Your Child and You for Parents and Kids

Using Magazines to Teach Reading

2010-02-01T10:10:00.003-06:00

One of the most effective teaching methods for children is to use materials that the child has a natural interest in. Teaching reading to your child is no exception. Most children have a natural interest in animals. As a mother and teacher, I've had great success using their natural curiosity and affection for animals to teach the basic formations and sounds that are associated with letters and pictures. This naturally progressed into using the same to aid in teaching reading to them as well.

There are several children's magazines available that are dedicated to the animal-child connection.
Find a magazine that seems to fit the age level of your child. For younger children, I recommend one that has big bright colorful pictures with interesting facts. One of our favorite children’s magazines is Zoobooks. Some even have interactive puzzles and games the child can play and learn. A simple search on the internet of “children + animals + magazine” will turn up many choices for you.

Teaching reading to your child is 100 times easier when you employ the use of a subject that children naturally want to know more about. In fact, one thing that we discovered was that once the one of the magazines had been used and was no longer current, they made great tools for the kids to cut some of the pictures out and make bulletin boards, calendars, and it made a great start in getting to the next level of reading by learning to make up their own stories and adventures using the pictures they cut out and the information from the magazines!

Whatever you choice of tools you are considering using to teach reading to your child, I highly recommend the use of some good children’s magazines.

My Children's Book on Amazon

2009-09-10T21:10:00.007-06:00

Jacob’s Monkey is an entertaining story for kids, especially ones who have found themselves in a tricky spot because they weren’t exactly truthful. Author Kristi Sayles combines Jacob’s vivid imagination and his love for special attention to tell a great story of a little boy whose enthusiasm gets a bit out of hand.

Sayles skillfully tells an interesting and compelling story while gently delivering a moral message about how honesty pays off. Fun graphics and the few carefully chosen words on each page make the book a real page-turner - I really wanted to see how Jacob would resolve his conflict.

Kids can relate to several themes in the book: wanting acceptance from school friends, telling fibs that take you from a little problem to a big problem, and ultimately, the comfort of finding support and trust from grown-ups like parents, grandparents and teachers.

Jacob’s Monkey is worth a read! Enjoy!

Have a great weekend!
Best regards,
Lynette Mattke

Click here to check it out on Amazon!

Be sure to comment on this post to tell me that
you ordered it. I'll send you the audio book as a thank you gift!

2008-08-13T05:38:00.000-06:00

Kids Need Pets!

2008-03-22T10:39:00.001-06:00

ASPCA - ASPCA stands for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. This is another group associated with shelters which works very hard to protect the animals we all love so much. On their website (http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer), you can also find tons of information that is valuable to you as a pet owner. For one, you can find detailed information on pet care and nutrition. They also provide great info on the humane treatment of animals, legal information, information on how you can help fight animal cruelty, and a link to the Animal Poison Control Center.

Petfinder - Petfinder is a volunteer-run, collaborative database of over 7,000 shelters spanning the entire North American continent and each shelter/organization is responsible for keeping up their own page (updated daily!) which has links to information on pets currently available for adoption. In addition to these pages, you can also find classified ads, discussion groups, and articles related to animal welfare. This is a great resource both to increase the public’s exposure to the need for adoptive homes and to increase the effectiveness of the adoption process.

Humane Society of the United States - The United States Humane Society is a group dedicated to the humane treatment of animals everywhere. You can find branches of the Humane Society in your local or regional area. As well, the humane societies work in conjunction with animal shelters to help find homes for countless neglected, abandoned, and abused animals across the country. Their website provides a wealth on information for pet owners, including shelter information, information on pet adoptions, and issues affecting our pets.

American Kennel - For those who are "pure breed" dog owners and want to flaunt it.

The Dog Owner's Guide - This website has links to articles on a range of topics related to dogs, as well as a link to a bookstore where you can see lists of recommended books related to dogs. Finally, there is a page which contains postings covering a whole host of dog-related issues.

Net Vet (Mosby's Veterinary Guide to the Internet) - This is a great site that has information links to hundreds, possibly thousands of pages related to everything from breeds, to rescue, to commercial, and even the esoteric!

1800PetMeds - This is a site which I have found helpful in getting the medicines that you need delivered right to your door, usually at a much lower cost than at the vets office. In addition to over-the-counter pet medicines, they also offer an on-line pharmacy through which they can contact your veterinarian to get a prescription for other drugs.

