According to Dr. Karen Hill Scott, renowned child development expert, there are many ways to develop a positive awareness of culture. “We show our children pictures of family members, we sing songs, and share toys that babies enjoy. Incorporating similar content from other cultures will also be fun for baby,” she explains. Dr. Hill Scott recommends beginning with baby’s natural interests — listening to music, handling toys and clothing, and looking at pictures of people and places.

To help parents introduce their children to different cultures and to develop an appreciation for the world, Dr. Hill Scott shares the following tips.

Music Time
From Africa to Australia, music is a universal language, a common thread that ties us all together. Incorporate music from around the world into daily activities by introducing your baby to the sound of different languages, rhythms and instruments from around the globe. Whether you are putting away toys, rocking baby to sleep or even running errands, try playing a CD that exposes your little one to acoustically diverse cultural experiences specially created for a baby’s ears. Baby Einstein’s World Music CD introduces several different kinds of baby-friendly songs that incorporate culturally inspired instruments, such as bells, drums, wooden flutes or rain stick, that engage, delight, and capture a baby’s attention.

Singing and Language Time
The foundation of human language is expressed in communication by making sounds and inflections that precede actual words. Even when words are used, moms typically express themselves in a language style called “motherese” or “mom speak” that babies seem to love. Introduce your baby to a variety of musical sounds from around the world — this can make listening time more creative and interactive because you can sing new songs to your baby from a variety of cultures. If you’re a bit inhibited about singing, think of it as talking to music. Your baby wants to hear your voice and will delight in your playfulness. Whether it’s a baby coo or a smile, it’s such a warm feeling to receive a dose of your infant’s special “mommy and me” conversation.

Playtime
Aside from eating and sleeping, baby’s most important activities are watching, listening, and playing with you. To expand on this foundation, surround your baby’s world with symbols of other cultures, such as small baby dolls with different skin colors, facial features, and hair textures. You can use textured fabrics from another culture as blanket toppers when your baby is playing on the floor. And you can bring the real world images to babies by sharing books and the Baby Einstein’s World Music DVD with them. The pictures are beautiful and the music is orchestrated so it provides baby with a very pleasurable listening experience. When you watch the DVD with your baby you can express your own appreciation for the beauty found in other cultures. Your tone of voice will let baby know how wonderful it is to see what other babies see and hear in other parts of the world.

Dancing and Exercise Time
Babies enter the world making their own sounds and movement and as they grow, they not only become more mobile, but they naturally become more explorative and curious. To encourage body movement use a CD that features global sites and sounds. With diverse sounds and rhythms from a variety of cultures, you and baby can march, tap, sway or simply step around to make a dance.

There is no known reason for what causes diabetes.  There are certainly risk factors that make the likelihood of you being diagnosed with the disease higher.  One of the only risk factors that you have control over is your weight.  If you are obese, the single best thing you can do for your health and the prevention of diabetes is to lose weight.  Even in small increments, when you shed pounds you are increasing your health benefits.
These may be easier said than done.  There are new studies that are now showing that there is a genetic factor or mutation for people who are obese and have diabetes.  This genetic malfunction affects how the bodies use energy and insulin – two key elements in the functioning of your body and the cause of diabetes and obesity.
The studies also state that this is not a cause and effect case.  If you carry this defective gene you are not guaranteed to be obese or have diabetes.  But the link is there and it can be prevented.  You may have to work harder at it than others to maintain a healthy body weight and put off diabetes but it can be done.  Discuss with your doctor options and ways to prevent or put-off the onset of diabetes.
The gene that researchers have discovered as a precursor to diabetes has been found in young children.  It is scary to know that children in their preschool years are being diagnosed with obesity and type 2 diabetes due to genetics.  But parents can reduce or prevent these things from happening by giving their children healthy lifestyle choices.  Now that a DNA link has been found, the research can focus on finding a way to fix or prevent this from happening at some point in the future.

