Imaginary Play

We all remember the fun days playing with our friends when we were younger. Whether it was playing “House” or “School” or even being a Chef in a fancy restaurant. What we didn’t realize at this young age while having fun, is that pretend play boasts important benefits for a child’s development! The beloved Mr. Rogers said, “Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play IS serious learning.”

Guest Post: Preparing Your Home for Parenthood When You Live with a Disability

Nesting is the act of preparing one’s home for the arrival of a new baby or child. Typically, nesting involves things such as painting a nursery, buying a crib, baby-proofing the house, and making sure everything is as clean as possible as the due date approaches. However, when you are a parent living with a disability, your nesting process is generally more intense.

Imagination Play: Abracadabra

Recently my 3 year old nephew came to visit.  He had a magic wand that he wanted me to play with with him. I'm pretty sure if we had the time, he would have spent hours with me playing with it.  His favorite was to turn me into a kitty and then back into myself while chasing me around the house.  How fun it is to see the imagination of young children. 

Stay Hydrated!!!

Parents are always reminding their children to drink water, especially in the hot summer months. But what about you busy parents? Are you getting enough to drink?

Tips for finding (and keeping!) a great babysitter

I spent most of my free time in high school babysitting for people who lived in my town. At one point in time, I was busy almost every night of the week and even some days when I didn’t have school! When I moved away to university, I passed “my families” onto my little sister. I loved babysitting and even moved into a nanny position when I got to university. Here are some tips on how to find and keep a great babysitter that I have gathered from being a babysitter for over 8 years!

Dr. Karp's 5 S's

Dr. Harvey Karp, a well known pediatrician, child development specialist, and teacher at USC, has been helping families with their children for over 20 years! He has traveled the world teaching his famous 5 S's for calming a fussy baby and he has created both the book and the movie, "The Happiest Baby on the Block."

Dr. Karp touches on 5 specific steps to calm a baby in the first months of life. He calls this stage the "4th trimester." Why do babies cry in the first place? Are they scared? In pain? Tired? These all may be true, but according to Dr. Karp, when a baby can be calmed in less than ten seconds, the baby is not in pain, they may just be missing the comforting surroundings they became accustomed to in the womb.

More than just Baby Blues

Preparing for a newborn involves an array of emotions. There are about nine months to anticipate the day that the baby will come, and then, when delivery day arrives, a new set of emotions fills the air for parents and for close family and friends. Everyone wants to know: What's his name? Does she have hair? Who does she most look like? When can I come over and hold him?

SHOPPING with KIDS

One of a parent's greatest challenges can be taking kids into a store.  Here are some ideas that may help!

1.  TIMING.  Avoid times when the store is crowded.  It's stressful for you and the kids, and will take longer.  Avoid times when the kids (or you) are tired and hungry.

2.  BE PREPARED.  Making a shopping list will help you get through the store faster with less distractions.  Take it a step further and map your course through the store, it will save you time and money!

3.  BE KID-FRIENDLY.  Use the kiddie carts in the store.  Bring snacks and toys to keep them occupied.  Hand your child items to place in the cart.  Talk about the items you see, let them help make simple decisions:  "Should we buy green or red apples today?"  Let them help put the items on the conveyor belt at the check-out.

4.  SET CLEAR EXPECTATIONS.  Let them know what you expect of them before going into the store, and what rewards/punishments there will be.  This might be time consuming at first, but as you are consistent, they will simply know what they should/shouldn't do.  Give lots of praise for good behavior and let them know how much it helps!


For more ideas you can check out this article on WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/grocery-shopping-kids

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Beating the Winter Blues - Indoor Gross Motor Activities

It’s that time of year again. As the smog descends on the valley and the ice creeps still over the yards, the winter blues have officially hit. The last months of winter are hard on all of us, but possibly the hardest for our little ones who are tired of being cooped up inside all day every day. With the holidays over and the excitement of their new toys worn off your lil guys are ready to move! The park is still too cold so we have brought the fun to you! 

Here are a few, simple ideas to turn your own living room into a wiggle-release zone. We just might all make it through this winter!

Penguin Waddle!

