Free Glide

The importance of a person’s earliest developing years has long been known, but now researchers are coming across mind-blowing facts about the first 18 months of a person’s life. The effects of how they are treated in this period manifest themselves not only in the elementary years, but also in adolescence and in their adult life.

That the act of breast-feeding is essential in building a trusting and loving relationship between a mother and child has been known for a long time, but something that might be even more important is the simple presence of the mother with the baby in the first 18 months. Many women today, especially in America start leaving their children in day-care centers before they turn one year old and many more in their pre-school years. Many of these women have to work to provide financially for the family. Though the necessity for the woman to work is understandable in the current world, this is still a very damaging beginning of a mother-child relationship.

Dangerous behaviors such as severe depression, extreme rebellion, recklessness, nihilism, addictions and violent tendencies have up to 12 times greater chances of manifesting themselves in an adolescent whose mother wasn’t around for a large period of infancy. Absence of the father also contributes a lot to such behaviors. Research now indicates that when very young children consistently do not have anyone who responds when they cry, their chances of turning to crime, developing depression and of getting into abusive relationships (as the abuser or the victim) goes up dramatically.

So what’s a parent to do in such circumstances? Remember that family is first. Your company is far more important to the baby than that gigantic Teddy Bear that will cost you another 2 hours at work. Try to console the baby when it cries and never ignore it, no matter the stress in your life. Cut down on work time and employ some strategies to cut down expenses so that you can stay home more - don’t buy pop, red meat, excess snacks and such. Try to eat at home more often. Get out with the child more so that he/she can experience your company in different environments. Most importantly, model the behaviors you want to see in your child - pray with them and for them, be compassionate, selfless and forgiving towards your spouse. Even if they don’t understand what’s going on entirely, they do understand that they are to do it too.

Another important aspect of parenting is to maintain your authority. Let them know that you’re the boss and start early. Don’t let them get away with things you don’t want them to do later. This doesn’t imply that you be mean to them or hit them in anger, but don’t give into their every desire and whim. Love them, but discipline them because you love them.

Spend time with them, love them and discipline them and you’ll reduce the chances of them going down the wrong paths by a ton.

Michael Russell

Your Independent Baby and Toddler guide.

One of the cornerstones of a happy and harmonious family is its ability to successfully make good decisions that impact the group. More important than that, it is critical to get all family members to buy into the decisions once they are made. Whether you are deciding on your next outing, what time your son needs to have his homework done, or when your daughter needs to be home from a date the decision process is critical.

No matter how you think your family works, kids and adults both care about the decision making process. In order for there to be buy-in, peace and support in your family the decision process must ultimately be perceived as fair.

Fairness is obviously a matter of who is making the determination, and so there are no set rules. But over the years I have found that decisions that are perceived as fair have some common traits.

First everyone impacted by the decision must believe they have had a real opportunity to contribute to the decision. Many fights and struggles in families start because a decision was made without one of the members playing. How many times do you hear “I can not believe you did that and didn’t even ask me…” If it happens a lot you need to check your process. It is probably doomed from the start.

Next all sides must feel the decision maker really listened to their input and considered their point of view prior to making the decision. This is particularly true when teens are involved. Never forget they are in the stage where you more than likely regularly tell them to “act their age” and “grow up”. If this is your message, then it is critical for you to listen to them as you would any other adult that had input to the decision process.

More then listening, all members of the family must believe they had a genuine chance to influence the decision. If your family is at the point where certain decisions are made by the children this is very important to stress. Kids need to understand that along with the ability to make decisions for themselves and others comes the responsibility to listen openly and weigh input. If you have modeled this behavior all along it will come naturally, so watch your actions with young kids and act consistently.

And finally, whatever the decision is everyone must understand the reason for the final choice. Early on in the process it is important to let everyone know if there is a pecking order to input. Especially with young children you want to listen but do not forget your role as parent. If the final decision comes down to “because I said so” deliver the message firmly but in a way that lets them know you at least listened. Help them understand why their position did not prevail.

One process you might want to try looks something like this:

1. Clearly define and communicate how the decision will be made and by who.

2. Next maintain an open mind set if the decision is truly open for discussion.

3. Actively listen to all parties involved. Encourage everyone to ask questions for clarification. Regularly provide feedback to test for understanding. Above all, everyone needs to show respect for differing points of view, don’t interrupt.

