Displaying items by tag: children

Talking to your kids about sex may not be easy, but it's important and it's never too early to start. You can make a big difference in helping them stay healthy and make good choices when they grow up.

It can be hard to know where to start, especially if your parents did not talk to you about sex when you were growing up. The following tips may help:

- Talk early and often. You do not have to fit everything into one conversation.

- Be ready to answer questions. Children's questions can tell you a lot about what they already know.

- Listen carefully, even if you do not agree with your child's opinion.

- Try using things that appear on TV or in music to start a conversation.

- Be honest about how you feel. For example, if you are shy or uncomfortable, it is good to say so.

- Tell your children that puberty is a normal part of growing up.

- Share facts to help them understand their changing bodies and feelings.

- Talk about your own experiences when you grew up.

- Talk about opposite sex and same-sex relationships.

- Talk to your teen about preventing sexually transmitted diseases.

- Talk to your teen about the options of contraception on the market.

As of 1 May 2015 the law requires children under the age of three to sit in a car seat no matter how long the journey. Whether it's in town or on the long road. There are still parents who allow their children to travel without car seats.

Statistics

Statistics by Arive alive have shown that a car seat that is installed correctly can reduce the chance of babies dying in an accident by 70% and 47% - 54% in children under four years.

Fine

According to the national road traffic law, all children under the age of three must be transported in car seats and you can receive a hefty fine if you are pulled over.

Tips

• Keep the car seat straps snug.
• Keep kids rear-facing for as long as possible.
• Don't start using a booster seat too soon — and don't stop using a booster seat too soon.
• Make sure everyone in the car is buckled up.
• After you installed your child's car seat, have it checked by a trained technician.
• Remember that the centre seat is generally the safest spot in the car for kids.
• Don't text or talk on the phone while driving.
• Remember car seats expire.

Kids and teens spend a lot of time in front of screens, including smartphones, tablets, game consoles, TVs and computers.

Children ages 8-12 spend an average of 4-6 hours a day in front of screens, and teens spend up to 9 hours. While screens can entertain, teach and keep children busy, too much use can lead to problems.

When is the perfect time to allow your baby to watch TV? How many hours a day are allowed?

Here are some tips for when you’re not sure:

• Limit babies up to 18 months to only video chats with an adult (for example, a parent who is not in the city).
• Between 18 and 24 months, the screen time should be limited to watching educational programmes with a caregiver.
• For children aged 2-5 years, limit the non-educational screen time to about 1 hour per weekday and 3 hours on weekends.
• Encourage healthy habits for ages 6 and older and limit activities that include screens.
• Turn off all screens during family meals and outings.

Every parent who has more than one child knows how the constant teasing, bickering and fighting between siblings can drain you and sometimes cause chaos to break out in your household.

Squabbling between your children can leave you feeling angry, furious, helpless, out of control, exasperated, hopeless, powerless, sad, confused, disappointed, frustrated, overwhelmed, agitated, and less frequently, amused.

Here are a few simple ways to handle sibling rivalry:

• Expect many episodes of sibling rivalry. It is normal for families to have problems, issues, and conflicts. 
• Treat your children as the unique individuals they are.
  Make each child feel special.  Each person’s needs, feelings, and perspectives are important.
• Don’t show favouritism. Do not compare your children to one another either favourably or unfavourably.
• Stay calm and objective. Stay out of arguments that are only harmless bickering.
• Come up with a list of basic rules. Examples of basic rules are: “no hitting” or “no foul language”. 
• Don’t look for someone to blame or punish. Your children will learn more by working out the problem with each other.
• Don’t referee a fight if you don’t know what happened.
• Don’t get in long discussions about what happened.
• Encourage communication and understanding of feelings.
• Teach children how to solve problems. Let your children know that you believe they can be creative about finding solutions to problems with their brothers and sisters.
• Don’t allow children to play one parent against the other. Talk directly and privately with your co-parent if you disagree with a parenting decision.
• Consider outside help. If things seem to be out of hand you can seek family therapy.