Pregnancy stretch marks can be prevented if you take certain precautionary measures.

You should ensure that you do not gain too much weight all of a sudden. Instead you should try to gain weight steady during the entire nine months. This will help in preventing pregnancy stretch mark. Another way of preventing pregnancy stretch marks is to ensure that you keep your skin constantly hydrated by drinking a lot of water.

Make sure you exercise during your pregnancy. Exercising during pregnancy will keep your muscles well toned and will prevent your skin from developing stretch marks not just during pregnancy but also after pregnancy.

Another effective method to avoid pregnancy stretch marks is by massaging your arms, legs, breasts and abdomen gently with special pregnancy stretch mark cream. This should be done twice a day for best results.

You are not alone to worry about pregnancy stretch marks. Most women worry about it and as mentioned earlier nearly 75 to 90 percent end up with pregnancy stretch marks. However, there are many methods to prevent pregnancy stretch marks and those described above are just a few. Your best resource for getting more information on prevention of pregnancy stretch marks is the Internet that has many sites devoted to pregnancy and issues faced by pregnant women.

Have you ever noticed how your child learned his or her name first, before mommy, daddy or anything else you tried to teach him? His name becomes equal to his identity. He immediately becomes more interested in objects and concepts as it relates to him.

A children’s story book that includes his name will instantly be more meaningful than a run of the mill children’s book. Personalized stories with life lessons that include his name and some of the things he loves to do will have that much more of a chance of really sinking in.

The more personal information included in the story, the more of an impact it will have on your child. Choose books that include their name, age, and activities that he truly enjoys.

A book that is catered to your child is one that he will have probably for the rest of his life. It is part of his upbringing now and a wonderful keepsake that he can share with his children later in life.

What many people don’t know is that there are books out there which are geared specifically for the under-one-year demographic, and they make a great gift. Most larger bookstores have extensive children’s sections, broken down into areas by age and subject. For infants, you’ll want to find the section for board books.

What are board books? Board books are books that are more durable than regular books. They’re created out of materials that are more durable than other children’s books, generally a heavy-duty cardboard (from which board books take their name), vinyl, and fabrics. They’re geared to stand up to hours of handling and mouthing by small children and infants.

These books are generally thick and easy for babies to hold onto. They’re tactile, often containing pages with different textures for the child to touch. They’re usually bright and colorful, with simple pictures and few or no words. Some are even waterproof and geared as a bath toy as well.

Picture books make another wonderful gift for a newborn or for a mother-to-be. Many people start children’s picture book collections long before their first child is conceived. There are some wonderful picture books out there. From the classics such as “Goodnight Moon” to newer creations such as “Miss Spider,” these books have beautiful illustrations and are great for bedtime reading, even for infants.

In addition, check the gift section of the children’s department in the bookstore. There, you’ll often find gift sets which include a plush toy along with the actual book.

Collections of fairy tales, children’s poetry, or bedtime stories make great gifts as well. Good quality hardcover collections often become family heirlooms, passed on from one generation to the next and enjoyed year after year.

These books are often beautifully bound, wonderfully illustrated, and something both adults and children will enjoy. Many parents believe that reading, even to newborns, fosters growth and learning, and it nurtures the parent-child relationship. Collections provide great reading material for these bedtime sessions.

For those who think that books are not an appropriate gift for a baby, all you need to do is take an hour and peruse the shelves of your local bookstore’s children department. You’ll find a wealth of gift ideas and you might just be surprised at the treasures you’ll find.

Early children’s books come in many titles. Many classics of children’s literature are available in board book format, from the works of Dr. Seuss to bedtime staples like Goodnight Moon. These titles allow even the very youngest children to enjoy the whimsical stories and colorful illustrations of favorite stories without worry about torn pages.

Pocket sized board books often come in themed collections. Favorite children’s characters often star in collections of board books, which often come in creative packaging, intended to make getting the books out and putting them away just as much fun for your child as reading them. Other collections focus on a theme, such as letters of the alphabet.