Doggie News - Get the latest scoop on the canine industry and other interesting doggon good tips.

NYC Dog Walkers in Lower Manhattan - "Professional NYC dog walkers, dog trainers and pet sitters serving Lower Manhattan."

FREE Pet Greeting Cards from 123Greetings.Com - What better way to say "Congrats on the new addition!" or just to say "Hello!" than with a FREE e-greeting card from 123Greetings.Com. A wide selection guarantees exactly what you are looking for.

Choosing-a-Puppy.com - Ten things you need to know when choosing a dog or puppy. Valuable information!

Dog-Housetraining.com - Ten tips to more effective dog and puppy housetraining. Everything you ever needed to know!

Free-Dog-Training.com - Ten dog and puppy training methods for good behavior - from jumping, biting, digging, barking, begging and more!

Essential-Dog-Products.com - The ten essential products you and your dog can't live without. Do you have what it takes?!

Dog-Health-Tips.com - Ten Health Tips for Happy, Healthy Dogs and Puppies. What you don't know can kill... your dog! A must read!!

Dog-Nutrition - The what, when, how, how much and what if's of a dog's diet and nutrition. How to stay slim, speedy, cute and cuddly.

Pet Supplies your online pet store guide- An online resource with reviews and information for you to read about your pet.

A gourmet bakery just for dogs! - All of our treats are made with natural ingredients. With no sugar, salt or preservatives added. Plus, we have a new spa line, too!

Dog Search Information - Worldwide dog directory with links to dog breeds-breeders, services, supplies, equipment, names, pictures and dog trainning

Mark Joyner\'s New Seven Day Business Turnaround Kit Launches July 1, 2007

2007-07-01T14:58:00.001-06:00

"Godfather" of the Internet, Mark Joyner, Releases his 7 Day Business Turnaround Kit to the Public

2007-01-15T16:54:00.000-06:00

See my latest press release below:

It caused me to get a call from "Today's Family" TV Show today. :)

YourChildAndYou.com is a new website packed with information and resources for moms and dads of young children. Whether you're an old pro at parenting or just starting out, YourChildAndYou.com contains helpful information on products, parenting tips, a parents' forum and a blog by the site's owner at http://yourchildandyou.blogspot.com. Here, you'll find helpful product ideas, hints and tips on childcare that you can't find anywhere else, as well as a myriad of links to books and even resources for working at home, all provided by someone who knows, the site owner herself, Kristi Sayles. Plus, you'll get helpful tips from other parents, too, and you can weigh in yourself with your own opinions and comments, helping other parents as needed.
(PRWeb) January 9, 2007 -- YourChildAndYou.com is a new website packed with information and resources for moms and dads of young children. Whether you're an old pro at parenting or just starting out, YourChildAndYou.com contains helpful information on products, parenting tips, a parents' forum and a blog by the site's owner at http://yourchildandyou.blogspot.com. Here, you'll find helpful product ideas, hints and tips on childcare that you can't find anywhere else, as well as a myriad of links to books and even resources for working at home, all provided by someone who knows, the site owner herself, Kristi Sayles. Plus, you'll get helpful tips from other parents, too, and you can weigh in yourself with your own opinions and comments, helping other parents as needed.

Want to stay home with your child but still earn money? YourChildAndYou.com can help with that, too. YourChildAndYou.com's link "Want to Learn How to Make Money from Home?" provides moms and dads with suggestions to make money from home, without ever leaving their child to the care of a babysitter or public day care. You'll save money on the expense of day care, too, all while getting to spend precious time with your child.

YourChildAndYou.com also contains links to a personalized book site, new parenting tips daily, a humor "blog spot," with humor parents can understand all too well, shopping links for the home and, perhaps most important, a forum where parents can vent, exchange tips and ideas and the like. Got some steam to blow off or do you have a question? No problem. YourChildAndYou.com is the place to come for all of your parenting questions and concerns, answered by those who know best: other parents.

In addition, YourChildAndYou.com also has links to great products for babies, such as baby carriers, cribs and monitors. Baby products are actually reviewed on the site by parents who use them, so that you get honest feedback on safety, quality and usability before you buy.

Do you have an older child who wants to learn how to write better, or needs to learn how to write well for school? YourChildAndYou.com has links that will help him or her, too. "Kids Who Write for School" provides a link to software that that can help your child write better essays for school. If you have a child who likes to write for fun and might be the next budding Beverly Cleary or Dr. Seuss, there's also a link to Instant Story Creator for Kids, a software program that helps kids write creatively.

