It goes by many different names. The International Day of the Child. The Universal Children’s Day. The National Child Day in individual countries.

However, it doesn’t matter what it’s called. November 20 is a special day for children all over the world.

When it all started

It was almost 55 years ago when the General Assembly of the United Nations recommended that the special day be observed to celebrate “worldwide fraternity and understanding between children.” The Assembly decided on November 20 as the special day which also marks the day when the Declaration of the Rights of the Child was adopted in 1959 and Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989. Today, all over the world, countries, organizations and schools celebrated this very special day.

How I celebrated the Universal Child’s Day

I live in Switzerland, one of the smallest but most diverse countries in Europe. When one of my sons’ teachers asked for extra help for this day, I immediately volunteered despite my full schedule. Each class at the school had chosen a country to celebrate its culture and tradition. One of my sons’ class had chosen England; the other Pakistan. The schoolchildren from the neighboring town were invited over so they can celebrate together. My task was to show the children how to prepare cucumber sandwiches and tea for a typical English repast – English tea. I am not English, but I am familiar with the culture and I speak the language.

The classrooms were so wonderfully decorated according to the theme country and many parents lent a hand. A Daddy from Togo played African beats on drums. A Mommy from Thailand made lots of spring rolls while a Swiss Mommy married to a Pakistani baked patties from her husband’s region.

All 500 plus of the school kids then gathered outside, joined hands, and formed a big circle around the school house. Afterwards, Universal Child Day balloons were released.

It was a long morning for the kids. It was great chance for us moms to participate in such an event. My sons were so proud to tell their classmates “That’s my Mom. She helped us make the cucumber sandwiches.”

What the Universal Children’s Day means

As the name indicates, today was a day dedicated to each and every child in the world. However, it doesn’t stop there. It is also the chance to draw attention to the plight of children in low income regions. Yes, somewhere in the world, children still suffer from:

• Poverty. According to a study, 1 in 3 children in developing countries has no access to sanitation facilities. 1 in5 has not access to clean water.

• Child labor. The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that 218 million children are being used as labourers, with the highest numbers in the Asian-Pacific region.

• Child abuse. 80 to 98% of children suffer from physical punishment at home. More than 50,000 die as a result of homicide.

• Diseases. Millions of children die from malaria, tuberculosis and other diseases which are easily preventable and curable in developed countries.

• Lack of education. 13% of children aged 7 to 28 years in developing countries (approx. 140 million children) have never attended school, most of them girls.

• Discrimination and racism.

Many of us may not realize that these things are not only happening in some remote country. It may be happening in our own neighborhood. Here in Switzerland, the main problems children have to contend with are racism and discrimination.

I really applaud the school’s efforts to introduce the children to other cultures, thereby broadening their horizon and promoting tolerance, respect and appreciation for diversity. I was proud to be part of this effort. And I hope that other parents will participate more in the coming years to help make this world a better place for our kids.

School had already started here in Switzerland when the ‘walk to school’ debate started in the US in September this year. It was partly initiated by an article in the New York Times ‘Why can’t she walk to school?’ The story featured a mother who let her 7-year old girl, a second grader in upstate New York walk a block and half to school. Friends, neighbors, and families were just horrified at this apparent “lack of judgment” on the part of the mother.

In the part of the world where I live in, walking to school is the norm rather than the exception, and moms who chauffeur their kids to school, the so-called Mama-Taxis, are considered a traffic hazard frowned upon by school authorities, traffic officers, and other parents.

Why Parents are Afraid

Walking alone, even in familiar territory, presents danger to little children. The story of Little Red Riding has been our guiding lesson at a very young age. Kidnapping, pedophilia, bullying, and traffic accidents are just a few of the reason why parents would practically delivery their children right at the school doorstep and pick them up the same way. We’ve all heard the horror stories over the years of abductions and murders that have occurred.

However, because of these fears, parents would, according to the NYT, watch over their kids with unhealthy paranoia. Examples of these behaviors are:

• Parents and children sit in their cars at the end of the driveways to wait for the school bus.

• School buses are fitted with surveillance cameras.

• Parents drive to school with their kids’ names on the dashboard and children are individually escorted out by a school staff.

