Top 10 Foods For Kids

Minerals and vitamins are often not found in adequate quantities in the various food items eaten daily. Attention should be paid to ensure that these elements are available in the top 10 diets for kids Families sometimes face problems providing proper nutrition to their children as kids can be sometimes very fussy and choosy about foods they like to eat. Maybe the clever approach would be to "incorporate" such items. They do need certain foods for good brain and body development.

1. Meat- This is a food item that is a rich source of protein and also Vitamin B. Apart from the above, valuable elements like copper, niacin, and iron are also present in it. To have a balanced and healthy meal you can prepare a tasty mix of vegetable stew and meat. Now and then you can allow children to have hamburgers, but that should be seldom. Grilling and barbecuing are two safe methods of preparing meat. Throw some fresh vegetables alongside the meat on the "barbie".

2. Eggs- Eggs can be used in many delicious dishes, and kids simply love to gorge on them. Proteins, vitamins and minerals are all present in this wonderful item and should definitely be in the list of top 10 foods for kids.

3. Milk- Many kids do not want to consume milk directly. For them, an innovative way of providing milk would be by giving them delicious milk shakes, custards, yogurts, etc., which can contain fruits as well as milk. You will find many valuable minerals, vitamins and carbohydrates in milk. You may also want to try soy, rice or goat milk.

4. Berries- Strawberries, blueberries and blackberries are all highly nutritious items. Berries contain Vitamin C, potassium, fibers, carbohydrates, and important anti-oxidants which powerfully fight against harmful free radicals. Children of all ages love to have strawberries in various preparations. You can mix berries with yogurt or with whole-grain flakes. Fresh is best, but frozen or dried are also beneficial.

5. Tuna fish- This fish should definitely be included in a kids diet. Apart from containing niacin, protein, Vitamin B, zinc and iron, this fish contains vital omega-3 oils. The benefits of this oil are slowly being revealed. But one needs to be cautious about the quantity of this fish consumed as mercury levels may be high. Tuna is good in sandwiches and salads.

6. Yogurt - Kids simply love to eat this and should be offered whenever possible. Being a good source of calcium, protein, carbohydrates, Vitamin B, phosphor and zinc you can easily make a delicious and nutritious preparation with fresh fruits.
Try to avoid the overly sugary kind. Yogurt can also be a replacement for ice cream.

7. Cheese- This is another delicious and healthy item. Cheese can be used as salad toppings or for garnishing certain vegetables. Kids also like cheese sandwiches. This item contains plenty of calcium, Vitamin B12, Protein and also phosphor. But be careful of providing too much cheese because of its high fat content.

8. Whole grains- Very nutritious and delectable recipes can be cooked with these when one applies a bit of resourcefulness. Add to meatloaf. Oatmeal is wonderful. Whole grain cereals are plentiful. Tuna on whole grain bread is simply the best.

9. Broccoli- It is a highly fibrous green vegetable and is ideal for kids. If your kids are fond of broccoli, fry it with low oil or stew it to prepare a tasty dish.
Lightly steam it and add cheddar cheese. Raw is best and good in salads.

10. Sweet potatoes- These vegetables are naturally sweet and lot of kids love them. It is again a rich source of fiber, Vitamin C, potassium, Vitamin A, Iron and Calcium. Try not to add much butter.

Maureen Amberg is an author, entrepreneur and children’s advocate for MEA Online Edge Inc., with emphasis on the self esteem and positive inner confidence of children; including teenagers. Caring for Kids is my current life focus. I strive to be kind, tranquil, serene, and compassionate. Hopefully, this translates into peaceful, calm and helpful.

Overly Anxious and Distressed Kids

There’s a new study out from San Diego State University saying that children and young adults today are the most anxious and depressed of the last seventy years.

I’m not surprised at all. Having too many choices is chaos. Morals and values have been sacrificed in favor of infamy and fortune. When sports heroes are infamous and rich because they took drugs to increase their performance, that is demoralizing to kids who work hard to aspire to athletic greatness simply by practicing a lot. When other young people get famous for flaunting drugs and anti-social behavior, it makes it difficult for the kids who simply work hard.

