Ten Great Careers For Single Parents

by: Max Stein

The challenges of raising a child by yourself, whether you’re a mother
or father, can be very difficult. Add the burden of having to be out of the
home for 40+ hours per week to work and raising a child at the same time can
be nearly impossible. This article describes ten careers you can train for that
will give you the money to support your child and the time to be there for them.

These careers all take less than two years to complete training for, some take
only six months. They all offer flexible work schedules with above average pay.
Best of all, with a certificate or associates degree, it will be easy to find
a job.

Healthcare careers

Jobs in healthcare are in great demand right now. The largest generation in
the American population is aging and retiring from the workforce. Increased
life spans are placing a huge burden on the healthcare industry. While hospitals
and their 24 hour operation offer the most employment flexibility, there are
health care positions that don’t take place in a hospital. Home care positions
also offer scheduling flexibility.

Nursing – 1, 2 & 4 year programs. Approximate starting wage: $33,970
annually.

Dental Hygiene – 1 & 2 year programs. Approximate starting wage:
$17.37 hourly.

X-ray technician - 1, 2 & 4 year programs. Approximate starting wage: $27,190
annually.

Medical Assistant –1 & 2 year programs. Approximate starting wage:
$17,640 annually.

Medical Coding - 2 year program. Approximate starting wage: $16,460 annually.

Creative careers

These creative careers are also in great demand. Employers typically offer
standard hours, but many people employed in these fields are able to work from
home. Others open their own businesses and can work later at night or otherwise
exercise more control on when they work.

Graphic Designer - 2 & 4 year programs. Approximate starting wage: $21,860
annually.

Desktop Publisher - 1, 2 & 4 year programs. Approximate starting wage:
$18,670 annually.

Web Designer - 1, 2 & 4 year programs. Approximate starting wage: $33,970
annually.

Help Desk Analyst - 1, 2 & 4 year programs. Approximate starting wage:
$23,060 annually.

Bonus Career

If you like working with technology and don’t want to sit behind a desk
all day, you’ll be surprised how lucrative this career can be.

Machinist – 10 -14 month programs. Approximate starting wage: $9.57 hourly.
(This wage is deceptively low. New machinists are making much more due to a
sudden upturn in demand.)

Learn how you can train for one of these careers here. www.top-colleges.com.

About The Author

Max Stein, Salt Lake City, UT, USA


http://www.degreesource.com/articles

Max Stein is a freelance writer who writes about business, education and
marketing.

For daily updates, read our blog at http://degreesource.blogspot.com

Baca Selengkapnya ...

How To Select The Right Shoes For Your Children

by: Sintilia Miecevole

It is pretty usual for children to go around in footies or in socks during
their first months. At that age, shoes are merely a 'decoration' item because
newborns or young babies never walk so they don't need any kind of support for
their body and feet. Nevertheless, the minute kids begin to walk, generally
quite a few months before or after they turn one, you must know what types of
shoes your kid is going to wear. You may need to buy several pairs of new shoes
for toddlers and preschoolers quite regularly, so you will probably begin to
ask yourself lots of questions regarding your child's shoes.

Picking the right shoes for your kid is not easy. If you are about to buy shoes,
you must ask 3 particular questions before buying. They are the following:

1. How does it fit?

2. How is it made?

3. Is the shoe appropriate for your kid's age?

Let's analyze every single question a bit more thoroughly.

1. How does it fit? - When you ask this, you must take into account the length,
width and depth of the shoe and check this carefully once the shoe is fitting
your child's foot. If you pick a shoe that is ill fitting, you may harm your
child's feet. Your kid can have ingrown toenails, calluses and bunions. Also,
try checking your child's 'growth spurts' because when kids grow, their feet
grow too. It is advisable to buy new shoes for your child every 3 to 4 months,
because it will keep the fit suitable for their feet. Bear in mind that shoes
really needn't to be "broken in". When a shoe is not comfortable from
the start, it means that is definitely not the right shoe for your kid.

