Tag Archives: Child Care

8 Tips to Help Your Child From Stuttering

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Parents are the frontline when it comes to giving the best possible care to the child. We give them clothes, food and shelter. But what if the child has a disorder like stuttering? Well, that love continues and you can also do it by knowing these tips.

1. Parents have to provide a supportive environment for the child. This means being patient with them and giving them a proper forum to speak their minds even if they do not say the words correctly. That may be hard given that we can talk normally but don’t you think you also had that problem while you were growing up?

2. You also have to create an environment where everyone takes turn when they are speaking. This will let them know that when someone is talking, they are quiet and when it is their turn, the other party will also give them the same courtesy.

3. When you speak to your child, only use short sentences and vocabulary that is appropriate to their age. If you have questions, let him or her finish answering one first before you ask another. This helps eliminate any frustration in trying to imitate complex phrases, sentences or words.

4. The most important tip is to be able to listen so you know the message they are trying to convey. How you respond to your child when they say something should be the same as how you will talk to a regular kid so that the child will not feel different. Eventually they will know notice that they speak differently from others but for now, just let them be.

5. As a parent, you are very understanding with what your child is going through but things are different when you leave the home especially in school because the kids who don’t know any better and they will laugh. As much as possible, don’t let your child speak in public or perform in front of others just yet. But if they want to, let them.

6. Your child’s siblings may just be as bad as some of the kids in school. When this happens, intervene immediately so this does not happen. Instead of making fun of the deficiency, everyone in the family must pull together and support each other.

7. A lot of people get the help of a speech language pathologist to help them deal with stuttering. There are various techniques that are used and with your help, you will be able to set realistic goals given that there is no known cure yet for this disorder.

8. Lastly, love your child for what he or she is. It is no one’s fault that the child is stuttering. In fact, scientists until now do not know yet what causes it even if there is evidence to suggest that it is genetic or something neurological that the child was born with. You just have to accept the fact that there is this problem and you are okay with it.

You can overcome stuttering by following these 8 simple tips. Will it be easy? The answer is no but as long as you provide the right environment, show a lot of love and support as well seek the proper help, the situation could get better as your child grows older.

Leaving Your Baby in Someone Else’s Care – Babysitters

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Finding a caregiver for your baby for the first time is very scary, since we are flooded with the tales of people who abuse children in their care. Even during the days when such stories were not as common, my husband and I carried our first baby with us until he was nine months old. My thinking was if the child was old enough to have a little language and if he could express himself at least to a degree, the threat could be less.

Later on, we found a nice grandmother type who used to take care of one of our friend’s children. Our friend was very happy with the lady, but since she had recently hired a live-in maid, she didn’t need her. So, Mrs. Crowley became our first tried and true baby-sitter. Of all the other babysitters we had in later years, in my heart, Mrs. Crowley still holds the pole position.

Today, parents are very lucky if they have family members around to take care of their children. They are even luckier because of modern technology, since they can monitor the events in their home even from a distance. If we had today’s technological means back then, I would have wired and equipped my house with all the monitors and hidden cameras I could get my hands on.

Although we may feel machines cannot compete with a mother’s intuition, they can surely add to it. To our advantage, with the advent of digital technology, modern monitors provide clearer signals and a wider range of operation.

Certainly a babysitter’s greatest asset is a good reputation, but you need to consider a few more important points before you do the hiring. When you interview someone for either a daily care-giving situation or for a few hours when you go out, ask yourself these questions: Is the babysitter an alert person? Will the babysitter be able to make quick and proper decisions in case of an emergency? Is the babysitter paying enough attention to you while you are showing her where things are? Is your child willing to stay with this babysitter?

Once you’ve decided to hire the babysitter, watch how she interacts with your child. Her style should match yours at least to a degree.

Then, make sure the babysitter has all the information. It is a good idea to fill her in as to the child’s medical, emotional, and any other special needs; what is expected of the babysitter as to the feeding, cleaning after, or if it applies, giving baths to the children; where you can be reached and your cell phone number; in case you cannot be reached, another friend or family member’s phone; the child’s doctor’s phone number; and the phone numbers of a local poison center, police, fire, and ambulance.

Show the babysitter where everything is in the house that the child may need and where the first aid supplies and emergency exits are, and check that she understands the rules of the house as to the use of the phone, the TV, bedtime, snacks, and people coming over.

Then, make sure you have everything written down and within easy reach of the babysitter. No matter how carefully the babysitter seems to listen, chances are she’ll forget or mix up most of the things.

When you return, talk to your children about the babysitter with a relaxed, chatty tone about the time they spent with her. Your children will give you a correct account if they feel they are not being drilled.

If your children are safe and at ease with the babysitter, you will be happy, too, during your time at work or when you go out in the evening. So make sure to take necessary steps in choosing a suitable babysitter. It may be for short amounts of time, but you and your children will be depending on her.