By Meg Albers

Making and flying a kite with your child is a great way to spend time together and teaches useful skills, even some basics of aerodynamics. Best of all, it’s fun! No special materials are necessary—you can construct your kite using our simple steps and some common household items. So, take flight this summer and let your child’s imagination soar!

What you’ll need

Spars (framework)

• drinking straws (the kind that don’t bend)
• bamboo skewers (clip off the pointy end)

Sail (wind-catching material)

• copy/printer paper
• plastic shopping/garbage bags
• wrapping paper
• Tyvek (polyethylene fiber material from which some mailing envelopes are made)
• magazine pages (newspapers and comics do not work well)
• junk mail

Tail

• crepe paper
• plastic bag/scrap paper cut into strips
• ribbon
• surveyors’ tape

Flying line and bridle

(choose one to fit size of kite and strength of wind)

• cotton string
• dental floss
• sewing, embroidery, crochet thread
• yarn
• tape
• clear or masking tape
• adhesive labels or stickers can be cut to size

Kite crafting: 10 simple steps 

1. Trace or copy the template onto your sail material and cut along the thick black line.

2. Fold the sail in half to confirm that it’s symmetrical. Trim as necessary.

3. Decorate the sail surface with the materials and designs of your choice. (Go to newparent.com url TK for a traceable butterfly or animal design, or create one of your own.)

4. Tape the spars onto the kite sail along the two “A” lines.

5. Tape the tails to the bottom of the kite at the two “B” points. A looped tail (connected to the kite at both ends) works well with a sled kite, such as this one. High winds require longer tails; low winds call for a shorter tail.

6. To connect the flying line to the kite, start by reinforcing each of the two towing “C” points (outermost corners of the kite) with a piece of tape. Poke a hole in each of the taped areas.

7. Put each end of a bridle—a length of line at least three times the width of the kite—through each hole, tying a knot that won’t slip through the hole. Use lighter weight line for smaller kites and low winds, and heavier line for bigger kites and higher winds.

8. Find the center of the bridle: Suspend the kite by the bridle so that the two sides of the sail align exactly. Pinch the bridle together at its center and tie a knot with a loop at the end, making sure that when the kite is suspended from the loop, the two sides still align.

9. Tie the flying line securely to the bridle loop.

10. Choose a breezy spot and launch your kite!

A member of the American Kitefliers Association Education Committee, Meg Albers has been combining kites and education for 25 years.

How do you know if your child needs glasses? Often, it’s intuition. “Some parents just believe their child doesn’t see well,” says Yoon. “More than half of the time, they’re right.” In addition to maternal instinct, here are other signs to consider:

• Squinting may mean your child is trying to focus on a blurred image to see it more clearly.
• Holding objects away from his face could be a sign of hyperopia (farsightedness). But rest easy—for most farsightedness in young kids, glasses are rarely needed.
• Sitting too close to the TV could be a sign of myopia (nearsightedness). Then again, your child just may love being close to the action. Don’t fret: Proximity to the TV does not damage vision, despite your mom’s constant warnings.
• Covering one eye when reading, watching TV or trying to focus could be a sign that one eye isn’t seeing as well as the other.

Make an appointment with a pediatric ophthalmologist if you suspect your child needs glasses. (To find one in your area, visit aapos.org, the site for the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.) Young kids take to glasses more easily than you’d think. “When they realize how much better they can see, they wear them,” says Pineles. An optician who specializes in pediatric eyewear will make sure the frame is comfortable and fits well. (Check out miraflex.info for an extensive range of sturdy—and fun!—children’s eyewear.)

By Nancy Gottesman 

Good vision is key to the development, academic success and well-being of all infants, toddlers and preschoolers. There are many conditions that can affect your child’s vision, most of which your pediatrician will check for at well-child visits. The good news is that when detected early, pediatric eye issues can be corrected or reversed. Here’s what you need to know about the most common eye conditions in the 0- to 5-year-old set.

