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What to Do If You Suspect Your Toddler Has a Speech Delay

23/07/2008 by

What to Do If You Suspect Your Toddler Has a Speech Delay
By Yvonne Kimmons

Watching a toddler develop is one of the most awesome things a parent can experience. We marvel at their first steps and anticipate their first words. Most parents anxiously await the development of their child's vocabulary not only because it is cute, but because it gives the child the ability to express their wants and needs. It's understandably concerning when your toddler appears to have a language delay. So the questions you should ask yourself are: Is my toddler experiencing a speech delay or just moving at his own pace? And if so, how do I help my child to progress at a pace that will support the stage of learning he currently needs to meet?

Expert believe that a child develop should ideally fall into these categories

12-15 months- child can say Mama-Dada
18-24 months-child is able to point to and name a few body parts as well as name pictures of animals and other items.
16-24 months- able to combine a couple of words together to form short sentences. If a child cannot do so by at least 24 month the parent should consult the doctor for direction.
Usually a child 2 and over can say in the neighborhood of about 50 words.

If you are concerned, you should first schedule your child for a doctor's visit to insure his hearing/vision is okay. A major oversight by many parents is that a child may be disobedient or not able to follow instruction due to rebellion or a learning disability. In some cases the child's hearing or vision may be inadequate. It could be something such as a prolonged ear infection or various other hearing impaired issues. For this reason this is the first step to assessing possible speech delay.

If indeed your child's hearing is fine here are some other steps you should take:

1. Begin to talk with your child more! As you are talking to him make sure to verbalize what you are doing. For example say. Mommy is doing the laundry, we need to get the clothes clean!
2. Ask questions to encourage conversation. The more your child talks the more confident he will feel with his speech.
3. Read to your child. It not only allows him to hear words and their pronunciation and usage but it is quality time together.
4. Find a playgroup or daycare setting where your child can talk and socialize with other kids his age. Like with anything else repetition is key.
5. Don't criticize your child speech it will only discourage him from speaking. And if after doing everything you know and have researched and you see no improvement, seek outside help by getting a referral from your pediatrician.

Most importantly be patient, as you probably know every child develops at a different pace. Allow your child to grow and develop naturally while closely monitoring for possible special needs.

Written by Yvonne Kimmons, co-owner of LittleHandsBoutique.com. Your Upscale Resale for Little Ladies and Gents! For more fun articles and advice on toddler issues please visit the Toddler Times section of our website and view our blog.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Yvonne_Kimmons
http://EzineArticles.com/?What-to-Do-If-You-Suspect-Your-Toddler-Has-a-Speech-Delay&id=1335965

Filed Under: Articles · Tagged With: delay, speech, Toddler

Getting Your Toddler to Sleep in Their Own Bed

23/07/2008 by

Getting Your Toddler to Sleep in Their Own Bed
By Yvonne Kimmons

All day long our busy little toddler amuses us, delights us, and even baffles us with their naïve semantics. The world through the mind of a toddler is a great place to be and it seems like for them the fun never ends....that is except at bedtime. As much as we love our toddlers bedtime for many of us signifies a time where we can either wind down or complete some last minute chores. However for toddlers it can mean war! The battle to stay up and play is not one they take likely and for us mommies the battle can be brutal!

Who taught them such scare tactics?! Like screaming uncontrollably until you come running to retrieve them, surely the neighbors will cry abuse...or the manipulative drink of water/bathroom technique, very clever my little Einstein. Do we really stand a chance against such a worthy opponent? Despair not fellow mommies, those cute little faces might be quite a distraction, but stand fast help is on the way! Here is what one mommy from Chicago, IL had to say when questioned on how to get her toddler to sleep. She stated that she did not have a problem with her toddler crying but that her little girl just refused to stay in her bed. She recalled the following incident:

Susan discussed how she carefully planned her daughter Samantha's first night in her own bed. They had discussed it and made a big deal of it all day. She prepared the room carefully with Samantha, by putting her favorite cartoon sheets on the bed and putting two night lights in place. Samantha and her favorite doll peaches, even got a new pair of pajamas for the occasion. Samantha seemed very excited and agreed with mommy that she would sleep in her bed until morning like a big girl. That night Susan read Samantha and Peaches a story, tucked them both in to bed and kissed them goodnight. She was pleasantly surprised, but proud at what a big girl Samantha seemed to be. She kissed her mommy back and said "good night mommy" Samantha said enthusiastically (almost as if she couldn't wait for her mommy to leave). "Goodnight baby, mommy will see you in the morning" Susan replied. She walked room with her chest stuck out, what a wonderful little girl she was raising! Seconds later her Mommy radar went off. She tiptoed quietly back to Samantha's bedroom and saw only her little bottom sticking up, as her head was in the toy box. When she called Samantha's name, she looked up, smiled, and replied innocently "Good morning Mommy!"

