Babysitting Checklist

• Provide your babysitter with a checklist so you feel comfortable when leaving home. Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images

  Leaving your children alone with a stranger can be terrifying. Make sure you carefully screen babysitters with thorough interviews and phone calls to references. Asking your friends with kids to recommend a babysitter can turn up reliable candidates. Ultimately, you have to select a sitter who meshes with your family and makes you feel comfortable. Once you hire a sitter, leaving them with a checklist can soothe your anxiety.

Emergency Contact Information

• List emergency contact information on your babysitting checklist. Jot down the number of the Poison Control Center and of local police. Write the name and address of your doctor, along with his phone number and your health insurance information. Include contact information for the hospital you would want your child to visit in case of emergency.

Family Contact Information

• List cell phone numbers for both parents, along with work phone numbers. Pick an emergency contact, such as a friend or neighbor, and write that person's name, house and cell phone numbers. Write where you will be, along with the phone number. If other household members can be found at different locations, include that information as well.

Kids' Information

• For each child, jot down basic information such as his name, date of birth and age. Write down any allergies he has, along with his blood type. If your child has a medical condition, outline the issue and any associated treatment. Specify each child's bedtime, along with his likes and dislikes, especially concerning food. Add any special instructions.

House Rules

• Specify your rules. For instance, if you hate your kids' affinity for skating on your hardwood floors in their socks, write on the checklist that you don't allow it. If you don't want your child to drink soda before bedtime, better jot that down too. Just because you think something seems like common sense doesn't mean your babysitter would think of it.

Kid Activities With Flowers

• Hands-on activities with flowers may turn out to be an excellent learning experience. Sri Maiava Rusden/Stockbyte/Getty Images

  Flowers are bright and colorful, and both of these characteristics are attractive to children. There are plenty of activities to do with children involving flowers. Using flowers for art or learning is a hands-on way to teach your child about the different types of plants along with the different colors, textures and shapes of flower petals.

Identify Flowers

• Identifying flowers with your child helps teach him differences in various plants. Kid and flowers image by Vasyl Dudenko from Fotolia.com

  Print out or find pictures of flowers in a magazine. Show your children the different types of flowers and tell them what kind of flowers they are. Go out for a spring or summer stroll through a park or your neighborhood, bringing the pictures with you. Find different types of flowers and ask your child to identify them. This helps teach children about the different types of flowers, along with the different colors and shapes of the petals.

Flower Petal Flower

• Experiment with different colors, shapes and textures of flower petals to create original art. petals image by cat from Fotolia.com

  Gather a number of different colored flower petals. On a large, white canvas, draw an image of a flower (such as a rose, tulip, daisy or sunflower) in pencil. After you've finished, place a dot of glue on a flower petal and place it onto the canvas to "color" the image. Continue until the entire drawing has been filled in. This project also works with dried flower petals. Just crush the petals inside of a plastic bag, rub a clear glue stick on the inside of the outline and sprinkle the petals on the canvas. Let the canvas dry before framing it.

Stained Glass

• Use different colored flower petals to create stained glass art. Have an adult scrape crayons with a knife to create different colored crayon shavings. Provide each child with flower petals, crayon pieces, two 12-inch pieces of wax paper and four paper clips. Have the child arrange the flower petals on one sheet of wax paper and then sprinkle crayon shavings over the flower petals. Tell the child to place the second sheet of wax paper over the first and secure it in place with four paper clips. Have an adult place a kitchen towel over the wax paper art and use an iron on low heat to iron the art so it sets. Display the art in a window.

How to De-clutter Children's Rooms

Children's toys, books and games can quickly accumulate and make their bedroom a cluttered mess. De-cluttering your child's room will make it easier for her to locate toys to play with and to put them away when she is done. With the help of your child, pick a time to sort through her belongings, donate those that are not being used, and organize the rest. A clutter-free bedroom will be easier to keep clean, will stay clean longer and will present fewer safety hazards..

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  Sort through toys, games and books with your child, choosing to save items that are still used, and donating items that are outgrown.

• 2

  Sort through clothing, making piles of clothes to keep, donate and store.

• 3

  Install low shelving, or possibly a cubby-style bookcase, to house toys, games and books. This makes them easy to see and access when your child wants to play.

• 4

  Organize books into bins and place them on the shelves. Sort them by level or theme.

• 5

  Put similar toys together into bins, for example, one bin for stuffed animals, another for balls and another for art supplies.

• 6

  Label all bins with a permanent marker or a tag.

