Q: Is thumb sucking harmful for children?

A: Thumb sucking can be bad for children. Children who continue to suck their thumb may have dental problems.  Their teeth may be pushed outward or be poorly aligned which is called malocclusion.  The longer thumb sucking persists, the greater likelihood the child will need orthodontic treatment to fix the teeth.  Some children may have difficulty talking who have prolonged thumb sucking.  Some children may get skin infections of their thumb from thumb sucking.

Q: Are there any benefits to thumb sucking?

A: Thumb sucking helps babies soothe and comfort themselves when they are tired, scared, hungry, or even bored.

Q: How can I get my child to stop sucking his or her thumb?

A: After age 4-5 years old, it’s appropriate for parents to set limits about thumb sucking such when and where children are allowed to suck their thumb.

• Show your child in a mirror what she looks like when she sucks her thumb.
• Offer ways to distract your child during the day to keep his hands busy like doing crafts, drawing, coloring, or puzzles.
• Praise your child for not sucking her thumb! Setting up a sticker chart or other reward system for not thumb-sucking can be beneficial.

• Putting a bandage on the thumb can also help make the child stop sucking his thumb

Q: What about pacifiers? Are they harmful or beneficial and when should a child stop using a pacifier?

A: Pacifier use like thumb sucking also is beneficial helping babies soothe themselves.  Pacifier use has also been shown to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.   However, pacifier use is linked to an increase risk of ear infections and continued use can cause dental problems such as malocclusion which is seen with thumb sucking as well.

Q: What can parents do to help wean a child off of their pacifier once they become too old for it?

A: Initially limit the pacifier to naps, bedtime, and stressful situations.  Then limit the pacifier to only in bed.  Then get rid of it completely!  (This is usually the toughest step!!)  Parents need to be ready to put up with a struggle and a crying child for a few nights with this.  Usually a few nights is all it takes.  When parents start this, they should make sure they collect all the pacifiers around the house.  Sometimes kids hide them in toys and various places so parents shouldn’t be surprised if they find their child with a pacifier while playing later!

These tips should work well at home and at child daycare centers.

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Suzy Martyn, Parenting Consultant, Speaker, and author of Enjoy the Ride: Tools, Tips, and Inspiration for the Most Common Parenting Challenges provides the following suggestions:

1. Model the desired behavior. If a toddler sees the behavior naturally in a parent or teacher, they are much more apt to do it when directed so.
2. Encourage and affirm. It takes 7 positive statements to make up for a negative one so our children need to hear much more praise in order to accept any direction.
3. Intervene and guide earlier rather than later. Sometimes children can work out conflict or direct their own behavior in a positive manner but most of the time, they can benefit from an adult noticing early on when he/she needs some guidance, direction, and reminder in order to get them back on track before he/she gets too far off.
4. Read books, watch movies, and talk often about examples of good behavior.
5. Notice when someone is behaving well and comment about it. Make it something desirable to attain.
6. Start fresh after each conflict is resolved. Don’t bring up old mistakes or make children feel hopeless, criticized, or defeated.
7. Talk about your own experiences and how your good behavior brought about good things.

Zohra Sarwari, professional speaker, author, and home schooling mother of three, provides the following tips:

1. Sit with your child away from the fight, and ask questions.  Let your child answer the questions for you.  For example: When you toddler grabs a toy from someone else, ask him or her how they would feel if this happened to them?”  Give them a toy that belongs to you and ask them how would you like to give that back to me?  Should I grab it or ask you for it?
2. Make a chart for good deeds.  Every time they do a good deed check it on the chart.  Or put a sticker on the chart.
3. Explain to them how feelings work, and what makes us sad, and what makes us happy.  Ask them which feeling do they like most and which one do they not like?
4. Make sure that your toddler isn’t hungry or tired, and that is why they are acting out.  I always carry extra snacks, and make sure they take their nap, at nap time.
5. Always have many different activities available for your toddler.  An active mind is a happy mind.  I always make sure that I have books, puzzles, numbers, pencil and paper.
6. Ask them what is wrong?  Listen to them explain it to you, and then address the problem.  Many times as parents we jump to conclusions, and deal with a problem without knowing what the root problem is.  Take a few minutes, and find out what is really bothering your child.

