The Parenting IDEA
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The Parenting IDEA
What Parents Need to Know - from Conception to College and Beyond!
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When your child is experiencing difficulties with digestion, it can leave them feeling nauseous or in pain. It’s hard to have to deal with that as a parent since you don’t want to see your child struggle. Sometimes, if you can understand the cause of their digestive issues, you can help them to feel better and to avoid the things that are causing them problems. That way they can feel great and enjoy a diet that actually meets their needs. StressOne of the major reasons that children have issues with digestion is because they are experiencing a lot of stress. It’s important to figure out what is causing your child stress so you can start to address it. Sometimes the solution will be to teach them stress management skills, and in other cases you can help your child to get out of stressful situations. When your child is under stress it can negatively impact their digestion and the rest of their life and health, so you want to make sure that you give them the tools to manage stress effectively. The Wrong DietThe food your child eats will also have an impact on their ability to digest. Depending on their personal needs, their diet could require significant changes. And if you notice a problem with digestion, you should probably check in with a doctor. Sometimes an allergy or other issue can lead to digestion problems. A gastroenterologist can diagnose your child and determine if it’s celiac disease. Whatever the cause, changing up your child’s diet can often help them to feel better and digest food a little more easily. Stomach or Intestine ConditionsFor some kids, their digestive issues are caused by a problem with the way their body works or a disease or infection. It’s important to seek out medical help if you notice a consistent issue. A doctor can help you to figure out the cause and a course of action to help your child to feel better and get more from the food they eat. Finding a doctor you trust can make the whole process a lot easier. Take time to work with your child and figure out what might be impacting their digestion. When you know the cause of the issue, you can start to address the problem. Working with a doctor, and your family, you can start to address their issues and get them feeling great. Check out this article on how to eat a more whole and healthy diet! 
It’s no secret that children are precious to their parents. As a parent, you want little more than for your child to grow up healthy and to live a happy life. Laying the groundwork for that starts even before the child is born, and then takes off like a rocket once they’ve entered into the world. Developmental issues can crop up for a multitude of reasons, some of which cannot be prevented. Still, there are some things you can do to give your child their best shot. Introduce Them to New ExperiencesChange is one of life’s inevitabilities. Learning early how to handle change and new experiences can be invaluable. Not only will they learn how to cope with change, but they’ll also be introduced to a variety of experiences that will help them grow in different ways. Children need to be stimulated to foster growth, and introducing them to new experiences in a safe manner is a great way to do that. Schedule Them CheckupsIn some cases, developmental issues can be mitigated if they are identified early enough. This is one of the reasons why it’s so important to schedule regular checkups for your children with a pediatrician. They know what milestones your child should be reaching and when, which can alert them to developmental delays. It’s a good idea to take your child to a pediatric dentist early on as well. By 7 you should take your child to an orthodontist to see if they need braces. Between a pediatric dentist and an orthodontist, developmental issues that might arise with your child’s teeth should be managed easily enough. Parent with PurposeGentle parenting, positive parenting, and conscious parenting are all different names for the same sort of parenting style. This parenting style uses positive reinforcement instead of punishment to guide and teach children. It encourages a positive, healthy relationship between parent and child, and fosters intrinsic motivation towards those behaviors preferred by the parents in the children. Children whose parents use this parenting style also tend to be happier and more optimistic, which can be helpful later in life. No matter how much you might wish otherwise, it’s not possible to be a perfect parent. The fact is that you’re going to make mistakes, and your child is going to be one of the ones who suffer as a result. Still, if you take a proactive approach to reducing their risk of developmental issues, you should be able to set them up to have their best chance of having a good life. Check out this article to see the effect too much sugar can have on your kids! 
