lying. It can backfire causing the child to assume that since the adult lies to them about their abilities that the adult must not really believe in them. As a parent, we have to talk straight with our children and give them real tips and pointers about how to succeed. Don't just slobber 'Yeah! Good job!' all over them when they haven't really earned it. When they fail, you have to teach them how to handle failure. That means teaching them how to analyze what went wrong and how to improve their performance for the next time. It also means teaching them how to get back up in the saddle to ride again.

Often as parents, we want to protect our children from feeling like failures. We think the experience of failing causes our children to lose heart and give up. The truth is that part of growing and reaching beyond our comfort zones involves failing once in awhile. If you protect your child from ever seeing themselves as less than a winner, then you rob them of the opportunity to learn tenacity and determination. You don't carry a toddler around on your hip and give them rewards for learning how to walk. You put them down on the ground and let them fall down and get up and fall down and get up and fall down. You can cheer them for their tenacity, but you have to let them figure out how to do it without your help. Successfully accomplishing their goals is what builds a 'can do' attitude.

It's not our job to make sure they always win and they always succeed. It's our job to make sure that nobody interferes with their ability to learn how to win and how to succeed. You protect the environment, set the atmosphere for self-growth, self-determination, self-discovery of one's own natural talents and one's natural limitations. You coach them, but you don't lie to them about their successes. You cheer them on but you don't tell them that they are a winner if their work was sloppy or less than their best. When a child really works hard and gives it their all, then yes they have a winner's drive and a winner's attitude, but don't reward them as if they've crossed the finish line. Real self-esteem is earned, it's not given to someone as a consolation prize.

About the Author

Skye Thomas is the CEO of Tomorrow's Edge, an Internet leader in inspiring leaps of faith. To read more of her articles and free previews of her books, go to www.TomorrowsEdge.com. Webmasters interested in generating more repeat traffic to their websites are invited to visit www.TomorrowsEdge.net/horoscopes-generate-website-traffic.html.

# posted by QcynqSWG : 11:30 AM 0 comments

There is something about the sea that calms little ones like nothing else. With a soft-glow light, gentle bubbles, swimming fish, and soothing classical melodies, the sounds and sights of the Baby Neptune Soothing Seascape send babies drifting off to slumber. The gentle glow also acts as a nightlight, allowing parents to check on baby discreetly during the night. In more active, wakeful moments, babies can press buttons to activate lights and sounds, or simply play with the friendly turtle s fins that provide the crinkling sounds that babies love. Adjustable plastic straps fit most cribs and keep the toy securely in place. Two volume control settings and an automatic shutoff option help adapt the toy to individual nursery needs. Requires three C batteries (included). --Heather Lyndon
Customer Review: Love the toy but cheaply put together
My son loved this toy, but it was hard to turn on and off. The on switch is on the back, which is s...
Customer Review: Baby loves it but gets frustrated
My baby loves this toy. She dances to the music and watches it, transfixed, as she nods off. You c... Click Here For More Info!

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Disneyland was designed for kids of all ages - and toddlers are no exception! There are many things that you can enjoy with your toddler - so many things in fact, that unless you will be staying for several days, you won't have time to do them all.

Start with Toon Town. Here is where you will find your toddler's favorite Disney Characters, including Mickey and Minnie Mouse. All of the Characters have homes in Toon Town, full of things that will amaze your toddler, and make them laugh.

Disneyland boasts a slew of rides and attractions that, while tame, elicit squeals of delight from toddlers. Some of the favorites are:

It's a Small World, a boat ride through a musical diorama; the Enchanted Tiki Room, a Hawaiian extravaganza complete with automated birds and flowers; and the Country Bear Playhouse, where furry life-sized robotic bears sing and dance in a jamboree.

Children three and older can visit every attraction in Mickey's Toontown, including Chip 'n Dale's Treehouse and Goofy's Bounce House. They can also tour Mickey's House, where they're guaranteed a chance to meet the Mouse himself in his dressing room. Then there's this little-known secret: Several times each afternoon, Disney princesses tell stories to young guests in the Tinker Bell Toy Shoppe.

Twice a day the 45 Years of Magic Parade marched down Main Street U.S.A. Parade schedules vary, depending on the season, but stake out a spot early to give your toddler a good view of all her favorite characters.

Every night the park stages "Fantasmic!" at Rivers of America. A laser-light water show with fireworks and a full-sized pirate ship, "Fantasmic!" will knock the cynic out of any adult. Bright lights and big noise every night at 9:30 with the 45th Anniversary Fireworks Spectacular, "Believe: There's Magic in the Stars."

Your toddler will definitely enjoy the Disneyland Railroad. This is a great way to get around the park, because there are stations in New Orleans Square, Toon Town, Tomorrowland, and on Main Street. This will amuse your toddler, and give you a chance to see some sights and rest a bit.

