How to Teach your Children about Respect

From the moment our children are born, we begin teaching them necessary life skills. We teach them to eat, train them to sleep, and teach them to walk, but sometimes we forget that we must also teach them how to be people of character. Children are not born respecting others, so how can you teach your children about respect?

• Give your kids the right tools. When babies cry, they’re not being disrespectful, but as children grow older, they must be taught that crying and tantrums are not the right methods for getting what they need. Establish clear limits and consequences for breaking rules, and teach kids how to politely ask you for what they need. When you set boundaries, you teach kids that the world doesn’t revolve around them, and when you teach manners, you’re causing them to think about how they speak to other people.
• Make sure your expectations are appropriate. Set your child up to succeed, by making sure his or her needs are met. A child who is hungry, tired, or stressed may react in a way that seems disrespectful without even realizing that’s what’s happening. Make sure kids have a clear understanding of what’s expected, and if they behave inappropriately, follow through on consequences but then discuss things later to clarify the limits. Talk to your child about what happened and why it happened, and listen to the child’s point of view.
• Recognize that compliance and respect are two different things. Some children are compliant without ever respecting their parents, just because they fear consequences. Discipline in a way that’s not demeaning or harsh, to foster an atmosphere of cooperation and respect.
• Monitor what’s going into their minds. Turn on sitcoms, movies, or YouTube, and you’ll immediately see that much of the programming directed at kids contains blatant examples of disrespect. Set limits on what your children see and hear, and talk to them about messages they’re getting from the world around them. Take the time to discuss the right and wrong ways to treat other people, so that your child understands the behavior you expect.
• Create a culture of respect in your home. Don’t lose your temper or allow inappropriate behavior to cause you to behave badly. Instead, model what you want to see reflected, holding yourself accountable for your mistakes as well as correcting your child in a respectful manner. Make sure your co-parent is on the same page, and that you treat each other with respect. When the rules of the house include treating other people respectfully, children will carry that behavior with them.

At the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, we love helping people build their families. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 for a free consultation.

Why it’s Important for Your Children to Get Enough Sleep

When it comes to kids and sleep, there are so many different schools of thought that it can be confusing. Some parents run a tight ship, with stringent sleep-training, bedtimes strictly scheduled, naps mandated, and nighttime rituals protected as though they’re sacred. Others have a more relaxed attitude, letting kids decide when they’re tired and get to bed whenever they feel like it. More and more, though, research is favoring the sleep-mandators, and doctors are urging parents to make sure their kids are getting enough sleep. Why is good sleep suddenly an urgent public-health mission?

• Growing kids need sleep. Growth hormone is principally secreted during deep sleep, which is why babies spend to much time sleeping. When children don’t get enough sleep, they don’t grow the way they should.
• Sleep is important to a child’s health. Sleep can help protect children from vascular damage. Additionally, excessive brain arousal during the night elevates blood glucose and cortisol, which are both risk factors in diabetes and heart disease. Kids who don’t get enough sleep are also at risk of becoming overweight, and too little sleep results in lowered resistance to infection, illness, and stress.
• Kids who don’t sleep enough are at a higher risk of injury. When children don’t get enough sleep, they’re clumsier and more impulsive. In fact, in one study of Chinese children, 91 percent of kids with two or more injuries in a year got fewer than nine hours of sleep each night.
• Good sleep enhances a child’s ability to learn. The impulsivity and distractibility seen in kids with ADHD are also seen in children who get too little sleep. Studies of school-aged kids have shown that adding as few as 27 minutes of sleep per night can make it easier for them to manage moods and impulses and focus on schoolwork. From infancy, kids process information while sleeping, and napping can boost recall in older kids.

So how much sleep does your child need? For children under a year old, the recommendation is 12 to 16 hours. For ages 1-2, it’s 11 to 14, and between 3 and 5, it’s 10-13 hours. Elementary kids need 9-12 hours of sleep each night, and teenagers require 8-10. To facilitate this, help your children establish good sleep habits, with a consistent bedtime ritual, a comfortable sleeping environment, and no screens for two hours before bedtime. If your child seems to be anxious about sleeping, snores loudly, wakes frequently during the night, wets the bed after age 7, or is excessively sleepy during the day, talk to your pediatrician.

At the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, we love helping people build their families. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 for a free consultation.

