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Get Dressed Up and Treat Yourself To A Chic Valentine’s Day Outfit!

Posted by Parenting Source on February 6th, 2013

I was searching through this new website called Zulily.com and they have all kinds of beautiful, figure flattering dresses on SALE!! I could not help myself, and bought several since the price was calling my name starting at ONLY 14.99-25.99 price range!! Below are some of the dresses that are featured, my personal favorites are the flowy maxi’s! What are yours? We all deserve to look beautiful and to treat ourselves to outfits that make us feel beautiful, whether we have a valentine or not.

A perfectly put-together ensemble is no easy feat, but with this fine selection of fashionable apparel and accessories, you’ll be lookin’ poised and polished in no time! Comprised of elegant and trendy tops, flirty dresses and striking scarves, this rich and varied collection will keep your closet stocked with style for each and every season.

Click HERE to find out more, but hurry, you wont want to miss this sale!

Zulily The Go-To Place for Dazzling Dresses

Posted by Parenting Source on November 29th, 2012

The Holiday Season is among us, and if you’re anything like me, it means you’ll be doing a lot of shopping! This year in particular I have a couple different Holiday parties to attend and family gatherings, which means I’ll need a couple different new Holiday dresses!

Well ladies, I’ve been searching and it’s so frustrating because… when I find a dress I like, it’s always way out of my budget. So I went to my friends and asked for advice on where to shop for a dress, and out of all their recommendations, a site called zulily had the perfect dresses!

Zulily.com has hundreds of dresses with new inventory being added EVERY DAY! I was shocked at the variation of styles, sizes and how affordable all the clothing was. I got myself three new sparkling dresses, all for under $50! Still don’t get all the fuss? Check out these amazing styles from sales TODAY!

Oh and I didn’t even mention the best part yet—they also sell children’s apparel, accessories and toys! Making zulily my new favorite one stop Holiday-Shop! I was able to get my daughter four dresses at zulily for the price one would cost from a department store, and my son new sneakers and ‘Avengers’ hoodies! From top brands like Barbie, Star Wars, LEGO, Learning Resources and much more, I’m getting all my kids Christmas gifts at Zulily.

Top brands at affordable prices! Why keep paying more when you can save! Click here and check out the goodies at zulily today! You won’t be sorry!

How to Introduce Your Dog to Your New Baby

Posted by Parenting Source on November 14th, 2012

Before I had kids, my first baby was my dog of course. Sawyer was the first dog I bought and cared for myself and I was always nervous to bring kids into the picture. Sawyer was always very friendly and loving, and always ran right up to adults, but he was always very nervous around children. I’m not sure why, but Sawyer always hid behind me when an eager child ran up to pet him. He would never bite, but it was obvious that he did not want to be near kids. After I found out I was pregnant with my son, I knew we had to get Sawyer to be more comfortable around children. I knew I couldn’t give up my first “baby” so we took the necessary steps so that Sawyer was content with having our new addition come into the family. Here are some easy to take when introducing your pet to your new child.

Before the baby arrives…

Depending on the temperament of your pet (we will focus on dogs for this post), you may want to start working with a trainer who can fix any behavioral issues before bringing a baby into the picture. If you don’t feel this is necessary with your dog, just make sure they are perfectly accepting of being around kids all the way up to adults. Remember, your dog should always think of you as their leader. If you don’t feel like your dog see’s you as that, you need to condition them to know that you are the master at all times. A trainer could help, or just read through some dog training books to find out how to do this.

Closer to baby…

You want to get your dog familiar with the scent of your new baby. Before bringing baby home, bring an item home with your baby’s scent on it such as a burp cloth or blanket. This task is extremely important and you must set boundaries with your dog. According to Caesar Milan, you should start from a distance and let your dog smell the scent from far away. This tells your dog that the item is yours but you are giving them permission to smell it.

