Tip for Parents of babies and toddlers

Do not let your baby or toddler fall asleep with a bottle of milk or juice in their mouth. It's not good for their teeth. Ask your pediatrician or dentist about brushing your toddler's teeth. Ask your pediatrician about wiping your baby's (five month plus) gums everyday with a wet washcloth before they get teeth. Use room temperature water on washcloth.

Book Review: Age group 5 - 7

Picture book for ages five to seven. "Nice Try, Tooth Fairy," by Mary W. Olson. Illustrated by Katherine Tillotson. I liked the pictures, but I was rather confused with the story the first time around. The confusion had to do with the written letters to the tooth fairy. I had to read them twice to follow the story correctly. Which makes me wonder if a child would have the same problem. Due to this I would not buy this book, but it's worth a check out from the library. But the basis plot idea is good.
The story basically goes like this, a little girl wants her tooth back from the tooth fairy to show her grandfather, but she ends up with other teeth instead (a hippo and an elephant). She finally gets her own tooth back to show her grandfather.

Craft- Bird Feeder

Make a bird feeder out of a cardboard milk carton. Buy a half gallon of milk in a cardboard carton. When your family is done with the milk clean the box thoroughly with soap and water. Cut most the top off, leaving only three or four inches on the bottom. Get some string. With scissors, poke hole in the middle section of the bottom. Pull string through. Tie on underside, then make loop on top. Place on hook under patio. Or find a tree and loop it through a branch. Once feeder is in place put bird seed in and wait for birds. This is meant for light weight birds. I like this type of feeder because squirrels don't like the light weight box as much as the sturdy ones.

Movie Review

Movie Title: Madeline. Children's movie. Based on the children's books by Ludwig Bemelmans. Rated PG. (I'm not sure why to me it was mild.) A sweet impish little French girl, Madeline, attends an all girl's boarding school. Since she is very happy there she tries to save it from being bought. Chaos follows. Cute movie. Little girls should enjoy it. I did and I'm not even so little.

2 in 1, Science Day and Household tip

Combination science experiment and household tip. I had a friend who hated to polish her silverware. (Which is something I'm not keen about doing either.) She tried different products that promised easy silver cleaning. None worked to her satisfaction. Due to this she was going to give away a silver tea set a friend gave her to a school rummage sale. Since she was just going to give it away I suggested she first try a polishing tip I heard about. With her child present we did this experiment. This experiment is for older children since it involves a pot of hot water. And use only silverware and silver cups that if ruined in any way, even slightly, you won't be upset. In other words don't try this first on your great-grandmother's silver coffee pot. Some people like this polishing technique, others do not, saying it's too harsh on silver. Due to oxidation tarnish appears on silver. Sometimes you can wipe it off with hard wiping with a soft cotton cloth. This baking soda technique helps take tarnish off without all the hard work, but wiping is safer for silverware you cherish. I take no responsibility for the outcome of your silver with this experiment. Thus, if you're worried about your silver, buy an old cheap silver plated spoon that you don't care about at a garage sale and try this experiment with it.

Put aluminum foil on the inside bottom of a two gallon pot. Fill with water. Heat to a boil. Mix a quarter cup of baking soda with the two gallons of water. Using a tong, you as the parent, ease in silver tea cup and saucer in the pot and any silver forks and knives that fit. Remember: Dip items down, fully. You will see the foil darken and the tarnish disappear on the cup, saucer and silverware. "It's like magic!" my friend's child exclaimed. Once tarnish is off (do not leave in pot too long) take items out with tongs and put in sink to wash. The silver will be hot so let cool before washing with dish soap.

Book Review- Award Winner

From time to time I will list award winning books.
Chapter book for forth to seventh graders. "Island of the Blue Dophins," by Scott O'Dell. Winner of the Newbery Medal. A grand book. Story taken from an actual fact that an Indian girl spent eighteen years alone on an island. This book is about an Indian girl, Karana, who's unintentionally left behind on an island. She waits year after year hoping to be rescued by her people. Until then she has to do a lot to stay alive. Using her wits she makes her own shelter, obtains her own food and makes weapons to keep off the island's feral dogs. A truly inspiring and amazing book. Karana is a real life, Survivor.

