Developmental Milestones Middle Childhood (6-8 years of age)

Middle childhood brings many changes in a child’s life. By this time, children can dress themselves, catch a ball more easily using only their hands, and tie their shoes. Having independence from family becomes more important now. Events such as starting school bring children this age into regular contact with the larger world. Friendships become more and more important. Physical, social, and mental skills develop quickly at this time. This is a critical time for children to develop confidence in all areas of life, such as through friends, schoolwork, and sports.

Here is some information on how children develop during middle childhood:

Emotional/Social Changes

Children in this age group might:

• Show more independence from parents and family.
• Start to think about the future.
• Understand more about his or her place in the world.
• Pay more attention to friendships and teamwork.
• Want to be liked and accepted by friends.

Thinking and Learning

Children in this age group might:

• Show rapid development of mental skills.
• Learn better ways to describe experiences and talk about thoughts and feelings.
• Have less focus on one’s self and more concern for others.

Positive Parenting Tips

Following are some things you, as a parent, can do to help your child during this time:

• Show affection for your child. Recognize her accomplishments.
• Help your child develop a sense of responsibility—ask him to help with household tasks, such as setting the table.
• Talk with your child about school, friends, and things she looks forward to in the future.
• Talk with your child about respecting others. Encourage him to help people in need.
• Help your child set her own achievable goals—she’ll learn to take pride in herself and rely less on approval or reward from others.
• Help your child learn patience by letting others go first or by finishing a task before going out to play. Encourage him to think about possible consequences before acting.
• Make clear rules and stick to them, such as how long your child can watch TV or when she has to go to bed. Be clear about what behavior is okay and what is not okay.
• Do fun things together as a family, such as playing games, reading, and going to events in your community.
• Get involved with your child’s school. Meet the teachers and staff and get to understand their learning goals and how you and the school can work together to help your child do well.
• Continue reading to your child. As your child learns to read, take turns reading to each other.
• Use discipline to guide and protect your child, rather than punishment to make him feel bad about himself. Follow up any discussion about what not to do with a discussion of what to do instead.
• Praise your child for good behavior. It’s best to focus praise more on what your child does ("you worked hard to figure this out") than on traits she can’t change ("you are smart").
• Support your child in taking on new challenges. Encourage her to solve problems, such as a disagreement with another child, on her own.
• Encourage your child to join school groups, such as a team sports, or to take advantage of volunteer opportunities.

Child Safety First

More physical ability and more independence can put children at risk for injuries from falls and other accidents. Motor vehicle crashes are the most common cause of death from unintentional injury among children this age.

• Protect your child properly in the car.
• Teach your child to watch out for traffic and how to be safe when walking to school, riding a bike, and playing outside.
• Make sure your child understands water safety, and always supervise her when she’s swimming or playing near water.
• Supervise your child when he’s engaged in risky activities, such as climbing.
• Talk with your child about how to ask for help when she needs it.
• Keep potentially harmful household products, tools, equipment, and firearms out of your child’s reach.

Developmental Milestones Preschoolers (3-5 years of age)

Skills such as naming colors, showing affection, and hopping on one foot are called developmental milestones. Developmental milestones are things most children can do by a certain age. Children reach milestones in how they play, learn, speak, behave, and move (like crawling, walking, or jumping).

As children grow into early childhood, their world will begin to open up. They will become more independent and begin to focus more on adults and children outside of the family. They will want to explore and ask about the things around them even more. Their interactions with family and those around them will help to shape their personality and their own ways of thinking and moving. During this stage, children should be able to ride a tricycle, use safety scissors, notice a difference between girls and boys, help to dress and undress themselves, play with other children, recall part of a story, and sing a song.

Positive Parenting Tips

Following are some of the things you, as a parent, can do to help your preschooler during this time:

• Continue to read to your child. Nurture her love for books by taking her to the library or bookstore.
• Let your child help with simple chores.
• Encourage your child to play with other children. This helps him to learn the value of sharing and friendship.
• Be clear and consistent when disciplining your child. Explain and show the behavior that you expect from her. Whenever you tell her no, follow up with what he should be doing instead.
• Help your child develop good language skills by speaking to him in complete sentences and using "grown up" words. Help him to use the correct words and phrases.
• Help your child through the steps to solve problems when she is upset.
• Give your child a limited number of simple choices (for example, deciding what to wear, when to play, and what to eat for snack).

Child Safety First

As your child becomes more independent and spends more time in the outside world, it is important that you and your child are aware of ways to stay safe. Here are a few tips to protect your child:

• Tell your child why it is important to stay out of traffic. Tell him not to play in the street or run after stray balls.
• Be cautious when letting your child ride her tricycle. Keep her on the sidewalk and away from the street and always have her wear a helmet.
• Check outdoor playground equipment. Make sure there are no loose parts or sharp edges.
• Watch your child at all times, especially when he is playing outside.
• Be safe in the water. Teach your child to swim, but watch her at all times when she is in or around any body of water (this includes kiddie pools).
• Teach your child how to be safe around strangers.
• Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness until he reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by the car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the forward-facing car seat with a harness, it will be time for him to travel in a booster seat, but still in the back seat of the vehicle.

