By Richard A. Dickon Belleville parents and school staff showed off some great work from special needs students Monday night. The Special Services Department sponsored a "Dare to Dream" poster contest, where students highlighted the special needs …
See all stories on this topic »
The jaw dropping cover of Time Magazine is Jamie Grumet breast-feeding her nearly 4-year-old son. The controversial cover is stirring up a heated debate.
Local mother of one, Cirissa Bentley is also an advocate for breast-feeding.
“There’s always passing on your immunities to the child and it’s nice because it doesn’t cost anything. It’s all natural,” Cirissa says.
But even to her, the cover is a little extreme.
“4 years old? That a little old for me, I don’t think that I would personally feel comfortable with that.”
The method discussed in the article is attached parenting. Proponents of attachment parenting say it promotes bonding. Children are attached, often in a sling to their parents all day including sleeping in the family bed. They breast feed on demand , said to strengthen their maternal bond.
Covergirl Jamie Grumet says she herself was breast-fed until she was six years old. she says she remembers feeling comforted and nurtured. but for critic, the imagery alone makes them feel uncomfortable.
As the world celebrates Mother’s Day to pay tribute and offer gratitude to mothers, the civil society organisations have taken this opportunity to highlight vital issues related to safe motherhood in Pakistan.
The information shared by the Population Council with media explains links of safe motherhood with birth spacing whereas Rutgers WPF Pakistan has adopted the theme of ‘Early Marriages’ as focus of all their activities organised on this particular day.
The Rutgers WPF celebrated the Mothers Night on Saturday to commemorate the International Mother’s Day. The theme was ‘Early Marriages: Raising Awareness and Promoting Prevention of Early Marriages.’ The event activities revolved around highlighting the issue of safe motherhood and the fact that motherhood at young age is not safe.
In Pakistan, marriage at an early age is a reality for many young women. according to Unicef, from 1987 to 2005, child marriages amounted for 32 per cent of all marriages in Pakistan. Parents marry off their daughters at an early age due to cultural, social and financial reasons. what they do not keep in consideration is how the marriage will affect their daughters.
A direct consequence of young age marriage is early childbirth and greater vulnerability to related complications especially morbidities such as fistula, post-partum haemorrhage, sepsis and hypertensive disorder due to biological and physiological factors. Globally, early pregnancy has been found to be the leading cause of death among young girls between 14 to 18 years of age. Girls under 15 years are five times more likely to lose their lives during childbirth or pregnancy as compared to older women.
Early marriage compromises the development of girls: it marks the end of their education; they are ill equipped to face livelihood demands; they are required to perform heavy amounts of domestic work; they have constrained decision-making and reduced life choices and they are more likely to experience domestic violence. all of these factors contribute to married girls and child mothers being ill prepared for their roles as informed wives and mothers.
The participants of the event suggested that to end the practice of child marriages, it is important to advocate widely and passionately about the harmful consequence of early marriages and to work towards changing attitudes of families and society at large. Improving access to education for both boys and girls, as well as making education free and compulsory are also important strategies. Sustained advocacy and awareness raising can contribute towards decreasing the pressure on young women to have children, when the families know the dangers of early motherhood.
The material shared by Population Council Pakistan said that on May 13 the world celebrates Mother’s Day but in Pakistan, unfortunately, many households and families will be denied this opportunity because of the untimely deaths of mothers during pregnancy and childbirth.
According to Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2006-07 and Unicef, Pakistan has an alarmingly high Maternal Mortality Rate (276 maternal deaths per 100, 000 births) with an estimated 20,000 women losing their lives every year due to causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. just 16 per cent of the poorest women give birth assisted by a skilled attendant. Infant mortality is also among the highest in Asia — second only to Afghanistan.
Dr. Ali Mohammad Mir, Director Programmes Population Council, said that in Pakistan, there is a need to pursue strategies to ensure that all women have access to safe and effective maternal health services. He said that Islam places especial importance on the status of mothers. in fact heaven has been placed under the feet of mothers. He said that most of the maternal deaths are preventable as they occur in women who have pregnancies that are too closely spaced or too many; in women who are either too young or too old. Dr. Mir informed that one of the most effective and efficient ways of preventing maternal deaths is by spacing pregnancies. He said that according to the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2006-07, 1 out of 3 births are spaced less than 2 years apart and presently less than 22 percent of women are using a modern contraceptive method.