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You'll Need:

• medium ball (i.e. kickball, exercise ball)
•  masking tape (optional)

How:

• The child holds the ball between his legs (knees or ankles- whichever is more comfortable) and they have to waddle while keeping the ball in place.
• Variations:
• Make it a relay race by marking a start and finish line where the child must pass the ball to another child or to you.
• Mark lines on the floor with the tape that the child must walk over, like zig-zag lines, curved lines, circles, squares, etc.

Freeze Skate! 

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You'll Need:

•  Paper Plates
• Music
• Masking Tape (optional)

How:

•  Give each child two plates- one for each foot, and skate around the living room carpet floor.
• Turn on your favorite tunes and freeze when the music stops!
•  Variations
• Tape off a “rink” that the child can skate inside.
•  Do a skate train where every one hangs onto the person ahead of their shoulders and skate together.
• Take turns showing each other your best skate tricks. Name them and teach each other how to do them!  Source

Snowball Fight in the News!

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You'll Need:

• Old newspaper

How:

• Depending on the age and interest of your child, make “snowballs” with them or on your own by scrunching newspaper into balls.
• Place them in one big pile in your living room and go to town throwing them at each other, gather and go again.
• Couches or chairs make great forts and places to hide.  Source

Marshmallow Hockey!

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You'll Need:

•  Marshmallows (big or small)
•  Broom (best if child sized but not necessary)
•  Masking tape

How:

• Tape a circle with masking tape on the tile, laminate or wood floor.
• Give child a broom
• Spread marshmallows around room and let him sweep them into the circle
• Variations:
•  Count the marshmallows as he gets them into the goal.
•  Pass/Sweep the marshmallows around the circle.

Baby, It's Cold Outside: Keeping Your Child Warm & Safe During Winter

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    Brrr…it’s getting cold outside. Although we are only in the middle of November, temperatures have already dropped quite a bit.  It’s easy to want to just stay inside curled up next to the fireplace when it is cold outside. This makes it difficult to keep kids active during the winter months, but don’t let the cold deter you.

    Kids can still go outside and play and have fun, but there are a few things to keep in mind to keep them warm and safe. As one of my sibling's Physical Education teacher always said, "there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing!"

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1) Dress in layers. Layers are great because they can be adjusted more easily as needed.  There are three types of layers to consider, as offered by Cheryl Butler. They include:

• Wicking: thermals, turtlenecks, long underwear 
• Insulating: sweatshirts, sweaters
• Weather protection: shells, snow pants

Don't forget hats, gloves, and boots as these tend to be places children can lose a lot of heat from. 

2) Wear sunscreen. Although it's easy to forget during the winter, sunburns can be just as likely during the winter (especially when there's snow, as it reflects the sun).  

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3) Drink plenty of liquids. Kids can easily get dehydrated as winter tends to be a lot drier and as they breathe, they lose more water.  Keeping them hydrated can also help to prevent those unwanted bloody noses.  Give them water, warm drinks, or even soup to do the trick.

4) Set time-limits: Children tend not to realize they are cold when they're out having fun, so it's important for parents to monitor this.  Depending on the age, keep children out for short periods of time and then have them come in to warm up and take off wet clothing. After they are warm, you can send them back out for more play time.  

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For more tips and information on keeping your child warm and safe during the winter, check out these websites!

• American Academy of Pediatrics: Winter Safety Tips
• Quick and Dirty Tips: Keeping Kids Warm and Safe During Winter
• iVillage: Cold Weather Alert! Learn How to Keep Kids Safe When It's Freezing Outside
• Mother Nature Network: Toasty tots: Keeping kids warm in winter

Sometimes it's just too cold to be outside, so here are 20 tips for indoor activities to do with your kids. 

What are some fun things you can do with your kids outside or inside during the winter?

Traveling With Little Ones

With Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner, many of you will be traveling to spend the holidays with your friends and families. Whether you are traveling to your destination by car or airplane, taking an infant or small child with you can be stressful. Here are some helpful tips to keep your stress levels down and help you have a relaxing journey.

