Why Have Babies: An Argument for Raising Children

Being a parent is a lifetime event and there are few guarantees. Nobody can foretell the future. We can only do our best and try to be optimistic about the outcome. At the end of the day whether by destiny, fortune, or accident the question remains; why have babies? Perhaps ultimately we do so because they will initiate a ­brighter ­outlook for generations to come.

This book is dedicated to our beautiful son Lyndon and our daughter Sherrie, our son-in-law Peter who is like another son to us, our adorable grandchildren who I could not be more proud of and most outstandingly, to my gorgeous husband Nigel, my very best friend, my soul mate and right arm, who has stood by me through thick and thin, with ­everlasting love. From the bottom of my heart I sincerely hope you will enjoy this book as much as I have enjoyed writing it. I would have liked something similar to read as a young mum, but could not find anything along the same lines. You will never discover all of the answers to child rearing in a book, but with knowledge comes strength. May each of you have a long and productive life. Take each day, one step at a time and may all your problems be little ones. Remember, you cannot buy memories, you have to make them. Love each other, hold hands with your neighbours and love the life that you have been given. And so as another chapter of your life begins may your God go with you. Been there, done that, then wrote the book. From one hell of a happy and contented ‘young’ Granny with ‘attitude’. Blessed are the children for they shall inherit the earth. A MOTHER’S LOVE KNOWS NO END

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Earliest Teachable Moment: Personal Safety for Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers

When it comes to safety, the earliest teachable moment is the best teachable moment if this is done in a way that builds understanding and skills instead of creating anxiety or fear.
According to 'MojoMom' author Dr. Amy Tiemann, “Irene van der Zande is the author of the classic parenting guide, '1,2,3…The Toddler Years: A Practical Guide for Parents and Caregivers' which for over 25 years has helped new parents navigate the waters through the all-important first few years of life. Now van der Zande combines her toddler-parenting expertise with her work as the Founder and Executive Director of Kidpower, a leading international organization teaching personal safety to people of all ages, with the creation of the new book 'Earliest Teachable Moment: Personal Safety for Babies, Toddlers and Preschoolers.'”
“What does personal safety look like for very young children? 'Earliest Teachable Moment' gives parents and caregivers information and tools to create emotional safety, boundaries, and positive relationships. Add to that important parent-centered information including ‘How to choose safe people to care for your children.’Van der Zande coaches parents on how to teach basic skills to children including ‘Checking first to be safe with objects, animals, strangers, and other potential problems.’”
“'Earliest Teachable Moment' is practical, compassionate, and backed by years of real-world-tested expertise. This book is a must-have for any parenting library–for yourself, a loved one, or a baby shower gift. You are in great hands with Irene van der Zande!”
From the day babies are born, parents, educators, and other caring adults teach and model how to be safe around cars, water, fire, and people.
These habits create more joy and reduce risk. Use this book to build these everyday skills and habits in order to protect young children from harm, help them develop strong relationships, and teach them skills for being safe and having fun with people.
"Earliest Teachable Moment" provides inspiring stories, clear explanations, and positive practices showing how to use the skills and strategies developed in Kidpower since 1989 to increase the personal safety of young children in ways that are empowering and joyful.
Topics include:

• Emotional safety for new parents
• Teaching healthy boundaries and positive communication skills
• Puppet Power and Little Books for little people
• Teaching safety rules and checking first
• Choosing safe people to care for your children
• Helping children manage aggression
• Coping with kids who wander, climb, and hide
• Protecting young children from harm

To learn more about Kidpower Teenpower Fullpower International's workshops, consultation, and other educational resources, visit www.kidpower.org.
All income from books sales helps our nonprofit organization create and provide extensive free and affordable educational resources.

Irene van der Zande is the author of the bestselling book, "1, 2, 3 … The Toddler Years: A Practical Guide for Parents and Caregivers", which is used in early childhood programs internationally and has a foreword by Magda Gerber, early childhood education pioneer and founder of Respect for Infant Educarers. She is also the founder and executive director of Kidpower International, a global nonprofit leader in providing child protection education and personal safety skills for all ages and abilities. Since 1989, Kidpower has protected over 2.5 million children, teenagers, and adults, including those with special needs, from bullying, abuse, kidnapping, and other violence through workshops, consulting, and educational resources.

