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October 20th, 2012

Guest Posts @ Little Zoie's

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The Secret to Stimulating Your Child’s Physical and Social Development

Let’s go deeper into your child’s development, shall we?

From the age of two onwards, your child is already showing a little bit of their personality and what they will be like as they grow older. Their environment plays a major role in how they will turn out. I’m sure that, as a parent, you’re careful about what kind of environment your child sees. The atmosphere of a home has a big impact on the development of children. If they are in a constant, caring environment (with heavy doses of laughter once in a while), they have a better chance of growing up to be well-balanced, mature, and responsible adults.

The right atmosphere can work wonders

But giving your child the right atmosphere to stimulate their mental, physical, and emotional growth is easier said than done. Sometimes we can’t help it if we have a tense environment due to daily stresses or worries. The child picks up on that and files it away unconsciously. However, you can augment a stressful or tense time with some occasional good vibes. The playtime your child has also makes a difference – the kind of toys they have will have a lasting impact on their growth.

My older son is a precocious, endlessly curious toddler who likes to initiate friendships with other children in the playground. He shows a bright, competitive attitude and constantly gets into trouble. My nephew, who is about the same age, is completely the opposite, however. He is quiet and content to play on his own and occasionally sings himself to sleep, which is quite adorable. When they spend time together, it’s my nephew who falls asleep right away – my son can spend an hour or two just gazing at the walls before he drops off, in part due to exhaustion.

Children are different from each other – but with the right toys, you can help stimulate their growth in their ‘weak’ areas

The reason I mention this is to show how different from each other children can be. You need to know what your child’s growing personality is, so you can give them the appropriate toys that will help them develop a better personality. For my son, I usually choose a good storybook or two, or a puzzle that he can play with. This keeps him quiet for long periods, and he has a chance to develop his mental skills rather than his physical skills, which he has plenty of. My nephew, on the other hand, is given toys that allow him to become physically active and more social – his Little Tikes playhouse is a perfect example. They (my son and nephew) can play and pretend and jump around for hours in the playhouse, which helps them develop dexterity, coordination, and social skills as well, since they have to take turns sliding down the slide and ‘sharing’ the playhouse with each other.

These two children have shown different sensibilities from a very young age. But with the help of the right toys, they can each develop the specific skills that they have been lacking.

Tom Veasy is a freelance writer and parent of two with an interest in smart toys for children. Tom regularly writes for retail blogs on the latest toys, such as Little Tikes.

October 12th, 2012

Guest Posts @ Little Zoie's

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Why Classic Book Covers Are Important

image not mine

Although people tend to say “Don’t judge a book by its cover” a lot, it really is difficult to erase or change a person’s first impression. This is especially true for books, which is the source of the popular quote. Book covers do more than just protect the pages from the element; in some ways people judge the quality of writing that’s embedded in the pages simply by looking at the cover alone.

If you see thick leather bound books or hard bound books, you’d immediately think that the book contains important literature. It can also mean that the book is a classic or that it’s a rare title. However, books can be very deceiving. Place a grand hardbound cover on a smutty piece of literature and some people might even mistake it for a classic.

This is the reason why most book aficionados have been very vocal against reprinting classics and other important pieces of literature into paperback versions. They say that this lessens the value of the piece itself and is an insult to the author that created it. Truly, most people would rather see classics wrapped in thick jackets made of leather or hard wood, with golden or deep red embellishments to add to the effect.

However, people tend to forget that what’s important is the story or the information that lies within the pages. The lessons and knowledge that come from reading does not necessarily diminish whether they are read from a paperback or a hardbound book. Truthfully, some people might prefer paperbacks because they are easier to carry and to read on the go.

Another factor to consider is the cost. Paperback novels are extremely affordable while hardbound books are pricey. Despite what some avid reading fanatics might say, the reprinting of classics on paperback has helped people of the younger generation feel more comfortable with reading. A university student in need of a piece to do a book report on would most likely stay away from thick hardbound novels thinking it might be complicated. However, with the introduction of paperback books, classic literature is not as intimidating as it used to be, and has actually encouraged more people to have a go at reading them.

People who do prefer their hardbound and leather bound books need not worry. Although more people are opting for paperbacks, there are a lot of places to look for classics in their truest form. Aside from yard sales and book auctions, there are sites online which sell rare and antique books by the thousands. So it’s still okay to leave the paperback versions for the recreational reader while people who love collecting books can still find hardbound versions of their favorite pieces – complete with artsy lettering, masterfully crafted and colorful book covers, and the smell of crisp book pages.

Moreover, collectors would go for classicrarebooks by leather bound books or hardbound books because they are aesthetically pleasing and complement the grand oak bookcase they’re lined up in.

October 2nd, 2012

Guest Posts @ Little Zoie's

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Getting a better bond with your child

Being a parent is one of the toughest, yet most rewarding things you will ever do in your life. Raising a child from an infant to an adult is a Herculean task, and one that requires constant hard work, dedication, and patience. Unfortunately, there is no magic recipe to make parenting easier – the only thing you can do is try, try, and try some more. However, there are a few ways you can help make the parenting process a little bit easier on all parties involved: you can try to establish a deeper, better bond with your child.

Again, this is by no means an easy task. Building and strengthening the bond with your child is an ever-changing process that needs plenty of attention and hard work on your end – the rewards are priceless, though, and you’ll get back so much more than you put in. If you’re looking to get a better bond with your child, here are a few things you can do.

Don’t yell and criticise
One of the biggest mistakes parents make is that they yell and criticise their children constantly. Scolding your child can be beneficial sometimes; however, more often than not it will just create more issues than it will solve. If you yell at your children, tell them to do something “because I said so” or speak in a condescending manner, you will begin to create cracks in the foundation of understanding between you and your little one. Instead, try to see things from their point of view. Remember: you were once a child as well! The more you take your time to consider their perspective and explain the reasoning behind your decisions or reactions, the better your communication channels will be – plus, you’ll strengthen the levels of trust between you and your little one as well.

Support them
Children are creative, inventive, and curious. Quite often, they will have a new interest or discovery that they wish to pursue, and the best thing you can do in a situation like this is support them. If your child feels that you support them, they will feel that you understand their wants and needs. Even if you think their new love of science is a bit bizarre, try to feign as much enthusiasm as you possibly can. When your child has a strong support network, they will be more likely to be vocal about any problems or concerns that they have, and the more you share, the deeper and stronger your bond will be with your bub.

Know when to step back
This is not a battle for legal wills – it is okay to step back every once in a while and just let your child be. Don’t suffocate your child or be overbearing; instead, recognise when they need your help and when it is okay to let them tackle a problem on their own. If you constantly try to involve yourself in every aspect of your child’s life, they may begin to feel suffocated and pull back. Although it is difficult, sometimes it can be beneficial to your relationship with your chid if you just let some things go.

Kayla Henry is a mother who doesn’t always know when to let things go. Sometimes, she thinks her stubborn nature is a bit too much, but hey – parenting is all about learning and growing, right?