The Storybook Land Canal Boats is another good choice, as it will take you through the miniature villages that your child will be quite familiar with from their story books.

Rides that you and your toddler must not miss include all of the rides in Fantasyland, King Arthur's Carousel, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, the Circus Train, and the Mad Tea Party. Rides that are appropriate for youngsters, but that may cause a little fear are the rides that are dark. These include Peter Pan's Flight, Pinocchio's Daring Journey, Alice in Wonderland, and Snow White's Scary Adventure. Buzz Lightyear is a popular ride for all toddlers.

There are other areas of the park that have attractions and rides that are appropriate for toddlers. Remember that Disneyland is a place for kids of all ages. Pay attention to the height and age requirements for each attraction, and avoid taking your toddler to rides that they will not be able to enjoy. This will only cause your child disappointment.

Stick to the areas where the toddler appropriate attractions are located as much as possible. As an adult, you realize that some rides are simply not safe for small people - but your small person will not comprehend this! Your Disneyland vacation should be enjoyable for everyone, and Disneyland has made sure that there is something for everyone at the park. It is up to you to keep your child happy, and to keep them interested in the rides and attractions that they are meant to enjoy.

If you want to go on some adults-only rides without splitting up, try the "Baby Swap." As soon as you get in line, tell an attendant that you want to use this option. When it's your family's turn, one parent rides while the other stands aside holding the child. When the run is over, the parent who just rode gets off and takes the child, and the other parent hops on.

About the Author

Dan Farrell is the owner of Disneyland Vacations where you can get more information on a great Disneyland Vacation.

# posted by QcynqSWG : 11:42 AM 0 comments

Customer Review: Great for kicking!
My 7 week old son LOVES these chimes. I bought them to clip on a playmat (not the Tiny Love playmat,...
Customer Review: Best toy for baby early on and still fun later
My daughter loved these chimes when she was just a young baby - the chime sounds are pleasing and no... Click Here For More Info!

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Most parents are generous and encouraging when it comes to providing their toddlers with toys. They enjoy watching their child play with soft toys, toys that light up, noisy toys, toys that move, etc.... Basically, parents are always keen on things that can enhance their toddler's coordination, movement and thinking abilities. However, an important "toy" that is often overlooked is that of a pen or pencil.

Many parents are apprehensive when it comes to arming their toddler with a pen or pencil. Below are some of their concerns:
1. "It's dangerous. What if he pokes his eye out?"
2. "She will just draw everywhere. It's so troublesome to clean off her scribblings on my wall, floor and tables."
3. "He can't even control his movements yet. He just scribbles. I'll let him have it when he is older."

It is better to find solutions to your concerns then to deprive your child of a wonderful learning experience. A toddler that is not given ample opportunities to scribble is at a disadvantage.

Now, you may ask, when do I start? My answer is simple, start when they are ready. Every child develops at a different rate. For example, younger siblings may pick up the skill earlier and quicker because they have an older sibling to model after. You know your child best. Provide the opportunities and observe their readiness. Once they are ready, have pencils and paper readily available and easily accessible to encourage the learning..

Another question would be, how to start? Children learn best through modeling. You can start by having drawing sessions with your toddler on your lap. Even better if you illustrate while telling a story. Don't worry if your dinosaur looks like a dog. You do not need to be a Van Gogh to teach your child what a pencil can do. Later, give them a pencil and see what they do with it. Some may need to be taught how to hold it. Some are naturals and take it like fish to water.

It is important that you do not rush your toddler into drawing shapes and writing alphabets. Allow the free expression of scribbling as it is a crucial stage to their development. You disrupt their learning process when you ignore their scribblings and push them to learn how to "draw properly".

Another important factor is to make writing fun. Writing doesn't just have to be paper and pencil. Children love to experiment with blackboards and chalks, and white boards and markers. Kindergartens these days can dish out really boring work. Kids come home copying the strokes over and over again. Where is the excitement? How about drawing animals and let them make stripes, spots or whatever patterns on the animal. How about blowing up a balloon and then scribbling on it? How about pretending you're a policeman scribbling a summon?

Prewriting skills starts from the home and not in kindergartens. So parents, provide the opportunities, be creative and be encouraging. Your child's potential is waiting to be discovered.

About the Author

Ai Lian Lim is the owner of http://valuebookshop.com, a premier specialty bookshop for parents and children in Malaysia and Singapore. She blogs at http://mamasbagoftricks.blogspot.com

# posted by QcynqSWG : 2:36 PM 0 comments

Anti-depressant stillbirth link
Use of a type of SSRI anti-depressant medication during pregnancy may increase the risk of a stillborn baby, research suggests. However experts said women should not stop taking medication without expert advice.
Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Recommended books on Postnatal Depression and Childbirth
From the PostNatal Illness Support and Help Association, a list of books to help you through postnatal illness.
Source: www.pni-uk.com

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