Unfortunately it was months before she could actually get her to stay in her bed and go to sleep, but hey the thought was nice while it lasted.

Here are some important tips when trying to get your toddler to sleep in their own bed.

1. Discuss regularly with your child that big/boys and girls sleep in their own bed. Although they may not completely understand at first, believe me our little innocent bystanders are quicker to catch on then we think.

2. Make the room a comfortable, yet fun place for your child to sleep. Allow him/her to help choose bedding(maybe their favorite cartoon character)also purchase a nightlight or two, this way they experience the calmness of darkness needed to sleep, but will not be overwhelmed by it at the same time.

3. Provide a small plastic container of water by the bedside (juice may increase chances of cavities) for the mommy I'm thirsty trick-we're one step ahead of you bud!

4. Be sure to make a big deal of potty time before bed and discuss that mommy is making sure you use the potty now so you wont need to go during bedtime. If your child does need to go, do not make a big deal take him/her to the potty and immediately back to be. You will soon figure out when the need to go to the bathroom is simply a tactic.

5. Make sure your child's room is childproof in case your private eye does venture out of the bed for some midnight investigation work he needs to catch up on. So much to do so little time! (a monitor is always a good idea as well.)

6. Be consistent. Each time your little adventurer gets out of bed you should put them right back in. It is best to save the cuddling for another time. Be firm as well as brief with each encounter. Be careful! these little ones are very good at what they do. Entering into too much conversation could be just the in they need to access your bedroom and before you know it you've had another sleepless night. Hold on! Turn a blind eye to those little tears, contrary to what they want us to believe no child has ever been harmed because the were not allowed to sleep with mommy and daddy. Don't give in.

Note: Be sure to carefully assess your child before putting them to bed. Rule out illness, hunger, thirst and potty. Once ruling these things out and making sure child is safe, do not be distressed by your crying toddler. Remember it is considered healthy for a child to learn how to be alone and to discover that you do not always need to be there for him/her to be safe. Learning to be alone will build traits of inner security and self-confidence. Hang in there learning is a gradual process!

Written by Yvonne Kimmons, co-owner of LittleHandsBoutique.com. Your Upscale Resale for Little Ladies and Gents! For more fun articles and advice on toddler issues please visit the Toddler Times section of our website and view our blog.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Yvonne_Kimmons
http://EzineArticles.com/?Getting-Your-Toddler-to-Sleep-in-Their-Own-Bed&id=1335985

Filed Under: Articles · Tagged With: bed, sleep, Toddler, train

I Broke the Rules and All I Got Was Hollered At!

15/07/2008 by

Do you ever wonder what makes a consequence effective?

How many times have you sent your child to his room for misbehaving- only to check on him 20 minutes later as he's completing level four of his favorite "shoot 'em up" video game? Or how often have you told your youngest daughter that she has lost her chance to go on a planned family outing- only to change your mind later because getting a babysitter was too expensive?

As parents, we don't always put a lot of thought into the decisions we make with regards to discipline, especially when it comes to choosing effective rewards or consequences. We too often choose a consequence based on convenience, not logic. As a result, our process of administering consequences winds up being every bit as impulsive as the very behavior that warranted our child's consequence.

How can this be avoided? Simply put, it's called planning.

Think about your child's common misbehaviors and develop a plan for dealing with them. Develop a logical plan, one that relates to the misbehavior.

For example,

- If your child is playing video games instead of studying = restrict video games for 24-48 hours.

- If your daughter refuses to wear her seatbelt = she doesn't get rides to the places she wants to go.

- If your son is teasing or hurting the dog = he can pick up the little "doggie bombs" in the yard.

- If your child purposely destroys property = he or she must earn the money needed to pay for it.