How to Boost Your Child’s Brain Development

From birth to age three, children’s brains develop rapidly. You’ve probably heard these early years referred to as the formative years, and it’s true that brain development affects all areas of a child’s growth. What’s also true, though, is that much of the interaction you’ll naturally have with your child will help this brain development.

• Brain development starts before birth. When you do your best to have a healthy pregnancy, eating well and avoiding drugs, smoking, and alcohol, you’ll be helping your baby to develop properly. You can also talk to your baby before he or she is born, in order to begin to build both your bond and your child’s vocabulary before birth.
• Connecting with your baby is sometimes as simple as a smile. Smile at your baby, stick out your tongue, and react to the child’s facial expressions and vocalizations. Interact with your baby in an attentive and focused way, to help build a strong emotional bond. Respond to your baby promptly and consistently.
• Narrating the world to your baby builds language skills. Talk to your baby as you go about your day, telling him what you’re doing, or pointing out things of interest. Talk back when your baby babbles and coos, fostering communication. Research indicates that the size of a child’s vocabulary at age three is directly related to how many words are spoken in the home.
• Read to your little one, to foster a love of books. Begin before the baby is even born, and make reading part of your daily routine. Even before your child can recognize letters or words, reading boosts language and communication skills. In fact, reading is one of the best things you can do to promote healthy brain development. As your child grows, ask questions about what’s happening in a book’s pictures, engaging the child while increasing his or her understanding of the story.
• Children learn through play. Simple games like peek-a-boo, pretend play, and playing with toys are all great ways to help a baby’s brain develop. It’s been said that play is the work of childhood, and when you play with children, you help them build important social skills as well as fostering creativity and imagination. Perhaps even more importantly, you’re building your relationship with your child.
• Sing to your baby. You don’t have to need a great voice, or even to be able to carry a tune! Songs help your baby learn rhythm, rhymes and language patterns. Sing all the nursy rhymes you can remember, do all the body and hand motions, and dance or bounce along to the rhythm.

At the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, we love helping people build their families. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 for a free consultation.

Why you Should Interact with Your Unborn Child

Before a baby is born, there’s a lot of preparation and excitement. If you’re expecting a baby, you probably can’t wait until your child is born, so you can begin to interact and bond with each other. The good news is that you don’t have to wait! You can start forming a bond with your baby before he or she is even born.

It may feel silly to have a one-sided conversation with a person inside your body, but research indicates that babies begin to react to sound as early as 24 weeks. Even before that, though, you can interact with your baby by massaging your bump. You can also gently push back against your baby’s kicks, and you may be surprised when you get a nudge or a kick in response!

Interacting with your soon-to-be-born child can help you feel more connected to your baby, and it benefits the baby as well. Research shows that your voice can be calming to your baby, and that babies remember their mothers’ voices after they’re born. What’s more, there’s evidence to suggest that language development begins before birth. Once your baby can hear, there are some great ways to begin to communicate with this new little person.

• Talk to your baby. The conversations you have with your unborn baby are paving the way for his or her social and emotional development, as well as language skills and memory. The sounds babies hear before birth begin to shape their understanding of the world.
• Sing songs and play music. Skip the earphones on the belly, as this can lead to music that’s too loud for your baby. There’s evidence, though, that music can have a big impact on a child’s development, and even babies as young as one day old can detect differences between rhythms. Sometimes, babies are soothed by the lullabies they heard their mothers sing before they were born.
• Read to your little one. Reading to your unborn baby can help stimulate his or her senses and promote brain development. Books that have a clear rhythm and rhyming patterns can be soothing and almost melodic. Reading aloud to your baby before and after he or she is born can be a calming experience for both of you.
• Encourage other family members to bond with the baby, too. Reading to the baby or feeling the kicks can help the baby’s dad feel more connected, and the baby will be able to hear and remember his voice. This goes for older siblings, too, and it’s a great way to give them some “ownership” of the pregnancy.

At the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, we love helping people build their families. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 for a free consultation.

Items to Have Before Your Baby is Born

When you’re expecting a baby, it’s natural to feel unprepared. The very idea of welcoming a whole new person into the world can feel overwhelming, and you may wonder how you can possibly anticipate everything you’ll need when the baby arrives. Sometimes, though, knowing what you need means identifying what you don’t need. It’s not necessary to buy every available baby item:  newborns need far fewer things than you might think. We recommend sticking to the basics.