Perhaps the most popular style of board book is the simple picture book. Each heavy, cardboard page contains a single word or concept, paired with a matching illustration. Available on subjects from dinosaurs and cars to colors and shapes, these children’s books build familiarity with basic early learning concepts and introduce the idea that words represent things we see around us.

Board books come in a range of different sizes. Small, pocket sized board books are perfect for crawling infants who are just learning to manipulate objects, while larger books are ideal for the toddler who wants a book just like Mommy’s.

The physical construction of board books is designed to withstand the rough treatment of children too young to know better. Unlike traditional bound paper books, the thick cardboard pages of board books are virtually indestructible. They resist tearing and make it easier for clumsy young fingers to turn pages.

Board books are also an exceptionally affordable addition to the family library. Small full color picture books are often priced at just a few dollars per title, while larger, full size full color books are priced around the same as hardcover children’s books. Building a collection of board books for the child in you life is an inexpensive way to provide an early introduction to the importance and enjoyment of reading.

 There are childrens college funds known as a 529 Plan

An Introduction to 529 Plans

What is a 529 plan?

A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged savings plan designed to encourage saving for future college costs. 529 plans, legally known as “qualified tuition plans,” are sponsored by states, state agencies, or educational institutions and are authorized by Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code.

There are two types of 529 plans: pre-paid tuition plans and college savings plans. All fifty states and the District of Columbia sponsor at least one type of 529 plan. In addition, a group of private colleges and universities sponsor a pre-paid tuition plan.

What are the differences between pre-paid tuition plans and college savings plans?

Pre-paid tuition plans generally allow college savers to purchase units or credits at participating colleges and universities for future tuition and, in some cases, room and board. Most prepaid tuition plans are sponsored by state governments and have residency requirements. Many state governments guarantee investments in pre-paid tuition plans that they sponsor.

College savings plans generally permit a college saver (also called the “account holder”) to establish an account for a student (the “beneficiary”) for the purpose of paying the beneficiary’s eligible college expenses. An account holder may typically choose among several investment options for his or her contributions, which the college savings plan invests on behalf of the account holder. Investment options often include stock mutual funds, bond mutual funds, and money market funds, as well as, age-based portfolios that automatically shift toward more conservative investments as the beneficiary gets closer to college age. Withdrawals from college savings plans can generally be used at any college or university. Investments in college savings plans that invest in mutual funds are not guaranteed by state governments and are not federally insured.

The following chart outlines some of the major differences between pre-paid tuition plans and college savings plans.¹

¹ Source: Smart Saving for College, FINRA^®

How does investing in a 529 plan affect federal and state income taxes?

Investing in a 529 plan may offer college savers special tax benefits. Earnings in 529 plans are not subject to federal tax, and in most cases, state tax, so long as you use withdrawals for eligible college expenses, such as tuition and room and board.

However, if you withdraw money from a 529 plan and do not use it on an eligible college expense, you generally will be subject to income tax and an additional 10% federal tax penalty on earnings. Many states offer state income tax or other benefits, such as matching grants, for investing in a 529 plan. But you may only be eligible for these benefits if you participate in a 529 plan sponsored by your state of residence. Just a few states allow residents to deduct contributions to any 529 plan from state income tax returns.

If you receive state tax benefits for investing in a 529 plan, make sure you review your plan’s offering circular before you complete a transaction, such as rolling money out of your home state’s plan into another state’s plan. Some transactions may have state tax consequences for residents of certain states.

What fees and expenses will I pay if I invest in a 529 plan?

It is important to understand the fees and expenses associated with 529 plans because they lower your returns. Fees and expenses will vary based on the type of plan. Prepaid tuition plans typically charge enrollment and administrative fees. In addition to “loads” for broker-sold plans, college savings plans may charge enrollment fees, annual maintenance fees, and asset management fees. Some of these fees are collected by the state sponsor of the plan, and some are collected by the financial services firms that the state sponsor typically hires to manage its 529 program. Some college savings plans will waive or reduce some of these fees if you maintain a large account balance or participate in an automatic contribution plan, or if you are a resident of the state sponsoring the 529 plan. Your asset management fees will depend on the investment option you select.  Each investment option will typically bear a portfolio-weighted average of the fees and expenses of the mutual funds and other investments in which it invests. You should carefully review the fees of the underlying investments because they are likely to be different for each investment option.