When you have a major Hollywood producer/director putting together a movie to excuse and explain Hitler (in context, he says), you have a generation that has no clear understanding of evil.

When you have military dying in the fields of foreign countries because we are at war with a religious ideology that wants to terminate western civilization, and one of their combatants is caught and tried only as a common criminal, you have a generation that is confused.

When you have a culture that does not support the basic building block of education - the family - we have children turning to equally confused peers and pop culture.

When the people in positions of power, authority and fame turn out to be of little character, you have a generation that doesn’t know what to respect or whom to emulate.

It all matters.

Our kids pay the price.

Home Schooling is NOT a Handicap

One of the criticisms lobbed at the home-schooling community/movement is that home-schooled children are being shielded from diversity and a multitude of challenging influences which will ultimately handicap them in their ability to function in the “real world.” In other words, “How will these children function in our diverse, multicultural society when they are raised in a setting with monolithic views and beliefs?”

Research examining home-schooled students’ academic achievements have consistently found that they score higher than the national norms on standard achievement tests. So the only grenade left to throw at home-schooling parents is that they are hurting their children socially and emotionally. The few studies in these areas have generally found home-schooled children to have equal or better self-esteem than traditionally schooled students. Then the argument becomes one of how to truly know you are measuring self-esteem.

Researchers from the Department of Psychology at Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi recently published their findings in Home School Researcher (Vol. 17, No. 4, 2007, pp. 1-7). They decided to study home-schooled students’ ability to successfully adjust to college life as an important criterion for demonstrating a positive outcome (or not) of home-schooling.

They compared Christian college freshmen who had previously been home-schooled with a matched sample of traditionally schooled Christian freshmen on the College Adjustment Scale. The average scores of the two groups were compared across nine scales designed to measure emotional, behavioral, social, and academic problems as typically presented to university counseling centers.

The home-schooled students scored significantly lower on the anxiety subscale, while no difference was found between the two groups on the remaining scales. Additionally, there was a general trend characterized by home-schooled students reporting fewer symptoms of emotional distress and social problems, and achieving higher first semester GPAs:

The results suggest that home-schooled college freshmen successfully adjust to the social and academic environment of a Christian college with a diverse student population. The college does not require that all students attending the college assent to a personal faith in Christ. The previously home-schooled students are also confronted by many peers who make lifestyle choices different from their own. Most of the college peers of the home-schooled students would be considered less conservative in their dress, entertainment interests, moral values and behaviors, than those typically experienced in most Christian home-schooled families. Therefore, these students are not entering a homogeneous social community that necessarily mirrors their family backgrounds.”

Obviously, home-schooled students have additional adjustments to make when leaving their homes and entering a university or college environment: social relationship, peer pressure, classroom structure, etc. They are being forced to adapt to a social environment decidedly different from their homes or home school support groups.

The results demonstrate that home-schooled students are able to successfully adapt emotionally, interpersonally, and academically to their first, and most challenging, semester in college. That is probably because, having had the consistent teaching and support of a family and a community, they have developed strengths and convictions that provide a bridge over the troubled waters of a multitude of challenges and temptations.

I personally believe that home-schooling helps students who have problems with focus and difficulties with energy control. The traditional school environment required “Stepford Child” control, and the teaching techniques required for a group of thirty do not necessarily assist the learning needs and talents of each individual student. So, instead of drugging kids to be docile, perhaps we should turn to the successes of home-schooling.

Maureen Amberg is an author, entrepreneur and children’s advocate for MEA Online Edge Inc., with emphasis on the self esteem and positive inner confidence of children; including teenagers. Caring for Kids is my current life focus. I strive to be kind, tranquil, serene, and compassionate. Hopefully, this translates into peaceful, calm and helpful.

http://TeenagersSelfEsteem.com

Boost Your Child's Self-Esteem through Positive Actions

by Maureen Amberg

We live in a world that makes it difficult for us to come down off of the stress that we are all experiencing. As adults, we probably experience the stress at work and in our home life, in many cases. What we may tend to forget, however, is that our children are also feeling the stress and it can really wreak havoc on their self-esteem and confidence that they may need to get through their day-to-day lives. That is why it is important for us, as parents, to recognize the problems that may be happening to our children and to assist them in being able to cope.