A quarter of women in the reproductive age group would like to adopt family planning but are unable to do so. This is referred to as the “unmet need for family planning”. He said that in the past, family planning was promoted as a way to control fertility and lower population growth. “The concept had limited acceptability among masses as they failed to appreciate the benefits of family planning,” he said. He said that a recently completed Population Council project illustrates how much can be done to increase contraceptive use, improve health and well being of the people even in most remote parts of the country.
Dr. Mir explained that when a woman has access to family planning she can space her pregnancies at longer intervals. “This has a positive impact not just on the health and well-being of the mother and the child to be born but also on the woman’s other children, who can thus get the due care and attention they require and deserve.”
At a time when kids are maturing emotionally and physically, it’s important to set up good nutrition habits for the future.
mikebaird/flickr
The issue of child weight loss has gotten a lot of attention recently. when Dara-Lynn Weiss wrote in Vogue magazine about the dramatic (some might say Draconian) methods she used to help her seven-year old daughter lose weight, the media and the public jumped on her. Denying her daughter “reproachfully” of dinner one night after hearing what she’d eaten during a school celebration, was one of the admissions that sparked the backlash.
Parents find themselves in a difficult and confusing position when they are told their child needs to lose weight because he or she is clinically overweight or obese… the health risks to kids, especially when considered over the course of their lives, are enormous.
When her daughter’s physician told Weiss that her daughter, at 4’4″ and 93 pounds, was clinically obese at six years old, she knew she had to take action. Few readers were outraged that a mother would step in to help her daughter become a healthier weight; what sparked controversy were the methods Weiss used, such as snatching hot chocolate from her daughter and pouring it out after a barista was unable to give a calorie count for the beverage. (For the record, her daughter did achieve a healthy weight by age 8.)
The article struck a chord and not just because of the controversy it sparked. It raised an important issue. Parents find themselves in a difficult and confusing position when they are told their child needs to lose weight because he or she is clinically overweight or obese. the health risks to kids, especially when considered over the course of their lives, are enormous. serious overweight in children contributes to the development of type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol.
Child Weight Loss Is a Delicate Issue
Weight loss in children is tricky for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that they are still growing and need to have a solid nutritional foundation to maintain that growth.
Being overweight is a psychologically loaded issue for a child (as for anyone else): Self-esteem, self-worth, and popularity can be wrapped up in it, so it’s especially important to come at the weight loss endeavor as productively and positively as possible.
Here is some of the best-supported advice for parents who are trying to help their children lose weight. the bottom line: the focus should always be on health, and on making the experience as positive and rewarding – and as anxiety-free – as possible.
Be sure Weight Loss is Necessary
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) warns that “limiting what children eat may interfere with their growth.” so determining the right way to go about it – and whether it’s really warranted – is important.
There is no one single calculation to determine if a child needs to lose weight. Some use body mass index (BMI) to determine whether a child is overweight or obese, but “BMI is tricky because children haven’t reached peak bone mass, and this can affect the measure,” says Rebecca Solomon, Registered Dietician (RD) and Nutrition Coordinator at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, who adds that “the decision is really a multi-factorial one.”
When it comes to child weight loss, it’s always best to get the go-ahead from your pediatrician. In addition to making sure you are doing the right thing, having his or her authority behind you can only help. since some kids’ BMI may be on the borderline, the first step is to talk to your child’s pediatrician to determine if weight loss plan is advised. your child’s doctor will look at all the factors – body weight, age, height, eating habits, activity level – and tell you whether it’s time to work on developing a plan or whether watching and waiting is enough.
The best plan Is the one That’s Tailored to your Child
Once it has been decided that your child would benefit from a weight loss plan, it’s important to develop one that’s specific to his or her needs. Solomon says that since our society – parents and children alike – is becoming more and more sedentary, kids are less likely than they once were to “outgrow” the baby fat as they age. That is why a specific plan to lose weight is often needed.
Don’t forget to ask your child what strategy he or she feels will be best and most successful.