Investors that purchase a college savings plan from a broker are typically subject to additional fees. If you invest in a broker-sold plan, you may pay a “load.” Broadly speaking, the load is paid to your broker as a commission for selling the college savings plan to you. Broker-sold plans also charge an annual distribution fee (similar to the “12b 1 fee” charged by some mutual funds) of between 0.25% and 1.00% of your investment. Your broker typically receives all or most of these annual distribution fees for selling your 529 plan to you.

Many broker-sold 529 plans offer more than one class of shares, which impose different fees and expenses. Here are some key characteristics of the most common 529 plan share classes sold by brokers to their customers:

	Class A shares typically impose a front-end sales load. Front-end sales loads reduce the amount of your investment. For example, let’s say you have $1,000 and want to invest in a college savings plan with a 5% front-end load. The $50 sales load you must pay is deducted from your $1,000, and the remaining $950 is invested in the college savings plan. Class A shares usually have a lower annual distribution fee and lower overall annual expenses than other 529 share classes. In addition, your front-end load may be reduced if you invest above certain threshold amounts – this is known as a breakpoint discount. These discounts do not apply to investments in Class B or Class C shares.
	Class B shares typically do not have a front-end sales load. Instead, they may charge a fee when you withdraw money from an investment option, known as a deferred sales charge or “back-end load.” A common back-end load is the “contingent deferred sales charge” or “contingent deferred sales load” (also known as a “CDSC” or “CDSL”). The amount of this load will depend on how long you hold your investment and typically decreases to zero if you hold your investment long enough. Class B shares typically impose a higher annual distribution fee and higher overall annual expenses than Class A shares. Class B shares usually convert automatically to Class A shares if you hold your shares long enough. Be careful when investing in Class B shares.  If the beneficiary uses the money within a few years after purchasing Class B shares, you will almost always pay a contingent deferred sales charge or load in addition to higher annual fees and expenses.
	Class C shares might have an annual distribution fee, other annual expenses, and either a front- or back-end sales load. But the front- or back-end load for Class C shares tends to be lower than for Class A or Class B shares, respectively. Class C shares typically impose a higher annual distribution fee and higher overall annual expenses than Class A shares, but, unlike Class B shares, generally do not convert to another class over time. If you are a long-term investor, Class C shares may be more expensive than investing in Class A or Class B shares.

Is there any way to purchase a 529 plan but avoid some of the extra fees? 

Direct-Sold College Savings Plans. States offer college savings plans through which residents and, in many cases, non-residents can invest without paying a “load,” or sales fee.  This type of plan, which you can buy directly from the plan’s sponsor or program manager without the assistance of a broker, is generally less expensive because it waives or does not charge sales fees that may apply to broker-sold plans. You can generally find information on a direct-sold plan by contacting the plan’s sponsor or program manager or visiting the plan’s website. Websites such as the one maintained by the College Savings Plan Network, as well as a number of commercial websites, provide links to most 529 plan websites.

Broker-Sold College Savings Plans. If you prefer to purchase a broker-sold plan, you may be able to reduce the front-end load for purchasing Class A shares if you invest or plan to invest above certain threshold amounts. Ask your broker how to qualify for these “breakpoint discounts.”

What restrictions apply to an investment in a 529 plan?

Withdrawal restrictions apply to both college savings plans and pre-paid tuition plans.  With limited exceptions, you can only withdraw money that you invest in a 529 plan for eligible college expenses without incurring taxes and penalties.  In addition, participants in college savings plans have limited investment options and are not permitted to switch freely among available investment options. Under current tax law, an account holder is only permitted to change his or her investment option one time per year. Additional limitations will likely apply to any 529 plan you may be considering. Before you invest in a 529 plan, you should read the plan’s offering circular to make sure that you understand and are comfortable with any plan limitations.

