Many parents keep their newborn baby’s umbilical cord for posterity. Little do they know they can make a difference to other people by donating this cast-out body part.

Also known as the placenta, the umbilical cord contains blood rich in stem cells. These cells can be transplanted, like bone marrow, to sufferers of leukemia, among other fatal conditions. Globally, over 14,000 cord blood transplants from unrelated donors have been performed on patients.

In theory, stem cells are the kind of cells that scientists hope could one day be used to treat an assortment of conditions, such as diabetes, heart failure, and Alzheimer’s disease. By banking your child’s cord blood, or storing it for future use, you could save lives.

Public cord blood banking

Cord blood banking is a precious investment, especially if you choose to do it with a public bank. The American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) both exhort parents to opt for public cord blood banking. This option offers stem cells to any patient in need of them.

Public cord blood donation also serves another purpose, i.e. create a larger, wider variety of cord blood units. In this respect, the AMA and AAP encourage minorities to bank cord blood publicly to make matching easier. African-Americans, Asians, American Indians, Alaska and Hawaii natives, Hispanics, and Pacific islanders are all encouraged to donate. Those of multiracial profiles are encouraged too.

If you decide to bank cord blood for public use, the tissue in question will be examined for infections and congenital defects.

By all accounts, public cord blood banking is free. But know that ceding cord blood to a public bank makes it fair game to everyone else. You are no longer its chief beneficiary; anyone can claim it for his or her use at anytime.

Private cord blood banking

Banking cord blood privately or for your own use has drawbacks. Along with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the AMA and AAP do not endorse private cord blood banking as an insurance of sorts.

There is a very slim chance your child would use the privately banked cord blood. An autologous cord blood transplant – a transplant of stem cells sourced from your own cord blood – cannot plausibly treat sickle cell disease, thalassemia, and other genetic conditions widely viewed to respond to these procedures. The reason is that the mutant causes of these conditions have been in your cord blood from the outset. For the same reason, an autologous transplant barely does any good to leukemia and similar conditions.

Due to these impediments, no more than 150 autologous transplants have been undertaken in the past 20 years.

Nevertheless, private cord blood banking is recommended for future autologous transplants of adoptive children. The cord blood of a baby conceived via artificial insemination or IVF is also a candidate for private banking.

Your cord blood may work on your full sibling who has a genetic or malignant disorder like aplastic and sickle-cell anemia; Krabbe’s disease; leukemia; lymphoma; and severe combined immune deficiency. Still, he or she merely has a 25 percent chance of genetically matching your blood. In that case, your sibling is better off with a transplant from a non-relative.

On the whole, it is advisable to bank your baby’s placenta privately if your bloodline has a record of the foregoing conditions. Remember,  however, that 70 percent of those looking to get transplants should seek them from non-relatives first.

Probably the foremost reason why medical organizations discourage private banking is that it costs too much. Any benefit you derive from your cord blood is offset by the exorbitant price tag.  More effective treatments may be affordable, in comparison.

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Multimedia was invented in order for information to travel as fast as the speed of light. It has been very useful in the fields of broadcasting and journalism, industry, marketing, entertainment and education. The secondary goal of multimedia is to educate, inform and inspire, but apparently, this has not always been the case. Some parents are blaming technology and multimedia, particularly the television on the continuous decrease of their children’s competency.

Negative Effects of Watching Television to Preschoolers

Children of young age should be exposed to the world because this is their way of learning values and skills they could use when they grow older. That is why it is recommended for parents to allow their children to play with other children for at least an hour. This is their training ground for learning camaraderie, socializing, sportsmanship, etc. However, because of the development of advanced technologies, more preschoolers today prefer to watch TV at home or play video games which is not a healthy lifestyle.

Studies have shown that the time of watching TV is directly related to the BMI of a child. Meaning, longer hours of sitting in front of the TV would result to a higher body mass index. This is due to lack of physical activity and exercise and also a larger amount intake of junk foods and soft drinks.

