The Garden School Tattler

Today we're off to the lake. We are taking a picnic and going touring first to Cave in Rock. It's something we do every year.

Last night Edith and I were enjoying old friends and new friends at a party, and we mentioned we were taking 35 kids to Pounds Hollow. There were claims of bravery bestowed upon us and all kinds of wonderful kudos which we appreciated very much, but when you think about it what his easier - staying inside in a building all day every day or taking children out where they can explore?

Watching the faces of kids see and do new stuff is what life is all about. It's not about color sheets and sitting properly at the table and spending a hateful hour in the heat on the playground. It's about exploration and seeing new stuff.

But what about the work? I dare any parent to say that spending any part of a day with a very young child isn't difficult at times. But compared to sitting in an office and staring at a computer for eight hours and then being nice to some boss and some impossible client is not nearly as rewarding as being hugged by a beautiful smiling child and then watching the same wonderful and delightful child see a cave for the first time and then experience the freedom and wonder of swimming in a natural lake, running along the sand and just lying in the magnificent summer sun like a child of nature.

Most children are very well behaved on a trip. They get a little squirrely on the bus, but they can always sit with an adult. The only thing that is not manageable is a violent child. A child who assaults another or an adult is just too much to handle in public. When a child behaves violently during the week, he has to stay home. And besides, rewards should not come to children who are anti-community.

To get to the lake, we have to drive an hour out of Indiana, and then another half hour into Illinois. We have to travel some narrow roads, and once I saw a big yellow bob cat or mountain lion cross between corn fields. He was the size of a big big lab. The Shawnee National Forest is high - so the climb is pretty steep. Then it's down a spiraling road to the lake. It's wild out there and full of cliffs and beautiful scenery, but the lake is safe and clean and well kept.

This summer has been a welcoming success, and this coming year, God granting and the creek 'don't' rise, we're going to experience the zoo often and ice skating more than once a year, and the parks - near and far - if we can get there.

Friday is a great day for play because we've worked hard during the week, and before the unknown weekend, we're just going out to play.

The Garden School Tattler

The Garden School staff has the reputation of being able to handle "difficult children." It always makes me smile because it's not a staff that "handles difficult children." It's really a way of life at school that allows a child to handle himself.

Have you ever thought about what part you would play if you decided to uproot and go live in a commune - I know, I know, I'm dating myself. But if the world took a giant step backward because of international war or famine or something, people might have to look to small communities to survive. What part would you play?

It's the same thing at a childcare place that cares desperately about the development of the children in care there. What part does this child play?

There are the helpers, the brains, the artists, the showmen, the organizers, the volunteers, the salesmen, the activists, the pacifists, the soldiers, the craftsmen, and a hundred other roles likely filled at anyone time in any childcare.

Kids learn early to work together if and only if adults step back and let it happen. Children find a niche and then hone skills. One of our little girls came to us very shy, very reserved, a real watcher. She was petite and seemed fragile. Over the years this little gal has watched, waited, and learned about other children. She has perfected her manners, has developed a real thought process that is bent towards absolute good. I can't remember a time she has done a single thing wrong. She is no longer quiet, and this morning she was the queen of the kitchen as the girls decided to help Miss Judy with the dishes. It was hilarious. She was instructing the other children on the proper way to wash, rinse and sanitize the dishes and they were all listening to her.

She helped make her favorite food - chicken pot pie, and then we baked Walnut pie and discussed deep frying squash for lunch which we did and she ate.

We cleaned today. Not sure what she did, but she was occupied all day. But today worked for most of the children because they were busy doing the things they wanted to do. They were helping and they were doing good work that counted. They were being rewarded for their achievements which is what good childcare is all about.

Now what does this have to do with difficult children? Today didn't work for some children because although a good environment is offered, a child may decide that he will disregard the attention of his peers and the rules established by the community - the childcare community. It's at this point that he goes out on a limb to prove that he is invincible and indestructible and a god with a small g.

Many children go out on this limb to see what's up with doing it "all by myself." In the adult world it's called pride, and pride falleth hard. The rewards for goodness and achievement that should frequently make a child's day fail him, and that's a shame.

If his after school environment is a constant stream of prizes, rewards, gifts, toys, and outings, the child will grasp the idea that he is beyond the community and disregard his friends and the rules they have made with disdain. Anyone who tries to over ride his decision to break the rules is the enemy to be reckoned with. And this is where we find some children.

What to do? Without help from home, it's impossible. With help from home, most children discover that life with rewards and praise is a lot more fun than being alone, but why bother if I can do both - be the bully and cog and also get what they want? Pride is only one vice. There are a whole lot more.

The good news? Every day in the life of a child is just that - a new day - a bright new beginning to try on the world. Innocence and joy belong to the child.

So, difficult children? It's all in the eye of the beholder and the lay of the calendar.

The Garden School Tattler

There has been a lot of yapping about more money going into early childhood education. The primary scream is "more money, more money." But it never gets any further than that. The whole push is really for tax dollars. Billions of tax dollars go into early childhood education and mostly for children whose parents can't afford childcare.

Last year there was a huge grant from the Welborn people that was given to the project for local childcare and so far it's gone into studies. That means nada to the kids. Unrelated people are receiving the funds earmarked for kids to do yet more studies about childcare. There have been so many studies on childcare across the nation, you'd think they'd be done now.

How many times can you study the "impact of early education on a child" and not know it has some significance?

It's hard to say what I would do with a 3/4 million dollar grant, but it sure wouldn't go into redundant childcare studies, and you can bet every cent of it it wouldn't go into pockets of unrelated people!

In the city of Evansville, the problem of childcare is an old one. The practices are archaic, the drive to upgrade it is battened down by the screws of an "entitlement" group who think they own childcare in EVV and nothing is going to change that.

The very idea that change is WAY PAST DUE is received as a slap in the face. Sorry, crack, crack. Since 1983, I've fought to change the face of childcare in my area by doing. I did family childcare for 8 years for which I am regarded as "out of the loop." I'm an advocate for family childcare because it is within the family that a child under three grows best. No center can begin to offer what a family does.

Edith and I started the Garden School with the idea that we would see what children could do. This is the whole theme of "child directed." We quickly nixed the naps because children over three don't want to sleep their lives away. We used the afternoon hours to go places and swim, to explore what we call afternoon subjects.

We've been accused of "inappropriate practices" because we teach children letters, numbers and about the world. Have you ever known a child who didn't want to own the power of writing his name or counting as high as he can or knowing stories about other places?

I think if I had $750,000. to spend on early childhood, I would have a big meeting of all the early childhood groups and begin to change things from the inside out. And it would begin with nixing the idea of separate rooms for children to languish all day. That has to go.

Here's what I mean. Instead of six day care rooms each with a "house station," I think I'd put all the house stuff in one room and call the whole room house. Then I'd station a teacher there. Then we'd do the same for puzzles, for library, for big blocks, for Lego's, and for art and any other toy area the teachers thought were doable in the center. Then the teachers would float and the kids would travel from room to room as they wanted. This gets kids out of the prison situation and allows them to begin to think about doing as a real part of their lives. And leave the doors OPEN!!!

$50,000. of the grant would go to new equipment for those places willing to make big changes. The rest would go to a separate fund that could be used to drain off the interest and help raise salaries so a more professional staff could be hired and kept. Better educated people are eager to teach children and children are eager to learn. That combination would raise the level of good childcare through the roof.

Not imaginative enough? It all begins on the inside - not in studies we already have. The last big grant in EVV went to new doors and paint. How does that help kids?

This picture is of my grandson. Everyone needs one of these around the house.

Exercising During Pregnancy

Exercise Tips For Fatigue and Morning Sickness
Fit Fitness Into Your New Lifestyle
-- By Becky Hand, Licensed and Registered Dietician

Before pregnancy, you were actively involved in an exercise program and you planned to incorporate fitness into your daily routine. However, now that you're pregnant, the morning sickness and the afternoon fatigue have you too pooped to move. You are wondering if there is any way to fit in fitness.

Fatigue is a normal part of pregnancy, especially during the first and third trimester. This doesn't mean you should ignore it or resign yourself to being continually exhausted. As always, fatigue is a signal from your baby that you should slow down. Take the hint:
Make rest and relaxation a priority.

Cut back on the nonessential activities.

Make sure your spouse or partner and family members are helping out with the household chores.

If possible, try to get extra sleep at night or take a nap during the day.

Make sure your diet is nutritious and well balanced.

And remember, too much rest and not enough exercise can heighten the fatigue. Morning sickness and nausea can occur in the morning or anytime throughout the day. Sudden intense movements can make it worse. Therefore, try to get your queasy stomach under control first (Morning Sickness Help.)

Continue with some light stretching and warm-up movements. Then, move on to your exercise plan.

Playing it safe is important once you start to feel some relief from the fatigue and/or nausea. Try to incorporate some light exercise into your day, with your physician's approval.

Have a light snack and drink water or juice about 15 - 30 minutes before your warm-up.

Wear comfortable shoes that protect your feet and joints.

Wear clothes that are loose fitting and stretch when you move.

Wear cotton undergarments that will let your body breathe.

Divide your exercise into 2-3 brief sessions if possible.

Do exercise slowly.

Do not do a rapid series of repetitions.
Rest briefly between movements.

Never exercise to the point of exhaustion.

If there is any pain or strain, STOP!

A little perspiration is fine; a drenching sweat is a signal to STOP.

You should be able to carry on a conversation with someone next to you.

You should feel exhilarated, not drained, after the exercise.