• People who see kids walk to school alone call the authorities.

• Parents who let their kids walk to school alone are reprimanded and are threatened to be charged with child endangerment.

What are the Benefits of Kids Walking to School?

• Walking to school builds character - It’s my kids’ way to independence.

• Walking prepares kids to navigate the world – Some experts believe that children who are chauffeured to and from school are not prepared to navigate the outside world.

• Walking is healthy – Lack of physical exercise is one of the major factors that contribute to chronic health problems and obesity in children these days. Walking to school give kids the chance to get physical exercise, get some fresh air and sunshine.

• Walking is cheaper and environmentally friendly – Gasoline  is expensive and driving adds to air pollution. According to the traffic officer, a lot of traffic accidents involving children happen because of the traffic hazards presented by Mama-Taxis.

With these things in mind, I give some tips as to how I got my kids ready for walking to school.

Make sure your child is ready -I rehearsed with my kids several times before school started. On the way to school, they have to cross the main street which is usually manned by 2 traffic guards during school days. However, they have to learn to cross on their own, just in case the guards aren’t around. If your child doesn’t feel too secure about walking alone, then walk with him or her until she gains confidence.

Choose the safest way – The safest way is not necessarily the shortest way. I showed my kids to take a way where they aren’t exposed too much to vehicular traffic. However, I did check it out several times, paying attention to hazards such as steps, dogs, water, insufficient street lighting etc. that they might encounter along the way.

Once they grow older and more street wise, I’m sure they’d take the shorter route. But that’s years away from now.

There is safety in numbers – I always emphasize this to my twin boys. They go to separate classes but they have similar schedules and the rule is: wait for each other. It is advisable that your child walks with other children even if it means making a detour. Talk to other moms and pool your kids together.

Leave the wheels at home – Bicycles, skates, and scooters, leave them at home until the kids are old enough. The safest way to get to school is walking, even though it may not be the fastest.

Make your child as visible as possible to motorists – Reflectors on jackets and school bags make children more visible to drivers. Kindergarten kids in Switzerland are required to walk the streets with some sort of reflector vests.

Do spot checks – I have to admit it. I spied on my kids during the first few weeks of school just to make sure they are alright. I also try to observe their behavior while walking. Are they being careful? I have stopped spying on them since but I do spot checks from time to time and tell them ‘I just happened to be nearby.’

Let go. And don’t feel guilty – I know a lady who’s been waging a battle for the last couple of years against her daughter, her daughter’s teachers, and her fears. She was traumatized as a child when she witnessed a friend fatally ran over by a car on the way to school. I can imagine how difficult it is for her to let go and let her daughter walk to school alone. But we cannot protect our kids forever. And we shouldn’t make our fears their fears. We have to let go at some stage, and we shouldn’t be feeling guilty either.

The flu, especially the swine flu is making headlines everyday and I deemed it wise to give you the latest flu updates that may be relevant for you and your family.

Swine Flu Shots in New York Schools

Schools in New York City will start offering H1N1 shots end of October, the NY Times report. Those of you residing in NYC might already have received the consent forms. The vaccination will cover primary public schools but private schools who want to participate will also get access to the vaccine. The shots or nasal sprays will be administered by school nurses. Middle and high schools are scheduled later in November and December. Other cities and states are expected to follow suit.

Pregnant Women Urged to Get the H1N1 flu Vaccine

Pregnant women are on top of the H1N1 vaccination priority list. This is because pregnant women seem to be especially vulnerable. Health authorities say that the mortality rate among women infected with H1N1 is six times higher than what is normally observed in the general population. The reasons for pregnant women’s vulnerability are their young age and an immune system that is naturally weakened in order not to reject the growing fetus. It is, however, very hard for pregnant women to accept the flu vaccine despite health official’s reassurances of its safety. So far, 28 deaths have been reported among pregnant women in the US but health officials think it could be more. Many cases go unreported for confidentiality reasons. An NY Times report features one almost fatal case.

