May 21st, 2013 by admin
The latest culinary craze to sweep the world, cake pops are delectably delicious treats that you can create in no time. You can get creative in the kitchen with fancy cake pops, or keep them simple to produce a quick snack that everyone can enjoy. Any kind of cake can, with a little ingenuity, become a portable bite of sweet, convenient goodness. The recipes and ideas in these 30 blogs will get you on your way and, if you’re feeling adventurous, inspire you to create your very own cake pop recipes, too.
Cake Pop Utensils and Tutorials
Baking is a precise art. You need the right tools and know-how to create a masterpiece, so make sure you’re equipped for the task. When making cake pops, there’s the easy way and the hard way. With the guides in these five blogs, you can bypass trial-and-error and get right down to producing perfect cake pops.
Easy Cake Pops
Cake pops, at first glance, give the impression of being incredibly easy to create. Still, great things come to those who wait, so don’t get ahead of yourself. By starting off with basic cake pop recipes, you will get the chance to experiment with simple, cheap ingredients. Once you have mastered the basics, you can tackle more complicated baking methods and decoration techniques. These five blogs contain simple and easy to make cake pop recipes that you can cut your teeth on.
Chocolate Cake Pops
Chocolate cake pop recipes are among the most popular, which is no surprise, given that almost everyone seems to love chocolate. From the simple to the sublime, chocolate cake pops are melt-in-your-mouth delicious. If you feel the need to tantalize your sweet tooth, you will love the recipes that these five bloggers have created especially for your tasting pleasure.
Fancy Cake Pops
If you want to impress your family and friends with your cake pop delights, then it’s time to get a little more creative with your recipes. Not everyone can create ostentatious cake pops, however, so you will need a little help from the experts. The five bloggers in this list have spent countless hours in the kitchen perfecting recipes that will wow and amaze your guests.
Novelty Cake Pops
For those special occasions when even the fanciest of cake pops doesn’t quite make the grade, you need to introduce some novel ideas. Whether it’s for Christmas, Valentine’s Day or the birthday celebration of someone very special, novelty cake pops are a real game changer. Kids love them, adults adore them and they are extremely fun to make. There are thousands of themes that you can incorporate into your novelty cake pops, so let your imagination run wild. In these five blogs, you will find a number of recipes for novelty cake pops, as well as hints and tips on how to make your own recipe ideas a reality.
Low-Fat Cake Pops
As delicious as cake pops are, they are still cakes, and potentially full of fattening, unhealthy ingredients. Even if you are watching what you eat or concerned about health, you needn’t worry. There are plenty of healthy cake pop recipes available; you just need to know where to look. With that in mind, you can start off by creating and sampling these low-fat, healthy cake pop recipes, brought to you by the five expert bloggers on this list.
May 13th, 2013 by admin
Soon the pencils and notebooks will be put away and the computers will be turned off, signaling that another school year has come to an end. The kids have worked hard and should celebrate all that they have learned and achieved over the last nine months. To kick off the party planning take a look at these 25 blog entries to discover creative ideas for throwing the best end of year party ever.
Theme
Picking the right theme for the party will make the party planning go a lot easier. Details will fall into place like decorations, food and activities. If the party will be held at school you will want to involve the teacher in the planning to make sure that all of the rules are being followed, if not then the sky is the limit. Pool parties are common end of year gatherings because the venue can accommodate a lot of students. These five blog posts will present some theme ideas to help during the planning stages.
Decorations
Set a budget for the decorations because it is easy to go overboard if you have a theme that lends itself easily to lots of decorations. Determine a color scheme and buy the paper goods in those colors. Taking the theme into consideration create an atmosphere that makes the theme clear to everyone who attends the party. For ideas on simple party decorations check out these five blog entries.
Food
It wouldn’t be a party without food, but make sure that the food is kid-friendly so that everyone can find something to eat at the party. Try to stick with the theme if possible or just go with standard party food like pizza and cupcakes. Little tricks like toppers and party picks can tie any food into the theme. For food tips and tricks take a look at these five blog articles.
