My Precious Kid® - Precious Kids Newsletter
May 2003

*****************************************
Subjects: Homeschool / Adoption / Parenting / Work at Home
*****************************************

Feel free to pass this on to friends and family in its entirety.
Subscribe to this newsletter at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/preciouskids/ 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author: Kay Green
http://www.MyPreciousKid.com
Family Safety ID Products
http://www.123HomeBusinessGuide.com
FREE Home Business Resources
http://www.KayGreen.com
Kay's personal pages
http://www.PreciousKids.org
FREE Adoption & Homeschool Resources

*****************************************************************
My Precious Kid®-Are your children protected? In a car accident? At
school? In daycare? Our line of children's ID products can give you
peace of mind! Children's Safety is our priority. ID cards, Car Seat
Cards, Pet ID, ID Bracelets, ID Scopes, Medical Release Cards, First
Aid Kits and so much more. http://www.MyPreciousKid.com
10% off and FREE USA Shipping voucher #105030503 Exp 05/03

Also join our team and own your own business. Let us help you make a
difference in the life of a child? Only $50 to get started? Buy
wholesale. Do fundraisers for your schools and organizations. Teach
our safety Classes. Be a work at home parent! We provide
lots of online help, training, materials, and support to help you
run a successful business. http://www.mypreciouskid.com/wholesale.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lifesaving Information For Emergencies
by Kay Green, My Precious Kid®
What is a VIAL of LIFE?

It is a program nationally recognized by paramedics and ambulances.
By participating in this program you can give your family added
protection in the event of an emergency in your home. And it is FREE
at http://www.MyPreciousKid.com

How does it work?

For each family member, prepare a medical form that tells about your
medical history, medications, and allergies. It also has emergency
contact numbers. Then the form is folded and placed into an empty
pill bottle. The a VIAL of LIFE symbol is placed on the outside of
the bottle, on the outside of the refrigerator and on your front
window pane. The vial is place inside your refrigerator under the
top shelf.

How does it help?

In the case of an emergency in your home the paramedics are trained
to look for the Vial of LIFE symbol on refrigerators. They then have
access to your medical history, medications and allergies. They also
have a list of emergency numbers to call. You can also place the
same form in your glove box and place the sticker on the outside to
protect your family in the car too.

How else can I protect my family?

By having DNA/Fingerprint Cards for your children, Medical Release
cards for your kids in day care or preschool, First Aid kits in your
car and your kids back packs, and ID scopes on your children. All
these are available at http://www.mypreciouskid.com/products.html  or
have your own business and get them wholesale at
http://www.mypreciouskid.com/wholesale.html
 
Where do I get my FREE VIAL of LIFE forms?

FREE Instructions are at http://www.mypreciouskid.com/vial.html
FREE form is at http://www.mypreciouskid.com/vial2.html
FREE logos for stickers and magnets are at
http://www.mypreciouskid.com/viallogo.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Baskets For Her - Unique Gift Baskets Designed Exclusively For
Women. Free Ground Shipping On All Gift Baskets.
http://www.basketsforher.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Free Precious Pack of coupons for families
http://www.preciouskids.org/mompack.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.tinybottoms.com
Tiny Bottoms Preemie and Full Term
We carry cloth diapering supplies, baby doll diapers, quilts, hand
crocheted blankets and bibs, children's soap products. We also have
Breastfeeding support information and Activities you can do with your
baby/toddler. Our inventory is increasing so check back often.
At Tinybottoms.com We are DEDICATED to a healthy, Natural
Home - Let us show you how to clean up your home with non-toxic
items that won't poison your family or pets.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
20 Ways to Increase Your Web Site Traffic
by Kay Green, http://www.MyPreciousKid.com
Copyright 2002

1. Make your web site inviting with enough information and resources
to keep your traffic coming back. Do not have too many gadgets or
distracting things on the opening page. Add the following to bring
them back:
Contests http://www.mypreciouskid.com/contest.html
Free downloads
Freebies http://www.mypreciouskid.com/free.html
Newsletter
Resources http://www.123homebusinessguide.com
FREE e-books to download. Write it yourself or get mine
http://www.mypreciouskid.com/downloads/50tips.pdf

2. Put meta tags in the web page code. Use the wizard at
http://www.bravenet.com/search2/metatagwizard.php  to create them.
You can view yours by right clicking on your page and selecting view
source. Meta tags include:
Description: tell us what your site is about. This will be included
by some search engine listings (under 60 words).
Title: Describe what you are (5-8 words) include a key word or two.
Key words: the words people would use in a search engine to find
your products (1-3 word phrases) Do not use the same word more than
6 times as a part of whole of a phrase.
Author: so they can find you by name
Copyright

3. Submit to the search engines at
http://www.mypreciouskid.com/search-engines.html

4. Make the text in your meta tags part of the text of your web
page. You get extra search points for this. They want to see at
least 200 words of copy there.

