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When you’re facing the end of your marriage, everything seems hard. From the time you wake up until the time your head hits the pillow, going through a divorce is challenging. Even though you may not realize it, hiring a good divorce lawyer is in your best interest.

There are three main reasons why you should find a good divorce attorney:

Special Understanding of Family Law

A divorce attorney will be better suited to handle your divorce and child custody hearings than a general practice lawyer. Family law changes often. For instance, if your typical go-to lawyer, who hasn’t handled family law in a while, is not up-to-date on current changes, he is incompetent to effectively handle your case. Unfavorable odds and adverse decisions are the least things you may want in this sticky situation.

However, an attorney who is familiar with the family court system will serve you better than one who only appears occasionally. Court proceedings, evidence admission, and civil measures are handled differently by different judges. A family law attorney will be familiar with judges in this branch of the court system.

Familiar with Dividing Assets

An unfortunate part of divorce is divvying up your assets. Family attorneys at TotalDivorce.com work to protect your part and help you to get what you’re entitled to. Fair division of businesses, taxes and debt, and stock options isn’t something you should leave to any lawyer.

Sometimes during divorce proceedings, one spouse attempts to hide assets from the other. When this occurs, a good family law attorney will act quickly and concisely to bring those assets before the court. Family lawyers know how to uncover assets and what to look for when you suspect hidden properties.

Need for an Advocate

Divorce is painful, and you won’t always be in the right state to fight for your rights. Having a hard-working attorney fighting for you provides some relief and comfort during this difficult time and gives you a voice in court as well.

Conclusion: Finding a Family Lawyer

Now you know the need to find a family lawyer, but how? First ask friends and family for references. You’ll get an honest opinion about an attorney’s abilities and character. If you know anyone in the family court system like a case worker or a judge, ask for a referral. The family court system is fairly small, and most workers know everyone else.

Hiring a divorce attorney is one of the best things you can do to cope with this emotional struggle, protect your interests and assets, and make sure you get what you’re entitled to.

If you have experience hiring a divorce lawyer, leave a comment below.

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If you are interested in changing things around and trying to live the life you always wanted, here are four ways you can maximize your budget.

Cut Unnecessary Expenses

People often spend money without realizing exactly what they are spending it on. Try keeping a notebook for a month of everything you purchased or every bill you paid. When the month is over look over where you spent your money, and see if there are places where you can cut unnecessary expenses.

Some examples of unnecessary expenses include:

• Paying for cable TV
• Shopping sprees
• Purchasing items that are not needed or wanted

Pay Off Bills Quickly

There are some bills such as the electric bill that are impossible to pay off completely, as they are reoccurring. However, there may be some bills such installment loans that were taken out for emergency medical expenses, or credit card bills, that can be paid in full.

Try to completely pay off any bills you can. If that is impossible, try to devote a little extra cash to the monthly payments. This will help you pay off your bills faster, and give you more money to help you lead the life you want.

Consider Couponing

While many people laugh at the people who are frantically clipping coupons, the truth is these people are saving money and maximizing their budget. Consider using coupons to help you save a little extra cash when you make purchases. It might not look like you are saving a lot, but every dollar you save can be put towards helping you live a dream lifestyle.

Keep on a Strict Budget

Maximizing your budget doesn’t have to mean that you have to cut out all the fun things such as trips to the movies, or eating out; it just means you need to budget your money. Every month sit down and create a budget that includes all the things you want to do for the month. Make sure all your bills are paid, and leave a little cash for “fun money” that can be used for activities that are deemed unnecessary.

Once you’ve created a budget, you must stick to it completely. This will prevent you from overspending, but will allow you to enjoy the lifestyle you want.

Living a dream lifestyle isn’t easy. It takes determination, a willing to make sacrifices, and an ability to budget your money wisely. Using these four tips you can maximize your budget, and be one step closer to living the life you want.

Divorce and Children (Photo credit: o5com)

Keep Your Child and Divorce out of the Courtroom

Historically, divorce has been difficult for children as they became involved in courtroom custody battles in which they must choose sides or assess blame. However, divorce proceedings have recently seen a new approach, especially in the last decade, that allow parents and their children to go through the divorce process in a more amicable, less stressful way. Indeed, a collaborative approach to divorce will help lessen the stress and even the cost associated with divorce.

Look up Divorce Laws in Your State for Clarity

There are number of issues that make divorce hearings more difficult. For example, a Virginia child custody lawyer is dealing with different legal custody, physical custody and visitation arrangements than an attorney in Los Angeles, California. Child custody laws are different in every state, however, the health and happiness of a child is paramount to any divorce proceeding regardless of geography.

Explore Collaborative Divorce

The idea of a collaborative divorce is that parents are working out their issues through direct communication with each other instead of passing information back and forth through attorneys. Customarily, couples will sign a collaborative participation agreement. By signing the agreement, each parent is agreeing not to take the case to court. Indeed, courtrooms are a stressful environment, especially to a child unaccustomed to those surroundings. Collaborative divorce allows for discussions and resolutions to take place almost entirely out of the court room.

In a collaborative divorce, attorneys are on hand to offer consultation or to give more advice but they are not there to discuss divorce settlements or terms. Ideally, the children are the focal points of the divorce with a goal of reducing their stress and anxiety. Child custody is a highly emotive issue but a signed contract that purports to put your child’s interests first will help to get both parents working together toward an arrangement that is in the best interest of the child.

Costs are also reduced in a collaborative divorce. Indeed, when both parties are on the same page about the structure by which their union will end, there is less money spent on lawyer deliberations, and more time spent on securing the emotional well-being of the children involved.

Parents often find themselves struggling with that experience, however. Teens demand social media and convenience, wanting to entertain themselves between classes. Mothers and fathers, instead, opt for affordability and functional features. Creating a compromise between these ideas is not an easy task. It is, though, a possible one if appropriate phones are chosen.

Consider the following four options:

LG Optimus V 

Boasting a sleek design and practical interface, the LG Optimus V is an ideal choice for teens. This Google Android platform offers quick speeds (3G as of 2012) and high resolutions, which makes it perfect for texting, gaming and more. Parents will certainly approve of the low purchase price, however, and the flexibility of Virgin Mobile family planning. The LG Optimus V is a streamlined item that meets teen’s tech needs.

BlackBerry Curve

Youth are social animals, and the BlackBerry Curve is a social phone. This gadget offers a full QWERTY keyboard, perfect for emails and texting; features Microsoft programs for sharing documents or homework suggestions; and even provides access to Rhapsody Unlimited, which allows users to exchange playlists, post songs to Facebook and more.

As of 2012, this service has been increasingly popular, with even Cricket’s Muve Music Phone challenged by Rhapsody. The BlackBerry Curve proves ideal for networking and is an excellent choice for active teens.

The Kajeet

Offering a pre-paid philosophy and stellar parental controls, the Kajeet serves as a parent’s perfect dream. Utilizing functions like monthly text limitations, restricted access to designated web pages, and even the ability to manage when the phone can (or can’t) be used, the Kajeet simplifies the communication process.

This is an easy introduction for young teens, teaching them responsibility and how to avoid the pitfalls of exceeding their minutes.

Apple iPhone

Cellphones are much more than collections of buttons and dial tones. Instead, the Apple iPhone proves that they are an efficient—and an innovative—form of communication. Providing over eight gigabytes of storage capabilities and 3G speeds, this is the phone that redefined technology. Its endless features (such as 1080p HD video, dual core A5 chip, advanced optics camera, and even access to Rhapsody Unlimited) brand it the desire of every teen. And its affordable cost makes it the friend of every budget-conscious parent.