Activities
Plan plenty of games and activities for the party to make sure the kids stay active and involved. Sometimes one game takes off and is everyone’s favorite, if that happens go with it. Be flexible with the party schedule and if the kids are having a good time let them keep going. The same holds true for an activity that falls flat, don’t torture the kids, just move on to the next activity. To find game ideas for the party read through these five blog posts.
Party Favors
Kids love to have a little something to take home at the end of the party, but it doesn’t have to be a lot and it doesn’t have to break the bank. Go with something that follows the theme like a jar of cookies for a cookies and milk party or cotton candy for a circus party. For more cost saving favor ideas look at these five blog entries.
May 9th, 2013 by admin
There are a variety of reasons why eliminating dairy from your child’s diet may be the right choice for her health, from lactose intolerance to full-blown dairy allergies. Some parents even opt to forgo dairy as part of a chosen dietary plan. Regardless of your motivations behind the switch to a dairy-free diet for your little one, you’ll still need an inventory of quick, easy desserts for the occasional indulgence. With kid classics like ice cream and pudding out of the picture, these 10 recipes come to the rescue.
- Fruit Leathers – Instead of reaching for a box of processed fruit snacks, why not set aside a bit of time to make your own fruit leathers? You’ll be able to control the ingredients completely, so you’ll know exactly what they contain before you serve them to your child. With no artificial flavoring or color additives, homemade fruit leathers are a delicious and health-conscious dessert choice.
- Trail Mix – Provided that your child doesn’t suffer from nut allergies and none of the pieces are coated with yogurt, trail mix can be both a great snack and a scrumptious dessert. You can usually purchase the ingredients yourself to turn out larger qualities at a comparatively low price, but natural brands that are clearly labeled as such are a fine alternative.
- Smoothies – Traditional smoothies may contain yogurt or milk, but you can create a quick, dairy-free alternative by combining frozen fruit and coconut milk or all-natural fruit juice. Coconut milk is higher in fat and calories, but will impart a creaminess that closely mimics that of dairy products.
- Homemade Popsicles – You can purchase packaged popsicles that may contain any number of additives, artificial flavorings and preservatives, or you can whip up a batch on your own with fruit puree and popsicle molds. To add a bit of sweetness without using processed sugar, integrate a bit of agave nectar during the blending process.
- Sorbet – There’s not much to making a great sorbet, and it can satisfy kids’ cravings for ice cream without exposing them to dairy products. Try to work with berries and naturally sweet fruits when you’re making sorbets for kids, as the tangier tastes of lemon and lime that suit adult palates may not be as attractive to youngsters.
- Fruit Kabobs – Few things are as simple or as refreshing as bite-sized pieces of organic fruit on a skewer for easy handling. These desserts are a dairy-free and health conscious choice, but the sharp sticks may not be entirely safe for very young children.
- Applesauce Cookies – Most of the dairy products in traditional cookie recipes can be replaced with applesauce, and there are a variety of recipes available that will help you make that switch without difficulty. Applesauce can also be used to replace oils in many recipes, making it a low-fat alternative that still imparts sweetness and moisture.
- Gelatin Molds – Few things bring giggles and smiles to little faces like a jiggling helping of gelatin. When you suspend fresh fruit in the mixture, it’s even more exciting. Gelatin may not be suitable for all family diet plans, however, as it does contain animal products that are verboten for vegans and vegetarians.
- Peanut-Butter Banana Sticks – Impaling a banana on a popsicle stick and rolling it in peanut or other nut butters, then coating it in chopped nuts or granola makes for a dairy-free snack that satisfies a sweet tooth in a big way. Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box when it comes to coatings; sprinkles, carob chips and other ingredients of similar consistency may also be a hit.
- Boxed Mixes – As the visibility of dietary restrictions rises, more and more commercially-available dessert mixes offer dairy-free preparation instructions and alternative mixes. Keep your eyes peeled for these items amongst the traditional mixes on the shelves of your local grocery store.
Before placing your child on a regimented dietary plan, you should discuss the matter with her doctor to ensure that it’s the right choice to suit her individual needs. Eliminating milk products can also mean the elimination of valuable nutrients like calcium, so it’s best to seek out the opinion of a medical professional before deciding to do so.
