Tip of the Week: When "No" Means "No"

I saw this article about saying "no" to our children on The Parent Report recently and thought it was so good, I wanted to share it with you! Here's an excerpt of the article.

"'There are 3 alternatives I use so that I don't have to say 'no' so often, so that when I do say 'no' my children will know that I mean it. The first alternative to a question like 'Mom, can I have a cookie?' is 'yes, later'. The child is already to fight a 'no', and it's harder to fight a 'yes, later'. The second alternative to a question such as 'Mom can I go to a friend's house?' could be 'give me a minute.' There's nothing wrong with asking for a moment to develop your own case. The third alternative which is great for teens and a question like 'Mom, can I have the car keys?' is 'convince me'.'
By choosing our 'no's' carefully Coloroso says we're then able to save them for those really important questions."

For the whole article, click here.

Tip of the Week: Pumpkin Decorating With Your Little Pumpkin

You'd love to include your toddler in your Halloween pumpkin carving, but how? Traditional pumpkin carving involves knives and sharp tools! Baby-proof your Halloween tradition by asking your child to pull out the gooey pumpkin insides. Yes, this will be messy, so be sure to put him or her in play clothes and have plenty of wipes handy.

Next, buy markers that work well on the surface of a pumpkin and allow your child to doodle or draw a face. There are also a number of kits you can purchase with foamies shaped like eyes, mouths and noses. A toddler can easily apply these with a little adult assistance. Finally, at the grocery store you can find a variety of seasonal gourds that can be used to decorate your pumpkin. Simply stick them on a toothpick and help your child assemble his very own jack-'o-lantern. Happy decorating!

Tip of the Week: Protecting Your Baby from H1N1

If you're a new mother, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says you should take the following steps to prevent exposing your child to swine flu:
- Wash hands frequently and always cover your mouth with your elbow when sneezing or coughing. If you're already ill, consider wearing a face mask around your baby.
- If you are breastfeeding, don’t stop. Breast milk contains antibodies that help your baby fight disease.
- It is safe to breastfeed even if you are taking medicine prescribed to treat the H1N1 virus.
- If your baby's sick, continue to breastfeed as often as possible. Hydration is important when a child is ill, and there is no better fluid than breast milk.
- If your child is too ill to breastfeed, consider using a syringe or eye dropper.

Tip of the Week: Fabulous Fall

Although summer is my favorite season, I do enjoy the beauty of fall foliage and a family trip to the pumpkin patch. My favorites are Goebbert's Pumpkin Patch in Hampshire, IL, and Sonny Acres in West Chicago. I never let an October pass me by without visiting both of these wonderful pumpkin patches. For more autumn fun and a twist on the classic pumpkin patch outing, visit a local apple farm to pick your own apples. Click here for a complete list of Illinois pumpkin patches, apple farms and Christmas tree farms!