• Your baby will need clothes. You won’t believe how many changes of clothing a baby can go through in one day. Stick to sleepwear and onesies for those first few weeks, with only a couple of “photo ready” outfits. Be aware that babies outgrow newborn clothes in a flash, so you’ll need some larger sizes. Socks and hats are a must, newborn mittens can prevent face scratches, and you’ll need some baby laundry detergent.
• You’ll need to feed the baby. If you’re breastfeeding, you may not need much gear. A breast pump, some bottles and milk storage containers will allow someone else to handle a feeding sometimes. You may want a nursing pillow, nursing bra, and some nursing pads. If you’re formula feeding, stock up on bottles and formula, being careful to check the expiration dates, and purchase a bottle and nipple brush. No matter how you plan to feed the baby, buy tons of bibs and burp cloths. Get more than you think you could possibly need. Trust us on this.
• Diapers are a necessity. Whether you plan to use disposable or cloth, you’ll want to lay in a good supply of diapers and wipes. Just as you did with baby clothes, anticipate that your baby will quickly outgrow newborn diapers.
• Bath items are important. You’ll need a baby bathtub, several hooded towels, soft baby washcloths, baby soap, and a soft-bristled baby hairbrush. Baby nail scissors and a bulb syringe are also nice to have.
• The baby needs somewhere to sleep. This can be a crib, a co-sleeper, or a bassinet, as long it meets safety regulations. Excessive baby bedding is not considered safe, but you’ll need crib sheets, mattress pads, and a good supply of receiving blankets in which to swaddle the baby. Swaddlers and sleep sacks are useful.
• You’ll need something for outings with baby. Some people like strollers, while others prefer slings or baby carriers: it’s a personal choice.
• A car seat is a must. You won’t even be allowed to take the baby out of the hospital without it.

At the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, we love helping people build their families. Under the direction of Dr.  Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 for a free consultation.

Why it’s Important to Teach Your Children about Responsibility Early

As parents, it’s easy to get caught up in the day to day tasks of childrearing. There’s an old saying, “The days are long but the years are short”, but when you’re in the midst of those long days of childhood, it’s hard to remember that eventually, children become adults. It will happen more quickly than you think, so it’s important to remember that teaching your kids about responsibility is a major part of your job. Ultimately, we’re all raising adults, who need to be able to manage their own lives.

There are plenty of different ways to teach kids responsibility. Beginning when kids are very young, offer them choices throughout the day, to help teach them to make decisions. Make a chore chart, even when they’re little, to show them that they are contributing members of the family. Give consequences for failure to follow through on things you ask them to do, and rewards when they live up to their responsibilities. When they’re little, include them in your everyday chores like cooking and laundry, and as they get older, teach them how to do these things themselves.

Why is all of this so important? Because raising kids to be responsible will help them to more successfully navigate adulthood.

• Responsible kids tend to lead healthier lifestyles. When your kids are doing important things, they won’t have time for less meaningful pursuits. Instead of flopping in front of the TV or playing video games, they’ll be exercising, playing an instrument, cooking, doing chores, or gardening. All of these things are good for their bodies and brains, and help them learn the value of healthy habits.
• When your children know how to be responsible, they’ll be better prepared to hold a job. Teaching kids to follow through and make deadlines, and talk to them about getting a job when they’re old enough. Teach them how to manage money, and help them set goals for their future.
• Kids who learn responsibility early are more confident and resilient. They’ll have a thicker skin when criticized, believe in themselves and their abilities, and learn how to be problem solvers. Learning how to take responsibility for themselves and fix their own problems enables them to resolve difficult situations in the future.
• When they learn responsibility, they learn independent thinking. You don’t want your kids to follow the crowd, and teaching them to think on their own will help them make decisions for themselves instead of just going along with what others say.

Teaching kids responsibility is an important part of building a successful family, and at the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, we love helping people build their families. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 for a free consultation.

How to Prepare your Child to be a Big Sibling

When you’re preparing for a baby, there’s much to do and consider. When there’s already a child in your family, you may be equally nervous and excited about telling your child the news. While you may have a picture in your mind of how it will go, since you’re already a parent you probably know that children rarely respond according to our expectations. Here, we offer some tips for preparing your child for a new sibling, while also submitting the caveat that children will all respond to this life-changing news in their own way.