4. Once it is made, explain the decision and how you evaluated the information and made the choice.

5. Explain how everyone’s input was used. Clearly show how each family member contributed to the process, even if they didn’t prevail.

6. Last, openly and honestly recognize family members for all contributions (positive and negative) so they will want to participate in future decisions.

Obviously this is not the only process. Experiment, make your own. Just be sure to include each of the elements. If you do your decisions won’t be any easier but at least everyone in the family will understand them and believe they were treated fairly.

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Steve Farmer is a leader in the field of Coaching. As a skilled professional coach, inspirational speaker and author he brings the power of individual coaching to everyday living. Steve empowers individuals to follow their dreams, achieve more in their current careers, and maintain a balance between their personal and professional lives.

A busy entrepreneur himself, Steve understands the many demands and challenges facing today’s busy families. He also knows that amidst the chaos, people sometimes need support in maintaining both their sanity and a balanced life. With his innate listening and problem-solving gifts, Steve helps individuals find solutions to their difficult problems. Whether through one-on-one coaching, workshops, courses or keynote addresses, he helps people to better develop their personal talents and skills so that their journey to success and happiness is easier, more rewarding and less frustrating.
Learn more about Steve at his website http://www.innovations4life.com

I stood on line at the store, MEET THE BEATLES clutched in one hand, money earned ironing a basket of clothing taller and wider than I was, clutched in the other hand. I was in 6th grade. My mom had driven me to the store and stood next to me. She asked, “How badly do you want this? How many hours did you work to get the money to buy this?”

I was resolute. I’d worked specifically because I’d wanted the Beatles first US release. I still listen to the Beatles.

It started with me asking my mom if I could buy the record. I didn’t have enough of my own money and no babysitting jobs were coming up. In my entire childhood growing up on our farm, if you wanted to eat, you helped out. Even as toddlers we were given little jobs. Fold the washcloths.

When I get determined, I find a way. I had a lot more energy back then, but I can still “sink my teeth in” when I want something badly enough.

My mom worked hard on our farm. Our house was clean, but rarely tidy. Some things, like ironing did not get done unless there was nothing else to wear.

I offered to iron the entire basket, now filled with clothing, even the pleated skirts, if she would give me the money. She hated ironing enough to pay someone else to do it.

Standing on line at the store, I was surprised by the question, but undeterred. What I didn’t realize, until years later, is in that moment my mother taught me a valuable lesson without being overbearing.

I was 30-something and had gone shopping with a girlfriend. I picked something out and as we stood on line to pay I said, “I don’t want this badly enough,” and put the item back. My astonished girlfriend told the story for days. She’d never seen anyone about to pay for an item turn around and put it back. Don’t ask me what the item was. I don’t remember.

JJ Murphy, writer and naturalist, lives in Harriman NY. She offers creative nature curriculum, wild food recipes, fiction, poetry, articles and writing services for individuals, entrepreneurs, small businesses and ecologically aware companies. Please visit her at http://www.writerbynature.com/index.php Creative Content for Your Nature Endeavors

Are you expecting a baby? Are you planning on having a baby soon? Want to know how to make a baby? No, I’m only kidding. The thing is, if you have, or will have a baby some time soon, you may just like to consider what to do to treat and to prevent wasp and bee stings. I will also cover houseflies.

Wasp stings should be treated by rubbing vinegar onto the affected area of the skin. Alternatively, there are many lotions available that will treat wasp stings.

Bee stings are a little more troublesome as the bees leaves its stinger in the victim’s skin. If you try to pinch the sting out of the skin, you may actually pump more venom into the body. The best thing to do is to scrape horizontally across the skin in order to knock the sting out (try using a credit card). Apply the appropriate lotion or use baking soda mixed with water (this should reduce irritation).

For both wasp and bee stings, it may improve things if you apply something cool to the affected area. This should reduce the pain. Wasp and bee stings can be distressing to baby or young child. In most cases the pain will go away in time. In a minority of cases an allergic reaction may result. If your child develops breathing difficulties, any swelling around eyes, lips, tongue or penis, any red blotching, light-headedness or fainting, then they must be seen by a doctor immediately.