Remember that no child is perfect and part and good behavior is a skill set that must developed. In the meantime, your best bet for dealing with behavior issues with toddlers in child care centers is to set clear boundaries, to be firm, calm when issues arise and always follow through. Consistency is the key. Then remember to emphasize and reinforce appropriate behaviors in order to encourage children on an appropriate behavioral path.

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A child in your daycare center will undergo screening if there is some concern about their development. Typically, parents notice developmental problems. For example, they may notice their child is not walking by a certain age or that there are language development issues. Preschools and daycare centers may also recommend to a parent that their child be screened due to concerns about behavior, language or socialization.

Not all children are evaluated. A child is referred for a developmental screening only when there is a concern regarding a delay in development. Preschool evaluations typically occur when a child is between 3 and 5 years of age.

There are many different methods of evaluation. Usually, a child will is measured for cognitive functioning such as an IQ test to measure how a child will perform on certain types of verbal and non-verbal tasks. An IQ test evaluates such things as vocabulary skills, conceptual thinking, block building skills, and problem solving. Language development tests are also given. This evaluates word usage and understanding, along with learning and academics (letters, colors, numbers, etc), sensory-integration, memory, organization and planning, and fine and gross-motor skills.

The tests will compare the child to other children in their particular age range. Next, the parents are given scores which describe their child’s performance. So, for example, if your child’s score was at the 40^th percentile, that means they are functioning above 40% of the children in their age range.

Parents may also be asked to complete forms. The parent or guardian of each child will fill in and submit a child enrollment form which contain basic demographic information and also asks if the parent or guardian has any concerns about the child’s health, learning and other issues. The parent is also asked if the child has been diagnosed (and if so with what), and if there is an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

Special Services for Developmental Delay

There are many special services and intervention for children based on their diagnoses. Positive screening results call for referral to the local school district, a medical provider, or other intervention center. Then the child is provided with resources, recommendations or further referrals.

Some examples of special services/intervention could include:

Speech and Language development support: A speech therapist may be called to work on the child’s language development or pronunciation.

Sensory Needs Support: An occupational therapist may work with an autistic child to help him or her process various sensations in a way that does not agitate him/her.

Medical Support: If a child is has severe asthma, he or she might be referred to a primary care physician to receive appropriate services and medication.

Home daycare providers or family daycare providers can suggest developmental screening if they notice apparent developmental delay in the children they care for.

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Another source of day care contacts is the Department of Social Services. They have a list of day care centers that they will provide you. These are usually licensed and reputable day care centers for you. If you want a trusted day care, this is a good place where you can get them.

When you have gotten the contact number, you may need to call them up and schedule a meeting. In the meeting, you can ask a bit of questions that will help you evaluate the day care. Get a list of programs and activities that your child will be ask to do. By taking a look at this, you will more or less get the idea of whether these will be very effective for the development of your child. If this is okay with you, then you can now proceed with the enrolment of your child in the day care.

It is very important that you prepare your child with the idea of sending him in a day care center. Do not just bring him there and leave him because this can cause him to undergo separation anxiety and throw tantrums in the day care center. The best thing that you should do is to talk to him and explain why he has to be sent there. Always build a positive image of the day so that it can excite him. Remember that children love it when they are excited about something so make sure to deal with in the best way possible. Allow him to bring a toy or a blanket that he can hold when he feels lonely. This will make it easier for him since children can go crazy when they miss their parents. Make sure that you know how to deal with this so that your child will find it easier to deal with these things and adapt to the environment of a day care center.

See: How to start a daycare center

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The first thing that you have to do is to analyze the way that your child reacts. You need to know if your child is ready to be separated from you. If you leave your child with a family member or a relative, assess if he cries or if it is okay with him. This will more or less give you an idea if you can leave your child in another setting where you are not there. If you think that he is comfortable with the idea, then more or less it is safe to leave him in a day care center without crying so much.

The second thing is to observe if your child is open to communication to other children. When you bring your child in the public park or to an amusement park, observe if your child willingly interacts with the other children. There are some children who so do not actually want to talk or share their things to other children. This is what you should avoid because these can cause trouble to the day care center. But if your child is friendly or is open to the idea of having to talk to other children, then there is no problem for you. He will have an easier time interacting with the other kids in the day care.

