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SensoryEdge Kids Furniture and Educational Toys Blog
Monday, August 11, 2008
Musically Inclined
 As a child, can you remember how music affected you? Did you swing and sway to the tunes or did you obnoxiously jump and jive to the radio? Music always has a certain way of connecting with us, making our bodies groove with the rhythm. Now that you have children, how does music affect them, have you noticed? Music has a way of reaching children and captivating their little attention spans. Once the harmony has grasped their young bodies, it taps in to their creative side and opens their minds to new thoughts and ideas. Not only that, but it has other effects as well. Depending what kind of music is playing; it can calm a rambunctious child. If nothing else seems to work, play something that is soft and that will mesmerize them. Children respond to music very well. Considering your child for piano lessons or any other instrument would be beneficial to them. As was mentioned previously, the music opens their minds to creative thought. Learning to play an instrument would also tap into their hand and eye coordination as well. The next time your child is running around with bursts of energy and they need to be calmed down, perhaps put on some soothing music and just wait for them to cool their jets. Labels: hand-eye-coordination, information
posted by SensoryEdge
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Friday, August 08, 2008
Summer Time Swimming
 What is the best thing about summer? It is the best excuse for playing outside, getting dirty, and playing in the water! For hours on end, a child will run back and forth through the sprinkler. You would think that after a while, constant hurdling over that sprinkler would get old after the first ten minutes. But children will hop over it, to and fro, until their little legs just can't make the hop any more. This idea of the sprinkler is safe, for the most part. Granted, the grass does get wet, and a little slick, but it is not something you necessarily have to worry yourself frantic over. A pool, however, is a different story. When do you teach your child to swim, and when it is the right time to introduce them to the concept? If you have an in ground pool, you should be especially mindful being that the child could more than likely walk up to it and fall right in. But curiosity is a little demon that sits upon your child's shoulder. So when should you teach them how to swim, or even introduce them to the idea of staying afloat? Some people suggest waiting until the child is three or four years old. The best way is to take them to your local pool for special lessons. However, if you opt to teach them yourselves, be sure to make it your top priority to explain that water is very dangerous if you are not careful. Explain that they must never go in to the water unattended, even in the bathtub until they are "old enough." Please watch your children around water. Do not think for a minute that your child drowning will not happen to you. Labels: information
posted by SensoryEdge
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Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Sleepover Tips
 It is summer time, if you have yet to notice. Your children are out of school and enjoying their time to run the neighborhood ragged. Sleepovers are quite popular this time of year, and if you are experiencing parenting for the first time, you may not know when it is a good time for your child to start sleeping at their friend's house. There are considerations you must keep in mind before allowing your child to attend a sleepover. First of all, you need to consider how well your child sleeps through the night, how well they handle bedtimes, and the kind of signs of independence they are showing. If you feel that your child is ready to sleep over at their friend's house, then your instincts are probably right. Before they head out the door, make sure that you pack the essentials; the obvious overnight bag with their toothbrush, sleeping bag, change of clothes, etc. But do not forget to pack their favorite pillow, blanket, or stuffed animal. They will need something familiar to have with them, especially on their first night away. If your child is afraid of the dark, pack a small flashlight in their bag. In an unfamiliar home, the assurance of a light near them will make them feel better. If you are having children over to stay at your home, then you will want to make it as smooth as possible. Have a theme for your sleepover. You could have a Movie Night where the kids bring over their favorite movies, or you could have a Game Night. Once the children arrive, sit them down and go over the rules before any of the fun begins. Tell them what you have planned for the evening, including a bedtime. It is crucial that you make sure that the children staying at your home feel comfortable with you. If they are homesick, or they wet the bed, it will be easier for them if they feel like they can trust you. Before the parents leave, talk with them about their child and possible things that you will need to know. For instance, do they wet the bed? How well do they sleep at night? Are they allergic to anything, etc? But the main rule of thumb is to make sure that the night is full of entertainment and excitement. The more of a good time you give them, the less likely they will be to start to get homesick and the smoother the party will go. Have fun with the sleepovers! Enjoy the children and have a great time! Labels: information, sleep-overs, sleeping bags
posted by SensoryEdge
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Monday, August 04, 2008
Exercising Our Children
 Lately, the percentage of overweight children is on the rise. With the newest developments of video games, television programs and such, children are not getting as much exercise as they need. Their diets are consisting of more "junk" food because it is easier to grab while on the go. Yet, the question of how much exercise does your child need still remains. As well as, what does exercise consist of? When you think of exercise, you probably picture yourself at the gym standing next to a beefy trainer who has you tuning in with muscles you haven't felt since high school. But unless you are bodybuilding your three year old, there is no need for a Hulk of a trainer to whip your baby in to shape. You can take the role of "trainer" yourself and make sure your child is getting the exercise they need. While focusing on endurance, strength, and flexibility, you can easily insure that your youngster is being provided with optimal exercise. At the playground, you see those three elements of fitness everywhere. Your children are playing Tag; you see an example of endurance. Crossing the monkey bars would utilize their strength, and simply bending down to tie their shoes is flexibility. Daily exercise is crucial. But how much should they get a day? Well, for infants, you just need to focus on their motor development. Toddlers, however, need at least an hour and a half. This does not mean that you need to construct an exercise program, though you could. Preschoolers need about two hours and school children need at least an hour plus. Have new activities for them every day; such as riding a bicycle, playing basketball, soccer, etc. Or just run them around the jungle gym at a playground or take them swimming. Lets make more than an effort. Make it part of your families daily lives to exercise and eat well balanced diets. Your children will be healthier for it; now what is the harm in that? Labels: education, exercise, information