As you begin to feel better, gradually increase the level of activity.

The Garden School Tattler

There's a virus going around now that's got a lot of parent scared because the temperature that goes with it is a high one.

Trying to pinpoint where this is coming from is always difficult. We've had several children go home sick. It usually begins with either an upset stomach, a head ache, a sore throat, or fever.

Doctors are saying it's a virus, but some of them are giving out a prescription just in case.

You fuss and fume and wake up in the night wondering where it came from and how you can avoid it and you realize that it's impossible. We wash our hands, we spend a lot of time outside, and then you think, it's the pool.

I think a lot of children respond to summer differently. Lots of kids are kept out late because it's so beautiful and the light is workable until way past their bedtimes parents loath being in the house and kids resist a light bedroom when everyone else is just "beginning to play."

Too bad the morning hours can't be pushed back as well, because with too little sleep, and too much activity during the day, and then not enough sleep again, illness can rear it's ugly head.

One of the interesting things about summer is appetite. Even Jack is eating two sandwiches at the pool. We can't make sandwiches fast enough. I can't thank Miss Kelly enough for her splendid idea about making sandwiches on the spot, and the cold storage thing she discovered from Pampered Chef that actually keeps the salads freezing cold.

We used to make dozens of sandwiches in the morning and drag them along. Now it's made on the spot at the picnic and the kids are eating twice as much. When a child begins to eat, he can't stop. We are going through everything we are taking - there are no leftovers and no waste. I keep adding eggs, tuna, bread, cookies, and fruit, but it's still gone, gone, gone, and that's a good thing. Eat! After a dozen eggs, 4 cans of tuna, 6 loaves of bread, a 1/2 pound of ham, bologna and cheese, a double batch of cookies, carrots and dip, and three packages of potato chips, the kids ate a whole watermelon.

Friday is one of my favorite trips because it's a real adventure followed by play. A field trip is not a real field trip without discovery, without learning and without seeing something new and actually going someplace. If I had my way and the bank account to match ... look out.

So on Friday we are going to a cave and then to swim at the Hollow. We're wearing suits and taking clothes so the kids are comfortable on the way home. We might be late - 3:00 ish? It depends on how much they like the beach.

I taught a class at the junior high downtown EVV. I taught culture and poetry, and after the occasion of fumbling through the class, I can say I'm glad I teach little kids. The big kids were bigger than I am and they were about as interested in culture and poetry as they were carding wool. I wish I had met the class first. I would have done something different. The hardest part was trying to keep their attention. They say that good preschool will help children avoid the boredom rut of big school. Then that's the goal.

I've written to the governor about our school. I invited him for lunch. I'll let you know if he accepts.

I posted a picture of the new baby.

Garden School Tattler

It was perfect weather yesterday at the pool. It was mildly breezy, but the water was warm. The kids seemed to really enjoy the swimming. It was one of those dive-jump off the sides and swim to you days. The kids couldn't get enough of distance swimming.

When the temperature is 98 degrees, it might feel better in the water, but it's so debilitating, it's almost impossible to function. This is mid 80s weather and warm enough for swimming but not so hot no one wants to eat.

I've been invited to Glenwood School this morning to teach a class on culture and poetry. That should be interesting. Middle school kids are a tough nut to crack. If I can make them laugh twice, I will have succeeded.

This week we have already covered cave people and are looking at the art. It's hauntingly beautiful. The Lascaux Caves in France have some of the most stunning art I've ever seen. We don't often think of ourselves as the "same" as the cave people, but when you look at the artwork, you realize just how similar we are.

There's a link on this blog for the "Tree People." These wonderful people are Stone Age people as well.

We will be going to Cave in Rock this week, and then up to the lake for swimming. Parents are welcome. It's one of the prettiest places I know.

Pizza for lunch today.

The Garden School Tattler

It was hot but I think the kids had a great time. I did. We packed up and went to the museum and saw the train. You can't have too many trains in your life - just ask Bill. Then we went to the air play at the big museum and the kids had a ball with that while we waited for the Golden Knights who couldn't land because of low slung clouds, but a stealth bomber flew over and scared us it was so loud.

Some of our friendly police people - the bicycle crew - were on hand to say hi! We saw a huge coal barge come down the river.

We picked up pizzas at Angelo's - delicious - and we ate at Kids Kingdom. It began to get very hot. Then we went out to the little airport and looked at all the aircraft. The kids got to go into a helicopter and a big transport plane. They had army men throwing balls at them, and they collected quite a few. Everyone was so nice.

Then we saw the obstacle course about 35 feet in the air presented by the National Guard and the kids went wild. It was hilarious to watch the children go over these giant air filled mountains and slide down again. They loved it and it was difficult to pull them away.

Next week we will go to Cave in Rock and swim at Pounds Hollow. It's a longer trip, and lots of fun. I hope it's hot enough.

Children should go to bed early on Thursdays for Friday. Lots of our kids were very tired and were dragging by the airport. It's very hot and debilitating when you're tired to begin with.

Next week's theme? Cave people and their art, prehistoric stuff, rocks and dinosaurs.

I think we would love to do something like this. What do you guys think?

By Erin Kelley-Gedischk
Oak Bay News
Jun 14 2006

Preschool Can be Expensive and Confusing.

The marketplace is flooded with a bewildering assortment of preschool philosophies: Montessori, intensive academics or play-centred programs organized by for-profits, not-for-profits, businesses or churches.

At cooperative preschools, parents don't drop their children off at the door. Parents help run the school - but more importantly, they participate in their child's education.

Gonzales preschool embraces the village approach to raising a child.

"It can be a hard time raising preschool age kids. It can also be isolating," Angela Morrow said. "The school is a real community of families that share resources and information."

She didn't know co-operative education existed as an option when she started searching for preschools.

"I had never considered it before. We had just heard about it through word of mouth," she said.

Morrow's experience is typical because co-op preschools run on a limited advertising budget. Furthermore, Gonzales preschool has a waitlist every year.

The significant parental time commitment means the school is not for everyone. Parents must take 10 hours of training before they can volunteer in the classroom, working one or two days every month for the length of the 2.5-hour class.

Furthermore, parents are assigned jobs such as gardening, cleaning, making modeling dough, event coordinating, school orienteering and fundraising.

"It helps keep the tuition lower and so a wider demographic of people can have access to quality education," Morrow said.

Fees range between $70 and $100 per month for two or three classes a week.

The non-profit organization has operated for 50 years in Oak Bay and is located in the lower half of St. Philip's Church.

In addition to the co-operative aspects of the school, Morrow was also drawn to the preschool's educational philosophy.

The school promotes learning through play, by providing a stimulating environment with hands-on activities that encourage children to explore and understand their world.

The learning however is not limited to the kids.

Parents participate in workshops on topics such as discipline and child development.

"The school has supportive and non-judgmental feel," Morrow said. "You have a group of people that are working through the same issues as you are with your kids. It's a real resource of information."

Furthermore, parents also learn from early childhood educator Frances Deas.

"You have someone with 25 years of experience with children working side-by-side with you," she said.

Morrow's eldest child graduates to kindergarten this year. Like many other parents, she enrolled her youngest child without hesitation.

"It's just nice to be involved," she said.

Tazmania

This is very close to home.

Tazmania News
Examiner.com.au

Generations Give Dedication to Child-care Service
By FRAN VOSS
Thursday, 15 June 2006

ANNIVERSARY: Bronwyn Witt, Joan Mills and Emily Ellings look over some of the photos in the Stewart St Creche's album. Picture: PAUL SCAMBLER

Stewart Child Care Services in Launceston is such a family affair that three generations of families work there and children come back as staff. The child-care centre in Watchorn St this week celebrates its 50th anniversary, starting with an open day yesterday.

Joan Mills, 74, of Youngtown, began work at the centre when it was located at the Queen Victoria Hospital.

She was 41. Her children had grown up and she missed children.

Her daughter Bronwyn Witt, 42, has been an early childhood teacher with the service for 20 years.

Granddaughter Emily Ellings, 24, who is completing her child- care diploma, started as a carer last February.

Emily herself came to the centre as a child when it was at Stewart St and her grandmother was working there as the cook for the 40-50 children.

"I remember Nan cooking in the kitchen and making me eat my lunch," Emily said.

There are now two cooks preparing up to 125 hot midday meals a day.Mrs Mills continued at Stewart St for 18 years.

"I absolutely adored it. All the children used to call me `Nan' even when they saw me in the street," she said.

Stewart Child Care Services had its beginnings in a temporary creche set up in two dressing rooms in the Albert Hall in November 1948.

The initiative came from the Launceston Pre School Centre Committee and its secretary Marjorie Parker (the late Dame Marjorie Parker).Tenancy of the two dressing rooms on Tuesdays and Fridays cost five shillings a room a day.

The creche then evolved through the Cameron St Creche, opening in June 1956, a second creche in the old Queen Victoria Hospital building, the Dame Marjorie Parker Creche in 1977, Stewart St Creche in 1979 and in 2000 the move to Watchorn St.

Renamed Stewart Child Care Services, it opened for business in Watchorn St, after extensive renovations, on May 1, 2000.

A 15-place annexe at Newstead College was opened in May 1998.

Chief executive officer Lyn Woolley has been at the centre for 20 years, witnessing major changes in the industry.

"In the early days, children were mostly dropped off for two to three hours while their mothers went shopping," she said. "Now some children can be here for 50 hours a week and very few mothers are not working.

"The centre employs about 32 regular staff for about 127 children and manages a payroll of $1 million.

