So here are a few tips to help you spot optical issues before they become a real problem.

It is important to realize that it could take up to eight months for your baby’s vision to reach the same strength as an adult. This is because a baby is born without a fully formed sense of vision; it continues to develop throughout their infancy. So if your baby seems to lack the ability to focus or see clearly in the first few months, it may not be cause for alarm. However, if you’re worried you should certainly contact your doctor for assurance or to schedule testing.

There are certain signs, though, that should not be ignored. For example, it is not uncommon for babies to be born with cataracts or develop them in the first few months or years of life. And luckily, they are easy to spot. If you notice any clouding in your child’s eye you need to see an ophthalmologist immediately. These growths will not simply go away and there are no pharmaceutical treatments. If they are not surgically removed they can damage your child’s vision permanently (by halting normal visual development). Luckily, the surgery is considered safe even for very young children, although they will likely have to be anesthetized to undergo the procedure.

Another warning sign can come in the way of eyes that do not seem to align properly. When one eye is weaker than another (due to eye muscles that aren’t functioning properly or a pathway to the brain that is underdeveloped, for example) you will begin to see the signs. Amblyopia, or lazy eye, can usually be identified by one eye turning inward or outward, strabismus may cause crossed eyes, and nystagmus will result in one or both eyes appearing to tremble or shake. All of these symptoms tend to indicate weakness or vision loss, but all may be correctable with early treatment so that your child’s vision develops normally.

Of course, your child may simply suffer from common vision problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and/or astigmatism. While it may be a bit more difficult to identify these problems on your own, a visit to an eye doctor can either confirm or rule out the possibility. And if your child does have these problems, they’re often easy to correct with glasses or contact lenses (even small children may be good candidates for the latter). Whether you notice problems or not, it’s not a bad idea to have your child examined annually, so look for an eye health center in your area and make an appointment, especially if you think there are potential issues with your child’s vision.

This post was written by Evan Fischer. Evan is a freelance writer and part-time student at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California. Evan is a contributing writer for EZ Contacts USA where you can find contact lenses and locate an eye health center close to your home.

Do Infants Require Oral Hygiene?

While it is not generally necessary, many parents choose to begin practicing oral hygiene with their infants even before they have teeth. After each feeding, wet a washcloth with warm water and gently run it along the gums. This helps eliminate bacteria along the gum line, and it will get the baby used to the feeling. Then, it will not be such a big adjustment once it is time to begin brushing.

When to Begin Using a Toothbrush

Children generally get their first tooth between six to nine months old; however, some children do not get their first tooth until they are around 12 months old. At this time, it is best to buy an infant toothbrush with soft bristles, and begin brushing the tooth twice a day using only water or baby toothpaste that does not contain fluoride. This will help prevent bacteria and plaque formation on the baby teeth. At this age, it is also important to keep an eye on bottle habits. Children who go to bed with a bottle, or drink a lot of juice in their bottle tend to have increased risk of gum disease as bacteria sits on the teeth forming plaque, which in turn can cause gum recession.

When to Begin Flossing

Flossing is something that many children take a while to get used to; therefore, it is best to begin as early as 2 years old. To make it easier, establish a routine, such as flossing every night before bed. Flossing can be difficult for younger children, and they will probably need assistance for several years.

When Should Children See Begin Seeing a Dentist?

Children usually begin regular dental checkups at around 3 years old. At checkups, the dentist will do regular cleanings, ensure that the teeth are coming in properly, check for cavities, and offer additional advice to parents about how to keep their children’s teeth healthy. This is also a good age to begin using a toothpaste that contains fluoride. By age 3, children are normally able to spit the toothpaste, but they should still be supervised closely. Many children at this age are also longing for independence and can begin to practice brushing their own teeth with the assistance of a parent. To encourage a lifetime of healthy habits, limit sugary snacks, soda’s/pop, and fruit juices.

Although this is generally a safe guideline to follow, all children are different. Some children may need to see a dentist earlier or more often. It is important to always discuss concerns or questions with the family dentist.

This article was written by Jem, a freelance writer who specialises in both nutritional and dental aspects of life. Irked by the nations lack of oral hygiene and knowledge of gum disease issues, Jem strives to educate those who are willing to listen. You can follow him on Twitter @writerjem now.

Red-shirting is the practice of holding a child (often boys) back one year from entering kindergarten. Usually, children who are red-shirted are born in the latter part of the year.

When deciding whether or not to red-shirt my own children, I researched the practice and the logic behind it. I expected to find mothers advocating for the practice. Instead, I found that many were opposed to red-shirting. They felt schools were pushing them to keep their children out of school for an extra year, rather than giving them the opportunity to begin as soon as possible.