There are few sources of joy as powerful as having kids. Starting and raising a family brings a pride, joy, and fulfillment that few other aspects of life can offer. But having kids is a major decision, as it impacts every single aspect of your life. Having kids is expensive, and many young parents don’t truly understand the cost until after they have started having children. Here are a few things to understand the financial aspects of having children, whether you’re a new parent or considering becoming one! How to Prepare FinanciallyThere are a lot of financial costs that come with having children, and this means that there is a lot of preparation that needs to happen. If you and your partner want to have children, and know this, the earlier you can start saving the better. You should start keeping some money in a savings account that can be spent readily for things like doctors’ visits, nursery costs, toys, and whatever else you need as soon as your baby is born. You should also start an investment account to start saving for your child’s expenses. This includes things like college savings, so plan long term. Common ExpensesWhile the expenses of a baby might seem obvious, you don’t just have to save for the immediate expenses, but should think about the long term expenses as well. If you are considering sending your child to a private school, that will cost money. Sports and extracurriculars cost money. Teenagers will probably need braces, which can vary in cost depending on many factors. Not to mention the basic factors of food, clothing, and utilities increases that come from having another dependent for eighteen years. Make sure you are prepared for all of this, and consider your projected income. How Much Do You Need Saved?Well, the basic idea is that you should save as much as you possibly can. By the age of 30, you should have saved and invested at least one full year’s salary. By some estimates, raising a child through the age of 17 costs over $200,000, and that number only keeps rising with every passing year. The best way to do this is to get in the habit of saving/investing some of your money every month, whether that number is small or large, so that you get in the habit. This will help you continue to save more as your income grows. Raising and having children is expensive. And the costs can sometimes be overwhelming if you haven’t planned. So, start planning now and thinking about your family’s future, as it will pay dividends in the long run! Read this next: How to Encourage Good Dental Hygiene for Your Children 
Your children are never too young to learn and develop those essential life skills that will benefit them for decades! Putting your children in various classes to introduce these skills in a reliable and effective way or setting can be the best way to prepare them with those skills. Here are a few examples of classes that are money well-spent for your kids! Self-Defense ClassesBoost your children’s confidence (and your own!) knowing that they can protect themselves when you aren’t around. Self-defense classes—such as karate, tae kwon do, jujitsu, and more—are a great way to encourage strength and accuracy in defense while promoting respect with their actions. This makes it a valuable skill for their lives! Through a strict, disciplined routine, your kids will learn to treat people with patience and responsibility, but also know when and how to protect their boundaries and defend their safety. Plus, the motivation to reach each increasing level of performance pushes kids to work hard, and rewards them with excitement and pride of achievement. Swimming LessonsWhether for the fun of a day at the pool or the reality that your child will, almost inevitably, at some point in their life, be near a body of water: your children need to learn how to swim. Swimming is a life-saving skill that even small children can learn. Plus, knowing how to swim early will help them overcome any fear of water that is commonly found in young kids. If your child falls into any body of water, they need to be able to keep their heads above water and then move themselves to the nearest dry surface. Enroll them in a swim course that will provide them with the basic skills needed to float and maneuver themselves in the water. Lessons are often a fun experience for your children, too, so set them up for a safe and successful swimming-future through an experience they’ll actually enjoy! Meal Prep (Cooking)Many parents don’t recognize the value in (or even think to teach their children) how to prepare good food for themselves. While kids shouldn’t be left to fend for themselves in the kitchen every day, they should start early to learn the basics of nutrition and meal preparation! They, and you, will be grateful for this when they begin their lives independently of you and are naturally able to care for themselves this way! Give your kids the best tools for successful protection, water safety and meal preparation! They will feel more able to take on the world, and you will feel more trusting in their capabilities to do so. Read this next: Here’s What Too Much Sugar Does to Your Kids 
If your kid is a sugar seeking hummingbird like most are, you already know that sugar brings a fast high and then an energy crash. As tasty as it is, sugar and sugar-based products might give the illusion of fat energy boosts, but also come with all kinds of hidden issues including little nutrition. What exactly does too much sugar do to your kids, though? Increases Risk for DiseaseSugar itself increases inflammation, which in turn can decrease immunity. Considering all the sicknesses your child likely already has to deal with if they go to public school, you certainly don’t want to risk a disease. To help your child’s immune system work at peak capabilities, especially during a pandemic, avoiding snacks with hidden sugars is a great start. While they need more than decreased sugar to do well, lessening sugar can help them to have less inflammation after vaccination, and can give their immune systems an added boost to help that protection work at its best. Harms Dental HealthSugar results in higher acidity, which can eat away at tooth enamel. After those baby teeth are long gone, you don’t get any do overs with adult teeth that are growing in. Taking a chance to care for your child’s teeth fully includes making sure that they brush twice daily, floss gently, and eat healthy foods. Foods such as crunchy vegetables and healthy fruits can help prevent dental caries and help enamel to remain healthier longer. HyperactivityThere have been very prominent studies out of the UK which explain that sugar itself doesn’t cause hyperactivity. However, in the United States, sugar is usually not from the same sources as in the UK, which tested predominantly sugars from beets. The US, in contrast, uses sugars from corn, often in the form of corn syrup or high fructose corn syrup, which are labeled differently but often the source of sucrose in children’s snacks. Sugars/Sucrose produced from corn is indeed linked to hyperactivity, and can cause other neurological effects as well! Limiting sugars for your children can help in the short term, and prevent long term complications. This can be a difficult change, because sugar feels good to the body, but only temporarily. Offer plenty of substitute options, and use sugar as a periodic treat. Your children’s bodies, and your own, will thank you both now and in the future! Read this next: Good health at any age: What women should watch out for 
