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Whether or not children should be dressed in designer clothing can be a very contentious issue. Some parents feel that they should dress their kids in high quality clothes, and help them stand out from other children. Other parents feel designer clothing is a waste of money on children, and may encourage them to feel more self-conscious as they grow up.

The Misconception

When you mention children’s designer clothing, some may think of the catwalk, and children being dressed up to look far older than their years. However, this is an unfair interpretation. Many children’s designer brands of are simply of a higher quality, and are still designed to look cute, and appropriate for the childs age.

Benefits of Designer Clothing

The higher level of quality offered when buying designer clothing can be very useful, and the increased durability could mean that clothes are cheaper in the long run, depending on how quickly the child grows. As the clothes are built to a higher standard, they can also be more comfortable for children to wear.

Many parents find that they are willing to spend more money on designer clothes for their children for formal occasions. This can be a very good idea, as your child can look smart, and if the clothes are only worn for special occasions you don’t have to worry about them getting torn or dirty, something that seems to come very naturally to kids.

Disadvantages of Designer Clothing

There will always be the argument that designer clothes teach a child to be prematurely fashion-conscious, and takes away their innocence at a young age. This could be a very valid argument, but as with many things, it is down to how the parent deals with the issue. If you decide to dress your child in designer clothes, it may be best to simply not tell them what ‘designer’ means, so they don’t think of their clothing as different to any other child.

It could be argued that it’s fine for children to wear designer clothes, as long as their parents ensure they appreciate the value of money. It’s possible for children to be raised wearing designer clothing, and bully other children who’s parents can’t afford these clothes, or choose not to buy them.

Buying Children’s Designer Clothing

There are a number of popular childrenswear brands available online. For example, ILoveGorgeous provide a wonderful range of pink girls clothing that is extremely cute, and very smart. Other popular brands include Catimini, Hackett, and Joules. Many of these brands specialise only in children’s clothing, showing there’s still a huge market.

It is common for parents to buy designer clothes that are ever so slightly to big for the child, helping to ensure they get maximum use out of each item, therefore removing some of the added expense.

Scarlet Sky is an online retailer specialising in ILoveGorgeous and other brands of designer childrenswear.

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If you think your teen spends too much time on the Internet, you’re not alone. Millions of parents are concerned about the amount of time their children spend online, and the problem only seems to be growing. Use of the Internet is an incredibly central part of teen culture. Teens connect with their friends through social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, and they can spend hours engrossed in these forms of digital communication. Social bookmarking sites like Reddit and StumbleUpon provide infinite ways to waste time with funny or interesting links. There is no end to the things teens can find to do on the Internet, and unfortunately they don’t always use the computer responsibly. If you fear that your teen is overusing the computer, it’s your job as a parent to step in a try to bring them back to the real world. Here are some tips for how to deal with an Internet-addicted teen.

Be Understanding

As a parent, you need to understand where your teen is coming from. The Internet is a huge part of society now, and it’s going to be a part of your teen’s life now and forever. It’s important to have a realistic standpoint. It’s unrealistic to expect your teen to stop all Internet usage. That will only bring resentment and anger. Your teen should learn how to use the Internet is moderation and with responsibility, not cut it out altogether.

Discuss

You should try to talk with your teen about your concerns. Try to open up the dialogue about Internet usage, and find out why your teen thinks it’s so important. Do they see any potential harm in being on the computer so often? Allow them to express their opinions. Non-judgmental communication is essential. It will help you connect with your teen and develop a better relationship.

Set Boundaries

As long as your teen is a minor and living in your house, you can set rules for them. Limit Internet use to a certain number of hours or to certain hours of the day. You could restrict Internet access until homework is completed, or whatever boundaries you think are appropriate. You may also require that your teen uses the computer only in public spaces, not in their bedroom. If house rules are not met, cut off Internet access until they are. However, be flexible. If your teen wants to go on the Internet, they will find a way through school or with their friends. You don’t want to alienate them by being too strict.