• 7

  Sort through all games and puzzles, making sure the pieces are all intact. Put all small pieces in plastic bags, then store games in boxes or bins on shelves low enough for kids to access.

• 8

  Label bins or drawers for T-shirts, pants, socks, underwear and shoes. Fold the articles of clothing and place them in the bins or drawers. Clear bins work nicely for this so you can see all the clothes.

• 9

  Clothes that need to be hung up can go in the closet. Consider lowering the bar so your child can hang her own clothes.

Questions for Nanny References

• When choosing the right nanny for your family, do not be afraid to ask thorough questions. Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images

  When hiring a nanny or babysitter to care for your children, you should thoroughly know who you are entrusting with your children in order to provide the best protection and care for them. During an interview with a potential nanny, you may ask for references in which you can verify the nanny's previous work performance. Calling and speaking with your potential nanny's references can help smooth the decision making. Asking the right questions can help put your mind at ease during the hiring process.

Inquire About the Overall Experience in General

• When talking with potential nanny's references, be pleasant and welcoming, as you do not know who you are speaking with, in order to get the most information you can. Ask the reference about the experience she had with your nanny. How many children did she care for? How many hours of the day did she dedicate to caring for the children or was she a live-in nanny? You might also ask how well she interacted with the children, as well as the ages of them so you can compare how well the nanny may be able to relate with your own children. Also inquire how the reference's children reacted and responded to the nanny while in her care, as this can help you decide if she is well-suited for your family.

Ask About Pay

• Though you may be hesitant to ask about salary and previous pay, you can bring this up if you do feel comfortable enough to ask a previous employer. They do not have to disclose this information and may not feel comfortable answering you, but some may openly discuss this matter with you, helping you form a better salary offer for your potential nanny.

Reasons for Departure

• Ask your potential nanny's references why she left or stopped offering her services to them. Most of the time, another job offer or a new location is the reasoning for a switch in jobs, but you should verify there are no incidents or warnings you should be aware of. Do not hesitate you ask the potential nanny's references about any issues or conflicts they may have encountered while employing the nanny, as this can also help smooth the decision making when hiring your nanny.

Household Chores for Kids

• Teaching is a way for parents to bond with their children. Katrina Wittkamp/Stockbyte/Getty Images

  From the age of two, children are already on a path to becoming self-sufficient. Potty training, bottle breaking, bath time and brushing teeth are all ways that parents instill the importance of personal hygiene and responsibility. As children get older, they are able to take on more responsibilities, contributing to everyday housework.

Kitchen Duty

• Children are naturally drawn to the kitchen and take interest in cooking at a young age. Parents use this to their advantage, teaching children the basics of kitchen measuring and the responsibility of setting and clearing the table for meals. As children get older, they take on more responsibilities, such as loading the dishwasher and putting dishes away. Other kitchen chores include washing fruits and vegetables, putting away groceries and packing lunches.

Laundry

• Kids are able to help parents with laundry at a young age. Putting clothes in the hamper and unloading the dryer are simple ways to instill a light chore responsibility. As children get older, they take on more responsibilities and are taught to match socks, fold clothes and put them away. Eventually they learn how to start a load of laundry.

Outdoor Chores

• Outdoor chores such as raking leaves, cutting the grass, watering plants and taking the family dog out for a walk are household chores. When siblings and parents help, these tasks feel more like a family activity than an individual responsibility and is a great way to motivate your child into helping with housework.

A Checklist for What to Buy for a New Baby

• Having supplies on hand makes baby's homecoming easier. Maria Toutoudaki/Photodisc/Getty Images

  Today, ultrasound tests have made buying gender-specific clothing for an expected newborn easy. Now, parents buy baby's first set of clothing according to its gender. In addition to putting clothing on a list of things needed to bring the baby home, federal law requires the use of an infant car seat for the trip. In order to avoid last-minute scrambles, it's best to have on hand bottles and sterilizing equipment for baby's feedings, toiletries for baby's bath and a place for the baby to sleep when the baby arrives at home.

Baby's First Clothing

• The easiest way to make certain the newborn has the clothing he needs to start out is to purchase a layette. A layette is a set of prepackaged baby clothing. Some prepackaged layettes include only the items needed to dress the baby to bring him home from the hospital. Larger layettes include a wider variety of clothing designed for the baby to wear until he reaches approximately 3 months.

  All layettes contain sweaters, sleepers, socks,and mittens to keep the baby from scratching his face. Layettes also include undershirts long enough to fasten with snaps at the crotch. Receiving blankets, knit caps to cover the head and bibs are other pieces among the prepackaged items. Parents often buy more of the basic layette items and add things such as booties, rompers and dress-up outfits.

