The post Potty train your toddler using these guidelines appeared first on All4Baby.
]]>Begin potty training around the age of two years. Know that your toddler will become aware of the toilet at around 18 months of age. She may understand and say words such as “poo”, “wee” or “toilet”, squirm and touch her bottom, or may stop what she is doing when making a bowel movement. Don’t rush into potty training at this stag
Let her accompany you to the toilet from an early age, so that she can get used to the idea, and learn from watching you – this will take the mystery and fear out of this new idea. Always tell her, “Mommy is having a wee”. Invite her to tear off the toilet paper for you, and help you flush.
If you have a son, ask your husband to invite him to accompany him to the toilet. This way, he will learn that boys do it differently to girls. Place a piece of toilet paper in the bowl and show him how to aim at the paper. If he prefers to sit down to pass urine, reassure him that it is fine and try to avoid putting pressure on him to do it ‘the right way’.
Teach your daughter how to wipe from front to back, and your son to wait till the drips stop.
Invest in a toilet seat with an inner and a built in step and hand rail. This way, your toddler will be able to sit comfortably on the toilet and will always have her feet on a firm surface as well as having something to hold onto.
If your toddler is younger than 26–28 months in winter, delay toilet training until the weather improves.
At home, leave the nappy off and remind her frequently about going to the toilet in a relaxed and friendly manner. Be prepared to go with her to the bathroom each time.
Don’t stress about “accidents” on the floor. She will eventually connect the “puddle” with the feeling that she needs to go to the toilet and will tell you she needs to go.
Don’t worry if your toddler still asks for a nappy to make a number two – this is normal, and won’t last forever.
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]]>The post Business and Arts South Africa Partners with Nestlé SMARTIES Box-a-Thon to inspire creativity in Children appeared first on All4Baby.
]]>BASA Chief Executive Officer, Michelle Constant believes that art is crucial to the development of a child who feels whole and she says, “Arts and culture inspire creative thinking in adults and drive a level of social capital, humanity and imagination. With this in mind, it makes sense that art should take its rightful place as a key component in the education of our children.”
“The arts help link children to their humanity as they learn to the see the ‘other’ in their world. Through theatre or dance, by way of example, young people are introduced to worlds that are not their own, and they learn to see the differences and similarities giving them a much needed sense of empathy.”
“Parents can play an important role in their children’s art education. Art classes in the afternoon, bedtime stories, nature walks, visits to art galleries and even a fun initiative like the Nestlé SMARTIES Box-a-Thon can do much to open a child’s mind and inspire their creative and imaginative thinking process,” adds Constant.
As a member of the Nestlé SMARTIES Box-a-Thon judging panel, Constant admits that she’ll be looking for confirmation that entrants let their imaginations run wild and that above all, they had fun. From a SMARTIES breathing dragon to an extra-terrestrial creature from another planet, children are invited to be as creative as they wish as they engage with this “Out of this World” competition. “We’re not looking for a perfect artist; we’re looking for passion and imagination,” says Constant.
“The arts have such an important place in our country and can do much to drive our economy. Artists are never in decline, but sadly our audiences are and as parents we have the power to change that. By teaching our children that by embracing the arts they can enjoy a sense of fun, quirkiness and even caring that can only enrich their lives, we can ensure that the arts retain their rightful place in South African society,” concludes Constant.
9Bring the arts right into your home with the Nestlé SMARTIES Box-a-Thon. Once their out of this world model has been completed, children need simply to take a photograph of their inspired design and upload their pic onto www.SMARTIES.co.za. One winner will be the lucky recipient of a family holiday for four to Orlando, Florida in the USA. Runner-up prizes include a Kindly Fire HD tablet with fun and educational games, as well as clothing vouchers to the value of R1 500.
The competition starts on April 15th and ends June 30th 2014. Winners will be announced on August 8th, 2014 on www.SMARTIES.co.za. Terms and conditions can be found on the website.
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]]>The post 5 tips for getting your toddler to eat more fruit appeared first on All4Baby.
]]>And while vegetables can sometimes be a hard sell, most children (especially toddlers) actually enjoy eating fruit.
Here are five tips for encouraging them to eat more of it.
1. Serve children the fruits they like, even if it is at the expense of variety. There is no reason why kids who love bananas shouldn’t have one every day. Eventually, parents can add variety by combining a favorite fruit with new ones.
2. Fruit can be eaten at any time of day as a snack, and not just as a dessert. Consider serving fruit to kids with breakfast, as an after-school snack, or even in a salad with dinner.
3. Set a good example. It is well established that children tend to imitate their parents’ behavior, particularly at mealtimes. So parents should set the example by eating plenty of fruit themselves.
4. Prepare fruit in front of children or involve them in the process. Whether it’s scooping out melon balls for fruit salad, washing berries, or coring apples, giving children a task in preparing fruit will make them more likely to enjoy eating the result.
5. Provide easy access to fruit. Keep a bowl of fruit on the kitchen table and allow kids to help themselves. For children who enjoy eating fruit, sometimes the best way to boost their intake is simply to remind them to eat it when they’re hungry.
(AFP Relaxnews)
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