How you tell your child depends largely on his or her age.

• If your little one is a toddler, the concept of a new brother or sister may be hard to understand. Talk about the “new baby” excitedly, and your attitude will rub off. Be straightforward when you tell your child, and do it early on, so the news doesn’t come from someone else. Looking at picture books about babies may help, and you might consider getting a doll so that your child can have his or her own “baby” as you approach your due date.
• When the big sibling-to-be is a preschooler, delivering the news may be trickier. Children between 2-5 years of age are sensitive to change, and the idea of a new baby may feel threatening. Take your time about breaking the news, perhaps waiting until the baby bump becomes obvious or you start picking out nursery furniture. Be honest: babies are cute but also needy. Help your preschooler take ownership of the situation, letting him help you shop for baby gear or showing her pictures from her babyhood. If there will be changes to your child’s routine, try to make them before the baby arrives.
• Telling a school-aged child about a new sibling is both easier and harder. Your child will be better able to understand the concept, but may be less interested in sharing your time and attention. Involve your child in the preparation, making sure to emphasize that everyone in the family is important and has value.

No matter how you tell your child, children need to be reassured once the baby arrives. Younger children may regress, older children may feel jealous and act out. Be sensitive to your child’s feelings and needs, spending one-on-one time with your older child when possible. Let your child “help” with the baby, while making sure it doesn’t feel like a responsibility. Above all, remember that you’re building a family, practicing patience and kindness as you forge these new bonds.

At the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, we love helping people build their families. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. To learn more, contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 for a free consultation.

Top Baby Names of the Last Decade

It’s interesting how names come in and out of popularity, depending on cultural shifts. Is the name your parents gave you still a popular choice among today’s parents? Let’s take a look at the top baby names of the recent years, as we move into a whole new decade.

The classics remain classic. For boys, Noah, Liam, and Jacob top the list for the 2010s, and they were all popular in the previous decade as well. For girls, the top three were Emma, Sophia, and Olivia, which had all been in the top 20 during the 2000s.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) keeps track of the top baby names each year, and using their analysis of over 35 million babies who were born between 2010 and 2018, they’ve come up with a ranking of the top 200. Are there any newcomers to the top 20? Yes! For boys, Jayden and Mason climbed the charts, while new top 20 names for girls included Harper, Evelyn, and Addison. You can find the whole list at the SSA’s website, but for now, we’ll give you this teaser of the top 20 for both boys and girls.

18,133, 841 baby boys were born between 2010 and 2018, and these were the top 20 boys’ names, which the Social Security Administration tells us are “a good indication of the ultimate rankings for the complete decade”:

1. Noah
2. Liam
3. Jacob
4. Mason
5. William
6. Ethan
7. Michael
8. Alexander
9. James
10. Elijah
11. Daniel
12. Benjamin
13. Aiden
14. Jayden
15. Logan
16. Matthew
17. David
18. Joseph
19. Lucas
20. Jackson

In that same time frame, 17, 316, 359 baby girls were brought into the world, and these were the top 20 girls’ names, also representing the entire decade:

1. Emma
2. Sophia
3. Olivia
4. Isabella
5. Ava
6. Mia
7. Abigail
8. Emily
9. Madison
10. Charlotte
11. Elizabeth
12. Amelia
13. Chloe
14. Ella
15. Evelyn
16. Avery
17. Sofia
18. Harper
19. Grace
20. Addison

What do you think? Did your favorite names make the list? Many of the top 20 are timeless, but a few modern names have made their way in. If you had a baby right now, would these names make your list?

If you’re ready for a baby and considering a vasectomy reversal, the Center for Vasectomy Reversal is here to help. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other concerns about their fertility. We accept major credit cards as well as cash and checks, and offer a payment plan for those who are unable to pay the entire fee at the time of surgery. Whether you’re ready to schedule a procedure or just want to learn more, you can contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 to arrange a free consultation.

How to be the Best Dad You Can Be

Fathers have always been important in their children’s lives, but in our modern culture, the role of Dad seems ever-changing. Good dads are engaged, supportive, and loving, and help their kids build confidence and self-esteem. You’ll probably have a different relationship with your kids than you had with your dad, and you may be different from other dads you know. Embrace your own unique style of parenting, and refine it with these tips.