The necessity of a cell phone is undeniable. Choosing a suitable option for teens is just as vital, however. Consider then the LG Optimus V, the BlackBerry Curve, the Kajeet or the Apple iPhone for ease and lessened costs.

Are you ready to impress your teen with your choice of technology?

Here are four simple tactics that will help strengthen your income:

Image from Flickr

Tactic 1: Real Estate Marketing

That’s right, putting your extra real estate assets outright on the market will help you reap the benefits. Make sure, though, you have an ideal place to live, preferably downsized later on in your life, or else it may not matter much to your wallet.

The thing is, you can sell your other houses for top dollar simply because you’ve put so much money into these places already—repairs, improvements, add-ons, you name it.

Tactic 2: Brand Licensing

Small businesses need to invest in something called brand licensing. The deal is, you’re investing a bit of money to expand your brand to other companies through your license. What does that mean? It means that these other businesses will actually set production for your brand, saving you tons of money, and increasing public knowledge about your business.

Tactic 3: Bankrupt Business Buying

Buying a business? You’re thinking, “Are you insane?” Here’s the thing: While it may cost a ton of money to obtain ownership of any company, you can actually find huge deals in obtaining ownership of “bankrupt” companies.

Why? It’s simply because these bankrupt companies have nothing to lose. They’re going under. But if you swoop in and buy out the company, you could potentially have a cash cow saved from total slaughter. Make sure you have tenacious management on-board as well, and it’s not only a company saved from death but also a company bringing in the more income for you.

Tactic 4: The Classic Stocks and Bonds

There’s really no need to go into detail on this one because it has proven to increase a company’s income on a wide scale, provided that you know what businesses to invest in, of course! You’re basically putting some of your money into how well a business does. If the business makes a profit, you make a profit.

When Financial Emergency Strikes

While you’re building your arsenal and growing your wealth, emergencies such as accidents and catastrophes can arise without warning.  These dire situations often require immediate emergency cash to help you survive. If you find yourself facing a catastrophe and you’re strapped for cash, consider applying for an online cash loan. Companies like Great Plains Lending are in the business of helping people get through unforeseen events, calamities and emergencies.  At times like these, having cash on hand is an absolute necessity.

Those blackholes may be dangerous to your dollar signs, but with the help of these tactics, rest assured that your portfolio stays intact, free, and clear. These are your weapons, soldier of fortune! Your assets await strengthening. Go forth and tackle the world.

Do you have other great tips on how one can expand a company’s assets? Share us your thoughts in the comments.

Talking of computers, it will be unwise for you to get the latest laptop complete with fingerprint recognition technology for your child that is still in the necessary. The point that is being made here is that you need to start easy and simple so that you do not end up confusing the tiny tot. there are computers that have been specially made for young children and they are also sold at affordable prices.

After purchasing the computer for your children, ensure that you teach them how to use it even though children have this uncanny ability to master electronics in a little time. Once they have mastered how to use it, you have to make sure they make practical use of the gadget and it should not be all about games alone. Let them use it for basic mathematics, take grammar lessons, simple geography quizzes, browsing online courses through accredited online colleges and even art lessons as well. Through the use of the computer, your child can learn of other places and cultures in other parts of the world. The computer is more of a window to the world,  it opens your child to the world by providing him or her with all the sophistication that is needed.

Prevention is better than cure and is even more important when you have young kids in the home. The kitchen is a place where many domestic accidents happen. It can be in the form of an explosion of the gas cylinder, spilling hot oil on the skin or even cutting a finger. To prevent any of these incidents affecting your children, minimize their coming into the kitchen for any reason, after all they cannot cook. Locate the fridge in the dining room so that they will not enter the kitchen where they can play with the gas knob under the pretext of getting a cup of water in the refrigerator.

As a parent, you need to ensure that all chemical substances are kept out of reach of those little children that tend to experiment with everything. Such experiments include licking toothpaste or pouring talc powder all over the room. A child that swallows the content of in adhesive tube mistaking it for a toothpaste will cause undue trouble for the already stressed-out parent. Thus, substances like paints, varnishes, adhesives, acids, alkalis, fuels, engine oils and the likes must be kept out of their reach. Teach them basic tips about electricity so that your son does not put a nail in the socket.

When the word toy is mentioned, it is also easy to visualize a child. This is because children are more associated with toys even though adults too have their own brands. Toys are important for your kids and a child can fall sick if you do not get her that fine doll or helicopter. There is no need arguing about the importance of toys to children.

However, in the world of today, there are toys and there are toys. This is to state that some toys are not good for the children. Toys like guns, dummy explosives and catapult tend to imprint violence and hostility in your children’s brains. The same thing applies to video games that are based on violence and shootings. If you do not want your child to turn to into a serial killer, it is high time you tossed that toy revolver into the trash can.

Toys are good, but not all of them. To let your child get the best out of toys, it is not only important but necessary as well that you procure toys that will stimulate development and creativity in your children. Toys like these are easy to get and fortunately, they are not expensive. A example of creative toys that you can get for your child is the Lego bricks set.

Even though this sounds like a good idea, it has been shown that this may be a very big mistake and even turn out with very unpleasant results if you are unfortunate enough to get a devil as a nanny. Some nannies are only after the money you pay them and have little or no interest in your child’s welfare. Some of them go to the extent of maltreating or even abusing the same children that they entrusted with.

Therefore, getting a good nanny is a serious matter and one that must be pursued with all seriousness as well. Luckily, as there are bad eggs, there are good nurses out there as well and all you have to do is to search for them. This is not a big deal and may even be an interesting affair.
But
One place to begin the search of this nature is in your office or workplace. You can tell some of your colleagues that are mothers as well and seek for their advice and counsel on how to get a nanny of the highest order. Another option is to tell close relations like your parents. In a situation where you may not be able to do any of these, then the Internet is the place. While you are surfing the Internet, you can search for day care centers in your locality.

But in an age like this, most parents have to go to work or they will starve alongside the kids. You can afford not to work only if you are very wealthy. For those that have to combine work with raising kids, it is important to strike a balance so that neither work nor family will suffer.

If you are a mother with young kids, you can lessen the rigor and tension by taking your children to day care centers while you go off to work. If the children happen to be too young to be left in a day care center, then you will have to apply for a maternity leave so as to have time to cater for the kids until they grow old enough to stay with a nanny. As a father, you can also help out by taking the kids and dropping them off at the nanny’s or at school. Give a helping hand in whatever way you can, this is to ensure that no single partner is weighed down by the stress and demands of being a parent. It is quite unfair for the father to leave all the raising the child to the mother. Several online college degrees sites are available on internet for a better course on parenthood for new parents.

As a parent with a career, it is important that you squeeze time out of your busy schedule to interact with your children and ask them about schoolwork or help with assignments. Do not be the parent that is more of a stranger at home.

However, before you go ahead with the pets issue, you must ensure that your kid is a true lover of animals and not one that is scared of them. The fact that you love rabbits does not mean that Junior will be a big fan of Big Ears as well. Once you have been able to establish the fact your children love animals and would  want to keep them as pets, you need to also make sure that they are not allergic to animal fur or droppings. By letting kids who are allergic to animals keep  them as pets is tantamount to endangering their health.

