Although all babies need love and attention, they also require several other supplies. Fortunately, About.com published an article entitled, “Top Ten Baby Items Every Father Needs,” which outlines the ten essential baby items for the modern dad.

The following is an excerpt from the article:

1. Car Seat. This is the most essential item for your baby. Anytime you are in the car, the baby needs to be securely fastened in a car seat. The seat must be appropriately sized for your baby and must work in your car. Not all car seats are created equal. You may want to consider a seat that has a base that is left in the car with a detachable seat for the baby that you can easily carry around. But no baby can safely be without a car seat if you plan to move about in a car.

2. Baby Monitor. Unless you or your baby’s mom plan to be in the same room with the baby 24/7, a baby monitor is an important piece of baby gear. These also come in different varieties. Some simply pick up the sound in the baby’s room and let you listen nearby. Others have cameras or motion detectors as well for improved monitoring.

3. Mobile. When the baby is in her crib or bassinet asleep, she will wake up and want her family. A mobile, which attaches to the baby’s bed above her head, will give her something to look at during her pre-sleep or post-sleep period. And every baby needs something to look at during her earliest weeks and months to help her learn to track moving objects.

4. Digital Camera. Just about every father I know wants a good digital camera to record those important moments in a baby’s development, or just wants to have and/or post pictures of the cutest baby ever. Choosing a good digital camera with either lots of storage space or room for a high capacity memory card is an important thing to do even before the baby arrives.

5. Diaper Bag. A good quality diaper bag with all the important contents for a baby is an absolutely essential part of the baby’s stuff. It will be your mobile command center any time you are away from home.

6. Video Camera. In addition to a digital camera, you will also want to record your baby’s movements, sounds and her interaction with others. A video camera that is compact and convenient is a good investment, not just for the baby years but beyond as well.

7. Burp Cloths. Babies spit up constantly and always at the most inopportune time. A ready supply of burp cloths is important for dads and babies. Cloth diapers can serve this function well, and most baby supply stores have them for purchase. Don’t get dressed without one.

8. Infant Health Book or Software. One of the greatest unknowns for new fathers is how to keep the baby healthy and knowing when to involve medical professionals. A good book on infant health or software or trusted websites with this information is critical to being a responsible father.

9. Stroller. It is easy for a new dad to feel trapped at home with the new baby. Particularly with your first one, your mobility is seriously impacted. A good quality stroller, with handles long enough that you can walk without bending over all the time, is an important item. And getting one that will serve you and your baby as she grows makes the relatively large investment a little more palatable.

10. Baby Swing. There will be a lot of times when, as much as you love her, the baby and you will want a little space. A good battery operated baby swing will give you that space without making baby fussy. Again, there are lots of makes and models of swings. Some play music, others have mobiles, and some make the sounds of the womb. But whatever model you get, make sure it is stable and solidly built and assembled.

These essential items will help ease the transition into fatherhood and will help you and baby be safe, comfortable and secure.

The Men’s Divorce Law Firm is an advocate for responsible fatherhood and is proud to serve the fathers of the Central Florida community.

Because making a trip to the grocery with your kids can be a harrowing experience, flying with them tends to be an even more stressful and exhausting.  However, About.com recently published an article filled with helpful tips for flying with children. These tips should make traveling fun for your kids and allow you to better enjoy the spirit of the holidays.

The following is an excerpt from the article:

1. Build in some extra time.

Rather than stress about being late, give yourself some time to get to the airport and your gate when flying with children. Gone are the days of pre-parenthood when you could throw your bags in the taxi or a car and zip to the airport just before your flight. In addition to the time-consuming security measures at airports, you’ll have to contend with doing things on kid time, which means you should plan on adding at least an hour for trips to the bathroom, pleas for a turn on the videogames that airports so thoughtfully install near gates to entice kids, and at least several dozen “Oh, look!”s at all the various exciting things going on at the airport.

2. Pack family travel games.

Because Murphy’s Law tends to apply to any sort of travel with kids — especially flying with children — it’s a good idea to prepare for any delays by bringing along some fun family travel games.

3. Get some good tunes.

Load up your iPod or pack your portable CD player and get some great kids CD choices lined up for your trip.