Lastly, the way that your child adapts to a new environment is very important. Enrolling your child in a day care means that his daily routine should change. This means that he will be spending most of his days in a day care rather than at home. This is something which your child should get used to. He needs to be able to change with the environment as soon as possible so that he can work effectively in the day care. He needs to be able to cope up with the new environment and the people whom he is dealing with or else, he will never be ready for a day care.

If you think that your child is not yet ready for a day care, there is nothing that should worry you. Your child might still be attached to you, but you need to grown apart. It is time that your child learns how to be independent and it is your responsibility to do so. You can slowly talk to your child and train him to be independent. You need to explain to him why you have to send him in a day care center. Make sure that he understands your point. This will prepare him for the idea or having to face everyday without you by his side. You can choose to leave him to your relatives at first. He needs to have a feel of how it is to go on with his daily life without you around. This will help him adjust to the idea that other people are in charge of taking care of him. This is why it is best to start with relatives because at least he will be comfortable with the people that he will stay with.

One advantage that this brings you is that he will learn how to talk to other people too. He will not be afraid to converse with other people, whether his age or older people. This can be a good start if you want to develop the social skills of your child. You do not have to worry about this because as long as your child is already open to the idea of talking with other people, trust that he will be able to talk with other people in the day care.

Then, after a week or two weeks, you can now gauge if he is adjusting to the change in the environment. You will notice that your child will not have any complaints or so when you send him there. Then this may be the time that you can send your child in a day care.

Remember that you need to brief your child when it comes to sending him to a day care. He needs to know everything there is to expect in a day care. These include the lessons that he will be learning, things that he will do as well as the people whom he will interact with. Do not scare your child, but make the idea more interesting for him.

Although it can still be hard to leave him for the first day, preparing him will make is easier for you. You can expect that your child will not cry as you leave him there. This can really be a lot less stressful for you. Just make sure that you tell him that you will come back for him so that he will not feel scared that you will leave him alone in a day care. With the right preparation, you will surely be able to send your child in a day care center while you work to ensure a bright future for him.

See: How to start a daycare business

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Instead, there is one problem which you should worry about. Children who are sent to day care centers have a problem when it comes to separation anxiety. They find it really hard when they are away from their parents. This is why most day cares have their own share of kicking, tantrums, shouting and crying of kids who are being left in day care everyday. This is why if you choose to have your child left in a day care center, you need to be ready to prevent this from happening. There is actually a solution to this, and you just have to know how you can prepare your child from separation anxiety.

The first thing that you have to do is to explain to your child beforehand why you have to leave them in a day care. They need to realize the reason in order for them to understand why they have to be sent there. This will sort of prepare your child on the day itself since he will already have an idea that you will leave him there when you arrive in the day care. Part of this includes telling and reassuring your child that trusted people are the ones who are in charge of taking care of him. Your child needs to know that he is being sent in a facility where people are friendly enough whom he can trust. This will lessen the anxiety that he will feel. Never forget to tell him that you just have to leave him for the day, and you will come back for them. This will make your child be comfortable with the idea of a child care.

On the night before, it is important that you spend quality time with your child. Read a book or play with hum. This will ease his mind and make him feel his importance to you. So when he wakes up the next day, he will not have to feel that you are sending them to a day care because you do not want to be with them. Children can really be sensitive about this idea, right?

On the day that your child will be sent to the child care, you need to prepare this to be his best day. Prepare his favourite breakfast and talk to him. Spend every minute with your child so that he will have a good day to start with. Kiss him and hug him to show that you really care. This will make him feel more loved.

When you are on your way to the day care, you can talk a little about the day care. This will excite your child on the numerous possibilities that he will enjoy. Knowing that there is a lot in store for him, he will be excited to go there and explore these things. Make sure to hug him and hold his hands as much as possible.

Arriving at the day care, your child may be intimidated at first. This is why you need to show him that it is easy to make friends there. Smile and greet the people that you see. This does not only include the staff and the parents, but also make sure to greet the other children. Once these people respond, your child will see that he will be left in a group of friendly people. The more that he will find it easier to relate and talk with other people.