Once the coast is clear, then you can go ahead and get a pet for him or her. One important point that you have to note here is that it is always nice to take the child to the pet shop and let him or her make the selection. You may be thinking of a puppy while she has been fantasizing about a parrot. Apart from that, letting the child make the selection imbues him or her with joy and a sense of care.

After the purchase, it is left to you to give the new pet owner a nice lecture on how to take good care of the pet. This is necessary even though your child will end up knowing more about the pet than you in no time. You can assist by providing money to buy pet food and drugs.

If you don’t want to end up overextending your prepaid credit card and busting your budget, there are a number of things that we can do to lower the monthly food bill. The quickest of these is to stop eating out so much. Eating out is always more expensive than eating at home. Prepared foods fall in this same category. If you cook it yourself, the money you save is kind of like paying yourself to cook it.

I love those little labels they put on the grocery store shelf with the “per ounce” price of things. I’ve lowered my family’s monthly food bill by over $50.00 per month, just by paying attention to those. Lots of things are less expensive when buying in the giant size package than when buying individual servings. Let me show you a few examples:

• Potato chips – One large bag of potato chips (or any salty snack) costs about as much as three individual packages and contains enough for eight; re-bag it yourself.
• Breakfast cereal – The large bagged cereals in the grocery store cost about 40% less per ounce than the boxed version.
• Canned fruit – The individual packages for your kid’s lunches cost double what it would cost to buy large cans and put it in reusable plastic containers.
• Salad dressing – My family goes through ranch dressing like it’s going out of style. I buy the large bottle, and pour it into the “squeeze bottle” for my kids. That saves me about 30% over buying the smaller bottle.

I think you’re getting the idea here. Bring a calculator to the grocery store with you. Take a look at those labels, you’ll find lots of ways to save money by buying giant size.

Obviously, this isn’t something we want in them. So, we as parents need to break the habit of them always saying “no” when we tell them to do something. How? Simply by not accepting “no” as a response.

Let’s take the chore of picking up toys as an example. No child likes to pick up their toys, they think the world looks right when their toys are scattered all over the place. While we might be tempted to let them get away with that once in a while, we really can’t live like that. We need to train them to put their toys away when we tell them to.

Okay, so what should we do when they don’t obey? Aha, this is where it starts getting interesting. Let’s make a definition here; stating that putting toys away is part of taking care of them. Nobody deserves to have things that they can’t take care of. So, if our children can’t take care of their things, we need to “help them” by removing some of the things. That way, we make the job easier for them.

If you are going to do this, always pick something they really like to take away. Not the teddy bear that they cuddle up with at night, but some toy that they play with all the time. Make sure that your children see you take those things away, and explain to them that you are helping them, by making it easier for them to take care of what they have. Now they have less to have to take care of.

If that toy is really important to the child, they’ll quickly learn how to put their things away. Don’t give it back to them too quick though. You want to be sure they’ve learned how to take care of their things.

Having the right attitude will make a person face the impossible, and come out victorious. So, where do these attitudes come from? More than that, can we positively affect the attitude of our children?

I have good news for you, the answer is that our attitudes, like our personality and character are mostly formed during the first five years of life; those years which are referred to as the formative years. Who has the greatest influence on the formative years of a child’s life? You’re right, you as a parent do. During those years you can instill a love for learning in your child, which will get them through all the years that follow. You can literally program them for success.

So, how do you do this? Really it’s quite simple. Children are the world’s greatest copycats. So, if you want your child to do something, all you have to do is do that thing. Without even realizing it, they’ll follow you, doing what you’re doing, as you’re doing it, even for the same reason you are doing it (without you having to directly tell them your reason).

If you have a home where all you do is sit in front of the television, vegetating; your children will grow up as couch potatoes. However, if you have a home rich in intellectual activities, such as reading, games, and interactive educational activities on the Internet, your children will grow up enjoying those things. You will have created the potential for success within their attitudes.

How much time do you spend per day cleaning up stuff your kids left out? Never mind, don’t answer that question. Let’s just say that whatever time you spend, it’s too much. You’ve got enough to do, without putting things away, which had already been put away.

Child safety locks are one of the greatest helps for home organization ever invented. Yeah, I know, they really weren’t invented with that in mind; they were invented to protect the kids from danger. But, they can also be used to protect your things from the danger of your kids; specifically from the danger of your kids reorganizing what you’ve already organized.

Everyone knows that whatever a child can reach they’ll grab. So, we all take our breakables and put them out of reach. We put cleaning chemicals away where little hands can’t get them, and we put child safety latches on the cabinets under the sink. Okay, but what if we add child safety latches to the rest of the cabinets and drawers, including those in our bedroom dresser. Don’t forget the closet doors either. That will help keep the little kiddies from helping us with their redecorating ideas.

Bookcases are another area that need a little help. While putting glass doors on them might look nice, it can be expensive. We need a cheaper idea. So, buy yourself some spring tension rods for café curtains. Use these as “burglar bars” to keep the kids from pulling things off the shelf. They might complain for a moment that they can’t grab your books, but then they’ll find something else to do. Like I said, you don’t need their help.

Wait a minute! Living by credit cards? That’s a sure-fired recipe for financial disaster. Do you know that most families live on 110% of their income? They make up the shortfall with their credit cards. I’m not saying that they actually sit down and write up a budget that’s more than their income, what I’m saying is that they make up a budget for 100% of their income, with the assumption that they can take care of any problems with their credit cards. All that means is that they’ll be in debt forever.

The best single thing you can do to make sure you can live within your budget is cut your credit cards up and throw them away. That way, you’re not accumulating more and more debt every month. Then, because you don’t have the credit card to count on, use your hp laptop to create and write up a budget that gives you a little bit of slack every month. That slack is to take care of those unexpected expenses.

You’ll find that not having credit cards to depend upon will cause you to modify your thinking. Suddenly, you’ll find new ways to cut bills, save money, and do without things that you previously thought you had to have. You’ll be seeking ways to stretch your dollar, not ways to increase your spending limit. You’ll look at sales and say, “If that wasn’t on sale, would I still want to buy it?” instead of buying it because you can pay for it later.

The truly great thing is that once you pay off your existing credit card debt, you’ll actually have more money each and every month. That money you’ve been paying in credit card interest will become money you can pay yourself, for something you’ve been wanting.

The process of educating our children literally begins the moment they are born and seemingly never ends. But, how much should we teach our children at home? Are there limits? Or should we try and teach them everything we can, so that they will have an easier time when they start in school.

Studies have shown that the more a child knows when they start school, the faster and farther they can go in their education. While teaching your three-year-old their colors or the alphabet song doesn’t seem like a major intellectual feat, in fact it prepares them for the learning which they need to accomplish later on. The head start in the educational race which they gain by learning the basics at home will stay with them all through their academic years.

Nobody has yet determined the limit in how much a child can learn before entering formal education. Yet, there are numerous recorded cases of parents teaching their children to read before the age of five. There are even cases of non-genius children completing their high school education by the age of 12. How? By their parents starting to teach them early. While these cases may not be the norm, and may not be possible with every child, it is possible with some, possibly many children. The cost is one paid in time that the parents invest in teaching their child.

When you make that investment in your child’s education, you are making an investment in their future, increasing their chance of success in life. Just as in any other race, he who starts first has an advantage; why not give that advantage to your kids?

