What is takes to have confidence and positive self-esteem.

Dear Amy,

I am so glad you brought up this subject about self-esteem as I am guilty of having a low self-esteem at times and I definitely don't want my children cursed with such an attitude. The good new is now I know why and what causes issues in negative self-esteem and I want to share these ideas with you.
Well first of all, to get it all defined correctly, self-esteem is divided into four main categories:

• Academic Competence
• Social Competence
• Athletic Competence
• Physical Appearance

As you can see there are many areas where a child can be positively or negatively influenced according to there self-esteem. So the factors are endless on the outcome of your child's total self-confidence. One thing is for sure, self-esteem is such a critical issue among young children and during these early years it is so important to help them to develop positive self-esteem so they might have a lasting imprint on there total self-worth. So here are some tips on improving and encouraging a positive self-esteem for your child.

• The most influencing factor on self-esteem is physical appearance, which effects how the child feels about his total self-worth. Of course the negative influence on this part of self-esteem is the one and only TV. Yes, that's right, so if you want to help your child's self-esteem just turn the box off. TV imprints on children what they should look like and gives them people to compare themselves to. You want them to be unique, confident, and happy about they way God created them.
• And even more importantly, examine your own self-esteem as children will mimic your attitude about yourself. Are you always downing your appearance or abilities in front of your child. Well you can expect your child to mimic these attitudes as they progress in age.
• Warm, positive parenting gives children the assurance that they are a valuable, capable, integral part of the family and society.
• Teaching your children to evaluate themselves based on sensible standards helps them to make smart choices and expectations for themselves.
• Give your child constant encouragement to give effort and thought into there actions and choices. Always instill hope, love, and kindness with in them.
• MOST important, practice these ideas for your self, as mentioned before, your children look up to you and want to be just like you and copy all that you say, feel, do, etc....

I hope that this gives you a jump start on building a confident and capable child. Now I'm gonna go and get refreshed on some of these techniques myself, starting by turning off that darn TV.

Your Friend,

Ashlee

Supporting Early Literacy and Mathmatical Skills

I think that finding ways to support early literacy and mathematical skills in your child will have outstanding results in the future education of your child. Research shows that children know a lot about language even before they can fully read or write. When children are surrounded by an environment of social adults that participate in language skills it encourages children to mimic their actions by making sounds, copying what adults say, etc. A child can tell before he or she can read or write which object is an apple or orange simply by the use of symbolism and interaction in daily life. Books and guidance by caregivers help to further this early language ability. Some more ways you can stimulate this early development in children is to:

• Engage in book reading and have a wide selection of books for children to explore
  
• Education outings to museums, parks, libraries or even enrolling your child into an academic program that supports early education
  
• Enforcing and alliterating sounds of objects and there syllabus
  
• Teaching them throughout the day the names and sounds of objects
  
• Show good examples in our own daily activities by engaging in reading and writing.

Developing mathematical reasoning in early childhood development is also beneficial. Most of all it helps children to be comfortable with mathematical concepts early and enjoy them. Therefore, future education can be more of a pleasurable experience for the child as he/she is more comfortable with the subject. Some ways you can help to foster these ideas are:

• Encouraging numbers and quantities early by counting fun objects
  
• Using comparison strategies with toys or treats to establish quantities and counting to make it more entertaining for young children
  
• Allowing children to be a part of shopping and counting money and developing the idea of cost and value

I hope these ideas will aid you in your decisions of incorporating early education into your child’s development. It only has positive results, especially when it is made into a fun and exciting game or idea for children to explore.

New MOM Wants the Best!

Dear Sue,
I agree with you that you want to start early with your child's education in order to be able to give your child a great foundation for future success. Early childhood is a sensitive time period when the mind is ready for such encouragement. During the first critical years of an child's development important groundwork is laid for future success. Children that have more opportunities for developing strong motor, cognitive, language, and social skills far better in IQ testing and success in future education. So stimulating these areas, even during these early months, has profound positive effects. Additionally, learning language is a pivotal part of this early stage of development and speaking intelligibly to your child is encouraged. The brain is particularly responsive to language during these times and researchers suggests speaking to your child in short, clearly pronounced sentences with expression. I hope these ideas help put you on the right track during your adventure of raising an intelligent, confident, and mentally prepared child.
Your Friend,
Michelle

How it Begins

Dear Friend,
So I hear your trying to conceive a child; well I will pray for you that the blessing of a child will fill your life soon, but here are few things you should know on how it all happens.
First, the woman's ovum (egg) and the males sperm unite to create a zygote, smaller than a grain of sand. This cell contains 46 chromosomes which pair up, copy themselves, and break apart and share segments. This event is what creates such unique children even with in the same family because the genes mix up change which is important for evolutionary changes of environment. For example, the small pox disease affected many people but as children were offspring from survivors of this disease they received a gene with an anti-body for the small pox so they could survive and possibly not get the disease.

So now you probably want to know if you'll have a boy or girl, well its all up to the male sperm because it has a 50% chance of donating a x or y to the egg as the woman only has x (female) chromosomes. You cant do much to determine the sex yourself except wait for an ultra sound about the fourth or fifth month.
Well good luck with the process and now that you have the main science behind it you'll feel more informed of what, when, and how it all begins.
Your Friend,
Ashlee