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful.
A wonderful guide for all new parents, and caregivers too. You are in great hands with Irene van der Zande!
By Amy Tiemann
Irene van der Zande is the author of the classic parenting guide, 1,2,3...The Toddler Years: A Practical Guide for Parents and Caregivers which for over 25 years has helped new parents navigate the waters through the all-important first few years of life. Now van der Zande combines her toddler-parenting expertise with her work as the Founder and Executive Director of Kidpower, a leading international organization teaching personal safety to people of all ages, with the creation of the new book "Earliest Teachable Moment: Personal Safety for Babies, Toddlers and Preschoolers." What does personal safety look like for very young children? "Earliest Teachable Moment" gives parents and caregivers information and tools to create emotional safety, boundaries, and positive relationships. Add to that important parent-centered information including "How to choose safe people to care for your children." Van der Zande coaches parents on how to teach basic skills to children including "Checking first to be safe with objects, animals, strangers, and other potential problems." "Earliest Teachable Moment" is practical, compassionate, and backed by years of real-world-tested expertise. This book is a must-have for any parenting library--for yourself, a loved one, or a baby shower gift.

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.
As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, I am dedicated to putting an end to this very real, yet seldom discussed epidemic. Not
By Randa F.
As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, I am dedicated to putting an end to this very real, yet seldom discussed, epidemic. Not On Our Watch America Foundation applauds Irene van der Zande's book. It should be required reading for every parent, aunt, uncle, and grandparent.

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The Rough Guide to Travel with Babies and Young Children,

From pre-trip planning to pre-empting and dealing with challenges when away, The Rough Guide to Travel with Babies and Young Children is the ultimate comprehensive guide to hassle-free family travel. With the low-down on everything from planning your itinerary and accommodation to what to bring and how to pack it, the guide is packed with tips on painless travel by plane, car, bus or train, as well how to deal with delays, queues and travel sickness. Insiders’ tips from destinations all around the globe ensure you’ll know what to expect when you arrive. You’ll find thoroughly researched and accessible advice on coping with the challenges once you’re there, from eating out with toddlers to getting enough sleep. Ideal for busy parents, the guide comes complete with listings of resources, websites and further reading, plus handy checklists, first-hand stories and advice from travel industry experts and parents who’ve been there and done it.

This guide amply makes the case that, with proper preparation, globe-trotting can have a transformative effect on the whole family. --Chicago Tribune

This down-to-earth resource for traveling with tykes offers the ultimate blueprint to plan a relatively snarl-proof trip...[D]e Francisco s commonsense, psychologically insightful narrative is an A-to-Z list of travel suggestions and to-dos, from planning, paperwork and packing to tips on traveling by jet, car or train. This guide has you covered from the moment you settle in for your holiday to daily activities and challenges parents face when shepherding children. --Book Page

With a doctorate from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fawzia Rasheed worked as research scientist with the Medical Research Council (UK) before working in the UN as a Senior Policy Adviser. In the course of her travels and work, Fawzia has taken her children along wherever possible. Her eldest son started his travels at 6 weeks and celebrated his first birthday on his fifth continent.

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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful.
Finally--a great guide for real family travel
By Tim Leffel
As the author of several travel books, I often get asked for recommendations on books covering the very different world of traveling with young children. Until now, I've usually sent people to blogs or websites on the subject because none of the books available really covered the subject with any depth. Way too much of the practical advice deals with either car trips to grandma's or well-worn paths to Disney World and Hawaii. What about the people looking for a richer experience?

This book is different. Rough Guides are geared to travelers who want to do more than skim the surface of a destination and this family travel guide goes beyond the simplistic advice about keeping your little ones occupied on the road. Travel with Babies and Young children convinces you that almost anything is possible, but is not afraid to point out the hurdles and sensitivity issues you will encounter along the way. After its 209 pages of advice, rundowns, and stories from other travelers, your family will be ready for whatever the world throws at you all. As someone who got his daughter a passport when she turned three, I found the tips here to be right on the money.

This will be my de facto gift to new mothers and fathers from now on.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful.
Nothing special
By B. Santaro
I've traveled, sans, with, and as a child, and have a multicultural international family so that might bias me, but I didn't find this book to contain any advice that was extraordinary. For those who are visiting someplace far and unfamiliar, some of the information regarding basic customs might be useful, but do parents really need to be told to bring items to entertain kids, or that trains and airports can be interesting place for kids to explore within reason and supervision. This has more common sense broad advice, not detailed from the trenches this is what to do in this location information, and it glazes over broad areas. If you desire something more specific or hidden ideas for actual situations and products look elsewhere.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful.
None of what you need, and everything you don't
By One Less Road Kill
I guess I was looking for a book with more travel ideas and locations than one that lists the obvious essentials of traveling with a baby. We have a nine month old baby and were hoping to get some ideas on specific baby family destinations, and instead we have a book that lists all of the obvious things you already take with you on a trip to the grocery store. Thanks for the tip on taking diapers and formula on my next trip to Asia?? I have no idea where to stay or what to do once I get to "Asia" but at least I will remember to take my stroller. If your looking for a book full of tips you could easily get in a magazine article this is for you. If you want something more specific I guess for now my best suggestion is google.

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