Manners

Please and thank you are the magic words. It is very important for your child to learn from the beginning to be polite. A great way this can be learned is with YOU, the parent. Be polite at all times, especially when you are around your children. You can also help your child remember these words, among other polite words, by reminding them to say please when they ask for something and to say thank you once they've received it. Your child will quickly pick up on these words and understand that these are words that show respect.

Birth Order

Some parents may feel at a loss when they start having more than one child. The children may seem to differ in characteristics, temperament, and behaviors. Below is a list of different typical characteristics that you as a parent may be able to use for more understanding. Though theses do not always apply, they still maybe used as a guideline.

Only	Child Pampered and spoiled. Feels incompetent because adults are more capable. Is center of attention; often enjoys position. May feel special. Self-centered. Relies on service from others rather than own efforts Feels unfairly treated when doesn't get own way. May refuse to cooperate. Plays "divide and conquer" to get own way. _________________________________________________
First Child	Is only child for period of time; used to being center of attention. Believes must gain and hold superiority over other children. Being right, controlling often important. May respond to birth of second child by feeling unloved and neglected. Strives to keep or regain parents' attention through conformity. If this failed, chooses to misbehave. May develop competent, responsible behavior or become very discouraged. Sometime strives to protect and help others. Strives to please. __________________________________________________
Second Child	Never has parents' undivided attention. Always has sibling ahead who's more advanced. Acts as if in race, trying to catch up or overtake first child. If first child is "good," second may become "bad." Develops abilities first child doesn't exhibit. If first child successful, may feel uncertain of self and abilities. May be rebel. Often doesn't like position. Feels "squeezed" if third child is born. May push down other siblings. ___________________________________________________
Middle Child of Three	Has neither rights of oldest nor privileges of youngest. Feels life is unfair. Feels unloved, left out, "squeezed." Feels doesn't have place in family. Becomes discouraged and "problem child" or elevates self by pushing down other siblings. Is adaptable. Learns to deal with both oldest and youngest sibling. ___________________________________________________
Youngest Child	Behaves like only child. Feels every one bigger and more capable. Expects others to do things, make decisions, take responsibility. Feels smallest and weakest. May not be taken seriously. Becomes boss of family in getting service and own way. Develops feelings of inferiority or becomes "speeder" and  overtakes older siblings. Remains "The Baby." Places others in service. If youngest of three, often allies with oldest child against middle child.  Taken from http://www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/development/birth_order.shtml

Here Ye! Here Ye!

Hello parents out there. We here at Help Me Grow are working on becoming the best possible resource for connecting you to resources in the community when it comes to the care of your child. So today, we are turning the tables over to you. What resources do you want to learn more about? What topics or concerns about the development of your child do you have? What can Help Me Grow do better to help you? Our purpose it to help you, because without you guys, we would be nothing! Leave us a comment and we will start working on getting that information posted! Thanks for all that you do!

How can I tell my baby is teething if I don't see any visual clues?

There is no set pattern on when a baby will begin teething, how long it will take and how painful it will be. For one baby teething might happen overnight with no pain, while other child might have to go through  a drawn out and painful experiences. You may sometimes see visual indications such as lumps in the gun for several weeks, while sometimes there may be no visible clue at all  until the tooth actually appears.

Here are some possible symptoms to watch for if you don't see any visual clues: 

• The need to gnaw. The pressure of an emerging tooth beneath the gum may be relieved by counter pressure, so teething babies often want to chomp on thing. The chewing instinct may also be a response to the odd sensation that something's going on in there.
• Puffy gum. Before a new tooth erupts, it can cause a red, swollen, bruised looking ares on a baby's gum.
• Excessive drooling. Increased spittle can herald a new tooth but it's also a normal developmental stage of infancy, so don't assume that drooling means teething.
• Fussiness, (especially at night). Tooth eruption, when the tooth moves through the bone and gum tends to come in stages, with more activity at night than during the day, so your baby may be more irritable then
• Ear pulling. while it can also be a sign of an ear infection, tugging can be a  symptom of teething. The pain from the jaw gets transferred to the ear canal.
• A change in eating habits. Babies who are eating solids may want to nurse or bottle feed more because a spoon irritates their inflamed gum. Others may do the opposite, eating more than usual because the counter pressure feels good.

This information was adapted from www. parenting.com

Triple Flu Shot Available!

http://www.soloflex.com/archive/exercise-wears-down-flu-symptoms/

Its that time again! Flu Season! 

Its important as a parent to be well informed about immunizations and vaccines. As a parent you'll need to make educated decisions about how to keep your child healthy. 