Signs and Signs

Just for fun:
Here are the Zodiac signs.

Aries - March 21 - April 20
Taurus - April 21 - May 21
Gemini - May 22 - June 21
Cancer- June 22 - July 22
Leo- July 23 -August 21
Virgo - August 22 - September 23
Libra- September 24 - October 23
Scorpio - October 24 - November 22
Sagittarius - November 23 - December 22
Capricorn - December 23 - January 20
Aquarius- January 21 - February 19
Pisces - February 20- March 20

Here's a bit of fun. Apply this to children and laugh out loud. It works.

How many members of your horoscope sign does it take to change a light bulb?

Aries: Just one. You want to make something of it?

Taurus: One, but just "try" to convince them that the burned-out bulb is useless and should be thrown away.

Gemini: Two, but the job never gets done--they just keep arguing about who is supposed to do it and how it's supposed to be done.

Cancer: Just one. But it takes a therapist three years to help them through the grief process.

Leo: Leos don't change light bulbs, although sometimes their agent will get a Virgo to do the job for them while they're out.

Virgo: Approximately 1.0000000 with an error of +/- 1 millionth.

Libra: Er, two. Or maybe one. No - on second thought, make that two. Is that okay with you?

Scorpio: That information is strictly secret and shared only with the Enlightened Ones in the Star Chamber of the Ancient Hierarchical Order.

Sagittarius: The sun is shining, the day is young and we've got our whole lives ahead of us, and you're inside worrying about a stupid light bulb?

Capricorn: I don't waste my time with these childish jokes.

Aquarius: Well, you have to remember that everything is energy, so...

Pisces: Light bulb? What light bulb?

It's interesting how personalities develop right from the beginning.

The Garden School Tattler

I was pretty excited yesterday with my part of the testing. We gave several tests and were able to see that the results of what we do at the Garden School have really worked. I'm so pleased for the children who have achieved so much.

About a week ago, I received a terrible nasty gram from a young woman who tried to denigrate what we do at the school as not age appropriate. She has no idea of what we do nor has she ever been at our school. What I would tell her if she visited us is that all our activities are eagerly awaited by our student body. Our children ask to be educated, and they reach for the sky. Every child is eager to build on his individual knowledge simply because we make it challenging and fun, and the children love being put to the measure, succeeding and then being rewarded. It makes them feel great. They want to know what other people know. They are aware that there is knowledge out there and they want it.

So I'm proud of the results of the 3 math tests we gave. The results define a child's ordinary knowledge of sequential numbers from one to one hundred. Here are the results:

(PS) means returnee from Public School
(K-4) means they were in my kindergarten class
(K-1) means they were in Kelly's Kindergarten- First grade

Faultless: Jack S (K-1), Hadley(K-1), Mayli (K-1), Peyton (K-1), Jack H (PS-1), Briauna C (PS-1), Kaito (K-4), Alexis (PS-K).

Missing 1: Dhezmond (PS-1)

Missing 2: Austin(K-1) and Morgen (PS-1)

Missing 3: Ty(K-1), Justin (K-4), Dawson(K-4)

Missing 6: Alan (PS-K)

Missing 8: Aidan (K-4)

Missing 11: Faith (K-4)

Missing 13: MJ (k-4)

Missing 14: Madison (k-4)

Missing 19: Caleb (PS-1)

There were 2 children who missed 29, 39,

The preschool who attempted a 1-25 test were

David, Alex and Triston and they did fine.

Those who were absent yesterday will take the test as we can give it.

One of the things to remember is that even missing 19 out of over 200 questions is an achievement and something a child can be proud of.

Reading results were even better. We have a couple of children who tested out at a second grade reading level. Results will be posted.

Today is the Freedom Festival field trip. It is supposed to be in the mid eighties which will be a relief. Yesterday it was so hot we couldn't bear outside for more than 30 minutes at a time.

Pizza from Angelo's!

The Garden School Tattler

It was another swimming festival at the pool yesterday. One by one they are really swimming. We got Dawson and Taylor and Justin to jump off the edge in the lanes and swim way out to an adult. Dawson went off the board. He was hesitant at first and then the second time, he flew off the board with great joy. It was pretty funny.

Taylor went off the board as well. He was more hesitant than Dawson, but more determined than anyone because when the board closed and the slides opened, he stood by the board with a mad face until it opened again. Dawson, on the other hand, went down the slide.

Jackie was the first swimmer to jump repeatedly into the deep end and then swim back to the side of the pool, but when he took a look at the distance between the pool and the board, he froze and wouldn't do it.

Daymon and Caleb are the next upcoming swimmers. These guys want to swim straight up and down.

The difference between the fun the swimmers have and the non swimmers is really a difference. We have four girls to work on next.

First step - the desire to put your whole body into the water including your face. (Too often a child will want to swim, but he will avoid his face getting wet, and that's not swimming)

Second step - kicking with a strong even straight legged style. ( Children think they can do this without foot power. When they discover foot power - they are nearly swimming.)

Third step - moving arms so that there is a complimentary power and direction added to the movement. ( The greater the reach, the faster we go. It takes a lot of children time to figure this out and coordinate this.)

Swimming builds a kind of confidence that no one can remove. It helps with school work, general achievement, personality development and independence. A child who can swim well knows that it was something he accomplished himself. Someone can show you how to swim but he can't swim for you. A strong swimmer is usually strong in other areas.

Today is a class day. We are testing today for class rank. Should be interesting. Test papers will go home. Rank will be tallied as soon as possible.

Tomorrow is the Freedom Festival. We are still wavering on certain things. I have 5 pizzas ordered from Angelo's. If it's nice, we will eat at Kids Kingdom. If it's too hot, we don't know what we'll do.

The Garden School Tattler

Yesterday was one of "those" days. With a storm approaching, the regular classroom time that would have taken the edge off the anxiety produced by an impending storm was hit and miss because we had subs. As the noise level rose, the whole room seemed to be about to take off about like a 747.

We have great subs, but substitute teachers have no continuity. That's the point - they are subs, so instead of trying to do regular classroom activities, the idea is to raise above the ordinary classroom time and do something special. Special is hard when you have really high temperatures.

We had a lesson about transportation and how it's come along all these years. We've made paper airplanes and the kids got a charge out of flying them in the school.

We are talking about flight, airplanes and things that go. This Friday we will watch the air show and then go over to the airport.

We read a few chapters of My Father's Dragon and had an art contest. The winners got big candy bars.

We dunked for apples in the back yard - man it was hot. Mostly the children just wanted to explore toys. But they did like the apple dunking.

It's going to be hot today too. We're going to to the pool and the park. The water should be very warm today. It will be a good day to get the non swimmers swimming.

I'm delighted with Hadley, Peyton and Briauna who are going to win the puzzle race. They work on their puzzle every day and the results are wonderful.

More pictures from Hadley's mom.

Garden School Tattler

It was a glorious day at the park yesterday. It was hot, but the temperature was much better for swimming. We had some great efforts at the pool. Jackie passed his swimming test, Dhezmond passed his, Alan went off the board and so did Austin. These are huge milestones for these children.

Swimming allows children a certain independence that cannot be duplicated in any other activity. It's an activity that allows the child to see danger and conquer fears as well as manage his body in a potentially hazardous situation. It means adult thinking and coordinated doing. It means learning absolute rules and complying with them.

Several children opted out of swimming to play in the park. There were also some non swimmers because of behavior on the field trip. This left a low number of kids in the pool so some serious work could be done. I was proud of all the children yesterday.

The lunch focus was on egg salad. We've been going for 10 eggs, now we're up to 12. That's including 4 cans of tuna, a 1/2 pound of ham, cheese and bologna, a whole jar of peanut butter and a whole jar of jelly, 1/2 a jar of honey, a double batch of cookies, three things of potato chips and a 1/2 dozen apples. We come home empty every day. That's a good thing.

Today is a school day and we will focus on reading about airplanes. We are doing a little musical chairs in the classroom today. It will be interesting to see the progress.

The pictures come from Hadley's mom.

The Garden School Tattler

The trip last Friday was wonderful. We visited the Lincoln farm and the kids got to see sheep, goats, a cow and chickens. They were not impressed with the house nor were they impressed with the long mile trek through the woods. I suppose it will be years before they appreciate the woods - if ever. They were making pot cheese, but few of the kids took the time to look into the bowls which were ripe with natural yeast. There were two fires going, but the kids managed to stay out of them.

They were, however, impressed with the outhouses and thought they were a really neat place to play.

After visiting the farm and enjoying climbing the split rail fences to watch the train in the distance, we settled down to a really big lunch. Then it was off for the twelve stone hike. Some of our readers were really thrilled with all the rocks collected at various sites across the country like the rock where Lincoln gave the Gettysburg address.

This week we will be enjoying the Freedom Festival. We will try to go to the museum, then off to the opening ceremonies where the Golden Knights will parachute down to the pagoda, then down to Kid's Kingdom for a different kind of lunch - Angelo's pizza. Then we're going out to the air port to see the planes close up.

The weather says not so hot on Friday, so it should be fun.

Lots of the kids earned their own water bottles this week for their magnificent behavior at the park on Friday. It's a present from admiring teachers. We were very proud of them. We thought for the absolutely wonderful behavior we would buy each brilliantly behaved child a water bottle to enjoy on the bus for the long return trips because they get so thirsty on the bus. It's not a really big deal, but children who sit without hitting, without moving from one seat to another, without screaming at the top of their lungs, without thumping to the floor and crawling around on the floor, without opening the safety door guards, without kneeling backwards on the seat and pulling someone's hair deserves to be treated with a reward, and that's the reward. Names are posted.