PINKEYE

What’s this? Would you believe that three million school days are lost thanks to conjunctivitis, aka “pinkeye”? That’s because this swelling of the conjunctiva (the filmy membrane covering the inside of eyelids and the whites of the eye) is super-contagious. Symptoms of reddish or pink discoloration, discharge, burning, irritation and/or crusty lashes can be caused by a virus (the same one as the common cold), a bacterial infection or an allergic reaction.

What’s the best treatment? For viral conjunctivitis, symptoms can last one to two weeks and will disappear without treatment. Longer than two weeks, it’s likely a bacterial infection that may require a prescription for antibiotic eyedrops from your pediatrician. For allergies, a cool compress on the eyes will provide some comfort.

The best medicine for pinkeye is really prevention. Children in daycare and preschool are particularly susceptible because they’re in such close contact with other kids. Healthy habits such as frequent hand washing, avoiding reuse of towels and washcloths, changing pillowcases and discouraging your child from touching his eyes are the best defenses against pinkeye. “Hand hygiene is the most important thing,” says Avery Weiss, MD, chief of ophthalmology at Seattle Children’s Hospital and professor of ophthalmology at the University of Washington School of Medicine. “If your child does get pinkeye, keep him out of daycare!”

STY

What’s this? That angry-looking, painful, sometimes pus-filled red lump near the edge of your child’s eyelid could be a sty caused by an infected eyelash follicle. On the other hand, the lump might be a chalazion, which is usually larger than a sty but usually not painful, and is caused by a clogged oil gland in the eyelid. “Some kids call these ‘eye zits,’” laughs Hawke Yoon, MD, a pediatric ophthalmologist at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, “which is a pretty good description.”

What’s the best treatment? Never squeeze or “pop” a chalazion or sty! If you do, the infection could spread to surrounding tissue. Instead, soak a clean washcloth in hot water and apply to your child’s eyelid for 10 minutes, three to five times daily until the lump is gone. This will allow the clogged gland or infected follicle to open and drain. If there’s no improvement after several days, your pediatrician may prescribe antibiotic ointment. Chalazia and sties generally respond very well to treatment with compresses or ointment. In rare cases, a pediatric ophthalmologist may need to drain the lump if healing is too slow or your child’s vision is impeded.

BLOCKED TEAR DUCT

What’s this? Your eyes constantly produce tears to protect their surface areas. These tears then drain into the very small opening in the corner of your eye (near the nose). Sometimes this duct isn’t completely developed at birth, which causes thick tears to pool in the corner of your baby’s eye(s) and then stream down his cheeks. “About 20 percent of all newborns have a tear duct obstruction,” says Weiss. You won’t notice a blocked duct until your baby starts producing tears at about 2 to 3 weeks old.

What’s the best treatment? Watching and waiting. “The duct usually opens on its own by the time your child is 6 to 12 months old,” says Weiss. In the meantime, ask your pediatrician to teach you how to gently “milk” or massage the duct two to three times a day. If an eye infection develops, drops or ointment will be prescribed. On the off chance the duct stays blocked after your baby’s first birthday, a pediatric ophthalmologist may need to perform a low-risk procedure to open the duct.

INJURY

What’s this? Contrary to most parents’ thinking, running with scissors is not the leading cause of eye injury in kids younger than 5. “Corneal abrasion from fingers, toys, pencils and balls are the most common injury in this age group,” says Stacy L. Pineles, MD, assistant professor of ophthalmology at Jules Stein Eye Institute, UCLA. Scratches or cuts to the cornea—the clear protective area at the front of your eye—can be very painful. Symptoms include tears, blurred vision, redness and a gritty/sandy feeling in the eye. In kids 5 years and older, it’s sports—particularly baseball and basketball—that cause the most eye injuries, resulting in 100,000 doctor visits every year.

What’s the best treatment? Don’t try to remove anything embedded in the eye. And don’t touch, rub or administer ointment—you’ll just increase the irritation. Instead, call your pediatrician, who will let you know whether to rinse the eye with saline solution (if the injury is minor) or seek prompt medical attention. A minor corneal abrasion should heal within five days.

