Children’s bodies are constantly growing and changing.  Their bodies need many more nutrients than the adult body. Naturally, children tend to learn towards favorite foods which may contain too much sugar or fat; and not enough of the good vitamins and minerals that their bodies need. With so many food choices, it can be confusing to the parent about what foods they should be serving to their children.  By following a few simple guidelines, you can be sure that your child is receiving all of the important nutrients kids need.

Some lean fat  is important for the child’s body to be able to process some vitamins and minerals. Lean fat can be found in olive oil, vegetable oil,  and margarine.  A child only needs 1 - 2 tablespoons a day.

Milk and dairy are essential for strong bones and teeth.  Milk and dairy provide calcium, vitamin A and vitamin D, which are important nutrients kids need. Without these nutrients, kids will be prone to tooth decay, gum disease, cavities, and weak bones.  Doctor’s recommend that children get three to four servings a day of dairy.  Dairy products include cow or goat’s milk, cheese, and soy.

Meat and meat alternatives are important because they provide the nutrients of protein, iron, minerals and vitamin B12.  All of these are important for the making of blood and the proper functioning of the immune system.  A weak immune system can lead to a child which gets sick easily. Low blood count leads to anemia; which results in low energy and an increased need for sleep. Two servings a day is all a child needs to get the proper nutrition.  Meat and meat alternatives include chicken, pork, peanuts, and tofu.

To get the proper amount of important nutrients kids need; it is essential that the child receives 4 - 5 servings a day of fresh fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables contain many vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants.  Antioxidants fight free radicals ( or dirt) within the body.  Free radicals can lead to serious illnesses including heart failure and cancer.  Fiber is important for proper digestion.  Fresh fruits and vegetables include green beans,  papaya, grapes, oranges,  bananas, and cabbage.

Most  of the important nutrients  kids need can be found in grains, breads, and cereals.  Grains contain fiber, vitamins and minerals needed for healthy immune systems and energy.  It is recommended that children receive six to eight servings per day of grain food.  Good grain foods include: bread, rice, cereal, oatmeal,  noodles, crackers, and muffins.

It is not hard to get the proper amount of the important nutrients kids need. Parents just need to remember to provide a large variety of foods daily with the emphasis being on whole grain cereal and rice.  Provide plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Only two servings of meat are necessary. Milk, cheese, and tofu are necessary for strong bodies.

The benefits of early childhood education have long been disputed.  It is hard to deny the opponents opinion that children have always grown up to be intelligent and reliable young adults without the benefits of early childhood education.  Child psychologists and teachers  for early childhood education point out that there are many benefits including:  the child being ahead when they start formal education,  having a good foundation for continued learning,  having a grasp of peer relationships,  having higher self esteem, and better enjoyment of the learning process.

Psychologists say that the toddler years are when a child learns the most.  It is during these years that the child’s mind is working over time--taking in everything  and processing information at a faster pace than they will a few years down the line.  Psychologist say that this time is of great importance because this is when children learn to socialize and process basic learning skills.   In this way, early childhood education is the foundation for continued learning.

Early childhood education will teach your child the basic skills necessary to be a success once your child starts his formal education.  During early childhood education your child will learn to write his name, count and do basic math problems such as grouping objects, learn the colors and shapes, and recognition of first words. 

Your child will be placed in a classroom with other children.  By playing and learning with other children, your child will learn how to deal with day to day situations. Early childhood education provides your child a means in which to learn to share toys, to communicate thoughts and ideas, and to deal with their emotions.

Children who have had opportunities for personal growth have higher self esteem. Imagine how happy your child will be when, during the first day of formal education, he/she already knows how to spell their name, what the date is, and how to tie their own shoes. Your child will be praised by his teachers and peers for his knowledge.

By giving your child an early childhood education, you are providing your child with the means necessary to be happy and successful in life.  Research studies show that children who have an early childhood education go on to do better in school and are more successful in adult life.

It is easy to see that an early childhood education is essential for a child’s future.  Parents who choose to place their child in education should be cautioned on a few things. Psychologists say that children should only attend part time.  This is because it is important that the child spends time with the parents each day; which fosters security in the child.  It is also important that the child does not become overwhelmed or too tired during a long day.   Even a few days a week in early childhood education will provide a great deal of benefit to your child.