Many mothers believed teachers were shirking their responsibility by red-shirting, because younger children can be “a pain” and “involve more work” to teach. I read about outraged mothers who believed that red-shirting was solely based on the idea that if held back, a boy would be bigger and better for sports teams, therefore getting an advantage. Most of these mothers also argued that it isn’t beneficial to a child’s performance in the classroom. One argued that holding a child back would later lead to behavioral problems.

A 2007 study shows that while these concerned moms may have their hearts in the right place, there’s an anatomical reason for red-shirting. The study of 508 boys and girls indicated that boys and girls brains develop differently. Areas of the brain which develop earlier in girls include fine motor skills (similar to hand-eye coordination) and language. In boys, targeting and spatial memory mature faster.

Kindergarten focuses greatly on reading and writing, two areas that 5-year-old boys will be less developed in than girls. This is educator’s reasoning behind red-shirting. Underachieving teachers and bigger football players aren’t part of the equation.

Each child, however, is different. Red-shirting has left a lot of mothers indecisive about what to do. Your decision shouldn’t be based on the “advantage” your child has compared to his classmates, but rather, his emotional and social development.

For parents considering holding their child back or looking for more information, I offer the following advice:

1. Read Boy Adrift by Leonard Sax.
Educating yourself is essential to making a confident decision about your child’s education. Also check out this online document for statistics and more information on development studies, click here.

2. Research schools and their kindergarten programs.
If you can find out more about the curriculum, you’ll greatly benefit. As mentioned in the article above and in Boys Adrift, boys need physical, tangible teaching. Find a program that focuses more on physical and oral learning than on reading and writing.

3. Sit in on a kindergarten class.
Many teachers allow you and your child to participate in a trial class. This will help you see how your child interacts with the other children in large groups, and should help you gauge his social and emotional development.

4. Observe your child.
Is he independent, good at sharing and resolving issues? Can he focus for more than five minutes on a project or book? If you can’t answer yes to these questions, he might need to be held back so he can thoroughly benefit from his kindergarten experience.

The decision to red-shirt is tough for parents. The most important thing is to trust your instincts be supportive of your child, no matter what you decide. Nobody knows your kid like you do.

This guest post was contributed by Kaitlyn Gibbesch, who is a member of the fastest growing online education community that writes on topics like education, online mba programs, schools etc.

Kaitlyn’s personal blog is http://babyandaboob.blogspot.com.

Just like a snowflake or a fingerprint, every child is unique in their own special way. Every child has a unique way of feeling, thinking, and interacting with others. Some children are shy, while others are outgoing; some are active, while others are calm; some are fretful, while others are easy-going. As a loving and nurturing parent, it’s your job to encourage them to embrace their uniqueness and celebrate their individual qualities.

Allow your child to express themselves through their interests.  They may find a creative outlet in theatre, dancing or art, or they may be exceptionally talented in the sciences.  Encourage them to embrace what they like to do, what interests them, and what makes them happy.  Help them realize that they don’t need to worry about being ‘like everyone else.’

Teach your child to make positive choices, and praise them for good deeds, behaviors and positive traits they possess.  Encourage them to become actively involved in their community, and introduce them to activities that promote a sense of cooperation and accomplishment.  Be firm yet fair when handing down discipline for misdeeds or misbehaviors, and make certain the rules and consequences for breaking the rules are clearly defined.  Show a cooperative, loving and united front with your spouse when it comes to discipline.

Accept and celebrate your child’s uniqueness. Remember that your child is an individual. Allow your child to have his or her own personal preferences and feelings, which may be different from your own.

And finally, encourage your child to be true to themselves by doing the same.  Show your child how to make positive choices with the choices you make, and that nobody is perfect and you too make mistakes.  Show your child that mistakes can be a great learning experience, and that they should not be ashamed or embarrassed about making them.

Wouldn’t your kids feel great at school if they loved the subjects studied?

Sure, some kids love math, others like writing and some even enjoy chemistry. Many children go to school and study most of the subjects, not because they love them, but because they have to.

It’s a pity. It doesn’t need to be this way.

You can help your kids develop curiosity about their school subjects, enjoy their classes and learn new things with passion. There are two main approaches to this:

Turn study into games
Schools are supposed to do this, but is there something you can do to help? Most kids get pretty bored with the subjects taught in school, not to mention the way they are taught.

You can solve this problem yourself by making studying more fun. Get involved with the teaching process. Develop games in which you and your child study the lessons together. Make it a game where you both score points and then announce winners.

If you are creative you can go even further. For example, you can “translate” math to games. Ask your child to calculate the number of soldiers needed to win a battle or how much gold is required to reach a certain level in their favorite video game.

If your kids like to build things, you can study the elementary physics involved in building houses, bridges and so on. Explain that physical laws must be kept, even when building play structures. Try to build figures that aren’t structurally sound. When it doesn’t work, take the opportunity to explain why the structures were unstable.