One recent study found that kids had an easier time sticking to weight loss plans that included more low-glycemic foods (those that raise your blood sugar slowly over time, like fruits, veggies, and whole grains), and a harder time staying with high-protein, low-carbohydrate plans like the Atkins diet. Consulting with an expert to develop the best game plan is a good place to start, but don’t forget to ask your child what strategy he or she feels will be best and most successful.
Shift the Focus, Change the Language
Regardless of whether you are overweight or normal weight yourself (more on this below), it is incredibly important to keep the discussion in a positive light, and frame the challenge in such a way that health is the goal, rather than losing weight to “fix” a problem. There are a lot of factors tied up in weight for a child (and for adults, for that matter).
For many children, there is often a perceived value judgment associated with body weight, says Solomon. she urges parents to “avoid using negative words like ‘fat’ or ‘heavy,’ because there are too many negative connotations.” instead, say something like, “This just means that you weigh more than you should for how tall you are.” Then focus on the health-related implications, both physically and mentally. This may mean talking to your child about the positive outcomes, like how much better they’ll feel physically, how their clothes will fit differently, even how interactions with others may change as a result.
Frame the challenge in such a way that health is the goal, rather than losing weight to ‘fix’ a problem.
Showing that you empathize with a child who is struggling with his or her weight is really what it’s all about. Amy Jamieson-Petonic, MEd, RD, of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and Director of Coaching at Cleveland Clinic adds that “Being overweight carries quite a stigma about it… Physicians, psychologists, registered dietitians, other healthcare providers and family members need to help the child become more comfortable with who they are as a person, and let them know that they are cared for and loved.”
Help your Kid Stay Motivated
Part of a parent’s job in weight loss and life is keeping your child motivated – without nagging or pressuring. Suggest activities that put you in it together: try out rollerblading, bike riding, swimming, hiking, or any other physical activity that strikes your child’s fancy, always making sure your child has a voice in what activities you do together.
It’s also important to celebrate your child’s success along the way. For example, a new outfit every so often, to reflect the weight loss that your child is experiencing, can help her feel the results in a new way. Food treats are also fine. they underscore that eating isn’t the enemy, just eating too much.
The goal is always to help your child understand that getting healthy and being active should be fun, not work, and that there will be lots of satisfying rewards – external and internal – throughout the process.
Parents’ Weight – and example — can Be a Problem or an Advantage
Though it may sound funny, overweight parents who have an overweight child may actually have somewhat of an advantage (more on normal weight parents below). This is because children pick up the habits of their parents – both the bad and the good.
Jamieson-Petonic says, “Families have a HUGE impact on whether or not the child will be successful. when I work with kids, I tell the parents that eating healthy is a family affair, and that everyone needs to be on board, and that everyone will benefit from these strategies.”
One of the most effective methods for helping children lose weight is when the parents change their own habits. Kids learn best through observing others’ behavior. they also have excellent antennae for picking up habits and moods in the household. This is why it is so important to have healthy habits and a good relationship with food yourself. your behavior will rub off on your child more than you may want to believe.
the ‘No Cookie’ rules almost never work, because I can guarantee you that children are finding the foods elsewhere.
When parents are normal weight and their child is overweight, it’s a little bit harder. Solomon says that there’s an “extra component of perceived judgment in these situations – and it can be so hard on struggling kids, since it can damage self-esteem, self-worth, often exacerbates the problem. Kids may often ask themselves, ‘How come I can’t maintain normal body weight, when mom and dad can?’” Kids may act out or rebel in these situations, by binging when mom or dad isn’t around.
Solomon likes to meet with children alone, in addition to parent-child meetings, precisely because “a lot of kids just don’t speak freely about what they’re going through in the company of parents.” and helping kids speak freely about what’s going on inside them is a big part of finding a solution to the problem.
Weight loss programs often actually work better when peers play the leading role and the parents are less involved. Knowing what kind of role to play – and when to step back – is important, and talking to your child to learn what would make him or her feel most comfortable in the weight loss endeavor can be a good place to begin.
