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Popular Greek Baby Names and Their Meanings

Posted Nov 18th 2009 3:20PM by Sally Worsham
Filed under: Resources, Baby Names

Greek baby names are becoming increasingly popular in the U.S.

Though you might never meet a Hercules or Aphrodite, the names of Greek gods, goddess, heroes and heroines are steeped in meaning and often inspire Greek parents when they are choosing baby names.

There are many names that come from a Greek root, but are transformed after being passed down through many languages over years. Three of the 10 most popular baby boys names in America in 2008 were Greek names: Alexander, which means defender of mankind; Anthony, which means worthy of praise; and Christopher, which means Christ-bearer.

Baby girls haven't been left out of the Greek-name craze. Three of the 10 most popular baby girl names in the U.S. last year had Greek origins: Ava, which means like a bird; Chloe, which means verdant and blooming; and Sophia, which means wisdom,.

Parents who are looking for lists of popular Greek names and their meanings have various resources available. In addition to combing through Greek mythology books, they can also check out Baby Names Country, which has a list of the most popular Greek names and their meanings.

Other popular Greek baby boy names and their meanings are: Andrew (manly and courageous), Damian (sweet and harmless), Jason (healer), Nicholas (victorious people) and Thomas (twin).

Popular Greek baby girls names include: Irene (peaceful), Phoebe (bright, shining one), Stacey (resurrection), Vanessa (butterfly) and Zoe (life).

Check out more ParentDish coverage of baby names.

Keep Your Child Safe from Kidnapping

Posted Nov 13th 2009 6:00PM by Sally Worsham
Filed under: Babies, In The News, Resources

Shannon Lea Dedrick was a seven-month-old Florida baby who went missing for five days in the fall of 2009 before she was discovered under her babysitter's bed.

Though Shannon was returned unharmed, the statistics surrounding the discovery of missing children are grim.

The U.S. Department of Justice reported that 2,185 children were reported missing each day in 2002, or 797,500 children in a year. The majority of those children were victims of family abduction, but 115 children were victims of a "stereotypical," which means the it involved "someone the child does not know or a slight acquaintance who holds the child overnight, transports the child 50 miles or more, kills the child, demands ransom, or intends to keep the child permanently," according to the Department of Justice.

How do you help prevent your child from becoming a kidnapping victim? The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children offers parents these safety tips:

1. Encourage children to check with a parent, guardian or other adult before going anywhere with a stranger.

2. Remind kids to take friends with them when playing outside, walking to school or going to the library.

3. Tell children to speak up if someone treats them in a way that makes them scared or uncomfortable. Kids should also be reminded to get out of the situation quickly. They don't need to worry about upsetting others.

4. Communicate with your children regularly to build an open and caring relationship. Children must understand that there is always someone available to help them.

5. Address these issues with teens and preteens as well as with younger children, as all kids are potential victims.

ParentDish has additional resources to keep your kids safe.

Double Strollers: Buying Guide

Posted Nov 11th 2009 4:15PM by Sally Worsham
Filed under: Baby Essentials, Resources, Shopping

Double strollers are just one baby essential when you have young children, but what do you need to look for when shopping for one? You'll need to consider your lifestyle. How big is it an how much does it weigh? Will it fit in the car or subway? How roomy is the stroller for each child? How much storage room is there? And, is that storage room accessible? You'll also want to check to see if the company that manufacturers your stroller has been the subject of any recalls.

There are the different types of twin strollers: side-by-side, tandem, convertible or sit-and-stand strollers. Consumer Search has compiled double stroller reviews and has made recommendations for the best double strollers.

In early November 2009, Consumer Search's top picks for double strollers are the Combi Twin Sport (budget side-by-side), the Graco Quattro Tour Duo (tandem), the Graco DuoGlider (budget tandem), Phil & Ted's Sport Buggy Double (convertible) and Joovy Caboose Ultralight (sit-and-stand). The Maclaren Twin Techno (side-by-side) was also listed as a top pick, but it is among nine models that were recalled by Maclaren USA in November 2009.