Two children actually thanked me for the trip. Briana and Aidan. They were the first to receive water bottles.

China

Problems like these continue to plague an un-free world. I remember growing up with a tremendous cloud of fear that the opposite side of the Iron Curtain would someday take over and we would no longer be free. One day I looked at a magazine published in Russia. I studied the pages as a child does who is curious about things, and when I had looked a long time I said quite innocently that this country would never be able to take over ours "Because look, they can't even feed, cloth or house their own families, how do they think they are going to come over here?" I must have thought that the homes and clothes and details about food was very lacking. I still remember an image of a very old tractor with the paint peeling, a pile of rotting potatoes, and some child with holes in her teeth. From that day until the demise of the Iron Curtain, I was never fearful again. I've always prayed for the people of un-free places because I believe that freedom allows us to conquer all odds, and through freedom - not license - people achieve unbelievable things. Here's a story about Cambodia that makes me sick.

People's Daily on Line
Bejing China


Ending Child Labour to Expand Education and Reduce Poverty

Child labour is still widespread in Cambodia constituting a key obstacle to universal primary education, human resources development and the elimination of poverty, said a report released on Monday.

According to the report on children's work by the International Labour Organization, UNICEF (United Nations International Children Emergency Fund) and the World Bank, "children forced out of school and into labour to help their families make ends meet are denied the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills needed for gainful employments, thereby perpetuating the cycle of poverty."

"Children with little or no schooling will be in a weak position in the labour market, at much greater risk of joining the ranks of unemployed and the poor," the report said, adding that child labour not only harms the welfare of individual children, but also slows broader national poverty reduction and development efforts.

The proportion of working children has decreased in recent times, but remains an issue of concern. Over 50 percent of 7-14 year olds in Cambodia are still engaged in economic activities, which is very high compared to other countries with similar levels of income, according to the report.

The Cambodian Labour Law sets a general minimum working age at 15 years, but allows children aged 12-14 to perform "light" work that is not hazardous to their health or does not interfere with their schooling.

Most child laborers are engaged in subsistence agriculture with their families. About 90 percent of economically active children work for their families as unpaid labour, the report says.

The Government has significantly increased education opportunities for all children and made a number of legal commitments in the area of child labour. It has also taken important steps to reduce household poverty and vulnerability, which are typically behind child labour.

However, the government admitted that it does not currently have the capacity to properly enforce and monitor laws relating to child labour. The Cambodian Labour Law has not been extended to informal sector enterprise (including family-based agriculture and domestic service) where the overwhelming majority of child laborers are concentrated.

The report provides specific guidance on policies and interventions that should be promoted such as early childhood education, preventing school dropout through school attendance incentives and child labour legislation as well as policies aim at protecting working children who have already experienced the deleterious effects of work on education and health.

As part of a joint initiative of the International Labour Organization, UNICEF and the World Bank, called the Understanding Children's Work (UCW) project, the report is the product of a collaborative effort involving the National Institute of Statistics, concerned government ministries, and local research institutes.

Virginia

This is an excellent argument for 4K going into day care.

The Free Lance Star
Fredericksburg, VA

RICHMOND--

I recently had the pleasure of visiting prekindergarten classes at Surry County Elementary School, and it was inspiring to see the eagerness and excitement on the faces of those children as they learned the alphabet, shapes, and numbers.

Research tells us that during the first three to five years of life, 85 percent to 90 percent of the brain's "wiring" takes place, forever impacting a child's ability to learn. The simple skills learned through play and exploration in a high-quality early-childhood program form the foundation upon which additional skills are built.

Nobel Prize-winning economist James Heckman sums up the trajectory this way: "Skills beget skills."

Child's play, then, is important and serious business for the rest of us.

The research is clear: Greater investment in the early development of a child increases the potential to create a much more productive citizen. The payoff? More highly educated individuals, a stronger competitive work force, safer and more prosperous communities, and a vital economy for the commonwealth.

I am compelled by powerful research, by my own experience and observations, and by hearing from stakeholders who reap a strong yield from investments in early childhood education.

I am committed to increasing opportunities for the growth and learning for young children of the commonwealth. This commitment is visible through two initiatives.

First, I have launched the Smart Beginnings initiative, in partnership with the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation, to highlight the importance of the health and development of children beginning at birth and extending to kindergarten. Smart Beginnings emphasizes collaboration and partnership to maximize the investments that families and local communities make in their youngest citizens.

The Web site smartbeginnings .org serves as a forum for communication--and provides information about how individuals and organizations across Virginia can participate in the important responsibility of nurturing the highest potential of each child.

Second, I have named a task force, the Start Strong Council, to examine strategies for increasing prekindergarten opportunities for 4-year-olds. My goal is to build toward a system that will provide pre-K to every 4-year-old child in Virginia whose parents choose to enroll them.

The work of the Start Strong Council over the next year and a half will help us design a thoughtful, effective plan for gradually implementing an affordable, voluntary, universally available program--one that addresses the needs and resources of each community by building upon successful programs and partnerships that already exist.

Some will argue it's too costly to provide pre-K to every 4-year-old, but a host of economic research rejects that notion. Economist Art Rolnick at the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank reports up to a 16 percent annualized rate of return from high-quality programs. That return is based on savings from increased high school graduation, increased employment, greater rates of home-ownership, and lower rates of crime, drug use, and dependence on public assistance.

Some have argued that dollars for preschool programs might dilute K-12 funding or programs.

Education research, like that of Clive Belfield at Columbia University, indicates strong cost savings to the K-12 system through smart investments in pre-K, since quality programs reduce the need for grade repetition and special-education costs.

Last year in Virginia, more than 10,000 students between kindergarten and third grade repeated a grade, often because they had not mastered the foundation of simple skills by age 5, at an average annual cost of more than $8,000 per student. We cannot afford not to prepare children better.

I hear those who say that we shouldn't provide pre-K for the children of parents who can afford to pay. Equality of educational opportunity is not questioned for kindergarten children at age 5; why should we question the opportunity for children at age 4?

I am compelled by university administrators who tell me that they support early childhood education because they believe that higher quality early learning will result in a higher caliber of students in their institutions of higher learning.

I am motivated by corporate executives who tell me that they support investments in early childhood education because they will benefit from a greater pool of educated, critical thinkers for their work force, a necessity to meet increasing global competition.

I listen to law enforcement officers who support early childhood education because they see the strong correlation between successful students, productive citizens, and decreased crime in our communities.

Most of all, I hear kindergarten teachers and school superintendents, and they tell me that they are concerned about the number of children who come to school without the skills they need to be successful. All of us should be troubled that 25,000 Virginia children fail the third grade reading test each year. These students have a much greater chance of failing key subjects in later years. Strong early childhood programs can cut the failure rate dramatically.

By making smart investments today, we can lay a foundation--a foundation that will enhance the health of our communities, the vitality of our work force, and the strength of our economy.
We all win.

California

Interesting outcome.

InsideBayArea.com

Californians Cast Votes for Fixing K-12

THE message implicit in Tuesday's drubbing of Proposition 82, the universal preschool proposal, was simple and direct: fix K-12 first.

If we can't lift our basic public school system out of the doldrums, we have no business adding another year of education and creating another bureaucracy to maintain it.

By most measures of quality, California's school system continues to rank near the bottom among the 50 states. Adding a year of preschool at a cost of $2.4 billion per annum isn't going to help much if K-12 remains broken. Fix it first and then we can consider a public preschool system.

After all, the existing preschool network, including private as well as publicly funded schools, isn't broken, opponents of Proposition 82 say.

What that means for the vision of actor/director Rob Reiner and supporters of Proposition 82 remains to be seen. About 65 percent of California's youngest children already attend day care or preschools.

While conceding defeat, Reiner called on opponents to support the idea of public preschool. But the loss was resounding. Sixty-one percent of California voters opposed the initiative. Yet, most local ballot measures funneling money into building or renovating K-12 schools passed, so it wasn't an anti-tax turnout.

Some say 82 lost because it raised taxes and didn't channel benefits to the neediest Californians. The latter may have turned off some liberals, while conservatives hate talk of more taxes — even if aimed only at the wealthiest among us — or a new state bureaucracy.

After all, the rationale went, $2.4 billion a year wouldn't significantly bump up preschool attendance, and a formal system would be hard to scrap once established.

Of the victors we ask: Would the same measure pass if the money went to secondary education, as opponents said they would prefer? And, would it pass if the money was aimed at preschool for low-income children, who studies say would benefit most from it?

Some voters were turned off by families who already pay for preschool getting it free. Proposition 82 also required preschool teachers to get bachelor's degrees and made them part of organized labor.

Private and public preschools already exist in California, with federal and state funds helping children from lower-income households to attend. Hope for advancement is tied to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger earmarking $100 million in next year's budget for preschools, and advocates in 13 counties, including San Mateo and San Francisco, implementing publicly funded programs.
Advocates argue that studies show preschools are a good way to help students from marginal backgrounds start on a level playing field, stay in school and graduate.

But if the K-12 school system that comes afterward doesn't measure up, it may not matter.

The Garden School Tattler

Today we're off to Lincoln National Park. It's about an hour from the school by school bus. It will be hot today, but under the wonderful canopy of trees, I think we'll enjoy the whole woods experience.

Yesterday, the children chinked their cabins with salt clay. It was an experience. Salt clay can be made at home: 1 cup salt, 1 cup warm water, 1 tablespoon oil, 2 cups flour. The clay lasts weeks in the fridge.