Be Firm, not Strict
Being firm about certain habits is a good, even necessary, tack to take. There are certain ways in which we can set up guidelines to encourage healthier habits in our kids. For example, the NIH recommends limiting the number of hours of TV or video games a child can play every day. In this way, at least some of the unhealthy variables that can contribute to weight gain can be reduced. (You may find yourself benefitting from this concept, too.)
On the other hand, too much restriction can backfire. For example, outlawing certain foods in the house is not likely to be a successful method, says Solomon: “Nothing should be restricted. the ‘No Cookie’ rules almost never work, because I can guarantee you that children are finding the foods elsewhere.” the NIH also urges parents avoid being too strict, and says that there can even be a place for a little fast food or sweets in a healthy diet. the key is for these foods to be the exception rather than the rule.
It’s about Setting your Child up for the Future
The pull of the media and McDonalds are awfully hard to compete with. the clever marketing tactics that fast food outlets use, and even with the kid-friendly packaging on unhealthy grocery store items are designed to attract. But it is possible to overcome the pull of the media and help your child make better choices.
We can’t be around our kids 24 hours a day. This is why we need to give them the tools to make their own good decisions.
Here, too, studies show that parents are more effective than they realize when it comes to helping their kids make better food choices. the NIH suggests that parents help their kids be attuned to peer and media pressures by talking about making smart personal choices, rather than letting those around them or the media influence them to make poor ones.
Helping set up good relationships with food early on is the very best thing you can do for your child. We can’t be around our kids 24 hours a day, and that’s the way it should be, as Solomon reminds us. But this is why we need to give them the tools to make their own good decisions. (It’s also why too much restriction is less likely to be successful.)
Teaching healthy habits – by example – will set them up for a lifetime of healthy eating and living. and again, the ultimate focus should be on gaining something positive, not on correcting a negative. Jamieson-Petonic underlines that it’s best to “focus on the health benefits of developing a healthier lifestyle, not on weight… the rewards of becoming healthier are tremendous, and if you help kids develop healthy habits today, they will carry them through a lifetime.”
This article originally appeared on TheDoctorWillSeeYouNow.com, an Atlantic partner site.
Sunday, April 29, 2012 12:00 AM | 
Printer friendly version | 
E-mail to a friend | Comments 
for the Salisbury Post
CHINA GROVE — when Patrick King was a toddler, he wandered around the house saying, “And they lived happily ever after,” over and over and over again. He had no idea what the words meant, but he loved the sound of them, the rhythm.
things weren’t exactly happy around the King household. Patrick’s parents, Susan and David, had no idea what was going on with their son, but they knew there was a problem. Patrick was rarely talking. He was prone to meltdowns. He had the habit of shaking his hands in front of his face. He hated loud noises. Even strong smells bothered him.
“He was so frustrated. I felt so bad for him,” Susan remembers.
when it was time for Patrick to move from the 2-year-old class to the 3-year-old class at his day care, teachers told Susan he wasn’t ready. Rounds of tests followed.
the diagnosis: autism.
at one point, the Kings were told that their son, the youngest of their four children, might even be borderline mentally handicapped.
that was 15 years ago.
Patrick, now 19, is about to graduate from South Rowan High School. He’s won regional honors in swimming. He’s performed in the all-state chorus. And he’s headed to Pfeiffer University this fall on athletic and academic scholarships.
It’s enough to make a mom shout the good news … which in fact she does in a phone call to set up the interview with her son at their China Grove home.
perfectly understandable. It’s been quite a journey for Patrick and his family. Even though it’s the afternoon following the prom, Patrick is wide awake and wearing his ever-present smile. his date was his good friend, Ava quick, a senior at Carson High School. They posed for pictures by a waterfall in his beautiful backyard. They went to dinner with a whole passel of classmates. They danced the night away.
“It was great hanging out with all my friends,” Patrick reports.
• • •
Patrick doesn’t really remember his early years.
“when I was young, I was uncertain about a lot of things,” he says. “when we’re young, we don’t know what’s going on in the world.”
his autism made it worse. his three sisters, Katie, Emily and Sarah, couldn’t understand it, either. They couldn’t understand why he didn’t have to do chores like they did. Sarah called him “the Prince” for the longest time. Patrick gets a good laugh when his mom reminds him about that.