Tips for traveling by car

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• One of the most important things you can do before you leave on your trip is to make sure your baby's car seat is properly installed. Guidelines for Utah can be found here.
• Plan to leave around the time your child usually takes a nap. This will ensure that your baby gets her sleep. 
• An extra rear view mirror can give you an extra set of eyes when traveling alone. You can also travel with another adult or an older child who can be an extra set of hands while on the road. 
• Bring a baby/small child specific first aid kit. A few examples of things that you can put inside include medicines, diaper rash cream, a thermometer, tweezers and a list of your child's doctors, allergies, and medical records. 
• Pack a cooler full of snacks, baby food or breast milk and pre-filled sippy cups that can be grabbed easily. 
• When it's time to feed your baby pull over and take him out of the car seat to avoid choking 
• Avoid medications, drinks or food that might cause you to drive impaired. Don't drive if you are tired.

Tips for traveling by airplane

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• Schedule your flight around your baby's sleeping schedule. It is likely that he will sleep through the flight and you might be able to catch up on some rest.
• Know your airline's rules about car seats and strollers. Most likely you will have to leave the stroller at the gate and some airlines require you to keep your child in your lap rather than his/her own seat (depending on age).
• Pick an aisle seat. If your baby is fussy or needs to be changed you can get in and out at your convenience. If you are traveling with another adult consider sitting across the aisle from each other rather than next to each other. 
• Keep your ID readily available. If flying internationally make sure your baby has a passport.
• Diaper bag:
• Be armed with an arsenal of activities for your child. these can include coloring books, toys, stickers, a tablet with games or movies, picture books, etc. Keep items that you will need often at your feet. Sometimes turbulence will keep you in your seat the entire flight and having items readily accessible will be helpful,
• Giving your child a pacifier or something to eat at the beginning of the flight can combat the pressure that may build in your baby's ears.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening requirements for babies and children can be found here

Bonus Tip: pack your little ones clothing in gallon sized Ziploc bags. You can bag by outfit and have everything your little one needs right in one place. No more digging around your bag or forgetting things at home

What tips do you have for traveling with infants or small children?

Finding your Partner in Parenting: Six Tips for Picking the Perfect Caretaker for your Child

            Putting your child in the care of another can cause some anxiety. It's natural to feel some apprehension since you will not be there for every moment. Each parent at one point in their child's life will need to find a caretaker. Whether that means a babysitter for an evening, a part or full time nanny or a daycare provider, but the search can be quite similar. Here are a few tips in seeking out your partner in parenting: 

• Decide before starting your search what is most important to you. Obviously, the safety of your child is priority, but aside from that, what do you want your child to gain from their interaction with the care provider. Do you want someone who can teach them another language? Someone to take them outside as much as possible? Or who is an avid reader that can set the example and engage your child in reading? 

• Ask people you know for referrals. People tend to only suggest products, services and people they trust. If they can put their confidence in the person, then chances are you can rely on thier recommendations as well.

• Seek someone who has similar values and parenting style as you and your family. Ask them their view and technique with discipline, health, play, rules, schedules and teaching. This way there is consistency for your child between his parents and care provider. This person does not need to be your replica. In fact, you may want someone whose interests are completely opposite of yours, but having similar values and standards in still possible and important. Remember that you can also set standards of how you want things done with your child. 

• Choose someone you feel with whom you are comfortable communicating. Language barriers can make relaying information difficult. Comfortable communication can also be difficult if you feel the other person is not open to suggestions or correction. Do your best to be approachable as well, it encourages people to be completely honest with you.   

• When looking for a live-in nanny ask questions not only about their child care skills and experience, but ask their expectations as well. Feel free to ask if they keep a clean room (if that is important to you) or similar questions. 

• After the first time or two your child is with them, ask how it was (if they are old enough to give feedback). Listen to your child's concerns, if they have any, they may tell you more than you might think. 

Above all, remember that this is your child that you are leaving in the hands of someone else. You are entitled to change your mind, ask as many questions as you like and set expectations. Be realistic and understand that there will inevitably be differences between you and them, but diversity in a child's life can be very beneficial.   

Friday's Kids is Expanding!

When I first started at Help Me Grow Utah, I had NO idea what respite care was. I knew what the word "respite" meant (to take a break from something) but what did that have to do with child care? From the calls I started to take, I soon learned that this is a very frequently requested resource. If you're a parent with a child with special needs, you know how important good respite resources are. One such resource is Friday's Kids.