Parenting Article - Eye rolling

Have you ever caught your child rolling their eyes at something you said? If so, let's take a look at reasons why they could have done it.

Think back to a time your child rolled their eyes at you. Was it when you were telling a joke which they did not think was funny? Was it when you told them to eat their vegetables? Or when you were correcting them in front of a friend of theirs? Now think about this. Did they do it out of blatant disrespect or out of embarrassment? If they rolled their eyes while you were correcting them in front of a friend they could have done it out of embarrassment. They were embarrassed by what you were doing in front of a peer. No, it was not appropriate that your child rolled their eyes at you while you were correcting them, even in front of a friend, but do be sensitive when you correct your child. It can be very embarrassing to announce in front of the class just before your child gives an oral report, "Do not slouch, James!" If James rolls his eyes it is an emotional response based on social discomfort. He is rolling his eyes in defense. A plea. "Please leave me alone, Ma. You are embarrassing me." Do be mindful of your child's feeling. If it is not critical that you correct your child at that very moment in front of other kids or even in front of other adults, do it later.

Another situation where I believe you should have some leniency with eye rolling is when you are telling a joke. A child should not have to find your jokes funny. As long as their body language is not overtly rude and they do not say something mean to you about your joke, you should not make a big ta-do of their eye rolling. Now if you tell your child to eat their vegetables and they look at you defiantly, cross their arms and roll theirs eyes, this is being disrespectful. This should not be tolerated. You should not brush it off as kids just being kids. You should tell them they are being disrespectful. With this in mind, when watching a child roll their eyes look for corresponding body language and facial expressions. I believe this is important. If a parent tells their child to please clean their room and the child gives them an impertinent look while rolling their eyes this is being disrespectful. On the other hand, if a parent tells their child, "Lucy, you need to do your homework over. Your handwriting is atrocious!" and Lucy looks to the right or quickly rolls her eyes down while blushing or slumping her shoulders in a defeated manner she is not being disrespectful. I have seen upset parents react too fast to their child's emotional response and accuse them of "rolling their eyes" and being disrespectful when the child was in fact not doing this. Their manner was not defiant, they were showing humiliation. There is a difference. Make sure you don't jump to the conclusion your child is being disrespectful.

Movie Review

Movie Title: Shaggy DA. Disney Comedy. Rated G. Sequel to, The Shaggy Dog. Wilby is no longer a teen. He is running for District Attorney. Unfortunately, he's also turning into a sheepdog at the most importune times. Sequel is almost as good as the first movie. Kids who like big dogs will enjoy this goofy movie.

Book Review

Every so often I will write about a childrens book that is useful for Parents to read as well as their Child- here is one. It is a picture book.

"Franklin Goes to the Hospital," by Paulette Bourgeois and Brenda Clark. Illustrated by Brenda Clark. For children age five to eight. Young Franklin the Turtle has hurt himself playing soccer. He has to go to the hospital for surgery. This book covers his overnight hospital stay. You can read this book to your child to help them cope with any anxiety they might have about having surgery. The book covers such topics as, what it's like getting an x-ray, how does a doctor make you sleepy before surgery, it's okay to feel scared before surgery and so on. The pictures are cute and are useful in getting children to relate to what's happening to Franklin.

Tasty Hot Weather Treat

Summer weather is starting, at least where I live. For something fun, tasty and different have your child mix chocolate milk with sparkling water or seltzer water. My nephew likes watching it fizz. My sister-in-law just introduced this drink to me. She says it hails from Brooklyn, where her father drank it as a child. Called egg cream, though it has no egg or cream in it, it's a delicious alternative to regular chocolate milk.

Parent Tip

Have your child wash their hands after they touch money. In general, coins and dollar bills have changed many a hands before they landed in your child's hand. Fight germs by washing your own hands when you come home after pushing your grocery cart. Some grocery stores now have hand sanitizer or wipes near the shopping carts. I personally wipe down the handle of my shopping cart for I have seen many small children and adults sneeze on the cart handle. And, last but not least make sure your child washes their hands after picking up the dog's outdoor business.