Taking it further…

Once your dog is familiar with their smell, you can start showing your pooch other boundaries. Try bringing your dog into the baby’s nursery. Let them sniff around, but you need to condition them to know this room is only allowed with your permission. You don’t want your dog walking in and out of the nursery throughout the day, especially once baby is home. You can decide when your dog can enter the nursery, and when it is off limits. Repeat these steps where the dog can enter and sniff, then guide them to the door. This is like an invisible boundary that they may not cross without your consent.

The introduction…

Cesar Milan, the dog whisperer, says that the initial introduction of your dog and new baby should be very controlled. It may help to walk your dog on a long walk so they are not extremely energized. Before reentering the house, make sure your dog is acting in a controlled manner. Upon walking in, the dog will know there is a new scent in the house since you will have already introduced your baby’s scent to your dog previously. It should not be a threatening scent, but more of a curious one. Walk in the door with either Mom or Dad holding the baby in a calm manner. Your dog can smell the baby, but do not let them get too close just yet. Eventually, you can let your dog get closer and closer, but the initial introduction should be distanced. Overtime, bringing baby and dog closer together will let your dog know that the new baby is someone to be respected too. You can gauge how close you let your dog and how soon you let them get close because you know your dog’s temperament and behavior better than anyone else.

Developing relationships between dog and baby…

Once your baby is a little bit older and is mobile, it is important to keep constant supervision when dog and baby are together. This is the stage where it is important to teach baby not to yank their tail, touch the dog while they are eating, etc. Don’t forget to try and balance your attention between both baby and dog. Dogs need attention and love just like babies do. If all of these steps are done properly, you can feel at ease knowing all family members can be in the same room without any worries. Remember-your dog is also an important character in a household, and they will learn to love baby just as much as they love you!

Amazing Stories of Children Helping Hurricane Sandy Victims

Posted by Parenting Source on November 5th, 2012

We have all seen the sheer devastation that Hurricane Sandy has caused on the east coast. Thankfully, all of my loved ones on the east side are safe and okay, but that doesn’t account for the thousands of people still living without food, water, power or personal belongings. The storm swept our nation by surprise and Hurricane Sandy went more towards the coast than expected. Now, people from the Carolina’s all the way up to Massachusetts are suffering from the aftermath. I strongly urge everyone to help out in any way possible so that these people can start rebuilding their lives and move on from the storm.

I have also read about some amazing kids who have put themselves second to help those in need. Some have donated clothing, toys, and put on a bake sale to raise money for those affected by the storm. You will be touched, inspired and smile knowing some children were raised to help others before themselves. These kids are true heroes who will do whatever it takes to help those suffering the most.

Lucy Walkowiak’s Instant café

Lucy Walkowiak (11 years old) is a Hoboken, New Jersey resident who was fortunate enough not to lose power. She felt that she needed to help neighboring residents who did lose power so she and her father set up a popup internet café in her home. Stocked with several power strips and plenty of hot coffee for those to be able to connect with loved ones, Lucy just asked for a small donation for the Red Cross to help victims in need. What a true hero Lucy is to open up her home and offer even the smallest of services that really has gone a long way in helping the community.

Fort Myers, Florida children hold bake sale

A small community of children in Fort Myers, Florida held a bake sale and served lemonade to raise money for Hurricane Sandy Victims. The children sang and danced as they served their community and raised $213 which they will donate to the Red Cross.

Emily Ellignton gives away pizzas to families

Emily Ellington of Staten Island handed out 40 hot pizzas around her neighborhood that was destroyed by the storm. Ellington, along with close friends went from house to house and handed them a ready-to-go pizza.

New York kids deliver food to Tribeca residents

Madison, Jack and Stella are New York residents who went into their fellow neighborhoods to deliver food, water and batteries to many high rise apartment buildings who have older residents. Many older residents cannot leave their apartments, so these kids decided to bring it to them as well as collect donations in the lobby.