• Give your children the gift of your time. Childhood goes by in a flash, and how you spend your time while they’re growing up shows your children what’s important to you. Prioritize bonding with your children, finding fun ways to spend time with them.
• Find positive, loving ways to discipline. Positive guidance is more effective than punishment, and setting reasonable limits will help your children develop self-control, confidence, and a feeling of security. Discipline in a way that’s calm and fair, reminding children that there are consequences for undesirable behavior and positively acknowledging them when they do the right thing.
• Be a good role model for your children. Fathers are role models for their sons and daughters. A daughter who grows up with a loving father learns to look for a partner who treats her with love and respect. When a son grows up with a nurturing father, he learns to be a kind and compassionate man. Teach your children the traits they should embrace by modeling honesty, humility, and responsibility.
• Start important conversations early. When your children are little, talk to them about things that are important. That way, when difficult subjects arise as they grow older, you’ll be able to better manage those conversations. Be sure that when you talk to your children, you’re also listening to them talk about their ideas and problems.
• See yourself as your children’s teacher. Teach your children right from wrong, encouraging them to do their best and make good choices. Read to your children, showing them the importance of reading in a world dominated by screens.
• Respect your children’s other parent. When parents demonstrate mutual respect, it provides children with security and a sense of well-being.
• Dive in early. Being proactive and involved in your children’s early years will help you build lasting relationships with them.

Are you ready to become a dad? If you’re considering a vasectomy reversal, the Center for Vasectomy Reversal is here to help. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other concerns about their fertility. We accept major credit cards as well as cash and checks and offer a payment plan for those who are unable to pay the entire fee at the time of surgery. Whether you’re ready to schedule a procedure or just want to learn more, you can contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 to arrange a free consultation.

The Science Behind the ‘Father Effect’

While studies about motherhood have dominated parenting-related research in the past, scientists are now realizing just how important it is for children to have an engaged father figure in their life. Academic journals publish new findings nearly every day that illustrate the profound effect fathers can have on their children, for better or worse.  

It all begins before the baby is even born. Future fathers who attend birthing classes with their partners and involve themselves in the labor process tend to develop a stronger attachment to their child. Evidence also suggests that dads who build an early relationship with their baby are more likely to remain involved in the child’s life as the years go by. And, as numerous studies have shown, more paternal involvement means a better outcome for the kids.  

This is called the “Father Effect.” Here’s how it works. 

What it Means to be an Engaged Father 

Most parents want healthy, well-balanced children. To increase the likelihood of this, focus on being a good dad. This means: 

• Living with your kids in the family home (or remaining in contact via phone calls and letters if you’re divorced, deployed, or incarcerated) 
• Reading to your children and putting them to bed 
• Attending your children’s important events 
• Giving birthday gifts and other financial support 
• Offering compliments and praise 
• Helping with homework 
• Meeting and interacting positively with your kids’ friends 
• Offering fatherly advice 
• Spending quality, meaningful time together (not just watching TV) 

Outcomes of the Father Effect 

Consider the many ways being a supportive dad can benefit your children: 

• Higher IQ: Infants and toddlers tend to have stronger cognitive development if their fathers play an active role in their lives from birth. The highest IQs are found in children where both parents are engaged. 
• Better social skills: Kids—sons in particular—tend to be more popular in preschool and have an easier time forging healthy relationships as they mature when they grow up with their father around. 
• Less risky sexual behavior: When kids hit puberty, their dad becomes the arbiter of sexual behavior. Teenagers—daughters in particular—take fewer sexual risks if they have a strong relationship with their father. 
• Fewer emotional and behavioral problems: Engaged dads increase the likelihood that their children will stay in school and avoid behaviors that could land them in jail. 
• Well-adjusted adults: Kids grow up to have higher-paying jobs and healthier, stabler relationships when their fathers are around to help raise them. 

Are you ready to be an involved father? If you had a vasectomy in the past, you might assume the opportunity has passed. However, thanks to advanced vasectomy reversal options, it’s not too late to become a dad! Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, you can reverse your vasectomy using a state-of-the-art procedure available at the Center for Vasectomy Reversal in Sarasota, FL. When you’re ready to learn more, please call us at 941.894.6428 for a free consultation.