We spent about half an hour talking about what kind of things we would take out to the wilderness if we were going to set up a home. The children have learned their lessons well over the years. Austin decided that an ax and a saw and a milk cow would be good things to take. When I asked why they would take a milk cow, one of the children said for eggs, but most said for milk. Some of the children were surprised at all the food you can get from a cow.

Hadley said a chicken, but soon added to her flock. We decided on several chickens and rooster to take care of the chickens!

We talked about clothing, light - candles and kerosene, and lanterns.

We talked about sewing, and other household chores we would have to do because stores would not be available.

The children were all interested and gave wonderful thoughtful answers. The whole idea is to show them the limited space of a wagon and think about all the things they need in their daily lives and figure out what is most important and then fill the wagon.

We also had an academic bowl at school today. The first round included a number dot to dot from one to one hundred. About half the kids completed this project. Then we moved on to a crossword puzzle. All but five of the half completed this, then we moved to a word find and that was successful. We thought there would only be one winner, but we had eleven who finished all the work successfully so there were a lot of prizes.

Thinking is a skill we try hard to encourage children to develop.

At the conclusion of the day we saw one of the old silent cartoons. Does anyone remember Flip the Frog? It's a silent, black and white cartoon, and the children really did laugh out loud.

We'll be back to EVV about 2:00.

The Garden School Tattler

Summer at the Garden School is like giant vacation weeks with the kids. It's go, go, go while you fill in those stop, stop, stop hours at the hotel. The only difference is a small one. Few families take 40 kids on a vacation.

Aside from two who are hitting, we've had some real discovery points. I'm really proud of the swimmers. Gage passed his test for the big pool, but is still a little light on the wing for the diving area. Now there's a reason we love Tom so much. He sees that a child really wants it, is smart enough not to get himself into trouble, and yet needs just a bit more practice before he can swim enough to get from the plunge to the side of the pool, so instead of saying, "Nope," Tom says, "Practice in the deeper end, but don't go off the board." Gage was delighted.

Most of the time, swimming is a matter of kicking feet. Lots of children get the arm action, but don't coordinate that with the kicking of the feet. It doesn't seem to go together; it seems too hard to do, but once they become pool kickers, then all actions go with kicking, and the child can swim.

Lots of parents who don't really swim don't understand that swimming is not just one kind of stroke that's stylish and nice to look at. Swimming is knowing how to move your body in the water for the greatest strength. As an island child, I know that sometimes you can put your face into the water, and sometimes it's best not to - boat near, fin near, jelly fish near, waves too high, island disappearing in the sunset. At the pool, sometimes you are looking for someone and you move in the water quietly so you can hear or see them.

Moving quietly in the water could mean several strokes - breast, side, paddle, elementary back or long turtle like underwater strokes. Making your way quickly usually means free style.

Diving is also another way of increasing water strength. There is shore diving, board diving and water surface diving. There is deep diving where you are down and you go further down.

Some children are underwater creatures only coming up for air twice a minute, and then there are the "it's wet; couldn't possibly; you splashed me!" kids who really struggle with water on the face.

By the end of the summer, we hope that all the kids know how to really move in the water. It's a safety thing. I hope every child will jump off the board, and if not the board, the deep end of the pool.

Tuesday, we made log houses -he, he, he - if you had to live in a big one like they built you'd be living down at the river in a beaver dam. But today we will chink them with salt clay. This should be a lark. Actually, the kids did a pretty decent job.

Yesterday we had to buy a new refrigerator and had the air conditioning fixed and the drinking fountain re plumbed. There goes the budget! When we told the man at the store that we needed to buy a fridge that could hold 48 lbs of milk on each shelf, his whole demeanor changed. Not everyone has one need. I hate glass shelves because in a school they don't work. Glass shelves collapse and are constantly in need of cleaning.

Today will be an academic race to the finish line. We will give several paper tests and those children who do all the work, get it right and put their name on their paper will advance to the next most difficult task until we have a winner. Two dollars on....

Speaking of such - anyone want to go out to the races this year? Kids love the races.

Garden School Tattler - PS

Just a taste. This is sepia.

Garden School Tattler

Today we froze at the pool. It was a blue lip affair. The kids were either water dogs or squealers. Morgan's nasty cut on her finger would have dripped all over the place, but she was shivering so badly, the blood ended up shaken all over me. But we got the finger bandaged and got the blood staunched, and off we went to the next adventure.

Austin passed his swim test, Briana passed hers, and now the countdown continues. We have Jack, Dhezmond, Dawson, Adyson, Abby, Caleb, Justin, Daymon and Taylor to push out of the ramp area. It's so nice to have the swimmers come and go and use the pool like big kids. The guards are all excited about our kids and give them a lot of love and affection because our kids are so well behaved.

Today, however, we had a lot of running. I hope parents are not encouraging running indoors. On Monday when the children come to school, they run constantly indoors.

Today would have been a perfect day to go to Lincoln and swim on Friday and Wednesday, but Sandy is out of town and Joan, her sub, was not planning such a trip. So we stayed at the pool and froze.

Tomorrow we will be building Lincoln's home cabin with sticks, so if you have any sticks and you are reading this, bring a few in. We can cut them at school.

Just want you to know that parents are always welcome at the GS. We like having you around. Lunch is on us!

Mothers of boys - please remind your sons that dressing "completely" is important. We are beginning to stock up on underwear. I think every time we go to the pool there are 2-3 pair left unclaimed. Same with socks. Interesting how the girls seem to claim everything. We NEVER have girl underwear go unclaimed.

When the weather is more conducive to really swimming, we're going to have a swim race. That should be a great event.

Beve P said the pictures are really good. She is doing mostly sepia or Black and White. If anyone wants something different, now's the time to speak up.

Jordan

It's always fun to see what others are doing. It's also nice to know USAID is there to help.

Jordan Times

AMMAN

The expansion of the Education Reform for Knowledge Economy (ERfKE) Support Project in Aqaba and the Southern Governorates — known as "Shorouk" — was launched on Monday.

US Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Anne Aarnes, Minister of Education Khalid Touqan and ASEZA Chief Commissioner Nader Dahabi attended the launch, according to a US embassy statement.

As a lead donor in Jordan's education reform effort, the United States through USAID will aid improvements in primary and secondary education, school construction and expansion of kindergarten facilities, the statement said. During the ceremony, USAID Deputy Mission Director Mike Harvey signed a memorandum of understanding with Touqan, under which USAID will allocate $6 million to fund the implementation of the ERfKE Support Project expansion.

In her address at the ceremony, Aarnes said the project seeks to "improve the access, quality and relevance of education for children and youth. This will include renovating and equipping 37 public kindergartens, establishing around 63 technology labs in secondary schools, training for using information technology in education, and promoting community involvement in education."

She noted that the project will also prepare the schools in Aqaba, Maan and Tafileh for the roll-out of the Ministry of Education's electronic curricula. In addition, it will further enhance the management of information stream for grades 11 and 12, which is designed to equip youth with the skills and knowledge that correspond with the market needs, according to the statement.

Since 2003, USAID has committed $40 million to support the country's ERfKE Programme in two main areas: Early childhood education and youth, technology and careers.

In addition, USAID recently embarked on a $50 million project to construct 28 new schools and rehabilitate 100 public schools. Over the past two years, USAID has worked closely with the Ministry of Education to establish kindergartens in remote and less privileged areas in the country.

Wales

This is really a nice article from Wales, and it's so true. I think there are a lot of men out there who really want to be good fathers, but there are a lot of obstacles that have been set up by the modern world, and the old model is corrupting now and letting people live real lives.

Terry and I saw Casablanca last night. We talked about the lives of the actors and actresses in it to some extent, and laughed at the idea that Humphrey Bogart would have been considered handsome. We talked about what their lives were like as far as we knew, and family life and the importance of children seemed about as distant and unimportant as any afterthought. I was glad to see the article that follows seems to think things are really changing.

Recently, my son in law took a week's vacation to be home with his new born son. When it was time for him to go back to work, he plainly didn't want to go. It's now easy to relate to that. Years ago, I think Rob would have been made fun of.

Last night I remembered being a child back in the 50s and kind of aware of the "fast lane" which my own parents worshiped. Life in the fast lane was the treasured experience, and it meant no children allowed. We lived in California and my parents had the kind of money that allowed them to travel in the fast lane sometimes. Sterling Hayden's family lived down the street from us, and we kind of grew up with his children who suffered the fast lane blues as well. The whole idea back then was wild life first and family second. I don't remember that my parents were ever home. They would take off nearly every afternoon about 4:30 and not return home till morning. Or they would take off on vacation leaving us home alone. Consequently, neither my mother nor my father had any concept of being a parent. I think a lot of the model for fatherhood came out of the desire to travel in some kind of fast lane life that put what children there were in a kind of limbo. The idea for the child was to grow up fast and depend on his own wits to survive and enter the fast lane and continue to provide new dimensions to the parents' life.

When I opted out of the fast lane for the slow lane, I was shunned. I was laughed at and became persona non grata. I discovered what it meant to be a parent the moment my son was put into my arms and I never regretted it one second. I look back at that wanna be movie life, bar hopping, musical beds and shudder. They were the guides to a happy life back there for some and a dream life for others, and now I think the pendulum is shifting and people are REALLY living.

Today I see lots of men chivalrously go off to battle - work - so the mother's of their children don't have to. And some wives do the same for their husbands. I see parents whose lives are focused on their "family" and that includes the kids as a center focus, and it's beautiful.