One thing that is really suggested for you to do is to have your child bring with him his favourite toy or blanket. Children tend to be a little clingy at this stage of their life, so they need to have something with them that will bring them security. You child needs to feel safe when he is in a new place, so don’t restrict him when it comes to this. In a few days, your child will surely find it comfortable in there. Once he will have friends, then there will be no problem for you. As a matter of fact, you child might even be excited to go to day care once he has adjusted to that place.

Separation anxiety does not have to stop you from sending your child to day care. You can actually do something about it. Always remind him that you will be back for him so that he will not have any problem with you leaving him there. You can no leave your child in a day care, without worrying too much about how he is doing.

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The first thing that you have to do is know the needs of your child. Different children have different needs so you may want to find a daycare which will suit the needs of your child. List down all the things which your child may need from a daycare center and keep in mind if there are any special things which your child may need.

When this has been done, look at the different flyers, websites and advertisements for childcare centers. There are so many daycare centers from which you can choose from and you will really find it so hard to choose which is right for your child. Check out the contacts and immediately call them up. You may want to ask a couple of questions about their child policies. From here you can now eliminate some choices. Then from your existing choices, you can now choose to visit these daycare centers. It is your right to tour these facilities and check if they are enough for your child’s needs.

After the assessment, it is now your decision to choose where to send your child. Make sure that you have selected the right choice. Your money’s worth should be one of the things that you need to consider in choosing a daycare center. When shelling out money, you need to make sure that you child gets what you are paying for.

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The first thing that you have to do is know the needs of your child. Different children have different needs so you may want to find a daycare which will suit the needs of your child. List down all the things which your child may need from a daycare center and keep in mind if there are any special things which your child may need.

When this has been done, look at the different flyers, websites and advertisements for childcare centers. There are so many daycare centers from which you can choose from and you will really find it so hard to choose which is right for your child. Check out the contacts and immediately call them up. You may want to ask a couple of questions about their child policies. From here you can now eliminate some choices. Then from your existing choices, you can now choose to visit these daycare centers. It is your right to tour these facilities and check if they are enough for your child’s needs.

After the assessment, it is now your decision to choose where to send your child. Make sure that you have selected the right choice. Your money’s worth should be one of the things that you need to consider in choosing a daycare center. When shelling out money, you need to make sure that you child gets what you are paying for.

See: How to start a daycare center

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From one year old to two years of age, toddlers in daycares are observed to have the ability to emulate their parents when they see them read and write. They are full of life, are always busy and are full curiosity. They only believe in themselves. They have that trait of repeating the sounds they hear and actions they see that are being done by others. They thing they can already do things on their own. If an activity does not take their interest, they will not pay attention to it. They so variations of the skills that they have learned to do. They start to realize their individuality from other children. They have the ability to play by their lonesome and with other children. Their vocabulary increases immensely. They are at the stage where they want to be read aloud to by their parents their favorite stories and books.

Between their second and third birthdays, daycare children start to scribble on paper figures that are often similar to letters. They are no much more conscious of the presence of other people. They are now more sensitive to what they are thinking and what they are feeling. This is the stage where they throw tantrums and show stubbornness. They can do actions like jump, hop, roll over, climb, run and walk. Their vocabulary will now increase four tomes compared to when they were younger. They can now speak in short sentences. They now have clear preferences about the books they want to be read aloud to them. They learn how to count. Start identifying written words like their names. They start realizing the differences between writings and drawings.

What They Need From You

Toddlers in daycare aged from one to two years old need you to show them the difference between print and books. You have to give them the opportunities to make their own decisions. You have to give them real limitations to their actions. Children in daycare need you to give them the opportunity to let them use their hands often like in moving their toy cars back and forth. Allow them the chance to use their bug muscles in their arms as well as in their legs as in crawling. Give them the opportunity to participate in activities that will let them use their five basic senses. Make them learn the effects and causes of things that happen. Present to them opportunities that will help them practice their speech. Give them the opportunities to know more about the letters of the alphabet and how to count.

