There is a popular misconception amongst parents that reward charts are tools that are only useful for children with behavioral problems. In fact, all children can benefit from the use of a reward chart since it teaches so many values.

The philosophy behind a rewards chart is fairly straightforward. You draw up a chart with say 10 squares in it. You give the child as star as a reward to place on that chart whenever they complete a task or behavior in an agreed on way. When all 10 squares have been filled the child receives the agreed on reward.

Rewards charts have three components. The reward, the time factor, and the parents consistency.

The reward:

When developing a rewards chart, the reward needs to be something that the child really wants - notice I said wants and not needs. Needs should always be met, wants should always be earned and that is one of the basic values that all children can learn from a rewards chart.

The reward can be something as simple as a trip to the park or a shopping trip to, well, the sky is almost the limit. I say almost because the second component, time, is also very important. The reward should be agreed on before setting up the chart - this is very important.

The time factor:

Rewards need to be achievable in a reasonable period of time. Setting a reward that will take 12 months to achieve can be counter productive. The reward never appears to be getting closer, especially for young children who have little appreciation of time.

A trip to the park can be a here and now. If you get three stars today we will go to the park tomorrow. A toy can be rewarded from rewards built up over a period time. Generally speaking, four to six weeks should be the maximum although for younger children they could lose focus after only two or three weeks. For much older children - you may be able to negotiate longer time frames.

Parental consistency:

This is the toughest one of the lot. Parents have to be consistent in the way they issue stars. If a child packs their toys away quickly when asked and you give them a star for their rewards chart, you have to give a star every time they repeat the task.

A trap some parents fall into is looking for reasons to deny that star. If your child has undertaken a task or behavioral issue with the right attitude, don't deny them because they have failed to completely finish that task. By the same token, don't reward a partially finished task. Help them to complete the task by using encouragement and perhaps a little physical help, that is, get down and help them.

If the task has not been completed and the attitude has been wrong, explain to them why they are not getting their star this time. Use the same process if their behavior is not up to your agreed upon standards. Whichever way you approach these issues, be consistent.

Rewards charts can actually turn bad experiences into a lot of fun especially when the child is getting close to receiving their reward. Try to avoid negatives whilst promoting the virtues of their good behavior. If you are not using a rewards chart then try one out - you have a lot to gain and nothing to lose.

Teething - it's never fun for the parent and it's obviously no fun for baby. For new parents, you may be wondering when baby will get its first tooth. For some parents - about 1 in 2000 - your baby may be born with its first tooth. For others, you may still be waiting at 12 months.

The process of teething actually starts in the womb and carries on through to their second year. What we call 'teething' is actually one of the final stages of the process.

Teeth form as tiny buds and steadily build. The process of erupting from the gums is what we call teething and it generally starts two months before the first tooth breaks through. On average, you can expect 'teething' to start at five-six months and that first tooth to arrive around the seven month mark.

This period can quite frustrating for some parents with baby showing signs of pain and distress. Their cheeks may be red, they may drool a lot and bite down on anything and everything. For pain relief, parents have tried many different tactics. Breast feeding mums find that one of the best teething rings is the breast itself - although at times a little painful.

Using gel filled teething rings, particularly those that can be chilled, can be effective. The parents own finger (clean of course) can also be a convenient teething aid. Rubbing the gums gently and allowing baby to bite down can bring some pain relief. You can also find pain relievers such as infant paracetamol - these are not always effective in the long term since you can only use them for 48 hours.

Teething can be a long drawn out affair, or it can be a short painless period where a tooth appears almost overnight. Teething can start at three months or as late as 12 months. Unfortunately, we have no choice in the how or when - like baby, we must endure the process providing what little relief we can. And to think - at the age of six they will slowly fall out again - to be replaced by stronger adult teeth.

If your child has still not developed any teeth by their first birthday - don't panic. If they are growing normally in all other areas then they may be one of the rare babies that teeth late - some as late as 15 months. If you are concerned, obviously, see your family doctor. However, in the majority of cases, any development problems that would affect teething will have been picked up through other issues such as feeding, lack of weight gain or one of many other development issues.

I am beginning to wonder if we are now producing a generation of namby-pambies. We are sanitizing their lives to the point that I fear for the future of the human race. Perhaps I am over reacting - but think about it.

We sterilize our houses to kill every known germ - good and bad. We stop our kids getting dirty to the point that some parents will not allow their children to play outside at all.

Moving outside, the playgrounds that kids now use are so 'safe' they are almost boring and kids really don't want to go to them. More importantly, most of them are taking away challenges. Our kids are no longer experiencing one of the most important lessons in early life - risk taking and consequences.