These are just a few heartfelt stories of children who wanted to make a difference in their community by donating money, time and effort into those who really need it. By teaching your children the benefits and need for community service, they will be able to see the struggle that others less fortunate deal with on a daily basis. Some of those people are still sitting without heat, water, or may have lost all of their possessions. By simply spending a small amount of your time to help clean up the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, we can make a huge difference. Make this an opportunity to show your child just how important it is to give back to the community. They will learn responsibility and feel better as a person knowing they helped someone who really needed it. Please spread the word or donate whatever you can to the Red Cross.

Six Ways to Protect your Child from Sexual Abuse

Posted by Parenting Source on November 2nd, 2012

Wow, what a fear this is for all parents. Children all across the world are sexually abused every day, and most cases involve somebody the child knows. It is said that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men have been or will be assaulted during their lifetime. We as parents try and protect our children the best way we can, but it is a huge struggle to protect them when we are not around. There are some important tips you can teach your children to ensure that you are doing all steps necessary to keep them out of harm’s way. I stumbled across six pointers that you can talk to your child about so they are more aware of their surroundings. Most importantly, we must teach our children not to trust just anyone. Some of these tips you may not even have thought about, but you will be glad you read them:

1. Tell your child that God made their body

Your child should think of their body as precious and not to be valued any less. Tell your child that their body is a gift and some parts of their body should remain private. So many children grow up without respect to their bodies. Girls especially should have the knowledge and respect for their bodies that way they can better protect themselves.

2. Teach them correct names of private body parts

It is so important to teach your child proper names of their body parts-especially private ones. Using correct terminology of their body parts can allow them to ask questions, talk to someone about any issues they may be having, or more importantly-knowing which parts are private. There are ways to teach your child this. One way is during bath time. Or, when your child is in a bathing suit, tell them any body parts that the bathing suit is covering, those are private parts. Inform them that some body parts should never be touched by somebody else unless you are at the doctors, getting dressed or getting help in the bathroom.

3. Open up all communication waves

It is so important to allow your child to trust you. If anything were to happen to your child, they should feel comfortable enough to open up about it. It can get confusing to explain to a child that there are some people you can talk to and trust such as family, but there’s also people out there that you should not trust. Let your child know they will not be in trouble if they say that somebody has touched them (even areas covered by a bathing suit). In fact, share that you will be proud they opened up and told you.

4. The difference between good touching and bad touching

The line between being friendly and overly friendly can be blurred for little ones. Sometimes, they may want to be tickled, hugged kissed by you or people they fully trust, and that is okay. Other times, they may not want to be, and that is quite okay. Share the difference between appropriate touching, and the touching where your child feels uncomfortable. If that happens, teach them how to say “stop” “all done” or “enough” so they know where the boundary is. If your child feels that a person has gone past the line of being comfortable, tell somebody about the incident. Don’t ever let something like that pass by without something being done about it.

5. Discard the word “secret”

The words secret and surprise may seem the same to a child. Tell them that the word surprise is a fun celebration that is exciting, where the word secret means separation and exclusion. Sexual abusers often use the word “secret” to hide what has happened with the child. Children who accept a secret between just one person (and one they may not trust) may lead them into danger.

6. Report Suspected Abuse Immediately

Never, ever wait to tell police officials or even a close friend about a suspected abuse case. Whether it be you involved, your child or somebody you know, do the right thing by reporting the incident so those committing these crimes can serve justice. Please share this advice with everyone you know so that less people are affected by sexual abuse.

10 Things to Teach Your Kids Before Their First Date

Posted by Parenting Source on October 22nd, 2012

I am usually not big about posting about this subject, but this one fell close to my heart since my kids are reaching that preteen stage. Although they aren’t going on dates yet, I know that time is just around the corner. I found this post on another acquaintance blog and had to share it! Some of these points may seem a little old school, but hey-I would rather my son and daughter follow these guidelines rather than what they see and learn elsewhere. If you can teach your child even just some of these things, they will be on their way to being respected and genuine young adults. The first list is for sons and the second list is for daughters!