May 5th, 2013 by admin
Introducing a pet to your household can provide your kids with a companion that they love and can help them learn about responsibility and compassion as they care for the animal. It’s important for parents to remember, however, that not all pets are created equal when it comes to compatibility with kids. These 12 tips can help you select a first pet that’s suited to living with children.
- Consider Your Family Lifestyle – It’s important to take your family’s lifestyle as a whole into consideration when you’re choosing a pet. If the house is empty for most of the day, a puppy that needs to be taken out may not be an ideal choice.
- Take the Financial Aspect of Pet Ownership into Account – Any pet will require a financial commitment. After all, food isn’t free. That being said, some pets are more expensive than others. A rescued dog or cat might be a noble and socially responsible choice, but one that comes with preexisting health issues will also bring a slew of vet bills to the table. Think about how much room there is within the family budget, and keep that figure in mind as you consider upkeep costs.
- Keep Allergy Issues in Mind – Some pets are more aggravating to allergy sufferers than others, and living with an animal that triggers those allergies can be miserable. For instance, no matter how much your child begs for a kitten, it’s just not a good idea to bring one home if you know that someone in the family has a cat allergy.
- Understand Space Constraints – A small, cuddly baby animal might be tempting, but those babies can grow into large, unwieldy pets. An iguana will probably be small when you bring it home, but it will be up to six feet long when it reaches adulthood. A Great Dane puppy might not take up much room, but his fully-grown body will not be an ideal fit in a small apartment.
- Realize That Kids are Hands-On Creatures – Your kids will want to handle their new pet, to cuddle him and interact with him. Some animals, like hamsters and iguanas for example, simply do not tolerate a high level of handling well and may be a disappointment to eager kids.
- Consider an Animal’s Care Requirements – Every pet will have certain care requirements that are simply non-negotiable. Litter boxes must be cleaned, dogs need to be walked, fish need to be fed and a gerbil’s cage will need to be cleared. If your primary goal for pet ownership is to introduce a level of responsibility for your kids, be sure that the care a particular animal requires isn’t beyond their ability to manage.
- Don’t Be Swayed By Cuteness – Just because an animal is cute doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s a good fit for your family. It’s easy to get carried away when you’re infatuated with an adorable animal, but it may still be the wrong choice for your household. It’s important that you stick to your guns, and that you don’t allow yourself to be won over by a cute pet that simply won’t do well in your home.
- Know the Salmonella Risks of Certain Pets – Some reptiles and most turtles present a very real salmonella risk, a cause for concern since kids aren’t known for their dedication to hand washing.
- Don’t Choose a Puppy So He and Your Baby Can “Grow Up Together” – The common misconception that a puppy is an ideal choice when you have very small children because they’ll “grow up together” causes many dogs to end up in shelters. A puppy’s size might increase, but he’ll still be an exuberant, energetic puppy for a few years. That untrained puppy will require a serious time commitment in order to introduce proper training, a commodity that new parents simply don’t have much of.
- Never Pick an Impulse Pet – Walking into a pet store or perusing local classified ads is a great way to find some kinds of pets, but it also increases your chances of choosing a pet on impulse. It’s important to think the decision through carefully before selecting a pet, something that’s generally not possible when you’re making an impulse adoption.
- Be Realistic About Responsibilities – You may have grand notions about your children’s participation in pet care chores, but it’s wise to be realistic about the animal’s care. The adults in the household often end up shouldering the burden of pet care, so be sure that you’re prepared to take on that responsibility if the kids don’t hold up their end of the bargain.
- Do Your Homework – The best way to choose a pet that will mesh well with your family is to simply do your research about any type of pet that you’re considering, and to narrow the options down to only those that are likely to be a good fit with the habits of your household.
When they’re carefully chosen and well looked after, a pet can bring joy and laughter to your home. For a successful introduction to pet ownership, however, taking the time to research and choose carefully is essential.
April 21st, 2013 by admin
If you need advice, tips and training on sleep related problems and disorders affecting infants, children and adults, these 30 blogs feature experts from every field.
