Signing at Snack Time

By: Amber Remillard

Baby sign language is a tool that helps little ones communicate before they can speak. It builds on the natural gestures your baby is already using, such as reaching his arms up to show you he wants to be picked up. Snack time is a great time to use sign language because so many little ones are motivated by food. Use these tips to get started:

Tell him, “Time to eat. Eat,” while showing him the sign for eat.

Pick a favourite food, like apples and crackers, so he is motivated to ask for more. Get your child’s attention by holding the cracker in front of him. Once he is looking, do the sign for cracker, give him the cracker and then do the sign again. While he’s eating you can say, “Yummy cracker” and show him the sign again. The more he sees the sign while you say the word, the more likely he will use it on his own. Do the same with offering apples or apple sauce.

When he starts pushing his food say, “You’re all done. All done,” while you are showing the sign for all done.

Most babies will start signing between six and eleven months old, but you can start signing with your little one any time you’re ready. Just remember that the more consistent you are in using sign language, the faster your baby will pick it up. Over time, your baby will tell you with sign that he wants a cracker rather than whine and fuss!

For more information, visit www.mysmarthandswithamber.com.

photo courtesy of My Smart Hands

"All done." ~ start

photo courtesy of My Smart Hands

"All done." ~ finished

photo courtesy of My Smart Hands

"Eat"

photo courtesy of My Smart Hands

"Cracker"

photo courtesy of My Smart Hands

"Apple"

Kids, Meet My Mate

Introducing your kids to a new boyfriend or girlfriend can be tricky...

By: Lee Block

For those of us that have been divorced and out in the dating world, we know that it can be difficult to find someone that we not only love but trust enough to feel they are worthy to meet our kids. 

One thing you don’t want to do is introduce the kids before you or they are ready.  Once your relationship is serious and you know it is going to be long term, sit down with your children and tell them you would like for them to meet your new beau.  If they resist, they aren’t ready.  Don’t force the issue.  The kids have been through enough trauma with the divorce, and they will eventually become curious and want to know this person that you are dating.

Before you introduce your kids, don’t just sit down with your kids, but sit down with your new mate as well.  It is important to set down ground rules.  You will have expectations, as will they, as to how it is going to be when you are all together.  Explain the rules you have placed on your kids and the way you handle them when they misbehave.  Let your beau know if he can reprimand or give the kids candy and treats.  This will avoid conflict within your relationship, and the kids will also see that the new friend is not Walt Disney and the two of you work together as a team.

As a courtesy, let your ex know that you will be introducing the kids to your new mate.  Also, give the ex the opportunity to meet them first.  This is someone who is spending time with your kids, so it is important that you are not only all on the same page, but that everyone is comfortable with each other.  This also helps if the children go to your ex with questions about your new friend.  They can answer the questions with knowledge instead of being blindsided with not knowing and it helps to keep the peace.

Don’t bring every Tom, Dick and Jane to meet your kids.  In other words, serious, committed and long term should be words that you use when describing your relationship before introducing them to the kids.  The last thing you want is to introduce them to Tom and then when you break up with Tom and bring Dick around, they are still asking about Tom.  This can be confusing to them, and also teaches them that relationships are disposable.

Although it may seem tricky, make the first meeting light and fun.  If the first time doesn’t go well, don’t despair.  There will be plenty of time for everyone to get to know each other.  Take it slow and easy and don’t push.  Eventually, everyone will be happy with the bonus buddies they now have.

Lee Block is a certified professional divorce coach and twice divorced mom of two who saw a need in the post-divorce community and created a family of sites centered around fulfilling that need.  Lee has successfully launched The Post-Divorce Chronicles, Lee Block.Com, and The Post-Divorce Dating Club, all within a matter of months.

*Lee is offering a 30% discount on any membership at Post-Divorce Dating Club to our readers who are re-singled!  Just use the code P2011R at checkout!