Susan and David were taking Patrick to the TEACCH Center in Charlotte for therapy. the center serves individuals with autism. at the urging of therapists, they took the girls. an intern talked with them in German. next, they were taken into a room where music was played at an ear-splitting level. Finally, they were asked to put on woolly gloves and try to pick up pennies. They couldn’t do or understand anything.
the staff told them, “Patrick’s brain works differently.”
And then they understood.
It’s been good for the girls to have a special-needs sibling, Susan says. “Patrick just became our family’s priority. Our daughters had to learn sacrifice. It’s given them a sensitivity to people who have struggles.”
Katie Morgan, 24, is a sixth-grade science teacher at Corriher-Lipe Middle School. Emily, 23, is a nurse at Rowan Regional Medical Center. Sarah, 20, following in her sister’s footsteps, will graduate from the East Carolina University School of Nursing in 2013.
Susan and David had different reactions to their son’s diagnosis.
“I cried because I knew life was going to be hard for him,” she says. “we were headed in one direction and this was a detour. David said, this is no problem. It’s going to be fine.”
With numerous therapies, it has been.
the transition from elementary school to middle school was hard, Patrick admits. so was the transition from middle school to high school. But he met those challenges of transition. He’s set his own patterns and routines in high school. He’s fixed the same lunch for the past four years: peanut butter and jelly sandwich on whole-wheat bread, sliced apples, strawberries, popcorn and Sprite Zero in a can. He points out that, according to Weight Watchers, that’s a meal worth only 5 points.
He learned to cope with the loud cafeteria. “It’s still loud to me, even to this day. But it’s fine.”
the administration is kind enough to give him a heads-up about fire drills so he won’t be startled. during swim meets, he brings along a camp chair, set off to the side, for when he needs a few minutes to himself in an environment reverberating with noise. when he talks to his teammates, he’s not bothered by his surroundings, and when he’s thinking about swimming, he’s OK, too.
On April 20, when he signed with Pfeiffer, some 15 of his teammates came to the event, along with many of his former teachers and coaches.
“I don’t usually cry,” Patrick says. “I didn’t cry, but I was getting pretty emotional. It was wonderful seeing all these people who care about me.”
Through it all, Susan and David’s faith has been steady.
soon after Patrick’s diagnosis, Susan went to a Women of Faith conference in Charlotte. the speaker talked about taking your questions to God. so Susan did.
And what she heard was: “You can’t do this. But we can.”
she continues, “we have been able to see God moving in Patrick’s life. He’s a wonderful son. This has been about perseverance and trusting God. He’s been such a blessing to us. there are things in life that are just beyond you, and that’s where you meet God.”
• • •
at Pfeiffer, Patrick will major in computer science.
“in elementary school, I fell in love with video games,” he says. He wants to make a career in game development — developing characters, story lines and the like.
Patrick had always planned to go to college. “I know how job opportunities are so scarce, especially if you don’t have a degree.”
Admittedly, his parents for a time didn’t know whether it would be a possibility. But, Susan says, “I didn’t want to set any limits.”
Patrick was thinking of attending the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, but his parents worried the big campus would overwhelm him. so they were open to other options. Patrick began swimming as a freshman. Two of his three sisters had been on the swim team, and he decided to give it a try. He was 60 pounds heavier then. Swimming and Weight Watchers changed that.
Following the regional swim meet in February, Patrick found out that Pfeiffer was interested in him.
Boy, were they ever.
when the Kings visited campus, they found a reserved parking space for Patrick and banners heralding his arrival.
“They know how to make you feel welcome,” Patrick says, grinning.
“It just felt so right,” Susan says.
Patrick wanted to be ready for the scholarship interviews. He and his mom practiced questions so Patrick would feel comfortable before the interview panel.
“It was a God thing,” he says. “He just helped the interviews to be so good.”
when the interviews were over, Patrick had two-thirds of his college expenses paid.
in talking with the panel, he was open about his autism.
“there is hope,” Susan says. “there can be progress.”
Susan and Patrick have been invited by Partners in Learning to be the keynote speakers at a mini-conference on special needs on May 5 at Catawba College. Their speech is titled, “Blessings and Challenges of Living with Autism.”