Houseflies do not sting of course, but their presence can actually be worse than that of wasps or bees. They can carry some quite nasty germs and they have a habit of depositing some of those germs wherever they land.

When babies start to eat solids, they can be very messy indeed. This mess will lure houseflies and wasps. Apart from troubling your baby, they will be in danger of being stung by the wasp or infected by the fly.

How do you prevent these flying insects from troubling your baby? If you are out, then it may be a good precaution to drape a net over the baby buggy, especially if your baby is eating an iced-cream or a cream bun!

When indoors, it may be best to have a fly killer machine fitted in the rooms your baby spends time in. There are many units to choose from at www.eeeee.co.uk. The machine must be just above door height (never in reach of baby).

We all know that babies cry for all sorts of reasons. It can be distressing, however, when they cry as a result of something that we could have prevented.

Fly killers can be purchased on line here

Recently there have been incredible advances in technology and manufacture that make using cloth nappies simple, cheap and environmentally sound. Some of the new nappy systems are made with hemp, flannelette, terry cotton and some are fitted and require no folding. Plastic pilchers have been replaced by breathable PUL fabric, wool or polar fleece.

Cloth nappies have the major environmental benefit of greatly reducing amount of rubbish going into landfill. Studies have shown disposable nappies take up to 500 years to decompose. A disposable nappy can take up to three times the energy to produce than a cloth nappy. One disposable nappy uses eight times the amount of landfill to create and dispose of compared to a cloth nappy. Disposable nappies take up to 500 years to decompose. This is certainly food for thought.

Hemp Nappies are usually neat and slim nappies. They are usually comfortable and long wearing. Hemp is extremely absorbant, which means nappies last longer and they are an excellent choice for overnight when babies tend to wet heavily. Hemp is environmentally friendly to grow as it can be cultivated without chemicals as it is very resistant to disease and tends to outgrow weeds whereas cotton will usually require a lot of spraying for both weed control and pests.

Flannelette nappies are slimmer-fitting and thus quicker to dry and are an excellent choice for a newborn baby, but flannelette nappies don’t have the absorbency to cope with a toddler. Flannelette is slightly cheaper than a traditional flat terry nappy. As both are so cheap, one might consider using flannelette nappies for the first few months and then using a a more absorbent nappy suited to an older baby.

Fitted nappies work like disposables do - they have an hourglass shape when folded out and once they are on they are in roughly the shape of underpants. Shaped nappies have extra layers of cloth sewn into the areas which require most absorbency, and are brief at the hips and thighs. Fitted nappies usually have elastication at back and waist which provides extra leakage protection. A good quality shaped nappy is an excellent alternative to using disposables. They require no folding and can be used with a PUL, wool or polar fleece nappy cover for added protection from leaks.

A PUL cover is made of cloth but the inside of the cover is laminated and looks like a wax waterproofing. This provides a high degree of water-resistance whilst in most cases maintaining breathe-ability. It wears well when cared for properly. They can usually be washed with the nappies and dry in minutes. They easily cope with very wet daytime nappies, and depending on moisture levels can be effective overnight.

Fleece and wool covers work quite differently from PUL. With PUL, the cover is supposed to contain the moisture, while still allowing air to circulate inside the nappy. Fleece and wool allow much more air in and out of the nappy and this air-flow causes evaporation of moisture from the nappy. Instead of just containing the moisture, fleece and wool covers work to get rid of some of it, which makes them particularly good for overnight use. The only time when fleece and wool covers are not very effective is when there is not much air-flow, (eg very long periods spent in a car seat or a pram) and the nappy cover could leak. This is due to lack of air circulation and therefore evaporation of excreted liquids. Wool and polar fleece covers are highly water resistant and can be used with great success overnight for babies who are heavy wetters.

Most good quality cloth nappy systems cannot be purchased in shops and will need to be purchased online or via mail order. As outlined above there are many types of nappy systems to consider depending on the age of your baby, washing frequency, cost and type of nappy that suits a family’s lifestyle. Cloth nappies are easy to use and more environmentally sound than disposables. They are comfortable for your baby and should be gentle on their sensitive skin. A nappy is the most used piece of baby equipment in your household and is the closest thing to your babies skin all day and night for years. Cloth is an alternative that is certainly worth considering.