  Whether you choose disposable diapers or cloth with waterproof covers, be sure you have plenty. Newborns go through more diapers than most parents can foresee.

Infant Car Seat

• U.S. law requires that children 40 pounds and under ride in a car seat. According to the National Institute of Health, "Automobile accidents are one of the major causes of injury and death in children." A newborn leaving the hospital must be strapped in an infant-only, rear-facing car seat.

Baby Bassinet or Crib

• A bassinet or a crib is a must-have for the checklist. Bassinets and cribs are small baby beds that provide a safe place for baby to sleep. The bed needs a mattress cover, sheets, blankets and possibly a neck support. The baby's room should include a dresser, chest, stool, and whatever additional furniture the parents want.

Baby Feeding Items and Bathing Items

• If the newborn will be formula-fed, several 8- and 4-oz. disposable and non-disposable bottle sets are needed. Sterilizing equipment, bottle brushes and a bottle warmer are additional items that are helpful but not essential.

  For baby baths, you can purchase baby starter kits or each item separately. The checklist can include a baby-size tub, body-wash, mild shampoo, lotions, powder, oil and towels.

Baby Accessory Items

• Though not immediately necessary, most parents-to-be include rattles, pacifiers, a baby monitor, a thermometer, diaper bag, breast pump and a diaper pail on the list.

How to Modify Stroller Wheels

Your stroller may be ideal in every way except for the stroller wheels. Some models of strollers may not have enough traction, swivel enough (or at all) or simply need to be replaced. All stroller wheels are replaceable (by contacting the manufacturer) but many are also able to be modified. Stroller models like the Bugaboo, Evenflo and Quinny allow you to modify your stroller wheels to accommodate almost any need.

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  Purchase your choice of modified stroller wheels. Both Bugaboo and Quinny brands allow you to modify your stroller wheels in such ways as all terrain wheels or snow wheels. Evenflo (in addition to the previously mentioned brands) will simply allow you to obtain replacement wheels.

• 2

  Remove the old wheels from your stroller. Some stroller models require tools such as a screwdriver to remove the old wheels, while some allow you to simply pop the wheels off by pulling on them. Either way, the stroller manufacturer instruction manual that came with your stroller will likely have directions on how to remove your particular stroller brand's wheels.

• 3

  Replace the old wheels with the new, modified wheels. Again, you may need to use tools for this job. Instructions for replacement will come with the new set of tires you ordered so long as you ordered them from the manufacturer or another reputable source.

Activities on Listening Skills for Infants

• Practicing listening skills allow parents to spend time with their infant. Mimi Haddon/Lifesize/Getty Images

  Over the first year of a baby's life, her senses are still developing. Auditory skills are developing quickly and just a couple months after birth, babies can begin to develop their listening skills. By the end of the first year, babies can respond to your voice and begin to use the information that they have stored from listening to begin babbling and saying a few words themselves. There are activities that you can do to help your infant develop his listening skills along the way.

Read to Your Infant

• Reading to your infant from early on is a good way to promote listening skills. Instead of reading a different book every time, read the same book over and over. Repetition helps your infant recognize sounds and phrases that are familiar. Listening to stories together is also an activity that helps build listening skills. You can take your little one to a library or local bookstore when it has professional storytellers performing. You can also purchase audio books for listening in the car or at home.

Talk to Your Infant

• Talk to your infant as much as possible by narrating daily activities such as her bath, changing and feeding or your daily chores. If you are cooking, describe what you are cooking, where you got the recipe or a funny story about cooking with your mother. Baby Center recommends talking to infants throughout the day. You can tell them an interesting story you heard on the radio or about your day at work. They may not understand completely what you are saying or respond yet, but they are listening and storing away information for later use. Keep in mind that babies will mimic things that they have heard when they begin talking more, so be careful of your language.

Sing to Your Infant

• Singing to your infant is a good way to help him develop his listening skills. For young infants, being sung to can be soothing but as your baby gets to two to four months old, he will be able to recognize repetitive sounds and words. Try singing a song that repeats often. Baby Center recommends "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" because the words are simple and repetitive. You can also switch out some words and add in your baby's name or the names of other objects to help with your child's vocabulary as well.

Regulations for Diaper Change Tables

• Several organizations have developed standards to keep diaper changing tables safe and prevent injuries to children. Walker and Walker/Digital Vision/Getty Images

  Diaper changing tables are a great convenience for anyone caring for an infant or toddler. Whether at home or on the go, changing tables offer caregivers a safe and sturdy surface to comfortably change soiled diapers. While the federal government does not formally regulate diaper changing tables, other organizations, such as the National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and the Consumer Products Safety Commission have developed guidelines and standards for diaper changing tables to help prevent injuries to both children and caregivers.