Adults study new things, because they understand that the subject has real-life application. Children don’t think this way. They respond to games because they are fun, which is pretty much their reason for living. If you can show them how the knowledge they gain in school helps them with their games, they’ll be more passionate about their studies.

Turn games into study
There is an easier, more popular way to develop a passion for learning. Educational toys and games are created especially for this purpose. Here are just a few ideas:

• Arts and craft toys like paints, stamp sets and model kits encourage both curiosity and creativity.
• Building and construction toys are a must-have for every kid. They help the development of different skills and build interest in many interconnected subjects.
• There are various math toys which can turn studying this difficult subject into a lot of fun.
• Science and nature toys like telescopes, lab sets and meccano sets can really create passion for otherwise tough subjects like physics and chemistry.
• There are also many kinds of brain-teasing games and software which can develop logical thinking skills and help children enjoy solving puzzles.

If your son doesn’t like a subject, there are many different ways to encourage him to give it a chance. If you push too hard without exploring some creative options to gain his interest, he may develop an even stronger aversion to it. Remember, these things take time.

You may have to try several different techniques before you hit on a winner. You’ll learn about your child’s strengths and interests while you’re trying to find the method which works best for him. Every child has his talents; you only need to help him discover them.

This article was contributed by Sandra de Charo. Sandra writes articles for http://re.trotoys.com, where you can find all sorts of neat, old fashioned automata and mechanical toys.

When you’re expecting, nine months feel like an eternity. It’s a happy time, full of wonder and excitement. You can’t wait to kiss his chubby cheeks and hold him close to you.

The good news is that you don’t have to wait to start bonding. After all, you will never be physically closer to him than you are right now — two hearts, two souls, in one body. He’s with you wherever you go.

At 16 weeks, he’s listening to your heartbeat and can hear loud noises happening around you. By the time you’re 25 weeks along, the cadence of your voice brings him comfort. He also can distinguish voices that he hears often, like your spouse, from other people that you come into contact with throughout the day.

So what does this mean for you? Well, simply put, you’re making an impression on your baby before you have the privilege of seeing each other in person. Every time you sing along with your favorite song or talk to your husband about how your day was, he’s in there, soaking in the soothing rhythm of your voice.

Take advantage of this special time, because the more he hears your voice, the better. Hearing you speak is great for bonding and is stimulating his language development. Studies have shown that babies of different nationalities have intonations in their cries (at birth) that echo that of their mother’s native tongue.

Don’t worry about feeling silly when you’re talking to your little one. He may not be able to understand what you’re saying, but he is taking note of a voice that he can trust.

Don’t know what to say? Here are some tips on how to communicate with your little treasure:

1. Give him a nickname, if you haven’t already. It’s easier to talk to someone when you know his name. Usually, the pet name you bestow upon him while you’re pregnant will stick after he’s born.

2. Read everything out loud. You don’t have to stick to children’s books. The content of what you’re reading isn’t important. Pick a gossip-rag and go. He’ll appreciate your laughter as you giggle at the latest exploits of fallen golf heroes and sell-out “supermoms”.

3. Talk through what you’re doing. Pretend you’re explaining your actions to an audience. “Oooh, it looks like daddy couldn’t find the hamper again, Peanut. Let’s pick up the towel and put it into the basket. Remind me to show him where the dirty laundry goes…again.” You’ll find that these private “conversations” add some flair to otherwise mundane tasks and will lighten your mood.

4. Sing your heart out. Babies love music, and have been proven to recognize the rhythm of songs that they heard in-utero after they join the outside world. When I was pregnant with my first son, Aiden, I was addicted to a particular country album. After he was born, he spent a significant amount of time in a NICU. When I would sing songs to him from the CD, his vitals would rise.

Taking advantage of this special time is good for your baby and you. Not only does it familiarize your tiny tot with the sound of your voice, but it gives you the opportunity to bond with him during your special journey together.

Jessi Arias-Cooper is a work from home mother of 3 boys and has been married for 10 years. She co-owns a freelance writing business, Profitable Prose, with her husband, Brock. If she had time for hobbies and interests outside of parenting and keeping house, they would be jewelry making, baking, watching bad B-movie horror flicks and creative writing.

Children are born with some measure of creativity. I believe that. Like all human ability, of course, some children are more creative than others, but creativity at some level is innate.

Young children have mental images of their perception of the world long before they have the linguistic skill to voice those images. The adults in the child’s world need to provide the child with the opportunity to communicate those metal images using a wide range of ways other than the spoken or written word; gestures, drawings, paintings, sculpture, construction, music, make-believe play, movement, and dance.

There are three basic ways in which parents can help their children to develop their innate creativity: experience, tools, and encouragement.