Men desperately want what women have traditionally had - the love of family, the need of family, the slow lane of tiny steps, laughter and affection from the most wonderful beings - children. A good father is a magnificent person.

ICWales.co.uk

Call for Fathers' Support Groups to Be Set Up
Jun 5 2006
Madeleine Brindley, Western Mail

FATHERHOOD has been made cool by a new generation of celeb dads - but in reality men don't receive enough parenting support to help them bring up their children, research claims today.

Despite the likes of David Beckham and Jude Law helping to show that a father's role has changed dramatically, Barnardo's Cymru said ordinary dads are not getting the support they want.

Figures show fathers are responsible for a third of parental child care as they take a greater hands-on role with their children.

Dads in the media are increasingly seen caring for their children and speaking about what it means to be a father.

But the children's charity report Our Fathers reveals that many dads still feel the parenting support available is aimed at mothers and their needs are overlooked.

It found that men who had separated from the mother of their children felt most isolated and alone, and others have spoken of their frustration that being forced to work away from the family home meant they had less time to spend with their children.

Shon Devey, Barnardo's Cymru children's service manager, said, "The traditional role of the father has changed dramatically over the years. High profile dads such as David Beckham have influenced the public image of fathers, making it cool to be, and to be seen with their children.

"We wanted to find out what being a good dad means and whether their needs were currently being met.

"We could only do this by listening to their experiences, and it is obvious from the findings that we need to create better support networks.

"Needs of fathers are different from mothers. Most don't feel comfortable sharing their problems or experiences with strangers; many are worried about confidentiality and others don't like asking for help.

"About a third of active childcare is carried out by fathers and there is consistent evidence that the quality and content of fathers' involvement has an impact on children's outcomes so it's very important we establish support programmes which meet fathers' specific needs."

The Our Fathers report, which will be launched in Blaenau Ffestiniog today, was carried out by Gwilym Euros Roberts from iGER Associates, to determine what fatherhood meant to dads living in the North Wales community.

The charity is now calling for a fathers' support partnership to be set up in the Blaenau Ffestiniog area which would see organisations and individuals working to improve the quality of services for fathers and their children.

One of the fathers interviewed for the report, who now uses the charity's Ymbarel Incredible Years parenting service, said, "I found it very difficult to cope with the children for years and there was no help available. Then someone told me about this programme.

"Having this kind of support much sooner would have made me a better father and I would also have been able to cope better."

Jack O'Sullivan, co-founder of Fathers Direct, the national information centre on fatherhood, said, "We know children thrive when they see plenty of their fathers - when the couple are together or if they have separated - so it is really important we try to support these relationships.

"We have been through a period of rapid social change and the latest figures suggest fathers are now doing a third of parental childcare for the under fives, in a typical family.

"A lot of child centres and family services now realise they need to change and they want to help dads but they are not too sure how to do it because they are so used to looking after mums.

"I don't think this is deliberate discrimination - these institutions are just slow to catch up with very rapid change."

There's a spring in my step every morning

Speaking about his responsibilities as a father, after he missed a Manchester United training session, David Beckham said, "I put my duty as a father and the health of my son ahead of my football. I think I would always do that. Any parent would, in the same circumstances.

"Being involved is being involved whether you work at a job or work at being a father - men who are closely involved in being fathers are more, not less, likely to be successful at work - men who care, care about their work as well as their children - it's not an either-or situation."

Actor Michael Douglas, who has two children - Dylan and Carys - with wife Catherine Zeta Jones, said, "I probably care a whole lot less about (acting) roles now because I'm happily married.

"And I've got my own lovely children, as opposed to somebody maybe of my age who was alone and their career was the only thing in front of them.

"My priorities have clearly changed because family comes first, which I could never say earlier in my career."

Actor David Jason, speaking after the birth of his first child Sophie Mae with partner Gill Hinchcliffe, in 2001, said, "It is getting more and more difficult to pull myself away after the weekend and to stay away for a few nights. "But the only answer is to say no to work and not do any more. I would be happy to be paid to stay at home."

Actor Russell Crowe, speaking in 2003, before the birth of his son Charles Spencer, said, "Priorities shift with age and maturity as well, not just because you get married and not just because of impending fatherhood. People keep asking me what kind of father am I going to be. I don't know who my boy is yet, but hopefully I'll be the father he needs."

Chancellor Gordon Brown, said of his son George, who was born in 2003, "There are sleepless nights but there is a spring in my step every morning."

Nutrition Guide from BabyFit

Post-Pregnancy Nutrition Overview,
An article from BabyFit

The day is finally here! After fussing over what you eat, censoring menus, and doing without some of your favorites for nine months (or more), you’re finally free!! Now you can eat whatever and whenever you please…right? As you have probably already guessed, unfortunately, the answer to that question is “No.”

Even if you’re not breastfeeding, you’ll still be “eating for two” in many ways. Nursing moms need to monitor their menus and watch for changes in their baby’s behavior. And both nursing and formula-feeding moms are going to need plenty of energy, strength, stamina, alertness, endurance, and drive over the coming months. That means loading up on nutrients and eating a well-balanced diet.

Not the Time to Diet

Immediately post-pregnancy is not the time to be cutting calories. You will have plenty of time later on to lose the pregnancy weight. But right now, your first priority is to give your baby what she needs. Restricting calories will only deprive her - and yourself - of much-needed nourishment. And these nourishment needs can be very specific. In fact, here you can find a list of these new nutrient needs.

As you enter the postpartum phase, one of the first things you should do is make changes to your nutrition program to reflect your body’s changing nutritional needs. Most importantly, pay attention to your calories. While pregnant, BabyFit set your daily caloric needs about 300 calories higher than your normal (non-pregnant) weight maintenance level. If you’re breastfeeding, you’ll want to bump that up by another 100 calories for the first couple of months (for a total of 400 above normal). If you’re formula-feeding, you can simply subtract that extra 300 calories. More details about these changes can be found in Making the Nutritional Transition.

Healthy Weight Loss

That’s not to say that you can’t or won’t lose weight during this time. If you happen to lose weight as the result of a balanced diet and moderate activity (as your doctor allows), that’s great! It just shouldn’t be the focus of your dietary and exercise decisions. If you’re breastfeeding and want to lose weight (after nursing has been established and is going well) do so gradually (about 1/2 -1 pound weekly). Eat a nutritious diet, exercise daily and cut back on foods high in fat and sugar (such as potato chips, cookies, candy, soft drinks, and fried foods). Do not try diet pills, liquid diets, or other weight loss products. Not only do they not work, but they can also be harmful to you and your baby. If bottle-feeding, continue to follow the USDA Food Guide Pyramid.

After six to eight weeks, talk to your doctor; if your body has recovered and your energy levels are sustained, it may be okay to start losing weight. The Link between Nutrition and Breastfeeding Your diet not only determines which nutrients your small one gets, but your food choices can also affect your entire breastfeeding experience. For example, your diet actually impacts the amount, taste, and quality of milk you produce. Here are some general tips for using your diet to support your breastfeeding efforts:

Choose liquids like water, juice, and milk whenever you feel thirsty. Drink at least six to eight cups of water a day. This will help with milk production and also prevent dehydration, constipation, and clogged milk ducts. Drinking a cup of water each time you nurse will ensure that you are getting plenty of fluid each day.

Limit caffeinated beverages (coffee, tea, and soda) to less than 2 cups daily. Caffeine can pass through your breast milk, causing your baby to be irritable, fussy, and jittery.

Occasionally, foods you eat may upset the baby. Be aware of your baby’s reaction when you eat spicy foods, gas-producing vegetables (onions, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli), garlic, and beans. If your baby seems to be sensitive to a food item, discuss it with your pediatrician. Do not “diagnose” irritations or allergies on your own. If you suspect foods you eat irritate your baby, keep track of your menus and discuss your suspicions with your child’s pediatrician.

Avoid cigarettes and secondhand cigarette smoke. Smoking interferes with your milk flow, exposes you baby to harmful smoke, and is dangerous to your health.

It is best to avoid alcohol. If you do have an occasional drink, drink it right after nursing and try not to nurse again for at least two hours.

Take a vitamin-mineral supplement that is specially formulated for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.

Nutrients Critical to Breastfeeding

Zinc supports a healthy immune system. It promotes cell reproduction, wound healing, tissue growth and repair, and is essential for adequate growth and development. Zinc is involved in appetite regulation and taste and it assists in the utilization of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

Best Sources: meat, oysters, poultry, legumes, eggs, fish, seafood
Good Sources: wheat germ, whole grain products, black-eyed peas, miso (fermented soybean paste)
Amount Needed: 25 milligrams

Calcium strengthens bones, builds density, and is vital to the formation of teeth. Small amounts of calcium circulate in the bloodstream and help with muscle and heart contractions, nerve functions, and blood clotting. Calcium will be leeched from a nursing mother’s bones if she does not consume adequate calcium to meet the needs of milk production and growth of the baby’s skeleton.

Best Sources: milk and milk products such as cheese and yogurt
Good Sources: green leafy vegetables, canned sardines or salmon with bones, calcium-fortified juices
Amount Needed: 1,200 milligrams

Iron is an essential part of hemoglobin, which transports oxygen to the cells and utilizes the oxygen when it arrives. Iron is widely distributed throughout the body. It is found in the blood, liver, spleen, and bone marrow. An iron deficiency can lead to anemia, along with fatigue, weakness, and an increased risk for infections. During pregnancy, the fetus stores enough iron to last 4-6 months after birth.