- and so on

Effective consequences share the following qualities:

1. They are given immediately after the misbehavior. This is especially true for younger children.

2. They are given in a calm yet assertive manner. Avoid being too passive or too harsh.

3. They relate to the misbehavior. See the examples above.

4. They are fair. Serious misbehavior deserves a serious consequence, but remember to keep things in perspective.

5. They are given consistently. Inconsistency tends to cause more confusion and more problems.

6. They are used to TEACH the child, not to "get even" with the child. "Getting even" will only cause resentment and can undermine the whole discipline process.

Without proper planning, parents might find themselves administering consequences that are ineffective and/or counterproductive. Some examples of ineffective consequences (if you even want to call them consequences) are:

Yelling or Nagging: Children have an innate ability to tune these out and usually wind up going about their business with little or no concern.

Shaming or Criticizing: Not only is this ineffective, but it creates resentment, humiliation, and a damaged self-esteem.

Vague Threats: "If you do that again, I'm going to take your computer privileges away," is a lot more effective than "Knock it off or you're gonna be in big trouble!"

Overwhelming Consequences: OK, so you were really upset when you grounded your child for three months because he was fifteen minutes past curfew on a school night. Is that really fair? Be realistic. If you have to wait until the next day to determine a fair consequence- then do so. Don't give consequences when you aren't emotionally prepared to.

Consequences should be unpleasant, but never harmful or demeaning. Your child should come away with two things after a consequence is given: his or her dignity & a new perspective.

Author Bio: Chris Theisen has written numerous articles about child and teen behavior and is the creator of The Parent Coach Plan , a comprehensive discipline plan for parents. His websites offer a wealth of information and advice related to parenting and discipline.

Filed Under: Articles ·

The Secrets to Host a Stress Free Baby Shower

14/07/2008 by

By Michael D Cooper

Having a new baby is a joyful time in a woman's life, but can also be stressful. For a first time mom, there are a lot of things to buy and for sure her life will never be the same. Family and friends--to celebrate this time and to make things easier--typically throw the new mom a baby shower. There are decorations, presents, a great cake, and generic baby shower invitations that are barely given a second thought.

Right?

Not anymore. Technology has changed how people think about baby shower invitations. It is now possible to personalize the invitations, announcements and cards. You can even coordinate the invitations to the thank you cards. It wasn't long ago that customized baby shower invitations were not possible. Designing was complicated and required a lot of time, effort, and money! These days customized baby shower invitations are available for the fraction of the price online. You can view examples online in the comfort of your home and find a theme that suits your needs.

They can be designed to tie into the theme of the actual shower. Different styles include colorful baby dots, pictures of mom with a baby bump, baby rattles and more. Whatever theme you go with, you can get your baby shower invitation to match.

How customized are they?

We know what you are thinking. You don't want some plain, boiler plate baby shower invitation that doesn't reflect you and your style. That's why we have dozens of templates that can be customized based on your needs and design ideas. Your invitation is professionally arranged with custom wording to ensure the best look for your invite for the special day.

And, the best part? Your special invitation for the event won't get lost in the bills. These invitations are unique in that they will stick to the fridge. That's right...every baby shower invite is digitally printed on 100# card stock and has a thin magnetic strip professionally laminated to the back of the card. No more searching for that lost invitation that got stuck in the pile of mail.

Finally, in addition to being attractive and unique, these custom baby shower invitations will save you time. No one wants to have to take dozens of calls or answer a slew of emails asking to confirm time or date. Your attractive magnetic announcement on their fridge or white board will keep the time and date of your baby shower firmly in their minds. And, instead of writing out your own invitations, all you have to do is place the invite in an envelope and mail it off.

There are many companies online that offer baby shower invitations. Many of these offer customized options so personalized information, such as names and dates, can be changed. Unique invitations are adorable and help set the tone for your celebration. Our invitations with their magnetic backs will serve as a reminder on the fridge so that your event will have a huge turnout and your new baby will get the attention he or she deserves!

Are you looking for the perfect baby shower invitation? Look no further than http://www.magneticmessenger.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_D_Cooper
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Secrets-to-Host-a-Stress-Free-Baby-Shower&id=1312196

Filed Under: Articles · Tagged With: baby shower, baby shower invitation