A toddler is defined as a child between the ages of 18 months to about 3  years old.  This is the time when your child will learn to walk, talk, and start “potty training”.  In short, this is the time during which your child will learn about his world.  This learning is done through exploration, mimicking, and experience.

Safety is a major concern during the toddler years.  Your child will purposely be looking for things to pull himself up on.  This pulling is an effort on the toddler’s part to learn to stand and walk.  Make sure that there are no sharp corners on your furniture, cabinets, etc. Use cloth or plastic corner covers to cover up any sharp edges in your home.  Keep small objects away from your toddler. Toddlers are constantly putting things into their mouths. They do this as a way of exploration.   By using the sense of taste, your toddler is learning what things are.  Small objects are dangerous because your child can swallow them and choke.   Cover up electrical outlets so that your child can not put objects into the outlet and get shocked. Make sure that electrical cords and curtains are tightly secured so that your child can not get hurt by pulling on them.  Put locks on your cupboards, cabinets, and medicine chest in order to prevent accidental poisoning.

Be prepared for accidents and emergencies.  A first aid kit is a must have in your home.  A good first aid kit will have bandages, antibiotic, ointment and emergency phone numbers (your child’s doctor, the nearest hospital, etc).   Parents with toddlers are also advised to take a class in first aid.  In this class, parents will learn what to do in cases of choking, drowning, and falls resulting in major bleeding and/or broken limbs.

During the toddler years, your child learns by mimicking his/her parents.  It is important that parents exhibit the types of behaviors they will want their child to have.  It is not okay to smoke, take drugs, or drink alcoholic beverages in front of your toddler.  Instead, teach your children the proper respect for elders, and good nutritional and exercise habits.

The terrible two’s is the time when your child will be constantly testing your authority.  This is because the toddler is discovering its’ place in the world, and which behaviors are acceptable.  By giving in to your child, you are reinforcing the idea that the child can get what it wants through misbehavior.  Instead of giving in; parents should set limits and stick to them. Make sure that punishment is consistent through out. A good standard for punishment is “time out’ or a favorite toy being taken away for a set amount of time.  Time outs should equal one minute for each year of life (for example: a three year old would get three minutes in time out).

The toddler years are a time of discovery for children, but can lead to headaches for parents. It is important to remember that your child’s behavior is based on his/her need to learn.  Make safety first by following simple safety guidelines.   Have a set standard of rules and keep punishment consistent.

As a new parent, you probably worry about your child’s health and development. You wonder if your child is developing normally and whether or not they are meeting growth milestones.  It is important to remember that each child is different and achieves growth milestones at a different rate. However, there is a window in which your child should obtain new skills. 

There are many factors that can influence a child’s development.  The first gift a mother can give to her child is to lead a healthy lifestyle while she is pregnant. Smoking, alcohol, and drugs can hinder the development of the fetus, causing the baby to be born with mental retardation.  To ensure a healthy baby, pregnant women should eat a healthy diet, get plenty of rest and exercise, and adhere to their doctor’s advice.

Infants at birth are usually 20 inches long and weigh between 6 -8 pounds.  A newborn child lives only to eat, sleep, and remove waste from its body.  The average infant sleeps about 16 hours a day, awakening only to eat.  Infants are at first color blind and they do not start to see colors until about two months of age; at this point they should begin to smile. At three months the infant should be able to hold up its’ head without support from a parent. The infant should be sitting up on its own by eight months of age. At nine months of age your child will be crawling and pulling itself up on furniture.  The average child takes its’ first walking steps around its’ first birthday.

Childhood is a time of slow, constant, development.  Co-ordination develops from walking, to tying shoes, to learning to draw and write. As muscle mass increases, children go from walking to running and eventually doing sports.

Research suggests that infants learn to understand words before they can actually speak.  At around age two, the child will start speaking by imitating sounds it hears from others around him. By the age of five, the average child should have a vocabulary of about 100 words.

 Adolescence is typically thought of as the bridge between childhood and adulthood.  It is during this time that there is the most variation in the window of development.  One girl may develop breasts at age 11; while her female classmate does not develop breasts until the age of 13.    A male may enter puberty but still be interested in toys such as action figures.  It is during adolescence that maturity is developed. Adolescence is the time when the child learns about their world through experience.  It is during this time that the parent must learn how much freedom to give their child while still providing them with the guidance that they need.