Look at today's playgrounds. Our kids will never get splinters from bare wood - there is no wood in most cases - it's molded plastic. Will they break an arm - no. The playground equipment is not high enough of the ground to cause a break. Not only that, most playgrounds have a soft covering to cushion falls.

Where are the trees or at least climbing frames? Does any one remember a flying fox? Do kids still make billy-carts to race on the streets. No, the streets are too busy.

This protection extends far beyond playgrounds. Parents no longer have to take responsibility. Swimming pools, and I am not joking, even the little blow up kinds, have to be fenced to 'protect' the children. COME ON PEOPLE. What about parental responsibility. This is one issue that I will come back to another day. The point I am making is - we are over protecting our children.

If our kids don't take risks, don't experience and conquer fears, and yes, occasionally fall and sprain a wrist, twist an ankle and perhaps even break a leg, they are not being challenged. They are also not learning consequences and problem solving. In fact, it not until they escape the clutches of their parents that they do start to take risks - the results can be devastating - car crashes and drug overdoses are two areas that will one day be linked back to the lack of risk taking during early childhood.

It will not stop all car accidents or drug overdoses and there will no doubt be the occasional serious playground accident - perhaps even death - but in the long run, playgrounds that provide a little less in the way of sanitation and a little more in the way of danger may actually be good for our kids. In fact, I think it is essential.

What are your thoughts? Are we over protecting our kids and shifting parental responsibility to the shoulders of others. I mean, why else would you sue someone when your child has fallen off a swing because you couldn't be bothered supervising them? Off course, they should have put a seat belt on the swing and foam rubber landing pad for them! The kids of the 21st century deserve a lot more - or in this case - a lot less in the way of protection.

Do you live in a drought area? Do you need a lot of rain in a short time? If so, let me know. We will move in. It seems that every time we need to move house, it rains - and rains - then, just for good measure, it rains some more.

So yes, here are about to move - only about 10 miles up the road, but do you think the skies will give a break - no way. Here comes another rain squall. That is where the problems sits. Every time it looks like breaking up, down it comes again.

Fortunately for us, we do have plenty of time to move. It's funny. The house we are in has certainly seen better days. There is little in the way of insulation (okay - none at all), the foundations are starting to rot, in fact, it is a typical example of an old high set Queenslander that has had its veranda's covered and then very poorly maintained.

The place we are moving to is very modern. Low ceilings, well insulated, great car space, and bedrooms for almost all of our brood. The yard is a perfect size for our girls to play in and its well fenced for their safety (including snakes).

Having said all of that, I know I will miss the old homestead. It doesn't matter how good or bad a house is - a home is what you make of it. This has been home for a long time but with a growing family, more space and new home is the answer. Therein lies the key - time to create a new 'home'. I just wish the rain would stop for longer than ten minutes!

Two Australian umbilical cord stem cell storage facilities have merged to form the largest storage business in Australia. I cannot help but wonder if it is all for the best in the long run.

Umbilical cord stem cell collection and storage is very expensive here in Australia - more than three times what it costs in the US. Of course, the US have a good handful of companies offering the service. This makes for competition and we all know what strong competition does to prices - it drives them down. If there is no competition then consumers are left to the mercy of the respective companies.

As if cost wasn't enough, the reality is that here in Oz, if over ten years of operation, no family has ever needed to access their stored umbilical cord stem cells. That's several thousand dollars in collection fees along with another thousand or more in annual fees with a zero return on their investment.

Don't get me wrong. I am all in favour of umbilical cord stem cell collection, research and storage - in the form of donations that are provided for general use. I am not in favour of the personal collection and storage for personal use.

For too long researchers have been denied to access to this material to undertake real studies into the benefits (if any) in using stems cells to treat illnesses. It seems there have been many cases of childhood leukemia being successfully treated using stem cells. The future looks bright for the treatment of nerve tissue damage (as in spinal injuries), the treatment of diabetes, and, more recently, the possibility of treating those with sight or hearing problems.

The real problems of course is the lack of research and this is where all governments together with our public hospitals should be collecting umbilical cord stem cells that can be used in research, and, where appropriate and clinically proven, for treatment.

There should also be a protocol in place that ensures the safety of the baby first, with the collection of umbilical blood second. I have heard stories that involve severe problems for the baby because the blood was collected prior to the baby being 'finished' with it - in other words, cutting the cord far too soon. Immediately after birth the baby draws in almost all of the blood in the umbilical cord - if it is cut too soon, the extra blood found in the cord is the amount the baby has been deprived of.

