A Home for My Books

Starting a library at home shows your child how important books are.
A Home for My Books and other activities - FamilyEducation.com

How Caffeine effects Kids

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Most parents wouldn't dream of giving their kids a mug of coffee, but might routinely serve soft drinks containing caffeine. Foods and drinks with caffeine are everywhere, but it's wise to keep caffeine consumption to a minimum, especially in younger kids.

The United States hasn't developed guidelines for caffeine intake and kids, but Canadian guidelines recommend that preschoolers get no more than 45 milligrams of caffeine a day. That's equivalent to the average amount of caffeine found in a 12-ounce (355-milliliter) can of soda or four 1.5-ounce (43-gram) milk chocolate bars.

How Caffeine Affects Kids

A stimulant that affects kids and adults similarly, caffeine is a drug that's naturally produced in the leaves and seeds of many plants. Caffeine is also made artificially and added to certain foods. Caffeine is defined as a drug because it stimulates the central nervous system. At lower levels, it can make people feel more alert and energetic.

In both kids and adults, too much caffeine can cause:

• jitteriness and nervousness
• upset stomach
• headaches
• difficulty concentrating
• difficulty sleeping
• increased heart rate
• increased blood pressure

Especially in young kids, it doesn't take a lot of caffeine to produce these effects.

Other reasons to limit kids' caffeine consumption include:

• Kids who consume one or more 12-ounce (355-milliliter) sweetened soft drink per day are 60% more likely to be obese.
• Not only do caffeinated beverages contain empty calories (calories that don't provide any nutrients), but kids who fill up on them don't get the vitamins and minerals they need from healthy sources, putting them at risk for nutritional deficiencies. In particular, kids who drink too much soda (which usually starts between the third and eighth grades) may miss getting the calcium they need from milk to build strong bones and teeth.
• Drinking too many sweetened caffeinated drinks could lead to dental cavities (or caries) from the high sugar content and the erosion of tooth enamel from acidity. Not convinced that sodas can wreak that much havoc on kids' teeth? Consider this: One 12-ounce (355-milliliter) nondiet, carbonated soft drink contains the equivalent of 10 teaspoons of sugar (49 milliliters) and 150 calories.
• Caffeine is a diuretic that causes the body to eliminate water (through urinating), which may contribute to dehydration. Whether the amount of caffeine in beverages is enough to actually cause dehydration is not clear, however. It may depend on whether the person drinking the beverage is used to caffeine and how much caffeine was consumed that day. To be on the safe side, it's wise to avoid excessive caffeine consumption in hot weather, when kids need to replace water lost through perspiration.
• Abruptly stopping caffeine may cause withdrawal symptoms (headaches, muscle aches, temporary depression, and irritability), especially for those who are used to consuming a lot.
• Caffeine can aggravate heart problems or nervous disorders, and some kids may not be aware that they're at risk.

One thing that caffeine doesn't do is stunt growth. Although scientists once worried that caffeine could hinder growth, this isn't supported by research.

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Homemade Playdough Recipes

Kids LOVE playdough!!! Here's some fun recipes to make with your kids
Homemade Playdough Recipes and other activities - FamilyEducation.com

I love my newborn...but I feel sad...why?

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I have a newborn who I love more than life itself! My daughter is the joy of my life. Still, I feel sad sometimes, and I'm not sure why. What's wrong with me?
- Lyda

The transition from pregnancy to parenthood is a major life adjustment — both physically and emotionally. During your baby's first few days of life, it's normal to feel emotional highs and lows, something commonly referred to as the "baby blues."

With the baby blues, you might feel happy one minute and tearful or overwhelmed the next. You might find yourself feeling angry, sad, irritable, or discouraged. Feeling this way doesn't mean that you're a "bad" mother or that you don't love your baby.

These mood swings are believed to be caused by hormone changes that occur in a woman's body after she gives birth. Levels of estrogen and progesterone needed during pregnancy suddenly drop, causing shifts in mood. Other factors — like fatigue and sleep deprivation, for example — also can contribute to these feelings.

Fortunately, the baby blues usually only last for a few days or weeks, and typically resolve on their own without medical treatment.

If you have a case of the baby blues, try to take care of yourself as much as possible. Eat a healthy diet and get as much rest as you can, especially since exhaustion and sleep deprivation can reinforce and fuel feelings of sadness.

Here are some other things that can help you feel better:

• Accept help, especially in the first days and weeks after labor and delivery.
• Let family and friends help with errands, food shopping, household chores, or childcare.
• Let someone prepare a meal or watch your baby while you relax with a shower, bath, or a nap.
• Get plenty of rest and eat nutritious foods.
• Talk to loved ones or other new mothers who can help you feel supported and remind you that you're not alone.

If the baby blues last longer than a week or two, or if symptoms become worse, talk to your doctor to discuss whether postpartum depression may be the cause of your emotional lows.

Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD, and Vanessa Ann Vigilante, PhD
Date reviewed: May 2011

Spring Into Spring Cleaning

Make the household chores less of a chore for your family.

Springtime means the end of the snow and the beginning of the … cleaning. It's time to clear out the clutter from the holidays and look ahead (do you really need those pumpkins and reindeers that you've stuffed in the hallway closet?).

The task of cleaning the entire house can be daunting. There's only so much time you can devote to cleaning, and you have to keep the kids entertained at the same time. Wouldn't it be great to have the kids actually look forward to helping not only clean up their toys, but cleaning the garage, the den and, yes, even the bathroom

For the Younger Kids.

Kids love to help, but when the little ones so, things sometimes take twice as long. But, the sooner they learn basic skills, the sooner they'll become your little helpers at cleanup time. Here are a few tasks that even toddlers can do with just a little training.

Laundry, Laundry, and More Laundry

Matching socks is a good way to get started. Most adults don't like to do this anyway, and it can keep a toddler occupied for quite some time. Begin by asking him to separate the dark colors from the light ones, then see if he can match up the pairs.

Dishwasher Duty

Show your child that the wider rows on the top rack are for items such as glasses and small dishes, while the narrower rows on the bottom are for thin plates. While helping, they will also learn about shapes and sizes. If you can't stand the thought of a broken dish, consider buying a set of plastic plates and cups for everyday use.

Making the Bed

A toddler can bring up the corners, press down the wrinkles, and tuck in the unseemly overhangs with a fair amount of skill. Whatever you do, let her arrange the pillows (and resist the temptation to straighten them out).

For the Older Kids

Trash Dash (two or more)

Have your child or children put toys in different containers or large plastic bins. Have a race to put away the toys and see which child can do it faster — or if your child can do it faster than you can. The winner could get a special prize or treat for winning games related to cleaning.

Musical Chores (two or more)

Designate a project such as dusting, scrubbing the floor or picking up toys to each child and start the music. Every time the music turns off, the children switch chores.

Puppet Dusters (one or more)

Make sock puppets and have children slip them on their hands for dusting. Start a contest to see whose puppet gets the dirtiest. Puppet Shiners (two players)

You and your child each wear a sock puppet to clean the patio door window. You are on the outside and your child is on the inside. Make it a game to follow one another's hand movement as you clean the window.

Race on the Floor (two players)

Start two children on opposite walls in the same room. Give each child a sock or rag for dusting the top of baseboards. The child that gets to the end of their wall first wins a prize.

What does your family do to make cleaning fun? Share your pictures and ideas with us!

Grocery Shopping -In the eyes of a Child

Grocery Shopping

Question

One of the most common questions I hear from parents of young children is how to get through the grocery store without hassles. For all of you parents who have found yourself ready to tear your hair out in the frozen food section, let's take a look at this situation through the eyes of the child:

Answer

Dear Mommy and Daddy,

Well, here we go off to the grocery store, that wild and crazy place with all those tasty treats that seem to be just begging me to take them home. I know that sometimes grocery shopping seems to wear you out and make you grouchy. You know what? It wears me out too! There I am, stuck in that cart where I can't get out and can't even grab all those things that look so good. And when I point to something I want-or yes, I admit it, sometimes whine and fuss-you almost always say, "No, that's not what we're here for." (Of course, sometimes if I fuss long enough, you do give in. So, I'm a little confused about what you really mean!) Anyway, by the time we get to the checkout line, my stomach is churning and I'm ready to scream, "Get me outta here!" And you look like you feel the same way.

I've got some ideas though about how we might get through this adventure without getting so upset. First of all, it really helps when we go to the store after my nap instead of before. When I'm tired already, that trip to the store really does me in. It also helps if you give me a little snack so I'm not so hungry and tempted by all that good stuff to eat. Even better, it helps if the minute we get to the store, you let me choose one tasty treat that I can eat while we cruise the aisles. (Animal crackers are one of my favorites!) Then, maybe when I'm done with my snack, we could make a game out of shopping. Like, now that I know my colors, how about a contest to see how many green boxes we can spot on the shelves? Or maybe a race to see who's the first one to find a man in a red shirt? Also, I love to be helpful, so maybe you could give me some coupons and let me watch for those items as we roll down the aisles. One last thing, Mom and Dad, it helps to know before we even get to the store what's OK and what's not OK for me to get. It's great if you let me know that I can choose one kind of cereal (I know...NOT the chocolate kind!) and one kind of juice. And then, even if I fuss and beg, you calmly stick to your rules. Even though I might not like it right now, it's a lot less confusing for me. And you know, when we get this grocery shopping thing figured out, just think how much more time and energy we'll have to play when we're all done!

A question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Farrell Erickson of the University of Minnesota