Trust your instinct – a beginner’s guide to using aromatherapy with children:
Essential oils are pure aromatic plant essences – they are distilled from flowers, fruit, leaves, resins, roots, seeds, and wood. The are used for their healing properties the world over – in , for example, they are only available through licensed, qualified parishioners. In the United States, we have free access to essential oils – but with this comes with some important cautions: Only some of the essential oils available are suitable for children; others are not suitable for children and some are even dangerous to children (children with epilepsy should not come in contact with stimulating essential oils).
When used correctly however, essential oils can be of great benefit, and will not conflict with your child’s medically prescribed drugs. Always research the oil of choice thoroughly before using with your infant or child – ask advice from a qualified practitioner, or see the references at the end of this article.
That said, essential oils can be a wonderful way of supporting your child’s health, happiness and well-being. Essential oils can be very therapeutic and nurturing to both your child and you, the caregiver. Essential oils are used externally (on the outside of the body) in your child’s bath, body lotions, oils, creams, gels, compresses, foot baths, or in a oil warmer. The effects of aromatherapy will generally fall into one of three main categories: 1) Assisting in healing from minor illnesses and accidents, 2) Supporting your child’s overall sense of well-being, and 3) Assisting your child in getting quality rest.
When using essential oils with your child, it is imperative that you find a reputable supplier of therapeutic-grade essential oils, using organic or wildcrafted varieties when possible. Synthetic copies of oils commonly used in perfumery are not appropriate, and may even be harmful to your child’s health. To maintain efficacy, essential oils should be kept in dark amber or cobalt glass containers, in a dark and cool location, away from the child’s access. Wooden storage boxes from craft or ‘Pier One’ type stores can make a nice container for the bottles.
Methods of Using Essential Oils
There are two methods of using essential oils with your child – INHALATION: through a diffuser, nebulizer, or adding to a humidifier reservoir, and TOPICAL APPLICATION: diluting the essential oil in a carrier oil and applying topically. Adding essential oils to a bath combines the two methods, though we will cover it under topical application.
For topical application, essential oils are diluted in varying strengths depending on the use and age of your child. The concentration can vary from one drop of essential oil per tablespoon of carrier oil, to a couple of drops per teaspoon of carrier added to a drawn bath, to an equal ratio of carrier and essential oil applied directly to your child’s feet (as in the case of gentle Lavender). In other words, there is a huge variation in dilution levels depending on the circumstances. Mamas, do your research and then trust your instinct. Only you and your child baby know exactly what is right for your situation.
General dilution rate guidelines of essential oils in one ounce of carrier oil:
Age of Child and amount of Essential Oil per One Ounce Carrier Oil for Topical/Massage Application:
Newborn (Consult primary care physician before use)
1-3 drops essential oil / ounce2-6 months1-3 drops essential oil / ounce6-12 months1-4 drops essential oil / ounce1-4 years (unless very small)5-8 drops essential oil / ounce6-7 years5-10 drops essential oil / ounce9-12 years5-12 drops essential oil / ounce12 years to young adult10-15 drops essential oil / ounce
DO NOT USE AN ESSENTIAL OIL NEAT (undiluted ) on children’s skin, unless indicated to do so for a specific condition. If your child has very sensitive skin, it is important to test a small area before using a new single oil or blend. Keep essential oils away form the eyes. When using citrus oils – orange, bergamot, lemon, tangerine, mandarin, and lime – do not use where the skin will be exposed to sunlight for the next 12 hours. These oils are considered ‘phototoxic’, and can react from the sun’s rays. They may be used in a bath, however, where they will be washed off the skin when the bath is done.
Essential oils are not to be taken orally (by mouth). When your child is taking medications, reduce the amount of essential oil by half the amount recommended for their age group.
Carrier oils for children
Sweet Almond oil is generally regarded as the safest and best overall carrier oil for use with babies and children. Apricot kernel oil is also considered extremely safe with children over 6. Jojoba oil can be added at about 10% concentration for any blend – it has a soothing effect on the skin and is good for hair.
Topical Application – Nurturing Touch Massage Recipes
There is nothing better for any child than the loving, nurturing touch of a parent. A gentle hug, a smile, a kiss on the cheek all reassure the child and help the parent and child to bond. These everyday forms of connection are instinctual and children thrive from it.
Research shows that massage can help children’s growth both physically and emotionally. In hospitals, studies done with premature baby’s show that touch is an essential aspect of the children’s ability to thrive.
Using aromatherapeutic nurturing touch massage can be therapeutic to both the child and the parent. Using a light, conscientious tough you can massage your child’s feet, arms, hands, back, abdomen, and even legs. The massage should always be done with loving intention and the work is done in the direction that the blood flows-from ankles to leg; from wrist to shoulder, etc.
Here are a few suggested blends for this wonderful method – each is in one (1) ounce of Sweet Almond oil:
Restful Sleep – 4 drops lavender, 2 drops Roman Chamomile
Happy Child – 3 drops Rose, 1 drop Neroli
Calm and Relaxed – 3 drops Petitgrain, 3 drops Neroli
Emotional Nurturing – 1 drop Rose, 1 drop Vanilla, 2 drops Lavender
For a Baby oil blend, to be used as a moisturizer OR massage oil (note: the frequent washing of a baby’s skin actually makes it difficult for them to retain vitamin C; application of a quality skin oil will help them keep adequate supplies of this important nutrient).
1 ounce of organic sweet almond oil or hazelnut oil1 drop of pure Lavender essential oil1 drop of Vanilla essential oil
OR
1 ounce of organic sweet almond oil2 drops of pure Lavender essential oil1 drop of pure Chamomile (German) essential oil
The above blends can also be added to the bath. One teaspoon with the following amount of essential oils added can be added AFTER the bath is filled, per the age of the child: 3-5 years, 2 drops; 6-8 years, 3 drops; 8-11 years, 5 drops. Perhaps the easiest way to do this would be to make a full strength blend (without carrier oil) of your choice, then dilute as needed for the application.
Inhalation of essential oils
For inhalation, one can apply one or two drops to a handkerchief and inhale, or add oils to a water misting bottle or humidifier. Calming essential oils that may be used are Lavender (recommended for sleep – one to four drops can be placed under the pillow), Mandarin, Roman Chamomile, Ho Wood (an ecologically friendly replacement for Rosewood), Tangerine, Petitgrain, Vanilla, and Neroli. Use these oils singly, create your own blend, or use one of the body oil blends above without the carrier oil. A few drops per quart of water in a mister sprayed throughout a room or added humidifier resevoir will do.
For an anti-anxiety blend: Try 5 drops bergamot, 1 drop lavender and 3 drops geranium – dilute to 10 drops per ½ pint of water for a room spray or use in a humidifier, or dilute to the appropriate level for your child’s age if using topically. For alertness, try lemon, bergamot, grapefruit or pine, either singly or in a blend that pleases your senses (usually the best way to blend is to trust your nose!)
Essential oils can also be used in a candle lamp or warmer – with the oil gently evaporated from the surface of a small bowl of water by the heat of a candle. An electric nebulizing diffuser is generally not recommended for use with children, as the concentration of oils in the air can be too high.
Last but not least, essential oils are wonderful antiseptics.
Cuts and scrapes are simply a way of life for the little ones! A great blend for minor wounds is a 1:1 mix of Lavender and Tea Tree oil. The lavender is soothing, anti-inflammatory, and has regenerative ‘ketones’, while the tea tree is a strong antiseptic used for many generations by native Australians. Use this blend in the water used for cleaning wounds, and apply a few drops to the gauze of a bandage – do not apply directly to the skin as it will be unnecessarily irritating. On the bandage, however, it will be soothing and accelerate the healing process.
So this is a very brief overview of using essential oils with children. There are many, many diverse applications for essential oils for almost every conceivable minor ailment seen in childhood. The key is knowledge – finding a good practitioner, or reputable resource for your needs. For further reading, books by Valerie Ann Woorwood are excellent: “Aromatherapy for the Healthy Child” and “The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy”; for safety data, see “Essential Oil Safety” by Robert Tisserand and Tony Balacs. The essential oils mentioned within this article are recognized as safe for most individuals – if you or your child are recognized as having a specific illness, and/or are under a doctor’s regular care, please consult an appropriate practitioner before proceeding.
That said, aromatherpy can be a very fun and rewarding endevor for both you and your child. Essential oils have benefited the lives of many the world over, and have a little bit of plant magic available to everyone.