People do a lot of learning during the early years of their life. The things people learn as children can have far reaching effects on their lives. One of those things is how to take good care of your teeth and mouth. As a parent, it’s your job to show them how to take good care of their teeth and to encourage them to form good dental hygiene habits. Make Sure They’re Brushing Their TeethThe most obvious thing that everyone should do when it comes to dental hygiene is to brush their teeth adequately. This can be tough for younger children since they don’t usually have the coordination (or, let’s be honest, the patience) to do a good, thorough job. This is why it is generally recommended that parents help their children brush their teeth until they are about seven or eight years old. Remember that teeth should be brushed for two minutes to get a good, thorough cleaning. Take Them to the DentistAt home oral care is important, but not always enough to ensure a beautiful, healthy smile. That’s where your dentist comes in. The typical recommendation is to go to a dentist appointment every six months. This helps the dentist keep track of the health of your child’s teeth over time so they can identify issues as they arise and correct them sooner rather than later. One such example is the issue of misaligned teeth, which are often corrected through the use of braces. Braces are most effective for kids and can pose certain challenges later in life. Talk to your dentist if you have concerns about the alignment of your child’s teeth. Remind Them to FlossLike brushing, flossing should also be a regular part of an oral hygiene routine. Flossing should be done at least once a day. You could do it in the morning and at night, but if you want to pick a time, choose the night time routine over the morning one. That way you’ll be able to remove food particles that have accumulated throughout the day, leaving the mouth clean and fresh for the night. Flossing can be challenging, especially for young children. Try using floss picks if your child is struggling with it since they can be easier to work with. If you want your child to live a happy, healthy, full life, one of the things you should do (among many others) is to encourage them to take good care of their mouths and everything in them. It may seem like an uphill battle, especially while they are young. Be persistent and stick with it, and watch your efforts pay off in the long run. Read this next: Situations That Might Spark Your Children’s Anxiety 
Children grow and develop at such a fast rate. For that reason, it’s important they get the right nutrients from a young age to aid in their development and set them on the right track for the rest of their life. It’s no walk in the park to achieve this, however, especially when you have a picky eater. To make sure your child has all the right nutrients, supplements can be beneficial. VitaminsVitamins are important for good health and especially important for your developing child. Eating a variety of different foods is the best way to get vitamins. Stanford Children’s Health says vitamin supplements may be needed if the child is a picky eater or has deficiencies. Children’s multivitamins are a great option, although it is very important to remember that there is such a thing as too much. Remind your child that these are medicine and can only be given by a parent. Often children’s multivitamins are flavored and colorful, so make sure you keep them out of reach. FluorideAccording to Maccaro Pediatric Dentistry, fluoride can reduce tooth decay in young children. There are many ways that you can ensure that your child is getting enough fluoride. Many areas have fluoridated water, so your child may be already getting a small amount of fluoride. Another easy way is to make sure your child is using a fluoridated toothpaste to brush their teeth, as the biggest benefit comes from using it on the tooth surface. Talk to your dentist about whether or not a fluoride treatment would also be helpful if your child tends to have many cavities. Omega-3Omega-3 is a fatty acid that is considered an essential fatty acid. Our bodies can’t make these fatty acids and so we need to get them from our food. Foods that include omega 3 fatty acids are fish, nuts, flax seeds, and some vegetables. Omega-3 fatty acids are important in cell function and play a role in brain development and function. According to E.P. True Chiropractic, many children will not or can not eat fish, nuts, or sufficient vegetables, and so they may benefit from an Omega-3 supplement. Supplements can be beneficial, but poses a risk if given in uncontrolled amounts. Therefore it is so important to consult with a doctor before starting any supplements for your child. A doctor will be able to help you determine if your child is at risk of any deficiency, and can help you know which supplements would be best for them. Read this next: Good Habits You Should Instill in Your Children Early in Life 
Everything you do for your child, or even just around them, makes a difference in their development! After all, they already are beginning to mirror your facial expressions and sounds. Pretty soon, they’ll mimic everything you do! This, of course, includes eating healthy foods. Why is what a kid eats important for later development? Make Sure They Grow ProperlyAccording to Healthy Children, the minerals, vitamins, and nutrients your child eats literally are forming the very cells inside of their body! This means that only one type or variety of food isn’t a great option. Remember, in order to grow properly, a person needs a combination of types of foods, including proteins and fats, grains, and lots of fruits and veggies! If your family has dietary restrictions, religious restrictions, or is vegan, make sure you talk to your doctor to make sure you have the right balance for your child’s body and brain development. Prevent Dental Health IssuesAccording to Showtime Smiles, poor dental hygiene can lead to tooth decay and discoloration. Sometimes acidic foods can cause issues with the enamel in teeth. You already know that sugary foods, especially those which stay on the teeth in sticky ways, like caramels, can cause tooth decay. Talk to your dentist for good options which can be great treats and snacks on the go! It’s easier to prevent issues than to fix them. Practice Motor and Mental SkillsAccording to Raising Children, when your child practices using their fingers to pinch individual green peas and bring them to their mouth, they are practicing motor skills which help with their brain development! The same is true later on with learning to use utensils, whether fork and spoon or chopsticks. Like when they mirror your face as infants, children learn and develop their ability to practice how to act at a table as a family from mimicry as well. This might not seem obvious when you have a fussing preschooler you’re trying to teach to eat broccoli, but it’s true--family dinner helps develop the brains of kids! Eating together as a family can help your smallest ones to develop both their brain and body! Most critically, they will have practice eating new things, and watching you eat healthy foods as well. Developing a culture of health will give them a great foundation which will last not only in childhood, but their whole lives. Read this next: What You Need to Make Sure Your Kids Grow Up to Be Healthy |
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