Fortunately for Australians, the private collection of umbilical cord stem cells is not huge. The new enterprise obviously thinks the potential is there to grow the business. If I was a new parent, and the babies birth was looming, I would discuss with the hospital the possibility of collection the cord blood as a donation.

As for paying, unless you have strong medical evidence that it will be needed in the next ten years - think twice about it first. You could be throwing good money away needlessly.

What do you do if your child comes down with the flu, or just a common cold? In fact, do you know the difference between a cold and the flu? More importantly, should you keep them at home or send them to school or day care?

Most day carers have a policy you can follow when it comes to attendance and sickness. Many schools leave it up to the parents to decide. That's not much help if you don't know what to do.

Although I am reluctant to promote any brand when it comes to cough and cold medications, I am always happy to pass on anything that may help other parents. In this case, Triaminic, an American supplier of cough and cold medications, have published a fact sheet titled: "Sick Day Guidelines: Making the Right Call When Your Child Has a Cold."

This fact sheet is produced in conjunction with the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) so you know it is fact based and not a commercial push for their own products.

Coughs and cold can be a worrying time for parents - they can also be very distressing for both the parent and the child. You can never have too much information - in fact, the US has recently modified its dosage guidelines for children, especially those under four. Do you know what the new dosage guidelines are?

I will give them one commercial plug however. If you visit their homepage there is a down loadable coupon to save you a little off the sales price. What I want to know is when are we going to get cough medicine as a soluble strip here in Australia - if you don't know what they are, check out their pages. They look like a neat idea to me.

If you're a new parent, or you are expecting, then it can be hard to decide what is right or what is best for both yourself and for baby. Samples are an ideal way to test products. If you can get those samples for free - well that's just a big bonus.

Free Samples

Planning Family provide free samples of products for mother and baby including diapers to trial. Test the product before you go and spend money on them.

Free Coupons

Coupons of course are also used to obtain free or discounted products. Coupons are used to obtain products direct from retailers or manufacturers.

Free Newsletters

Planning Family publish stage-based pregnancy and baby newsletters. Find out what is happening to your body during pregnancy. What stage baby is at in its growth stages. Once baby is born, check on their milestone as they grow.

If you are a new parent or if you expect to be one sometime soon, check out Planning Family. It costs you nothing, costs nothing to join if you think you can benefit. The worst thing that can happen is that you receive a free diaper - for baby that is. Unfortunately, the offer is only good for the US or Canada.

This is old but still fun to read - probably true as well.

10. You’re guaranteed to get at least a little something in the sack.

9. If you get tired, wait 10 minutes and go at it again.

8. The uglier you look, the easier it is to get some.

7. You don’t have to compliment the person who gave you candy.

6. The person you’re with doesn’t fantasize you’re someone else.

5. If you get a stomach ache, it won’t last 9 months.

4. If you wear your Batman mask, no one thinks you’re kinky.

3. It doesn’t matter if kids hear you moaning and groaning.

2. You have less guilt the next morning.

1. If you don’t get what you want, you can always go next door!

Amazon have announced the release date for the Amazon Kindle 2 - February 24 and the price - $359 with free shipping with their Super Saver. The Kindle 2 picks up where Kindle left off. It keeps all the features of Kindle 1 with a few very nice improvements.

The first thing you will notice is its size. They have reduced it to a magazine thickness of 1/3 inch and it's amazingly light at a little over 10 ounces. There are other improvements. The battery life has been extended by 25%. Page turns are 20% faster. There are 16 gray shades for improved reading including outside in the sun.

Can you imagine a home library with 1500 books. That's how many novels the Kindle 2 can store and it now comes with the talking book capabilities - yes, it will read the books to you.

With over 23,000 books to choose from a download time of less than 60 seconds, you can have all your favorite books downloaded in next to no time at all. Even better, you don't need a computer to download your books. They can all be done using 3G wireless - and Amazon pays all the connection and download fees so there is no monthly fees, service plans, or hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots.

For individuals who have already purchased the Kindle - you will get priority when purchasing the Kindle 2 - for everyone interested in obtaining the Kindle 2, you can preorder now and reserve your copy of this incredible little machine.

All parents want the best for their children and when it comes to education, we all want to see our kids doing well. There are many factors that play their roles in learning - one of these is diet.

Diet or nutrition has been in the news a lot lately, mainly related to claims our children are overweight. Nutrition plays an important role in learning - we have heard of brain food - does it exist?