Table Height

• According to the National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care, back strain is the most common injury among child care providers. For this reason, they recommend that diaper changing tables or services stand between 28 and 32 inches high, or the height of a standard table. A diaper changing table at this height can help prevent back strain from lifting children.

Safety Rails

• Diaper changing tables need to have a safety rail to prevent a child from rolling and falling from the table. The NRCHSCC recommends that safety rails be at least 6 inches above the changing surface. If a pad is placed on the diaper changing surface, the thickness of the pad should be taken into consideration when measuring the barrier.

Surfaces

• The surface of a changing table should be smooth, and not absorb liquids. According to NRCHSCC, the best surfaces are plastic which can be easily sanitized between diaper changes. If the changing table is being used in a public area or in a daycare setting, the NRCHSCC also cautions that safety straps should not be used on diaper changing tables, because they get dirty easily and are difficult to clean and sanitize.

Storage

• The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that diaper changing tables be equipped with easily accessible drawers and shelves for diaper changing supplies. Caregivers should never walk away from a baby on the table, so if the table is not equipped with drawers or shelves, you should gather all of the necessary supplies and have them within reach before beginning the diaper change.

Weight Limits

• Be sure that any changing table you use is sturdy, and does not have any damage or structural problems that will make it unstable. ASTM International, which develops consumer product safety standards, recommends that changing tables should only be used for children up to 30 pounds.

ASTM Standards

• The ASTM has also developed standards for product labeling, instructions, and materials that can be used in the manufacture of baby changing tables. When you purchase a changing table, be sure that it meets ASTM standards.

Bath Accessories for Kids

• Turn bath time into a play time. Marcy Maloy/Photodisc/Getty Images

  For some parents, luring your child into the bathtub for a scrub-down can be a challenge. But whether you're coaxing your child into the bath at the end of a long, smelly day, or you're offering your little one a bit of playtime in the afternoon, with the right bath accessories, bath time can be more enjoyable for everyone.

The Usual Stuff

• Whether it's soap, shampoo or bath towels, certain items every kid must have in the bathroom. Sure, your bottle of Suave shampoo will do the job on your kid's hair, but banana-scented shampoo might be more up his alley. The market is full of kid-centric toiletries, from smelly-good shampoo, soap shaped like butterflies, and matching washcloths and towels with aliens on them. Keep it light and kooky in the bathroom, and surround your little darlings with everyday items with pictures of their favorite creatures and characters on them. The more interested your kid is in looking at the soap, the more interested he might be in actually using the soap.

The Safety Stuff

• Many items are available that focus on safety in the bathroom. One that can come in handy is the bathtub faucet protector. The function of this invention is to protect little heads from bruising when they bonk up against the faucet. This small plastic device only costs a few bucks. For a little bit more, also get a faucet cover with a thermometer to tell you the temperature of the bath water. Two other items that may come in helpful are a plastic visor and nonslip decals. Your kid can wear the visor when you're rinsing out the shampoo to keep it from getting in his eyes and stinging. The safety of the nonslip tub decals, which come in a variety of shapes and sizes, help little guys who are just getting used to standing up in, and getting out of, a slippery tub.

The Fun Stuff

• Companies such as Alex Toys provide an an array of stuff for bath time play, from "shaving kits," to a floating vanity set, to crayons for drawing on the tub walls and floating drums. Bath squirters come in a variety of shapes and sizes from various companies, but squeeze out the remaining water after each use, or you're likely to create a mold factory. Kids may also enjoy racing wind-up toys or simply watching them flutter by. While maybe not be the most fun for the kids, a mesh basket with suction cups on the side of the tub will hold all the playthings and let them dry out for the next round of play.

Intrinsic & Extrinsic Motivation Methods

• Intrinsic and extrinsic motivations are terms based in social and behavioral psychology, and describe the types of factors that motivate people to engage in certain behaviors. People who frequently use these concepts have a vested interest in motivating others. For instance, employers looking to increase productivity and morale in the workforce may try to find the best way to motivate employees. Theories of motivation are not without controversy as to what constitutes the best motivators for people.