Also, without interaction with others, children would have a hard time developing their language skills. Television cannot teach your child that. They have to interact, converse with others in order to learn how to express themselves.

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The most harmful effect of TV viewing is it deprives your child from studying or reading educational materials. There is a reason why televisions are also called “idiot boxes”. No matter how good the education your child is getting, if he does not have the focus, it would be wasted.

Alternatives for Watching Television

As parents, you need to be creative and think of other healthy activities that you and your children can engage so they could do away with watching TV.

Try asking him to help you with your chores and praise him or give a reward for doing so. You could also try buying story telling CD’s and make your kids listen to it when you are busy. In this way, they could learn values and exercise their brain tissues.

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Another way is to construct an “activity basket” filled with educational toys like puzzles, and reading materials that could keep your child busy and could take watching television off his mind.

How to reduce your Preschooler’s Television Time

Experts recommend no more than one to two hours of TV a day for children two years old and older. Be careful cause the longer he stays in front of the television, the harder it would be to get him off. Always keep in tract how much time your child is in front of the colored tube. When he surpassed the recommended time, give him other things to do like the ones mentioned above.

Be careful also on the advertisements your preschooler gets to watch because most of it are not child friendly. Cigarettes, alcohol, and unhealthy foods are just some of the negative advertisements your child might be exposed to thus should be avoided. The best way to prevent this is by choosing educational channels like National Graphic or Discovery Channel.

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When your kid ask you why you always interrupt and turn off the TV when he is watching too much, explain your reasons to him. Tell him the consequences of sitting in front of the tube and not paying much attention to school works. Be honest, they deserve the truth anyway. It is better if they know what is happening around them.

Be a model to your kid, if you don’t want them to watch so much, then you shouldn’t either. Teach your preschoolers how to live a healthy lifestyle as young as possible so there would not be a problem in the future.

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Technology has been a great help in every field you could think of. It made the travel of information faster, sped up the production, and developed new means for communication and transportation. Yes, technology has been a gift from God, IF you know how to use it RIGHT.

Technology is a double edged sword. It has brought us up and at the same time brings us down. Most teenagers nowadays abuse the use of technology, they thought they are the masters of their gadgets, sorry to burst your bubble but you are the slave, not a master.

Studies have shown that the competency of youths has been declining for quite some time now and they blame it to these modern technology gadgets. Also, the same is to blame with the increase of obesity in younger generations today. The more time you spend in front of these devices, the more inactive you are. You are so absorbed with what you are doing so you just ignore the more important activities like exercising, bonding with your family and friends and doing homework.

Drag your Kids away from Electronic Devices

Before anything gets worse, do something to prevent your kids from being addicted to electronic gadgets. Here are some tips you could do to keep them away from the shackles of technology without arguing with you:

1. Be a role model

You are older so you should know better. If your son or daughter sees that you spend more time watching T.V. than them, then you do not have the right to confiscate their gadgets and force them to do their home works. You have to watch what you do cause your kids will be observing your habits too. If you set a household screen time rules, then you have to follow them too.

2. Remind them when they are “bonding” too much with their gadgets

Keep track on how much your kids use their gadgets. Banning them completely will not be possible these days, which would only result to so much arguing and scolding so just get their attention when you think they are putting so much time with their electronic buddies. Tell them that reality is better than virtual reality.

3. Engage them in exercising and other physical activities

Having a healthy lifestyle involves being physically active. If he shows interest in sports, show him your support. You could also schedule a family exercise every other day. Go to the park and jog. Furthermore, you could try using modern technology in encouraging him to move more. Purchase exercise videos or active video game that are fun to do and can get his heart pumping.

4. Involve your kid in creating screen time rules

Establishing rules set limits on their usage of their electronic gadgets. Of course they would want to get involved in this. What if they do not agree with the time you set for watching T.V. then these rules would only be a reason of you and your kids fighting. You better create these rules as a family so you could all find a common ground.