The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly urges young athletes to wear sport-specific protective glasses or goggles that have been fitted by a children’s eye doctor or other qualified professional. Protective eyewear can withstand the impact of a ball (or anything else) traveling at 90 miles per hour and prevent 90 percent of sports-related eye injuries. Tell your little shortstop that she’ll still be able to field and hit homers because protective eyewear will not hinder her performance in any way.

LAZY EYE

What’s this? “Lazy eye,” as parents call it, refers to either amblyopia or strabismus, terms that the eye docs prefer. Amblyopia, a condition in which one eye may see better than the other, affects 3 to 4 percent of children in the United States. The eye with poor vision sends the brain a blurred image. The brain becomes accustomed to these fuzzy images and can’t interpret a clear image even when glasses are used. Strabismus is a misalignment of one or both eyes—such as a crossed eye, an outward-turning eye or a high- or low-sitting eye—and can cause amblyopia. When a child’s eyes are oriented in two directions, the brain receives two different visual cues. To avoid double vision, the brain ignores the image sent from the misaligned eye, resulting in poor visual development.

What’s the best treatment? “When one eye is not seeing as well as the other, the connection between the eye and the brain may not be forming correctly,” explains Pineles. Doctors strengthen the eye-brain connection by forcing the child to use his weak eye. A patch (an adhesive applied directly to the skin around the eye, not a pirate patch!) placed on the dominant eye during waking hours allows the weak eye to get stronger. Vision improvement usually occurs within weeks or months of starting the patch treatment, but optimal results can take years. If a young child won’t wear a patch as prescribed, doctors sometimes blur the good eye with drops, which also forces the child to use his weak eye. When eyes are misaligned, glasses and/or eye muscle surgery are usually necessary to get both eyes working together again.

Off the Eye Chart

Less common eye problems in babies, toddlers and preschoolers:

• Pediatric cataract. If the pupil of your child’s eye seems cloudy or white, she may have a cataract. Another sign: When “red eye” appears in just one eye in photos.
• Ptosis. Also called “droopy eyelid,” this condition can restrict or block your child’s vision and sometimes requires surgery.
• Pediatric glaucoma. Excessive tearing, light sensitivity, heavy blinking, a cloudy cornea and poor vision are symptoms of this rare but serious eye disorder.

Vision Rx?

How do you know if your child needs glasses? Often, it’s intuition. “Some parents just believe their child doesn’t see well,” says Yoon. “More than half of the time, they’re right.” In addition to maternal instinct, here are other signs to consider:

• Squinting may mean your child is trying to focus on a blurred image to see it more clearly.
• Holding objects away from his face could be a sign of hyperopia (farsightedness). But rest easy—for most farsightedness in young kids, glasses are rarely needed.
• Sitting too close to the TV could be a sign of myopia (nearsightedness). Then again, your child just may love being close to the action. Don’t fret: Proximity to the TV does not damage vision, despite your mom’s constant warnings.
• Covering one eye when reading, watching TV or trying to focus could be a sign that one eye isn’t seeing as well as the other.

Make an appointment with a pediatric ophthalmologist if you suspect your child needs glasses. (To find one in your area, visit aapos.org, the site for the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.) Young kids take to glasses more easily than you’d think. “When they realize how much better they can see, they wear them,” says Pineles. An optician who specializes in pediatric eyewear will make sure the frame is comfortable and fits well. (Check out miraflex.info for an extensive range of sturdy—and fun!—children’s eyewear.)

Writer Nancy Gottesman and her son Robby, 17, both wear glasses, but they have a lot of insight.

By Stacy Whitman

Once upon a time there was a young child who loved books, eagerly devouring one after the next. His story begins with a parent, a grandparent, an aunt, an uncle or a teacher who took the time to read to him, helped him find books he enjoyed and talked to him about the stories, characters and words. And it ends with a very bright, verbal and imaginative child who has an easier time learning to read, becomes a better reader and excels in his schoolwork.