If you are considering a pre-school, or teaching your little one at home, here are some ideas to help you navigate the important things that your child will need to know. Teach your child how to listen before speaking, raising their hand when they have a question or a need, and putting their toys away. These functions will go a long way in helping your child transition to regular, or pre-school. This will also make the information they need to learn come through easier, and eliminate certain behaviors that can prohibit your child from learning many important concepts.

As always, you will need to reward your child for his or her efforts in the learning. One idea is to give them a smart cookie award. This can either be a certificate, or a literal cookie. Your child will look forward to this reward, and this will be a highlight of the day. This also re-affirms to your child that he or she has done a great job on their tasks, and they you think they are smart. Telling your child that they are smart is a good way of letting your child know that they are capable of learning, and that you are pleased with what they have learned. Establishing that early with your child is an important approval that you will find that you child needs later on during their first official years in school.

Some children acclimate quite well to the transition. This is because many children do truly thrive in structured environments. As far as eating is concerned, the biggest change, other than the schedule, and when he or she is allowed to eat, would be that now meals have a time limit. In pre-school, which is truly the preparation prior to school, it is important that all events, including meals have a schedule. This is one more aspect that will help your child transition well into school. You may find a difference at home, during non-school days, as your child begins to adapt to the school rules, the procedures, and of course the schedule.

Separation anxiety is when a child is feeling very insecure with being left somewhere, and they’re afraid that their parents will not return for them. This last a short time, usually until they realize that their parents will return for them everyday. For some children this can interrupt their sleep schedules, which can create a fussy child due to lack of sleep. Many parents find that if they are able to prep their children for day care by introducing the idea is small steps, the separation anxiety tends to be slight, if at all. When this is the case, it will help ease the stress of a fussy child, because sleep and the idea of being left with another caregiver is not such a scary concept. If your child is remaining quite fussy, and you are not sure what to do, it may be in your best interest to investigate the facility that you have your child at, to see if there is something happening with the other children that can cause your child any undo stress.

Yes, for a while, the majority of the responsibility will be yours, but as he gets older, your child can take on more of it, especially the feeding and watering, and even the easier grooming, such as the brushing and combing. It will probably be during grooming time that you will notice your child — yes, little boys do this, too — checking to see how well Mr. Potato Head’s cowboy hat (if it’s a small dog) or the child’s own cowboy hat fits on a larger dog.

When you see this, you can take the opportunity to show your child all the cute pet costumes that can be bought online. When he sees that he can actually dress his pet up like a cowboy, complete with red bandanna and a hat that really fits, or even like a superhero, with the cowl and cape, he’ll enjoy dressing his pet up before taking him for his daily walk.

You’ll need to help your child choose pet costumes carefully so that they won’t be too heavy for the dog or made in such a complicated way that they actually hinder the dog’s freedom of movement. Once the appropriate ones have been chosen, though, your child will enjoy the attention his dog gets when they are running around and playing — something that dogs and children need to do often. You’ll enjoy the compliments, too, because you’ll be making these play and exercise times something the whole family can do together.

Some of the other aspects of children this age are that they will begin having dreams that upset them, they can develop a fear of the dark, and their imaginations are going wild. This is a really fun time in life, and if a parent is patient enough, can be one of the sweetest times that you will ever experience with your child. This is also the time when your child is learning and loving everything new. Their little minds are like sponges, and there is very little that they forget. Think back to the show, Kids Say The Darndest Things, with Bill Cosby, and he would have some children on the show, and they would tell stories about things that they had experienced. This is the time of life that children are the most creative and inventive with telling stories.

Enjoy this time, because it truly does pass very quickly. You can expect your child to leap out of this stage and into the school age and ready for the next big thing of getting older. They will develop so quickly, and you will be amazed at how much they can accomplish at such a young age.

You will notice that each sheet is a series of dotted lines that when filled in create the letter that is being taught on. You can incorporate this knowledge with a diverse lesson plan including what the letter is, what words start with that letter, and what objects that your pre-school child is familiar with. There are some great educational visuals that you can get that are relatively inexpensive, that will help re-affirm the concepts using both visuals, and full script of the letter being taught.

The studies have shown that when teaching this style first, namely the D’Nealian style, that many children have automatically adjusted to print script. This is especially important when children are learning to read concurrently. Many parents are ablet to help teach their children these concepts at home, and if you are interested in teaching your pre-schooler how to begin learning cursive, you can interview a pre-school teacher, or simply go online teaching software avaliable in market can be purchase using reach prepaid card to find resources that will help you teach your child the fundamentals of cursive writing. This is a great way to begin to get your child focused on the fundamentals of education.

Play-doh has recipes on the internet, and in stores, and is a basic concoction to prepare. You are able to make it any color you choose, and you can have a purpose after completion. You can decide to use the play-doh for play, or for gifts for friends and family. This will give your child a sense of accomplishment, through hard work, when providing these to others that he or she knows. Homemade root beer is a very fun thing to make with your little one. It requires the use of dry ice, so it is important that you monitor the use of this product. The steamy like fog that comes off of the container is something that small children really enjoy. This is not a carbonated drink, so it is a fun treat that will not cause any undo harm to their teeth. Ice cream is a great manipulative for your child to engage in. With some salt, ice, milk, and flavoring, you can play hot potato while making it. Because you have to shake the bag or container that you make the ice cream in, the making part can be a game in itself.

Regardless of what you choose to make, it is important to realize that just spending time with your little one is a reward, and a fun thing. You will find that your child responds quite nicely.

This will give your child a sense of accomplishment beyond being rewarded. You will find that your child will say things like, “I cleaned my room like a big boy (or girl).” It is with these types of acknowledgments that you will realize that your child is eager to be recognized, and to be able to do older kid things. This will also tell you that what you are doing as a means of training your child is working, and benefiting your child, as they are feeling like they have earned the right to be a big kid. You will find over time that your child will be more and more eager to do “big kid” things, because they like the reward-return on their behavior. This is not to say that your child won’t have bad days, but if you start training like this early on, you’ll find that your child is much more receptive later on to your training and discipline.

There are many help aids with home schooling, and one of the best that is there to help is online. Free online education is available so that lesson plans, day planner suggestions, and tutorials are all accessible for the student, and for you. This is a great resource, especially if you are new to the idea of home schooling. Also, many of the resources available are for students that have learning difficulties, and how you as a parent can help your child overcome challenges in learning.

Some of the challenges that you may encounter while home schooling is making sure that your child is working steadily, and applying effort. It is important that you implore to your child that during their scheduled school time, that they are to regard this as school. Home schooling is not intended to allow a child to crank out their work then go play video games. It truly is an alternative learning experience, and if done properly, can provide a child with an amazing educational career. Many children that have completed their schooling while in a home schooling setting tend to have higher test scores. This is in part due to the fact that there are not 20 other students that need attention.

Many of these relationships are developed by being part of the group of the homeschoolers that travel together. This means that all of the field trips that are conducted are done so with the same group of students and parents. Because home schooling is at home, there is a really great need for students to go out and explore hands on things, or museums, in order to see a real life application of education, and of what they are learning. These trips helps solidify the information students are being taught. Being part of a specific group that does these types of outings is key for not just learning, but for friendships.