10 Things a Boy Should Know Before His First Date

1. Clean your car. Inside and out. No girl wants to go on a date with Slurpee cups and jock straps.

2. Walk to the front door and shake her parent’s hands. Look them in the eye and thank them for allowing their daughter to go out with you. You should do this both before and after the date.

3. If she isn’t kind to you on the first date, she never will be.

4. No means no. ALWAYS. If she says no, you stop. IMMEDIATELY.

5. A kiss is something you earn. And even better, ask first. It is thoughtful, kind and respectful.

6. Find out what she likes and plan your date around it. A movie, sports, mini golf? What kind of food does she like? Is she an animal lover? Go to the zoo. You get the idea.

7. Hold the door open. All of them. At home. In public. And ESPECIALLY the car door.

8. Have a girl home five minutes before her curfew. It means everything to her parents to know you respect their rules.

9. A date is for the two of you. Not you, her and four of your closest teammates.

10. Take a shower and use deodorant. And by shower I don’t mean dousing yourself in Axe Body Spray.

11 Things a Girl Should Know Before Her First Date

1. Always have an out plan. Use your parents if you need to. Have a certain thing you text your parents, or best friend. That way, they can help you alleviate any situation you are uncomfortable with.

2. You are NEVER helpless. SAY NO and then fight HARD if you have to.

3. Be yourself, not what you think he wants you to be.

4. Have a couple of topics to talk about in case the conversation stalls. First dates can be awkward for both of you. Topics can be something going on at school, something you are interested in or something you know he is interested in.

5. If there is a little voice inside your head telling you something-LISTEN.

6. Don’t post your date on Facebook before it happens. And? Don’t talk about it on Facebook after. Good or bad. It is too much pressure and too personal.

7. If it doesn’t feel right, it isn’t. Go home.

8. Stay in public or around other people.

9. A boy should knock on your front door and introduce himself to your parents. He should walk you to your door at the end of your date and say goodnight to them too.

10. If he isn’t a gentleman on your first date, he never will be.

11. Don’t overdress or wear too much makeup. Just wear what you feel comfortable in. He asked you out because he likes you the way you are.

Letting go of your child’s innocence and youth is extremely hard to do. There does come a time where they will be dating and going off with people we may not know very well. As long as you know they are safe and stay in touch throughout the day, you can feel at ease knowing your child is just an ordinary preteen or teenager. The perfect balance between overprotective parent and understanding parent will really maintain your relationship with your teen and they will know you are just doing whats best for them. Good luck with the teenagers years, and let me in on any advice you want to share! I will need it I’m sure!!

7 Home Remedies for When Your Child Is Sick or in Pain

Posted by Parenting Source on October 15th, 2012

It’s that time of the year where seasons are changing and the kiddos start sneezing, sniffling, coughing or worse. Right around September-October is when my son develops a pretty heavy cold and I often find myself running in and out of the doctor’s office or constantly refilling prescriptions. Instead of taking the expensive route, try these home remedies that may save you a trip to the pharmacy. If symptoms seem like they are worsening, I highly recommend going to the doctor because your child’s condition may be worse than you expected. However, it won’t hurt to try out some of these remedies and see which ones work for your family.

# 1 Remedy for Diarrhea

Keep in mind the B.R.A.T. diet to soothe an upset stomach caused by diarrhea. B.R.A.T stands for bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. I know what you’re thinking, what a random combination of foods to help with an upset stomach. The grouping of these foods allow for easy digestion and none of them contain any oil which isn’t good for digesting. These foods also are low in fiber. Foods that contain high levels of fiber make the stomach work harder to digest them, causing some gas to build up. Other BRAT foods include yogurt and tea. Feed these types of food to your child along with lots of fluids to keep hydrated.

# 2 Remedy for Constipation

Black licorice is known to be a great remedy to help constipation. Black licorice is a laxative and can help relieve discomfort. Licorice also has strong anti-inflammatory properties that can help improve many parts of the body such as the immune system.