Intrinsic Motivation

• Intrinsic motivation is when a person is motivated to do something based on an internal reward, such as enjoyment of the activity itself and/or a desire to be engaged in it. For instance, reading a book for leisure is usually done out of intrinsic motivation, to gain a sense of internal pleasure and fulfillment. When a person is intrinsically motivated to do something, the rewards for engaging in it include a sense of satisfaction. Benefits of this type of motivation can include increasing the meaning of the activity, making it important for the person engaging in it, as well as a sense of accomplishment and increased self-awareness. Intrinsic motivation can also increase autonomy and sense of purpose.

Extrinsic Motivation

• Extrinsic motivation is when a person is motivated to do something based on external factors, such as the expectation of reward or fear of punishment. When a teacher rewards a student with an A or gold stars, and threatens them with an F or punishments such as detention, these are external motivators. Businesses often function in this way, offering rewards such as cash bonuses or better offices.

Considerations

• Extrinsic reward systems have been met with much controversy, and are generally thought of as less motivating than intrinsic rewards. Extrinsic rewards are even thought of as possibly causing harm. For instance, creating an extreme power dynamic in a relationship that may result in subversion, conflict and resentment that ignore an individual's ability to choose freely and express self-determination.

  In the November 2009 issue of Psychology Today, Steven Reiss goes a step further and criticizes the duality created by both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Reiss argues that human motivation is a more complex process and cannot be easily distinguished between extrinsic and intrinsic incentives.

How to Send Cards to Children

Sending cards to children is as simple as finding a mailing address and writing a heartfelt message. Whether you send birthday wishes, holiday greetings, thank-you notes, apologies or even a message from your own child, cards mean a lot to children. Many greeting cards are available with music and animations, making them an ideal choice for children. You can also send cards over the internet to give kids a quick message. Online greeting cards work well for birthdays, as they're guaranteed to reach the child on the correct date.

Mailing a Card to a Child

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  Purchase or create a child-themed card for whatever the occasion is. Many kids' cards are sold in stores, while other designs are available online for purchase or free download.

• 2

  Write out a message inside of the card, keeping it simple enough for the child to understand. This may be a birthday greeting, thank-you note or holiday message, depending on the occasion.

• 3

  Ask the parents of the child for the home mailing address. This can be done in a simple phone call, explaining the reason for needing the mailing address.

• 4

  Place the card into an envelope with the child's name and mailing address on it. Take the envelope to the post office and ask for them to send it out. This will involve purchasing a stamp for the envelope.

Sending an Online Greeting Card

• 1

  Find an online greeting card website. Many are available for free, while some require payment for a membership.

• 2

  Click on the category best suited for your greeting card needs. This may be birthdays, apologies, every day cards, friendship cards or special holidays.

• 3

  Browse through the available cards and find something that is appropriate to send to a child. Kids may enjoy looking at greeting cards that contain music and animations.

• 4

  Customize the card so that it contains a personal greeting signed by yourself. Fill out the forms with your name and email address along with the child's name and email address.

• 5

  Preview the greeting card once before sending. The child should receive the card in his inbox within a couple hours. You may need to register an account on the website before you are able to send the card.

How to Use an Index for Children Activities

Planning activities for children can become complicated, especially if you are managing the activities for more than one child. One solution is to organize the activities by indexing them using a file system. An index filing system will enable you to track which activities each individual child will have during the year, what fees may be involved in the activities and how to register for the activities.

• 1

  Create a stack of index cards for each child. Each card will represent an activity that the child will attend throughout the year. The number of cards needed will vary depending on the number of activities involved.

• 2

  Write the important information about each activity on its respective index card. This information can include the name of the institution running the activity, dates when the activity begins and ends, cost of joining the activity and contact information.

• 3

  Use a pink highlighter to highlight the name of the institution running the activity.

• 4

  Use a green highlighter to highlight the dates when the activity begins and ends.

• 5

  Use a blue highlighter to highlight the cost of joining the activity and contact information. Using different colors for different parts of the card will allow you to quickly identify the information you need.

• 6

  Place a tab index card into an index file for each child, with their names written on their respective cards.

• 7

  Insert the index cards for each child in his or her tabbed index file.

Name Search Techniques

• Searching for a name is an important step in preparing for your new baby. Maria Toutoudaki/Photodisc/Getty Images

  Searching for a name can be one of the more difficult tasks facing a couple expecting a child, especially if they can't agree on a name. Babies Online advises that it can be an emotional experience, so it should be approached carefully and given a fair amount of consideration. For parents who are stuck, there are a few techniques that can help the name search process.

Follow Tradition

• Many couples choose to use traditional names from their relatives. Perhaps there is a long tradition of "Juniors" in the family or a pattern for swapping first and middle names. Going the traditional route can be an easy way to choose and a convenient way to honor a relative. To make the name unique, pair a family name with an original middle name or vice versa.