Developmental Milestones Toddlers (2-3 years of age)

Skills such as taking turns, playing make believe, and kicking a ball, are called developmental milestones. Developmental milestones are things most children can do by a certain age. Children reach milestones in how they play, learn, speak, behave, and move (like jumping, running, or balancing).

Because of children’s growing desire to be independent, this stage is often called the "terrible twos." However, this can be an exciting time for parents and toddlers. Toddlers will experience huge thinking, learning, social, and emotional changes that will help them to explore their new world, and make sense of it. During this stage, toddlers should be able to follow two- or three-step directions, sort objects by shape and color, imitate the actions of adults and playmates, and express a wide range of emotions.

  Positive Parenting Tips

Following are some of the things you, as a parent, can do to help your toddler during this time:

·         Set up a special time to read books with your toddler.

·         Encourage your child to take part in pretend play.

·         Play parade or follow the leader with your toddler.

·         Help your child to explore things around her by taking her on a walk or wagon ride.

·         Encourage your child to tell you his name and age.

·         Teach your child simple songs like Itsy Bitsy Spider, or other cultural childhood                 rhymes.

·         Give your child attention and praise when she follows instructions and shows positive      behavior and limit attention for defiant behavior like tantrums. Teach your child                acceptable ways to show that she’s upset.

    Child Safety First

Because your child is moving around more, he will come across more dangers as well. Dangerous situations can happen quickly, so keep a close eye on your child. Here are a few tips to help keep your growing toddler safe:

• Do NOT leave your toddler near or around water (for example, bathtubs, pools, ponds, lakes, whirlpools, or the ocean) without someone watching her. Fence off backyard pools. Drowning is the leading cause of injury and death among this age group.
• Encourage your toddler to sit when eating and to chew his food thoroughly to prevent choking.
• Check toys often for loose or broken parts.
• Encourage your toddler not to put pencils or crayons in her mouth when coloring or drawing.
• Do NOT hold hot drinks while your child is sitting on your lap. Sudden movements can cause a spill and might result in your child’s being burned.
• Make sure that your child sits in the back seat and is buckled up properly in a car seat with a harness.

Cucumber and the Health Benefits

Cucumbers are the fourth most cultivated vegetable in the world and known to be one of the best foods for your body's overall health, often referred to as a superfood. Cucumbers are often sprayed with pesticides so it is important to buy organic or even better, grow them yourself.

Here are 10 Benefits of cucumbers:

1.Quick pick me-up - Cucumbers are a good source of B vitamins. Put down your sodas and coffee and eat a cucumber slice.

2. Rehydrates body and replenishes daily vitamins - Cucumbers are 95 percent water, keeping the body hydrated while helping the body eliminate toxins. Cucumbers have most of the vitamins the body needs in a single day. Don't forget to leave the skin on because the skin contains a good amount of vitamin C, about 10 percent of the daily-recommended allowance.

3. Skin and hair care - If you don't like to eat the skin, it can be used for skin irritations and sunburns as aloe would be used. Place a slice over puffy eyes and its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce puffiness. The silicon and sulfur in cucumbers help to stimulate hair growth.

4. Fight cancers - Cucumber are known to contain lariciresinol, pinoresinol, and secoisolariciresinol. These three lignans have a strong history of research in connection with reduced risk of several cancer types, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer and prostate cancer.

5. Home care - Eliminates a foggy mirror. Before taking a shower, rub a cucumber slice along a mirror and it will eliminate the mirror fogging up. take a cucumber slice and rub it along a squeaky hinge and your door will stop squeaking.

6. Relieves bad breath - Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

7. Hangover cure - To avoid a morning hangover or headache; eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish many essential nutrients, reducing the intensity of both hangover and headache.

 8. Aids in weight loss and digestion - Due to its low calorie and high water content, cucumber is an ideal diet for people who are looking for weight loss. The high water content and dietary fiber in cucumbers are very effective in ridding the body of toxins from the digestive system, aiding digestion. Daily consumption of cucumbers can be regarded as a remedy for chronic constipation.

9. Reduces cholesterol and controls blood pressure - Cucumber juice contains a hormone which is needed by the cells of the pancreas for producing insulin which has been found to be beneficial to diabetic patients. Researchers found that a compound called sterols in cucumbers may help reduce cholesterol levels. Cucumbers contain a lot of potassium, magnesium and fiber. These work effectively for regulating blood pressure. This makes cucumbers good for treating both low blood pressure and high blood pressure.