- The Sleep Lady – Kim West, better known as The Sleep Lady, has been featured on several TV shows, including Dr. Phil, Today Show, NBC Nightly News and Good Morning America.
- VI Spring – Dr Neil Stanley is the resident sleep expert at VI Spring. This blog contains expert sleep analysis and tips for people of all ages.
- Snoozester – This blog is a directory of sleep related resources from across the web. Snoozester is both informative and easy to use, with a focus on community driven sleep information.
- Sleep Education – The American Academy of Sleep Medicine offers advice on a wide range of sleep related conditions. The blog also provides a tool to find sleep disorder clinics in your area.
- WebMD: Sleep Well – This is WebMD’s very own sleep expert blog. Clinical Psychologist Michael Breus is on hand as a guest blogger to answer all your sleep related questions.
- Baby Sleep Guide – A mom’s guide to baby sleep, this blog contains a wealth of related information. The sleep help index is especially useful for quickly finding help for your specific sleep problems.
- Sleepio – Inspired by the clinically proven sleep program of the same name, you will find expert blog entries on every sleep related topic on Sleepio.
- The Sleep Doctor – Michael Breus, who also writes for WebMD, offers extendsive advice and services as The Sleep Doctor. Dr Breus specializes in sleep disorders and related treatments.
- Sleep Disorders Gone – Donene Lashbrook is a CEO and recovering insomniac who now dedicates her time to finding natural health cures for sleep disorders.
- Wake Up Narcolepsy – This blog focuses on finding cures for narcolepsy and provides resources, tips and support for sufferers of the condition.
- N is for Narcolepsy – Ellie is a narcolepsy sufferer and writer. She combines tips and coping strategies from her own experience with advice and resources from sleep experts, bringing you a blog that will help you fight the effects of narcolepsy.
- DSPS, a Sleep Disorder – Delayed sleep-phase syndrome is a little known disorder, often confused with laziness or badly managed sleep patterns. This blog aims to raise awareness and help sufferers get a good night’s rest.
- Vital Sleep – While Vital Sleep is a blog that mainly deals with snoring disorders, they also offer advice and resources on other disorders and sleep training. Topics cover everything from bed wetting to holistic sleep remedies.
- Sleep No Sleep – This blog deals with all aspects of sleep deprivation, with a special focus on insomnia and similar conditions. Sleep No Sleep is the brain child of Australian film production company, Mindful Media.
- Good Night’s Sleep – Alanna is a mom of three and a certified sleep consultant. This blog focuses on helping families get back to healthy sleep patterns using great tips, advice and practices.
- Baby Sleep Site – Baby Sleep Site has all the tools you need to train your little ones to sleep soundly. You can download free guides, read articles with helpful advice or arrange personal consultations with a sleep coach.
- SleepyTot – This expert and community based site has a team of sleep consultants, as well as a form where parents can share tips and advice on sleep training for babies.
- Sleep Training Solutions – Seminars, success stories and behavioral training from Kim Schaf will help you and your family cope with any sleep related problems.
- Sleep Baby Sleep – A mommy blog that provides detailed training on how to get your baby to sleep. This blogger is both a nurse and mom who brings her professional expertise to the blog.
- Sleep is for the Weak – SIFTW is a to-the-point, no-holds-barred sleep training blog. This blog combines the experience and expertise of a team of mommy bloggers.
- Science of Mom – A huge directory of sleep related articles from a blog that pools parenting resources on every subject.
- Baby Calm – Baby Calm is a unique training program that seeks to bring empowerment to parents through innovative classes, techniques and advice.
- Mission Mommy – A journal of one mommy’s trials and tribulations. Mission Mommy has an entire section dedicated to sleep training.
- Light Therapy – Light Therapy Products present this blog as an aide to all who suffer from sleepless nights. You will find articles on low energy, seasonal depression and other symptoms and causes of sleep disorder here.
- Sleep Disorders Guide – With over 20 categories that deal with various sleep disorders, this is one of the most in-depth sleep disorder blogs available.
- Sleep Tracker – Tips, member stories and an extensive FAQ make the sleep tracker blog a go-to source for training on various sleep-related conditions.
