Teach Your Teen How To Manage Money

Filed in archive Parenting , Savings for the future on July 18, 2010

© alancleaver_2000
Your kid landed a summer job in this tight, tight economy. How are you going to teach him or her how to manage money?

Here are some suggestions:

Talk about taxes

Explain the difference between gross and net income. Say that taxes will be deducted from every paycheck. Discuss what each item in the pay stub means.

Go to the bank

Open two accounts -- one savings, one checking. Comparing fees and rates online, and look for a no-fee checking account meant for teenagers. Co-sign the accounts, but let your kid can start learning to use an ATM card and keep his balance in the black. Make sure you also explain about the $30 overdraft fees the bank will rapidly bestow if he messes up budget calculations. And remind him that at minimum wage, it would take most of a day's work to recoup that expense.

Explain what saving means

Deferred gratification is an important lesson. Let your kid have a saving goal, like maybe buying an iPod Touch or a limo for homecoming. Sit down together and calculate how much time your kid needs to set aside a fraction of his paycheck to afford a prize by summer's end. As an incentive, offer to match your child's contributions.

Don't micromanage

Let blowing that first paycheck on shoes that will be out of style before the next check arrives be a lesson for your kid.

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Five Good Treats You Can Feed Your Kids

Filed in archive Health , Safe For Kids on July 15, 2010

© Pink Sherbet Photography
Chips, cupcakes and lots of other not-so-good foods are going to be in your child's mouth. Kids wouldn't eat anything that didn't come out of a pizza or pasta box. But you have to serve up meals that are packed with as much good stuff as possible.

Here are a few items you can add to your shopping list at the grocery and to your kids' meals:

Blueberries

They are among the healthiest fruits with lots of antioxidants. They protect against heart disease and diabetes and improve brain function. Blueberries also help reduce belly fat. Add them to a bowl of granola and milk or in summer salads and desserts. Or make ice pops by freezing a blend of whirred-up blueberries, yogurt and some honey

Tofu

They are an excellent source of lean protein and have great anti-cancer benefits. Dice and toss tofu into stir-fries or soups or substitute it for yogurt in fruit smoothies.

Tomatoes

They have lots of lycopene which protects against many cancers. Add them to pizza and pasta sauces or combine tomato sauce to turkey meatballs or meatloaf.

Low-fat Greek yogurt

It has bacteria that boost immunity and help digestion, and has lots of protein and less sugar than regular yogurt. Add some honey for sweetness.

Cabbage

Kids love its mild flavor and crunch better than the usual salad greens. It lowers the risk for many types of cancer, as well as improves digestion. It also gets rid of harmful toxins from the body by triggering the release of enzymes whose job it is to whisk them out. Add cabbage to coleslaw with low-fat mayo; shred and toss it into soups or Asian noodle dishes.

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Communication Skills Kids Need to Learn

Filed in archive Kids' Stuff , Parenting on July 1, 2010

© USFWS/Southeast
We adults, all know it. Manners are important if we expect our children to succeed in the future. Yet many college students, for example, will show up in formal school discussions wearing bare midriffs. The same students will also send emails to the public relations officer without even the courtesy of a "please," or "thank you." They neglect the handshakes, formal introductions and follow ups after classes.

There's really an increasing need to teach basic social skills to kids. Now we're not referring here to teaching kids about high tea or fancy manners. All we really need to talk to them about are the basic handshake, proper greetings and simple phone etiquette when talking with friends.

We also need to have kids develop good social skills when sending text messages, posting on Facebook and writing email.
There's also a need to pay attention to limiting kids' use of expressions such as "um," and "ya know."

Kids also need to learn about appropriate dress attire, a firm handshake, a relaxed smile and maintaining direct eye contact as these are all important aspects of a good job interview. This can be done by giving them plenty of opportunities to practice with a mature experienced adult employee.

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How To Deal With Your Child’s Fever

Filed in archive Health , Parenting on June 29, 2010

© joanna8555
It will happen to any parent. At some point your child will have a fever and you will freak out. That's particularly more difficult when your child is still a baby. Most fevers are symptoms of some other illness and your doctor will most likely tell you it's a good sign because it means your child's body is fighting off an infection.

Most children have body temperatures of about 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit although that can be as low as 97 degrees or as high as 99 degrees. Fevers among kids are usually higher than those for adults and fluctuate more often throughout the day. A child really has a fever though, when the body temperature reaches 100 degrees.

Children with low-grade fever (below 102 degrees F) can remain active and eat and sleep normally. In some cases, you might observe sweating, headaches and muscle aches, loss of appetite and irritability on the part of your sick child. Your child may also complain of an earache, sore throat or nausea.

If your child is still less than three months old, bring him to the doctor immediately. If this happens after office hours, run to the emergency room. Babies have little capacity to fight off illness because their immune systems are still developing. The fact that they can't tell you yet what they really feel adds more to the problem.

Older children with fevers of 104degrees F or higher should also be rushed to the doctor. This is especially true if the fever has been going on for more than three days in a row. If your child also seems too weak, does not want to eat, has a rash or is having trouble breathing, contact your pediatrician immediately. If you and/or your child recently came from overseas, you must also tell your physician when your kid spikes a fever.

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Does Your Child Have Eczema?

Filed in archive Health , Parenting on June 27, 2010

© Care_SMC
If you have some form of eczema, there's about a 50% chance your children will suffer a similar fate. You have to understand though that eczema is a form of an allergic reaction. It is usually triggered by cold and dry environments, consumption of dairy products and eggs and sometimes, even stress.

It's not difficult to see the signs of eczema among your kids. There will be some dry, itchy skin or patches of reddish discoloration usually on the cheeks, elbows or the backs of the knees. If the eczema is of allergic origin, this will appear very readily, sometimes even in infancy.

Check with your child's doctor whenever you suspect allergies in your children. Try to have some form of maintenance routine to help you avoid more skin breakouts. Have some skin moisturizers on hand, and if there is a severe case of itching, ask your doctor about prescribing a topical steroid cream. In the most severe cases, your doctor may recommend small doses of antibiotics as well.

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