The 2010 Flu shot covers three flu strains including last year's H1N1 and is available. The Utah County Health Department currently is providing the flu shot appropriate for all ages. If you'd like more information on prices for the flu shot from the Utah County Health Department, click here.

http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Health/Children-s-Health/Children-s-Health-Tip-Avoid-the-Flu.html

Some Flu Facts:

(Information taken from http://www.utahflufighters.org/)

1. You cannot contract the flu from being vaccinated
2. A flu vaccine is the single best way to protect against influenza illness
2. Most people who contract the flu virus will experience mild to moderate symptoms and will make a full recovery without needing medical attention

Questions about Immunization Safety

Check out the following links:
Woman Infants and Children Utah County 
Immune Wize Utah County
American Accademy of Pediatrics - Healthy Children

Car Seat Safety Checks

Last night on the news we heard about Child Passenger Safety Week where they are providing free car seat checks! Click on the link below to get more information about it.


Click Here!

Enjoy Passenger Safety week till September 25th!

Free Stuff!

Trying to think of new things to do with the kids can be tiresome and expensive! Below is a list of great FREE options available within the area for you to take your children to. Let us know if you do any of them!

-Provo City Library is a great source of free entertainment.
-Weekly storytimes also take place at Barnes & Noble and Borders.
-Home Depot offers free Kids' Workshops on the first Saturday of each month from 9am to 11am. The Lowe's stores in Lehi and Orem both host free Build and Grow Kids' Clinics a couple times a month.
-The Springville Museum of Art houses a wonderful permanent collection and hosts 15 exhibitions each year.
-Check out the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum
-Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum or the Sons of Utah Pioneers Village
-Benjamin Farms near Payson offers free farm tours by appointment.

Sources taken from GoCityKids.ParentsConnect.com

ENJOY!

Friendship

Friendships are important in helping children develop emotionally and socially. They provide a training ground for trying out different ways of relating to others. Through interacting with friends, children learn the give and take of social behavior in general. They learn how to set up rules, how to weigh alternatives and make decisions when faced with dilemmas. They experience fear, anger, aggression and rejection. They learn how to win, how to lose, what's appropriate, what's not. They learn about social standing and power - who's in, who's out, how to lead and how to follow, what's fair and what's not. They learn that different people and different situations call for different behaviors and they come to understand the viewpoints of other people. Friends provide companionship and stimulation for each other, and they find out who they are by comparing themselves to other children - who's bigger, faster, who can add better, who can catch better. They learn that they're both similar to and different from others. Through friendships and belonging to a group children improve their sense of self-esteem. The solace and support of friends help children cope with troubling times and through transition times - moving up to a new school, entering adolescence, dealing with family stresses, facing disappointments.

 Taken from http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/do_kids_need_friends

Doctor Visit Check List

becomingapediatrician.com

During the first few years of a child's life, he/she will need to visit the doctor frequently to ensure proper growth, development, and to receive her immunizations. In order to make the visit as efficient as possible, it is important to have some information available to the doctor.

Before each visit, you should pay attention to the following:

• Sleep habits: How is your child sleeping during the day and at night, and for how long?
• Bowel Movements: How many does he/she have per day?
• Feeding: What is he/she eating and how often?
• Physical Development: Is he/she rolling, crawling, standing, walking?
• Language Development: What sounds does he/she make or what words does she say?
• Social Development: Does he/she smile, laugh, and respond to you? Does he/she play with you, by themselves, or with others
• Red Flags: Is there anything that concerns you about your child or his/her development?

While going through these questions, make list of any questions or concerns that you may have. This makes it so the visits are not a waist of your time or the doctor's time. It is also important to remember that going to the doctor with a baby can be a challenging thing.

 To make the doctor's visit go as smoothly as possible, consider taking the following things with you:

• A favorite toy or books
• A snack and drink
• Extra wipes and diapers
• Ablanket
• Your list of questions for the doctor
• Your child's immunization card

This information was adapted from  bornlearning.org

Crucial Conversations

VitalSmarts is sponsoring another Crucial Conversations Date Night! This event is a great opportunity for couples to build their relationship--plus there will be very yummy cupcakes! Below is the all the information. Let us know what you think of it! 

 You're invited to the third annual community "date night" event supported by the United Way of Utah County and VitalSmarts, home of the the New York Times bestselling book, Crucial Conversations.
New York Times bestselling author and world-class presenter, Ron McMillan, will spend an evening helping Utah couples learn how to talk, listen, and be heard. You'll learn:  
• How to talk in crucial moments
• How to hold your spouse accountable with love and respect
• How to be both 100% honest and 100% respectful
• How to listen and be heard

When: Friday, September 17, 2010, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. 
Where: The Provo City Library at Academy Square, 550 North University Avenue Provo, UT 84601
Who: Open to the public
Cost: Free ($5.00 suggested donation. All proceeds benefit the United Way of Utah County and its partners)
Details: Dessert will be provided by the Sweet Tooth Fairy and Ron McMillan will be available to sign books following the event. 
To register yourself and your significant other, please visit www.vitalsmarts.com/utahvalleydatenight by Monday, September 13.