I’m a mother of two boys, 5 and nearly 2 years old. Although parenting my two wonderful children is my main focus, furthering my understandings about how children learn and develop is something of great interest to me. I am interested in parenting, as a teacher, as a mother and a member of a wider community.

How we look after our children does impact on others in the world around us. I believe I have something valuable to share. I hope you find it interesting and useful.

For more information and articles please check out my website http://www.saneparenting.com

Does your diaper bag have everything you need in it? Of course, you have the basic items: diapers, wipes, bottles, etc. But are you equipped for any “baby situation” that could possibly arise? It may seem like a lot of gear, but if you bring along the following baby paraphernalia when you head out, you’ll be ready for just about anything.

1. Diapers-

Bring more than you think you’ll need. Even if your baby’s body works like clockwork, today could be the day when everything changes. Extra supplies also come in handy if your outing keeps you out longer than you had planned.

2. Baby Wipes-

Same goes for the wipes. They’re also great for cleaning spit-up off of little hands, folds of the neck and yourself.

3. Change of Clothes For Baby-

Make sure this is a complete change of clothes, including extra socks if the outfit requires. There is no such thing as a leak-proof diaper. Sometimes the mess can travel further than you can imagine.

4. Spare Shirt For Yourself-

There aren’t many moments more uncomfortable than walking around wearing your baby’s lunch or reeking of sour baby odors.

5. 2-Quart Sized Resealable Plastic Bags-

These are perfect for storing soiled clothing until you get home.

6. Extra Food-

Pack one more feeding than you think you’ll need. If today is the day your baby decides to increase his or her food intake, or, once again, if you are out longer than you planned, you’ll want to be prepared with enough food.

7. Plastic Changing Pad-

You’ll always have a clean place to lay your baby for diaper and clothing changes if you bring this along. Many times, these come with the diaper bag.

8. Blanket or Jacket-

If the weather becomes cooler while you’re out and you’re not prepared, you may be heading home sooner than you’d like. Also, some malls and grocery stores maintain cooler temperatures than you may have dressed your baby for.

9. Extra Pacifier-

Store one in a plastic sandwich bag. If one drops on the floor or mysteriously disappears, as pacifiers are wont to do, it’ll be no big deal.

10. Pediatrician’s Phone Number-

Hopefully, you’ll never need to call your baby’s doctor while you’re away from home. But if you do, you’ll be glad you have it.

Karen Bianchi is a freelance writer and the editor of http://www.AwesomeMomsNetwork.com, where you can find more articles just for moms.

It’s one of the cutest images most of us have of little girls - playing with their dolls, having doll tea parties and putting their dolls to bed in their own little bassinet. I had a bassinet for my dolls when I was little too, and got countless hours of enjoyment out of playing with it - although I was bit keener on teddy bears than dolls! Eventually I grew older, the bassinet fell apart and got thrown away, but the memories remained.

When I was pregnant with my first child, I was fortunate to discover that my eldest sister had kept a lot of her baby stuff, stacked up in her shed, for over 10 years. We pulled it all out, cleaned it up, and I set up the nursery for my own baby. At first I wasn’t really sure about the bassinet, I thought it was a bit unnecessary - after all, my sister had given me a perfectly good crib. But she told me I’d find it more helpful than I realised, so I set it up anyway.

My baby’s arrival was early and dramatic, and he was kept at the hospital for almost a month. It was an extremely difficult time, and when he came home, although he was very healthy, he was also still very tiny. So I worried endlessly about him. Being a mother for the first time is scary enough, but it’s even scarier when your baby is small enough to be mistaken for a doll.

So when it came to putting baby to sleep, I admit it - I didn’t like him being in another room. Yes, I had a baby monitor, and during the day I used that when he had a nap, but at night I was always worried that something might go wrong and I might lose him. I also found it frustrating to go through the whole process of slippers, dressing gown, going up to his room and so on. Being so small he didn’t have a lot of strength and his feeds took ages. By the time we were done, I was always wide-awake. So propping myself up in bed to feed him was a lot warmer, more comfortable, and I could still manage to stay half asleep while he fed!

