Party Hat and Crown Templates

Kids can use these easy templates to create fun projects to keep or give as gifts.

Download our basic party hat template -- then let the kids unleash their creativity by adding buttons, paper scraps, and more!

One simple craft turns any birthday party into a good time, guaranteed. But you don't have to trudge to the store for supplies -- chances are you've already got what you need. Paper bags, cardboard scraps, and small boxes become jewelry, toys, and partywear when kids decorate them with items you've scavenged from around the house. Just set a table filled with inspiring odds and ends, such as buttons, trimmings, stickers, even drinking straws, along with scissors and glue.

Get kids started by cutting basic shapes, such as flowers, beforehand. Then leave it up to them to create a favor that's sure to be their favorite. See below for instructions on crafting party hats and bracelets, or try other easy creations like picture frames, brooches, cars, flowers, or masks.

Print the Party Hat and Crown Templates

Use What You Have On HandHere are some ideas for everyday items you can use for embellishing.
Buttons
Fabric scraps
Wrapping paper
Wallpaper samples
Tissue paper
Crepe paper
Stickers
Sequins
Trimmings
Yarn
Glitter
Colored tape
Newspaper
Rubber bands

Party Hat How-ToLet party guests put their own crowning touch on the occasion by creating festive hats from paper and materials from a junk drawer. Print the template onto legal-size paper; trace onto sturdy paper and cut out. Overlap ends by 1/2 inch, and tape.

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http://www.marthastewart.com

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Children with Autism

Autism or (Autism Spectrum Disorders -ASD) is a disorder that usually appears in children before the third year of age. 

It affects the genesis and development of the child in three ways:

• Language, or how to speak
• Social skills, or how to respond to others and communicate with them
• Behavior, or how to behave in certain situations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 1 in 88 children has been identified with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). 

CDC’s estimate comes from the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, which monitors the number of 8-year-old children with ASDs living in diverse communities throughout the United States. 

In 2007, CDC’s ADDM Network first reported that about 1 in 150 children had an ASD (based on children who were 8 years old in 2002).

 Then, in 2009, the ADDM Network reported that 1 in 110 children had an ASD (based on children who were 8 years old in 2006).

 Most recently, the ADDM Network reported that 1 in 88 children had an ASD (based on children who were 8 years old in 2008). This means that the estimated prevalence of ASDs increased 23% during 2006 to 2008 and 78% during 2002 to 2008 (1–4).

Symptoms of Autism:

• More children were diagnosed at earlier ages—a growing number of them by 3 years of age. Still, most children were not diagnosed until after they were 4 years of age. On average, diagnosis was a bit earlier for children with autistic disorder (4 years) than for children with the more broadly defined autism spectrum diagnoses or pervasive developmental disordernot otherwise specified (4 years, 5 months), and diagnosis was much later for children with Asperger disorder (6 years, 3 months).

• As has been detailed in previous reports, we also found that almost five times as many boys were being identified with ASDs as girls (1 in 54 compared to 1 in 252). Research exploring why there are differences in the identified prevalence among males and females is ongoing and knowing that the conditions are more common among boys can help direct our search for causes.

• The largest increases over time were among Hispanic and Black children. We suspect that some of this was due to better screening and diagnosis. However, this finding explains only part of the increase over time, as more children were identified in all racial and ethnic groups.

• The majority (62%) of children the ADDM Network identified as having ASDs did not have intellectual disability. The largest increases during 2002 to 2008 were among children without intellectual disability (those having IQ scores higher than 70), although there were increases in the identified prevalence of ASDs at all levels of intellectual ability.

A person with an ASD might:

• Not respond to his or her name by 12 months of age (e.g., appear to not hear).

• Not point at objects to show interest by 14 months of age (e.g., not point at an airplane flying over).

• Not play “pretend” games by 18 months of age (e.g., pretend to “feed” a doll).

• Avoid eye contact and want to be alone.

• Have trouble understanding other people’s feelings or talking about his or her own feelings.

• Have delayed speech and language skills (e.g., use words much later than siblings or peers).

• Repeat words or phrases over and over.

• Give unrelated answers to questions.

• Get upset by minor changes in routine (e.g., getting a new toothbrush).

• Have obsessive interests (e.g., get “stuck” on ideas).

• Flap his or her hands, rock his or her body, or spin in circles.

• Have unusual reactions to the way things sound, smell, taste, look, or feel.

causes of autism:

The causes of autism are not fully understood. Then that autism is not a single disease, it is a spectrum of many diseases. For this reason, scientists believe that many reasons could be lurking behind the autism spectrum disorders.

