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Daycare Centers Several studies found that quality child care programs have certain characteristics in common. Quality indicators measure the conditions that generally foster a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment for children. Health & Safety Locked cabinets for cleaning supplies and other toxic materials Easily accessible, visible first-aid kits and posted emergency numbers Covered electrical outlets (with protective caps) Security gates at the top and bottom of stairs Window guards on all windows except designated fire exits Smoke alarms and fire extinguishers Enclosed outside play areas and soft surfaces under all equipment Emergency evacuation plansNon-toxic materials children can play with Individual cribs for infant sleep (and placing babies on their backs to sleep)Individuals cots for toddler sleepClean sleeping areas that are clear of potential distractions and hazards...

Construction paper Crayons, markers, stickers, and other decorative items Tape or stapler Scissors Elastic thread or ribbon Directions

The need to fit in was so strong that if the names of these new citizens weren’t changed when they arrived, they often did it themselves, adopting English-style monikers that would help them blend into their new culture and surroundings. In many cases, they exchanged names that were powerful connections to their roots for names that gave little (if any) clue to their ethnic origin. If, for some reason, these immigrants did retain their names of origin, they wouldn’t pass them on to their children, preferring instead to bestow more American-sounding monikers....

Once you know what should be in a first-aid kit, you can put the essential items together yourself in a waterproof box or buy a pre-assembled kit from a pharmacy. Store your first-aid kit in an area of your car that stays relatively cool since heat and sunlight can degrade certain products, like medicated creams and ointments. It’s also a good idea to have copies of important health forms in your car, including:...

This game is an all-time favorite with our children, but merits a few words of caution. If you have ceramic tile in your bathtub area, you may want to skip this one, as the food coloring may stain the grout. If your child has sensitive skin, the shaving cream (depending on the brand) can cause irritation. In any case, children will almost certainly need another bath after this activity!...

Consequences should be applied not based on your moods, biorhythms, or whether the Sox won the game. Time is consistent—if sometimes a minute lasted a minute, sometimes 30 seconds, and sometimes a random hour, it would make it hard to schedule anything. Clock companies would go out of business. People would wait in endless lines. Frustrations would mount, empires fall. I exaggerate, but the point is this: Calendars are reliable because we can consistently count on a minute lasting a minute....

After all, what’s not exciting about earning an income, holding adult conversations, and getting tasks done without constant interruption? If all that sounds better than changing diapers, then it’s OK. If you feel bad for being excited about going back to work, however, you’re not alone. Many moms feel as though they need to hide their excitement about returning to the workplace because there’s often a notion that women should want to stay home....

Siesta Beach Photo Credit: searchofbeauty/Flickr Located in Siesta Key, Florida, Siesta Beach offers families some of the softest sand in the country, along with a smoke-free environment, crystal clear water, a playground for the kids, covered picnic areas, and sand volleyballs courts. After a day in the sun, take the whole family into town for a cone at the local’s favorite ice cream parlor, Big Olaf’s Creamery. Coast Guard Beach Photo Credit: Howard&Debbie/Flickr Located in Cape Cod, Massachussetts, Coast Guard Beach makes the perfect vacation destination for families looking for a more natural setting....

Dr. Grantley Dick-Read, an American obstetrician, linked labor pain to fear when he was working during the 1950s. He promoted breathing and relaxation to help cope with pain, and his methods are now commonplace. Dr. Ferdinand Lamaze was inspired by the Russian scientist Dr. Pavlov, who trained dogs to have a set response to stimulus. In the 1950s, Lamaze extended this idea to childbirth, believing that women could be trained to respond positively to labor pain....

The grim statistics surrounding Black maternal health do not stop at childbirth. When it comes to breastfeeding, Black women are less likely to start breastfeeding than any other race of mother and even less likely to continue breastfeeding beyond six months. Only 69% of Black women initiate breastfeeding compared to 85% of white women. The benefits of breastfeeding, from financial to health-related gains for both mother and child, are well-documented....

Boy-Friendly Classrooms A boy’s academic achievement before third grade is likely to dictate how well he will do throughout his school career, so it is imperative that your son is successful early on. One solution is to delay entry into kindergarten. Some schools have boosted boys’ success by establishing different cutoff birth dates for boys and girls. Making it school policy for boys to attend two years of kindergarten instead of one to give them an extra year to catch up to girls is another solution, since it is more common for boys than girls to repeat kindergarten....

A pillow placed on your lap will help elevate your baby to the level of your breast. If no pillow is available, crossing your leg on the side you are nursing will bring your baby closer to your breast. A lap pillow is essential for women who deliver by C-section to keep the baby’s weight from pressing against their incision. A footstool beneath your feet will also decrease the distance between your lap and your breast and make your back more comfortable....

Esophagus: This is yet another passageway, this time from the mouth and throat into the stomach.Larynx: This passageway allows air to travel to the trachea while keeping food out.Nasal cavity: This is the main passageway for air, where it is purified and moisturized before entering the lungs. In the front, this area is surrounded by the cartilaginous (a tough, elastic tissue) part of the nose. Underneath the nose, the hard palate provides a firm border between the nasal and oral cavities....