There are a number of different ways that we can help our children in this regard, and it really depends upon their personality, age and what their problems may happen to be. Something that all of us can do, however, is to provide a positive atmosphere for our children that will assist them in being able to find shelter whenever they are in our homes. This may be difficult for many of us to do, especially if we are struggling with our own sense of worth but if we are able to do so, we will find that everybody benefits as a result.

There are a number of different things that you may be able to do in order to provide this positive atmosphere. Communication with your children is one of those, and this may be something that takes some time to establish. Having some family time that is free of stressful communication is also an important part of making sure that your child feels safe inside of the home. The more of a welcoming environment that you're able to provide for them, the more that you will find they are blossoming and becoming comfortable with themselves and the world around them.

Helping Your Child Feel Special

by Maureen Amberg

We live in a world that is not really friendly to children on a number of different levels. This is due, in part, to things that are portrayed in the media, such as the perception of a perfect body which is unattainable for many of us. These things are affecting our children at a much younger age, and we may find that our child is lacking in self-esteem as a result of these issues. This can result in a number of different problems, many of which are difficult for us to handle as parents. When you find yourself in this situation, it is important for you to understand that it is not your fault, but it is your responsibility to assist your child in feeling special.

The unfortunate thing is, a child may not be willing to listen to their parents in this regard which can make it more difficult for us to handle an already volatile situation. That is why it may be necessary for you to boost your child's self-esteem and to give them a feeling of worth without being so open about it that it causes them to retract away from you. This balancing act is something that many of us have a difficult time obtaining, but it certainly is possible if we are patient.

When a child is at a delicate age and they are struggling with feelings of worthlessness, it is something that can affect them throughout their entire life. If you are able to turn the tide and to give them the self-confidence necessary in order to realize that they are special, it is something that will affect them in a positive way. Although this may be difficult at times to maintain, it is going to be worth the effort and it will help to top off a 20 year project of raising our children to be healthy and happy with themselves.

Teens - What Do I Want to Be When I Grow Up?

Teens are often conflicted. Depending on their personal family situations, there are higher and lower degrees, yet being confused in high school is a common reality. Now, as if there are not enough growing pains to deal with, teens are pushed harder than ever to try and figure out what career they should be doing for the rest of their lives. When my son was in 8th grade, it astounded me to learn that he would have to choose a "career track" in high school. Now that he is in his junior year, I'm still not sure how meaningful his "career track" decision was. The good news is that we're talking about fields of interest that will eventually shape his college direction. The time to start is now. Do not wait.

Even though career may not be the first thought on a young teen's mind, there are job-oriented seeds that can be planted in the early high school years (and sometimes earlier) that could eventually develop into genuine interests leading to choosing a college major or career path as the first jumping off point, and eventually toward a career goal. To find hints of potential career goals for teens, parents and teens only need to look at their son or daughter's early childhood interests when most kids declare what they want to be when they grow up.

My son is interested in engineering. He loves physics and math. The doors should swing wide open to him as long as he is able to define the areas of engineering that inspire him. He is also a bowler. So one of the areas he has considered is designing and engineering bowling balls. We are going to look into internships for him at a local company. He may be inspired to pursue this, or end up looking into other possibilities. This is all part of the process of discovery. And it starts now!

Here are a few tips to get your teens thinking about honing in on a few passions that can help define a college major and eventual career path:

Stay focused on your teens innate characteristics:
No one knows this better than you, the parent. As an entrepreneur, I have always thought how great it would be if my son chose to go into his own business. But one day he said to me, "Mom, I don't want to work for myself." As tough as that was to hear, I am not going to challenge him as it will only lead to conflict. He's only 17, so of course that could change. Even though he is an exceptional artist, he has not expressed an interest in pursuing that avenue either (at least for now) Can you hear the sigh? Really listen to what your child says and what actions they take and introduce them to options within the scope of their expressed interests. You can always "sneak" in a few more ideas as long as you do it within the scope of their current interests (i.e. I would like to show my son where they make the designs for the bowling balls, which requires some artistic ability). At this age, it's important to just listen because they really do have opinions - galore!