The other thing that a child is eligible for is sports through their own school district. Whatever school district that student belongs to, even though they do not attend that school, they can participate in the extra-curricular activities. It is a state accepted aspect because of property taxes. This is another way for your child to become friends with the other kids that live within the school district. It also means that if there are certain electives that you cannot teach, your child can attend the local public school for those subjects, then return for the rest of the day at home.

This is a new version of mommy and me classes, as you and your child have graduated to mommy and big me classes. It is important not to frustrate your child during this time, because they have a tendency to act out, and then your correctiveness through love has to be correctiveness through frustration. Make this transition fun and loving, and you will find that your child responds very quickly to your teaching and instruction. This is the true meaning of mommy and me, to learn and to grow while being in a safe and nurturing environment that is conducive to bonding and learning.

Some of the best products for children at this age are basic things that you can find around the house. Yes there are great education products on the market, but they are not completely necessary, not for learning the basics. If you are teaching your child about colors, use shoe laces. Then ask your child to find the shoe that has the color lace you want. This teaches them about shoes, colors, and you can expand on what shoes are for, what letters are in shoes, and how to put them on. This basic lesson is very complete for a child this age, because this instructs them on life skills, and basic education skills. The next product that you can use is a sponge. With this have your child make crafts by sponge painting. Again, they will learn about cause and effect with the difference between a wet sponge, and a dry sponge.

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The other expenses that your child may have include medical costs. Children need their vaccinations, they get colds, and sometimes need to stay home due to illness. The primary budget for these fees include loss time at work because you have stay home with your little one. If a child is running a fever, they can not attend school, per state law, for 24 hours after the fever had broken. This means that you might have a little one not feel good on Sunday night, but can not attend school until Tuesday.

Clothing is another expense that can be costly at times, because young children are growing so fast at this age. In fact, some children grow a size every other month, and that means that parents are needing to keep a steady stream on clothing for their children. There are discount stores available, but all in all, plan on spending about $200 dollars a month in clothing.

So the key here is to always have a plan in place.  Create a budget.  You might love your designer jewelry from JR Dunn but it may be time to spend a little less there to save more money for your child’s expenses.  Set goals.  Create a budget.  These are key.

For starters, children at this age love to touch. How many times do you ask your child to stop touching something in a store, or at home? The sensory feeling associated with learning really kick on during this time. One of best things you can do is to take your child to a place where they can touch everything. There are children’s museums in many cities, and these places are specifically designed to be 100% interactive. Children can climb, touch, see, color, build, and manipulate. While you might a little bored by the exercise, try taking a look at your child, and see the learning and fascination click. That in itself will make it a fantastic day for you too.

Another fun place is a fish hatchery. For about $5 for the day, you and your child can go in to where the fish are stored, and where they place fish so they can harvest eggs. Children can go in and touch and feel, and see and smell. This is a great way to show your child a little bit of interactive nature. While it might be a little contrived, your little one will enjoy themselves all the same.

When parents threaten and threaten without action, it is essentially telling the child that it’s alright to disregard the order to discontinue with whatever the behavior is. What many parents do not realize is that by not training your child to behave in a specific way, they are in turn training their children to behave however the child sees fit. For example, if a child is stealing gum from a store, and the parent does nothing to change that behavior, the parent is essentially sending the message that stealing is an acceptable behavior. When teaching your children that stealing is wrong, parents must be consistent and continuously proactive on exerting consequences until the behavior diminishes. This trains the child to no longer steal, and it provides instances of consistency, so that if another mal-behavior begins to surface, and the parent threatens, the child will take the parent seriously. After a while, things will take only one time for the parent to address. Consistency is truly the key in teaching rules in the home, be stearn in the beginning, so that you can be relaxed later.

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Being a parent changes you. It changes your priorities in life. No longer are you living just for yourself. You begin living for your children. They become your biggest concern and you find yourself wanting to protect them from the world. One way to put your mind at ease as a parent is to have an emergency plan. Emergencies come in every form, from natural disasters to financial woes. Being prepared will help you relax and enjoy life.

Natural Disasters

Natural disasters, such as tornadoes, happen all of the time. Depending on where you live, you may find yourself at the mercy of Mother Nature. If you and your loved ones ever have to face a tornado, keep the following in mind:

• Pay attention to the weather stations on the radio for updates on the storm
• Listen for sirens and take cover immediately
• Basements and windowless, interior rooms provide the best protection
• Never stay in a mobile home during a tornado
• If you do not have a safe place at home, go to a community shelter

Fires also affects millions of people every year. Some fires have natural causes, such as lightning, and other fires are caused by people. During a fire, remember these tips:

• Stay low to avoid inhaling too much smoke
• Check the temperature of doors before opening them
• Have a fire escape plan and teach it to your children
• Stop, drop and roll if your clothes catch on fire and show your children how to do the same

Financial Disasters

If you ever find yourself needing money fast, utilize all of your resources. Borrow from family and friends. Apply for an emergency loan from GreatPlainsLending and have your funds deposited quickly and efficiently. This is a valuable resource for emergencies. Loans are easy to qualify for and repayment is virtually hassle-free. Save yourself the worry and have your resources prepared in advance.

When you begin to investigate different options, think in terms of your child’s experience. Chances are, they will be spending a significant amount of time in the facility. How do the other children appear? How do the attendants respond to them? What is the policy on having an ill child present? What are their emergency procedures? All of these questions are something that you really want to have answered so that you have full peace of mind when you are leaving your most valuable treasure for the day.

Many day cares provide a tour and an interview process. This is a good time to ask about licensing of each of the employees. It is important that the day care you are looking at has full licensing, and that each of its employees are up to date on their certification. The reason this is so important is because state laws and requirements often change, and it is important that facilities stay current with state law. In fact, one of the biggest changes in state law is regarding meals and the types of foods to serve children. You might want to inquire about a special diet if your child requires one. Most facilities will accommodate this request, but it is best to ask before any decisions are made. Remember, you want a place that will care for your child, and be a happy place.

The child will soon grow out of this, especially once he or she sees that their parents return everyday. This adjustment tends to take anywhere from a week to a month. Sometimes the adjustment can take longer if the child is not sleeping well, or if their schedule changed drastically to accommodate the day care. Making day care sound exciting, or talking the workers up can make day care seem like a privilege to your child, and he or she will begin to look forward to going. One of the best tricks for a child to desire day care is by presenting the idea that only big boys and girls are allowed to go. This will make your child think that they are growing up, and that they are allowed to do something that babies are not allowed to do yet. While this may seem basic, for a child that is afraid, it will make them feel empowered.

Procedures in a classroom are key for any learning environment. Pre-school is no exception. Routines, rules, and expectations are something that can be fun for your pre-schooler. You can make fun songs out of cleaning, and turn picking toys up, into a game. This can be the trickiest of all activities if teaching a pre-schooler at home, because many times they do not realize that they are to behave differently when they are learning new things, than when they are just hanging out at home. For those that want to have a home based learning program, it is important to create a separate environment. This way, the child will know that there is a different expectation. This will be both exciting and stressful in the beginning, but with the practice of regular and consistent procedures, it will make the experience enjoyable for both parent and child.

But what if you have a child who doesn’t like vegetables, or would rather eat a candy bar or cookie than a piece of fruit? What can you do to make sure they are getting the foods they need? You can purchase a food dehydrator and dry the fruits and vegetables you grow or buy yourself.

Dehydrated food just looks different than fresh or frozen food, and sometimes this is all it takes to get your youngster to eat them. For example, those dehydrated carrots don’t look like carrots any more. You sliced them with a serrated knife, which left those cute little ridges, popped them in the food dehydrator, and now they look like orange pickles!

