Mom's Ups and Downs

$500 Visa or Amazon Gift Card Giveaway – Facebook Follow 1

May 21, 2013 By Rossel Leave a Comment

So who would like a $500 Visa or Amazon Gift Card? Wouldn’t it be nice to shop or treat your family out this summer without pulling a cent from your pocket? Now is the time to try your luck.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks to these generous sponsors for bringing this summer blast.

| Complete Personal Finance | Home, Life and Leisure | Travelers’ Joint |

Duration: This giveaway will run from May 21, 2013 until June 11, 2013 at 11:59 PM EST. Please feel free to complete the entries at your own pace. Remember, you can always come back to enter daily entries. The more entries you submit, the better chances of winning!

Eligibility: Giveaway is open to everyone WORLDWIDE (as long as he/she has a blog and a Paypal account)! (Please use full name, aliases are fine but not initials.)

Disclaimer: MOM’S UPS AND DOWNS is not responsible for the prize fulfillment. Giveaway is not associated with Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram. The host and the sponsors of this giveaway reserves the right to change or cancel the giveaway without prior notice.

Filed Under: giveaways

Keeping Children Active in Mind and Body with Games for Kids

May 16, 2013 By Rossel Leave a Comment

It is so convenient for parents nowadays just to let their kids sit in front of their computer or television screens to give them something to do. Child studies and researches have found that this is detrimental to the child’s development. There are other more worthwhile games for kids that they can engage in for fun and entertainment. These games would depend on the age of the children. Of course, it would be a lot better if parents also take part in the activities.

Educational board games like Scrabble might be a great game for learning new words, but they can also be boring for younger kids. You can actually modify the rules to make it more interesting for your little ones. This game can teach your kids both reading and math skills.

games for kids

Other games that have been around for a long time like dominoes, pickup sticks, and barrel of monkeys are also fun games for kids that parents can also enjoy. Your children’s motor skills will be developed through these games. A game of charades or Pictionary can also stimulate creativity. Just like Scrabble, however, you have to scale these games down to a level that your kids can successfully manage. Not knowing what the words are or having difficulties drawing their clues could make the games frustrating for young ones.

More active alternatives help improve your child’s physical development. You can actually engage in a sport that both you and your child love. A father and son tandem can throw some hoops or go out to the football field to practice their tosses and tackles. Playing team games is also a great way for bigger families to share quality bonding time. A game of tag in the backyard is also a fun and simple way for kids and parents to get some exercise.

There are also games for kids that you can play on the road. Singing games and guessing games are great for keeping your kids from getting bored during longer road trips. Play a game of movie trivia by thinking of famous lines and having your kids guess the character who said those lines and the movie where it was taken from. Take your cues from your children. Be creative and be ready to switch things up to keep them interested. Active minds and bodies will have less time for mischief or tantrums.

Image Credit:
Photostock – FreeDigitalPhotos.Net

Filed Under: family adventure, family games Tagged With: charades, dominoes, games, games for kids, kids' games, pick up sticks, scrabble

The Wisdom of Attachment Parenting – Keeping Kids Close so They Can Grow Into Independent Adults

May 8, 2013 By Rossel Leave a Comment

Ironic as it sounds, there are actually studies and proven psychological theories that point to keeping babies and kids close to parents as an important component in raising them to become independent and confident. This is the theory of attachment parenting. This parenting technique encourages a strong emotional bond between babies and their mothers. This starts early on during conception and goes on throughout the child’s growing up years. This theory was developed by pediatric expert Dr. William Sears, MD.

Contrary to the dependence that this theory seems to encourage, the children who are raised using this parenting technique actually grow up to be more secure and independent. They are also found to have the ability to form more meaningful social relationships when they reach adulthood.

attachment parenting Goofying on cam is one of our bonding moments.

Attachment parenting is founded on several principles that revolve around nurturing the connection between parents and children. The process starts during the early stages of pregnancy when the parents are taught to eliminate negative emotions about pregnancy. Parents have to be ready for the emotional and physical demands of carrying a child for nine months and delivering a healthy baby into this world. The positive mind set developed during this stage will carry on through the baby’s birth. Breastfeeding and co-sleeping arrangements are welcomed as part of sound child rearing practices. Parents seek to understand cries and other expressions of emotion. These are treated as efforts to communicate. The understanding that ensues strengthens the bond between parents and children. Other practices like baby-wearing and regular family time are also part of this parenting technique.

When children feel that their parents are around to support them, they are able to understand their surroundings better. Advocates of attachment parenting have found connections between severely mal-adapted children and the failure to form secure attachments. There is what is referred to as the reactive attachment disorder or RAD which is diagnosed in children who are deprived of physical and emotional care. While this kind of disorder develops only in severely neglected children, there are similar instances of lesser magnitude observed in children who are not as emotionally attached to their parents. Parents who want to adopt this parenting style should be ready to devote time and attention to their children. Resorting to modern conveniences like the availability of child care services as well as feeding and childcare tools as a means to compensate for lack of parental time are not encouraged at all.

There are plenty of information materials that focus on how to put this parenting style into action. The most important part of childrearing, however, is the parents’ commitment and dedication towards raising happy, well-balanced, and self-reliant children.