Encourage your teen to think creatively about career. Introduce your child or teen to the idea that there are multiple ways to tackle the same problem or to think of a a possible career path. Try brainstorming possible career directions by taking one interest such as art and looking at how it can be used it in a variety of fields such as graphic design, health, communications, food even banking or the financial industry. Then take another and do the same thing, and so on until you get to the "ah ha."

Try a few new things out at least once. It's really ok to be a "Jack of All Trades" when it comes to learning new things that could lead to a lifetime of developing a passionate interest-career.

Acknowledge career-related successes. Remind your teen and yourself that by taking action toward learning, doing or trying something new that might lead toward a better understanding of a potential career path is a "win." For example: spending some time reviewing potential careers in the Occupational Outlook Handbook, http://www.bls.gov/OCO/, successfully completing a class on a subject of interest - even a high school elective on something fun are all successes that should be celebrated.

Consider enlisting the help of a career counselor. If you or your teen are looking for a way to minimize confusion, and would like help in navigating the career path waters toward a real direction, career counseling can help provide the structure, support and accountability to arrive at a real direction and action plan for the future.

Shell Mendelson, MS, has been a Career Path Counselor for over 22 years, and has helped thousands of people find their true career direction. Shell is the founder and former CEO of KidzArt, an international art education franchise in 29 states and 8 countries. For more information on services email shell@nbcareersnow.com or visit http://www.passiontocareer.com.

Maureen Amberg is an author, entrepreneur and children’s advocate for MEA Online Edge Inc., with emphasis on the self esteem and positive inner confidence of children; including teenagers. Caring for Kids is my current life focus. I strive to be kind, tranquil, serene, and compassionate. Hopefully, this translates into peaceful, calm and helpful.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shell_Mendelson

Can a Hobby Help Boost Your Child's Confidence?

By Maureen Amberg

Many of us can appreciate the fact that self-confidence is always an issue, but whenever a child is lacking in self-confidence, it can truly cause some problems for everybody that is involved. As a matter of fact, many parents may find themselves struggling for answers whenever it seems that their child is unable to have the confidence necessary to get through their day to day life. It can even cause some more serious concerns, above the fact that they are lacking in confidence and that is why many parents are looking for ways to turn the tide, even if only in small steps.

It is not always going to be necessary for you to make differences in your child's life that are so profound that it completely changes their outlook on life. As a matter of fact, this is a goal that can affect your own self-confidence, as it is rarely one that works out. Instead of trying to change everything whenever your child is lacking in self-confidence, it is often enough to make little changes that will help to give them a boost in their self-confidence and to begin to make the turn on their own.

Something that many parents have found beneficial in this regard is to get their child involved in some type of hobby. It would be important for you to keep the personality of the child in mind whenever choosing one of these hobbies, as you would certainly want to make sure that it matched properly. It doesn't even need to be something that is overly time-consuming, just something that will help the child to bring some of their own inner confidence to the fore. When you do this, you help to give your child something that will benefit them now and something that will follow them through the rest of their life.

When Shyness Is An Issue

by Maureen Amberg

Having a child that is overly shy is a concern to many parents, but there are some things that you can do in order to help to give them the confidence necessary to overcome this problem. Of course, it is important for you to approach this situation very cautiously, as a child that is already lacking in self-esteem is going to be an easy target for additional pressure in this area. That is why it is important for you to be patient with your child, and help them to grow naturally in their own self-assurance and the ability to be able to live a life that is free of the shackles that shyness provides.

Perhaps one of the most important things for you to do is to never label your child as being shy. As a matter of fact, this can really work against you, as it tends to make the child feel as if there is something wrong with them and the feelings that they have. It is important to get everyone involved in this process, including teachers that may inadvertently refer to your child as being shy, which does little more than to bring attention to them that they would rather not have.

