BabySmileKids.com

As parents we all want the very best for our children, so how do we give them a headstart right from conception and in those first important months of life?

It is the combination of a good diet as well as your interaction and encouragement with some simple baby gamesthat can give your child the best start in terms of brain development.

Pregnant women are made very aware of the need for extra folic acid in the early stages of pregnancy but what about fats which make up a large proportion of the brain, in particular essential fatty acids?

It is commonly known that breast-fed babies have a slightly higher IQ, so the phrase ‘breast is best’ still applies for many health reasons. The added intake of fatty acids (omega 3 and 6) for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, along with essential vitamins and minerals, is shown to aid mental development in their babies. At birth your baby’s brain is almost 70% the size of an adult brain. The greatest brain growth occurs during infancy and is almost completed by the time your child is 5-6 years old. A closer watch on your (and your child’s) diet in these formative years is certainly a determining factor in development.

Omega 3 fatty acids are found in tuna, salmon and mackeral, and for non-fish eaters supplements are readily available. Omega 6’s are generally consumed more by the general population, being found in grains, cereals, poultry and eggs. Being aware of your intake, particularly of omega 3’s is beneficial to your own heart and brain function as well as that of your unborn or newborn child.

On the other hand poor diet in young children has been linked to allergies, poor concentration, learning and behavioural problems. Intelligence has been shown to only be partially hereditary, it is a combination of heredity and diet. Setting a good example for our children from the very start is imperative. Eating a balanced diet when they are being breast-fed and providing healthy, fresh food and snacks when they become toddlers goes a long way towards having energetic children who are full of vigour.

So get out the salmon for dinner and get ready for some stimulating brainy baby games for your little one.

Just because the new addition isn’t a natural child for the expectant couple doesn’t mean the event isn’t precious and special. Baby adoption shower hosts can get especially creative when selecting adoption baby shower invitations styles.

Parties held for adoptive parents can be held either before or after the child arrives. Because the gender and name of the child will be known, the baby shower adoption invitations can be personalized – and can be kept as treasures from the special day. The parents of adoptive babies will need a wide variety of gear, just as natural parents would, but these gatherings can incorporate a wide variety of activities. Parties for older children can be fun and creative – and can even introduce the child to other children in the adoptive families’ inner circle. Baby invitations can be customized to reflect the style of the new family.

Adoption shower themes can range from a celebration of the adoptive child’s cultural background to traditional babyshower themes, like nursery rhymes and zoos. If a photo of the child is available before the event, it can be incorporated into the shower adoption invitations to provide a peek at the new arrival.

If the adoptive child is joining an existing child in the household, the sibling will feel special by helping out with the shower. Older children can do things like plan games or help put favors together. They can even help pick out the perfect invitations baby adoption shower.

During the winter months we begin to think about keeping ourselves, and our children nice and toasty. From coats, long sleeved shirts, shoes, and even beanies; these are all staples that every parent looks for during the waning of fall into winter. However, few top to think about covering their child’s eyes from the sun’s rays during these months. Instead often times focusing on the simple necessities. However, it is just as important as the summer months to shield your child’s eyes from the bright glare of the sun on the snow. But how do you do that? Short of sunglasses, you might ask? Well, with the simultaneous need for both warmth and protection from the sun; some manufacturers have taken the need as a hint. Thus came the birth of the visor beanie.

While it provides the warmth we all have come to associate with beanies, it also provides the same shading nature as a baseball cap or trucker cap! Instead of your average rolled edge, visor beanies have small foam or board bill similar to summer-caps. While they are somewhat more stiff than your average beanie cap; they are still just as comfortable as the beanies of the past; often times even staying in place far better for an infant or a toddler.

Despite what many might think, visor beanies are anything but bland. Often times being found in vibrant colors and prints for children, and sometimes offering the ability to pay tribute to mom and dad’s favorite bands! However, despite the popularity and abundance of this item. You might find it fairly difficult to find these pint-sized visor beanies at your local mass market retailers. Instead, you should keep your search simple; finding them at infant or children specialty boutiques either locally or online. Which will widen your horizons far more, and enable you to find the perfect fit in both size and fashion for your child’s needs.

If cost is a concern, you would be glad to know that visor beanies are only slightly more than your average child’s beanie. However, it will negate the need for you to purchase layers for your child’s head; and help you to kill two birds with one stone. Enabling your child the warmth that is needed during the winter, and the ability to cover his or her sensitive eyes from the harmful environment.

Children can begin learning self-reliance as young as one-year-old. Because children are a part of the parent it is natural to want them to be blissfully happy. Out of ones own desire to be liked, materialist pressures, and a fervent wish that your children have everything you lacked as a child can prompt you to give them the latest and best of everything.

While you might believe that buying your child the latest and best gadget or toy will give them fond memories of childhood or that you can heal your emotional childhood wounds by doting on your children, you are unconsciously interfering with your children’s development.

The most precious gift you can give your children is true independence so that they learn to earn what they want and become empowered to create their own happiness. Allowing your children to experience life to the fullest on their terms-within safe boundaries and responsibility level is the greatest gift you can give your children. Allow your child to work and earn what they want. Children as young as two can learn to do simple chores. Carrying his/her plate and silverware from the table to the dishwasher, putting food items into the grocery cart and with your supervision are excellent two-year old chores.

When children have responsibilities they feel proud of their accomplishments and feel needed, important and loved-yes, loved. “I am important enough to be given responsibilities. When your child has learned to take responsibility of his/her needs she/he will be self-sufficient you and he/she will feel confident when she/he needs to rise to the occasion.

When children have little opportunity to explore self-reliance, to learn that with possession comes responsibility, and to fulfill their own needs, they acquire a sense of entitlement that obscures their sense of contribution.

You may believe that giving your child everything he/she wants is pleasurable. Or you may want to avoid conflict out of fear that your child won’t love you if you don’t give him/her everything he/she wants. However, the opposite is true. Children who are given acceptance, love and affection in abundance are kinder, more charitable, and more responsible than those who parents accede to their every whim and material demand. They develop strong integrity and self-esteem that stretches beyond possessions and the approval of their peers. As adults they understand that each person is responsible for building the life he/she desires. If you notice yourself giving in to your child’s every whim, ask yourself what prompts you to do such a thing. You might discover that you are seeking to fulfill what you feel is lacking in your life.

Teaching your child to respect the value of money and self-sufficiency as he/she grows from infancy to adulthood is a challenging but rewarding process. It can be difficult to witness a child struggle to meet a personal goal, yet, wonderful to be by his/her side as he/she achieves it. Your choice to avoid spoiling your child will is the most important opportunity to show your child understand and compassion and to be fully present with him/her as they move toward adulthood.