Movie Review

Movie Title: The Shaggy Dog. Disney-Comedy. Rated G. A teen boy, Wilby, finds an ancient ring. But this is no ring ordinary ring. It turns him into a shaggy sheep dog. When his little brother finds this out he thinks it's a hoot. But things turn from bad to worse (or funny to funnier for the viewer) when Wilby thinks there are spies in the neighborhood. Children who like big dogs should find this movie entertaining. It's cute and very family friendly. Next week I'll write about its sequel.

Tips for your Family's Dog

Dog Tips Dog Owners Should Definitely Know About!

I have a dog which I dearly adore. Here are seven dog tips I believe other dog owners should know about. I plan to add to this list with my Dog Days of Summer (Bio-monthly family dog tips for the summer. It will start at the end of May.). Note: I am not a veterinarian, just a regular dog owner.

1) Do not let puppies or adult dogs chew on newspaper. The ink could make them sick. Also, get rid of any deadly mushrooms in your yard. And keep your puppy away from deadly plants. Puppies like to chew. This includes cords. Keep plugged in electrical cords away from them.

2) Do not let your puppy or dog chew on things that could become sharp going down their throat (splinters of wood or hard plastic). It could cut into the lining of their throat or stomach.

3) Do not feed your dog chocolate, onions, or raisins. These foods can be deadly to a dog (a Vet told me this). During the holidays make sure these foods are put up away from your dog.

4) Be careful about letting your dog sniff driveways or parking spots. Cars can leak oils and fluids and you do NOT want your dog licking it. I have been told by a veterinarian dogs like the taste of transmission fluid which can be deadly to them. Seek Vet help immediately if you think your dog has licked up oil or transmission fluid.

5) If you live, or hike with your dog, where rattlesnakes live I recommend you ask your veterinarian about getting your dog a rattlesnake shot. If your dog is sick or old your Vet might not recommend it. My Vet told me the best time to get this shot is in early Spring, the beginning of rattlesnake season. He said the first six months of the vaccine is the most potent, but you should confirm this with your own Vet. My own dog has gotten the shot. The first time she got it she had to have a series of two, three weeks apart. After that it is an annual shot. But my Vet told me the shot ONLY buys time if a dog is bit. You must get your dog to a veterinarian as soon as possible for more medicine/additional medical help. Do not be cheap and call around for the lowest priced Vet after your dog has been bit. One Vet told me about a man who did this and his dog died because he waited too long to get medical help. You can also get a trainer to teach your dog to stay away from rattlesnakes. This should be in addition to the rattlesnake shot or if your dog can not have it. I write this because I knew a dog owner who got their dog rattlesnake trained but it did not help them in the end. Unfortunately their dog went to sniff the bushes one day and a snake bit them on the nose. The dog sadly died.

6) Keep old towels. Keep a couple in the trunk of your car if you take your dog to the creek or beach. Additionally, you can put them in the backseat or on the floor for your pet to lie on. This helps with sheddings and for sandy and muddy dogs.

7) Have too many towels, or getting new ones? Then ask your local shelter if they need towels for their dogs. Some shelters do not have enough money in their budget for towels to be inside the cold metal cages for dogs to lie on. I give towels to a pet store who takes them to such shelters.

Movie Review

Movie Title: Bedknobs and Broomsticks. Children-Magical. Rated G. The story takes place during WWII in England. Unconventional English country woman, Ms. Price (Played by Angela Lansbury), tries to become a witch by using a training manual. While in the process she takes in two children from London to give them safe haven from the war. With the aid of Mrs. Price's magic the trio, with help from a male friend of Ms. Price's as well, save off the enemy the Germans from the town. I definitely liked this movie as a kid. My favorite part was the empty coats of armor that walked.

Happy Easter- one day ahead

Easter tip- When you dye eggs make sure they aren't still hot when you dye them, they could crack in the cold dye. Afterwards put them on a rack (we used a roasting rack as a kid) to dry.

Adding to Wednesday 's Art project

For your child's butterfly or dragon fly to look airborne: Get some fishing line (or strong white/clear thread) and staple it to its top. Loop fishing line on a hanging plant hook from the ceiling. Just make sure it's at a height where small kids can't get their head stuck around fishing line. Wednesday