Tamiflu for Children in Short Supply

In another report from the NY Times earlier this month, Mary Poppin’s advice that a spoonful of sugar would make medicine more palatable may also be true for the flu drug Tamiflu. The liquid pediatric version of the drug is in short supply as drug companies are concentrating on producing more pills which are definitely much faster to manufacture than Tamiflu syrup. Some sources say that the manufacturing process for the suspension is almost 25 times longer than for the pills. Pharmacists are therefore advised to mix Tamiflu capsules in a liquid that consists of sugar, purified water, artificial cherry flavoring. The instructions on how to mix the liquid version are given in the Tamiflu labels, the report says. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also gives easy to understand instructions in their site.

Flu Fears Prompt Review of the Sportsman Handshake

The hockey season has started and sports associations are scrambling to come up with hygiene guidelines that would hopeful prevent the swine flu. CBC reports that the chief medical officer of Hockey Canada sent out a bulletin with recommended precautionary measures which include no sharing of water bottles and – yes – maybe even do without the end-of-game handshake. It’s not only hockey that is affected. I am a soccer mom here in Switzerland and as early as school start in August, there were already instructions to avoid the sportsmen handshake, if possible. Just one more challenge for parents to find the balance between short-term preventive measure and long-term character building. At least hockey players wear gloves…

My daughter started preschool a few weeks ago.  Yes Moms and Dads, the years do fly by that quickly.  The first day, my 2 year-old didn’t even bat an eyelash as we left her playing with the myriad of toys that her teacher laid out.   We breathed a sigh of relief but her teacher cautioned us that kids her age usually start being tearful on the second day, once she’s learned that she will be left there by her parents.  And it was true.  M. spent her next few classes crying “on and off” according to her teachers. We took this to mean she cried all day (well, 1/2 day, as shes’ only there for 3 hours). Here is what we would do differently and what are we doing now.

Easing the Transition to Preschool

• Visit the classroom before your child begins. This allows your child to meet other children, and feel familiar with the surroundings without the stress of leaving them.  Make several visits.  Point out their teacher and have them learn their teacher’s names.  Introduce them to at least one other child they look to be compatible with. This can greatly reduce the separation anxiety many children feel on the first day of school. I only made one pre-visit  and I wished I had made more.  Of course, make sure that the visits are okay with the teacher first.

• Make school an upbeat topic. Don’t add to your child’s stress by falling apart thinking how much you’ll miss her and join her in her tears.  Point out all the things she’ll be learning.  I keep telling my daughter that school will help her grow smarter.  I also point out all the friends she’ll make.  For now, she tells me that “I don’t want to play with the kids!”…but I’ve  been assured that her attitude will change.

• Say good-bye and tell him you’ll be back. Don’t sneak away as this can really traumatize your child.  When you promise you’ll be back and you do come back, he will gradually learn that it’s okay to be left there, and okay to have fun, because Mommy and Daddy will return.

• Don’t sneak back in. You’ll then have to start all over again with the tears, the good-byes, etc.  Let them finish the day and only come back if the school asks you to return.

• Let them have their comfort object at school. This particularly stressful time is not the time to try to wean them from their security items – a paci, a patch of their blankie, or a favorite doll.  Unless the school has a  policy of no bringing toys from home, let her have something comfortable to hold on to at school.  My daughter keeps her Boo doll from Monsters, Inc.

Most important of all, stay the course.

It’s hard to send your child off when they’re not so willing to go to school, but remember all the reasons you sent them there in the first place.  Ideally, you’re sending them to a school with a good reputation, and you’ve done your homework in that regard.  Now it’s time to recall why preschool is good for them.  For my daughter, she is an only child, with no cousins nearby, and I wanted to make sure she is well-socialized.  We already went to gym class and dance class together, but I felt she needed more exposure to other children.  The extra hours in the two 1/2 days she goes also affords me time to work out, and pursue other non-toddler related interests.  Hopefully, in a few weeks, I can report a child who’s eager to go to school.

Point, and clap, and gesture, and do the hand actions to intsy-bitsy spider. According to researchers in Chicago, when you do, you’ll be helping your child develop language skills.

Parents who gesture with meaning when they are talking to their babies and toddlers boost their child’s language development. Apparently, waving bye-bye as well as saying “goodbye” helps babies learn communication skills.

At 14 months, toddlers who had parents who made more gestures when talking were better communicators, including making meaningful gestures themselves. And amongst the same children at age 4, the ones who made more gestures as toddlers now had bigger vocabularies and better language comprehension skills.