4. Don’t forget the books.

Bring some great kids’ books along, both in print and on CDs or on your iPod or MP3 player. And older grade-schooler may enjoy reading a book quietly while a younger child might prefer listening to an audio book. Either way, consider choosing something exciting or action-packed, so that your child’s attention is more likely to stay focused on it for a period of time.

5. Bring some great kids movies.

Even if you don’t think you have room for a laptop or portable DVD player in your carry-on, trust me: You will be grateful to have it, particularly if your flight is a long one. A good kid movie can easily take up an hour and a half or more of your trip, which means, you probably won’t hear “I’m bored” for at least that long. But be sure to pack earphones for movies or any videogame players so that fellow passengers are not disturbed.

6. Pack snacks.

Your grade-schooler may not be a toddler who needs to eat every couple of hours, but you will not want a hungry, cranky kid on your hands if there are any sorts of delays. And bringing along some healthy snacks such as lowfat cheese, crackers, and fruit can help you avoid the high-fat, high-sugar snacks that you’re bound to find near airport gates.

7. Bring lollipops or gum.

The weird sensation of your ears popping due to air pressure changes during takeoff and landing can be disconcerting to adults — think about how it can feel for a kid. To help, take a relaxed attitude about it and turn it into a game. Challenge your child to suck on a lollipop or chew on gum to see if she can feel her ears pop. Have a contest to see which family members can feel the least “pops.”

8. Book aisle seats.

When making reservations, book seats together so that your whole family is sitting together. Kids like to look out the window, so book a window seat. More importantly, get a seat in the aisle so that your child’s frequent bathroom breaks do not disturb fellow passengers.

9. Never let each other out of your sight.

The best way to be safe in crowded public places such as the airport is to never let your child out of your sight. And be sure to emphasize to your child that he should never wander away without mom or dad. (That goes for using pubic bathrooms at airports, too.) If you’re traveling alone with a child of the opposite gender, use a family restroom.

10. Prepare your child for an emergency.

Make sure your child knows his or her full name, address, and home telephone number in case you get separated. Tell your child to ask another mommy with a child for help in the event that you become separated.

The Men’s Divorce Law Firm hopes you have an excellent and safe Thanksgiving Day.

Today, video game consoles have become the primary source of entertainment for most kids and teens; leaving them isolated in their rooms conversing with their friends over headsets. So how can you reconnect with your teens in this new world of technology? Join them in a night of video game fun! The Nintendo Wii is one of the most popular video game systems ever created.  According to About Fatherhood.com, the games listed below allow for a lot of interaction between players and are fun for players at all levels.  So grab a Wii control and enjoy a night of 21^st century family gaming with your children.

1. Mario Kart

If you loved Mario Kart for other Nintendo units (like DS or Game Cube), then the Wii version will really be a hit with you and your family.  Not only are the graphics amazing, but the maps are creative and the ability to race other players online (up to 12 at a time) makes it a real kick.  To make the experience even better, purchase the Mario Kart wheel accessory.

2. Pinball Hall of Fame

Your kids may not appreciate the pinball games of your youth– hours and hours spent pumping quarters into the pinball machine at your local arcade. But this version of the classic game is easy to learn and fun to play, and your kids will become addicted to Pinball Hall of Fame.

3. Boom Blox Bash Party

This is the second installment in the Boom Blox series.  Boom Blox is a really fun concept in which game players strike at or pull out blocks from a variety of structures.  The characters in Boom Blox are entertaining and engaging and the tools for striking blocks now include various shapes like cylinders and wedges.  They are fired with cannons, slingshots and other implements.  The colors and sounds are bright and loud – just like dads and kids like.

4. Playground for Nintendo Wii

Remember the lazy summer afternoons at the neighborhood park playground?  Playground for Wii includes virtual activities like tetherball, dodgeball, lawn darts, slot car racing, and paper airplane competitions are available for you and your kids to enjoy.  The graphics are colorful and fun, and the action realistic.  If you like any Wii games, you will enjoy the ones offered in Playground.

5. Wii Carnival Games

Once again, this game is a real throwback to the carnivals of bygone days at the County Fair or the local carny.  Think ring toss, lucky caps, dunk tanks, and shooting gallery as carnival games.  Players can also visit a swami or a fortune teller.  Step right up and experience this game with your family!