#3 Remedy for Burns

This one may even be fun to do with your child as long as they aren’t too sick or in pain. That popular science experiment with the baking soda volcano may actually be the cure for burns. When baking soda reacts with vinegar, it creates a cooling effect that can soothe minor burns. You can keep adding each ingredient sporadically to activate the bubbles for a longer-lasting cooling effect. Not the best remedy for major burns, but it works great for minor ones.

# 4 Remedy for Ear Infections

Ear infections can be extremely painful, yet some doctors are straying away from antibiotics to treat ear infections. I don’t know why, however you can temporarily ease the pain by having your child lay down with their infected ear laying on a large hot pack. This technique is known to relieve the ache.

# 5 Remedy for Headache

There are a few remedies for relieving a headache. One, you can try giving your child a large glass of water. If that doesn’t work, try rubbing their head and neck to work out the kinks/knots that may be causing the pain. You could also try diluting some peppermint oil and/or lavender essential oil with coconut oil and rub it on their forehead. Lastly, there is a pressure point in-between your thumb and pointer finger that can relieve headache pains. If all of the above don’t work, opt for some actual meds to relieve the pain.

# 6 Remedy for Teething

This is a particularly painful one for little ones. Try taking a washcloth and wet the center with a little bit of water. Then, spread a tablespoon of applesauce on the center of the washcloth, roll it up, and then freeze it. Babies love this because of the taste from the applesauce, the chewiness of the washcloth, and it helps numb sore gums from the cold cloth.

# 7 Remedy for Sore Throat

Tea can really help a sore throat for a little one. Try this recipe: heat 1 cup of water, and add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 1.5 tablespoons of honey. It feels soothing going down your throat and can provide antioxidants for your sick tot.

There you have it. The seven best home remedies for your sick or in-pain child. Some of these remedies may work better for some and not for others, so I recommend trying them all out to see which ones work for you and your little one. Children need extra love and attention when they are feeling their worst, so don’t hesitate to give them an extra hug or longer snuggle time as long as they are not highly contagious. I hope these remedies help some little one out there and please let me know if anyone has any other home remedies that work!

Coolest Mommy Finds of October

Posted by Parenting Source on October 12th, 2012

This is a fun post to write because it is a first for me that I wish to continue monthly. I have started surfing the internet, looking through magazines and watching way too many talk shows this month to come up with a list of the coolest finds and most genius ideas to make life a little easier for parents. These products are not only genius, but most of them are do-it-yourself ideas and tips that you can’t resist trying. Although these products and ideas are all very different from one another, all are things that a parent must know about! Without further due, here are the products and ideas that just need recognition to parents out there everywhere this month:

Best Hand-Helper Product of the month: The Bebe Bottle Sling Twin Pack

This fabric baby bottle holder attaches to the car seat and hangs low so that it can assist a baby with bottle feeding. This product also ensures proper flow so that the baby is receiving the milk while barely having to hold the bottle. It works for all bottle types and sizes, and can even help improve hand-eye coordination. By far the coolest product that I have seen in a while!

Best DIY project for big kids: Sink Extender (plus it’s free!)

You know how hard it is for little tots to reach the bathroom sink when brushing their teeth or washing their hands. This do-it-yourself idea is perfect for allowing your little one to comfortably reach the sink without using a stepping stool. Take a Johnson’s baby lotion bottle (or any children’s lotion or shampoo bottle) that is empty and cut a quarter-sized hole (or a little bigger) on the bottom of the bottle. Then, cut alongside of the front of the box as shown in the picture. Then simply attach the bottle to the faucet like shown. You may want to sand some of the edges on the bottle because some edges may be sharp.