For moms and dads who want to write, there's help for you, too. YourChildAndYou.com provides a link to the "Smart Author" collection of software, which will help parents turn those great stories about little Anthony or Sarah into a blog or even into paying work. Or perhaps you're the next budding Stephen King or JK Rowling and if so, Smart Author will help you get your work published there, too.

Need some toys or games for you or your child, but you're not sure where to look? YourChildAndYou.com can also help you there. YourChildAndYou.com's "Toys and Games" link takes you to a page with a myriad of possibilities from Amazon.com, including iPod, Xbox and Nintendo, as well as a variety of games to choose from, for both mom and dad or the kids.

Do you need to find a good book, but you're not sure what you're in the mood for? Again, YourChildAndYou.com can provide you with some great choices. The site's "Great Books" link takes you to Amazon.com choices that include fiction novels, great teen books and young adult action novels. Click on over and just take your pick, then curl up for the afternoon for a good read (or just snatch a few minutes while the baby takes a nap).

Not to leave your older child out, there are also great products for teens at YourChildAndYou.com. There's awesome jewelry, PlayStation games, and even Windsor Pilates DVDs (although perhaps this is something mom would like, too), plus many more products. Just click on "Teen Products" to take a look.

Finally, let's not forget Mom and Dad. Yes, there are products for you, too. Click on "Products for Mom" or "Products for Dad" to find unique products chosen just for you.

Moms, choose from hundreds of products, among them luscious Philosophy double rich hot cocoa shampoo, a delectable experience of immersion in chocolate, which you get just by washing your hair. Or, choose the solid shampoo bar by LUSH, to help you wash your hair with just one hand, in case you might need to. (Moms, after all, must usually have three hands, so it's helpful to be able to use just one hand to wash your hair.)

Dad, choose from hundreds of products, too, such as a men's Coach leather bifold wallet, or a Ralph Lauren Polo toiletry set, for example. Are you on your way to a football game and you're not sure what to bring for the tailgating party? There's also a football snack attack tailgating kit.

Of course, you'll need items for your home, too, and you can get them without ever leaving the comfort of your home. Not having to take baby out for an afternoon of shopping when he or she would rather not go, you can still find just what you need. YourChildAndYou.com's link to "Home and Garden Products" gives you hundreds of products to choose from, such as a Cuisinart griddle, the iRobot Roomba automatic vacuum cleaner (especially helpful for busy moms and dads who don't have time to vacuum because they're too busy taking care of baby) or for hands-free carpet cleaning, the Bissell SpotBot Hands-Free Compact Deep Cleaner Carpet Cleaner.

Finally, for a good laugh and some wisdom from someone who always understands, visit YourChildAndYou.com's "Check Out My Blog," for owner Kristi Sayles' daily musings on 26 years of parenting.

Simply put, if you want experienced parenting tips, a place to commiserate and get advice from other parents, work resources and great one of a kind shopping, there's simply no better place to go on the Web than YourChildAndYou.com.

Diaper Rash Cures- http://YourChildandYou.com

2007-01-13T11:27:00.000-06:00

If you have a baby, you have most likely experienced diaper rash to some degree. It can be a mild case that will disappear with a fresh diaper or can become so severe that it may crack and bleed if not taken care of. Diaper rash occurs on babies’ genitals, buttocks and in the fold of skin on the thighs. At times, the rash can also develop on the abdomen and is caused by being exposed to wetness for a prolonged period of time.

In the more mild cases of diaper rash, treatment can be done relatively quickly and easily. First, clean the area very well, making sure not to skip over folds in the skin. Then apply diaper rash ointment, following the directions on the label. It will be very important to change diapers frequently as you are trying to keep wetness away from the area. If it is possible, take the diaper off the baby and let the area stay exposed to air for as long as possible.

When you clean the baby, make sure the wipes you use do not include alcohol as an ingredient, as this will dry out the baby’s already sensitive areas. Instead, use a soft cloth or paper towel that is dampened slightly with water.

In addition to the diaper rash ointment, adding some Maalox to the area will help neutralize the acids in the child’s urine and will also provide a cooling effect when drying.

Other mothers swear by using cornstarch on your baby’s bottom to absorb the baby’s wetness, sometimes being used after spraying vinegar over the area and allowing it to dry. Still others prefer to use anti-inflammatory lotions such as Neosporin and Lotramin AF to help with the swelling and pain. Many pediatrians recommend using chlorine-free diapers to reduce the chance of a rash.