Best Sources: liver and other organ meats, oysters, and black strap molasses
Good Sources: spinach, beans, peas
Amount Needed: 70 milligrams (aim to get 15-20 mg. from your diet and supplement the additional amount)

Irritants & Allergies

New moms commonly wonder if their breast milk can irritate or cause allergies in their newborns. If you think your baby might be suffering from food irritation or allergies, please consult with your child’s pediatrician or specialist rather than trying to diagnose the problem and solution yourself.

To help with this discussion, some pediatricians suggest keeping a food journal. Include specific details of not only of what you eat, but also the time you ate the foods, the time you fed your baby, how much he ate, and how he reacted in the hours following the feeding. Note any fussiness or possible reactions and discuss these with your doctor.

Progressive Nutrition for Your Child

After about 4-6 months, your can probably introduce your child to something besides breast milk or formula. But even then, there is no need to rush. Your baby needs to be physically and developmentally ready for solid foods. When introduced too early, solid foods can be hard to digest. Here are some signs that your baby might be ready for food:

Your baby can sit with little support.
Your baby can move food from the front to the back of the mouth.
Your baby shows interest in the foods you are eating.
Your baby’s weight has doubled since birth.

For more information about introducing solid foods, check out BabyFit's article series "Starting Solids: Step by Step". Learn when your baby should start and get more tips & guidelines.

Jogging Strollers for Mom

Babyfit Article: A great way to get back in shape.

How to Choose a Jogging StrollerFeatures Worth Paying For
By Liza Barnes Rothfuss, Health Educator

So you’ve been cleared for exercise after the birth of your baby and you’re anxious to get outside and get moving! But who’s going to watch your little one? If running or walking is your thing, you can take baby along in a jogging stroller. You get the exercise you crave, and baby gets a scenic tour of the neighborhood, with some fresh air to boot.

Jogging strollers have become more popular in recent years, motivating manufacturers to create even more models. This gives the consumer a great variety to choose from, but actually choosing which stroller to purchase can be a daunting task. Here are some features to consider when choosing a jogging stroller:

Wheel Size
In the world of wheels, size matters. A true jogging stroller has three large wheels: one in front and two in the back. The larger wheels mean a smoother ride because there is less rolling resistance. Wheels come in 12”, 16”, and 20”+ sizes. To decide which size is best for you, think about how you will use the stroller.

· 12" Wheels are best for walking on smooth surfaces, like sidewalks, bike paths, and indoors.
· 16" Wheels are great for frequent outdoor walking or jogging on fairly smooth surfaces, with light off-road use (like cutting across a grassy field).
· 20"+ Wheels are made for frequent long-distance running and off-road use.

Alloy or Steel
Look for alloy wheels and hubs, rather than steel. Steel is cheaper but is heavier and has a tendency to rust. If you have to get steel and live in a “salty” place (winter road salt, ocean salt), rinse the wheels and hubs after strolling to prevent rust.

Front Wheel: To Swivel or Not To Swivel?

Most jogging strollers have a fixed front wheel, one that doesn’t turn. This is ideal for jogging, because this feature provides the stability and straight tracking that you need. But if you’re using the stroller at the mall for example, a fixed wheel may become a nuisance when you have to tilt the stroller back onto its rear wheels to make a turn.

Manufacturers have created a “hybrid” jogging stroller with a swiveling front wheel, which boasts superior maneuverability for those indoor situations. However, a hybrid isn’t the best choice for everyone. The swiveling front wheel is usually 12” or smaller, and although the wheel can be locked in position, the small size decreases the stroller’s handling abilities—especially outdoors on rough terrain. So if you plan on doing a lot of running (or off-roading), you might consider buying a true fixed-wheel jogging stroller and a traditional stroller for trips to the mall. But if you just jog occasionally, a hybrid makes sense. Think about how you will use the stroller when making this decision.

Five-point harness
For your baby’s safety, a five-point harness comes standard with most models. They are especially important when traveling at fast speeds—when you’re running like the wind!

Canopy
An unhappy passenger can bring your run to a halt, so make sure baby is comfortable underneath a large, adjustable canopy to shade her from the elements.

Seat construction
Look for a padded seat that reclines. Reclining seats are great for
running during naptime, and for young babies who have less head control. A neck roll is sometimes included, or can be purchased separately.

Suspension
Depending on what type of terrain you anticipate encountering on your runs, you might consider a stroller with shocks. If you intend to take the baby speed walking through the mall, then don’t waste your money on this feature.

Arm Leash / Wrist Tether
This feature comes standard on a good jogging stroller. Basically it’s like a dog leash attached to the back rear of the stroller, with the loop end worn around your wrist. It is necessary because these strollers are built for speed, and if you lose your footing you may have a runaway baby carriage.

One-Step Folding
Make sure it doesn’t take two people to fold up the stroller. Have the salesperson demonstrate, and then try to do it by yourself a few times. Wrestling with the stroller in a hot parking lot probably isn’t the kind of exercise you’re looking for.

Size
Does the folded up stroller fit in your trunk? Some strollers are a little cumbersome, and some are downright huge, so if you’ve got a small car, look for one that can travel with you.

Frame construction
Jogging strollers with a welded aluminum frame, although more expensive, are lighter and much more sturdy than their competitors, which are made with metal tubes connected with plastic joints.

Adjustable Handlebars
If you’re extra tall, this might be worth considering. If you buy your stroller from a store, take it for a test drive before purchasing to make sure it’s the right height for you. If you go with large wheels, the stroller will sit higher too. To determine your optimal handle height, stand up straight with your shoulders back, arms to your sides. Bend your elbows so that your forearms are parallel to the floor. The distance between your hands and the floor is your optimal handle height.

Weight Limit
If you plan on jogging with child in tow for a while, consider the total cargo-plus-passenger weight limit. The higher-priced strollers usually have stronger welded aluminum frames and can support more weight. Remember that kids don’t travel light, especially when you factor in the diaper bag, snacks, drinks and toys.

Cost
Although not really a feature, jogging stroller prices can range from $75 to over $400, so cost may factor into your decision as much as many of the features above. Quality strollers are easier to use, last longer, and retain their resale value. You really do get what you pay for.
running during naptime, and for young babies who have less head control. A neck roll is sometimes included, or can be purchased separately.

Losing Weight During Pregnancy

Today's Babyfit:

Q: If you are already overweight is it possible to lose weight while you are pregnant by healthy eating and moderate exercise?

A: During pregnancy it is important to "baby your baby and your body" with nourishing foods. If you are overweight, this is NOT the time to try to lose weight. Healthy weight gain is mandatory during your pregnancy, and prepares you for the strenuous demands of motherhood. It is also one of the indicators that your child is growing properly and getting the nutrition it needs. There are also a variety of reasons why moderate exercise is beneficial but one of the key reasons is to assist in accomplishing a healthy weight gain.

It is recommended that women that are overweight (BMI 26.0 - 29.0) pre-pregnancy aim for a total weight gain during pregnancy of 15-25 Pounds. [Obese pre=pregnancy (BMI over 29.0) a pregnancy weight gain of 15 Pounds.] So even though dieting during pregnancy is not a wise idea, that does not mean you should not watch your caloric intake and the foods you select. YOU SHOULD! It is important for your baby to get proper nutrition from the foods you eat and to prevent excessive weight gain, so choose wisely.

Becky HandLicenced Nutritionist and Registered Dietitian

Garden School Tattler

It was fabulous fun yesterday when Beve arrived to take pictures. She set up my classroom and stretched out a long white sheet and everyone had to take off their shoes and socks. The kids all wanted the same thing: the girls wanted Faith's yellow dress and boa and they all wanted the big brimmed white hat with the big red flower. So pictures were easier than we thought. They all borrowed the dress and Faith was so sweet to lend it.

This shoot was for them, and we wanted them to dress up but we wanted them to participate and choose what they wanted to wear, and they did. Lots of kid chose a plain picture - no costume. Some kids, like Mateo, wanted real character shots, so he's Dracula complete with top hat, cape and teeth. It's hilarious.

Participation is important to children, and these kinds of choices healthy and fun. They are not choices made from spoiled, but from planning. We told them in advance what we were doing, we showed them the props and we let them try on the hats in front of a mirror.

Lots of the kids stayed around the shoot scene to watch the photography and fell in love with it. We're going to let some of the kids take pictures today when we go to the zoo. We discussed photography as a job, and we mentioned that Taylor's dad is a photographer. This is where careers are built. The preschool years are where lots of people begin to be interested in something that lasts a lifetime.

We are getting serious about those puzzles, and the big children are helping the little children build the frame and work on obvious color schemes.

We watched Shirley Temple yesterday, and I thought the kids would take one look and run for their lives, but they watched two shorts and enjoyed the hour. They asked a lot of questions and laughed at the silliness. It was interesting to observe them.

I can't tell you how well behaved the kids have been this summer. It's been a great week.

I'm putting together a series of short books on childcare for a publisher up in MA. What topics would you pick up if you saw 10 to choose from?

The Garden School Tattler

WOW! Swimmers were outstanding today. Alan, Gage, Aidan, Faith, Hadley, Peyton, passed their swimming tests and all but Gage went off the board. It was a very exciting day. Because so many of us are swimmers now, I told the kids I would take them back to the pool after lunch. That means an extra hour of swimming but only for the kids who can swim. The others will remain at Fortress of Fun which is right next to the pool.

This will encourage the almost swimmers to really swim, and that means independence. What a beautiful moment when a child walks out to the end of that diving board and first looks down into the water and you can read what he's thinking on his terrified face. With enough encouragement, he jumps! Then he comes up for air, and the smile on his face is an outstanding achievement.