Whenever parents purchase baby gear -- from strollers to high chairs -- they must be aware of safety concerns. That's why parents should always check a Consumer Reports resource that lists recall warnings.

Additionally, if you register your double stroller with the manufacturer after purchasing, the company will contact you if the stroller is ever recalled.

Check out ParentDish's coverage on Baby Essentials and Shopping.

Veterans Day Facts

Posted Nov 11th 2009 2:15PM by Sally Worsham
Filed under: Holidays, Resources

Veterans Day Facts are often hard to come by. It is, after all, an often overlooked holiday. But when your kids ask why we celebrate Veterans Day, what do you say?

Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day, in honor of the armistice ending World War I. The armistice went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. It wasn't until 1926, though, that Armistice Day became an American holiday.

On June 1, 1954, the holiday became Veterans Day to honor all American veterans.

Oh, did you know that already? Well, here's a Veterans Day fact you might not know. In 1968, legislation changed the actual celebration of the national holiday to the fourth Monday in October. Ten years later, Congress moved the holiday back to its original, November 11th date because of its significance to Americans.

The official national ceremony for Veterans Day takes place at the Tomb of the Unknown Soliders at Arlington National Cemetery.

The unknown soldiers are all Americans who gave their lives in war and are honored by the 3rd US Infantry, which keeps a day and night vigil at the tomb.

At 11:00 a.m. on November 11, a color guard representing all the military branches performs a "present arms" at the tomb. A presidential wreath is laid at the tomb while "Taps" is played, too.

Read more ParentDish coverage about national holidays.

Mom Will Help You Get Into College, But Won't Help You Pay For It, Says a New Poll

Posted Nov 10th 2009 8:00AM by Mercedes Cardona
Filed under: Just For Moms, Teens & tweens, Money & Work, Education, Resources

Moms are less likely than dads to have a financial plan for their children's college educations. Credit: AMagill, Flickr

They say a mother's work is never done, but one survey says mothers are falling down on the job of saving for the kids' college.

A new poll found while mothers push kids harder than dads to succeed in school and get into college, they're not as involved in planning how to pay for it.

Continue reading Mom Will Help You Get Into College, But Won't Help You Pay For It, Says a New Poll

Birth Records

Posted Nov 5th 2009 6:00PM by Sally Worsham
Filed under: Resources

Public birth records, including birth certificates, are required to be filed by the government in every state of the United States. It is your right to access these records. There are many public databases of public records that, for a small fee, will grant you access to these and other records. Birth Records Database and Family Birth Records are just two examples of these services.

If you want an official copy of your birth certificate, you must contact the vital records' office from the state in which you were born. You can find a list of every state's vital office information at the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics. If you have a photo identification -- like a driver's license or passport -- and pay a small fee, the state's vital records' office will give you a certified copy of your birth certificate, complete with the seal and signature of the state's registrar office.

You will need a certified copy of your birth certificate to obtain a marriage license, a passport and, in some states, a driver's license. You also need your child's birth certificates to register for school or youth sports. You will also need your child's birth certificate to obtain their Social Security cards.

Usually if you are an immediate family member, you are allowed access to others' birth certificates. If you are a personal or legal representative of a particular person and have a notarized letter of authorization from them, as well as their identification, you may request another person's birth record. For more details on your state's law, ask your state's vital records' office.

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Marriage Records

Posted Nov 5th 2009 5:45PM by Sally Worsham
Filed under: Resources

A marriage record is generally a copy of your marriage license, if it is signed by you and your spouse and witnesses. This paper certifies that you and your spouse are legally married. There are several instances when you might need a copy of your marriage license, such as adding a spouse to your insurance policy, applying for government benefits, creating a marital life estate trust or other legal situations.

If you cannot locate a copy of your marriage license, it is easy to obtain another copy. You can visit or write to the county clerk's office in the county where you were married to request a copy. You can also check with the state's vital records' office in the state where you were married. The state determines the fee for the new copy. Another possibility is to go to an online records database, such as VitalRec or VitalChek, and request a copy.

Usually, you can obtain marriage records for your immediate family members. You may also receive a marriage record if you are a personal or legal representative of a particular person who has a notarized letter of authorization and the identification of said person. For more details on your state's law, ask your state's vital office.