10. Promotes joint health, relieves gout and arthritis pain -Cucumber is an excellent source of silica, which is known to help promotes joint health by strengthening the connective tissues. They are also rich in vitamin A, B1, B6, C & D, Folate, Calcium, Magnesium, and Potassium. When mixed with carrot juice, they can relieve gout and arthritis pain by lowering the uric acid levels

The Effects of economy crisis on Families and How to cope

During any economy crisis, news stories about unemployment and inflation figures take center stage while the families dealing with the crisis suffer, often quietly. People work hard just to stay afloat in hopes that the economy will turn around soon, but often to no avail.

While many families do their best to carry on as if nothing is wrong with the world, economy crisis can have a profound effect on their day-to-day interactions and the way they live. Families may not be able to avoid the effects of the crisis, but they can make changes that can improve their situations and help them prepare for the future, while they wait for an economic upswing.

The Effect and Strategies to Cope

 Jobs and Employment

Job loss affects the stability of families and individuals. Our status, self-worth, health, and well-being can be drastically impacted by the loss of a job while many who lose their jobs use the time for growth and exploration, many suffer with depression, alcoholism, and denial.

With unemployment and inflation rates running extremely high during a economy crisis, individuals and families struggle to find work to pay the bills each month. The inability to find work can be frustrating, terrifying, and depressing, and can lead to even more problems. When a parent is unemployed, things can seem bleak.

Tips and Strategies:
Short-term solutions might include, borrowing money from friends or family, and taking a lower-paying job to keep family together

Long-term solutions can include working closely with headhunters and recruiters to find a higher-paying job taking a vocational training and relocating to other state or town where cost of living is not too high. The relationships fostered with headhunters can help with a job search but the process takes time.

Instead of waiting for the perfect job to appear, consider taking a part-time job to bring in some income while working with a headhunter to find the right career. Going back to school for additional studies can also help with a job search. It might be time to transition to a new line of work. Choose new career paths wisely, based on the job market and the outlooks for greater career.

Moving to a new town for a job can open up new career opportunities as well. Relocating shouldn’t be seen as a last resort. In fact, being open to job opportunies  in different areas and can significantly widen a job search.

 Family Life

The stress of not finding work, and a loss of income, can lead to damaging inter-family relationships that can take years to mend. Sometimes families must borrow money from relatives and families, which can result in tense situations.

Some families must change their plans, switch schools, and cancel vacations. In other households, there is even an unfortunate increase in child abuse case or child labour.

Tips and Strategies:
Families can work together to cope with the changes brought on by an economic downswing. In fact, a crisis may positively impact a family, as families tend to stay home together, and spend more time together.

Instead of pricey nights out at restaurants, take the family to a local park for an evening picnic or have a cheap family game nights in your  home

Look at the experience as an opportunity to spend more time with the children, and make the most of the time spent as a family.

 Lifestyle Changes

Reduced income leads to reduced entertainment, dining, and extracurricular activity expenses. People cut back on extras during  economy crisis, so many families must make drastic changes to their pre-crisis lifestyle. This means fewer trips, shared experiences, and missed opportunities because of a lack of funds.

Tips and Strategies:
The lifestyle changes brought about by a crisis will include a period of adjustment. Families must allow themselves time to adapt, and understand that children may not fully understand the financial implications affecting the family. Talk with children about how things will change, and be realistic about expenditures and outcomes. It’s a great time to teach your kids about money management.

Don’t build up expectations about what might change in the future. After a period of unemployment, belt-tightening may still be necessary, as the impacts of unemployment can be far-reaching. Instead, focus on changes that need to happen now, and how the family can make the best of the situation.

Investing

family budgets may not accommodate short and long-term non-residential investments during economic crisis. Families may put investment accounts on hold, hoping to play catch-up at a later date. Families may also be tempted to invest money because of the reduced expense of stocks, but without any expendable income, investing may not be feasible.

This can have devastating effects on retirement accounts and savings accounts. It may also become necessary to tap into investments and retirement funds for cash.

Tips and Strategies:
Using retirement funds to pay bills should be a last resort, because the economy  might not pick up in time and the loss of future income. If using money earmarked for retirement becomes unavoidable, withdraw small amounts, and only use the money to pay essential bills, like the rent, school bills, and utilities.

 Determining Necessity

Families must understand the diffrence between needs and wants during economic crisis. Families need a safe place to live, clothing, food, and access to affordable health care. As priorities shift for many families during an economic downturn, they can focus on the necessities, and learn more about their innate survival skills.

Tips and Strategies:
Learning how to prioritize expenses, adapting to a loss of critical income, and making lifestyle changes will be hard. Families can cope during this period of adjustment by relying on each other, becoming a true support network. Celebrate successes as a family, and acknowledge each other’s’ efforts to become solvent. Take control of the situation to reduce the negative impacts of the economic crisis, and to set a good example for the rest of the family.