Most Creative Kids Snack: Cheerio Popsicle

Sure, you can have a popsicle for breakfast when it contains frozen bananas and Cheerios! This healthy treat can be made the night before-just take half of a banana and put a popsicle stick through the middle. Next, roll the banana in your favorite yogurt then roll in Cheerios. Place the sticks in the freezer overnight, then just grab them for on-the-go. Breakfast is served!

Coolest Homemade Baby Toy: A Sensory Bag

This probably the number one coolest baby idea that is so easy to make. Great for keeping babies engaged while using many of their senses. Take a large freezer bag (the sturdier plastic the better) and fill the bag with little things like buttons, flat marbles, beads, cute little animals, silly bands-anything you can find that won’t poke a hole in the bag. You can get all of these things at the dollar store. Next, fill about half of the bag with cheap hair gel. You can use hair gel that is already colored or use clear and add food coloring to the gel. Try and squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing the bag tight. After you seal the bag, take duct tape and seal all sides of the bag so that there is no chance of any leakage. Now you have a quick and efficient toy for your baby.

…And just for the heck of it, my favorite Halloween costumes for boy and girl so far: and get this, they are both do-it-yourself!

For Boy: Toy Story Army Guy

I saw this costume on a blog and it tells you the directions on how to make this costume for a young boy. All the materials were bought from the thrift store and is very inexpensive to make!

Read how to make an army guy here.

For girl: A tiny ghost

This costume makes a toddler or little girl the cutest ghost around. Made out of a white tutu, just draw on the face of a ghost and sew in a soft elastic band to hold the tutu up like a dress. Or, you can buy it already made on Etsy for $8. Adorable and so cheap!

There you have it, my list of coolest finds of the month so far. Although it is only the middle of the month, I couldn’t resist sharing these genius and cheap ideas with you all. Surfing the internet can really provide some awesome do-it-yourself ideas, and makes it fun to share with friends and family. I hope you enjoy these products and ideas and look forward to my November list!

Tips for Saving Money on Your Child’s Halloween Costume

Posted by Parenting Source on October 10th, 2012

We all know how easy it is to overspend on your child, especially around the holidays. Children’s Halloween costumes can get extremely pricey because of the high demand around the month of October, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend top dollar on the best costume out there. There are many ways to think out of the box and give your child the coolest costume without them even knowing just how much you saved. Check out some creative ways to save money on Halloween costumes:

Trading Costumes: If your kid is similar in size to a friend or family member’s child, you can easily swap out your old costumes for theirs. That way, everyone wins by taking home a new costume while getting rid of old ones that may not fit anymore.

Raid Your Closet: Chances are your kid is already surfing through your closet when they are “playing pretend” so why not just look through your closet to make the perfect costume. Whatever your child wants to be, look for worn out pieces of clothing, things that don’t fit you anymore or things that you just don’t wear and you can really get creative with a homemade costume.

When Procrastinating actually works: Last minute sales are always happening with Halloween costumes because nobody is looking for a costume after Halloween. The day before or the day of Halloween, check out your local store for whatever is left on the rack. You may need to look high and low in the store because many costumes may already be sold out, but you can still find some great finds.

Planning Ahead: Try shopping for Halloween costumes and supplies in the days after Halloween. The marked down prices will be so low that you will not see those prices when next Halloween rolls around. Stores try and get rid of as much Halloween items as possible right after the holiday, so you can’t beat the prices. Just don’t forget that you already bought your supplies the previous year when the next Halloween comes.

Multi-purpose Costumes: Look for costumes that can be turned into something else the next year. For instance, a princess dress can be turned into a fairy god mother, or even a gypsy. For boys, a robot costume can be altered to look like a transformer or something else. That way you are getting the best bang for your buck while still having a costume look different than the previous year.

Bargain Hunting: Thrift stores are sometimes the best places to find costume ideas. Once your child decides what they want to be, look at your local thrift store for pieces that can be put together to make a costume. You may need to assemble, sew or tie things together to make the costume look how you want it.