Scientists studying many theories about the genetic and environmental causes of autism so that they can be treated better.

Statistical research shows that the probability of a child with autism will be higher:

• If in his family other injuries of autism or autism
• If the sex of the child is male
• If the father is more than forty years
• If the family history of genetic disorders and neurological

Although there is no cure for autism, so far, but the early and intensive treatment, as much as possible, it can make a noticeable difference and serious in the lives of children with the disorder.

For more information, please contact:

Jon Baio, EdS, MA

CDC/NCBDDD Phone: (404) 498-3860

MS E-86 E-mail: JBaio@cdc.gov

1600 Clifton Road

Atlanta, GA 30333

http://cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/addm-articles.html

Special Nutrition Needs of Pregnant Women

A woman who is with child typically requires more nutrients during the nine months of her pregnancy than she does during any other phase of her life.

Pregnancy is a marvelous and complex time in a women’s life. During this time the human body transforms into a biological support vessel for new life. The women’s body supports tow lives in the process: its own and the growing fetus.

The human body requires more nutrients for tissue growth and repair.

Additional nutrients are also needed to ensure that the fetus inside the mother’s womb is getting enough nutritional sustenance for optimal growth and development. Brain development begins in the womb.

When a pregnant woman takes extra care to get all of the needed nutrients for a healthy pregnancy, she is also ensuring that her child will be will developed and strong, too.

When a pregnant woman pays close attention to what she sets herself up for a healthy and happy pregnancy.

She is also giving her unborn child the opportunity to develop well inside the womb. The human body can only work with what is being given.

If you give the body junk food and soda most of the time, that’s all the body can use to sustain itself.

It a pregnant woman guzzles sugary drinks and eats chocolate all the time, the body has to make do with tremendous levels of dietary sugar and other unhealthy items. A person’s body is only as good as the food that it’s consuming on a daily basis.

It should be noted that during the first few months of pregnancy, the pregnant woman does not yet require large increases in her nutrient uptake.

Although the fetus inside is already undergoing complex developmental changes, a healthy women’s full diet will be enough for the both of them. Increased nutritional requirements emerge during the later months of pregnancy.

Some of you might be wondering: why should pregnant women care about what they eat during the first few months of pregnancy if the nutritional requirements are the same during this time?

Well, the body actually starts accumulating nutrient accumulations (also called functional reserves) are essential for a normal and healthy pregnancy.

A pregnant women’s body undergoes so many changes during the last few months that the body needs reserves of energy and vital nutrients to accomplish the necessary biochemical functions for a safe pregnancy and an even safer delivery.

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Fat loss factor’s 15 foods for guaranteed weight gain

Limit these weight-gain foods to three servings or less per week.
1. Doughnuts, Pastries

These are some of the worst foods you can eat. They are deep-fried, made with refined sugar, and full of saturated fats/trans fats. They have a negative nutritional value and not only make you fat but also destroy your health. No wonder donuts have a hole in the middle; they are a big nutritional zero.




2. French Fries, Potato Chips

These are sodium-loaded, enzyme-dead foods. In addition, the latest research shows they are high in acrylimide, a known cancer-causing agent. French fries from fast food restaurants have 300 times the
acrylimide content allowed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for one glass of water. This meansthey are highly toxic to your body, as well as fatty, with a medium order of fast-food fries containing
more than 500 calories.


3. Store-Bought Juice, Fruit Drinks
Store-bought fruit drinks contain 10% or less real fruit juice and mainly consist of artificial flavoring and sugar (sucrose). If they contain sugar, corn syrup, or high fructose corn syrup, run the opposite way; these will
surely rot your teeth!

4. Decaffeinated Coffee
The caffeine in decaffeinated coffee is replaced by formaldehyde. Yep, you read that right: formaldehyde. The stuff they put in dead people. Stay away at all costs.

5. Fried Fish, Fried Seafood

Fish made the list, because the majority of the fish in the ocean now have traces of mercury in them. Shellfish are also scavengers that scour the ground for anything and everything. They are full of toxins.
When we eat them, what happens to all the toxins?

Your body shuttles the toxins to your fat cells. Remember: If your fat cells are holding onto toxins, the fat becomes extremely difficult to get rid of. Frying adds insult to injury, making these foods full of trans fats
and not a great combination for healthy weight loss.