It’s a good story—and it isn’t fiction. Because research shows that reading to your child regularly may be one of the most important things you can do to ensure his future educational (and life!) success. It can help him get off to the right start in school by helping him develop a good vocabulary and master the skills he’ll need to learn how to read. It can help him learn how to calm down and focus—essential for learning. And depending on how you go about it, it just might turn him into a lifelong lover of reading.

“Reading aloud during the first five years of children’s lives opens their ears to the sounds of words, their eyes to the wonder of pictures, their minds to new ideas, and their hearts to a love of books and learning,” explain Susan Marx and Barbara Kasok, authors of Help Me Get Ready to Read: The Practical Guide for Reading Aloud to Children During Their First Five Years (2010).

It all sounds good on paper, but how do you sell a kid on the concept of reading when there are so many other fun things to do, like rearranging your kitchen cabinets, bouncing on your bed and watching Elmo? We asked the experts to share their best strategies.

Make it a routine

Make reading to your child a daily habit, and it’ll become a wonderful shared activity that will benefit her for years to come, says Diane Frankenstein, author of Reading Together: Everything You Need to Know to Raise a Child Who Loves to Read (2009). About 30 minutes a day should be your goal, she explains, though most toddlers have a short attention span, so do the best you can. And if you can’t do it yourself (let’s say you work long hours or are busy caring for a new baby), then make sure someone else does. “Turning children into lifelong readers calls for teamwork on the part of all the adults in his life—family, caregivers, teachers and librarians,” Frankenstein says.

Many parents like to read stories to their children before going to bed. And while nighty-night stories can be a terrific ritual, this shouldn’t be the only time you sit down and read to your child, Frankenstein stresses. “The idea is to integrate the act of reading into your child’s entire day,” she explains. For example, recite a poem over breakfast, read silly rhymes at snack time or curl up with her favorite Max & Ruby story in the middle of the afternoon. Or carry a couple of books in your shoulder bag and try to sneak them in whenever you have downtime—say, while waiting for a doctor’s appointment. You’ll not only squeeze in more reading, but you may also find it more pleasant and productive. “At the end of the day, children and parents are tired. Tired, cranky and a short attention span all go hand in hand,” Frankenstein says.

Choose the right material

Your child is much more likely to enjoy books that he doesn’t have to struggle to understand. So stick to selections that are appropriate for his age and developmental stage, Frankenstein says. Concept books with simple pictures of colors, numbers and letters are the place to start; the visuals will help grab your child’s attention and assist him in following along. Include a mix of fiction and nonfiction, folktales, poetry and rhymes to expose your little one to different genres, suggest Marx and Kasok. Most importantly, seek out subjects that feed into his curiosity and interest, they say. He’ll be more excited to read about a topic he loves—like fire trucks or puppies—or that relates to some aspect of his life.

To find books that leave your child wanting more, plan regular outings to your local library. Public libraries can be literary treasure troves filled with inspiring children’s books—so take advantage! Let your little one select his own reading material, or ask a librarian for recommendations based on his age and likes. As long as you return the books on time, it shouldn’t cost a cent.

What about those digital books that can be interactive and so much fun? They’re fine in moderation, but they shouldn’t replace the time you spend reading to your little one, say Marx and Kasok. When you sit down and read to your child, you’re sending him the message that he’s important and creating loving memories that he may cherish forever. Handing him your iPad filled with cool children’s book apps just doesn’t compare. Children learn language from people, not gadgets, Frankenstein points out—and they learn to love reading by doing it with their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, babysitters and teachers.

Build his vocabulary

The more words your youngster knows, the easier it will be for her to comprehend a story (and eventually learn how to read one to herself!). Along with reading to her, the best way to expand her vocabulary is to simply talk, talk, talk, says Frankenstein. Describe all the sights, sounds and smells around her. Sing songs, recite nursery rhymes and tell stories. Converse in short, simple sentences about anything and everything! And always respond to her attempts to communicate—give names to objects that she seems interested in and answer her even if she’s repeating herself over and over.