Susan has made an outline of her remarks, but Patrick will practice everything he’ll say once a day the week before.
“I feel better when I’m prepared,” he explains.
the next few months, Patrick will prepare to enter Pfeiffer.
“It’s gonna be a big adjustment for me,” Susan admits. “so much time has been put into helping him, but it’s time for him to be more independent. now he has the opportunity to fly. He’s gonna soar. I think he’ll do great. God has big plans for this young man.”
One day soon, Patrick King will load up his champagne-colored Honda Civic and drive himself down U.S. 52 to Pfeiffer.
And he’ll have his happy ending.
Freelance writer Susan Shinn lives in Salisbury.
Nothing is quite as exciting to a child as a birthday party. We may lose the desire to celebrate as we get older, but to a child, a birthday is a magical thing. As parents, we want to make those occasions special and sometimes that wish can lead to a big dent in our finances. it doesn’t have to. with a little creative thinking, you can make sure your child and party guests have a great time, without worrying about crashing the budget (we can even learn some money lessons from birthday parties). you can even let your birthday girl or boy have some fun in helping with some of the party preparations. Here are a few ideas on how you can save money when throwing your child their next birthday party:
Remember that this party is for and about kids. That means there’s no need for fancy stationery and gilded envelopes. the invitations you send out will probably be stuck to the refrigerator until the day after the party, then end up in the recycling bin, so there’s no point in wasting a lot of money. Have your child help you create a custom invitation. use your computer and printer or just get out the crayons and colored pencils and then shoot some copies. be creative.
Your home is just fine for entertaining children. the kids won’t care, as long as fun is on the agenda. If your house is small and the weather permits, move the party outdoors. Restaurants and amusement park parties are nice, if you have room in the budget, but paying for a dozen or more children is going to add up in a hurry.
As with invitations, kids aren’t likely to be too concerned with decorations. sure, if you’re planning a theme of some sort, you’ll need to put a little time and thought into it, but not necessarily a lot of money. Work it out with the birthday kid ahead of time and let him or her help “set the stage”. Some crepe paper and balloons from the dollar store will go a long way, and while helium balloons are cool to look at, the party guests can actually play with balloons that won’t float away.
It’s always nice to send something home with your child’s party guests, but any party favors that won’t end up crumpled, broken and worn out in no time are going to be a little pricey. As a unique alternative, why not have the kids create something fun to take home? Simple origami projects, friendship bracelets and a host of other quick craft ideas can keep the youngsters busy and give them something to show off when they go home. Kids can even make their own birthday hats when they arrive, with just some construction paper and glue. A Google search for “birthday crafts” will provide a surprising number of ideas and instructions.
Planning and preparing the birthday party goodies yourself can be fun and rewarding, provided you have the time. Here’s another opportunity to involve your child in the birthday preparations! with literally thousands of fun kids’ recipes available online, you won’t have any trouble coming up with a menu. Build some sandwiches and cut them into shapes with cookie cutters. How about pigs in blankets? Gummy worms in cookie crumb “dirt”. the possibilities are endless.
If money’s tight, a birthday party needn’t be a free meal. Plan it in the early afternoon and explain that it’s just a cake and ice cream party. You’ll have more time for fun and less mess to clean up. Parents should have no problem with feeding their children ahead of time and they’ll have fewer worries about what their kids will be eating. the kids will be ok with it; they’d rather have the cake, anyway.
You knew this one was coming, didn’t you? I can sense some of you cringing at this idea. Relax. There’s no law that says you need to make a cake from scratch. Any inexpensive cake mix will get the job done and you’ll probably just need oil, eggs and water. but, maybe your problem is the decorating part. No need to worry there, either. Yep, it’s time to turn to the internet again. Here’s just one example of pages of instructions for fun cakes: http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/birthday/cakes.html Cupcakes are a popular idea, too, and even easier to decorate, not to mention you don’t have to slice a cake.