5. Make meta tags current and correct for each page on your site.
Each page should have its own title, description, and key words.

6. Do link exchanges with other web sites that have similar
customers.

7. Offer an free affiliate program thru the mtracker at
http://www.mals-e.com  See mine at
http://www.mypreciouskid.com/affiliate.html

8. Do banner exchanges with other sites.

9. Do browser open exchanges like http://www.wahmhits.com

10. Use your URL email for all correspondence. People will remember
what my url is when I use Kay@mypreciouskid.com  rather than
kay@yahoo.com

11. Get your own domain name URL. http://www.mypreciouskid.com  is
more easily remembered than
http://members.hypermart.net/mypreciouskid.com/index.htm  Domains
are only $8 a year and hosting only $6 a month at
http://www.wahmshoppes.com

12. Use your advertising dollars wisely. Be sure you are reaching
your targeted audience. Get listed in directories with high traffic
and targeted markets.

13. Check your search compatibility at
http://www.sitesolutions.com/bravenet/webtools.asp?
F=FORM&T=SELC&S=800&b=AC397EB4-487B-11D4-8C29-0090274F010C   and
http://www.sitesolutions.com/bravenet/analysis.asp?F=Form&b=
AC397EB4-487B-11D4-8C29-0090274F010C

14. Find your niche and stay with it. Become an expert on one topic
rather than every topic. Expert of one is better than mediocre of
many. Do what you do well!!

15. Make sure your web site directs your traffic to where you want
them to go. Is it easy to navigate? Do they know where to go to find
what you sell? Have you given them reasons to buy from you? Do they
know how? Have your contact info on EVERY page including an email
link.

16. Add customer comments that give new customers a peace of mind in
buying from you. Include the comment maker's web address or email if
possible so they can verify them.

17. Write articles on your subject of expertise. Offer them to
newsletters, web sites, and ezines. Your bio line at the end will
include your web site and bring added traffic and increase your
notoriety as an expert in your field. Mine are at
http://www.mypreciouskid.com/articles/index.html

18. Write a press release or have it written. Submit it to all your
state radio, TV and newspapers. Post it on your site. Mine is at
http://www.mypreciouskid.com/press.html

19.Create web links on the bottom of your page from your keywords in
your meta tags. Each key word should link to that subject on your
web page.

20. Remember that you are competing with 3 million other web sites.
All these things work but take time. Online marketing is about those
who stay with it, work diligently and consistently and build there
business both online and offline by creating community with others.
What you do today may make an impact 4, 6 or 8 weeks from now!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On the Lake Creations:
Send Mom a truly unique gift, she will keep forever! Come on over
to The Lake for Handmade Cards, Hand-Painted Tote Bags & More.
Specializing in Custom Designs, email Ellie at
ellie@onthelakecreations.com  with your idea. 877-277-8125
www.onthelakecreations.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ADD? ADHD? Depression? Arthritis? Acid
Reflux?
Ear Infections? IBS? Asthma? Anemia?
Aching Joints? Cancer? Eczema? Fatigue?
Allergies? Memory Problems? Menopause?
Shaklee has been creating Healthier lives since 1956
Mrs. Laura Daniels @ www.shaklee.net/joyfulblessing
Contact me at my website to receive my free Health and Wellness E-
Newsletter
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Give Rather Than Get!

by Kay Green, http://www.MyPreciousKid.com
Copyright 2003

I have found in business that regular math does not work. When I
work to give then I get. When I work to get I don't. I have found I
can not out give. Especially when letting God lead my business.

I have been blessed tremendously in business. I am working to give
away my skills http://www.mypreciouskid.com/selling.html , services,
and resources http://www.123homebusinessguide.com   to
help others in business. I do this in several ways. I like to write
articles http://www.mypreciouskid.com/articles/index.html  that help others succeed in their business. I also have lots of leads
http://www.mypreciouskid.com/tips.html  
http://www.mypreciouskid.com/wholesale.html

I have also found that in customer service when I give my customers
a little extra that they are not expecting, they are pleased and
remember my company. Maybe adding a free item or a magnet will help.
Sending a free gift when they refer someone else or adding a free
coupon pack to their order helps too.

Do you customers and clients know they can rely on you to follow
through and give a little extra? Do they see you as professional? Do
they know you care about them? What you do to give?