2. How is it made? - Four distinctive parts form every shoe: upper part, insole,
outer sole and heel. Children are usually quite active, so it is advisable that
the upper part of the shoe is made of a strong but breathable material such
as canvas or leather. (Try avoiding shoes that are made of plastic, especially
at young ages!). Try picking a shoe which insole is made from an absorbent material.
It is not actually necessary to have padded insoles or special arch support
insoles at this age. The outer sole has to give flexibility, traction and cushioning
to the shoe, but it shouldn't be bulky or sticky when your kid walks. Bulky,
sticky outer soles can lead to unnecessary injury by making your child clumsy.
Also, heels aren't really necessary at this age at all! Try picking shoes with
flat soles; it will make it much easier for your kid to walk.

3. Is the shoe appropriate for your kid's age? - A pre-walking kid doesn't
actually need shoes. Their feet just need footies and warm socks; they can even
walk barefoot indoors. If you have a toddler and he is just learning to walk,
he should wear shoes that have a smooth sole and a high top. Also, it must be
made from materials that are light and breathable. These kinds of shoes stay
on better and help avoiding falls. If you have a school-age kid, there is a
great assortment of suitable shoes, such as tennis shoes, sandals and even hiking
boots. If you have an older child, you just have to follow the first two questions
and pick the best shoes for your kid.

Baca Selengkapnya ...

How to Help Your Firstborn Become Friends with the
New Baby

by: Peter Andrews

It’s normal for a firstborn child to feel upset and unwanted when a new
baby arrives. He or she is used to being the only child and had the family’s
complete attention so far.

So when your second bundle of joy arrives, he can easily feel jealous because
he sees a most of the attention going to the new arrival.

Remember that the big brother or sister will need plenty of attention when
the new baby arrives. He or she may not be able to articulate his need for a
hug or to sit in your lap. All the same, his needs do not diminish just because
there’s a new baby in the house.

The older child needs reassurance that he is still loved and important enough
to warrant time and attention. He may equate time with love. A new baby will
naturally take up more of your time and energy, but it is often difficult for
an older child to accept that.

Some children regress to earlier behaviors like thumb-sucking or wanting to
drink from a bottle. These behaviors remind him of an earlier time with life
was more comfortable and secure.

Here are 10 things you can do to make it easier for the older child to get
over his frustrations and become friends with the new baby.

#1. Before the baby arrives, paint a realistic picture of what it will be like
with the baby. Tell him about the endless diaper changes, night-time crying,
need for sleep, etc. Let the older child know that the new baby won’t
be a playmate or a friend for a long time.

#2. Involve the big brother or sister in preparing for and helping out with
the baby. For example, ask for his opinion on whether you should buy the feeding
bottle with the trains on it or cats on it.

#3. Make sure you find time to spend with the older child. This could be when
the baby’s sleeping, or when someone else is looking after her. Do the
things you used to do with the older child before the baby came -- reading stories,
playing with toys, etc.

Baca Selengkapnya ...

5 Reasons For Preparing Your Own Baby Food

by: Nancy Miller

Are you unsure whether you should make your own baby food at home or just buy
it from the store? If so, then take a look at these five good reasons for doing
it yourself - they may help you make up your mind...

1. Home-made Baby Food is Healthier and More Nutritious

Commercial baby foods contain additional fat, salt, sugar, fillers or other
ingredients that are completely unnecessary (and often inappropriate) to your
baby's diet. These additives are an attempt to add flavor, texture and bulk
to poor-quality products. They contribute nothing at all to your baby's health
or well-being. By preparing the food yourself, you can be sure that your baby
is getting exactly what his/her little body needs - and nothing that it doesn't.

2. You're in Control

By preparing your baby's food yourself, you know exactly what your baby is
eating. When you prepare an apple sauce, you know he/she is getting fresh, pure
apple and all the goodness it contains. However, when you buy apple-sauce at
the store, you'd almost need a degree in nutrition just to decipher the list
of ingredients.

3. It's Easy to Make Your Own Baby Food

Once you get started cooking for your baby, you'll quickly realize just how
easy it is. All you need is a food blender and some fresh ingredients to quickly
prepare healthy, tasty, home-made meals for your little one. Furthermore, by
making large amounts of his/her favorite meals in advance, and then freezing
them for later, you'll be able to serve up delicious, healthy meals in minutes
-- every day of the week.