It didn’t take long for me to realise that having a bassinet with wheels on it meant that I could wheel it into our room at night, and have my baby right beside the bed. I had considered co sleeping, but with him being so small I really wasn’t keen on the idea. The bassinet really was the perfect solution. Whenever he woke up, I could lift him straight into bed for a feed, or do a quick diaper change on the bed before hopping back in for a feed. There was something very peaceful about curling up in bed feeding my baby, and I found it much easier to go back to sleep when he was finished and tucked back up in the bassinet again.

I gained enormous peace of mind, having baby so close, but at the same time he was cosy and safe in his own little sleeping place. Gradually, as he slept longer and needed less attention, I moved the bassinet to the end of the bed, and eventually back into his room. He slept in it right up to the point where he started discovering how to sit up, and I moved him into his crib.

There were some other really helpful things about the bassinet. I’d had a caesarean, so bending was difficult for a while. The bassinet was much higher than the crib, and so it was much easier for me to lift baby in and out because I didn’t have to bend over at all. I could also release the brake and then rock the bassinet gently back and forth - very useful if he was having a bit of trouble settling down for a nap. Some of the modern ones even have a light vibration feature, so the soothing work is done for you!

When my daughter came along, she also started her life sleeping in the bassinet, and it was just as useful for her too. Nowadays I find it extra special when I watch her playing with her own dolls and bassinet. Life can get so busy in the modern world, that there’s something almost magical in watching such a timeless activity.

Discover heaps more great parenting ideas at Info About Baby You can sign up for a FREE Baby Tips newsletter at Baby Tips Newsletter. The author’s book about babies is available at Baby’s First Year

A diaper bag, as the name suggests is quite obviously a bag that stores diapers. However, most have enough space for a wide range of baby accessories and have proved to be a wonderful solution for busy parents. A diaper bag stores diapers, toys, medicines, pacifiers, snacks and anything else you might need to keep baby comfortable and happy. As a matter of fact, diaper bags are as important as a diaper — an equally indispensable part of a baby’s growing up years.
Over the years, diaper bags have evolved immensely and are now custom-made in a variety of styles and colors to compliment mom and baby on their day out. Created primarily for convenience, some modern bags are a superb blend of logic and design, proving to be extremely functional as well as fashionable.
Traditionally, diaper bags were bulky carry-alls, made out of plastic(meant to be leak-proof) with one huge pocket and several smaller ones. They looked outdated and highly unattractive. Now, you may come across bags made out of micro fiber with plenty of pockets. There are others made of a combination of tweed and leather.
When buying a diaper bag, remember that the most essential convenience the bag should have is space for a variety of products beyond diapers.
Also keep in mind that prices for diaper bags start low and can go high(particularly if you choose a designer bag). Another thing to keep in mind would be the budget. Parents should opt for bags that suit their lifestyle and those of their children the best.
Diaper bags, as we can see, diaper bags are extremely important for a baby. They contribute to the baby’s mobility and also provide ready relief for parents who dread excess baggage while traveling with their babies.

Diapers provides detailed information on Diapers, Diaper Bags, Cloth Diapers, Diaper Rash and more. Diapers is affliated with Cool Diaper Bags.

Children seem to go through clothing at an alarming rate. They either grow out of it almost as fast as they grow into it, or the rough and tumble of play causes irreparable damage. So when you’re buying clothes for your children, it’s important to think about what you’re buying, not just in terms of price, but also in terms of its suitability for your child.

With infants, it’s important to remember that they feel the cold. It takes a while for their bodies to learn how to adjust to different conditions, and so it’s up to you to make sure your child is dressed appropriately. I was told once that you should always dress a baby in one layer more than you’re wearing yourself, and I’ve found that to be a good rule of thumb. If you’re in a particularly cold environment, remember baby’s extremities should be covered with a hat, gloves, and perhaps add a blanket as well. If baby is sweating or his skin is red, you may be dressing him too warmly.

The flip side of this, too, is to take care during warmer weather. Babies might struggle to generate their own body heat, but they’re also still learning to cool themselves down. Dress baby in cooler materials, with good ventilation, but still check to make sure baby’s extremities are warm.