5. Encourage your kids to socialize

Reality is way better than virtual reality. Ask him to bond with his friend on the mall or let him join social groups that would not only drag him away from his gadget but also would raise his awareness about certain topics in the society.

Life would be a disaster if you let yourself be a slave of modern technology. Nowadays, we cannot live without technology but make sure you limit yourself on its usage and use it in a right way. Technology can deprive you a healthy lifestyle and good education so you better be careful.

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• Family Dinners – Extinction Of A Family Tradition

Meals were used to be treated as a “holy ceremony” of families before. Parents of the past see to it that no matter how busy their day was, they should always allot some time to be with their families during meal times.

But unfortunately, the fast-paced evolution of the world has affected this amazing tradition and abolished it. People are more on the go now, have so much to do, they think they are too busy to gather around and eat together with their families and talk about anything. They prefer multitasking, eating while watching the news, eating while surfing the net, eating while reading magazines.

The respect for the food and family was gone, no more thanking God for the blessings He has given, no more telling of stories with your family, no more seeking comfort from family members after a chaotic day. Sad but true, families today are falling apart!

Sharing meals with your family goes beyond the importance of ensuring everyone has food in their stomachs. No, it is not just that. Eating together is not just about feeding everyone physically, but also about augmenting every member emotionally, strengthening family ties, giving comfort to each other, assuring everyone that no one, NO ONE, can harm them when they are HOME.

Family Dinners are Important to Children’s Health

Countless research has done about the importance of family dinners to your kids’ health, and all of them are united in saying that family dinners help kids in many ways.

A healthy lifestyle, in fact, could actually start at mealtimes with your family. Statistics shows that children who eat with adults at least five times a week are physically and emotionally healthier, less likely to use illicit drugs, marijuana, cigarettes or alcohol, do better at school, does not engage in premature sex, and less probability of committing suicide.

Plus, they talk more with their family, they become more transparent.

How to Organize Family Dinners and Make Mealtime Blissful?

Of course, you have to set a schedule first, especially if you’re busy at work and your kids are busy at school. Set a convenient time for all of you to gather around and eat. This will not be much of a sacrifice anyway since you’re talking about your family. Also, make sure that when it’s mealtime, everyone is focused on their meals, no loud mp3s, blaring TVs, beeping phones, etc.

Second, prepare healthy foods, from appetizers to desserts, since one of the goals of family mealtimes is to promote a healthy lifestyle to your kids. Furthermore, let your kids be involved in the preparation. Ask them to set the table, or perhaps grill the corn cob. Ensure that you are relaxed when you are preparing meals. Food experts say that cook’s frustrations can be transferred to those who will eat the food he prepared.

Talk positive things when you’re eating with your family since the essence of family meals is to give nourishment, support, and comfort, not to give lecture or nag your kids about doing disappointing things. Save that for later. Everyone should be relaxed during meal times since this is what most need after going through a super stressing day. Try sharing funny stories or events that happened to you during that day.

If you do not have time to cook dinner, just order pizza or pick something up from fast foods. It would be alright as long as you don’t do it all the time. Remember that foods from cafes contain so many preservatives and are not healthy. But there are times you can’t help but rely on these fast food chains, that’s alright, but keep it at minimum. This still count as quality time spent together.

Family is the smallest unit of society. This is where we learn everything first, from good manners to household chores, so let’s make an effort in keeping this intact. Keep in mind that, even if the whole world is against you, there are people who will never turn their backs on you, and this is your family. Follow these tips and see where it takes you.

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This fall, classes are set to launch with a slew of illnesses threatening to cut short every student’s schooldays.

Schoolchildren in particular come down with illnesses easily because of their budding immune systems. That little kids often have poor hygiene, i.e. do not wash their hands; pick their noses frequently; and share toys, only compounds the problem. It does not help that they are exposed to other kids who have the same bad habits. Infected children carry these ailments home and subsequently pass them to the entire household.