This isn’t baby sign language, beloved craze of the yummy mummy set. It’s natural gestures that go along with everyday talking to your baby.  But proponents of baby sign language seem to have one thing right. Babies can make meaningful gestures long before they can speak words. If babies interact with their parents and caregivers using gestures before they talk, they start to learn communication earlier and this seems to give them a head start in learning verbal communication.

So hold your hands wide apart to illustrate “big”, lift your arms over your head for “up”, wiggle your fingers to make caterpillars, or do whatever gestures seem to go naturally with whatever you are talking to your baby about. Have fun, and it seems like you’ll encourage your baby’s language development.

As Amy Carter walked through the doors of Thaddeus Stevens Elementary School, the media had a heyday. But most of the country?s top politicians ever since have opted instead for private schools. So a lot of people this week are urging the Obamas to make the PC decision and send their two daughters, Sasha and Malia, to D.C. public schools.

Among them is the D.C. superintendent of schools. He lauds the district?s many fine neighborhood and charter schools. He cites the opportunity for language instruction, multicultural environment, and the many students who are wooed by top-notch colleges. Additionally, D.C. is a ?school choice? district, meaning parents have the right to enroll their children out of the boundaries of their neighborhood school, assuming there is room in the desired facility.

The superintendent also suggests that the Obamas can learn about all the problems with No Child Left Behind (NCLB) by putting their kids in the thick of it.

I was on his side until I got to that part. As a public school teacher by profession myself, I think that the superintendent is making his request at the children?s expense. Not that I disagree with the idea that the Obamas should consider ALL of their options. Nor do I disagree that the local public school could be their best option. But they should make a decision based on what works best for each child and the family as a whole. They should not make educational decisions in order to make a political statement. They especially should not send their daughters into a mess (the superintendent?s opinion of NCLB, not mine) so they can see firsthand how bad it is.

That doesn?t make a lick of sense.

My husband is also a public school teacher, so we raised a few eyebrows when we decided to home school our son through junior high. But I would not be shamed into enrolling him in a school that I did not feel best met his educational needs. School is not one-size fits all. And teachers know this better than anyone. I have several friends who take their children to different schools because the one that?s best for the oldest child is not best for he next.

Of course, the Obamas have more options than some families because of their position in life. I think that?s great. Their decision may involve more than just academics, as do all of our school choices. They must consider their values, as well as what?s convenient. They also (unlike most of us) need to consider politics and security. But it?s not just public vs. private anymore.

Parents can choose to homeschool, they can investigate charter schools (which are tuition-free), and there are public or private hybrids with homeschooling. If the Obamas? move has you thinking about school, maybe it?s time to re-evaluate your own school choices. Hopefully, you find that what you have decided is still the best place for your kids. But if not, it?s a great time to look at the new opportunities that may have arisen in your community.

A school board in Neenah, Wisconsin has forbidden birthday sweets on the school premises. If you can come up with a sweetless party and sugar-free party favors, then you are allowed to celebrate your child’s birthday at school. Otherwise, go elsewhere. This is the school board’s latest measure against childhood obesity as reported at LiveScience.

Has it really come to this? What are we going to ban next? Trick or Treating? Christmas parties? Easter egg hunts?

I firmly believe in moderation when it comes to sweets, as I’ve written in my posts again and again. I also believe there are valid restrictions at school that should be followed. In one of my sons’ preschool classes, the teachers specifically requested this year that party goodies be free from nuts and chocolates out of consideration for kids with allergies to these foodstuffs. That’s reasonable. And my son was the first one to remind of these. “No chocolates or nuts, mommy. I don’t want my friends to be ill.”

I also try to go for healthy food and party favors without taking the fun out of the party. I serve only juice and water instead of soda, for example. I go for banana or carrot cakes, dark chocolates, and whole grain cookies. A few gum drops and gummi bears here and there for color can’t hurt.

I agree that there is reason for concern considering the current estimate of 16% incidence of children obesity in the US. However, studies have shown that food intake is only one of the many factors involved in this problem. Physical activity, genetics, and environmental factors are also involved.

