Managing a Toddler Tantrum

If you have ever had a slumber party for little girls at your home then you know that the most of these end up being a very crabby affair. This is because there is always lots of whispering, giggling and telling ghost stories late into the night. Sometimes there is also a great deal of fighting, crying and tickling and pinching and you name it …
To make sure there’s actually slumber at your child’s next slumber party for you and the kids there are certain tacts you can take.
Shorten the guest list. Handling four kids at night is easier than ten kids. Tell your child that she can invite fewer friends than for a daytime party and then just make the most of it.
Make sure the house rules are laid out clearly and with great confidence. They may test you, but children feel insecure if the adult isn’t in charge — and the more secure kids feel, the more easily they’ll sleep at night.
You should also create a quiet zone in the house that is set up far way from the sleeping area with snacks. Put cereal, muffins and other foods on the table for early risers. This means that kids can sneak downstairs and eat without waking up anyone to be fed (and that includes you…
Make a firm rule that there should “lights-out” at the outset. I let the kids talk after that as long as they don’t make noise or get out of bed. Once they’re in their sleeping bags and it is really dark they tend to stop talking. You can leave a night light on if you have a kid in the crowd who is a bit squeamish.
It is also very important to make sure that each and every one of your young visitors knows where the bathroom is so nobody is stumbling around waking up everyone at night with noise. It might also be a very good idea to not to serve kids a lot of liquids just before bedtime to prevent frequent bathroom visits and even possible night time accidents.
It also helps if you slow down. Even after the best sleepover, everyone’s tired the next day. Plan a quiet afternoon so both you and your child can relax. You can also expect your kid to be a bit out of sorts the next day.

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Should Little Girls Wear High Heels?

I must admit I am a little shocked by a photo I ran across lately. It was of little Suri Cruise, who is only three years old, strutting around in little white high heels.
Granted what she was wearing was a very classy and cute pair of heals. They were kind of high however. The heel looked to be almost two inches. The construction of the shoe was T-strap style but still I had to ask myself a couple of questions. Is this fashion for toddlers thing going too far? What is the deal with high heels on little people who have yet to grow bones? Could it actually stunt their growth.
The other disturbing thing is how sexual these shoes look on such a young child. It seems though that celebrity children can never be too young to be sexualized.
It seems that Disney is in on the act. My little girl talks all the time about how she wants some high heel Princess shoes. These are plastic clackers with big sequins and feathers on them that have a heel. I think they are a bit slippery and dangerous to walk in because the soles of them are smooth plastic. They are also cut a little sharply so with a very young girl I would be scared she cut her foot.
This is part of a larger trend towards sexualizing little girls and although I am not altogether for it I am not against it either because I do think that it helps girls develop their sexuality. However you are also seeing little girls turned into sex objects. Even their tiny glittery tops are low cut and a bit provocative. It makes you wonder if the design minds behind these kiddie fashion creations have ever heard of child molesters. Some of the fluffier dresses remind me of Jon Benet Ramsey wear.
I think Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes should know better. They must know as parents that what their little girl wears influences thousands of parents. People imitate the way celebrities dress. For the record I don't do anything that a celebrity does. I really do believe that a little kid should not be in high heels at the age of three. Maybe it is okay at age five if the kid has to wear those special tap dancing shoes that have a bit of kitten heel. Other than that it is not necessary.
Of course I am just assuming that it was her parents who chose these shoes for her. It could be that the child insisted on wearing them. However in my house I am the boss and the child does not tell me what she is going to wear during the day.

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