Admittedly, this may be a tough one. many kids will want to invite the whole class, either because they’re just naturally outgoing, or simply don’t want to make choices. Alright, yes, some kids simply want more gifts. In any case, if you don’t have a lot of room and a lot of money to spend, it’s perfectly reasonable to ask your child to limit the guest list to actual friends. Not only will you save some cash and probably your sanity, parents of children that don’t know yours well enough to know what to buy will be appreciative. This tip could even save you enough money to get out of having to resort to the one directly above.
There’s a very good chance that children in the same age range as your child will enjoy doing the same things. That means you probably already have games, toys and such on hand that the kids will like. If you’ve got a Velcro dart board, badminton set, building blocks, or other fun stuff on hand, you can probably keep the kids occupied. If you’re having the party in the back yard, you’ve got even more options. Think “day camp”.
“what?” yes, you might actually find yourself saving some money by having just a few kids over and making it an all-nighter, if the kids are old enough. “How can that be?” Well, the first reason is simple: there’s only so much room, so there will be less guests. more importantly, though, once the treats and presents are out of the way, some birthday magic happens. the kids will find ways to entertain themselves, from movies, to games, to telling ghost stories. you might even find time to watch a little TV yourself.
(Photo courtesy of Will Clayton)
After attending the eighth annual World’s Greatest Baby Shower on Saturday, she now knows she is not alone.
“I don’t have to worry as much now knowing that so many groups are able to help me,” she said.
Musen and more than 200 others attended the event at Lincoln Middle School to learn about important child issues like infant sleeping patterns, breastfeeding and shaken baby syndrome.
The event, which was hosted by both the Kiwanis Club of the University City and the Kiwanis Club of Gainesville, had vendors talk with families, local support groups speak about their services and 10 classes in which experts spoke about various topics.
Each family chose three 30-minute sessions to attend.
New moms and dads, expectant mothers and parents with preschool children ages 5 and under were all welcome to attend.
Mitzi Sparks, Musen’s mother and grandmother-to-be, said she was surprised at the number of services offered to expectant families.
“As a mother of a 16-year-old pregnant daughter, this is a relief to know they have all these resources available to keep my daughter happy and healthy,” she said. “It’s also been a huge relief as a future grandmother.”
More than $3,000 in prizes and gift cards were awarded to visitors, and each guest walked away with a goody bag with a children’s book, $10 Walmart gift card and other various baby items.
Marti McGuire, the chair of the event’s planning committee, said the Kiwanis Club’s mission is to improve the lives of families and children.
She said this event will educate families on how to keep children safe and happy.
“It’s a dynamite activity, and it’s something we are very proud to offer to mothers in the community.”
McGuire said it’s important for families to be aware of the services offered in their community. this event brought many of them together under one roof.
“if they need help, there is some program in the community that can help them,” she said.
Robin Ratliff, who has an expectant daughter, said she was surprised at the facts she learned at the event.
“A lot has changed since I had kids,” she said.
There’s a potential new health-care mandate developing in the state of California, where lawmakers want to crack down on parents who have concerns over the state-required vaccine injections for their children.
Unrelated to Obamacare, but instead coming from a state health-care push, the proposal, AB 2109 by Assemblyman Richard Pan, D-Sacramento, “seeks to rein in parents who object to mandatory vaccines for students,” according to officials with the Pacific Justice Institute.
The legal team said the present law allows parents to opt their children out of mandatory shots by sending a letter to the school and stating their beliefs that provide a foundation for their objections.
“Assemblyman Pan’s bill would require the creation of a new government form for those parents to complete, and would also require them to get a signature and information from a doctor, nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant about vaccines and communicable diseases,” the organization reported.
“the latter mandate would likely require parents to spend time and money in a doctor’s office when they are not sick, just to get information they could have accessed online.”
A health committee is scheduled to begin discussion of the proposal next week.
PJI said its attorneys have advised many parents over the years who, for a wide variety of religious and philosophical reasons, do not want their children injected with one or more of the mandatory vaccines.
“AB 2109 reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of both parents and the role of public health,” said PJI staff attorney Matthew McReynolds.
“the parents who have concerns about vaccines are not dumb, and they should not be forced to pay for state-mandated information they could easily get elsewhere, at little or no cost. This is a classic big-government solution in search of a problem,” he said.