Encourage

If you’d like to see your teen doing more things off of the computer, encourage them to. Try to get your teen involved in a hobby or sport they enjoy, or encourage them to take part in family activities or volunteering. Your teen should have plenty of opportunities to choose activities other than going online.  If they use the Internet to socialize, encourage them to invite their friends over or out to dinner. If they have lots of alternatives, they may begin to spend less time on the computer.

Lisa Hann is a family-oriented blogger with many years of experience writing for various national blogs. Lisa enhances the quality of her written work using Grammarly grammar checker, the most accurate and well-designed grammar tool on the web.

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Ensuring Safe Web Browsing

The internet is full of multiple resources and can offer the answers to almost any question a user needs answered.  I often wonder how life would be like without the World Wide Web.  Before the internet, we had to go to a library to research a topic for a literature review.  Now all a person has to do is log on to an online library from the comfort of their own homes.  Before the internet, we had to send letters to connect with friend that lived far away.  Initially the internet let us send emails then we were able to instant message one another.  Now anyone can set up a profile on a social networking site and connect with friends and family in a whole new way.

Risks with the Internet

Since there are so many applications to the internet, there are also more risks involved for young kids.  There are many wonderful sites online for kids to explore, learn, and stay entertained.  There are also problems like online predators and cyber bullies that parents need to be aware of.  Parents need to keep a close eye on their kids and their online activities.  Parents may choose to download a lock down browser so that if inappropriate content is accessed the browser becomes locked.  This software will also notify parents if the child stumbles across something they should not have.

Safety Measures for Kids

The best way to monitor safe internet use for a child is to communicate with them.  If kids are accessing the internet on a daily bases then parents may want to consider checking in with them on a weekly basis.  Parents can ask questions concerning if strangers have been trying to contact their kids or if strangers are asking questions about where they are going that day or any other questions concerning their location.

Keeping Social Networks Safe

Social media has become increasingly popular. Parents can find a social networking site for kids that has all the safety precautions that Facebook or MySpace do not have.  This will allow children to post statuses, write blogs, upload pictures, and share videos.  This will allow kids to connect with classmates from school, fiends that have moved away, or kids from around the world.

Preventing Cyber Bullying

Cyber bullying is a huge concern associated with social networking sites.  Cyber bullying has had an enormous impact on how parents look at the internet.  There have been several cases where children have taken their own lives as a result of being bullied by their peers online.  Bullying has taken a new form online because kids can put things on the internet that would hurt someone far worse than just teasing them on the playground.

Internet Safety

Parents should not be discouraged by the internet.  Even though there are risks involved kids can explore and discover some wonderful things online.  The best way to make sure kids are safe is to keep a line of communication open or download a lock down browser to the computer kids are using.

Kids Social Network is a social networking site for kids.  This kid safe website has a lock down browser to ensure safe browsing for children.

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Room Decorating to Grow with Your Boy

I’ll be the first to admit that the title is a little misleading. Boys never outgrow their toys; they just get different types of toys as they grow, and those toys just keep getting more expensive! (Cue eye rolls from understanding moms and wives everywhere.)

It can be hard to decorate a room for a boy who has outgrown his Legos but hasn’t quite reached bachelor pad status. Left to their own devices, boys would leave the room undecorated and simply pin up a few posters of bands. Stop disaster before it hits. Learn how to decorate a masculine room that still preserves the kid in him for awhile longer.

Step 1: Acknowledge that he is your beloved son but not your little boy. Especially for mothers, this is the hardest step in the design process. We get used to dinosaurs and cartoon characters. When he suddenly scowls on the joys of his youth we get miffed—“I just spent $60 on that The Avengers comforter!” Your son is growing up and as such, his interests have changed and will continue to change. Avoid buying tons of accessories for any one interest as they will soon prove to be wasted investments.