If you want yourself and your kids to start the new academic year without a runny nose, sneezing or an itch in the throat, promise yourself to follow these tips:

Eat well

A nutritious diet is part and parcel of a near-invincible immune system. However, healthy meals can be elusive back in school, when you’re highly likely to eat on the go or patronize fastfood and frozen meals. No matter how busy you get, always plan meals dense with nutrients. They may necessitate a longer time in the kitchen but your body would be all the better for them. Remember to strew fruits and vegetables liberally around your meals to get antioxidants in addition to more energy.

Children require a nutritious diet not just for energy but also for growth and development. This means reduced intake of food with refined sugars and synthesized ingredients. Numerable researches have shown that a healthy diet can decrease ADHD symptoms, improve concentration and reduce hyperactivity in schoolchildren.

For maximum immunity, heaps of vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, and zinc are in order. You can get some of these in garlic, also known as one of the most effective natural immunity boosters and antibiotics. You may get prodigious amounts of zinc from peanuts, legumes and dark meat. For added protection against viruses, consume herbs like echinacea.

KiddieBoost – a 100% safe and natural children’s immunity booster to help boost immune system health in kids and supports healthy circulation and oxygen-rich blood flow to all systems in the body.

Drink

Not alcohol but water, juices and fruit extracts. Oranges and other citrus fruits or vitamin C supplements are helpful for preventing and treating colds. Ginger root teas are quite efficacious in facilitating digestion and bowel movement.

Lessen stress

Prolonged stress can everlastingly damage your physical and mental health. Stress of any duration, on the other hand, is long-acknowledged to compromise immunity. There are several ways you can allow yourself a reprieve from stress and one of these is doing the following.

Move that body

You should know that exercise hastens the speed at which your body eliminates waste materials and consequently, germs and bacteria. Sweating in itself helps detoxify the body. If you take a brisk walk half an hour or for 10 minutes thrice a day, you would boost your immune system, drop excess weight, and improve your overall health.

Children also benefit from exercise in several ways, such as curbing their risk for obesity later in life. For this and other reasons, exercise is indispensable at any age.

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Schoolchildren live on routine. As they grow, they need a good set of boundaries to reckon with. They need their parents and guardians for these boundaries.

Yet it takes all of a short term break or holiday to throw all sense of routine out the window. For children, easing back into schooldays from this respite can be tricky. The prospect of enormous homework and early sleeping time can be daunting.

As a parent or guardian, you have an obligation to reinstate, if not build from scratch, daily routine after this period. But it is also of paramount importance to do it gently and realistically.

These following tips would help your child, and you for that matter, get back into the daily drill of life:

Early to bed, early to rise

An adult’s body clock is different from that of a child, the latter being so sensitive. One night of staying up late may spell disturbance in your child’s sleep for a week. Sweet-talk your children into valuing early bedtime and slowly ease them into a healthful sleeping schedule.

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Set the breakfast table at night

Lay out breakfast staples the night before, except for the perishables of course. Get your older kids to take turns setting the table. Soon this would be their morning habit. Stash breakfast items away in a single cupboard for easy retrieval.

Organize school clothes and book bags the night before

Have your older kids lay out their school uniform or clothes and prepare their bags the night before to save time in the morning. Do these on behalf of your smaller kids.

Before hitting the sack, remind yourself to pre-pack lunches after dinner. You can make the most of dinner leftovers that will not spoil the following day.

Establish a “school corner”

Reserve a “school corner,” a special area for anything your kid may need for school. In this corner, place two baskets or boxes, the first for putting shoes in after removing them, the second for putting library books and other school things. Similarly, place a stand here for their blazers, coats and scarves. The “school corner,” in sum, has it all prepped for you in the morning.

Chart it

Organize a chart of your children’s daily requirements and tack it onto a conspicuous wall in your house. Your child can just refer to it lest he or she forgets anything for school. In time, children would learn everything by heart and have less need of the chart.

For the same reason, install a bulletin board where you can tack on school invitations, reminders, and anything else you want to be posted on.