No matter what temperature it is, baby’s clothing should allow free movement of all part’s of the child’s body. Clothes that are too tight could cut off circulation to a part of baby’s body. This is particularly true once baby is learning to roll over and then crawl - he needs to be able to do those things without being restricted by clothing. Dresses may look very pretty on your baby girl, but can be extremely difficult to crawl in.

The material the clothing is made from is also important. Baby’s skin is very sensitive, and rougher materials can cause irritation. You also may find using a special baby detergent is best when washing baby’s clothes, as it is also less likely to cause irritation and rashes.

Your baby’s clothing shouldn’t have too many decorations, like ribbons or large buttons. If these items become detached, they could be a choking hazard.

Remember, too, that lots of babies don’t like having their diaper or clothes changed. So anything that can help make the process quick and easy is worth having in the wardrobe. I always had loads of baby jumpsuits or all in ones in my baby’s wardrobe. These had snaps or pop studs from the neck all the way down to the knees. That meant it was possible to change the diaper without having to remove much clothing, but at the same time it was easy to remove the whole jumpsuit and replace it in only a few seconds. The other thing I liked about these was how easily you could add layers of clothing or blankets over the top if baby was a bit cold, and remove them if baby was hot.

For more helpful baby information, visit Info About Baby You can sign up for a FREE Baby Tips newsletter at Baby Tips Newsletter. The author’s book about babies is available at Baby’s First Year

Setting the Stage - Reading is One of the Big Boosts to Life:

Several studies over several years in several settings have all shown a high correlation between reading to young children and academic competence throughout their traditional school years. We all know by now that reading stories to a child is an important part of the child’s early development, and so we read to them. Some parents read because they enjoy passing along the good feelings they remember or sense they had as a child. Others read to their young children because they have heard it’s a good thing to do. Still others do it to calm an agitated baby. And then there are those who don’t see the point. The intention of this article is to get you to think about what might be happening inside the child as you approach your reading time together, and see if there might be something that could improve this quality time you are investing in each other.

The Problem:

The problem with reading to young children is that the available material is often pretty boring to us, the readers. This often makes the actual reading kind of a chore for us. Compounding this problem is the fact that young children, and almost everyone else, can tell when you’re faking it. When you put these facts together, unless you are exceptionally gifted or fortunate, your children are probably learning all about faking it along with whatever academic preparation they’re getting out of your reading. Or worse, they’re getting the idea that reading is boring. It’s difficult to tell exactly what’s going on in their heads at this stage, but I have to imagine there’s a little of both mixing it up in their developing synapses.

So, how do we address these potential problems?

There are two approaches:

APPROACH # 1: Work on the symptoms (Don’t feel bad, this is what almost everyone does) - Over-animate with your voice and pump yourself up for the ordeal - similar to sales preparation and self-hypnosis. This is actually a pretty good form of compensation and can effectively mask the boredom. The challenge is in making the boring material come alive through animation. If you can pull this off consistently, you’ll be okay. Another “mask the symptom” approach is to improvise to the point that the story becomes interesting to you. This takes a Robin Williams kind of personality, and most people will not be able to sustain this with any level of competence over the long haul. The last “bandaid” is to read it like you see it - make reading a bedtime activity and use it to bore the child to sleep. This may have unpredictable consequences later on, but it has been demonstrated to be far better than not reading to the child at all.

APPROACH # 2: Work on the root cause: Select material that you like - not in terms of subject matter necessarily, but in terms of rhythm or clever word construction or fun, off-the-wall logic. It’s out there, but you do have to search for it. Select material that helps you recover some of the perspective of your audience and use it as a launching pad to get you “into” their level of joy and sensation. Another approach to chip away at the root cause of the problem is to write your own material to your own standards. Don’t be afraid to try this. You won’t do any worse than most of the published children’s authors.

The Scope of the Solution:

Since the root cause of the problem is boring material, we need to find more stimulating material that would also be of interest to children who are beginning to understand our language. Ideally, it would be nice to find material that makes some sense, caters to a child’s view, is well illustrated, has short sentences, has appropriate vocabulary, and helps us connect with the child’s view of life. This can be somewhat tricky, but it is not impossible.