The kids are really enjoying lunch and are eating more this year than ever before. Cookies are a big seller. It was Miss Hazel's birthday today and we had more wonderful cookies and sang Happy Birthday on two occasions. Hazel is Faith's great aunt, and also a superbly perfect person.

Meanwhile back at the farm, the kids are continuing to work on their cartoon character. Drawing and creating is a really important part of early childhood.

Tomorrow is picture day. It should be a lot of fun. We will suspend regular classes to play with the camera.

There is headway on the puzzles, and alls well.

The Garden School Tattler

It's been busy already in the little town of the Garden School. Lots to do, lots more to do. Speaking of doing, one of our older children challenged me yesterday about TV. He was stunned that I failed to see the joy of TV. He said, "But Miss Judy, it's something to do." I replied that the functional word there was "do" and the problem is that one is not "doing" in front of TV; one is failing to do." He laughed because he has a good brain and was trying to find an argument and he met with a whole new way of looking at TV. It was fun and we realized that deeper thought was actually used.

The kids have been absolutely fabulous. Not a green face in the lot. We've had a bit of temper, but it has ended with laughter and friendship. Lots of boys - lots of hitting - lots of truces.

They have literally eaten us out of house and school. I have never made so much food at a sitting and had them eat it all. My grocery bill has climbed nearly $100.00 a week. I'm counting on the impending heat to quell the nine sandwich appetites. But when you go, go, go, it's hard not to be hungry. The tuna this year has been a big hit.

Today is pool day. We had a good time on Monday at the pool. Two boys passed their swim tests: Jack H and Ty. No one else was interested. A couple of children couldn't do it, but it's just a matter of time.

Yesterday we did an in-school class day. I moved Justin and Abby up to First with Miss Kelly, and am going to send Faith next. Morgan came into my class yesterday and did quite well. She has just begun to use K paper for her name and she did a spectacular job. She had no problem with the advanced bingo and tackled her first math page yesterday and she claimed the finger count formula with grace and independence and went right to work. I'm so proud of her.

The 750 word puzzles arrived and Brandon and Mateo and Danielle struggled to find the edge pieces on the Asian puzzle. On Thursday I will give one to Justin and Taylor to see what they can do with the Australian one. This is of course an activity for spare time.

Our school day is more open than a fall or winter day. We sprinkle our class time with play and recess time and of course food. The Round Table Forum read for over an hour and munched on chips, and the classes read and did their work and munched on prizes. We had other treats and other games during the day like color bingo. Every child gets an 11X14 sheet with odd shapes with numbers from 1-100. First he has to listen to the number and color called then he has to color the number he finds and keep count of how many numbers I've called. Hadley and Peyton chose to be partners and won.

Danielle is responsible for baking a cake every day. If she doesn't bake, the kids have crackers, apples and cheese for snack. You should see the faces when there is no cake. It's hilarious.

Next addition? Probably philately if I can find the stamps. My three year olds know more geography than the third graders who have come to help out this summer. They also know the pledge better, the Star Spangled Banner better and can pray. What are they teaching these days? I thought knowledge of the world was important.

Babyfit Article on Nutrition

Post-Pregnancy Nutrition Overview

The day is finally here! After fussing over what you eat, censoring menus, and doing without some of your favorites for nine months (or more), you’re finally free!! Now you can eat whatever and whenever you please…right? As you have probably already guessed, unfortunately, the answer to that question is “No.”

Even if you’re not breastfeeding, you’ll still be “eating for two” in many ways. Nursing moms need to monitor their menus and watch for changes in their baby’s behavior. And both nursing and formula-feeding moms are going to need plenty of energy, strength, stamina, alertness, endurance, and drive over the coming months.

That means loading up on nutrients and eating a well-balanced diet. Not the Time to Diet Immediately post-pregnancy is not the time to be cutting calories. You will have plenty of time later on to lose the pregnancy weight. But right now, your first priority is to give your baby what she needs. Restricting calories will only deprive her - and yourself - of much-needed nourishment. And these nourishment needs can be very specific.

In fact, here you can find a list of these new nutrient needs. As you enter the postpartum phase, one of the first things you should do is make changes to your nutrition program to reflect your body’s changing nutritional needs. Most importantly, pay attention to your calories. While pregnant, BabyFit set your daily caloric needs about 300 calories higher than your normal (non-pregnant) weight maintenance level. If you’re breastfeeding, you’ll want to bump that up by another 100 calories for the first couple of months (for a total of 400 above normal). If you’re formula-feeding, you can simply subtract that extra 300 calories. More details about these changes can be found in Making the Nutritional Transition.

Healthy Weight Loss

That’s not to say that you can’t or won’t lose weight during this time. If you happen to lose weight as the result of a balanced diet and moderate activity (as your doctor allows), that’s great! It just shouldn’t be the focus of your dietary and exercise decisions.

If you’re breastfeeding and want to lose weight (after nursing has been established and is going well) do so gradually (about 1/2 -1 pound weekly). Eat a nutritious diet, exercise daily and cut back on foods high in fat and sugar (such as potato chips, cookies, candy, soft drinks, and fried foods). Do not try diet pills, liquid diets, or other weight loss products. Not only do they not work, but they can also be harmful to you and your baby. If bottle-feeding, continue to follow the USDA Food Guide Pyramid.

After six to eight weeks, talk to your doctor; if your body has recovered and your energy levels are sustained, it may be okay to start losing weight. The Link between Nutrition and Breastfeeding Your diet not only determines which nutrients your small one gets, but your food choices can also affect your entire breastfeeding experience. For example, your diet actually impacts the amount, taste, and quality of milk you produce.

Here are some general tips for using your diet to support your breastfeeding efforts:
Choose liquids like water, juice, and milk whenever you feel thirsty.

Drink at least six to eight cups of water a day. This will help with milk production and also prevent dehydration, constipation, and clogged milk ducts. Drinking a cup of water each time you nurse will ensure that you are getting plenty of fluid each day.

Limit caffeinated beverages (coffee, tea, and soda) to less than 2 cups daily. Caffeine can pass through your breast milk, causing your baby to be irritable, fussy, and jittery.

Occasionally, foods you eat may upset the baby. Be aware of your baby’s reaction when you eat spicy foods, gas-producing vegetables (onions, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli), garlic, and beans. If your baby seems to be sensitive to a food item, discuss it with your pediatrician. Do not “diagnose” irritations or allergies on your own. If you suspect foods you eat irritate your baby, keep track of your menus and discuss your suspicions with your child’s pediatrician.

Avoid cigarettes and secondhand cigarette smoke. Smoking interferes with your milk flow, exposes you baby to harmful smoke, and is dangerous to your health.

It is best to avoid alcohol. If you do have an occasional drink, drink it right after nursing and try not to nurse again for at least two hours.

Take a vitamin-mineral supplement that is specially formulated for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.

Nutrients Critical to Breastfeeding Zinc supports a healthy immune system. It promotes cell reproduction, wound healing, tissue growth and repair, and is essential for adequate growth and development. Zinc is involved in appetite regulation and taste and it assists in the utilization of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

Best Sources: meat, oysters, poultry, legumes, eggs, fish, seafood Good Sources: wheat germ, whole grain products, black-eyed peas, miso (fermented soybean paste) Amount Needed: 25 milligrams

Calcium strengthens bones, builds density, and is vital to the formation of teeth. Small amounts of calcium circulate in the bloodstream and help with muscle and heart contractions, nerve functions, and blood clotting. Calcium will be leeched from a nursing mother’s bones if she does not consume adequate calcium to meet the needs of milk production and growth of the baby’s skeleton.

Best Sources: milk and milk products such as cheese and yogurt Good Sources: green leafy vegetables, canned sardines or salmon with bones, calcium-fortified juices Amount Needed: 1,200 milligrams

Iron is an essential part of hemoglobin, which transports oxygen to the cells and utilizes the oxygen when it arrives. Iron is widely distributed throughout the body. It is found in the blood, liver, spleen, and bone marrow. An iron deficiency can lead to anemia, along with fatigue, weakness, and an increased risk for infections. During pregnancy, the fetus stores enough iron to last 4-6 months after birth. Best Sources: liver and other organ meats, oysters, and black strap molasses Good Sources: spinach, beans, peas Amount Needed: 70 milligrams (aim to get 15-20 mg. from your diet and supplement the additional amount)

Irritants & Allergies

New moms commonly wonder if their breast milk can irritate or cause allergies in their newborns. If you think your baby might be suffering from food irritation or allergies, please consult with your child’s pediatrician or specialist rather than trying to diagnose the problem and solution yourself.To help with this discussion, some pediatricians suggest keeping a food journal. Include specific details of not only of what you eat, but also the time you ate the foods, the time you fed your baby, how much he ate, and how he reacted in the hours following the feeding. Note any fussiness or possible reactions and discuss these with your doctor.

Progressive Nutrition for Your Child

After about 4-6 months, your can probably introduce your child to something besides breast milk or formula. But even then, there is no need to rush. Your baby needs to be physically and developmentally ready for solid foods. When introduced too early, solid foods can be hard to digest. Here are some signs that your baby might be ready for food:
Your baby can sit with little support.
Your baby can move food from the front to the back of the mouth.
Your baby shows interest in the foods you are eating.
Your baby’s weight has doubled since birth. For more information about introducing solid foods, check out BabyFit's article series "Starting Solids: Step by Step". Learn when your baby should start and get more tips & guidelines.