Does investing in a 529 plan impact financial aid eligibility?

While each educational institution may treat assets held in a 529 plan differently, investing in a 529 plan will generally reduce a student’s eligibility to participate in need-based financial aid. Beginning July 1, 2006, assets held in pre-paid tuition plans and college savings plans will be treated similarly for federal financial aid purposes. Both will be treated as parental assets in the calculation of the expected family contribution toward college costs. Previously, benefits from pre-paid tuition plans were not treated as parental assets and typically reduced need-based financial aid on a dollar for dollar basis, while assets held in college savings plans received more favorable financial aid treatment.

Is investing in a 529 plan right for me?

Before you start saving specifically for college, you should consider your overall financial situation. Instead of saving for college, you may want to focus on other financial goals like buying a home, saving for retirement, or paying off high interest credit card bills. Remember that you may face penalties or lose benefits if you do not use the money in a 529 account for higher education expenses. If you decide that saving specifically for college is right for you, then the next step is to determine whether investing in a 529 plan is your best college saving option. Investing in a 529 plan is only one of several ways to save for college. Other tax-advantaged ways to save for college include Coverdell education savings accounts, Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (“UGMA”) accounts, Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (“UTMA”) accounts, tax-exempt municipal securities, and savings bonds. Saving for college in a taxable account is another option.

Each college saving option has advantages and disadvantages, and may have a different impact on your eligibility for financial aid, so you should evaluate each option carefully. If you need help determining which options work best for your circumstances, you should consult with your financial professional or tax advisor before you start saving.

What questions should I ask before I invest in a 529 plan?

Knowing the answers to these questions may help you decide which 529 plan is best for you.

	Is the plan available directly from the state or plan sponsor?
	What fees are charged by the plan? How much of my investment goes to compensating my broker? Under what circumstances does the plan waive or reduce certain fees?
	What are the plan’s withdrawal restrictions? What types of college expenses are covered by the plan? Which colleges and universities participate in the plan?
	What types of investment options are offered by the plan? How long are contributions held before being invested?
	Does the plan offer special benefits for state residents? Would I be better off investing in my state’s plan or another plan? Does my state’s plan offer tax advantages or other benefits for investment in the plan it sponsors? If my state’s plan charges higher fees than another state’s plan, do the tax advantages or other benefits offered by my state outweigh the benefit of investing in another state’s less expensive plan?
	What limitations apply to the plan? When can an account holder change investment options, switch beneficiaries, or transfer ownership of the account to another account holder?
	Who is the program manager? When does the program manager’s current management contract expire? How has the plan performed in the past?

Where can I find more information?

Offering Circulars for 529 Plans. You can find out more about a particular 529 plan by reading its offering circular. Often called a “disclosure statement,” “disclosure document,” or “program description,” the offering circular will have detailed information about investment options, tax benefits and consequences, fees and expenses, financial aid, limitations, risks, and other specific information relating to the 529 plan. Most 529 plans post their offering circulars on publicly available websites. The National Association of State Treasurers created the College Savings Plan Network which provides links to most 529 plan websites.

Additional Information About Underlying Mutual Funds. You may want to find more about a mutual fund included in a college savings plan investment option. Additional information about a mutual fund is available in its prospectus, statement of additional information, and semiannual and annual report. Offering circulars for college savings plans often indicate how you can obtain these documents from the plan manager for no charge. You can also review these documents on the SEC’s EDGAR database.

Investment Adviser Public Disclosure Website. Many college savings plans’ program managers are registered investment advisers. You can find more about investment advisers through the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website. On the website, you can search for an investment adviser and view the Form ADV of the adviser. Form ADV contains information about an investment adviser and its business operations as well as disclosure about certain disciplinary events involving the adviser and its key personnel.

Broker-Dealer Public Disclosure Website. You can find more about a broker through FINRA’s BrokerCheck website. On the website, you can search for any disciplinary sanctions against your broker, as well as information about his or her professional background and registration and licensing status.