From their website: Friday's Kids Respite was co-founded in 2001 by Diane McNeill and Kimber Dower. Diane McNeill's second child was born in 1990 with Down syndrome. Diane’s son had multiple surgeries during his early years, so Diane was aware of the stress many families of children with special needs experience.  After her son gained his strength, Diane searched in the community for recreational programs that her son could participate in, but found none because he needed one-on-one supervision.  While researching programs, Diane met Kimber over the phone.

In 2001, Kimber Dower was employed as an occupational therapist at The Utah Valley Pediatric Rehabilitation Center in Orem, and witnessed first-hand the extensive stress families of children with special needs were experiencing. Kimber, in the past, had interned at a respite service in Texas and suggested the two collaborate to offer a similar relief service in Utah County. Friday's Kids was born in 2001 with the goal to provide relief to families and, at the same time, provide a safe, fun recreational environment for the children.

Since 2001, they have expanded to Orem, Lehi, Salem and St. George Utah.  Their new site in St. George is opening in February!! if you know any families in that area who need to know about this service, let them know! Visit their website to find out more about their location!

Time to Immunize!

Out with the old, in with the new! We live in a world blessed by the miracle of modern medicine. Growing up I wasn't plagued by fear of contracting polio as were the children of the 1940s and 1950s, or subjected to the panic surrounding diphtheria during the 1920s. My parents were given the opportunity to protect me from these terrors. I grew up receiving regular immunizations. As the New Year begins it’s time to take a look at your children’s immunization records! 

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Keeping your child’s immunizations up to date is an important way to protect them from potentially harmful diseases. A pregnant mother helps protect her child by passing on antibodies. These antibodies provide temporary immunization through the placenta, and then later through breast milk. However, after breastfeeding stops they no longer have this wonderful protection from mom. This is where immunizations come in! 

So what is an immunization? Immunizations are microbes (bacteria or viruses) that have been killed or weakened so that they don't cause disease. Instead, they act as a switch that turns on your immune system and helps you create the appropriate antibodies so that when the real thing comes along, you'll be ready! According to the World Health Organization, every year immunizations are estimated to prevent almost 6 million deaths world wide! Here in the United States we have seen a 99% decrease in the incidence of diseases for which immunizations are recommended. 

Remembering dates, schedules, and details of your child's immunizations can be tricky! An easy to follow guide for parents can be found here, as well as a printable worksheet for tracking and recording your child’s immunizations. If you have any questions or concerns they should be brought up with your child's pediatrician. If your child hasn't received immunizations and you are considering it now, remember that it's never too late! Start this year by giving your children them their best "shot" possible! 

7 Ways To Keep Your Little Champ Healthy

A friend recently posted a question about her baby boy: "My baby is 17 days old, and he slept through the night! Should I wake him up to feed him? Or should I just let him sleep? Also, how often should I bathe my baby?"

 These may be questions or concerns that you have, so here are seven pointers about your baby’s body to help keep him healthy as your little champion continues to grow!!

Seven Ways to Keep Your Baby's Body Healthy and Happy!

Body - A baby does not need to be bathed every day.  About 3-4 times a week should be enough to keep him clean. Baby skin is very sensitive, so make sure to moisturize him after bathing. Make sure to keep the diaper area clean to avoid irritation and infection.  It is not necessary to wash the baby’s hair more than once or twice a week. Check out a previous post about an infant massage! It's great for right after bathing your child.

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Helpful Hint: If possible, let baby go without diaper as much as possible, allowing time for the sore to heal.  Change diaper each time he wets or has a bowel movement. Rinse skin in warm water, and you may want to soak baby's bottom for a few minutes to remove bacteria. 

  

            Never leave your baby alone in the in the bath, not even for one second!!!!!

Eyes - A brand new baby will have swollen eyes shortly after delivery. Around the eyes may become crusty and goopy. Use warm water and a cotton ball wipe from inner to outer corner. 

Nose – As your baby grows, he wills start producing more mucus, which is normal.  Use a bulb syringe to clean baby’s nose. You may need to soften mucus with salt water before using the syringe.