Special Names

• Names in ancient times were often tied to a person's background, culture, personality, birth order, or any other relevant factor. Today, names can hold this same significance for the parents that choose them.

  In this technique, each parent should list names that have a special meaning to him or her. Favorite literary characters, historical figures, or past friends might, make appearances on this list. With each partner thinking of important names, the list of possibilities will soon grow.

Search Online

• Many search banks exist online that can help parents choose a name by meaning, letter, country of origin, popularity, and many other categories. At BabyNames.com, parents-to-be can even browse "Celebrity Names" and "Cool Names" for more unusual ideas. Many of these sites will also provide lists of the most popular names to aid parents in the decision making process.

  These websites take out much of the legwork for parents and will allow each partner to identify his or her favorite names based on criteria that is important to them. Beware, however, that such a large database of names can be overwhelming.

Buy a Book

• Another age-old method is to purchase a list of baby names from the bookstore and flip through it page by page. A helpful way to attack such a vast list of names is to ask each partner to choose ten favorite names. Perhaps each partner could use a highlighter to mark his or her favorite names in the book.

How to Find Freestyle Breast Pump Tubing

Breast pumps involve a series of tubing to transport the milk from the breast to a container. Due to moisture that may remain in the tubes, mold and mildew may become present. Therefore, replacements will become necessary. Freestyle is a brand of tubing that works with the Freestyle breast pump system. The pump and tubing is made by Medela. This company sells replacement tubing in a variety of maternity and baby stores, including its own website.

• 1

  Find the model number of the breast pump. You will need this number when purchasing the replacement tubing. Look on the breast pump machine or the box that it came in. If you cannot find the number, contact Medela's customer service department (see resources). Give the customer service representative the model name of your pump. In this case, it is Freestyle. You can also search for your particular model on the Medela website (see resources).

• 2

  Order the replacement tubing by calling a baby supply store. Give the customer representative the pump's model name and number of the tubing. Provide your payment information. The wait time for the replacement tubing to arrive in the mail will depend on which shipping method you choose.

• 3

  Purchase replacement tubing from the Medela website or another baby supply store website. Click the link to Medela's listing for the Freestyle replacement tubing to see the a model number. Confirm that your breast pump model number matches the number of the tubing. Click "Add to Cart" to buy it and check out.

• 4

  Buy replacement breast pump machine tubing by physically going to a baby supply store. Click on the link on Medela's website that lets you search stores to find the company's products. To make finding replacement tubing even easier, bring the breast pump machine and some of its old tubing with you. Match the model number on the breast pump machine and visually confirm that you are choosing the right replacement by comparing the new tubing to the old.

Paper Cutting Activities for Toddlers

• Hold the paper for toddlers as they practice using scissors. Polka Dot/Polka Dot/Getty Images

  Learning to cut with scissors is a fairly complicated process that requires hand-eye coordination as well as the ability to control the small muscles in the hands and wrists. Most children can cut successfully by the time they are 4 1/2 to 5 years old. Don't be afraid to let children younger than this begin using scissors, as children need lots of practice to develop cutting skills. Under adult supervision, even toddlers can cut paper with scissors.

Cutting Paper Edges

• Most toddlers have little control over scissors and may struggle just to open and close them. You can show your child how to hold the scissors correctly, gently placing your hand over hers if needed. You can also hold the paper for the child with the long edge facing her. Help the child open and close the scissors to make small snips along the edge of the paper. You can have the toddler cut green paper to make "grass" or cut yellow paper to make "hay." Try turning the paper around and cutting snips along the opposite long edge to make a "feather."

Cutting Across Paper

• Once your toddler can comfortably open and close the scissors, she may be ready to cut across paper. Again, you can help by holding the paper for her and helping her move the scissors forward while cutting. Toddlers are typically too young to cut along lines or to cut out shapes. Instead, simply focus on cutting a narrow piece of paper in half. You can save the scraps of paper for collages and other art projects to help give your child a sense of accomplishment.

Types of Paper

• Begin by offering toddlers thick paper, such as card stock or index cards, since thicker paper stays still while children cut it. Using narrow, rectangular strips of paper allows the child to cut around the edges. As children develop scissor skills, you can introduce scrapbooking paper, construction paper or envelopes. These types of paper offer some stability but move slightly as children cut. Continue using narrow rectangular strips that children can cut in half in just one snip. Older toddlers and preschoolers can cut copy paper, notebook paper or magazine pages, which require children to have more control over the paper while cutting. Standard-sized paper is appropriate for children to cut across using several snips.