Step 2: Focus on establishing a foundation. To prevent redecorating with his every whim, pick a triad of colors that he enjoys and use them as the room’s foundation: at least one neutral color, his favorite color and a complementary color. Most boys, no matter what age, can tell you what their favorite color is, but if your son changes his mind every week about his likes and dislikes, you might want to decide for him. Select furniture, bedding, curtains, rugs, etc. that fit into this color scheme. Little accents like wall art and table top accessories can be adjusted to fit his interest de jour.

Step 3: Remember that it is your home. Does your son pay rent? His input on how the room is decorated can be adjusted according to how much he pays; any additional leeway is a demonstration of your kindness! If your teenage son has discovered a newfound appreciation for MAXIM pin-ups or other images that you find inappropriate, you simply don’t have to permit such images in your home. It’s an age old line of reasoning, but as long as he is living for free under your roof he should abide by your rules. Don’t hesitate to lay down the law; after all, you’re the mom!

Kombucha writies about design, decorating, green living and more for RENTCafe where you can find apartments in Houston and enjoy the apartment living blog.

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Tips in How to Make your Child a People Person

Here are some of the tips which you can do to improve your child’s social skills.

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1)      Limit their computer use. – The reason why most kids are unsociable is that they lack face to face communication. They use the internet to play games, to do their research, and to talk to their classmates. Hence, they don’t know how to communicate in person. Give a strict rule about using the computers. An hour or 2 should be enough. With that, they will have no choice but to converse in a ‘primitive’ manner.  

2)      Enroll them in an after school program. – This can be very helpful in developing your kid’s social skills. Other parents are enrolling their children for ballet class, piano lessons, theater classes and the likes. It will do them good. Aside from meeting new friends, your child won’t have stage freight. After all, most of these programs conduct recitals after few sessions.  

3)      Commend them for an excellent job. – All kids want their parents to be proud of them. If you don’t appreciate what they are doing, they will feel that they are good for nothing. It will reflect on how they behave with other people. They will look for that sense of acceptance. Of course, that should initially come from those who are very close to them.

If they got high scores for a pop quiz, congratulate them. If they were chosen to lead a school play, make sure you’ll file your leave for it. If they know that you appreciate them, it will be easier for them to mingle with other people because they are confident.

4)      Ask them to read aloud. – Some kids are afraid to socialize because they feel that they don’t speak well. You can develop that skill by asking them to read aloud. Make this a regular habit. Select an excerpt from a book and you are all set. Don’t be afraid to correct them if they mispronounce some words. Correct those in the most polite manner. Plus, if you are going to do this, make sure that no one can hear you. This is to prevent embarrassment. If you think they can already handle a crowd, go ahead and make them read in front of many people.

5)      Allow them to have a get together with friends.  – Schedule a sleepover or a theme park visit with your kid’s friends. If you worry that much, you can drive them to the location. But don’t be so paranoid. Let them mingle on their own. 

Being sociable can take your children places. Don’t let them succumb to thick books at all times. It should be a balance of academics and extracurricular activities. Do the above tips and see what improvements your child will develop.

Kim Bookman is a fan of shopping and great discounts. Kim Bookman is a certified discount hunter. That’s the reason she constantly looks for Theme Park coupon sites. She has found a source that provides great promos for theme parks around the US.  

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Mommy-and-Me Time

Engaging with your child is important. It helps to establish a healthy attachment style, it improves their self-esteem and it provides them with the emotional support needed to develop into healthy kids. A toy train table can enhance the opportunities that you have to engage with your child in a number of ways. Your first option, for example, is to play games upon the table with your child. These games can be follow the leader games, storytelling games or other similar games.

Another option that you have is to utilize the table as a learning environment. Your role will be to create learning activities that you and your child can complete. For example, you can set up a toy train set and begin normal play, but then ask your child questions about the table top environment that will teach them such concepts as counting, color identification, identifying similarities and differences and identifying position.