House your homework

Set a venue and time for your kids to sift through their schoolwork: a “homework home” as it were. Here encyclopedias, dictionaries, and other reference books should be within reach. Likewise, fill the study table’s drawer with paper and other school supplies. By making things within proximity for your kid, he or she will not have to keep their tasks hanging by fetching them. Remind your child to return these stuffs to their proper places after using to prevent loss.

 

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BrightSpark - Homeopathic remedy that relieves hyperactivity, distractibility and impulsiveness in children with attention problems.

 

ADHD children

Schoolchildren with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) particularly have it harder after a school break. To help ADHD children pick up where they left, you may need to condition their minds for the looming schoolwork. Your ADHD kid may fare well with a tutor.

Attend consultations with teachers regularly to be updated on areas where your kid may be struggling. Do not segregate your ADHD child too much from other kids. They need to feel like they belong.

Parent’s prep

Planning and preparation is not relegated to the kids. As a parent, you have a lot to prepare for too. If the fuel gauge on your car is running low, better fill up after picking up your child from school. This would save you a time-consuming trip to the gas station the morning after. Also, set your alarm clock ten minutes earlier than your ordinary wakeup time. You will be astonished to find how much you need those extra ten minutes in the morning rush. Drop your kids at school five minutes earlier too. Punctuality ditches unnecessary stress for you and your little student.

***

Inculcating good routines in your children would provide them a sense of independence, which leads to confidence in their school performance. Healthful routines reduce chaos in their waking days. You can expect these auspicious routines to follow them into their adult lives.

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Summer is a good time to put off everything, including back-to-school preparations. But there is little sense in putting them off just before opening of classes. Children, especially the little ones, have a lot to prepare for.

School may be very upsetting and intimidating to children, especially those on their “first day.” For them, it’s a big, new world to conquer.

Learning comes easy to those who feel at home in their environment. However, adjusting to new surroundings takes a while. Every child adjusts to school in his or her own time. What’s important is that you make your presence and support felt by your children during this period of adjustment. Younger kids especially need generous helpings of these to get by. Some school tips to ponder:

Encourage independence

Independence bespeaks confidence, which in turn facilitates learning. One way to help children become more independent is to let them dress by themselves. This entails putting on clothes that require minimal adult supervision, with no sophisticated buttons or hard flies. Let your children pack their own lunches too, so they would easily spot their own lunchboxes during school time. These may just be trifling actions but they go a long way in helping your child get used to his or her environment. Your child would then be less fretful and thereby, concentrate better at school.

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Change of clothes

Always equip your pre-school child with a change of clothes. Pre-school can be such a dirty place; you’ll never know where your kid may stumble. Besides, a child feels at home in his or her own clothes than the school uniform. Remember that familiarity breeds easy absorption of information. The same cannot be said for self-consciousness and feelings of not belonging.

Sign

Put your child’s name on his or her equipment. Doing so would keep them from getting lost and stolen. After all, no kid can focus on his or her studies unless he or she knows all his belongings and valuables are in place.

Keep lines of communication open

Communication should never be one-way. Since you’re the one who knows your child inside out, keep lines of communication constantly open with his or her teacher. Always keep your kid’s teacher posted on changes at home e.g. relocation to a new house; birth of a new child; separation or divorce; and demise of a loved one. Such changes can affect your child’s emotional makeup, and consequently, school performance. In the same way, get updates from the teacher on your child’s academic and social progress.

Communicate with your children

Do not monopolize conversations with your child. Listen to what he or she has to say. In addition, talk at length with your child about friends and life in school. Make it clear to them that he or she can turn to you for advice regarding school trouble, such as bullies and difficult subjects.

Early worm

A dearth of slumber is anathema to learning and education. It has been recognized as one of the primary causes of behavioral and learning difficulties among school children. Children in primary school should sleep 10 hours at night on average. This way they would be able to concentrate on lessons in their waking day.