Baby Delivery Checklist

• Pack items that will be helpful to you during and after the delivery of your baby. David Aaron Troy/Digital Vision/Getty Images

  When the time has come to deliver your baby, you should have bags packed with items that will assist you during and after labor and delivery. There are a number of items that you will be glad you have packed, both before and after your baby has arrived. Make sure you not only pack items for yourself, but also for your partner and baby.

Paperwork

• When you go to the hospital to delivery your baby, they will give you paperwork to fill out (if you haven't completed it already) and ask for your ID and insurance. Make sure you bring a valid form of ID, your insurance cards, any hospital paperwork you have filled out and your birth plan, if desired. It is a good idea to bring a folder to hold all of the paperwork you are bringing and another folder to hold any other paperwork you will be given during your hospital stay. After the delivery of your baby you will most likely receive large amounts of informational papers and more paperwork that must be completed.

Items for Labor

• To help you during delivery, bring items that will help you concentrate and relax. Massage oils, a favorite pillow, music and a focal point, such as a picture, are a few items you may want to pack. Other items to include may be reading material, warm socks, flip flops or slippers and a robe to wear in the room or while walking the hallways. Pack personal items to keep you feeling clean, such as facial soap or wipes, a toothbrush and toothpaste, hair bands and a brush, contact solution and glasses, lip balm and makeup. Make sure you bring a camera and video camera to capture any special moments.

Items After Delivery

• After the delivery of your baby you will probably be hungry and tired. Pack healthy snack items and beverages to keep in your room that will hold you over while waiting for hospital food. Bring prenatal vitamins and any medicines you may be taking. You will want to pack comfortable nightgowns and clothes to wear during your hospital stay that give easy access for nursing. Other items you may wish to pack include sanitary pads, nursing pads, soap, shampoo and conditioner, a razor and shaving cream and any other desired toiletries. Your partner should pack comfortable clothes, toiletries, money for food and perhaps a laptop and reading material.

Items for Baby

• Bring any items you will need for your newborn. Bring a blanket, diapers and wipes, burp cloths, booties and a hat, an undershirt and a comfortable going home outfit that will not rub the umbilical cord. You will need a car seat installed if you have not done so already.

Newborn Sleep Tips

• Try different tips to help your newborn sleep. Monkey Business Images Ltd/Valueline/Getty Images

  You can probably say good-bye to a good night's sleep, at least for a few months, once you have a newborn. It is completely normal and necessary for a newborn to wake up every few hours for feedings. The good news is the rough sleep pattern usually only lasts from four to six months according to WebMD. You can try different tips to get your newborn to sleep.

Day and Night Lights

• It is important to make sure things are bright during the day and dim at night so you can begin regulating your newborn's internal clock. That means even when your baby is napping during the day, keep the curtains open and avoid blocking out light. At night, dim the lights even if your newborn is not asleep.

Day and Night Activities

• Keep things active and stimulating for your baby during the day. Play with her a lot and don't worry about any noise stimulation such as TVs around her. You should make eye contact during the day not only to keep your baby awake, but also to boost brain development and bonding. Avoid talking, singing or making eye contact with your newborn during late night feedings. An article in Parents magazine likens eye contact late at night to him drinking a double latte. When you make eye contact with your baby, their heart rate and blood pressure rise and they become more awake.

Limit Your Caffeine

• It is important to limit your caffeine intake if you are breast feeding. Caffeine can flow through to your breast milk. According to one article in Parents magazine, if your breast milk contains caffeine, it stays with your newborn for 96 hours.

Sleeping

• Swaddle your baby in a blanket when you are trying to get him to go to sleep. Swaddling mimics the feeling of the baby in the womb and helps them to feel safe and secure. Put your newborn's crib in your room, near your bed and bring them into bed for feeding. This helps you go back to sleep after feeding.

Angle the Mattress

• Angle the crib mattress if your newborn spits up a lot or has reflux. Keep your baby's feet lower than their head when you angle the mattress so his food stays put. Change the support platform on one side of the crib if your model allows you to; otherwise put blankets and pillows under one side of the mattress. Make sure the mattress is just at a slight incline, not so tilted that your baby slides down. Check with your pediatrician to make sure this is okay for your infant.

Use a Swing

• Put your newborn in a swing. The swing imitates the same feeling as the mom's movements when the baby was in the womb. These movements will often lull an infant to sleep. Put the swing on whatever speed comforts and soothes your newborn. You can also put your baby in a sling and walk around to mimic the womb.