6. Raw Clams, Oysters
Similar to above. Eating them raw also means you are exposing yourself to potentially harmful bacteria.7. Lunch Meat, Smoked Meat, Hot D


7. Lunch Meat, Smoked Meat, Hot Dogs, Bacon, Sausage
These are all processed meats and not quality meat. They are a mixture of fillers, sodium, and nitrites used to cure meats and preserve them. A strip of bacon contains 130 calories and 13 grams of fat. That is too
much! Nitrites have been shown to be carcinogens. Too much sodium leads to heart disease, and the fillers are synthetic chemicals that are hard on the digestive system.

8. Alcohol
Alcohol actually suppresses fat burning. When you drink alcohol, your liver has to detoxify it immediately. This takes priority over carbohydrates, fats, and protein. Since fat is the hardest to metabolize and break down, it gets pushed down the chain.
When most people drink alcohol, they usually do so with a meal, taking in the excess calories. Alcohol has the second highest calorie content next to fat, with seven calories per gram versus nine calories per gram,
respectively. When alcohol is in your system, your body will convert
more of the foods you eat into fat.


9. Soda
Pop is a major contributor to obesity in this country. Studies show that drinking soda increases the risks of diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, tooth decay, caffeine dependency, and nutritional deficiencies. The
major ingredients in soda are:
Phosphoric Acid: Mixes with the hydrochloric acid of the stomach and interferes with digestion. It is also responsible for leeching minerals out of the bones.
Sugar and High Fructose Corn Syrup: Sugar in liquid form is dangerous because so much can be consumed in so little time, sending the body into a blood sugar frenzy. When insulin levels
spike, fat burning ability plummets. This leads to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, premature aging, heart disease, and, of course, weight gain.
Tap Water: Contains various chemicals, such as chlorine, trihalomethanes, lead, and cadmium, which are very detrimental to your health.
Studies show that people who drink sodas do not cut back on the regular foods they eat. This adds at least 200 calories a day, or 1,400 calories per week, to their intake!


10. Diet Pop, Diet Drinks
Diet drinks give you all of the drawbacks of drinking pop, plus artificial sweeteners, which have been shown to alter brain chemistry, increase cravings, and cause cancer. The main artificial sweetener used is aspartame. It has over 92 related health effects to it including:

• Brain tumors
• Birth defects
• Diabetes
• Emotional disorders
• Epilepsy/Seizures

Anything with this many life-altering side effects is worth staying away from. There have been entire books written on the dangers of aspartame. If your search the Internet, you can find hundreds of research articles on this subject. Diet pop will cause you to crave more food, even though it contains no calories. In the end, you will poison your body and still not lose weight.


11. Deep Dish Pizza

Pizza is one of my favorite indulgences. Unfortunately, it is far from
healthy, especially if you order the meat lover’s version, which is a smorgasbord of processed meats: sausage, pepperoni, ham, Canadian bacon, and bacon.
In addition, pizza is full of sodium, fat, and refined flour dough. This makes for a high-calorific meal that you might as well just pack straight onto your thighs.

12. Ice Cream

Ice cream is loaded with calories, fat, sugar, and dairy, which contain lots of hormones and
antibiotics. Ice cream is close to the top when it comes to being the most unhealthy food. It also contains artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, emulsifiers and stabilizers. All of these make ice cream one of the most fattening foods on the planet.


13. White Bread, Pasta
White bread and pasta react in the body like white sugar, which is refined and processed, with no nutritional value. Bread gets a bad rap for putting weight on people. It really isn’t the bread, however, it is the type of bread. White bread is made from white flour, which is a refined carbohydrate, just like corn syrup and white sugar.
This contains NO NUTRITIONAL VALUE AND EMPTY CALORIES. Whole grain breads are fine. Sprouted grain breads are the best, such as Ezekiel brand bread or Genesis brand bread. Stay away from breads that are enriched, bleached, or white in color. Eat more whole grain


14. Sugary Breakfast Cereals, Candy
These cereals are a great way to poison America’s youth and have them start out their day with barely any nutrition at all. Cereal is mostly white sugar in a box, but it has vitamins! That is the joke, and equally great advertising. The truth is that the quality of the vitamins listed on the cereal box is poor.
Basically, any major brand of sweetened cereal is simply vitamin fortified sugar. If you buy cereal, look on the ingredients label for whole grain and avoid white flour or high-fructose corn syrup. Buy brands,
such as Kashi since they tend to be on the healthier side and contain more fiber.
Candy is straight sugar and some fat. This will go right into your
bloodstream, mess up your hormone levels, and sabotage your fatburning capability for a few hours.