- Valley Sleep Centre – Based in Arizona, this blog offers excellent training tips and resources for those suffering from sleep disorders.
- Sleep Well Blog – An easy to use blog with a glossary on sleep problems and advice, arranged in alphabetical order.
- Mums Net – Mums Net is a well-established web resource for parents. You will find reviews on books, sleep articles and a whole range of sleep-related forum topics.
- Sleep Solutions – This blog is an online accompaniment to the “Sleep Book” by Ann Douglas. The blog expands on topics taken from the acclaimed sleep training guide.
April 16th, 2013 by admin
Among the standard colds, flus and skin complaints that are par for the course when children are young, there are also a few relatively common illnesses that you may not even be aware of until they strike. These are five of the more common ailments that affect children, along with the signs and symptoms that signal their arrival.
- Coxsackie – Coxsackie A virus is the culprit behind hand, foot and mouth disease. Though the names are similar, hand, foot and mouth disease is not related to hoof and mouth disease, which is a potentially-lethal viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals exclusively. Hand, foot and mouth disease is a relatively common illness that usually strikes children five years of age or younger and is usually produced by Coxsackie A16. While it can be completely asymptomatic in many cases or only present with very mild symptoms, more severe cases can cause a fever lasting seven to 10 days, painful blisters on the soles of a child’s feet, the palms and fingers of his hands and the inside of his mouth. There is no specific treatment, but pain from blisters and fever may be treated with over-the-counter analgesics. For the most part, doctors will not prescribe medication, and only a very small percentage of patients with hand, foot and mouth disease will require hospitalization.
- Fifth Disease – Erythema infectiosum, more commonly known as fifth disease, is one possible manifestation of infection by erythrovirus, formerly known as parvovirus B19. Fifth disease presents with a low-grade fever at the outset of infection, headache and cold-like symptoms such as a stuffy or runny nose. A few days after these symptoms resolve, a bright red rash appears. Lacy and red, the rash generally covers most of a child’s body but is most pronounced on the cheeks, which is why the malady is colloquially known as “slapped cheek disease.” Once the rash appears, patients are generally no longer contagious. The rash generally lasts for two to three days, but can persist for several weeks in severe cases.
- Roseola – Roseola, also known as exanthem subitum or sixth disease, is a viral infection that causes a pink or red skin rash and high fever, and is most commonly found among infants and young children. The earliest symptoms include eye redness, sore throat, runny nose, irritability and a high fever that appears suddenly and rises as high as 105° Fahrenheit. The fever can last between three and seven days, but usually abates within two to four days. Lowering of the fever is generally accompanied by the appearance of a rash that begins at the trunk and spreads to the arms, legs, neck and face with a pink or rosy color. Small, slightly-raised sores also present, but the rash generally does not itch. The incubation period for roseola is between five and 15 days from the date of exposure.
- Scarlet Fever – Scarlet fever, or scarletina as it was once called, is a disease caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria, which is the same family of bacteria that causes strep throat. Once a very serious and potentially-lethal childhood disease, scarlet fever is now easily treated. The incubation period for scarlet fever is very short, with symptoms appearing one to two days after exposure. Fever and sore throat are usually the first symptoms to appear, later presenting with a rash that appears on the neck and chest before spreading over the rest of the body. Abdominal pain, Pastia’s lines, chills, headache, muscle aches, swollen tongue and vomiting are amongst the common symptoms of scarlet fever, which must be treated with antibiotics promptly to prevent rheumatic fever.
- Whooping Cough – Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, causes uncontrollable, violent coughing that can make it difficult for the sufferer to breathe. Coughing is often accompanied by a deep “whooping” sound when the sufferer attempts to breathe. Pertussis is a very serious upper respiratory infection that can cause infants to become permanently disabled or even die if not properly treated. The earliest symptoms generally appear about one week after exposure, initially presenting with cold-like symptoms. Severe coughing generally begins 10 to 12 days later, with coughs that end in a “whooping” noise. For babies under six months of age, that telltale sound typically is not present.