6. Wii Sports Resort

This game is full of adventurous competitions– power cruising, disc dog, archery, fencing and more.  It is pretty good exercise for  couch potato dads and kids, and the graphics are extraordinarily fun and enticing.  Wii accessories and Wii Motion Plus make these games even more enjoyable!

7. Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga

Star Wars has long been a favorite franchise for fathers and children alike.  In this latest version of Star Wars Lego games, there are game units that reflect all six Star Wars movies.  The games actually require players to use team building and cooperation skills, so there are even life lessons available as the game is played.  With over 160 different characters, every game played is unique and different.

8. Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues

Another Lego classic, Indiana Jones 2 is really an adventure.  Taking its theme from the Indiana Jones movie series, this game allows the player to collect historic artifacts which then unlock various characters and levels which test the players skills and creativity.  With many new vehicles, weapons and characters, this game will immediately engage adventurous fathers and children.

9. Ultimate I Spy

Based on the I Spy book series, these games are challenging for older children and dads.  This is not a game that children under seven years-old will enjoy.  But for older kids and dads, this will be a really fun game experience.  The graphics are very cool and the game is full of riddles, excellent character action and simulations, and great games involving darts, paddleball and more.

10. MySims Party for Nintendo Wii

My Sims Party offers 50 fast-paced mini-games in which any combination of Sims may participate as a team.  Each Sim brings his or her own set of strengths and weaknesses, and you will want to try to build the best team to win a given set of mini-games.  It will help dads and children learn more about team work and human interaction.  Ideally suited to children close to 8 years old, the Sims Party game will be a favorite of dads and kids.

Fathers, Families, Fairness.

Full of helpful parental tricks and insightful tips, All Pro Dad recently posted an article entitled, “10 Ways To Teach Your Children To Be Compassionate.” The following is an excerpt of the article:

• It Starts At The Top

Your life must lead the way for the next generation. If your existence is shallow and self-serving, your children will emulate the same. Display a generous and loving heart so that your children may see it in action. Never let an opportunity slip by that compassion can be given. It is always the small things that matter in life. A warm smile where only cold is known. A gentle embrace when all others have passed by. A helping hand to ease an overbearing struggle. It starts with you.

• No Child Left Behind

Talk to your children about school life. Do they notice the girl eating alone at lunch? The boy with nobody to play with at recess? Are they themselves that child? Encourage your children to reach out to those that need a friendly face. It takes courage to do so. The group dynamic is such that those children are left behind. Teach them to be leaders that set positive trends.

• Seniors Rule

In most aspects of life, seniority rules. At school and in your career. This should translate to Grandma and Grandpa as well. In most cultures, it does. In American culture, it does not. That is to our disgrace. Teach your children to respect their elders. It is biblically commanded and extremely wise to do so. Have your kids spend quality time with the older folks in your circle. To help them and learn from them. Compassion for the weak and fragile is a very strong character trait to possess.

• Positive Impact

How can our compassion have meaningful results? That is the challenge to bring up and discuss with your kids. You want to have a positive impact. Giving a homeless man $5 just to buy more booze is frustrating to many people. Instead, consider pre-making survival bags for the homeless. Take the kids to distribute them.  Fill a grocery bag with everyday needed items and food that does not need preparation. You will light up the face of a desperate man with gratitude and hope. If only for a brief time.

• Turn The Media Tables

Television and the Internet are overflowing with bad examples for our children. Sex, violence and self-centeredness are celebrated and encouraged. It is simply not possible to filter it all out. Instead, use it for your advantage when possible. Watch what your kids are watching. When opportunity presents itself, use it. Point out moments that could have been different with compassion and decent morals. Turn the tables on irresponsible media making money corrupting the souls of society. You should see it as a war, because that’s exactly what it is.

• Furry Friends

Do you have a family pet? Animals teach many great qualities. Compassion right at the top of the list. How your child treats his pet is a great indication of the character within him. Is he loving and nurturing? Or callous and abusive? Perhaps indifferent? Pets can be used to break through even the iciest of shells. Make sure your children have daily responsibilities for the care of your pet. It will teach them dedication to the well being of something besides their own needs.