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Death Records

Posted Nov 5th 2009 5:15PM by Sally Worsham
Filed under: Resources

A death record is an official report that lists important information, such as the time, date and cause of death, about an individual. This record also includes the person's date of birth, marital status and occupation. This document is signed by a doctor to confirm the circumstances of the death.

Laws vary from state to state on who can request death records. However, usually if you are an immediate family member, you are given a copy. Also, you may also receive a death record if you are a personal or legal representative of the deceased and have a notarized letter of authorization and the dead person's identification. For more details on your state's law, ask your state's vital records' office.

Obtaining death records can be a critical part of researching your genealogy through public records, confirming the death of a missing loved one or compiling statistics.

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Family Tree Search: Finding Your History

Posted Nov 5th 2009 4:45PM by Sally Worsham
Filed under: Resources

Starting a family tree can be a rewarding experience for you and your family, but where do you begin? The first step is to gather all possible information about your family from your relatives, including names, relationships, birth dates, death dates, marriage dates and places of residence.

Once you have gathered this information, you can begin charting it to clarify relationships. At this point, you may want to consult a book about genealogy, such as Gilbert Harry Doane's "Searching for Your Ancestors".

To fill in any gaps in your chart, you can consult the a particular state's vital records office for birth and death records. The National Center for Health Statistics provides a list of links to each state's vital records office contact information.

Once you have exhausted the vital records resources, it is time for you to begin historical research. You can study the historical and geographical background by looking at maps of the towns, counties and states where your relatives lived. Next, you can begin the last step of visiting libraries to research genealogical collections, historical societies and other archives.

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Parenting Styles: Which One is Right for You?

Posted Nov 5th 2009 2:30PM by Sally Worsham
Filed under: Childcare, Resources

There are three main parenting styles that most psychologists recommend.

Authoritative parents who treat their children like mature adults. These parents give their kids choices and believe in letting them see the results of their decisions as a positive learning tool. Kids of authoritative parents tend to have high self esteem because they feel more in control.

Authoritarian parents are strict and generally want to control every aspect of their kids' lives. These parents focus on punishing bad behavior rather than encouraging good behavior, which can cause children to have low self-esteem and lack independence.

Permissive parents are the complete opposite of the authoritarian parents. They refuse to set behavioral boundaries and allow their children to do whatever they want. These parents strive to be friends with their children and fear that their kids will rebel if the parents inflict rules. Children of permissive parents can be impulsive and aggressive. As they age, they are more likely to experiment with drugs and alcohol. They also have a low self esteem.

While parents may recognize their style from these descriptions, there are many online tools like the Active Parenting Quiz and Dr. Phil's Parenting Style Questionnaire that can help parents determine their most effective parenting style.

Parents have a tough job. At ParentDish, we've got the latest parenting news to keep you in the know.

Attachment Parenting: A Brief Overview

Posted Nov 5th 2009 1:30PM by Sally Worsham
Filed under: Pregnancy & Birth, Resources

Attachment parenting is a parenting style developed by William Sears, M.D., a pediatrician and father of eight who believes that children form a strong emotional bond with parents or caregivers during childhood with lifelong consequences.

Attachment Parenting International has developed eight principles of attachment parenting that stress forming an immediate bond with the child.

The principles include:

1. Preparing for pregnancy, birth and parenting.
2. Feeding with love and respect.
3. Responding with sensitivity.
4. Using a nurturing touch.
5. Ensuring safe sleep both physically and emotionally.
6. Providing consistent and loving care.
7. Practicing postive discipline.
8. Striving for balance in personal and family life.

To help parents achieve these principles, Dr. Sears has identified "The Baby B's," seven tools designed to improve the parent-child relationship.

They include:
1. Baby bonding
2. Breastfeeding
3. Babywearing
4. Bedding close to baby
5. Believing in the language value of your baby's cry
6. Being wary of baby trainers
7. Balancing

Naturally, attachment parenting has come with some controversy. Some mothers choose to formlua feed. Some feel babywearing spoils children. There are claims that co-sleeping can cause SIDS. Sharon Hays, sociologist and author of "The Cultural Contradictions of Motherhood"," feels this parenting philosophy imposes unrealistic obligations on parents, particularly for working women.