And those sliced strawberries that your youngster refused to eat because they made such a mess? Now that you have dried them in your food dehydrator, they can literally make them a hand-held snack. You can even use your food dehydrator to dry meat. Your child may not like eating regular meat, but they may enjoy eating beef or chicken jerky.

Drying your meat also means it’s easier to add meat to vegetable dishes. Just toss a few strips of dried meat in with those dehydrated peas or beans you’re cooking and you’ve got an instant one-dish meal. Using a food dehydrator makes it easier to pack healthy lunches and snacks for your youngster. They don’t have to worry about keeping their lunch or snack refrigerated, because dehydrated food won’t spoil.

One of the biggest techniques used by many pre-schools is interactive play. This means that if they are learning the letter “A,” that whole week revolves around learning that letter. They sing songs about that letter, play game that are about that letter, have snacks that start with that letter, and even have parties to celebrate the letter they are learning. This might sound like extensive work for just one letter, but remember, it is a new concept, and children learn in different ways. By teaching them through various techniques, you are solidifying that will know the letter “A.”

The other key aspect for your pre-schooler is to learn how to identify different object, and their colors. This is the beginning for developing an expanded vocabulary that will be very useful later on. You can also use this opportunity for a child to begin to use a different level of thinking, by telling stories about the new objects that they learn about. By encouraging the use of imagination with tangible objects, it helps children critically evaluate later on in their school career.

Find out how many children are to each staff member. The ratio should be as small as possible so if you find two daycares you like, choose the one that has the lowest ration of staff per child so that you pre-schooler gets the most attention to their needs.

Find out the cost. Obviously this is an important consideration when choosing a daycare for most people. Don’t go on money alone but do take it under consideration if there are a couple of places you find equally redeeming. See if there is a cut in cost if you have more than one child as well. This can help out on your bill each time you have to pay for daycare.

Inquire about each daycare’s policies. This can include their policies on discipline, time of pick up, what they do if your child is sick or there is an emergency and a host of other issues that should be included in writing. Ask first and if you choose a particular daycare, make sure that their entire policy is in writing where you both can sign it and obtain a copy.

Location is important as well. If the daycare is close to where you live or work this is an important consideration that will cut down on travel costs and time spent dropping off and picking up your child or children.

Last but not least, get referrals if possible. Ask your friends, family and co-workers who they are most pleased with.

Do you have the time? Homeschooling can take up a lot of time and keep in mind that you will most likely be around your child 24 hours a day most of the time so do you have the ability to commit to that kind of schedule? This can interfere with being able to work outside of the home and sometimes it even affects work at home moms as well.

Will this hurt my finances? Although homeschooling is affordable, if you have a job outside of your home you may have to quit in order to homeschool your child. There are guidelines that have to be taken in to account when homeschooling just as their are tests that have to be passed so a strict regimine can sometimes be the best idea but this can interfere with what you are used to doing such as holding down a job.

Will it hurt my child’s socialization? Keep in mind that if you do homeschool, your child will not be exposed to other children like a child that goes to school is exposed to. For some children this can affect their social skills. It can be a good idea to provide other venues for your child to socialize in such as play dates, trips to areas where there are other children and homeschool co-op classes.

Regardless of your final decision, these guidelines are meant to help you and are in no way meant to sway you in either direction. It’s simply a good idea to weigh out all of the pros and cons before deciding.

You can actually start your child on the road to being able to read before they go to school with some easy activities you can do at home.

Start by reading to your child and allowing them to interact with you by allowing them to point at the pictures as you read. It is a good idea to let them pick out the book you will read together and you can let them turn each page as you read so that they are a full part of the experience. Take your time and make the experience a something they look forward to so that they are encouraged to read.

If possible, start your child on their ABC’s and simple math so that they are aware of how to count and say their letters. Many children learn to read well before they are in school but you can at least get started on the simple matters so that your child will be equal with the other students or even ahead of them.

Remember that it’s never too early to start activities that will help your child in school and preschool age is the perfect time to begin. Your child will not only enjoy the one-on-one time with you but they’ll be learning as you go. This creates a bonding experience that they’ll remember their lifetime and can also help them get a head start on their learning skills in a world that is highly competitive; even in grade school and beyond.

What better way to share your time with your child than by teaching them at the same time? They’ll be grateful you took the time.

One way to help ease your child into their new surroundings is to visit the facility prior to their first day away from you. If it is a daycare or preschool, take your child along when you visit. Let them see other children having fun and playing with each other and they may look forward to this new experience.

Talk to them about what is happening. Explain that you are not leaving them and it’s only for a few hours so that you can work or whatever it is you may need to do in order to have to be away. While some children may be more understanding than others, it’s a good idea to start early on this transition and to let them know what is going on so they won’t be scared.

Another way to make the transition easier is to find books on going to daycare for the first time. There are many that are written that are just for that; making things easier for your child. Some even focus on separation anxiety in a language your child can understand.

Regardless of how you specifically handle this issue, just make sure that you talk to your child and let them know that this is only temporary and that you will be back as soon as possible. You might even let them know that this is just the start for when they are a big girl or boy and start school so they feel more grown up.

Not only does day care allow both parents to work and earn more money, children that have gone to day care before starting school tend to have better social skills as well as learning skills. Since the learning process is starting sooner than if the child waits till they enter school, day care children learn more and are typically ahead of the other students who have not gone to preschool or day care.

Day care or preschool also allows a parent to have more free time to relax and alleviate stress. While we all want to be around our children as much as possible, a day care provider can allow you that time to yourself and a stress free parent is much better for a child than one that is not.

Day care of preschool has trained professionals working with your children. These staff members must pass rigorous standards and this ensures that you can have more peace of mind than leaving them with a sitter or perfect stranger. While you should always research a day care before you choose it by getting referrals and finding out about their history, at least you know that it is a qualified day care by state and county regulations that must be followed.

The point is, choosing to use a day care or preschool can be a hard decision but if you have to work full time it may be the best option out there and at least you know your child is learning new things as well as learning how to socialize with others. Now when they start school, they’ll be ahead of the game.

The biggest thing to keep in mind when it comes to tax tips for new parents is that you should be aware of the deductions and credits that are available to you now, not only as a new parent, but as a parent in general. Childbirth preparation classes, child tax credits, childcare tax credits and babysitting tax credits are all available to you if you qualify, and what this is going to translate to is the ability to recuperate some of the costs that you paid throughout the first year of your young one’s life.

The first time that you file your taxes as a new parent, it would be wise for you to work with a trained tax representative so that you can find out about all of the various deductions and credits that are available to you. When you work with a professional tax preparer, he or she will be able to walk you through each and every line item, child related deduction and child related tax credit to make sure that you get the best possible tax return as a result, and this is the best way to maximize the tax benefits that come with being a parent.

There are many different preschool activities you can find or create for your child. Reading is an activity that helps your child learn as well as creates something they may learn to love. This is excellent in teaching them their ABC’s or even how to read. Make it an activity they enjoy by letting them pick the book and the both of you reading it together. Make it a story time adventure by acting out some of the book or creating scenes.

Coloring and painting are two activities that children tend to love. It brings out their artistic side and can keep them occupied for hours. Just be sure you have an area that you can clean easily or don’t mind getting messy. However, that is another way to teach your child about picking up after themselves by allowing them to help you clean up the mess.