• Disabled Is Not A Dirty Word

Disease, birth defects and mental challenges run rampant in our world. They leave no age group untouched. In nearly all situations, it is no fault of the victim that they have been stricken with the burden they carry. Yet in many cases, they are left on the sidelines to deal with life in relative isolation. Disabled is not a dirty word. Many of the greatest stories of human triumph emerge from the ranks of the disabled. Their bodies or their minds might not be of normal state, but every soul is created beautiful and pristine. Remember that and teach it to your children.

• Open Your Heart

The ability to display and comprehend emotions is not always easy for all people. Some men and women have a lot of trouble discussing out loud how they are feeling. Open your hearts to your children. They need to feel that you can verbally and physically express the love you have for them. Big hugs and three simple words on a daily basis. This builds much needed security and enforces in them the ability to love others as well. Hugging your child and telling her that you love her makes you more of a man. Not less.

• Square Dealing

Once upon a time, only a scoundrel would consider taking advantage of another for profit. Businessmen had an unspoken code to be square dealing and honest in their work. It was a matter of social standing. Is this the case today? In the present, it is normal business practice to use whatever means necessary to claim the prize. Morals sacrificed and ethics out the window. This trend must be reversed. Teach your children to have standards they will not waver from. To deal fairly in all matters. Compassion flows from those that treat others with dignity and respect.

• Tolerance For All Kinds

One of the most used words of this strange new century. Tolerance. Sadly, it is often misused as more of a form of control than actual acceptance. That is called social engineering and is not true tolerance. Tolerance is a love for all of God’s creations. To be color blind. To practice understanding for those different than yourself. The world today is full of open borders and worldwide communication. We can’t hide in conclaves of those only like ourselves. Relish in that fact and teach your children that it is a glorious time to be alive. You only heard about the “starving children in China” when you were little. Your child can talk to different kids all over the world on the Internet. Tolerance and compassion for all people and creatures is certainly a goal worthy of your children’s soul.

To read the full article, click here.

Fathers, Families, Fairness.

The MorganBrothers—a community outreach program within Morgan & Morgan law firm— recently hosted an event in honor of A Gift for Teaching, which took place at The Other Bar on Wall Street.  A variety of local supporters attended to show their support for such a worthy cause.

The purpose of the MorganBrothers’ program is to aide local charities, schools, and organizations within the greater Orlando area. MorganBrothers will be hosting different events throughout the year with the goal of spotlighting and raising money for local programs that desperately need support.

You too can make a contribution to A Gift for Teaching by donating money, products, and in-kind services. Donate today!

• Each dollar you donate to AGFT allows teachers to take $10 worth of supplies back to the classroom.
• Your product donations help keep the Free Store shelves stocked with supplies that our teachers and students need most.
• In-kind services support AGFT in its day-to-day operations keeping administrative costs low, allowing 96.1% of all product and monetary revenue to be utilized for AGFT program expenses.

To learn more about what A Gift for Teaching is doing in our community, visit them on Facebook.

• Go camping. So maybe you’re not the outdoors type, or perhaps you don’t have the time and resources to plan an elaborate camping trip. Don’t let that stop you! Gather a few lawn chairs around a fire pit in your backyard and make your own camping grounds. As you sit around the fire and swap scary stories, your kids will be bubbling over with excitement. Also, don’t forget the camping essentials: marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate bars!
• Plan a daddy-daughter date. Treat your princess like royalty as you sweep her away for a night of fun. Great destinations include her favorite restaurant and the local movie theatre. The more time you spend with her, the more comfortable she will feel opening up to you. Plus, you will provide the perfect example of how all her future suitors should treat her—like a princess.
• Go to the zoo. There is nothing a kid loves more than seeing their favorite animal up close. Whether your child prefers the goats at the petting zoo or the elephants in the park, splurge on a day of fun and learning. Give your child the chance to see the fuzzy, furry, and slimy creatures of their story books in real life, and you will create a day that turns into a life-long memory.
• Take your kids out to the ball park. To children, playing “catch” implies much more than simply tossing a ball. Playing sports with your kids is a way to make them feel your love and commitment.  Not only does it give them the chance to show off their awesome athletic skills, but it also provides the opportunity for you to give them positive support. A simple “Nice catch!” or “That was impressive!” comment of praise will make your child’s face glow.

Remember, no matter what activity you choose to participate in this Labor Day weekend, the important thing is that you are spending time with your kids. Happy Labor Day!