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Food literally for thought

To a kid whose stomach is rumbling, the world, including the classroom, suddenly turns vicious and looks inhospitable. Make sure your child eats a hearty meal before going to school. Always send him or her out with snacks in hand. Nearly all pre-schools have mid-morning recess and lunchtime. If your child has food allergies and other intolerances, always inform your child’s teacher about them.

Let them read

Egg on your kid to read whenever he or she can. Younger kids may start with you reading them bedtime stories. Let them read these stories to you too. Older children may get their hands on classics like Charlotte’s Web, A Little Princess and Treasure Island; modern greats like the early Harry Potter books; and kids-only magazines. Encourage them to sign up for library memberships too.

Restrictions

Restrict watching television to no longer than one hour every day on weekdays, two hours on weekends. Limit sleepovers to the weekends too. Also, have your kid’s playmates in the house fetched early as not to compromise homework time.

Familiar routine

Organize an everyday schedule for your child. It should be one that sets aside ample time for homework. Don’t leave out a schedule for eating meals together, domestic chores, and bedtime.

Extra-curriculum

Let your kid engage in sports, theater, art and other extracurricular activities.

Environment

Reserve an area for study where your child can focus well on his or her homework. Take care to make it well-ventilated and well-lit.

Clear away mobile phones, game consoles, laptops, TV sets, and other potential sources of distraction from this study area. Reinstate them only when quizzes, exams and homework are finished.

Get support

If your child is struggling with a certain subject, engage a tutor. You can also avail of workbooks and additional study paraphernalia, which come for a wide range of subjects in which your kid may have difficulties.

Control

Control the amount of time your older child spends in socializing. Minimize socials especially during examination periods. Also, involve yourself in your child’s group studies, without being too obtrusive though.

***

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You should not have to unwittingly entrust your child to a homicidal maniac.

SitterCity makes it all easy for you to find the most trustworthy nanny or babysitter for your toddlers and bundles of joy.

Since 2001, SitterCity has grown to give you a choice of more than 2 million caregivers – indeed the population of an entire city.

You would want to ascertain you are delegating your authority to the right person out of these thousands. Your child is at stake after all.

Hiring the right sitter via SitterCity

Here’s a step-by-step walk through to hiring the right sitter via SitterCity:

1. Post your job

SitterCity has a searchable database of caregivers for your perusal. Better yet, it lets the sitters and nannies themselves contact you. Posting a job ad on SitterCity is the easiest way to find someone who can take care of your children. It is also the safest way, because applicants must conform to the SitterCity Pledge before answering your want ad. You can be sure then that only the most enthusiastic, professional sitters or nannies contend for your job.

2. Choose your top 10 candidates

Especially if your offer is lucrative, there could be countless individuals angling for the job. To make your hunt more expedient, choose the top 10 sitters that best fit the qualifications you have set using SitterCity’s criteria. For good measure, take time to view the applicants’ SitterCity profiles, where you can easily see their employment credentials, certifications and so forth.

3. Screen, screen, screen

Face it: You don’t have time in your hands to sit down with all 10 sitters. One of the best things about SitterCity is that you have adequate screening tools to sift candidates for interviewing to a manageable few. Here’s how to screen sitters or nannies through SitterCity:

• Checking reviews of sitters. To begin screening your top 10 applicants, read reviews other parents have placed on their profiles. They would greatly inform your final decision.
• Reviewing sitters’ background checks. Your prospective sitters’ profiles may have a current background check. If your candidate hasn’t gone through a background check, you can perform one on them using LexisNexis, a Sittercity partner. Your peace of mind with LexisNexis starts at just $9.99.
• Interviewing applicants personally. SitterCity has an interview template with questions you can use on your prospective caregivers. Ask the most definitive of these questions, those which you reckon most capable of shaping your decision. Also, you don’t have to go stag when interviewing an applicant; you may include her potential wards. Take them away from their Xboxes and observe how they interact with the applicant. If the applicant can’t handle your child with you present, chances are he/she cannot handle them when you aren’t.
• Checking references. You may have top three candidates in mind by now. This is your cue to check every one’s references. Every Sittercity-registered caregiver is required to disclose a reference on her profile. Contact that reference by phone or email and query them about the candidate.