Recent studies have shown that exercise especially plays an important role in controlling children’s weight. There are many schools out there which have launched anti-obesity programs through healthy food and exercise and some have shown some degree of success. In Switzerland, health insurance companies will soon be paying for special fitness exercises for overweight children conducted by certified fitness instructors and centers.

But is such a radical move as banning birthday sweets really necessary? What do you think?

I’m going to school right now to pursue another degree. I’m one of those whom statistics cite as changing their field of career at least once within their lifetime. With that comes a lot of sacrifice, juggling of schedules, and many other unique stressors that accompany being a “student mom”.

5 Things I Hate:

• Having to ignore my daughter’s pleas to play while I’m working on a paper, researching an assignment, or working on assignments at the home computer.
• Hearing my daughter and husband (with whom I already don’t spend enough time) playing just outside the door, and unable to join them.
• Hearing my young, single classmates taking everything for granted, and foregoing a good grade to party, while I’m here making sacrifice after sacrifice.
• Having only one income.

5 Things I Love:

• Stimulating my brains. I’m definitely recovering the “mommy brain” I had for a while after my daughter was born.
• Being a good example to my daughter of someone who can sacrifice money and comfort to pursue one’s dream. And get an A at the same time!
• Having a flexible enough school schedule that I am still available a few days of the week to take my daughter to the park and play areas, and to run other errands.
• Having adult interaction with people who have the same pursuits I do, and some of them are other mommies too!
• Being among the younger students in my class, the ones who are responsible, who infuse me with vigor.

It’s tough being a student mom. But I’m also confident that I’m doing something worthwhile and fulfilling. In several years, once I’ve graduated, we’ll look back on this and see it as a character-building experience.

With a new school year starting soon (or already started in some places), a new batch of young children are getting ready to go to school for the first time. Although there is excitement on behalf of the child) at the prospect of being one of the “big kids”, and for the new clothes and backpack and school supplies, there is also trepidation. Parents are often no better with this milestone.

However, there are some things parents can do to prepare their child for the first day of school:

• talk often about how much fun school will be
• arrange playdates with other children in the same class to ensure the child knows other students
• consider a visit to the classroom in the spring as a sort of “test run”
• suggest role-playing games where the parent is the teacher and the child is the student

While some anxiety is normal during the first few weeks, if it continues or the child becomes more aggressive in their behaviour in avoiding going to school or when at school, it could be signs of a more difficult case. Most experts suggest consulting the child’s teacher, since they have a wealth of experience dealing with similar situations from previous years.

Ultimately, it’s important to remember that our children take our cues from their parents. Be calm (even if you’re not) and reassuring; tell them that you’re excited for them, and that you hope they are excited too. If you appear OK with the whole process (even if your heart is breaking inside), it will make it easier for your child.

Source: Letting go can be hard for younger students, parents via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Okay, so you’re probably sleep-deprived and feeling a little overwhelmed already, but if you have recently joined the ranks of stay-at-home moms or dads then you may want to consider that this may be the ideal time to finish up that degree you’ve always wanted. You don’t have to take on a full load of classes, and with all the colleges and universities offering online degree programs you might not even have to leave your home.

I worked on my degree off and on for many years, but after I quit work to raise my baby I started thinking about how great it would be to get my degree taken care. If I wanted to return to work after my kids start school I figured it would be better to have my degree in place. I contacted the last university I had attended and it turned out I could finish the rest of my classes online, so I signed up.

I started slowly a first – a class here, a class there – but eventually I got into a groove and actually wound up taking a full schedule of classes. Even though the classes were online I still had to go on-site to take my final exam, and I’ll never forget waddling into the classroom to take my Statistics final while I was 8 1/2 months pregnant with my second baby. I got an “A” in that class, thankfully.

I graduated last year with my B.S., and although I don’t really use my degree right now it’s great to have it finished. Now my husband and I are both eyeing graduate school. We’re trying to figure out who gets to go first, because we don’t want to try both of us going to school while raising the kids. As for me, I think I may elect to wait until my kids head to school before I start my graduate studies so my husband can finish his up, but if anyone knows of any benevolent corporations who are itching to send freelance writers to graduate school on full scholarships, kindly send them my way.