Share a Costume: You can do this many ways-if you have certain parties or Halloween festivities to do on, let’s say Friday of Halloween weekend, and a neighbor or friend has activities on Saturday, just share the costume that weekend to save money. Or, if you have children with similar sizes, have one wear the costume on one night of Halloween festivities, and the other child on the other night (only if you have multiple days of activities planned). Or, check the weekend your town is celebrating Halloween, and if it’s different than a family or friends celebration day, just share that way.

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, and my kids’ as well, however dressing the part doesn’t have to feel like you are straining your bank account. Halloween is a time to really get the creative wheels turning which can sometimes produce the cheapest and coolest costumes. Whatever you decide to do for your child’s Halloween costume, they will love it and be ready to show off their awesome costume to the world.

What You Need to Know About Your Child’s Speech and Language Development

Posted by Parenting Source on October 8th, 2012

It is completely normal for a parent to question whether their child is mastering the milestones when it comes to speaking and developing their first language. More often than not, toddlers speak with a lisp or minor speech impediment, but will grow out of it after they become old enough to pronounce more complex words and begin speaking more. If you start to further question whether your child is not on track with the rest of their peers in terms of speaking, here are some guidelines to know so that you can ensure your child is on the right developmental track.

Your child mirrors your every move:

Even as a tiny tot, your child watches and learns from you-whether it be during your daily routines such as bath time, mealtime, playtime; your child is constantly learning language all day. Each time you go through the daily routine of things, your child picks up on how you use your voice, your tone when talking to different people, and your expressions when showing different emotions. Although you may not know it, your child learns more and more from you as they develop and grow each day.

Pointing is the most important gesture:

Think about it-when a child doesn’t know what something is, they will point at it. Pointing is a child’s main form of expression since they are not able to fully explain what they want to say about it. A child who points at something is either familiar with that object, or wants to know more about it. My son used to point at cars and say, “CA” and I would go further into detail about cars like, “Yes that’s a car, it goes zoom zoom, that’s a blue car!” Describing the car in simple details gave my son something to remember the car by, and hearing it come out of my mouth helped him be able to pronounce the word car.

Language Development in detail:

When a toddler first begins to speak, it sounds like a bunch of babble and unidentifiable sounds with maybe a few recognizable words. It is said that a toddler around the age of two should know around 100 to 200 words and by the time they reach three, they should know about 1,000 words and use them in simple sentences. The two to three year age gap is really when a toddler develops their sense of language and begins to use sentences to speak their emotions.

Speech Development in Detail:

According to speech pathologists, the difference between speech and language is that speech is the actual ability to physically articulate speech sounds and speech patterns in English. These speech sounds develop slowly overtime, and may not be fully comprehended until a child is eight years old. There are 24 different consonant sounds in the English language, however many children are able to master them all before age eight. The two year gap from when a child turns two to three is an exciting time for a parent because you will really start understanding your child. At age two, we should be able to understand at least 25-50% of their speech and by 3 their speech should be at least 75% comprehensible despite minor articulation errors.

Is my child developing normally?

Every parent strives to make sure their child is developing normally-mentally, physically, and with their speech. If you are questioning your child’s speech and language development, it will never hurt to ask a professional. The sooner you address any questions and undergo early treatment, the better the outcome is generally. Growing up, my brother did not speak full sentences until he was about three years old. My mother checked up on his speech development and found nothing wrong. Soon after the check-up, he randomly started speaking and hasn’t stopped since. There was nothing wrong with his development; however he was just a late-talker.

When you are around other children close in age with your child, start noticing their speech patterns and see the level of communication they are showing. Watch them and observe and if your mommy gut is telling you something is wrong, then you can take the next step and talk to a speech developmental expert about your child. Every child is different so don’t freak when your child is a little faster or slower than what the statistics say.

Product Recall—GE Front Load Washers!

Posted by Parenting Source on October 5th, 2012

This product recall really caught my eye because GE is such a popular appliance brand. As of October 3^rd 2012, the GE Profile brand and The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission have voluntarily recalled GE’s front load washers. There is an injury hazard posted on the product and users should immediately stop using the washers.