Find your perfect nanny and sitter now!

Advantage of seeking sitters through SitterCity

SitterCity prizes your safety most of all. It equips you with the most complete range of tools to single out the perfect person to mind your children.

SitterCity employs a unique, state-of-the-art matchmaking technology, which lets you find your ideal sitter fast. With it, you can simply wait for competent nannies and sitters to come to you. Or search for them yourself by taking advantage of more than a hundred matchmaking criteria.

In the end, SitterCity knows you are the ultimate arbiter of your children’s safety and well being. SitterCity helps you frame your hiring decision better by giving you information otherwise closed to you. Each caregiver profile comes complete with a biography; photos; list of special skills; parent reviews; employer references; and, most importantly, results of an exhaustive background check.

Sittercity Nanny Search Enter your zipcode to find a nanny in your area: Zip Code

Pass on your love and care for your children to the perfect sitter.

Visit SitterCity now, the metropolis of trusted caregivers!

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As cough medicines become a popular narcotic among teens, many parents want to know how to determine if their teens are abusing it.

Experts believe that the signs of drug abuse are generally the same regardless of the drug in question.

If your teens are showing the signs below, consider the possibility of drug abuse.

Falling Grades

Did the grades of your child drop significantly over the past months? Drug abuse can turn an A-grade student into a dropout. Oftentimes, addicts see their grades falling gradually. It is common for addicts to become less diligent in doing their assignments. They do not prepare much for tests, skip class or do not participate in class discussion anymore.

Social Isolation

If your teen becomes less sociable and spends less time hanging with his or her friends, something must be wrong. Are you seeing new, uneasy faces? Drug addicts may abandon their close friends if they are not into drug abuse.

Mood Swings

Do your teens suddenly grow furious without a good reason? Are they becoming oddly manic or depressed? Drug abuse can be the reason behind these behaviors. Moreover, drug addicts may spend much of their time in isolation.

Physical Look

Do you see dramatic changes in the physical appearance of your teen? Addicts become less tidy. They may forget to change clothes, miss regular bath or completely alter the way they groom themselves.

Eating

Do you notice significant changes in the eating habit of your teen? Is he or she eating more or less? Beware of noticeable changes in weight, be it a weight loss or gain.

Sleeping Pattern

Is your teen suffering from changes in sleeping patterns? Some drugs can cause people to sleep all day long, while others deprive people of sleep.

Being Secretive

Keeping most things secret, like after-school activities and personal belongings, can be a sign of drug abuse.

Frequent Intake of Medicines

How often does your teen ask for cold medicine? It is understandable for weak teens to get sick frequently. However, if your teen is asking for cough medicines many times even if they look fine, there is a reason to be suspicious.  This could be a sign of drug abuse.

Hidden packs

Are there empty bottles of syrup or tablet packs in your trash can?  Teens who are buying considerable amount of cough medicine without telling their parents could also be a sign of drug abuse.

Of course, these signs do not qualify all teens as drug users. Some of these signs can just be a normal part of adolescence, which is a period of dramatic changes. These tips are only intended to warn parents of the possibility of drug abuse so they can intervene early. When parents see any of these signs, they should start paying serious attention.

What to Do With Teens Abusing OTC Drugs

Talk to your teen once you see a major sign of OTC drug abuse. Many parents do not know how to get started. Here are some tips that would prepare you before talking about drug abuse with your teen.

Hold back impulsive reactions

Never break into your child’s room and frighten everyone by yelling. This approach is unlikely to yield fruitful result. This would prompt your teen to become defensive. It is better to seat down for a while and think of the things you need to ask your teen.

Look for evidence

This does not mean that you need to gather undeniable proofs in order to confront your teen about drug abuse. However, having a good evidence will make you confident when raising your suspicion. Empty bottles of cough medicines or tablets hidden in your teen’s cabinet are enough evidence. But mere observations suggesting OTC drug abuse are sufficient ground for confronting your teen. Weird behaviors, for instance, are good indicators of drug abuse.