Helpful Hint: If baby's mucus is dried out, make your own nose drops! Combine one cup water with ¼ tsp salt. Bring water to boil and let it cool at room temperature.  After cooling, use an eye dropper to put 2-3 drops of cooled solution in each nostril.

Tummy - Worried about if baby is getting enough to eat? Count the number of wet diapers during day. If he has 6 or more wet ones a day, then he is eating enough and getting enough liquid.

Drooling Mouth - This is normal because your baby is making more saliva, especially during teething  – to prevent chapped skin, keep face dry and you may want to use Vaseline around mouth.

Skin - A baby's skin is very sensitive. Be sure to moisturize often. If chapped skin especially inside the elbows and behind the knees persists for extended time, see your pediatrician for further examination. 

Head - Do you notice a buildup of scaly crust on the scalp that do not brush out or go away when the scalp is washed? This is called cradle cap. It’s caused because there are more oils in the skin in affected area, from extra hormones or yeast. 

Helpful Hint:

- Wash hair more frequently with mild soap or baby/dandruff shampoo.

-Don’t use lotions or oil on baby’s head; this can cause buildup of scales on skin.

-Wash the scalp with very soft brush or use a wash cloth to loosen the crusts.

If any of these treatments do not work after two weeks, please take your baby to your pediatrician for further examination.

 Source: Keeping Your Baby Healthy: The First 12 Months Patty Reid, B. S., Ed.; R.N.

10 Tips for Choosing Childcare

All parents need help occasionally taking care of their children. And whether that's just a babysitter on date night or a full time day care, it is really important to take seriously who you are going to leave your kids with! HERE is a post we did on babysitting but here are some additional tips on how to choose the childcare that is right for you!

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1. Observe your child with them. Observe a day at the daycare or see how your child will interact with whoever is taking care of them! You want to feel comfortable and of course you want your child to be comfortable!
2. Be aware of the child to caretaker ratio. Regulations vary on this but it's good to aware of how many adults will be there with groups of children. If your child can thrive in a group setting, it may be okay to be in more of a daycare however, they may not if you feel your child needs a lot of one-on-one interaction.
3. Licensing and Certification. Be aware of how childcare places are accredited and are inspected. You want to make sure that it is a qualified, safe environment for your child. 
4. Training. Similar to making sure the childcare is appropriately accredited  be sure the child care providers are well trained so they can keep you kids safe and happy!
5. Schedules. Some childcare has more of a free play schedule while other places may have a more structured environment. How does your child thrive? Consider that in picking a program for your child.
6. Allow for time to adjust. Of course you may not feel entirely comfortable right away but if you feel it's a good fit, take time for your child to adjust to the new environment.
7. Understand their policies so that you know what they are offering and what you can expect.
8. A specific policy to be well aware of is what happens if your child is sick or others are sick! Be careful dealing with germs!
9. Communication. You want to be sure that your childcare providers will communicate with you so that you can always be aware of what's going on with your child when you're away!
10. Trust your parental instincts! You're the one who knows what is best for your child. Trust that and only choose childcare that you are completely comfortable with!

There is excellent childcare available to you! Here in Utah County you can call Child Care Resources & Referral to get more information about how to find appropriate child care for you! Call them at (801) 863-8631!

Here are some other sites with more info:

Healthy Children

Zero to Three

A Guide to Babysitters: How to have the best experience possible with a sitter

1. Make your expectations clear

When you hire a babysitter, you are paying for a service. It is important for the sitter to know exactly what is expected of them. If you've ever had a dissatisfying experience with a babysitter, think about why. Could it have been solved with better communication of expectations?

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If you're going on a late date an hour before bedtime, make sure the sitter knows the bedtime routine, what part you expect them to do, what things they can do while they are waiting for you to get back, etc. If the kids are going to be awake the whole time, make sure they know how you want them to entertain the kids: playing with the kids versus putting in a movie.