When it comes to helping your child learn new words, it’s also important to keep the TV turned off. Though it may keep her entertained (and out of your hair when you’re getting ready for work or cooking dinner), watching the boob tube will prevent her from engaging in brain-enhancing and vocabulary-boosting activities such as talking, playing, singing and reading. That’s why the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no television for tots under 2. After your child’s second birthday, total screen time—including TV, videos and electronic games—should be limited to one to two hours a day (or less!)—and, whenever possible, the content should be educational.

Talk about books

How many books your child reads matters less than how many conversations you have about each one, Frankenstein says. “Discussing stories will help him find pleasure and meaning in them,” she explains. It also will help teach him how to use words to express his thoughts. So ask a question and start a conversation! Good questions will take your little guy deeper into the story and make him think (such as “What character do you like or dislike?” and “What do you think would happen if…?”), Frankenstein explains. They also will connect things that happen in the book to his life (e.g., “Has this ever happened to you?” or “What would you do in this situation?”). “It’s less about trying to figure out the meaning of a story and more about what the story means to a child in his life now,” she adds.

Before starting a conversation about a book, consider what your child might be most interested in discussing. Then, phrase your questions in a casual way; you don’t want him to feel put on the spot or to think that you’re looking for a specific answer, Frankenstein explains. If he doesn’t answer right away, he may just need a minute to think, so resist the urge to jump in with an answer or give up in frustration. “Never underestimate the importance of showing your child you are listening and hearing what he says,” Frankenstein says.  It also could be possible that he doesn’t understand the question, so try asking the same question again using different words.

Make it feel special

If reading together makes your child feel good inside, he’ll want to keep doing it, point out Marx and Kasok. To make it a positive experience, give him your full attention—no checking your BlackBerry, answering the phone or glancing at the TV. Hold him close, look at him lovingly and offer lots of encouragement (by telling him “Good job!” for turning the page, for example). If he can’t sit still or keeps interrupting, don’t get mad—just calmly put the book down and ask him if he wants to continue, Marx adds. Story time should be enjoyable for both of you. If it feels stressful, it’s probably best to stop and try again later.

You also can make books feel special by giving them as gifts or as recognition for her achievements. Celebrate her last day of preschool or reward her for staying in her big girl bed with a copy of Eric Carle’s The Very Quiet Cricket or P.D. Eastman’s Go, Dog. Go!. Down the road, have the Tooth Fairy leave a copy of Ladybug Girl or Betty Bunny Loves Chocolate Cake under her pillow instead of cash. If relatives or friends ask what to get your little one for her birthday, tell them the hot new children’s book! Bottom line: If you make books feel like a reward or a treat, then your child is more likely to value them.

Based in Sun Valley, Idaho, writer Stacy Whitman reads to her three children (age 6 and under) during breakfast and at bedtime every day—and sometimes in between.

By Stacy Whitman

Summer sun is practically synonymous with water fun. But as much as we love pools, they can be dangerous for little ones. Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death among children ages 1 to 4 years, so toddlers are at high risk—especially those with swimming pools at home, according to a study presented at the October 2011 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference & Exhibition. Lead author Phyllis Agran, MD, MPH, offers these vital safety tips:

• Residential swimming pools must be surrounded by a four-sided fence with a self-closing and self-latching gate that is never left open.
• Stay within an arm’s length of your child, providing “touch supervision,” whenever he’s in or near the water.
• Don’t gab on the phone, play Angry Birds or drink alcohol while supervising him.
• Consider swim lessons. A recent report found that toddlers who have had formal instruction are less likely to drown. (But remember: Even the best little swimmer still needs constant supervision.)
• You (or whoever is watching your child) should know how to swim and be trained in child CPR and first aid.
• Keep a phone and lifesaving equipment (including a life buoy, a life jacket and a reach tool such as a shepherd’s crook) poolside just in case.