Know more about drug abuse

Research about abuse of cough and cold medicines. Know the types of medications abused by teens and their harmful effects. Your teen should be convinced that you are knowledgeable on all these things.

Get yourself prepared for a talk

Confronting drug abuse is not all about passing judgment and punishment. Parents have to engage their teens into a conversation.  This may require several attempts, but parents need to communicate their concerns about OTC drug abuse.

Define your policy

Before talking to your teen, let him or her know your household rules on drug abuse. Define these rules clearly. Emphasize what punishment awaits family members who would violate these rules.

Seek support

Getting any sort of assistance will help build your confidence. Make sure that your spouse is with you in this battle. But getting help from other people could bring invaluable help. Look around.  Help could come from friends, clergy member or  a therapist. They can help you before or after talking to your teen.

Know the perfect time to confront your teen

This should be a serious talk, so do not attempt to begin the conversation abruptly, like minutes before a bus trip or while your child is playing a video game. The right time is when both of you have enough time to voice your sentiments. Never talk about drug abuse when your teen is stoned.

Do not assume that everything is settled once the conversation is over. It is common for parents to develop a false sense of security after such a talk. Your teen may promise to stop OTC drug abuse, but it is not that easy. Your teens may still have to struggle with the same issues and causes that led him or her to drug abuse. So even if the talk is over, the root problem is still there. You need to hold a regular talk with your teen as you check his condition. Expect to hold more talks as time goes by until your teen completely regains a healthy lifestyle free from drugs.

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Parents should emphasize to their teens why they must take a firm stand against illegal drugs.

For those who want to raise drug-free teen, here’s the guidelines on doing so.

If you are a teen seeking for ways to avoid drug use, this is for you as well.

Know what to say when someone offers you a drug

It is better to anticipate for this scenario so you won’t get surprised when it happens suddenly. Have you already thought of what to say when faced with this dilemma? Saying no should not be a burden. You do not have to give elaborate explanations. It is as simple as saying “No, thanks.”

Plan ahead to avoid trouble

What will you do if your friend throws a party when his parents are in an out-of-town vacation?  If you foresee an opportunity in which substance abuse can take place, it is better to avoid it rather than take risks. Another example is when your friend who is a drug user offers you a ride but won’t tell you where to go. Most probably, he’s planning to tempt you to get high along with him. Try to anticipate for situations like these and avoid them as much as possible.

Be careful in choosing your friend

People who are close to you may be the ones who would introduce you to drug or alcohol abuse. Some teens fell victim since they are unhappy and need to be in a company of someone. But think of the consequences of drug abuse, particularly its effects on your future. Don’t hesitate to drop friends who are drug users and those who want you to suffer the same fate. Those who cannot respect your decision to be drug-free are not a real friend.

Beware of drug trafficking

Drug users may use you to procure illegal substances on their behalf. Do not allow them to turn you into a drug trafficker. Beware that simple requests like sneaking cough syrup from home or shoplifting could have serious implications.  Use your discretion to avoid being exploited by drug users.

Fight stress the healthy way and enjoy life

Some teens may feel alienated when they do not take drugs. This should not be the case. Take note that majority of teens are drug free. There are a lot of people who enjoy life without the aid of narcotics. Meet people who have a positive disposition.  Play music. Participate in school plays, get into sports, join clubs or get involved in community works.

Join anti-drug campaigns

Resisting drug and alcohol abuse can be more than a personal commitment. You can also go public and join others in building a drug-free society.  Find anti-drug community coalitions and join them. Refer to CADCA for more information about these movements. Community coalitions comprise groups of teachers, students, local leaders and parents who are collaborating together to fight drug abuse. Joining such coalitions is a great way to socialize with others who share your principles. Not only would you meet friends, you would also have a chance to join drug-free parties and help fellow teens who want to know how to fight drug abuse and have a healthy lifestyle.

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