Sometimes babysitters come prepared with "Babysitting Kits" full of games and activities to do with children. Consider putting together your own with fun things you know you child enjoys and keep it put away except for when the sitter is over. Some things to include might be: new sticker or coloring books with new crayons, side walk chalk, special board games or movies, etc. You could even include activities (or instructions for activities) that your child enjoys but that you're not particularly found of. For example, my 3-year-old niece can play hide-and-seek for hours with an enthusiasm that quickly exhausts adults, I would include an activity like this for a young sitter who will find the activity less demanding (it helps to be getting paid). I would include instructions on how she likes to play (her favorite spots, places she likes to look, saying "woo-who" if she can't find you, etc), since hide-and-seek is a game that can be very open to interpretation. By doing this the game is played exactly how the child expects and is more likely to entertain.

Parenting.com suggests the following ideas in this article:

• Set out old magazines, glue, child-safe scissors, washable markers, construction paper, envelopes, and a list of upcoming relatives' or friends' birthdays. Ask them to make cards for everyone on the list.
• Pull out several blankets or sheets as well as pillows and any large cardboard boxes you might have lying around. The reason: to make clubhouses or forts!
• Before [the sitter] arrives, hide a dozen blocks around the house. As soon as you leave, [they] can start hunting for them together (which may make it easier for you to get out the door). Once the sleuthing twosome locates them all, they can take turns hiding and searching for them again.

2. Leave a schedule or instructions, including important phone numbers

If your child is the type who demands a strict schedule to stay happy, make sure the babysitter has a very clear idea of exactly what time things are supposed to get done. A schedule is also another way to make your expectations explicitly clear.

Also, keep in mind that what may seem like common sense might not be from person to person. Some sitters may not know how to properly gauge temperature for bottles. If your baby sitter will be heating anything, consider leaving them with a very specific, pre-calculated time (if you usually just go by how it feels, try using a set amount and figuring out the time so you can ensure it will not be too hot/cold/etc). By leaving specific instructions, this should run more smoothly. If the sitter will be using the television, consider writing down directions before hand. Some sitters may not be accustomed to your television settings and may not remember the quick tutorial you give before you leave. This is especially important if the television will be used to distract a sad child once you leave.

Probably the most important information for a babysitter to have is a list of important phone numbers. You can find the PDF version of the image below here where you can print it out, fill it out, and leave it with the sitter. It includes all the important information from emergency contact, to what foods the kids can have and what the sitter is welcome to, to typically bedtime-avoidance excuses.

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3. Invest in your sitter
This can mean a lot of different things. It might mean spending a significant amount of time researching and getting to know your sitter. Care.com and Sittercity.com are two great resources for finding babysitters in your area.

It might also mean paying your sitter a wage that ensures they will be willing to come at short notice or give up their Friday night (this might be more of a premium for older sitters). If you're not sure what a good rate is ask your neighbors or family and friends that live close by what they pay their sitter. Or if you're comfortable, ask the sitter directly what they feel is an appropriate wage. It's important to remember that the going rate changes depending on where you live. Care.com shows the going rate for sitters listed and also gives an average for your area.

If you have a sitter you and your children like, consider sending them to a babysitting course where they can become CPR certified. The American Red Cross is a great resource for finding babysitting and CPR courses near you, they even have a Babysitting Bootcamp held throughout the year. Some others include:

• American Heart Association

• American Red Cross CPR/First Aid Certification at YMCA in Taylorsville ($45)

• Primary Children's Medical Center's Super Sitter class on November 17th in Salt Lake

• Baby Sitter Training at Dimple Dell Fitness and Recreation Center in Sandy November 14th, 15th, &16th

There are also some videos that you can purchase that provide adult and infant CPR instructions. Obviously, these don't come with certification, but, if you can not afford to send your sitter to a class, this might be an option to consider:

Purchase HERE

Purchase HERE

You can also find free, printable resources online that you can leave with the sitter as a reminder. Here are a few from Timpanogos Regional Hospital:

• CPR for Infants
• What to Do If Your Baby Chokes
• Safety Tips for Outdoor Play

Another idea is to create a baby sitting co-op with some friends. Here and here are some more information on co-ops.

Other information and resources about baby sitters can be found here on Baby Center.

Now tell us what you think! What are your tips to having a successful experiences with sitters? What advice would you give to a new parent leaving their child with a sitter for the first time? What kind of activities does your babysitter do with your child?