There are many other activities that can be found online or in stores. Different preschool activities packs have a plethora of activities that you and your child will enjoy.

You can also enjoy activities with your preschooler that cost you little or nothing. You can play hide and seek, blow bubbles, play jacks or even have a scavenger hunt. These are things that only take a little imagination and can be a great bonding experience as well as the reading.

No matter what type of activities you choose, know that this is a great time to enjoy togetherness with your child before they are ready for day care or preschool. It doesn’t matter what you do, just enjoy it.

Learn to keep things in specific areas. This way your child knows where to find his or her art supplies for instance or where the crayons are kept. A shelving unit similar to what you see in day cares can be great to house toys, art supplies, books and more. Not only will it help you stay organized but it will allow your child to remember to put things away each time they are used.

Keep activities and “lesson plans” in a three ring binder or notebook. If you have specific activities you do with your preschooler you may want to keep notes on them in a notebook or binder so they are easy to find and organized. A binder is a great place to keep your child’s artwork as well. That way they stay clean, especially if you keep plastic sleeves or protectors over them.

Flannel boards are excellent for learning and keep your walls clean and free of clutter. This can be used to display pictures your child likes or their artwork. It certainly makes painting the walls less likely to have to be done.

Teaching your child about keeping their room or area clean is twofold in how it helps out because they are learning responsibility as well as helping you keep the house organized. Consider having them pick up their toys each night before bed. By putting things away it’ll make it much easier on yourself and it’s never too early for your child to learn how to keep their work and play areas clean.

Different states may have different regulations but all must follow a set of rules that are the same no matter where you live.

Some rules may include a specific number of staff members for day care children. This means that you don’t have to worry about your child being lost among 50 other children and only one staff member to watch them all. Find out exactly what the ratio is before choosing a day care so you can be sure that the one you choose is abiding by these regulations.

Many states now require staff members to include progress reports on each child so that you know exactly what is going on while you are gone. While this is not nationwide, this is an example of what to look for in a day care center. Some that are not required to offer this may offer it as an incentive.

Learn about what is required by law in case of an emergency. You always want to know what will happen and what the protocol is in case there is some type of emergency with your child.

No matter what day care you choose, be sure that they are licensed by the state you live in and that they pay strict attention to what is required of them. You can also check their references and make sure that there has not been any issues with them breaking the rules. It’s a good idea to investigate and learn as much as you can.

The accountant will need to know the child’s social security number, full name, and age, so that you can claim the child as a dependent on your income tax form. You may qualify for a child tax credit if your adjusted gross income is at a certain level. The child tax credit is approximately $1,000. There is no need to bring the child with you when you file your income taxes. The good news is that as long as the child is living with you, the child can be included on your tax form each year.

Another thing to consider when putting a child on an income tax form is that you cannot claim the child if someone else claims you on their taxes. The person under whom you’re dependent will have to claim your child on their tax return. If you are divorced or separated, the child can only be claimed on one parent’s form. The same thing applies to a married couple that files separately. The person who is taking care of the child the majority of the time can claim the child on their tax return. You will have to update your information each year that you file to ensure it is accurate.

The first thing to do is talk to your child and explain what is going on. They may seem upset or sad at first because they are used to the surroundings at their current day care and may have friends there. However, they will be perfectly fine at a new day care provider; it just takes time. In fact, children can be pretty resilient and sometimes the parents have a harder time with change than the children do. Although some children may be upset at first, usually they adjust pretty quickly and make new friends at a different day care provider.

If your child is resistant to the move, explain that it is necessary and everyone has to make changes sometimes in life. A smaller child may not understand at first and will be apprehensive about entering a new day care but just like their visit to the first day care, they will get used to it; sometimes faster than you would imagine.

Let them know that like always, you will be there to pick them up just like before and to think of all of the new friends they’ll make to go along with their old ones. Don’t feel that you have to make a big deal of it if your child seems fine because children can pick up on a parent’s mood and attitude and if they’re fine, show them that you are too.

The first decision when choosing a day care centre is look at your requirements, and which centres can accommodate these. Consider your working hours, and whether you will need care over holidays. It is beneficial to your child to go to the same centre as much as possible, if not all of the time, so finding a centre which can be available whenever you need it is important.

Next look at which centres are close enough to you to be easily accessible. This will depend on how you plan to travel there each day. Most centres are carefully positioned to be accessible to those who walk, and those who use public transport. However, some centres may be placed in locations which are only easily accessible by car. Reject any nurseries which cannot be easily reached, as you do not want your child to associate nursery with stress.

Another consideration is the type of nursery you wish your child to attend. There are many different nursery philosophies, which will suit different children. Montessori nurseries are the best known variety, which encourage independence while being quite strict with discipline. The Reggio Emalia scheme aims to follow a child’s natural development, and many Church-based centres follow a daily curriculum.

Once you have established a list of nurseries which fit your requirements, visit a few and talk to the staff. You may wish to allow your child to visit and observe their behaviour, too, before you make a decision on which will be the best fit for you.

Once you have entered the room your child will be in, look around closely at how the room is being used. Are there set areas for different activities? For example, many centres offer areas for quiet time and reflection. This should be positioned away from noisy activities, such as singing or music. Does the room look comfortable? Has the room been designed for children of the correct age, including suitable furniture, or is it adult-orientated?

Another consideration should be the staff. Some centres will encourage staff to interact with the children, providing stimulation and activities for them to be involved in, while some will have a more passive environment, and simply observe the children. Both methods can suit different children, so consider which will suit your child better.

Use your visit as a chance to talk to the staff who will work with your child about the nursery. Ask how often the same toys are offered, and if these are regularly changed. Enquire about what activities are offered, and if there is a secure outdoor area or if the children get to go on trips or walks.
Once your visit is complete, think about the nursery and the staff who work there, and whether it will offer the best care for your child. Consider your child’s personality and learning methods, and whether the centre can offer an environment where your child will thrive. If you are still unsure, visit more centres to compare, or observe your child in the centre for the day.

Think of how you would speak to your children about leaving them for the first time and apply that to yourself. Normally you may tell your child that it’s only for a short time and that they’ll have fun and meet new friends. If you apply that to yourself, it may help because it is only temporary and before you know it, it’ll be time to pick your child up.

Consider all of the fun they’ll have meeting new kids and learning new experiences. Think about how they will be able to learn new socialization skills and new learning skills. This may also make it easier on you knowing that your child is in a good environment that can help them make the transition to school easier.

Let’s face it, it’s hard to be without your child all day long while you’re at work or other things you have to do but at some point they will be going to school and this can not only help them adapt easier but it can help you adapt as well. It will also help you appreciate the time you have with your children at home and get that alone time that you may need.

It’s not necessarily going to be easy that first day and the tears may be from you, not your child. However, it does get easier with time and at least there is only one first day; after that, things will become less difficult to deal with each time you have to drop your child off at day care.

Ensure you discuss day care with your child, and make it sound like an exciting event. Ask your child what they have done today, and what they will do tomorrow. Consider using a rewards scheme such as a sticker chart, with a sticker given for each “good report” from day care.

You may also find it beneficial to read books about nursery to your child. There are many children’s books written about this subject, and often children’s programmes also cover this. These are designed to help your child understand how they are feeling, and see nursery as somewhere exciting and fun.