While it’s impossible to keep kids in a sterile environment, many bacterial and viral illnesses can be prevented by encouraging good hygiene and hand-washing habits. Curiosity is a hallmark of childhood, but it can leave your little one’s hands in places that aren’t particularly clean, so make sure that good hand-washing habits are instilled early and emphasized often to prevent the spread of illnesses.
April 11th, 2013 by admin
Caring for children, whether you’re a parent or a professional, requires an indefatigable well of patience. While losing that patience from time to time is both normal and natural, it can still leave you plagued with guilt and doubts about your ability to nurture the little ones under your care. Learning how to talk to your children more and to yell at them less may not eliminate those moments of lost control altogether, but they can make a difference in the way you communicate as a whole.
Take Care of Yourself
Managing the busy schedules of everyone in your household, staying on top of the chores required to run that household properly and making sure that everyone is fed on a regular basis doesn’t leave much time for parental pampering, but caring for yourself is an essential part of caring for your children. When you’re struggling with your own fatigue and are feeling hungry, stressed or overwhelmed, your patience is the first thing to go. Make sure that you carve out a bit of time for yourself over the course of the day, even if it’s just a few minutes. You’ll find that you’re better equipped to handle situations as they arise, and less likely to resort to raised voices when you reach the end of your proverbial rope.
Be Prepared
Embarking on a journey that hasn’t been properly planned or running with no real plan of action in place for how to handle your seemingly-endless to-do list is just asking for trouble. When you’re trying to get reluctant kids to get in the car or to stop dawdling and you’re attempting to keep to your hasty, ill-formed schedule or running at full tilt to get to the store before it closes, you’re naturally going to be running on empty. Just a bit of preparation in advance can help you create a structured schedule that still has a bit of wiggle room, leaving you under less stress and far less likely to scream at everyone around you when the pressure becomes too much to handle.
Learn Deep Breathing Techniques
Before you lose your temper and start shouting to get your point across, take a moment to stop and breathe deeply for a few seconds. When you hold your breath, you become even tenser and exhaust what little patience you have left. Take deep, slow breaths that you hold for a few seconds before exhaling, or even walk out of the room for a few seconds to regain your composure. As an added bonus, practicing deep breathing in front of your children models effective and productive ways of managing frustration. Remember that your kids will mimic almost everything you do, especially when they’re small. Seeing you take deep breaths and a short time out to keep your temper in check may rub off on them, and it will certainly help you to keep your emotions in check.
Set Clear Consequences, and Adhere to Them
Shouting happens when you’ve threatened your child with dire consequences if he doesn’t cease his misbehavior or follow directions, but continue to issue those empty threats rather than delivering on real consequences. Setting actual boundaries for your children and letting them know the consequences of choosing not to heed your warning is one thing, but you’ll have to follow through. Don’t allow yourself to be dissuaded from allowing those consequences to manifest, or your kids will just start to believe that your threats are empty.
Be Firm, Not Mean
There’s a difference between being firm and being downright mean, and you’ll have to learn to strike that balance if you’re looking to facilitate real and productive conversations with your children. No one wants to talk with someone they think is just going to be mean, even if that person is Mom or Dad. Make sure that you’re never crossing the line from stern into cruel territory, and make sure that you’re truly listening when your kids share their opinions.
It’s important to remember that yelling only breeds more yelling, which leads to major confrontations and hurt feelings. Trying to keep your temper under some semblance of control is a very real challenge, but it’s one that will make all of the difference in your household.
April 9th, 2013 by admin
The tropical taste of pineapple is a favorite for people of all age groups, but the benefits of pineapple don’t end with its delightful flavor. Pineapples are also packed with vitamins and minerals, and can help your body fight off diseases like cancer. They also are an anti-inflammatory that can help ease the pain of arthritis. The benefits don’t stop there; you can also improve your eyesight by eating pineapple thanks to the beta-carotene that it contains. Pineapple also contains Bromelain, which is an enzyme that breaks down protein in your body and helps with digestion. Besides the vitamins and digestive properties of pineapple, there are many more beneficial aspects of this fruit, including weight loss. Read all about this Superfood in these 27 blog entries.