Independent Play

The design of the toy train table makes it a great platform for independent play and learning. It has a large surface area that is flat and smooth. It also has a height and design that makes it easy and safe for kids of all ages to use. These characteristics make it the perfect location to play with toy trains, to play with building blocks and to even complete art projects.

Encouraging independent play is something that parents need to do. This encouragement can come from recommendations that you make to your child about what they can do to keep themselves entertained. It can come from activities and materials you give to your child. And it can come from ideas that you find with your child online or from watching an educational program on television. For example, you may watch an episode of Between the Lions and decide that your want to create your own books. You can then provide your child with the materials needed for this project and set them up at the toy train table to complete their activity.

Madeline Binder promotes family education and learning. Her writing explores various ways parents can encourage their children to learn, to be independent and to express themselves. Her train table plans have been sold all over the world and people love to browse The Train Store.

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What I discovered is that my mind and spirit needed some attention as well. I firmly believe that the three…mind, body, and spirit, must all be functioning in order to truly feel good about myself. After some research, I knew what I had to do to better my chances of finding some harmony.

I am going to share what I found, so you will have that same chance.

The Mind

Since giving birth, and maybe for a while before that big day, you may have been experiencing the inability to focus like you could before. Remembering the little things, such as the date, or items on your grocery list are happening a little more right now?

Well, you are obviously busier than you were before giving birth, and more tired. It’s reasonable that your mind might not be functioning at full capacity.

The key for me was to get organized, accept help, and to sleep when I could. Organization might be as simple as writing out your daily schedule, then weekly, and monthly. For example, set times for feedings…not the baby’s, but the rest of the family. The baby will dictate when they are going to eat. But, plan out your meals, so they don’t sneak up on you.

If someone offers to help, accept it. Take a nap during that time, if you are tired. Catching up on your sleep doesn’t have to be at night. A quick 20 minute power nap can do wonders for the mind.

The Body

Getting back in shape physically doesn’t necessarily require a membership at the gym. If you have another small child in the house, turn on the music and dance. Even if you don’t have another child to dance with, you can still dance by yourself. Turn up the volume!

If you have a nice stroller, like the Joovy Caboose double stroller, pack the kids up and go for a walk. This will also help clear your mind, by getting out of the house and getting some fresh air.

Other ways to get your body back in shape are:

·         Climbing Stairs
·         Wii Fit
·         Yard Work
·         Trampoline
·         Biking
·         Swimming

Of course this all depends on how much time has passed since giving birth, and if your doctor has given you clearance to exercise yet. If so, then these are easy to do, mini workouts to help you get your body back.

Don’t forget to keep the diet in check as well. Eating healthy and exercise go hand in hand.

The Spirit

Rejuvenating your spirit just might be the most pleasant part of getting back in shape. It can be very peaceful and relaxing to do some the steps I’m about to suggest. I find that by doing a regular routine of these helps to maintain an overall feeling of well being.

First, get a good yoga DVD. What I mean by good, is one that is rated high for effectiveness. You can search ‘quality yoga DVD’ into your search engine to see what pops up. At that point, you should see some reviews by people who have used them. I am a big fan of finding information on the Internet in this manner.

If you have toddlers in the home, I suggest doing the yoga while they are sleeping, or away with daddy. Mine loved to laugh and crawl under my legs while I was in some of the stretches.

Second, meditation is a great way to enhance the spirit, as well as your mind. Find a quiet area in the house, light some candles, and turn a meditation CD on. These CD’s are typically just instrumental, and strategically designed to relax the mind.

I recommend sitting, only because when I have tried lying down for it, I fall asleep. This gets your sleep in that you need, but try to do both.

Finally, light some candles, turn some soft music on, and soak in the tub. If you can do this when daddy takes the kids out for a while, it’s best. However, sometimes we just need to work our ‘me time’ in when the kids are napping.

