Child Development | Childcare Theory

How Much Does it Cost to Raise a Child?

Image by jollyUK via Flickr

Child rearing is one of those crazy things in life. While most people will spend as much money as it takes to get their child to a point of being self-sufficient, some parents simply don’t have the means other parents do. Perhaps it’s partly circumstance, and perhaps it’s partly an internal cap some people put on themselves, but money can be a big deal. How much does it really take, luxuries aside, to raise a child?

If you can answer that financial question, you could probably also take home the Nobel Prize for Economics. While you might not be able to objectively answer how much it takes to raise a child, everyone has their opinions. One of them is that it costs roughly as much as the parents can muster, meaning they will put everything they can toward their child’s eventual success. There are even websites devoted to estimating the costs of raising a child, though this is still only an educated guess.

Filed Under: Child Development Tagged With: Childcare, Cost of raising a child, Parent

Wthholding Luxuries

When your child or teen does something unacceptable, you have a lot of different options when it comes to disciplining them. You can obviously use physical violence, but that’s rather crude. It also hasn’t been shown to be especially effective at doing anything but making them become either afraid and skittish or violent and rebellious. You can also take a page from more adult methods of punishment, and withhold some of your child’s luxury items from them.

While luxury is a relative term, no one needs the latest tech toys. Such items may be sparkly and fun to show off and play with, but every generation that came before didn’t have them, and somehow managed to muddle through and make something of themselves. In this day and age, such things tend to be seen as an entitlement that everyone needs to have. Because of this silly notion, there is no better way to positively lay down the law than to remove those tech toys from your child’s hot little hands. This sends a message no words ever could.

As well as the toys themselves, you can also eliminate the ability to use the car whenever your child wants. While teens tend to love driving, even younger kids tend to take being chauffered around by their parents for granted. If you take that away and make them walk to whatever fun events they want to attend, this will hammer home that yours is the final say within your household. While some parents might consider that cruel and unusual, unusual things tend to work especially well. Plus, no one ever said you need to go to concerts.

Filed Under: Child Development, Discipline Tagged With: Child, Toy, Violence

How to Choose the Best Childcare for Your Baby

When looking to choose the best childcare for your baby, here are some simple steps to follow:

Have a clear idea when you want your child to start. You may need childcare soon if you are about to return to work. Other parents might want to find childcare for when their little one reaches a certain age. Another option can be a parent who will need childcare for only one part of the day. Therefore, when looking for the best childcare for your baby, have a tentative time for when you would like it to start.
Decide on the type of childcare for your calendar pregnancy baby. Some parents might prefer their youngster is cared for by an individual during the day, while other parents might not mind their baby being in a daycare. You may decide to have your child at a nearby childcare center. If you do decide to use a daycare center, look for one that is registered or runs an accredited program. This way you will know your child is being looked after by qualified daycare help.
Arrange an interview or visit the center beforehand. By doing so, you will be able to see anything that might not be suitable for your child. Leave your child with a relative or friend and while you are reviewing the facilities of the daycare. This should be done during the day to see how the daycare staff interacts with the babies. Look for signs of an environment that is clean, healthy and safe.

Considering these criteria will help you choose the best childcare situation for your baby.

Filed Under: Child Development, Teens Tagged With: Child, Childcare, Family

The Terible Twos: Quite a Milestone

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There are numerous milestones in a child’s life, but none are quite as memorable as the age between roughly two and roughly four years old. This is known as the terrible two’s, because this is the first time your child will assert its will and seriously test yours. While most children will frequently test their parents throughout life, this is the most raging period for this kind of challenge, because this is when they learn what you’ll put up with.

A child will test you in innumerable ways, and you have to pass these tests through absolutely indomitable willpower. If you don’t, your child is going to walk all over you for years to come. A lot of parents secretly wish they’d been harder on their kids when they were two later on, because they child will then go on to do more of whatever they were allowed to get away with. It takes years to train a child you gave in to early on, and the process is painful for you and them.

If you are consistent all the way through your child’s childhood, they will most likely grow up to be an equally consistent adult. Rather like when you mix up concrete or feed a plant, what you put into a child is what the world is going to get out of him or her. They don’t raise themselves, and you have to be the adult in this situation. When they’re toddlers, you need to be extra stern, so you don’t have to be later on in their lives. If you act weak, you’ll be regretting it for years.

Filed Under: Child Development, Discipline Tagged With: Child, Family, Home

Moving Your Family to a New Home

There are moments that defy expectation: you always assumed your home would remain the same. There was no desire to leave; there was no need to escape. The hallways would forever be familiar.

