Potty Training

Potty Training takes work for both parents and child. It is important that the toddler becomes comfortable with the potty in the beginning. This can take time but there is no rush for a child to become at ease with this. Pushing a toddler too hard will cause him to become stressed and will make the experience harder. Parents should provide children with an opportunity to sit on the potty. However, potty training will happen only when the toddler is ready.
When parents begin to potty train they must  look for signs that their toddler is ready. If the young child is tugging at his diaper, telling a parent that he is wet or pulling his diaper off that means that he is ready to begin. At the beginning of potty training the toddler should get comfortable just sitting on the potty. Using a potty seat with a character the child likes and making sure it is the right size for the youngster will encourage this. However, parents should not expect their young child to use the potty right away. Providing the toddler with a favorite book or a toy will cause the child to sit on the potty for longer periods of time.
Once the youngster becomes comfortable sitting on the potty parents should switch from diapers to pull ups. These are training pants that are a cross between a diaper and underwear. It is easier to create a bathroom schedule when pull ups are used. The reason for this is because it will be easier for the parent to take a pull up off and on since the toddler does not have to lie down.
Next, parents can decide on a bathroom schedule. At first, they should begin going often such as every hour. This is because they will  want to catch their child before he wets his diaper. As the child starts to use the potty to urinate and poop parents can increase potty training intervals to every half hour.
Children may need a reward to become motivated to use the potty. Parents should give something to the child that he really likes each time he goes to the bathroom. The reward can be anything from candy to a favorite book. It can even be a walk around the block.
Eventually toddlers will start to use underwear. Parents may want to take their child to the bathroom every half hour or forty-five minutes at first to avoid accidents. If the child does have an accident she should not feel discouraged. Parents should remain positive and remind their toddlers that accidents are very common. With practice children will become more adept at using the potty and will become more self sufficient.

Temper Tantrums in Toddlers

A temper tantrum is a common occurrence among many toddlers. It is just a way for him to show his independence. As a baby starts to mature he will want to do things on his own, without interference from an adult. This can often be seen when a child refuses to hold his mother or father's hand or tries to put on his own shoes on. Part of this independence is displayed when the child has a temper tantrum.

A full blown temper tantrum includes excessive crying, kicking and screaming. Some toddlers can get hurt by banging their head or throwing his body onto the floor. The duration depends on how the parent handles the situation. If the parent stays calm and rational the child will eventually calm down. On the other hand, if the adult becomes angry and starts to yell or spank the child the outburst will continue to escalate. This is due to the child becoming frustrated.

The most effective way to end a temper tantrum is to completely ignore it. The child will learn that she doesn't get what she wants this way and will eventually communicate more appropriately with you. This is hard sometimes because others may come over and interfere thinking that they should discipline the child. Let them know that you plan to ignore it so that the tantrum episode will end. Time out can also work here. When the child begins to scream and kick just simply pick up the child and put her in their room. Avoid eye contact. You do not want to give the child any attention because that may be what she is seeking. The outburst should end promptly and the child will be better when the incident. It is important to make sure that the child is not in danger of hurting herself. Make sure there is nothing nearby the child can hurt themselves with.

Talking softly to the child by stating what the child wants is also effective. The child is trying to communicate their feeling, however, he is unable to do this properly. This leads to annoyance for the toddler. As a way to act out and let you know that he is unhappy the child starts to tantrum. By stating what the child wants back to him he can realize that you do understand. This can get him to calm down and listen.

In conclusion it is important to stay calm and to not lose your temper when a child has a temper tantrum. It is also effective to use time out and to restate what the child is feeling. As the child gets older you will be able to rationalize with her. She will be able to understand more and you will be able to explain the situation. If the child wants to stay in the park longer that day you can explain that you have things to do but you will come back. Perhaps the toddler wants to play with something harmful. You can state the reasons why what she wants can cause harm. The tot will also find more effective ways to tell you what she wants.

American Idol

I just watched American Idol while putting my daughter to sleep. I thought that the contestants that left were better than some of the people still on the show. In my opinion the singers who left were good. The show does appear to be more of a popularity contes than a true talent show. I continue to watch it because it keeps me entertained and I do enjoy the performances. I also never know what Simon Cowell is going to say.
This show is popular because ordinary people who happen to have good voices are catapulted into the spotlight. That is the really amazing thing about American Idol. It makes fans continue to watch. There is also a bit of unpredictability about this show. Sometimes it is easy to believe a contestant will be on the show for a long time and suddenly that person is voted off it. Let's keep the good singers on the show.
A challenge plays!

Husband is Home With Me Right Now

   The winter season is a difficult time for my husband and I. my husband works in the construction industry and the work slows down in completely in February. I enjoy having him home actually because I am not home alone with my daughter and he can give me a hand here and there. He is also a bit more domestic because he enjoys cooking and cleaning. I like to dab in cooking here and there; however, I find it hard to keep everything neat and organized. It is especially hard with a two year old running around the house.
   The dilemma is that right now we are behind in our rent. We will pay it back next month after taxes are done and he should begin working steadily. It is just a bit scary right now. If it were possible I could easily substitute while my husband is home since I was in the education field when I stopped working. However, by the time I complete my application and begin to get calls to fill in classrooms, my husband will probably start working soon enough. I'm left to wait and see what happens. I'm am focused on writing right now and it is becoming a hobby. I am actually eating less because I am spending more time typing. I hope it eventually pays off but atleast I am enjoying it.

Writing Continued

I am still writing for Bright Hub. I really like working for the site. I feel that the company is very professional and that working for them as an independent contractor is a great opportunity. I will continue to write for them and are applying to other sites to write for as well. I think it can be tough trying to establish oneself as a freelance writer. I feel that there are sites that can help a person gain experience needed to apply for higher paying jobs. There are also many sites that offer revenue sharing. While it may take time to make money eventually a freelance writer can obtain steady residual income. That's my goal while I am staying at home with my daughter. I would like to establish myself as a freelance writer and I would like to develop a staedy stream of income. It is hard to see it now but I may as well try and give it a shot. If nothing else I will become a better writer and an excellent communicator. What's wrong with that anyway?

Bright Hub

Lately, I have developed an interest in writing online. I have been looking into different possibilities. There are just so many sites dedicated to writing. I started submitting articles to some sites like Associated Content. Textbroker, Triond, Xomba, Blogger Party and more. Recently I was accepted as a writer for Bright Hub to write for the special education section. I have been writing there the past few days. So far this has been the highest paying writing job. It pays $10 upfront  for new writers and it pays for page views as well. I know there are some sites that pay even more than this but for me this is more than what I've previously been making. I will keep writing for Bright Hub and look into other opportunities as well.

Another Stress Headache

I wrote about stress headaches in another post. I am again confronted with the band of pain on my forehead and parts of my head. I am also waiting for an order of  Thyroid to come because I  hypothyroidism. The package of medicine is taking longer than I thought it would to arrive and I ran out a few days ago. I may have to find an alternative. I am going on vacation next month and can not leave without it. I am not sure if the lack of thyroid is the cause of my headache. That is definitely one possibility. I haven't been resting much either. I have also been online a lot reading and writing. Sometimes I can not get into television unless it is one of the few that I go out of the way to watch. It is hard for me to shut my brain off to concentrate on some shows. That's why I end up on the computer. If I start thinking about something I could look it up.