Special for the holidays, Randi Sargent has designed a line of winter-themed cards for gift-giving or to send to your holiday card list– all of which promote awareness and acceptance of children with communication challenges. Sold under the name Symbolic Sentiments™, the owner-crafted note cards also carry a philanthropic benefit as up to 20% of all proceeds from the sale of Symbolic Sentiments cards are donated to the Federation for Children with Special Needs, a Boston-based organization. In light of recent statewide budget cuts, purchasing and sending holiday greeting cards from Giving Greetings benefits several Massachusetts charities—a nice incentive for those seeking a way to ‘give back’ this year.

Thousands of new moms face the emotional and physical challenges of breadwinning and breastfeeding. For some women, returning to work marks the end of the honeymoon period with a newborn, when a mom’s new role collides with demands at work — all of which may leave her feeling overwhelmed, says Justyna Lagman, a Naperville, Ill., certified lactation consultant. Having support from family, employer and other moms can mean the difference between nursing your child and throwing in the pump.

This time of the year, many families begin to think about charitable contributions, donations, and service. Before you give your items, money, or time, however, you should make sure you vet the charity of your choice carefully and look into any financial and tax questions which may arise.

Are you dreading the whole holiday card photo process? Do visions of cranky kids, red eyes and over-the-top bribes have you sweating? P&K spoke with local photographer Elizabeth Horne, of Elizabeth Horne Photography to get some inside tips on taking the perfect photo of your children.

 According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, food prices are increasing at the fastest rate since 1990. And, according to Rutgers Food Policy Institute, food prices increased 4.5 percent from March 2007 to March 2008, the largest one-year jump in nearly 20 years. Butter prices are up 31 percent, cheddar cheese prices are up 65 percent and nonfat dry milk prices are up 117 percent from a year ago. Rising energy cost surely have most of us worried but when we’re faced with an extra $20, $40, $60 per week at the grocery store, we feel the pinch on a more personal level.
 

The new diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in a child is a life-altering experience that creates many new stresses for the family. High on the list is how to deal with school. Arranging proper care in the school environment is a critical step. - JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation)

Your greatest defense against a house fire is having a family plan. Talk with your children about fire safety, conduct a fire drill and check your smoke detectors regularly. Even though the reason behind a fire drill is a serious one, you can still make the activity a fun and engaging one. Here’s how:

Until recently, it was commonly believed that Down syndrome and autism could not co-exist. Current estimates report that 5-7 percent of all children with Down syndrome are likely to be dually-diagnosed—a percentage substantially higher than is seen in the general population. Autism diagnoses have become more prevalent in recent years—a reported 1 out of 150 children. Families like the Grays are therefore establishing a guide of best practices for an emerging group of children and their families faced with dual diagnoses.

Sibling Love
Welcoming a second baby into the home often means preparing a young, firstborn child who has become accustomed to having Mom and Dad’s full attention. While there’s no right way to handle the transition, many parents say they rely on other parents, Web sites and community resources.

Weekly installment of Family Time:
Is your family prepared for a fire?
Movie review of “The Duchess”
Kids Kitchen: Banana Ghosts
Pet Tip: Running away

How difficult is it to care for a child with Down syndrome? This question has been raised by some members of the media because vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin has a 5-month-old baby with Down syndrome.
Perhaps the first question that needs to be asked: How difficult is it to raise a normal child? I have been the doctor for hundreds of Down syndrome children and have noticed there are many factors that determine how well a parent copes with this situation.

Having “the talk” with our kids is never easy. Just getting through saying the various anatomic names can be daunting for even the most savvy of parents. It used to be that we would talk about the basics, reproduction, and add sexuality, birth control and life issues like babies later on as our kids got older. This news of 17 pregnant Gloucester teens rocks that philosophy to the core! We need a new approach – one that takes into account the reality of what today’s teens are truly doing sexually.

September is baby safety month. Here are top 10 tips!

 

Anxiety is a normal part of life. Adults experience anxiety when moving or finishing a project with an upcoming deadline. Similarly, children might experience anxious feelings around grades, school presentations, or sports. However, when children experience too much anxiety, it can be distressing and interfere with their everyday functioning. In fact, clinical anxiety is the most prevalent emotional disorder in childhood.    

School is coming and pretty soon you'll be packing school lunches. If you're looking for some unique ideas to fill your child up and give him the energy he needs to get through the school day, we've assembled a few for you. 

While no one looks forward to getting shots, making sure children are up-to-date on vaccinations is a vital part of the back-to-school ritual. School is a special situation for health care because of the group setting created by the close proximity of teachers and students. For this reason, all states, including Massachusetts, have stat- mandated immunization laws in place for school entry.

Summer is the best time of year for many of us, ripe with opportunities for fun experiences. One idea is to enroll your dog in a basic or advanced training course. These classes can be exciting adventures that surely involve the entire family. When your children become a part of the training, your dog learns to respect them as well. Training also models to kids one aspect of responsible pet ownership. Even a four or five year old child can regularly rehearse with a dog “sit” and “down,” under your supervision.  

Turning three is a milestone for every child. Three marks the end of the toddler era, and as the round cheeks and belly thin out and toddling turns to walking, to running, to climbing, parents watch their baby turn into an independent preschooler.  For children with special needs, three is an extra-significant birthday, because it marks a change in the way a child receives services and ushers in an era of venturing out into the world of school.

Summer is the perfect time for healthy lifestyle habits. The days are longer and brighter, allowing families to spend more active time together outdoors. And at no time during the year is the variety of fruits and vegetables more abundant. Whether you’re looking for ways to hone the healthy habits you’ve already established, or find ways to create new ones, read on…

It’s a hot summer day and Franklin resident Patty Dillon has filled her morning with exercise and errands. She may be in “summer mode” but her mind is never far from her life’s passion – serving as a third-grade teacher at Memorial Elementary School in Medway.