Elements of the Solution - Perspective:

From the child’s point of view, anything that interests you that is prose will work before the age of about 6 months (not chemical engineering textbooks). At this point, developmentally, the child is still getting his bearings, and any audio he gets is useful input to his little computer that is sorting through the intricacies of language at a frightening pace. After this age, it is probably wise to start selecting stories that a child with 6+ months of experience might relate to, from his experiential perspective, so he can become interested in the subject matter as his comprehension skills adjust to the task. I’m talking about stories iwth short sentences that are loaded with vivid, age-appropriate sensory descriptions and common objects that can be found below the 2-foot level. It might be useful for you to walk around with a video camera strapped to a stick that can be easily moved around a foot off the ground, and watch the resulting video to see what your target audience is seeing, and how they’re seeing it. You’ll be surprised to see how much structural engineering they are recording. This exercise can give you a standard by which to judge the material you think might fit your audience.

Examples - both good and bad:

Think about the stories you remember and enjoyed from your childhood. There probably aren’t very many. For the younger set, the Dr. Seuss collection (Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, Oh Say Can You Say, etc.) seems to be a consistent winner. The rhythm, rhyming and surprises keep the stories moving, the sentences are short, the ideas are simple, and the length of the stories is just about right for the content. The plots and conclusions are sometimes a little quirky, but hey, maybe that’s part of the magic. For the same group of young children, The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a good choice. This is what I refer to as a gimmick book - but this one is particularly good in that the sentences and page pauses make it especially easy to animate, and the pictures are big and colorful. Besides that, the gimmick is actually relevant to the story. Very well done. This is my article, so I can interject a personal opinion now and then.

Fairy tales are a special case, and probably depend more on your personal memories than on any “gold standard”. The abridged versions of Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast and Sleeping Beauty seem to be good ones, in spite of the somewhat unfamiliar concepts of witches and fairy godmothers. On the other hand, Little Red Riding Hood has so many violations of common sense and such serious implications of parental abandonment that responsible adults would run from that story. Of course, that assumes the parents are paying attention, which goes back to my original thesis of boredom being a problem. I can go either way on The Three Little Pigs, but your children must be familiar with the “Huff, and Puff” segments to be accepted later in social settings, and those same segments do make for a great and memorable animation opportunity.

Recommendation for Fairy Tales: Confine the stupid ones to the 0-6-month-old set so they can have the benefit of cultural familiarity, but switch over to the more “palatable” selections when comprehension starts to become evident.

As the child gets a little older, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day seems to work well. Good perspective, appropriate word choices, fun, long enough to get comfortable, but short enough to stay interesting, and with subjects children can relate to. This is actually close to the ideal children’s book, if there is such a thing. A very interesting example is The Giving Tree. This story is pretty good for children because of its style, emotions and vocabulary, even though it involves some fairly complex and abstract emotions that are outside the scope of their experience. These emotions are handled in a way that makes the story work for all ages. Pure Genius.

Closing Comments: You are in charge. You are the absolute selection authority for your children. You must take responsibility in the use of this authority you have and make informed selections. You control how boring, inappropriate or insane the material is that you are willing to deal with yourself and subsequently transfer to your children. Conversely, you control how exciting, interesting, and profitable this selection is also. Then you inflect all the excitement you feel for the material through your animation. After the critical selection and inflection phases, the only thing left for you to do is to pay attention to how the material is written and read it with the rhythm that the author was humming in his head when he wrote the story (if rhythm is a part of the content).

Kent Walters is a veteran of reading to his own four children from an early age. He is educated in languages and linguistics, with an emphasis in the linguistic foundations of mental orientation and understanding. He is passionate about the benefits of reading to children, and is on a crusade to raise awareness and encourage this behavior in all parents. As a part of this crusade, Mr. Walters has deployed a couple of websites to encourage the review and generation of more quality children’s books. He has written a few children’s books himself, one of which he gives away as a free sample on his websites, http://www.reading-to-children.com and http://www.kidsstuffnews.com

This article courtesy of http://www.reading-to-children.com and http://www.kidsstuffnews.com

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