They’re soon to change, however – you’re moving. And you now have to tell your children. This won’t be an easy task. It can, however, be a practical one:

Offer Explanations

Relocation is a necessity – to you. It’s a horror, however, to your children. Logic doesn’t shape the thoughts of youths. It’s imperative that you explain why a move is necessary. You must cite reasons that are easy to understand, detailing the process with a steady voice and a sympathetic expression.

Encourage Emotions

Anxiety is an unfortunate feeling (and one you can eliminate through the use of property management companies in Florida). Stress is all too common among children, however, and it will be experienced. You must not try to quell it, demanding stifling acceptance. Instead you must allow your sons and daughters to express themselves, understanding that it’s only through embracing their emotions that they can eventually overcome them.

Create Excitement

The act of moving is a difficult one: requiring endless boxes, miles and worries. Excitement is all too often lost among the packing. It must be reclaimed. Create a sense of (happy) anticipation for your children. Detail the attractions of their new city; explain the advantages of a neighborhood; offer photographs of a home. This will enable them to imagine the area for its rewards and not its distance.

Moving your family won’t be simple. It can still be accomplished, however.

Filed Under: Child Development, Extracurricular Activities, Tips Tagged With: Child, Emotion, Relocation (personal)

Developing a Great Relationship With Your Child

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Children and their parents have a relationship by default. Even if your children occasionally act like hell’s minions, you still love them in a way that’s difficult to explain to someone who doesn’t have kids of their own. In a lot of ways, being a parent is a crazy and irrational process that rewards you in ways that you could never do without once you’ve had them. However, you can build an even better relationship with your child if you put in some effort.

For one thing, you have to train your child properly from the beginning. This starts when they hit about two, and stops when they can finally take care of themselves and do right in society. Being a good citizen starts with you, after all. So when it comes time for your children to go out on their own, if you’ve raised them properly they won’t have to run back to you whenever something needs some thought. Ultimately, raising children who become solid adults is the first major step in forming a great relationship with them.

Once you have that solid groundwork laid, you can begin to really interact with your child as an equal instead of as a parent. When you show your child respect, especially once they’ve earned it through effort and the growth of skills, you can relax in knowing this isn’t about discipline. It’s about being close to someone with whom you share a lot. You don’t just have similar features and the same last name. You’re joined by the ultimate bond. When you work to make it extremely strong, it’s a great experience.

Filed Under: Child Development, Teens Tagged With: Child, Family, Parent

Stimulate Your Child’s Interest in Reading

Getting children involved in reading can be difficult when there is the television blaring. Turn off the television and encourage your children to get involved in reading. You can do several things to encourage reading.

Show your kids that reading can be fun. Lead by example by allowing them to see you reading books instead of turning to computer games. They are more likely to want to read if they see mom or dad doing it.

Take them to the library or the neighborhood bookstore to look at books. All libraries will have a children’s department where the material is designed to attract and teach young children. Libraries and bookstores usually have book clubs, seasonal book programs and special guests. Check with your library or bookstore to find out more.

Give your children the opportunity to pick out the books they want to read. Even if you only allow them to choose three or four age-appropriate books, they will be more willing to read them. Sit down with your children and spend time reading together. Allow them to read with you or for you.

Take your children on field trips relevant to the books they have read. If your child has been reading about dinosaurs, use canada 411 to find a museum with dinosaurs. You can also take your child on a virtual tour by using Internet sites.

Getting your child involved with reading is usually easier if they see them so create a family library. Do not be afraid to get your children interested in other things than technology. You can even help them form a book club.

Filed Under: Child Development, Education Tagged With: Book, Book discussion club, Reading

4 Fun Activities for You and Baby

You love your new baby, and you love playing with him. Here are four activities that will contribute to his growth and to the growing line of communication the two of you are developing.

Read with emotion. Reading is one thing; reading using various voices for the characters and play-acting the parts is something completely different. Point to the words as you read, add your own rendition of the story, get your baby involved by asking her what comes next. Scholastic suggests that parents “start early introducing [their] infant to the world of books.” Why? A great reader results.
Play outside. Get her on the swing, roll with her on the grass, and play in the sandbox. Check out the little bugs around the yard. Feel a leaf. Be a kid again.
Dress up. Baby costumes can be a real hit when you use the costume more than on Halloween. Get your baby involved in what sound the animal makes, act out a story, let your baby spend an afternoon with you learning about the animal in question through movies and stories.
Play finger games. Finger games do not only usually rhyme; they are fun and teach your baby things like numbers and rhythm. Some great fingers games can be found on websites as well as blogs. Take some time and make some great choices for you and your baby.

Coming up with fun activities for you and baby to experience together is as fun to prepare as to do. See what you can find online to continue the fun and learning with your baby.

Filed Under: Child Development Tagged With: Children, Halloween, Scholastic Corporation