15. Vegetable Oil, Shortening, Margarine
These aren’t substances you would actually eat alone. They are used in fried foods and baked goodies and contain trans fats. Trans fats will not only cause you to gain massive amounts of weight, but they also lead to
rapid aging, cause joint inflammation, followed by arthritis, and predispose you to heart disease, cancer, and other diseases of lifestyle (self induced diseases).


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Reference:
FAT LOSS FACTOR
EASY.HEALTHY.NATURAL
Dr. Charles

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Pregnancy Symptoms

These symptoms greatly vary in every woman where some ladies get the symptoms within some days of conception while others women get any major changes even after weeks. Most of these signs are caused due to rush of hormones and implantation of the fertilized egg. Check for the following symptoms to detect pregnancy at earliest by yourself.

Missed period

If you generally have regular periods then a delay in menstruation could indicate pregnancy at early stages. If you have a normal 28 days cycle and observe 10 to 15 days delay in menstruation it could give you a reason to become happy. In ladies that have irregular periods normally the change goes unnoticed and cause delayed diagnosis.

Overall these symptoms could help you in detecting conception at early stages by merely observing the body changes.

Vaginal discharge

An increase in white or clear vaginal discharge is normal in early pregnancy. But if the discharge becomes coloured, smelly, or causes itching or soreness, you should tell your midwife or GP. This could be a sign of a vaginal infection. Vaginal thrush is common in pregnancy and may require treatment from your GP.

Altered food habits

If you notice an alteration in food habits or craving for a peculiar food product then this could work as potential early pregnancy symptom. You will notice odd food habits such as waking midnight and craving for an ice-cream or other sort of food. This could provide a reason to hope for the best.

Altered tastes

Alterations in tastes may be among the earliest pregnancy signs for many women. Some have a strange taste in their mouth even before the first period is missed. It varies from woman to woman but is most commonly described as metallic. Shortly after missing the first period many women also start to go off certain foods and develop a strong aversion to the smell of cigarette smoke and the smell or taste of alcohol which can trigger the question: Am I pregnant? Many women report an intense dislike of the smell of cooking fat or are repulsed by a food they previously enjoyed. Conversely some women may develop a strong craving for a certain food very early on and this too can be a clue to pregnancy.

Sickness

Sickness or nausea is a common early sign for some women and it often lasts through first three months of pregnancy, morning sickness can occur any time of the day not just the morning. Some very unlucky women feel sick all through their pregnancy and this can vary from being sick to just a feeling of nausea. The exact cause is not known but is thought to be associated with the high levels of the hormone progesterone.

Headache or fainting

A sudden rush of hormones could cause onset of headache in the pregnant lady which could be considered as strong symptom. If you have never experienced headache or dizziness before then this could be caused by conception of few weeks.

Feeling tired

This can be very noticeable during the first three months and a clear early symptom of pregnancy. Women who usually have boundless energy can find themselves simply having to catnap during the day. Tiredness in the early months can be caused by your body having to adapt to rapidly changing hormone levels, many women find that tiredness eases off in the middle months and then returns in the last trimester. Feelings of exhaustion are caused by the strain your increased weight puts on your body, frequent trips to the toilet during the night also mean that your sleep is disturbed so you are not getting as much rest as you need.

Micturation or frequent urination

In earlier days or weeks of conception your body enhances the production of chorionic gonadotropin hormone which contributes to the increased sense of urination or frequent urination. This is the same hormone which may cause leaking or forceful urination at the time of conception.

Tender breasts

Your breasts may feel different immediately if you are pregnant - or in some instances not until the second trimester. Some women notice that their nipples are more sensitive or that the breasts feel heavier, fuller and ache a little or tingle. There is usually also an increase in superficial veins over the breasts and tiny nodules may appear in the areola.

Darkening of areola or nipples

This is a major and noticeable early pregnancy sign that is caused due to hormonal overload. In this sign you will notice the area surrounding your nipples is darkened and changed into a brownish to blackish color. Though it could also happen if you have suffered or suffering from hormonal problems therefore do check for other signs before jumping to conclusion.

Ref.
www.goarticles.com
www.ezinearticles.com

Get Pregnancy Facts And Tips You Need To Know

Though pregnancy is natural, it is also scary and perhaps confusing for a pregnant woman. When pregnant, the mother's body changes, as does the lifestyle of the whole family. There are a lot of tips available to help relax expectant parents. Get started with your education!

On a side note, if you've tried everything but still haven't achieved pregnancy, here's the best piece of advice I can give you... check out the Pregnancy Miracle by clicking this link!