4. It's Much Cheaper

The prices that baby food manufacturers charge for their products is nothing
short of scandalous and are in no way justifiable. The reason they can charge
so much is because they've conditioned most parents to believe that they have
no choice but to buy from them. By preparing your baby's food yourself, you
can avoid being a victim of this daylight robbery, and find yourself with extra
cash to spend on all those other things that a growing baby needs.

5. It's Very Gratifying

Watching your baby enjoy the meal you've just prepared for him/her is already
a very gratifying experience. On top of that, however, you have the satisfaction
and pride of knowing that you're giving your child the gift of a healthy and
nutritious diet - and saving yourself money as well.

And finally...

If all that weren't enough, here's another great reason to do it yourself:
home-made baby food is much tastier than any commercial product. Delicious food
is one of life's great pleasures and your baby deserves to enjoy the rich flavor
and texture of real home cooking just as much as you or I. After all, none of
us would enjoy eating 'TV Dinners' morning, noon and night - and that goes for
your baby too!

So, don't put it off. Get started today. Your baby will thank you for it in
more ways than one.

About The Author

Nancy Miller is author of "How to Make Your Own Healthy Baby Food"
and a full-time working mom. Find more tips and advice on making baby
food at http://www.healthy-baby-food.com

Baca Selengkapnya ...

The Seven Feng Shui Fundamentals for Children's Bedrooms

by: Kathryn Weber

Feng shui is a very popular and intriguing concept in home design today. In
addition to the life benefits it provides, it also offers a roadmap, so to speak,
of not just how to decorate... but why. In short, it offers you, the homeowner,
design with purpose. For a child's room this purposeful design is especially
important.

Feng shui gives parents a guide for decorating your children's bedrooms, and
perhaps more importantly, a reason for adding particular elements -- something
standard decorating practices don't always offer. What does that mean exactly?
Well, when it comes to a child's bedroom, feng shui dictates everything from
correct bed alignment, proper bedroom choice, essential decorating and design
elements, i.e., do's and don'ts (no vicious animals, etc.) for a child's room,
even how to influence the child to be studious and well-behaved -- all things
most parents would appreciate knowing.

The purpose of feng shui in a child’s bedroom is the same as every parent’s
objective in decorating their children’s rooms: to create a healthy, happy
environment that fosters education, good health, happy relationships with parents
and siblings, and respect for parents. Children and parents can enjoy success
and healthy relationships if the environment supports them.

Naturally, children must feel safe, secure, and cared for to thrive. By putting
interest and effort into your child’s room, you are showing your child
that you believe the child’s space, and therefore, your child, is important.
The tips presented here are some of the fundamentals of feng shui for children.

1.Place a happy picture of the parents in the children’s rooms.

This subtly exerts the authority and prominence of the parents as heads of the
household. It is also one of the quickest and most effective ways to bring a
problem child into line.

2.Align the child’s bed to the widest part of the room.


Make sure your child can see the door from his or her bed easily, but is not
in direct line of the door. Your child should also not share a wall with a toilet
or see a toilet or bathroom from the bed as this can cause health problems.

Bunk beds are not advised. If possible, try to have a separate bedroom for
each child. If this isn’t possible, there are lots of decorative ways
to create division and privacy within a room.

3.Create a space for study and accomplishments.

Having a dedicated space, including a desk and lamp where your child can study,
demonstrates to your child the importance you place on education and your child’s
educational achievement. If this has been a source of problems, make the study
position in the NE corner of the bedroom. Also make a place on a south wall,
if possible, of your child’s accomplishments. Doing so reinforces that
you are proud of your child’s efforts. Display drawings, crafts, awards,
trophies, ribbons, or other special items, such as tests with good scores or
letters from teachers. Place items here that have brought special recognition.

4.Make the child’s room a healthy place. Water pictures, aquariums, or
sounds of water that can be heard from the bedroom can create an unhealthy environment
and may even lead to respiratory ailments. This is especially important if the
child has any health problems, particularly asthma.

Baca Selengkapnya ...

A Step-By-Step Plan to a Healthy Pregnancy

by: Nicky Pilkington

Having a baby is an exciting moment. However, the nine months leading up to
the experience can be a bit unnerving. Most women worry throughout their pregnancy
about the health of their baby. To alleviate the stress and worry that often
creep up during pregnancy, plan instead to have a healthy pregnancy and you
can rest assured that you have done your very best to have a healthy baby.