Experience: Children need to be exposed to a wide range of creative media, including art, dance, acting, sculpturing, etc. The more children see the results of the creativity of others, the more their own creativity is fostered.

Television is a good medium, and I’m certainly not objecting to all television programming for children; but parents need to be selective about their young children’s television viewing. Television programming for children needs to help children see the results of creativity and encourage children to be creative themselves.

Tools: If you put some Silly Putty in the hands of a five-year-old, you’ll be surprised at what he creates. If you give children the tools that they need to express themselves creatively, they WILL use those tools. They will dance to music. They will cut and paste with abandon. Kids need tools to be creative. Every home in which there are children should have a place where kids can create with abandon.

Encouragement: When children see their parents engaging in creative pursuits, they will imitate them. If the parents do nothing more creative than change channels on the TV, the kids aren’t being encouraged to be creative themselves. Children are encouraged by example and not by words.

Through play, children develop into adults. That’s just the way it works. Children develop all of the important skills of life through play. Education gives them information, play is the way they apply that information to life.

Play is not just physical, and the purpose of play is not just pleasure, although play can be both physical and pleasurable. An active play life for a child includes the testing of and enhancement of his physical abilities (learning to climb, run, jump, etc.).

Play also includes learning about human interactions and relationships. The child learns such important life skills as communication, negotiation, and compromise when he is playing a game with other children.

Most friendships begin with play for children and even for adults. Think about how your own friendships develop — mutual interest and mutual pleasure (play) is key to the friendship growing and developing. The same is true for children.

And play stokes the imagination and fosters creativity — coloring in a color book or cutting out shapes, drawing pictures, all of these things bring the child’s natural creative ability into focus for him.

Play can be serious business for children, although they would never classify it as “serious.” My six-year-old son told me that he didn’t want to go visit the child of a friend of mine because, “he doesn’t know how to play fair.” Children have their own set of standards that are mostly a mystery to adults, but there IS a system in place that matures through play into a set of adult standards.

An adult can watch children at play and simply miss all of the important “stuff” that is taking place between the children. The kids are determining a “pecking order,” establishing boundaries, and developing their physical abilities as well as their creativity and their imaginations. And you thought they were just playing! Play IS the work of childhood.

Humans, I’ve decided, are born with the ability to worry. Worry isn’t a behavior that needs to be learned. Worry is an innate ability of human beings. In a sense, worry is a self-preservation factor; if we didn’t worry about being run over by a car, we wouldn’t look both ways before crossing a street. There is, however, a big difference between prudent caution and unreasonable fear.

As parents, it’s our responsibility to help soothe the fears of our children. We want them to be prudently cautious and aware that dangers exist, but we don’t want them to be paralyzed with fear. Hitting that happy medium between teaching our children to be careful without being fearful requires patient consistency and it starts at birth.

With infants, we can comfort them easily by holding and feeding them. As those infants become toddlers, we can comfort them by touching them, talking to them, and reading to them. As that toddler gets to the preschool age, he is able to begin to express his fears and worries in words. When a child voices his worry, the parent needs to address that worry without laughing at or ridiculing the child. The worry is real, and he’s looking to you to relieve that worry.

Several books can help you deal with the fears and worries of your preschool-age child. Here are two of the very best:

1. “The Little House,” by Virginia Lee Burton: A little house in the country is taken over by a growing city. Eventually though, the little house is able to return to where it belongs. The underlying theme is that changes can be scary, but eventually life returns to normal.

2. “Outside over There,” by Maurice Sendak: This book explores children’s inner fears and worries. A brave girl saves her younger brother from goblins. This is a story of a strong, resourceful child using her creativity to confront and overcome evil.

Two musically gifted parents can produce a child that can’t “carry a tune in a bucket.” Two artistically inclined people can conceive a child that can’t draw a straight line with a ruler.

Children are not just small versions of their parents. Children are individuals, and parents who insist on forcing their own likes, dislikes, interests, and abilities on their children are making a huge mistake. They are robbing the child by denying him the room to grow into who he really is, and they are robbing themselves of making that amazing journey with their child.

The pressure applied by parents on their children to become younger versions of themselves begins early on. The grandmother says that the child’s daddy could sit alone by the time he was four months old, so the child’s parents being pressuring the child to live up to that standard — and it never stops for some children.

If Dad was good at football, then there must be something wrong with his SON if he isn’t good at football. If Mom was a cheerleader in high school, then her DAUGHTER is pushed from early childhood to becoming a high school cheerleader.

Just because Dad went to Harvard doesn’t mean that Junior should go to Harvard. Just because Mom is a great cook doesn’t mean that her daughter needs to even learn how to cook.

Parents and children both lose when the parents try to make their children into smaller and younger versions of themselves. It’s so much better for the child to be given the space and the opportunity to develop into the adult that they were born to be. It’s more interesting and more rewarding for the parents as well.