Toddlers in daycare within the ages of two and three need you to present to them chances to develop their vocabulary and the chance to know more about the world they are living in like going to museums and zoos. Help them develop their hand coordination. Teach them how to be somewhat independent like getting their bottle of milk. Allow them to interact with other children by playing with them.

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These are the changes one should expect from a baby during the first year of their existence.

They start to develop their skills in language and communication. A few signs of these are when they make noises that come from their throats and their first cry. Then they speak their first word which is usually the words ‘dada’ and ‘mama’. After that they will make a lot of sounds and identify the names of those they regularly see. And they will start enjoying listening to same sounding words.

At this stage, they also learn how to gain body control. A few of these are holding their heads up, sit up by themselves, stand up on their own, roll over and in certain cases, walk.

They develop the awareness that they are different from others. They develop familiarity with their hands and feet. They develop the liking to play with their hands and feet. They start crying when their parents leave them to their nannies. They also start to become familiar with their names.

They start to play games. They begin by playing with both their hands. Then they progress to toys and play with toys in an “in and out’ motion. The next thing to expect is that they will carry toys around the house.

This is also the stage where they can relate to other people. The usually respond to grown-ups than to babies. But then later on they will start noticing other babies too. Although the will not see these other babies as human beings. But when these babies start making sounds, that’s when they will realize that these babies are humans too.

The Needs Of Babies
There are a lot of basics that babies need. Some of these are a lot of chances to hear people talk, making sounds and hear and see people respond by making sounds too. Parents who will show them a lot of loving; who will tend to them when they cry and make them feel safe from harm. The chance to move around and do new actions. Things that are safe enough for them to touch and look at closely. They need a safe area where they can play in.

Babies will gain your trust when they know that you are physically close to them, when they physically feel you and when they hear your voice always.

Music helps in the development of the baby. As you play music, slowly make some actions using your newborn baby’s extremities. It will also help if you tickle the baby near the neck and the stomach. When she starts showing that she can control her head, lay her on the floor and rest her head on you. When she starts reaching for any part of your face, just let her. Then as she touches it, you tell her what it is.

Put the baby on her belly. There are studies that conclude that this action helps release a chemical called endorphins which helps your baby feel at ease. This will also help in the development of her back and abdominal muscles which she will eventually need when she crawls.

Cuddle and sing a song to her. Hold the baby securely in your arms and against your chest or lay the baby on your lap facing you. Support the head with your hand always. Then sing to her a lullaby.

Do some happy things on a regular basis. Take for example the singing of lullabies. Make this a nightly thing before you tuck her in. You can rub her tummy.

When the baby starts to cry, pick her up right away. Make sure that you find out why she is crying. The normal reasons why babies cry is that they are wet, feeling hot, boredom or the most common of all, hunger. Remember that when she is crying, she is actually trying to communicate something to you. By comforting the baby, she will get the message that you do understand what she is feeling.

Singing an action is always entertaining to babies

When it comes to comforting her when she is upset, the best thing that you can do is to put on some music and take her safely in your arms and just smoothly glide inside the room. The dancing motion will comfort her. To heighten her amusement during her times of cheerfulness, put on a song with a bouncy beat.

Once babies open their eyes in the morning, they are already working in learning about the things they see. If you want to help them in this learning process, provide them things that they can see and touch. Make use of things that you find in your home will be good enough.

The basic things that you might need for the baby in her learning development are things that make rattling sounds like a bunch of keys or a handful of coins; wooden spoons with faces drawn on the head of it; a bunch of fabrics with different textures like velvet, fur, cotton, satin, microfiber and burlap; a roll of paper towels; safe kitchen utensils like pots; a purse that is no longer being used so that the baby can practice moving things in and out if the purse; measuring spoons and cups; containers made out of plastic and cartons; and big spools.

How To Use These Things

The first thing that you must do is to allow your baby to observe these things, then let her touch each of them, and to those that make sounds, allow her to listen to them. Put priority to things that can make noise, are brightly coloured and have varied textures.

Let your baby start with a maximum of two objects at a time. Place these two things in one particular area where the baby can have easy access to them.

These are some techniques that you can do at home to your baby because these are techniques practiced in daycare centres.

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