Despite the criticisms, attachment parenting has grown in popularity, giving birth to a network of support groups across the country. Advocates claim that this parenting style encourages a secure view of the world.

Experts, including Dr. Sears, agree that parents must use these guidelines and tools to create a parenting style that works best for their family.

Have more tough questions? ParentDish can answer your childcare questions.

Permissive Parenting: Too Lenient?

Posted Nov 5th 2009 1:15PM by Sally Worsham
Filed under: Childcare, Resources, Amazing Parents

Permissive parenting, also called indulgent, lenient or non-directive parenting, is a parenting style in which parents have few controls over or demands on their children.

In these families, parents are very involved in their children's lives, but have few behavioral expectations for their kids. These parents are more concerned with being their children's friends and fear their kids may rebel against them if they are too hard on them. Permissive parents are usually the children of strict parents.

As children with permissive parents age, they are likely to be impulsive and underachieving. As teenagers, they also experiment with drugs and alcohol more frequently because they know they will not be punished if they get caught. Additionally, these children may have unrealistic self-esteems, blaming others for their mistakes.

However, children with permissive parents often learn good social skills.

Though permissive parents often feel that they are helping their children by letting them do whatever they want to do, they may be in for a shock when they realize their lack of boundaries has created insecure, demanding, selfish kids with no sense of personal responsibility.

Are you worried about your child's emotional or physical growth? ParentDish has development covered!

Safety First: Keeping Kids Healthy

Posted Nov 4th 2009 6:00PM by Sally Worsham
Filed under: Health & Safety, Resources

The term "safety first" means that being safe is the first priority when performing a task.

Freedom from danger, risk or injury is foremost in whatever activity is being executed. In order to insure "safety first," one must know basic safety rules.

Even preschoolers can understand the importance of keeping all windows and doors locked, not opening the door to strangers and how to dial 9-1-1.

"Safety first" can also be used for outdoor activities, school-aged children should always wear a helmet when riding a bicycle or tricycle.

While remembering this philosophy is a very important thing to do as a parent, some safety gadgets can go overboard. Attachable GPS trackers can tell you every move your child makes. In most cases, your common sense will help your safety skills more than an expensive gadget will.

Turn to ParentDish for further Health and Safety questions and answers.

Internet Safety

Posted Nov 4th 2009 5:45PM by Sally Worsham
Filed under: Kids 5-7, Kids 8-11, Teens & tweens, Gadgets & Tech, Resources

How can you be sure that your child is safe on the Internet? It can be easy if you set the following Internet safety guidelines with your kids.

Among our top ways to stay safe. Remind your kids to:

1. Be careful with strangers on the Internet. Never give out personal information, including your last name, address, phone number or password. If someone asks for any of this information, kids should not respond; they should log off and tell a trusted adult.

2. Never agree to meet anyone without you, the parents, in tow.

3. A child should tell her parents immediately if she ever feel uncomfortable in a chat room or other online situation.

4. Stick with "kid-friendly" websites.

As adults, parents can use software, like My Kids Browser, to insure your child will not be able to access any adult-only websites.

ParentDish has complete, up-to-date information on the latest Gadgets & Tech.

Adoption Agencies

Posted Nov 4th 2009 5:15PM by Sally Worsham
Filed under: Adoption, Resources

Choosing an adoption agency may be one of the most important decisions you and your spouse will make, but how do you know which one to choose? Here are a few suggestions to help during your search for the best agency for you. If you have friends who have adopted, ask them about the adoption agency they used. You can also ask the agency for referrals from parents who have adopted from them before. Find out what services are provided before and after the adoption, as well as the costs of the adoption. Research open versus closed adoption. Ask how long the average wait to adopt will be. Inquire how involved the birth parents will be with the agency.

The website for "Adoptive Families," a magazine and the leading source of adoption information for families, offers vast resources that will help you begin your search for the perfect adoption agency, including a list of questions to ask a potential agency.

Check out ParentDish for more Adoption information.

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