Other Online Resources. You can learn more about 529 plans and other college saving options on FINRA’s Smart Saving for College website. The website contains links to other helpful sites, including the College Savings Plan Network and the Internal Revenue Service’s Publication 970 (Tax Benefits for Higher Education). FINRA’s investor alert on 529 plans also provides valuable information for investors.

1. The house is never as clean as I’d like it to be. Although it seems I would have all the time in the world to clean, that’s not the case. While I usually have time to pick things up and put them away, I rarely have time to vacuum, dust, mop … you know, actually clean stuff. I have one child (age 3) and I can’t stick her in front of the TV for hours just to have a spotless house.

2. I usually don’t take naps. Unless my wife has some free time from work, I am usually hopping from sunup to sundown. Even though I am stay-at-home, I’m not free from the pressure that is on every man to earn money. If I’m not cleaning, I had better be writing to earn a buck or two. If I’m really dragging, my wife will find a little time for me to snooze.

3. I do not have endless hours to play with my child. I wish I did. Since my daughter doesn’t have siblings, I am her main playmate. Sometimes I can stop what I’m doing to play “Noah’s Ark” or “Mary Poppins,” but sometimes I have to tell her to wait.

4. I don’t have any peers. Yes, I know there are other stay-at-home dads, but they are the exception. When I take my girl to the playground, it’s almost all mommies. If I do see a guy there, I don’t see him again. Mommies have a built-in support system that I don’t have. What really drives me nuts are magazines like “Parents,” which really should be called “Mommies,” because it is completely geared toward women. As a stay-at-home daddy, I’m not concerned about my stretch marks!

5. I wouldn’t rather be working outside the home, and I don’t feel entitled to a paycheck for what I do inside the home. That’s because I do work from home (as a writer, notary signing agent, SAT tutor and sports broadcaster) and I still have to earn a paycheck. The more I stay-at-home, the less desire I have to work in an office again. I get much more done at home, and I made more money at home this year than I ever did at a 9-to-5 job. I have to credit my wife, who beat the bushes to find me a lot of good opportunities (including writing for AC).

6. I don’t have plenty of time for entertainment. Usually, I don’t get any entertainment until my kid is down for the night. I don’t want to imply that I’m working harder than Heather or other stay-at-home parents. I’m just not finding this “entertainment time” during the day. The soaps? Not anymore. I watched more soaps (on tape) when I worked in an office than I do as a stay-at-home daddy.

7. I’m not envious of my counterparts in the workplace. I know my daughter is not going to be 3 forever, and the time I’m spending with her is absolutely priceless. I know I have to make some money, but going off to a job doesn’t define me as a man, and I’m not hung up on it.

8. I do get frustrated. Sometimes it seems impossible to get everything done, and I especially have trouble finding time to tackle big projects like cleaning the garage or washing the windows. It’s also hard because I don’t get sick days. Everything still needs to be done, so I have to get out of bed if it’s not my deathbed.

9. I love the flexible schedule and lax dress code. I don’t spend the day in my jammies, but I don’t have to dress up each day, which is great. As a stay-at-home daddy, I get to wear my favorite outfit; jeans, wrestling T-shirt and a ball cap.

10. I don’t think people respect what I do. When I told my co-workers three years ago that I was quitting to raise my daughter, I got a lot of chuckles. “Ho ho, I wish I could do that.” They were implying that I was about to take the easy road. I knew it wouldn’t be easy. I’m not a natural multi-tasker, so trying to do everything at home is more difficult than doing one thing at a time at work. I knew this would be difficult, but I love it. I’m proud to be a stay-at-home daddy.  BY Jeff Gormen

The Magic School Bus(Also in book form)

Bill Nye The Science Guy

Mr. Wizard (hope you can find this around )

Sesame Street (believe it or not)

Contact 321

Blue Planet (oceans of the world Discovery series)

How it’s Made (Discovery series)

This is my initial list I will add and edit more later . please offer suggestions and comments.