If the rash has gotten to the point that there a blisters or pus-filled sores, call the doctor immediately. Also, put a call into the doctor if the rash spreads to other areas. This could be caused by something more serious than just sensitive skin and should be looked at by a pediatrician.

Kristi Sayles, Child Development Coach, invites everyone to visit her site at http://YourChildandYou.com for more parenting advice, forum, information, shopping, and more.

Baby Diaper Dilemma-Cloth or Plastic?

2007-01-06T16:01:00.000-06:00

Baby Diaper Dilemma-Cloth or Plastic?
By
Kristi Sayles

My oldest son is 26, but I remember how excited I was when I discovered the joy of disposable diapers. Well, at first, I was tickled, and then I noticed that by baby boy’s bottom was breaking out in an angry rash.

I tried putting him back into the cumbersome cloth diapers for about a week, and the rash healed. How annoying that my little bundle of joy seemed to be allergic to plastic diapers!

But that was over two decades ago and diapers have come a long way. Now, they have all kinds of fancy things built right into the diaper to prevent diaper rash! There are pre-folded diapers, form-fitting, custom-made and even chlorine-free diapers that reduce diaper rash problems. I sure could have used them when I was a new mother!

Most people prefer to use disposables, but there are a growing number of earth-conscious people that are reconsidering using cloth due to the knowledge of how long it takes for plastic to decompose.

So which is the better option-cloth or plastic?

Cloth diapers are environmentally-safe, but they still have to be put into a special box or bag to avoid smelling as well. If you can afford it, you should consider a diaper cleaning service. If money’s tight, you will need to wash, dry, and fold them yourself. Plus, you will need to buy plastic pants to go over the diapers to keep from getting you and your home soaked.

Disposable diapers are not for those environmental-conscious folks, but they remain the most popular choice because parents can just toss them into the trashcan, right? Well, not exactly. They need to be put into a special box or bag to avoid odor problems, as well as to prevent little Mikey grabbing the dirty diaper and stuffing it into his mouth! Don’t laugh. It happens.

Consider your conscience, your income level, and your cleaning routines. If you don’t have a washing machine or diaper service handy, then lugging all of those heavy wet diapers to the local laundry mat may not appeal to you.
On the other hand, if you can afford a diaper service or don’t mind washing diapers on a daily basis, then they may be just the thing for you and your baby.

If you like the idea of being able to throw away the whole mess, then just grab a used shopping bag, stuff it, and tie it with a secure knot before shooting a 3-pointer.
So, the bad news is that I can’t answer that question. You have to.

Want more information about diapers and other baby products? Maybe you'd just like to learn more about what makes your child operate? Kristi Sayles-Child Development Coach- invites you to her site at http://YourChildandYou.com

Choosing Baby Equipment

2007-01-04T22:03:00.000-06:00

http://YourChildandYou.com
After your first visit with your obstetrician, you will find your mailbox inundated with all kinds of baby magazines and ads for every possible piece of baby equipment that you can imagine. There is a list following that tells you about the items that you will want to think about purchasing.
A baby monitor is a great tool to be able to hear the baby from any room in the house. This way you do not have to stay close to their room all the time.(See the owner reviews at http://YourChildReviews.com
When you are choosing a crib, you need to look for one that has these features...

Want to read the entire article? Go to http://YourChildandYou.com

ABC OF BREASTFEEDING.

2006-12-31T17:08:00.000-06:00

ABC OF BREASTFEEDING.

From the first moment the infant is applied to the breast, it must be nursed upon a certain plan. This is necessary to the well-doing of the child, and will contribute essentially to preserve the health of the parent, who will thus be rendered a good nurse, and her duty at the same time will become a pleasure.
Want to read more?

Go to http://YourChildandYou.com for the complete article.

Your Child and You Is Live!

2006-12-30T21:43:00.000-06:00

I want to introduce myself...

My name is Kristi Sayles. I'm an elementary teacher with a Master's degree in Education. I'm also a Child Development Coach, Writing Software Creator, Mom, and Grandma-not necessarily in that order! ;)

I'd like to invite all to my Child Development Site now. I want to know what YOU, as a parent, would find interesting enough to want to visit the site often.

Please leave comments on this blog. I would appreciate it so much!

http://YourChildandYou.com