Moskowitz explains that two common problems often arise: either a party fails to clear vacation dates with the other, or a parent plans a vacation that conflicts or is not approved by the other parent.  What parents should know, is that vacation plans can be established in a divorce settlement.  Parents can decide if they will switch off every year or if they will schedule around each other to take the kids on two vacations (one with each parent).

If parents want to vacation in the summer with their children every year, they should establish dates for their trips as soon as January comes around to give their ex-spouse plenty of notice.  Moskowitz specifically recommends establishing the plans in writing. “There’s no substitute for preparing and no better way to prevent confusion than getting the plan in writing,” he says. “Ideally, parents do it that way from the first year of a divorce and make it an annual practice.”

As a final thought, Moskowitz reminds parents that even though vacations are fun, they are also important to you and your children.  Individual parents should never feel they need to give up their vacation time with thier kids because this time is very special.  It doesn’t matter where the location of the trip is, but the time of undivided attention for your child is priceless.

www.MensDivorceLaw.com

1. There is a job for everyone.  If your kids are at least 15, they can go out in the work force and look for typical summer jobs.  A lot of theme parks, beach clubs, and hotels hire extra help for the summer to handle the increase in vacation guests, so advise your kids to start their search there.  For younger children, recommend they determine their most useful skills to help out people in their neighborhood.  Babysitting, mowing lawns, and cleaning houses are common choices, and your kids will likely get work from nearby friends and family members.

2. Preparation is key.  Many teenagers are not aware of the level of professionalism they need to show during the job search process because they have never looked for a job before.  Encourage good habits of arriving to interviews early, dressing conservatively when visiting possible job sites, maintaining a professional voice mail message, and treating everyone (even the receptionist and security guard) at a potential company with respect.  Employers will be impressed with your child’s maturity, and will most likely consider them before other candidates.

3. Don’t dismiss unpaid positions.  Some children only want to work to earn money, but explain the value of completing volunteer work or an internship to build up a resume.  Your child may be too young to land a great position now, but offering to work for a reputable company without pay is a great way to get their foot in the door for opportunities down the line.  It also will look great on college applications later!

4. There are five No’s for every Yes.  In this economic environment, your children may not get the first job they apply for.  They may not even get the fifth job they apply for.  It’s up to you as the parent to encourage them to keep trying.  Going to interviews and formatting resumes for companies is a great way for your children to learn how to conduct an effective job search.  Remind them you are proud of them for taking initiative, and play an active role in helping them by conducting mock interviews and editing their resumes as they continue to search.

When your child lands a job, consider reading our blog post on Teaching Your Kids Financial Responsibility for tips on helping them manage their money.

www.MensDivorceLaw.com

First, it is important to instill confidence in your child.  The National Youth Violence Prevention Center reported that most kids that are bullied are anxious, insecure, and have low self-esteem.  While it is important to teach your kids not to retaliate against a bully, fathers can promote children standing up for themselves verbally.  This confidence and verbal interaction might influence the bully to move on and avoid confronting your child in the future.

If bullying persists at your child’s school, consider notifying teachers or the principal to discuss any known students participating in bullying.  The school will most likely contact the bully’s parents and try to resolve the issue quietly and prevent any harassment in the future.  Fathers can also start up (or join existing) anti-bullying programs associated with their child’s school.  These programs were cited as one of the main reasons that bullying has reduced over the past few years.

To read GreatDad’s original article, click here.

www.MensDivorceLaw.com

Fathers should start by asking their children what they would like to do for their mothers on this holiday, and then plan out how they can help. If the kids are younger, fathers can help them make homemade cards, cookies, or other assorted arts and craft projects.  If the kids are older, fathers can instead offer to take them to a store to purchase cards and gifts, and possibly help sponsor a purchase if it is slightly out of the child’s price range.

It is also important for fathers to recognize stepmothers during this holiday by encouraging small gestures from their children to show respect and appreciation.  Stepmother gifts do not have to be over the top; a simple card or small bouquet will do.

The most important thing fathers should remember this week is to put their kids first.  Mother’s Day is just as much about the children as it is the mother, so it is a good time for fathers to put their differences aside and help kids follow through with any special plan they put together.  Don’t forget that Father’s Day is just around the corner, and this appreciation will soon be returned!

To read more advice on Mother’s Day for fathers, check out this article from Fathers.com.

www.MensDivorceLaw.com