Balance of the Three

When you get your mind, body, and spirit back into shape and in balance, you will find a great sense of well being that can be difficult to find. A healthy mind goes a long way in encouraging the body to do what it’s supposed to be doing for you.

Soon, you will be zipping around feeling great with the kids in tow. If you need a good stroller to do that, do what I do….search for products through online reviews. For example, type in ‘Bumbleride Indie stroller reviews’ to learn about that particular stroller. You can do this for any brand, until you find the right stroller for your family.

I hope I have encouraged you to try some the above suggestions, or maybe come up with your own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Melissa Cameron is a freelance writer who writes on topics to help the consumer. She surfs the Internet for research and ideas. In fact, her husband Dave calls her a walking infomercial. They live in Texas, with their 2 young children.

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Set a Specific Time She Can Start Wearing Makeup

Most girls start to wear makeup around junior high or middle school. Tell your daughter that she can start wearing makeup when she hits a certain age or grade, and stick by that. If you’re uncomfortable with letting her wear it because you don’t want her to look like a little girl trying to look older, you can start small and set restrictions. Set an age that you’re comfortable with and that you think she can handle taking care of her skin so it’s healthy, with or without makeup. Consider how responsible your daughter is. Make sure she understands that makeup won’t cover skin problems and can actually make them worse. You can wait until your daughter’s in high school or older, but remember that if she thinks you’re being unreasonable, she might buy makeup on her own (if she has an allowance) and put it on at school. Also, as a young lady, she can make mistakes with makeup, like too much blush or gold eye shadow, that won’t fly when she’s 20. Too much blush on a 13-year-old is cute and a little funny. Too much blush on a 20-year-old is simply unattractive.

Make a Day of It

Whether you go shopping with her for her back to school clothes, take her for her birthday or get her makeup for Christmas, make it something the two of you can do together. This will give you the chance for you to tell her that she doesn’t need to wear makeup because she’s beautiful just the way she is. It will also allow you to tell her your rules about makeup, including where she can wear it and how much of it she can wear. Consider scheduling an appointment for you to both get made up at a department or beauty store. That way, she can see how she looks in makeup that’s done well. She can also learn some tips on how to apply it. Consider letting her pick out a color kit, so she can wear the colors she’s excited about, like lipstick so red it looks black and purple eye shadow. It might not be your favorite, but eventually, she’ll learn the things that actually look nice on her. Also purchase products that will take the makeup off entirely, including eye makeup. Don’t forget an SPF lotion.

Products to Consider

To start, if you don’t want her going overboard, you might start with:

*Tinted lip gloss instead of lipstick

*Powder foundation

*Clear mascara

Makeup isn’t a bad thing. When she learns to use it, it can enhance her natural beauty and make her feel more comfortable in her skin. Keep the line of communication open by showing her what to do and she’ll be more willing to talk to you. If this first battle goes smoothly, it can set a precedent for the teen years.

Cindi Lewis writes for GLOSSY, a hair care and beauty products online retailer.

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1. Play Clothes
Kids are usually playful and most want to spend time outside and get dirty. Good play clothes need to be given to kids whenever they come home, so that they don’t ruin their school clothes. This is especially true if you’re low on nice clothes or if you live somewhere where it’s so cold/rainy that your kids tend to have indoor recess (and therefore you can send them to school in nicer clothes).  You can save on play clothes by using old or recycled clothes anytime they don’t need to look extra presentable.

2. Clothing Bins
It is imperative that you have a clothing bin for different sizes of clothes. Sorting your child’s clothes into different sizes will make things very cost-efficient, especially if you have multiple children. This way, you don’t even have to buy a set of clothes for each child. All your kids can share clothes. Simply sort them by size, and you will save money and time by assigning children clothes based on their age!

3. Stock Up

When you’re out shopping, you may find very large clothes that may not fit your kids, but are still a good price. If you find simply amazing deals, try to get them and have a bin for them. In no time at all, you will notice that your kids have grown and are ready for new clothes. This is one of the best ways to cut costs. Always take advantage of a sale if you can!