Shyness is something that can stick with an individual throughout their entire life, and it is one of the more difficult problems that you may need to help your child to overcome. One of the ways that you can do this is by naturally boosting their self-esteem and confidence through hobbies, sports, or any other activity that may be of interest to your child. Always make sure to offer praise for any steps that they take in this direction and provide them with a safe support structure, should they happen to need some additional self-assurance. In doing so, you will give your child something that will benefit them through their entire life.

Helping Your Child Feel Special

Helping Your Child Feel Special

We live in a world that is not really friendly to children on a number of different levels. This is due, in part, to things that are portrayed in the media, such as the perception of a perfect body which is unattainable for many of us. These things are affecting our children at a much younger age, and we may find that our child is lacking in self-esteem as a result of these issues. This can result in a number of different problems, many of which are difficult for us to handle as parents. When you find yourself in this situation, it is important for you to understand that it is not your fault, but it is your responsibility to assist your child in feeling special.

The unfortunate thing is, a child may not be willing to listen to their parents in this regard which can make it more difficult for us to handle an already volatile situation. That is why it may be necessary for you to boost your child's self-esteem and to give them a feeling of worth without being so open about it that it causes them to retract away from you. This balancing act is something that many of us have a difficult time obtaining, but it certainly is possible if we are patient.

When a child is at a delicate age and they are struggling with feelings of worthlessness, it is something that can affect them throughout their entire life. If you are able to turn the tide and to give them the self-confidence necessary in order to realize that they are special, it is something that will affect them in a positive way. Although this may be difficult at times to maintain, it is going to be worth the effort and it will help to top off a 20 year project of raising our children to be healthy and happy with themselves.

Maureen Amberg is an author, entrepreneur and children’s advocate for MEA Online Edge Inc., with emphasis on the self esteem and positive inner confidence of children; including teenagers. Caring for Kids is my current life focus. I strive to be kind, tranquil, serene, and compassionate. Hopefully, this translates into peaceful, calm and helpful.

Disciplining Your Kids

Maureen Amberg is an author, entrepreneur and children’s advocate for MEA Online Edge Inc., with emphasis on the self esteem and positive inner confidence of children; including teenagers. Caring for Kids is my current life focus. I strive to be kind, tranquil, serene, and compassionate. Hopefully, this translates into peaceful, calm and helpful.

If you ask parents if they enjoy dishing out discipline to their kids, the answer will always be "no" they do not enjoy it. After all it makes them feel bad and of course it makes the kid feel bad. You may be surprised at the attitude of some kids toward discipline.

When you have to discipline your kid they want to know and understand what they are doing wrong that caused them to be punished. And as a parent, I am sure you think your kid understands what they did wrong and you don't need to explain it to them. Most kids lack short term memory and most of the time they do not even remember what they did to get your negative reaction. A yelling match and a spanking on the bottom without a lesson to be learned is nothing more than abuse, in my opinion.

The kids think it is the responsibility of the parents to explain to the kid why they are being disciplined. I am sure the kids will argue that your explanation is stupid and they should not have been punished. However, if you ask kids when they are calm and detached from punishment, they will tell you they want to know why their parents reacted the way they did by punishing them.

Kids want to know their boundaries. When they overstep their boundaries and get disciplined, without a clear understanding as to why, the lesson is not learned and their unacceptable behavior will reoccur. Kids said they do not mind being disciplined, although they clearly think spankings are extreme and not needed as long as they know the "why".

Maureen Amberg is an author, entrepreneur and children’s advocate for MEA Online Edge Inc., with emphasis on the self esteem and positive inner confidence of children; including teenagers. Caring for Kids is my current life focus. I strive to be kind, tranquil, serene, and compassionate. Hopefully, this translates into peaceful, calm and helpful.

Rosalie Lynch is a Certified Life Coach who works with parents and kids in figuring out how to live together. You are invited to check out the blog at http://www.thekidsspeakout.com Coach Rosalie reports on issues kids face everyday and how we adults can help them go through their difficult times. She puts humor in her posts and believes adults need to always keep their sense of humor when relating to kids.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rosalie_Lynch