Vitamins
When you eat pineapple you are getting a lot more than just a delicious fresh fruit. Pineapples have almost as much vitamin C as an orange, which has long been hailed as a vitamin C powerhouse. Vitamin C is helpful for fighting off colds or shortening the time that you are ill with the flu. You will also consume a mineral called manganese, which helps strengthen your bones and heal broken bones. As women age, their bones become more brittle, so eating pineapple is one way to compensate for this natural loss. To learn more about all of the vitamins and minerals that can be found in pineapple, read these nine blog posts.
Digestive
Do you love eating meat, but find that sometimes your body doesn’t respond to it as kindly as your taste buds do? Sometimes eating meat can cause indigestion, especially if you consume a large meal. By eating pineapple, however, you can help your body digest the protein, helping you feel better sooner. The digestive ingredient in pineapple is an enzyme called Bromelain. Pineapple can even act as a natural antacid. If you experience some irregularity, you might find relief by eating pineapple on a regular basis. Not only does pineapple contain a large amount of fiber, but the combination of the fiber and Bromelain helps break down the food so that everything moves along better. Check out these nine blog articles to get the complete picture of how pineapple can aid in digestion.
Other Illnesses
Pineapple is often called a Superfood because it not only gives your body the vitamins that it needs and helps in digestion, but it also gives your body a slew of tools to fight other illnesses. Does your family have a history of macular degeneration? Pineapple contains beta-carotene that can prevent or slow down this disease. Eating pineapple can also help aid in weight loss. The fruit is low in calories, but the high fiber content helps you feel fuller. The digestive properties help break down the food in your body and get rid of more of it as waste. You could feel better and have more energy as a side effect. For more awe-inspiring benefits of eating pineapple, you can read through these nine blog articles.
April 4th, 2013 by admin
Without adequate education on sexual health, contraception, birth control, empowerment or adequate, realistic abstinence education, teens will continue to have unwanted pregnancies. However, the issue requires sensitivity to teen issues, developing bodies and emotions. Every parenting style is different, too, so each family will take a different approach to preventing pregnancies in teenage children. In order to find a method that is comfortable for both you and your teenage children, you need to draw from a number of sources. These thirty blogs and bloggers deal with every aspect of teenage life, with tips and advice on empowering teens to make the right choices.
Contraception and Birth Control
Abstinence is the only sure method of preventing teenage pregnancies, so many parents will naturally want to discourage their teens from becoming sexually active in the first place. There are a number of effective methods for promoting abstinence, which will work for both boys and girls. However, while you may want your teenagers to stay sexually inactive into adulthood, you cannot guarantee that they will. If you suspect that your teen is sexually active, it is time to considering talking to her about contraception or birth control. These five blogs talk about contraception, birth control and abstinence.
Empowering Parents, Teen Boys and Girls
Sexual activity is not always about physical wants or needs. Sometimes teens become sexually active because of peer-pressure, lack of confidence or because of disinformation. Parents can often find discussing sex embarrassing or inappropriate, which adds to the taboo and encourages curiosity in teenage children. When parents and teens become empowered in their roles, these conversations become easier. An empowered teen is confident, world-aware and responsible; as illustrated by these five blogs.
Mommy Bloggers on Teens
When your children reach her teenage years, the real fun of parenting truly begins. With the best intentions, most parents will make mistakes along the way. When it comes to teenage pregnancy, however, every parent wants to make sure their teenager does not make choices they will regret. Mommy bloggers are a great resource for parents everywhere. They have already been where you are now; making the tough choices and addressing important teen issues. These give mommy bloggers offer advice on all things teen.
Sex Education Bloggers
One of the best methods of preventing teenage pregnancies is to provide them with sexual education that’s based in reality. Taking away the taboos about sex also dispels a lot of your teenager’s curiosity, which make make her less likely to experiment as a means of learning more. Educating teens on the changes in their body and emotions, helps empower them to make the right choices, too. Sex education is not just about the act but the emotional, physical and societal effects of becoming sexually active. With more education, teens can make better, informed choices about sex. These five blogs aim to inform teens and parents of teens on various sex education subjects.
Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood services cater to parents, teachers, teens and support groups, offering invaluable education and advice. Parents can find out about contraception and birth control, sexual health, and gain education on problems faced by teenage parents. Knowing the impact of having a child, while still being effectively a child herself, will make your teen think twice about her future choices. These five blogs combine information from a number of national and international initiatives, aimed at keeping parents and families supported and informed on Planned Parenthood.
Sexual Health and Wellbeing
Part of preventing teenage pregnancies involves a solid knowledge of sexual health hand wellbeing, for both boys and girls. As well as the risk of unwanted pregnancies, sexually active teens leave themselves open to STDs and other sex-related health problems. Educating your teens on sexual health is a natural partner to preventing teenage pregnancy. Teens that are aware of the risks associated with unprotected sex, multiple sexual partners, STDs and STIs, make better decisions and are more likely to abstain from sex or use contraceptives. As a parent, if you are well informed and can speak confidently to your teen about sexual health, it will build trust and respect. These five blogs discuss matters relating to sexual health.
April 1st, 2013 by admin
As a parent, your first instinct is to protect your child from any pain she might encounter, whether physical or emotional. While you can and certainly should make sure that the environment in which your child lives is as safe as possible and that she’s protected from physical harm, it’s simply not possible to shield her from the sting of disappointment or rejection. In fact, even though it probably goes against every protective instinct you have, you actually shouldn’t attempt to fight your daughter’s battles for her or stop disappointment before it starts. Eventually, your child will encounter a situation in which her feelings get hurt or things don’t go according to plan. If you’ve always swooped in to protect her during childhood, a teenager or young adult may be sorely unequipped to manage disappointment on her own. Rather than trying to prevent your child from ever being disappointed, you should look for ways to help her deal with it in healthy, productive ways.
Talk About Ways to Improve Her Chances Next Time
When your daughter doesn’t make the team or fails to snag the big role in a school play that she desperately wants, helping her to isolate areas where she could stand to improve is actually an effective way of helping her cope, as well as preparing for her next big shot. While you don’t want the conversation to turn into one where you point out her flaws and coach her on ways to be perfect, you can ask your child which areas she thinks she needs to work on and what she can do to prepare for the next time she tries out. Remember the old adage about falling off of a horse, and encourage her to get right back up, rather than walking away in defeat.
Avoid Comforting Her With Food
If your daughter learns to associate food with comfort, especially when she’s feeling emotionally vulnerable, it can affect her attitudes toward food altogether. A child that’s prone to “eating her feelings” can begin to suffer from severe body image issues later, especially if she begins to gain weight from the habit. Instead of using food as a means of soothing disappointment in ways that can create a problematic relationship with it later in life, look for productive and active diversions.
Be Aware of Your Own Reaction
If you express feelings of disappointment due to your child’s first rejection in a way that makes her feel like you’re disappointed in her, it can make the pain of that rejection even more difficult to manage. Make sure that you never make your child feel ashamed or like she’s failed to live up to your expectations of her, even if you do feel as if she wasn’t performing at her best.
Handle Peer Rejections Carefully
Learning that your daughter is being snubbed by the other girls in her class or that her best friend has broken up with her may make you feel angry at the other children, but seeing you express that anger doesn’t actually help your child manage her own feelings. Instead of lashing out at the other kids or dismissing your daughter’s pain with adages about life not being a popularity contest, look for ways to help her branch out. Kids that are joined by a shared interest will usually be more friendly towards one another, so discuss teams or clubs that cater to her interests that might also help her get to know other kids with similar tastes. The girly-girls might not be as welcoming to an athletic girl, but that rejection won’t sting so much if your child is able to surround herself with others like her. Resisting the urge to call other girls’ parents might be difficult, but it can also mean the difference between quiet disinterest and outright shunning.
Don’t Minimize Her Feelings
While you might feel like explaining to your child that the loss of a friend or being cut from the team isn’t the end of the world is helping to put the rejection into proper perspective, she might feel like you’re minimizing the experience. Let your child know that it’s okay for her to feel hurt, and it’s even okay to cry about the situation if she needs to. Empathizing with your daughter and letting her know that rejection is a painful but normal part of life, and that her reaction to the situation is valid removes any additional stress she might be under because she’s worried that her reactions aren’t normal.