posted by SensoryEdge
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Friday, August 01, 2008
Healthy Snacks
 While on the go, it can be frustrating when your children start to get hungry and you have no backup. The last thing you want to do is stop at a fast food joint just because it is easy. Prepare ahead of time if you plan on going on a trip. Pack up those goodies yourself, and make sure they are fresh and are unprocessed. You don't want a snack that is packed full of sugars and icky preservatives. When you pack up these snacks, be mindful of the contents you are putting together so you can have a balance of carbohydrates, fat, protein, and fiber. It will ensure that your children keep a healthy blood sugar level. Great examples would be celery and peanut butter, cheese and crackers, or tortilla chips and bean dip. Equip yourself with these healthy snacks, and be prepared with easy storage containers. Try to avoid the drive-thru at all costs. Especially when you are going on a long trip, your children will not have much of a chance to get out and run off all of that not-so-healthy food. Plus, you want to instill in your children good eating habits that they will be able to carry on as they grow. Labels: exercise, information
posted by SensoryEdge
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Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Burns From the Playground
 Going to the playground provides fun and excitement for a child, as well as exercise. Yet, a day at the park can be dangerous if you are not aware of some of the hazards that could potentially arise. Specifically, if the playground has a black rubber mat that is meant to protect children if they fall. Recently, a 2 year old child in New York took off his shoes and ran to the playground in excitement. As soon as his feet hit the mat, he started to scream in pain. His mother ran to his aid and picked him up. As soon as she lifted the child, she noticed that his skin was hanging off of his feet. The black rubber mat, meant to protect children, had scorched the child's feet with second degree burns. However, the cost to replace the mats would be $150 million. New York's parks commissioner remarks that it wouldn't be practical. When you visit the playgrounds, take every necessary precaution when you go. If there are signs posted that shoes must be worn at all times, or any other warning, please pay attention to it and abide by it. The warnings are there for a reason. When those black mats become hot, it can burn your child's skin. With that being said, do not be discouraged from taking your child to the playground. Simply be well aware of the dangers that could potentially arise. Check for such things before your child scurries off. Labels: children exercise, information, outdoor-play
posted by SensoryEdge
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Monday, July 28, 2008
An Interesting Study of Empathy
 Are you aware that your child is naturally inclined to feel empathetic for another in pain and is aware of right and wrong? Some may feel that the acts of right and wrong are learned through childhood from their own doing. However, a study done by the researchers at the University of Chicago shows that “children ages 7 to 12 appear to be naturally inclined to feel empathy for others in pain,” says Science Daily in the article Children Are Naturally Prone to Be Empathic And Moral. The study was done by way of using a functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). Seventeen children were shown images of people being hurt either intentionally or by accident and the results of that were shown from their neural response. This study shows that the “programming for empathy is something that is 'hard-wired' into the brains of normal children, and not entirely the product of parental guidance or other nurturing." The moral and empathic growth of a child is not completely determined by what is learned from experience, however, it is more determined by what was already "programmed" into their brain. The results of when the children were shown the images of someone intentionally being hurt, compared to the results of the images where people are accidentally hurt, show that the regions of the brain associated with social interaction and moral reasoning were engaged. The study was not able to show the results from moral judgment, but was able to see that children were able to process perceptions of right and wrong and how they process other information. By the end of the testing, the children were asking about the situations and what they felt. Thirteen of them said that the situations where people were being intentionally hurt were unfair. This study shows that when children bully their peers, there might be more to be seen then just one kid pushing another around. There could possibly be something more to do with the growth of the child's brain and the activity going on there. Labels: information
posted by SensoryEdge
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Friday, July 25, 2008
Push Creativity
 Parents, you hear this often: push creativity, do not harbor it; let it sail. In the article "No New Einstein" by Lee Smolin in PHYSICS TODAY, Smolin discusses the possible reasons for not having found the next Einstein. The article points a finger towards institutions and universities for not pushing their students and those involved to be more creative and forward thinking. According to Smolin, creativity and intellectual independence are not promoted and encouraged within the walls of these universities and institutions. Yet, Marlys Stapelbroek of North Tustin, California, wrote in to PHYSICS TODAY in response to the article. Stapelbroek regales readers of her own experience with the harboring of creative thought with her daughter. While in the first grade, Stapelbroek's daughter was asked by the teacher to take a rectangular sheet of paper and "cut it in half the long way." With creative thought and her best interpretation of that statement, her daughter cut the paper diagonally, from one corner to the other. The teacher told the little girl that she was wrong. Technically, it was the longest cut the little girl could have made on the sheet of paper, yet it was not what the teacher had in mind. Was the little girl wrong? Or was the teacher wrong for not encouraging such a creative young mind and perhaps finding a way to take it a step further? The point Stapelbroek was trying to make is simply this: though Smolin has a valid point that harboring the encouragement of creative and intellectual thought within the universities and institutions is prohibiting us from finding the next Einstein, perhaps it starts well before students reach the doors of universities. Stapelbroek ponders on the thought of where her daughter could be today had there been more encouragement from her teachers when she was a child. Her daughter is undoubtedly successful with her studies today, however, how much further could she have been had the search for the next Einstein started sooner than when students reach universities? Everyone is given an extraordinary gift as soon as they are conceived, and that is the power of thought and the capability to learn and grow. Spend more time nurturing those young minds. Labels: creative-play, information
posted by SensoryEdge
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