About 62,000 of the GE washers were recalled because the washer’s basket can separate as it is used and can break the top panel of the washer. GE has received 19 reports of the basket separating and 10 reports of the top panel breaking. Luckily, there were no injuries reported.

The model numbers of the product are WPDH8800, WPDH8900 and WPDH8910. All serial numbers with these models are included in this recall. The washers were sold in gold, red and white colors. The model number is located on the washer’s right side near the bottom and behind the door near the door frame visible when the door is opened (cpsc.com).

Brand: GE Profile™

Model Number Starts With: WPDH8800, WPDH8900, WPDH8910. Also shown in the picture below.

Sold at: Best Buy, Lowe’s, Sears, The Home Depot and other department and retail stores nationwide, from July 2008 to August 2011 for between $1,199 and $1,599

This product was made in China.

GE is offering free repair service if and when the user contacts the company.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact GE Appliances at (888) 641-9739 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s website at www.geappliances.com/products/recall

Please tell anyone you know about this product recall because this is a popular brand of appliances. I wouldn’t want any of my friends or family to get injured from a washing machine!

How to Help Your Child Maintain Good Grades

Posted by Parenting Source on October 3rd, 2012

As the years pass and your child goes up the ladder of schooling, the level of academic difficulty will only get harder. It has been a struggle for me to find a balance between helping my child with a school assignment and doing more of the work than I should. It is so easy just to say the answer, but it will not be beneficial for your child to learn the right way to do it. My children have always been good students, but there has been times when they work their hardest and don’t receive straight A’s. That is okay as long as they are doing everything they can to receive the best grade possible. Through the advice of my friends and the lovely internet, I have found some great ways to support and guide my kid’s to good grades. Here is what I learned:

Learn about your state’s Standardized Tests:

Every state has different standardized tests which measure student’s strengths and weaknesses and what should be emphasized more over the school year. You can simply log onto your state’s Department of Education website to check when the tests are. You can also find out when to expect your child’s test results. This is good to know because your child will most likely take a standardized test in the fall then again the spring, so get them prepared and feeling at ease before the tests come around.

Think into the Future:

If you have a high-schooler on your hands, it is important to know the steps to take for after high school. Whether that be college, trade school or something else, most higher education schools require students to take the PSAT, SAT, ACT or all of the above. You can find local college prep courses which focus on strategies to manage your time while taking the test, and basic knowledge that your child will be tested on. These courses are generally four to six weeks long and will help prepare your child for that big test coming up. The higher their test score is, the better chance they will have in getting into their dream college.

Create a Calm Learning Space at Home:

Make sure your child feels at ease when tackling long hours of homework. Distractions like television, music and other sources of technology can really impact a child’s study performance. Wherever your child likes to do homework, make sure there are no major distractions, make sure the area is tidy and also well-lit. It would be helpful to have a dictionary, extra pencils and paper, and a calculator handy in case they need it. Make sure it is a space they can relax in without being too comfortable which may cause drowsiness.

Get on a Schedule:

Whether your child likes following a schedule or not, they are extremely helpful to both parent and child. Some kids focus better by starting homework directly after school then having the rest of the evening to relax, while some kids need to take a break after school before starting homework. Either way is fine but just make sure your child is in a routine schedule so that they have a good balance between work and play.

Know the Teachers:

This doesn’t mean you have to be the class Mother, but it is good to know your child’s teachers so that you can feel comfortable to address any concerns that may arise. You can also communicate the good things that your child has done over the year, while also being able to talk about the negative aspects as well.

Your child’s education is the most important thing and should be maintained so that their future stays bright. As your child gets older, homework is less and less or a priority because they develop a bigger social life. There can be a balance between the two, and it takes a dedicated parent to help find that balance for your child. There are many ways to access their grades so that you can ensure they are on the road to success.