Why would you want to buy a child an encyclopedia, well not only is the child able to learn and expound on many diverse subjects that it offers, but at the same time you will probably learn a few things in there that you may not know, or things that you may have forgotten over time. Getting an encyclopedia also allows you and gives you more reasons to spend time with your child every other night learning a new subject. I say every other night because in between the nights that you learn in the new encyclopedia, you should be reading a child’s book.( Remember this is a site for everyone leave comments on books that you find useful please) I will be compiling a list of books that I find useful in another section that is easily locatable on the sidebar. Every other night you and your kid can delve into a subject such as the sea or astronomy or any other subject you can find in those books. Do not be afraid of the size of the book or the size of the words in the book these are very small obstacles to overcome when learning new things. How can you learn if you don’t push the limits.?

If your child is struggling to make those friends in school in then you as a parent want to be protective of your child’s feelings, and not pressure them into things they are not comfortable with. However what is a good idea is go to a friends home or the local park and let your child interact with kids around the same age. This is an important skill that needs to be learned early on. Socialism will play a major role in a childs life as they grow and develop. At the same time you may be thinking to yourself well I didn’t have any trouble with growing up and I spent most of my time in the books. Well true. These are important things to do as a child because you know being a kid doesn’t last forever, and the things that are learned early on will transcend through the teen years as well. If your child just has the ability to learn faster than other children another good thing to do is to capitalize on knowing this, by teaching at home in your spare time, if you have the spare time that is. I know how difficult it can be working and spending all your time supporting the family. If your child is just very intelligent the best thing you can do at this point if you do not have the opportunity of time, is buy a dictionary, an encyclopedia, a thesaurus, and general children’s books. Oh but why would I buy my child an encyclopedia, well 15-20min a night is not much time, but if they sit down and have someone read to them a different subject or section , there learning capacity for new things will increase dramatically. In time when they themselves are able to read they can pick up any one of those books and learn more on their own and most children like to discover new things, and by sitting your child down for 20-30min a night after they can read on their own they will not lag behind they will just advance even further. At this point you can tell your child that school is there to teach the things they do not know yet, and that things that are not in the books. it will keep them ahead of there peers. Once they begin to get into grades that are a little higher such as the 5th-8th grades they will realize there are things they will need to learn at school that they cannot learn at home. 5th-8th grade will be covered in another section as well, because those are the grades in which they will start to discover new things, some good and some bad (mainly influence from other children raised differently from your own way).

Now for those of you out there with children that are having trouble in the subject matter being taught, please be aware that I am not singling any certain group out it is just that there are those that have a little more difficulty than other students. If your child is having troubles then the common sense method tells you to first discover what subject your child is having the most difficulty in. If it is reading then this can effect other subjects of learning as well, like music, math, science. All of the above. Reading is the number one best thing you can do for your child early on as all other subjects will be a lot easier. Hooked on Phonics is one of the best programs for children to be able to learn to read. No parent should ever be embarrassed about using tools like this if it helps your child forget what other people think or say about programs. Spelling Books are also a good way to start. Also writing is a subject that many children have trouble with as well, most of the time it is in regards don’t laugh but this is true the pencils are just to big, my suggestion on this ( others leave your suggestions as well), is to find children’s pencils they are much smaller and easier to use when learning. I had trouble myself learning to write cursive growing up. Many parents forget how little things really need to be in a child s world until they walk into the elementary school for the first time in 20 years. Oh everything is so tiny. Now along with these writing , and reading tips, the most overlooked thing to do is 15-20 min a day at home with the child before school or after school when you get home for work. I know I know it is difficult sometimes to make the time, but your telling me 15-20min a day is too much time, come on. If that is too much then10-15min a day should be absolutely doable. That little bit of time a day will save hours of talking with the teacher about why you don’t understand your child isn’t grasping things. Oh and I tell things like they are if you haven’t noticed from my writing already, so please I apologize if it seems condescending at some times, but your child’s life, learning and development are in your hands or your spouses hands. So if you are the one that has to work to support the family or both you and your spouse work to support the family, at least one of you in your overlapping schedules can devote that small amount of time each, each and everyday.