Teaching Babies to Read - How to Use Your Computer to Maximize Your Baby's Reading Program By Krista Guerrero

If you are already teaching your baby to read, you can easily begin using your computer to maximize your baby's program. All you need is a program like Power Point and a few minutes.

If you want to use your computer to create digital flash cards you can easily do so in just a few minutes. You will need a basic understanding of Power Point to get started. If you are teaching your baby to read, you need to keep in mind that the words need to be large, as large as you can make them on your computer screen, and separated from any images.

When you go into Power Point you can quickly create slide shows in which you can set them to change automatically. If you have a very active baby, this may be an ideal way to teach new words. This will save you having to fumble with flash cards. Just get your program set up and sit down with your baby and quickly watch a slide show.

If your baby likes to view pictures along with the words, you can set up the show to display a word and then a picture. If you are using the slide shows for your own personal use, you can easily grab images from the Internet to make your presentations more captivating for your baby.

You can make your slide shows simple or more complex. You can even record sound to the presentation if you want to. Once you set up one, the rest will be easy. Just use the file you created, as a template and it will take you no time to create new shows for your baby.

Using your computer lightens the load when creating new materials for your baby's ever increasing curiosity about everything.

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Teach Your Kids to Vent Anger in a Healthy Way By Gina Nuqui

Kids often throw tantrums, say hateful remarks and show destructive behavior when things don't go their way. Teaching your kids ways to release anger in a healthy way is important for them to avoid hurting other people either physically or emotionally. Your child will most likely grow to become calmer when they are angry if they practice anger management early in their childhood.

• Set a good example for your kids. Be careful on how you react to irritating situations in front of your children, because kids tend to adapt their parents' behavior. For instance, if your food takes too long to be served in the restaurant, talk to the waiter in a calm and refined way and avoid causing a scene. This way, your kids will learn how to act properly when they don't get what they want.

• Provide guidance. Offer your kids techniques to help them calm down when they feel like bursting in anger. Tell them to count from one to ten and take deep breaths or go out to get some fresh air. Explain to your kids that anger is a normal emotion, but they do not have to cuss or hit people when they are mad, because their frustration won't go away.

• Be firm. Stick with the rules that you made for your child when it comes to anger and never tolerate his negative behavior. Your kids will most likely take advantage of you if you cannot stand firm with your decisions. Do not be afraid to punish them if they continue their negative behavior, so they will realize that they are wrong.

• Take note of media influences. Media has great impact on children's behavior and attitude, so protect your children from violent TV programs, video games and music. Children are vulnerable to media messages so they tend to imitate what they see or hear.

• Reward your child for his good behavior. This will show your child that an acceptable behavior gives out positive results.

• Create a "calm down" wall on his bedroom. Get your kids involved in designing their "calm down" wall. Put print stickers with positive slogans about dealing with anger. Avail of cheap postcard printing and decorate the "calm down" wall with easy steps for handling anger. You can also provide a portion of the wall where your kids can write the things that make them angry. For instance, if your child gets angry when you ask him to clean his bedroom, tell him that he shouldn't get mad. Tell him that the reason why you want him to clean is for him to become responsible and organized. Remind your kids to look at their "calm down" wall whenever they feel angry and frustrated.

More topics on Print Stickers can be found at Cheap Postcard Printing

Teaching Your Child the Truth About Success & Achievements By Matthew Mitchell

Your child's grades and performance in school is one of the most important things in their life right now. The better their grades are the more prepared they'll be for life... or will they. In the grand scheme of things grades are only a small part of the total picture. Research suggests that it's less important 'what' grades a child receives as opposed to 'how' they approach learning and achievements. Focusing on success and perfect test scores can actually make your child less successful in the long run.

When getting the right answer every time is the most important thing in your eyes a child becomes fearful to make a mistake. This is not to say laziness or poor study habits should be condoned. Instead a new focus on what learning actually is and a new approach to success is needed. If your child wants to approach a problem in a way that doesn't seem "right" or the "regular" way let them explore that possibility and learn through trial and error.

Currently our schools focus on convergent thinking to teach children. Convergent thinking is the idea that there is one correct way to find an answer. When teaching difficult subjects teachers prescribe a method to find the answer. Exploration and experimentation can't be tolerated in this setting because of time constraints. The end result is a group of students that are taught what to think and not how to think. Children are punished for failure or trying new methods.

Juxtaposition to convergent thinking is divergent thinking. Divergent thinking is the idea that there are many possible ways to solve a problem. With divergent thinking the possibility of multiple solutions is common and acceptable. The problem with divergent thinking is that a school cannot test student very easily and teaching is far less efficient (under the scope of the current model). The truth is real life problems cannot be wrapped up in cute canned solutions learned in school. The data and skills needed to succeed in life are diverse and complicated. The current model of teaching success is flawed and out of touch with reality.

In order to give your child the best chance of success (not just good grades) follow some of these guidelines.

Focus on growth not achievements. Growth and progress is what ultimately leads to success and achievement. When parents focus on achievement, praise achievement, and reward achievement at the expense of focusing on growth it sets up an imbalanced precedence. The lopsided view of achievement will surely grow with a child as they develop. As a result they will not feel content with only progressing. Progress coupled with failure is ultimately failure. The idea should be reversed. Progress coupled with failure is success! Progress and growth are the most important factors in success. Achievement is short lived and is usually defined by some arbitrary means.

Failure is an option. A child that embraces failure should be rewarded. This is walking a fine line because all types of failure are not the same. Failure due to lack of effort, poor preparation, or being idiotic is not what is meant here. Instead failure in the face of tremendous effort, intelligence, and exploration is among the highest achievements.

Additional Resources: Troubled Youth Programs
Schools for At-Risk Teens, Military Schools.