Some children will experience separation anxiety, particularly if they are not used to leaving you. Most day care centres will have experienced this before, so talk to them about the issue and ask for their suggestions and strategies. You may find leaving your child with a specific member of staff will help, or allowing your child to phone you at a set time of the day. Remember that children will get over this anxiety, and day care is both an enjoyable and beneficial experience for them.

Another important skill children need for preschool is the ability to eat independently. If your child spends all day at nursery, they are likely to be served meals there. If they only stay for short periods, they may be offered snacks, such as sandwiches, pitta breads and fruit. It is essential that your child is able to eat themselves, and preferable that they can use a knife and fork effectively. Being able to open a lunchbox and drink from a cup are also useful skills.

Having basic social skills will make preschool a different experience for your child. Being able to play with other children and share toys will make the experience much more enjoyable. Your child will also need to know how to tidy up toys, as most preschools expect children to help with clearing up at the end of the day.

Prepare your child by encouraging them to be more independent at home, and you’ll make the switch seem much easier and less stressful for your child.

Montessori is a method of learning invented by Maria Montessori. It believes children have an inner guidance which helps them to develop. Most Montessori learning is based around this, and allows children to direct themselves and have a large amount of freedom over their own learning. To support this, Montessori learning environments are designed to display a large amount of toys and apparatus on open shelves, which the children can access themselves.

Children in a Montessori setting are observed often, and guided by the teachers. This involves recognizing when a child is ready for a new challenge, and indirectly leading them towards this. It is here that “presentations” can occur, small lessons which teach children a new concept or idea and allow them to further their knowledge through their own learning.

Montessori believes that a child’s learning can be directed by watching other children, so Montessori classes contain children of different ages. The age range usually spans two to three years, which allows children to be stimulated and intrigued by children who are learning advanced concepts, which then motivates the child.

And like the CPA that does your business taxes, teachers at Montessori schools are very well trained.  They specialize in a certain type of teaching and must pass more rigorous testing in order to become a teacher who works for one of these schools.

Another way Montessori learning differs from standard learning is through development ideas. Montessori believes in “Planes of Development, which for ages 0 – 6 are cultural subjects; practical life; language arts; sensory awareness and mathematics and geometry. For children older than 6, history, geography and science are also included.

Reggio Emilia is centred around the idea that a concept must make sense to a child to be meaningful. This means a child should control their own learning, and should be both respected and encouraged to find their own educational path. As this is quite a wide idea, it is narrowed down into four main principles.
The first principle is that children must have a say in what they learn. They must be interested in the concept, and want to learn in. This ensures the child is likely to understand the concept, and therefore learn it efficiently and be able to utilize it. The second principle is that a child must fully experience a concept to understand it fully. The Reggio Emilia method is very focused on senses, so a concept must be seen, heard and felt, and if possible tasted and smelt too. A child must be immersed in a concept to fully process it.

The third principle is that children must be able to interact with other children, as experiencing relationships with others provides a way for the child to explore the world. This principle encourages children to socialize, and to visit new places and meet new people. The fourth principle is that children should always be encouraged to express themselves through whichever means possible. This could be through vocal methods, through materials such as paint and clay and through dramatic and imaginative play.

The Reggio Emilia method encourages parental involvement, and often preschools and schools will invite parents into the classroom to join in with the learning. This helps to further development and allows the parent to continue the method at home.

Waldorf classes usually dedicate large amounts of space and time to creative and pretend play, believing that both encourage imitation and creativity which stimulates development. Children will take part in painting, modelling, singing, baking and gardening regularly, as a hands-on learning style is preferred to more traditional methods. The classrooms are designed to be welcoming and comfortable, and make each child feel at home, to facilitate learning.

One of the most unusual aspects of a Waldorf education is the amount of time the class will spend outside, and the exposure to religion and culture. Most schools celebrate all religious and cultural events; to allow each child to experience these for themselves and develop their own opinion and understanding, and the curriculum is heavily based on nature and the outdoors.

Waldorf settings strongly discourage allowing children to use computers or televisions. As the child relies solely on sight and sound for these activities, they are deemed to be ineffective at stimulating a child’s aspects, and possibly even detrimental to development.

The Waldorf program is relatively easy to carry on into family life, by allowing the children to join in with activities hands-on, and ensuring your child is heavily involved in everyday life.

The Goddard Program consists of around 600 educational establishments around the country. These vary from nurseries to preschools and schools, allowing the program to accept children aged from six weeks until they finish school, when they can attend a Goddard supported high-school program to continue the method.
Goddard establishments are franchises, which are usually operated by local business owners. Each employs an educational director, who ensures the school meets the Goddard program guidelines, and follows its teachings correctly. For this reason, it is worth visiting a few different Goddard establishments before choosing one for your child, as the owners may differ greatly.

The Goddard Program uses a flexible learning technique, which involves observing and assessing children completing a range of activities before creating an individual learning plan for the child. This focuses on their own development, rather than averages or targets. The learning plan covers several subjects, and allows the Program to tailor lessons to suit each child’s personal needs.

Small numbers of children attend lessons in subjects such as Maths and English with a trained teacher who has read each child’s plan, and can offer different methods of learning alongside encouragement and support. These lessons are kept short, and spaced out throughout the day. The Program aims to allow the children outside for at least a short while every day, and arrange suitable trips for the children, depending on their age and requirements.

The Program encourages regular meetings with parents to keep them up to date on their child’s development, and typically offer longer hours of care then typical preschools or schools. Often, a centre will offer care starting early in the morning, and this will last until early evening. The Program encourages parents to help their childs development at home, including allowing the child access to a computer.

Set a sleep routine with your child. Preschoolers need between eleven and thirteen hours of sleep each night, and having a routine means your child is much more likely to get their full amount without everyone becoming stressed and upset. Start the set the routine as early as possible, so your child has time to get used to it. Many children will rebel against bedtime, but stick to your plan and soon putting your child to sleep will be both regular and enjoyable for both of you.

Make your home school-friendly. Set up a desk or area where your child can do any homework they may be set, or you can help them with areas where they are struggling. Allow them to decorate and arrange this themselves if possible, with their own choice of pens and notebooks. This will help them to feel that the area is their own.

Attend any sessions which allow your child to meet their class or teacher beforehand, and reassure your child that you will pick them up later (use a specific time, if your child can tell the time, or “after snack” etc). Be supportive and excited about your childs first day, and don’t let them see your anxiety or sadness. Your child is likely to be bewildered, and will use you to judge how they should be feeling. Lastly, talk to the classteacher and offer help if you can. Knowing what your child is up too will help!

Trust your child’s preschool. This is a very important step. Preschool staff will have dealt with this before, and will have tricks to distract your child and help them to settle. These will only work after you have left, however, so you need to believe that your child will be fine, and listen to what the preschool teacher advises.

Say goodbye, and leave. This is much, much harder than it sounds, so you may need to practise. Take your child to their room, hand them over to a teacher, and say goodbye. Tell them you’ll be back later, and give them any comforters they may need, and leave. Lingering or delaying will only make your child more upset, and harder to calm down. Once you’ve left, have a cry in your car or at home if you need too, but remember your child is likely to be fine now you have gone, and the preschool would have phoned you if they needed you. Make a strict routine, and stick with it. Your child will learn what is going to happen, and this will help them cope with their feelings.

Remember that separation anxiety is a stage, you will both get through it, and be strong. It’s all worth it in the end!