1. Get in Shape Early. When you find out that you’re pregnant is not
the time to start a new diet or exercise program. If you are planning to become
pregnant, make sure you are at a healthy weight and in the best physical activity.
Doing this will help you during your pregnancy and can help you to have a problem-free
delivery. If your pregnancy is unexpected and you aren’t in the best shape
possible, don’t worry about it. It is possible to have a healthy baby
while limiting the amount of excess weight that you gain. Eating plenty of fruit
and vegetables will give your baby the nourishment it needs while helping you
to limit the amount of weight you gain.

2. Your Baby is What You Eat. Your baby depends on the lifeline that you and
they share to grow properly. Following a diet that includes all the major food
groups is probably the simplest approach to a healthy diet. You may discover
your appetite changing during the course of your pregnancy. This is common and
shouldn’t alarm you if you have unusual food cravings. It is quite acceptable
to enjoy “bad” food once in a while, as long as you limit how frequently
you indulge in these foods. Since some nutrients aren’t abundant in most
foods, doctors often recommend that pregnant women begin taking vitamin formulas
designed specifically for them.

3. Exercise regularly. While a rigorous exercise program is unsuitable when
you are pregnant, it is a good idea to try and get some exercise every day.
Many women are nervous about doing anything that may harm their baby. Walking
on a daily basis is beneficial for your health as well as for your baby. Before
you begin any exercise program, you should first discuss your plans with your
doctor.

4. Avoid the big no-nos. If you follow only one step in this plan for a healthy
pregnancy, avoid the big no-nos: don’t drink, smoke, or take drugs (this
includes medications that your doctor has not approved). There are many debates
about how these habits can affect your baby. The very fact that it is slightly
possible to cause injury to your baby should be enough for you to avoid indulging
in any of them during your pregnancy. The use of caffeine during pregnancy is
debatable. You should discuss this with your doctor if you normally consume
coffee, tea, or soda on a regular basis.

5. Pamper Yourself. Pregnancy is a special time and people will treat you with
more attention. You should relish in this time because soon things will return
to normal! Don’t forget to give yourself special attention. Remember,
if you’re stressed your baby will feel stressed too. One of the most important
things you can do to pamper yourself is to get sufficient rest. If before you
were pregnant you spent days burning the midnight oil, you need to make sure
you have this habit licked before you become pregnant.

About The Author

Nicky Pilkington

You can find additional information about preparing for pregnancy by
visiting pregnancy-step-by-step.org. nicky@pilkster.com

Baca Selengkapnya ...

Baby Cold Symptoms and How to Give Care

by: Leroy Chan

Remember how miserable you felt when you last had a cold? Can you imagine what
your baby must feel when he experiences a cold for the first time?

Viruses are responsible for causing colds. Infected people spread the viruses
when they sneeze or cough nearby healthy people. The virus gets into the nose
and throat where it multiplies.

What Are The Symptoms?

When your baby has a cold, there will be a number of symptoms. He will be sneezing
and have a runny nose. He may have a sore throat and it may be difficult for
him to swallow. His glands may become swollen.

He may not feel like eating much and he could become irritable. A cough may
develop. He may get a slight fever or have a body temperature of 101 to 102
degrees Fahrenheit.

When to Seek Medical Advice

If your baby is three months old or less and has cold like symptoms, you should
contact a pediatrician immediately. Cold like symptoms in a baby three months
old or less are misleading and could lead to a serious ailment.

On the other hand, if your child is more than three months old you should contact
a doctor if you notice that he is breathing loudly and his nostrils expand out
with each breath. His nails or lips are becoming blue. His mucus is thick, runny
and green. He has a cough that hasn’t gone a way for more than a week.
His ears ache. His temperature is more than 102 degrees Fahrenheit. He has become
more drowsy or grouchy.

How to Care For Your Baby

Medical experts tell us there is no cure for the common cold. However, there
are ways to alleviate the miserable symptoms your baby undergoes.

Make sure he gets plenty of rest and extra fluids. If he has a fever, give
him acetaminophen or if he’s older that six months he may take ibuprofen
(but don’t give it to your baby if he is dehydrated or continuously vomiting).

Baca Selengkapnya ...