1 Role Model –Your heath and weight directly effect your child’s health and weight.  Children with just one overweight parent have a 25% risk of becoming an overweight or obese adult.  If both parents are overweight the risk of becoming an overweight adult jumps to 50%.
2 Be Positive- No one enjoys receiving negative feedback.  Talk to your child with compassion and encouragement. Instead of saying, ‘Lose weight’, say, ‘Let’s be healthy and start taking care of our bodies’.  Focus on the foods you can eat, not the ones that you cannot. Say, ‘Let’s go pick out fruits and make a fruit salad,’ not ‘Don’t eat that.’
3 Make healthy eating a family affair – A family that eats together, eats better, according to a recent study in the journal Archives of Family Medicine. Children who report frequent family dinners have healthier diets than their peers who don’t, the study showed. Also fill your refrigerator and cabinets with fresh fruits, nuts, low-fat cheese, and things for everyone to snack on.
4 Eat Breakfast – A breakfast that consists of protein, starch and fat will keep your children more alert during school.  Studies have shown that weight loss is much more difficult in people who skip breakfast.
5 Make time for physical activity – Make physical activity a family activity. Every night after dinner in the summer, go for a half-hour walk and make it an activity that kids look forward to. If you can afford it, enroll your kids in dancing or a sporting activity that they enjoy because they need to enjoy it to keep doing it. Or just turn on some dance music and have a dance party around the house.
6 Don’t say diet – Put your child on any diet and you are setting them up for an eating disorder – whether binge eating or closet eating or another type of disorder.  Lifestyle changes have proven to be the most effective to lose weight and keep it off.
7 Avoid portion distortion – When serving the food try to portion out meal on dishes and avoid buffet-type or family-style eating.  When exposed to so much food it is easy for your eyes to be bigger than your stomach.  Resist the first temptation to have seconds then check in with yourself to see if you are really hungry.