“when government starts issuing healthcare mandates, watch your wallet,” warned Brad Dacus, president of the institute. “This special-interest legislation creates a windfall for Big Healthcare at the expense of conscientious parents.”
He said the trend of legislation that “pads the profits of pharmaceutical and healthcare giants at the expense of parents and taxpayers” is beginning to alarm.
Last year, PJI opposed legislation that now allows drug companies to give minors controversial injections like the HPV vaccine without telling their parents.
Once they convince kids they need the shots, HPV vaccine makers can then bill taxpayers through a federal program, officials said.
What's your parenting secret? Scary Mommy may have heard it By Janice D'Arcy Most, if not all, parents have secrets they wouldn't tell their closest friend or partner. but plenty are sharing them, anonymously, in a very public and very popular forum.
See all stories on this topic »
fiteBac™ SkinCare, LLC donates Germicidal Hand Softening Gel to local Primrose School, encouraging clean hands as a part of daily routines to help curb contagious infection.
Marietta, GA (PRWEB) March 30, 2012
in an era when it’s increasingly necessary for daycare centers to provide the cleanest environment possible, fiteBac SkinCare helps local daycare by donating its alcohol free hand sanitizer, fiteBac SkinCare Germicidal Hand Softening Gel, encouraging employees to sanitize without drying and cracking skin.
It’s Primrose School’s mission to ensure each child can excel in a safe, happy and learning environment. fiteBac SkinCare, LLC joins the mission by donating bottles of the Germicidal Hand Softening Gel to Primrose’s employees. each apply a pea-sized amount, allowing teachers to sanitize without worrying about damaging the skin, unlike traditional alcohol-based hand sanitizers that can be harsh to skin. Teachers are more likely to comply with strict hand hygiene protocols when they can enjoy soft hands. “If employees are able to maintain healthy hands and kill bacteria, they are more likely to want to sanitize. fiteBac SkinCare Germicidal gives parents a little more confidence in leaving children in an environment with a well thought out plan that tackles compliance issues,” says Dr. Kirk Kimmerling, President and CEO of fiteBac SkinCare, LLC.
fiteBac SkinCare Germicidal has a unique patent pending formulation that kills bacteria while helping to strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier Velvety soft skin even after frequent hand washing or exposure to other harsh environments is an exciting advancement. fiteBac’s formulation is non-greasy, fragrance free, petroleum free, water free and cost effective; a little bit goes a long way.
THE DENTAL ADVISOR’s Dr. John Molinari, a well-respected infection control expert, found a highly favorable kill activity in his study of the germicidal properties of fiteBac’s Hand Gel. Dr. Molinari is influential in both the dental and medical fields, and his significant findings are boosting interest in the company’s world-changing technology. The technology is beneficial to schools, as well as many other industries.
fiteBac SkinCare Germicidal helps Primrose Daycare employ the new hand hygiene protocol of the future. The program alerts teachers that sanitizing does not have to damage skin. Support for the new germicidal from the teachers has been high. “It is wonderful to sanitize hands without drying them out. At Primose, we have high standards that require we maintain clean hands, and fiteBac SkinCare Germicidal is the perfect fit,” says daycare owner, Cheryl Bahneman.
About fiteBac™ SkinCare, LLC and KHG : fiteBac SkinCare, LLC is a subsidiary company of Kimmerling Holdings Group, LLC (“KHG”), a Georgia-based biotech company that has developed an antimicrobial platform intellectual property technology. KHG was founded in 2009 by Kirk Kimmerling, DDS Marietta Cosmetic Dentist and Dan Kearney. The two set out to create products to “change the world, one product at a time.” Kirk and Dan first targeted bacterial issues in dentistry, knowing that solving those problems would lead to dramatic improvements in oral health, and more importantly, systemic bodily health. they engaged a team of highly accomplished chemists and scientists retired from Fortune 500 companies and researchers from major universities. in doing so, KHG has developed technology with several patents pending that has application well beyond dental materials, and has exciting potential in medical, plastic, composite, coating and other applications that are in various stages of development, some close to commercialization. fiteBac SkinCare Hand Softening Gel is the first product to be released under the fiteBac brand name.
For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2012/3/prweb9347752.htm