Nighttime Routine

• Establish a nighttime routine as early as possible. Put her to bed while she is drowsy, but still awake. This will help her learn to soothe herself and fall asleep on her own. You don't have to wake your baby up if she falls asleep while feeding in order to keep the routine. You can also start a routine, such as giving your baby a bath before bed, to establish a routine.

The Advantages of Swaddling a Baby

• There are many benefits to swaddling your newborn. Monkey Business Images Ltd/Valueline/Getty Images

  Most newborns love being wrapped up, or swaddled, in a warm blanket. There are many advantages to the art of swaddling, making it a must-learn for new parents. Give it a try it when your baby is fed and dry. Chances are this simple practice will make her feel safe and secure. Keep in mind, however, that you should stop swaddling baby when she is old enough to kick off the blanket as it can pose as a suffocation hazard.

Helps Baby Sleep

• According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies who are swaddled sleep better. When your baby is swaddled, he is less likely to be disturbed by his own startle reflex. Swaddling can limit these movements and reduce spontaneous awakenings. Also, your baby will be able to fall back to sleep more quickly.

Keeps Baby Warm

• During the first few days of life, your baby's internal thermostat has not yet regulated itself. Swaddling will help keep her warm and snuggly before she is able to regulate her own temperature. Yet, keep in mind that a baby can also become overheated. Do not swaddle your baby with a thick blanket in warm room.

Reminds Baby of the Womb

• After nine months of being snugly wrapped up in the womb, your baby must suddenly adjust to the wide-open world. This adjustment can often be overwhelming. Swaddling offers a comfortable transition form womb to the world, as it reminds your baby of her comfy uterine cocoon.

Helps Calm Colicky Babies

• Swaddling is calming to all babies, but is especially calming to those suffering from colic. Being tightly wrapped up and secure can help your baby through their times of colicky distress. Unfortunately, not all colicky babies like to be swaddled. Give it a try the next time colic sets in and see how your child reacts.

May Prevent SIDS

• The most important thing you can do to prevent SIDS is to put your baby on her back while sleeping. In fact, SIDS has been reduced by 50 percent since 1994 when the Back to Sleep campaign was launched by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Swaddling helps keep your baby more comfortable on her back while sleeping and makes her less likely to awaken herself.

Ways to Promote Language Development

• Music lessons at a young age can help your child develop strong language skills. Susan Barr/Photodisc/Getty Images

  Though every child develops at his own rate, there are ways that you as a parent can actively promote the development of your child's language skills. There are a number of activities for your child to engage in besides speaking and listening that will help him develop appropriate or above-average language skills for his age.

Human Interaction

• Human interaction and verbal stimulation during the developmental years will aid your child's language skills beyond the toddler years. Studies of feral children and severely neglected children show a serious delay or even permanent incapacity to develop language-learning skills. One example comes in the case of "Genie," a girl who was kept isolated throughout her developmental years and never developed full linguistic capacity. This case provided evidence that human contact and stimulation in the early years of development will help lay the foundation for developing language skills even in adulthood. The website of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association provides examples of age-specific activities to promote language development from birth to 6 years.

Learning Through Context

• Research on how to effectively teach second-language acquisition has adopted methods from how children develop language skills in their first language. Linguistics professor Stephen Krashen's research has shown that children are rewarded for telling the truth rather than for using correct grammar. The 1983 documentary "A Child's Guide to Languages" provides an example of this in action. Krashen hypothesizes that if a child holds a teddy bear who is not wearing socks, and tells her mother "Teddy sock on," the mother would correct the untruth rather than the grammar. The child's mother replies, "No; teddy doesn't have a sock on," focusing on the context of the words. The mother did not correct the grammar by saying, "No; it's Teddy has got a sock on his foot." Using language as a tool to help young children understand the world around them in context is more effective than introducing and correcting grammatical-structure issues.

Studies in the Arts

• Studies show that starting music lessons at an early age can help with linguistic development. Regular music study has been proven to help children develop verbal skills beyond those of their peers. Start your child with formal music study during the toddler years to help develop language skills. Studies comparing children who did not study music to those who took regular classes proved that even grade schoolers showed vast improvement in verbal recognition and memory after starting music lessons.

Nonverbal Communication

• Use language to convey context and meaning in order to help your child develop her linguistic skills. Add body motions and nonverbal communication such as eye contact, shoulder shrugs, hand motions, and facial expressions to enhance the context of what you are saying. This will help convey meaning to your child that she will associate with the language that you are using.