Support other reps in your same company rather than compete with
them. You can all learn from each other. There is enough business
for everyone. Never try to take customer or hostess from another
rep. If you talk to someone and they mention a rep they have worked
with, then thank them for using our products and tell them you are
sure their rep would be happy to take their order too. Always build
up your companies reps and their reputation. Support other reps from
different direct sales companies too. Learn from them. Network with
them. Encourage them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My Woman2Woman Network, LLC is uniting women business owners and is
providing them with a strong network of business resources and
support in the areas of marketing and personal growth. Visit us, and
see what W2W can do for you! http://www.mywoman2woman.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Baby Sign Language

by Kay Green, http://www.mypreciouskid.com
Copyright 2002

Baby Sign, the teaching of sign language to hearing babies. Why?
When? How?

I have always had an interest in sign language since knowing my
deaf aunt and uncle as a little girl. I myself know a little sign
for worship at church. I read about the new idea of teaching sign
to hearing babies and immediately knew I would like to do that with
Haley. My adopted daughter will be 1 year old on Tuesday.

I admit I did not teach sign to my 3 teenagers when they were
babies. However with baby number 4 in my home and with me at age 40,
there are a lot of things I do differently this time around.

Sign language for babies uses a different part of the brain than
speech. Studies have shown that these babies who learn sign are less
frustrated because they can express their wants and needs. It also
says that these babies are actually ahead, not delayed, in speech
development. Babies are able to do many signs before they can speak
the words.

Our babies all do some signs without us even thinking about it.
They wave Hi and bye-bye. They point to things they want. They
make animal signs or sounds. Haley loves to do fish lips and blows
kisses, nod yes and no. When your baby starts learning to wave it
is a perfect time to begin teaching other signs.

When Haley was about 8-9 months old and could wave I started showing
a few signs consistently. Milk, more, kitty, all done. I remember
well the day Haley got the sign for MORE (fingers tips together in
front of your chest). She has always been very verbal and clear
about what she wants. That usually meant yelling at you. I was
working on the computer. I had a bag of baby cookies. She would
have one, then come back and scream indicating she wanted another
and I gave it to her. After 5 or 6 times I thought "Wow, I am
teaching her to scream for what she wants." The next time she came
I said "MORE?" and did the sign with my fingers. I repeated that
for several times. Then the next time I did it with her fingers and
said the word. We did that a couple times. Then she came up and did
the sign the next time, without screaming. YEAH! Success! That was
way too easy. I realize how quickly she got it and started showing
her other signs.

I did a similar thing for nursing. Her usually way was to lay down
in my lap or tug at my shirt. I taught her the sign (squeeze the
hand together like milking a cow. Yah I Know LOL). I started using
it with her before and during the time she nursed. At first she
would reach up and do the sign while she was nursing. Now part of
the time she will come up and do it to tell me she wants to nurse.

She loves animals so we are working on naming all the animals both
in words and signs. Her first few attempts at kitty (fingers across
the cheek like whiskers) were actually done on top of her head. Now
she can get one finger across her cheek and she says the word also.
For Big Bird, she does one finger on her nose instead of the beak
motion with two fingers. It is not so important that babies do the
signs perfectly but that you and she both understand.

I got a great book called "Baby signs" at Baby Signs - How to Talk
With Your Baby Before Your Baby Can Talk

It gave me some super tools and tips. I also bought the great fold
out sign cheat sheet Sign With Your Baby
 I hope this article will encourage you to teach your baby a few
signs too. They really think it is a great game. Give it a try.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Do You Have A Gift Closet?
by Kay Green, http://www.MyPreciousKid.com
Copyright 2003

Having 4 kids it seems like someone always needs a gift for a
birthday party at the last moment. You know kids, they get ready to
leave for school and say "Hey mom I need a gift for Jimmy's party
this afternoon" UGH!!!

What do you do? Pull out cash out of your wallet to slip in a card.
Or pick up your child after school and take them to the store to buy
a gift. There a meltdown happens when your child can not understand
why you will not buy that $50 item.

I have solved this issue in my house. We have a gift closet. I watch
all the time for items to place in this closet.

I pick up:

1. Clearance rack toys and gifts - SALE items
2. Free items or shipping only items online.
3. Barter my products for other WAHM products

I use the same techniques for baby shower gifts and house warming
gifts. My closet has a little bit of everything. Nothing in there is
over $10 so I keep to my budget. For a special persons gift I might
choose several items from the closet and put them together in a
basket.

My kids know they can go to the closet to choose a gift for their
friend anytime. I save a ton of money this way! And less tears from
my kids at the store. And I can buy when I have the money rather
than a few days before payday when money is shorter.