4. Recycle
When your last kids outgrow your hand-me-downs, there’s a chance the clothes might still be wearable. If this is the case, sell the clothes at a consignment store or garage sale! If neither of these work, advertise that you have a bag of children’s clothes for $10 online. Someone will take advantage of this great deal. Go in this order though, so that you don’t miss any opportunities for more money.  Lastly, be sure to take care of these clothes properly. Make sure that you read all the instructions on the tags. There’s no point in taking on a frugal attitude if you’re not gonna be smart about it!

5. Shop Around
Getting affordable deals is very possible if you just take some time to shop around. Online deals are the best, but be sure that the store you choose is reputable (with good reviews on more than one website), and that the shipping terms are clearly expressed. Keep in mind that the season in which you’re shopping is going to affect the price a lot. For instance, shopping for jackets during summer can be a cheaper option than waiting for the winter to come. If saving is what you are looking for, this is definitely the way to go. You’ll be able to find quality items at affordable prices in off-seasons.

Jennifer Hauser saves money by couponing, bargain-shopping and visiting Homeequityloan.net.

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1. You don’t have to go to every party but you should let the party host know if you can or can’t attend as soon as possible. This will ease their stress considerably and is good karma towards the day when you throw a party for your own kid. Don’t worry about having a good excuse, simply let them know that you won’t be able to make it and send good wishes for the birthday girl or boy.

2. Stock up on timeless gifts that would be suitable for a boy or a girl. Having two or three gifts stashed away can prevent a lot of last minute running around and stress. Arts and craft supplies are ideal as they are good for a wide range of ages as well as for both genders. You can find wonderful craft kids such as those made by Melissa and Doug or build your own with paints, paper, colored pencils, stickers and other supplies. Other good picks are puzzles, board games and building sets. Avoid buying trendy toys as they go out of fashion very quickly and the chance of duplicates are high.

4. Similarly, keep a stock of gender-neutral gift bags, tissue paper and rolls of gift wrap on hand. You can buy boxes of plain cards and envelopes and let your child make his own card for a personal touch. This also helps your child understand that this is the birthday child’s special day and the party is to celebrate them. While it seems obvious, with today’s elaborate parties and goody bags, it’s understandable if small children are confused about the point of birthday parties and need some concrete reminders.

5.  Speaking of gifts, don’t worry too much about price range. Spend what is comfortable for your budget and your relationship with the child. Do avoid going overboard as it can make people feel uncomfortable and seem showy. If finances are a concern, remember that your child was invited to help celebrate the day and not to stock the birthday child’s toy-box!

6. Feed your child a nutritious lunch or dinner before the party even if the invitation says pizza or hot dogs will be served. Children get too hyped up to eat much except for sweets and soda at parties. This results in major meltdowns and tummy aches. If your child isn’t hungry enough for a full meal before the party, try giving them some cheese, peanut butter and apples or other high-protein snack to give them high-quality fuel for their fun.

7. You’re not alone if you feel awkward standing around with the other parents. Go ahead and introduce yourself and strike up a conversation if you’d like, but don’t worry too much if you are met with a lukewarm response. It almost every case it’s because the other parent has a bit of social anxiety or is busy trying to keep an eye on their little daredevil (or biter or pants-wetter). It can also be hard to break into a conversation between parents that already know each other, usually they aren’t trying to be rude but it can be easy to get discouraged and feel frozen out. Asking questions is often the best way to get included in the conversation and hopefully make a few new friends for the next time you find yourself making the birthday party rounds.

Five preteen children have proven to Author Jacob and Carol Maslow that toys without batteries promote imaginative play. Carol is also a therapist working with developmentally delayed preschoolers and Jacob is associated with the online retailer, Today’s Concept, where parents can find the fabulous, non-battery operated Melissa and Doug Toys.

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