Women who are expecting should ensure that they protect themselves from over-exposure to the sun. Your skin will be more sensitive when pregnant. It will be easier to get sunburned and develop more serious problems, such as skin cancer.
It's important to understand that it's not uncommon to see it take as long as one year to actually become pregnant. If it takes longer than this, you should visit a doctor with your partner. They will let you know if you're having some kind of a medical issue that's preventing pregnancy.
While you are pregnant and your belly grows with your baby, rub cocoa butter on it. Cocoa butter can help to reduce the appearance of stretch marks after you have the baby. Having your partner do it is actually a great way of allowing him to bond with the child.
Make sure you can say no to food. You need to take in more calories when you are pregnant, but you don't need to eat at all times. There is nothing wrong with thanking people for the gesture but refusing to accept it.
Keep every appointment that you have made with your doctor so that you can be on top of problems before they happen. The important appointments scheduled by your doctor are to monitor your baby's development, and to see how you body responds. This will allow you to be sure that you and your baby are in the best shape.
It is okay to complain when you are pregnant. Pregnancy is no easy feat, particularly towards the end of it. Wanting to complain doesn't imply that you are unhappy with being pregnant.
Meditation or yoga can help with pregnancy mood swings. These exercise will help you relax. If your partner is struggling too, they may also benefit from engaging in this form of exercise.
Don't skimp on the folic acid when you are pregnant. A lot of vitamins and nutrients are important to a healthy baby and pregnancy, but you can reduce the risk for neural tube defects if you consume 600 mgs of folic acid a day. Aim for at least 400 milligrams every day even before you conceive, to fully prepare your body!
Are you pregnant and having a child soon? Do you plan on breastfeeding? Are you going to nurse in public, yet would like to be discreet? Research nursing clothing which will help you in that regard! Many maternity lines also carry "breastfeeding shirts." They cover you as you feed your child. Wearing this outfits helps mom to relax, which leads to a more relaxed baby as well. This can improve milk supply, eating habits and the overall nursing experience.
Don't count on giving birth on your due date; the date is just a rough estimate. If you put all of your faith in the fact that the baby will be born on that day, you may find yourself being let down. Instead, relish in the unknown, and enjoy the element of surprise.
Talk to your doctor throughout all steps of pregnancy. You will get a check-up and advice on pregnancy. Possible problems may be treated or rules out like obesity, thyroid problems, or diabetes.
If you have cats at home, have somebody else take care of the litter box duties during your pregnancy. Cat feces have a parasite in them that can cause something called toxoplasmosis in a human. Toxoplasmosis is something that can cause a stillborn baby or a miscarriage. You should also stay away from meats that are not thoroughly cooked, as they may also have this harmful parasite.
Always remember that your pregnancy will not last forever. After nine months, the parenting stage begins. Learning a few pregnancy tips along the way can improve the quality of those nine brief months - and keep them from feeling like nine long years!

Skin and hair problems in pregnancy

Hormonal changes taking place in pregnancy will make you nipples and the area around them go darker. Your skin color may also darken a little, either in patches or all over.

Birthmarks, moles and freckles may also darken. Some women develop a dark line down middle of their stomach. These changes will gradually fade after the baby is born, although your nipples may remain a little darker.

Stretch marks

These are pink or purplish lines that usually appear on your tummy or sometimes in your upper thighs or breasts. Some women get them and some don’t. it depends on your skin type, as some people skin is mare elastic, after your baby is born, the marks should gradually fade and become less noticeable.

It is very doubtful whether oils or creams help to prevent stretch marks.

You are more likely to get stretch marks if you weigh gain is more than average. Most women gain between 10kg and 12.5kg (22-28 lb) in pregnancy, although weigh gain varies a great deal and depends on your weight before pregnancy.

It’s important that you don’t diet, but eat healthily in pregnancy.

If you are concerned about your weight, talk to your midwife or GP. They may give you advice if you weight more than 100kg (about 15.5 stone) or less than 50kg (about 8 stone).

Itching

Mild itching is common in pregnancy because of the increased blood supply to the skin. In late pregnancy the skin of the abdomen is stretched and this may also cause itchiness.

Avoiding itching

Wearing loose clothes may help prevent itching, you may also want to avpid synthetic materials and go for natural ones, such as cotton, instead.

• See your doctor if:
• Your itching become severe.
• You develop jaundice (yellowing of the whites of the eyes and skin)

Hair growth can also increase in pregnancy, and your hair may be greasier. After the baby is born it may seem as if you are losing a lot of hair but you are simply losing the extra hair.