Here are a couple places to find FREE and shipping only items:

FREE Paper Dolls Adorable to print on magnet sheets and cut
http://makingfriends.com/
FREE Software only pay shipping
http://fcds.affiliatetracking.net/al/a?2188
100 FREE Magazines Subscriptions
http://www.qksrv.net/click-596417-1643792
Software for the family
http://fcds.affiliatetracking.net/al/a?371
Freebies For Families
http://www.mypreciouskid.com/free.html
Bearable Deals Newsletter and Hot Deals
http://www.bearabledeals.com/HotDeals.htm
I hope your gift closet blesses you as much as mine
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Home & Garden Party
A home party company that offers fabulous hand-turned American
stoneware pottery, floral arrangements, framed art, candles, garden
décor and more! $15.00 off of your first purchase! Call for a FREE
catalog! 203-996-7046 or Email HGPartyof5@msn.com  - use coupon #
KG503
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Is Your Child's Car Seat Safe?
By Kay Green, http://www.MyPreciousKid.com
Copyright 2002

We keep hearing about how 4 out of 5 car seats are installed
incorrectly. How can you be sure your child's is installed
correctly? One way is to read the instruction manual that came with
your child's car seat and your car's owner's manual. That will give
you some good clues. You can also have it checked by your local fire
station or car seat safety clinic.

Parent's January Magazine tells us the 8 most often made
mistakes? Have you made any of them?
http://www.parents.com/articles/health/5198.jsp
Mistake #1: Seat Too Loose
Mistake #2: Harness Too Loose
Mistake #3: Facing Wrong Way
Mistake #4: Wrong Angle
Mistake #5: Retainer Clip Wrong
Mistake #6: Wrong Slots
Mistake #7: No Booster Seat
Mistake #8: Recalled Seat

Another mistake I see often is taking kids out of the 5-point
harness too soon. The child needs to stay in the harness until they
are tall enough that the car's seat belt crosses them at the correct
position at their shoulder in the booster and they are over 40
pounds. When you switch to a booster with no harness remember to
belt the booster seat into the car even when your child is not in
it. If not the booster seat can become a flyer projectile in a
wreck.

Additionally your child's car seat should have emergency contact
info attached. In a car accident professional's need to be able to
reach dad at work or grandma if you are not able to help your child.
A car seat ID card with a medical release signature will protect
your child in a car accident giving medical professionals all the
information they need to treat your child immediately.

Safety Pillows for car seats and booster seats also can protect your
child. Some car seats come with them. I found one that connects thru
the booster seat strap slots. It allows it to protect her neck,
gives her neck added support when napping, and allows her to push it
up out of the way when she does not need it. It does not end up on
the floor either. My almost 3 year old loves hers and tells
me "Thanks You Mommy" when I slide it into place for her.

Most state rules now require that children's stay in the booster
seat until 6 years AND 60 pounds. This means safer kids and fewer
fatalities for children in car wrecks. I am glad to keep my child in
her comfortable car seat. She is happier and healthier every time we
go in the car. I also use it for every plane trip. Since she is so
comfortable in her favorite booster seat she travels much better.

Please take the time to be sure that your car seat is installed
correctly, fits your child, has emergency contact information, and a
safety pillow for their neck. If the event of a wreck you will be
glad you covered all the bases.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JuicePLUS+ is composed of 17 organic fruits, vegetables, and grains
grown in nutrient-dense soil, ripened on the vine, picked and juiced
within 24 hours. It fills the gap between what we actually eat and
what we need for good health. JuicePLUS+ comes in capsule, chewable,
and gummy form for your whole family to enjoy! thomps3@earthlink.net
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Have you gotten all the free stuff for your business
IRS Business Stuff
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=101169,00.html
Free Fax Service
http://www.callwave.com/?r=tyf2
Free Checks
http://www.checksunlimited.com/default.htm
Free Checking Account
http://www.qksrv.net/click-707232-6307423
Free Safety Handouts
http://www.mypreciouskid.com/free-safety.html
Free magazine Subscriptions to give away
http://www.qksrv.net/click-596417-1643792
FREE web page software
http://www.evrsoft.com/  and
http://www.webmasterfree.com/software/356.html
http://www.webattack.com/get/acehtmlfree.shtml
http://webpage.vendercom.com/
Free Virus Protector
http://www.grisoft.com/
 
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Copyright 2003 Kay Green

Subscribe to this newsletter at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/preciouskids/ 
Read past Newsletters http://www.mypreciouskid.com/articles/index.html

Articles written by Kay Green, Christian homeschool mom to Melissa 21,
Jordan 18, Allison 16, Haley 3. Her and her husband of 24 years live in
rural Oregon with the kids, 2 dogs, and 1 cats. 

Kay owns http://www.MyPreciousKid.com children's ID products and home
business program. Kay loves helping others have a successful home business
too. http://www.PreciousKids.org Adoption & Homeschool Resources,
http://www.123HomeBusinessGuide.com and
http://www.KayGreen.com 

COPYRIGHT 2003 My Precious Kid®, Kay Green
All rights reserved. Reprinting is only with permission and with this
author's box and copyright intact.

Join 1ChristianWAHM at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/1ChristianWAHM/