Below are a series of questions and answers that illustrate good and bad ways of answering questions on the web.  I use these to help students identify better and worse ways to write FAQs.

1. What is a second newborn screening and why is it important?

Be sure your baby has the second newborn screening test. The first test was done by a heel stick in the hospital before your baby came home. The second test is done at the first well baby check-up, usually at 1-2 weeks of age. If you have moved or changed doctors or aren’t sure this test was done, please check right away. Call your clinic or doctor and make arrangements to get the second newborn screening done as soon as possible. These check-ups or screenings can catch any problems. Many can be completely corrected if found early. At this time, it’s also a good idea to ask about immunizations for your baby which should start when your baby is 1- 2 months old. To see an immunization chart, go to the official web site for immunizations: http://www.cdc.gov/nip/recs/child-schedule.htm

Source:  http://www.extension.org/faq/26286

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2.  My baby has suddenly become scared and shy of strangers. She sometimes cries, even when my mother comes to visit. Why does she act this way? What can I do to help her overcome this fear?

First of all, don’t worry. A fear of strangers at this age is normal. Babies are beginning to develop a sense of self and others — an important step in growing up. Your baby now knows the difference between close family members and strangers. Sometimes your baby will just have a serious, watchful stare at new people. Other times, she will look at a new person, and then look away a few times before warming up and smiling. Some babies howl or whimper with genuine fear. Others cling to their parent and refuse to let go. Some babies, just like adults, develop an instant dislike for a person.

Usually, your baby is afraid of what the stranger does rather than who the person is. Try to see this from your baby’s point of view. You don’t want a stranger hugging you, and neither does your baby. So don’t just hand her to someone she doesn’t know well. Hold her while she gets to know the person. Have the new person smile and talk to her, and perhaps offer a favorite toy. Let your baby make new friends at her own pace.

However she reacts, comfort your baby if she is fearful of strangers. Hold her close to you and let her know that she is safe. Tell friends or relatives not to take it personally that your baby needs time to get used to people. Ask them not to rush up to her or try to pick her up. Grandparents or friends may have a hard time understanding why your baby gets upset when they pick her up. Assure them that it will be worth the effort to get acquainted slowly. As your baby gets older, she will feel more secure and more comfortable with other people.

This newsletter gives equal space and time to both sexes. If we write him or her, we are talking about all babies. Every baby is different. Normal children may do things earlier or later than described in this FAQ. This FAQ describes typical children at each age. Each child is special and develops at his or her own pace.

Source:  http://www.extension.org/faq/26363

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3.  Where can I learn more about child care and child development?

Check out these web sites:

http://www.zerotothree.org/ztt_parents.html Zero to Three for Parents on development in
the first 3 years of life
http://www.uwex.edu/ces/flp/parenting/pfylinks.html Parenting the First Year links to
resources on caring for your baby
If you have questions, contact your local Extension office. Find the nearest office at:
http://www.csrees.usda.gov/qlinks/partners/state_partners.html

Source:  http://www.extension.org/faq/26291

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4.  Why do teenagers become pregnant?

There are several theories about why some teenagers become pregnant. These include wanting someone to love them, being heavily influenced by the sexual messages in the media, living in negative family environments, not having clear goals for the future, not understanding how to prevent pregnancy, being sexually abused as child, and peer pressure.

In reality, when a teenager becomes pregnant, it is probably a combination of the factors listed above, as well as other unidentified reasons over which the teenager may have little or no control.

Lynn Blinn Pike, Ph.D., Former Human Development & Family Studies Specialist, College of Human Environmental Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia

Source:   http://missourifamilies.org/quick/adolescentsqa/adolesqa1.htm

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5.  What can I do if my son engages in dating violence?

If your son does engage in dating violence, use it as an opportunity to express that you love and respect him, but be clear that his actions are unacceptable. Be firm in teaching him that controlling his girlfriend’s activities, physically hurting her, and coercing or forcing her to have sex is absolutely unacceptable and illegal. Avoid language that supports the “scoring” idea: that “getting” sex or the number of sexual or dating partners you have shows your value as a “man”. Teach that a person’s value is connected with how well they treat others with respect and dignity. Talk with him about how he can act differently in the future. Consider role-playing out the same situation with different outcomes. Consider anger management classes or counseling for your son.

For more information see Dating Violence and Your Teen.

Diane G. Kuschel, Former Extension Associate, College of Human Environmental Sciences, University of Missouri Extension

Source:  http://missourifamilies.org/quick/adolescentsqa/adolesqa24.htm

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6.  I am a foster parent and I think I might be able to get the Earned Income Tax Credit. How long do I have to have foster children in my home to be eligible?

There is great news for foster parents beginning in tax year 2002. A foster child must have lived with the filer more than half the year (the requirement used to be the full year). Remember that the child must have been placed in your home by a foster care agency to qualify. Also, the child must be under age 19, or under 24 if in school full-time, or totally disabled at any age.
For more information about the Earned Income Tax Credit and other tax credits that can help you, see Tax Credits for People Who Work.

Brenda Procter, M.S.,  Consumer and Family Economics, College of Human Environmental Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia

Source:  http://missourifamilies.org/quick/financeqa/finqa134.htm

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7.  What are my rights in public housing?

Public housing is meant to create safe, affordable rental housing for income-eligible families, the elderly and persons with disabilities. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) oversees local entities called “Housing Authorities” or HAs, which manage public housing properties.
As a resident of public housing, you have the right to:

•   Live in decent, safe and sanitary housing
• Have repairs made in a timely manner upon request
• Be given reasonable notice in writing of any non-emergency inspection or other entry into your apartment
•   Organize as residents without obstruction, harassment, or retaliation from property owners or management
•   Post materials in common areas and provide leaflets to residents of their rights to get involved in a resident organization
•   Use common areas or facilities to organize or consider issues affecting the condition or management practices of the property (may be a HUD-approved fee for use of the facility)
•   Meet with other tenants without the owner or manager present
•   Be recognized by property owners and managers as having a voice in residential community affairs
•   Equal and fair treatment, and use of building services and facilities without regard to race, color, religion, gender, disability, familial status (children under 18), national origin (ethnicity or language), or in some circumstances, age.

Brenda Procter, M.S., State Specialist & Instructor
Personal Financial Planning, University of Missouri-Extension

Source:  http://missourifamilies.org/quick/consumerqa/qaca127.htm

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8.  What can a noncustodial parent due to gain visitation rights, or to enforce them?

If a parent is denying the other parent access to the child, the other parent can try calling the police to enforce the divorce decree. If this is not effective, the parent whose rights are being denied should consult with his/her attorney about the options, which include filing a family access motion.

For more information, see:
http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C400-499/4520000400.htm

Kim Leon, Ph.D., Former Assistant Professor and State Specialist, Human Development & Family Studies, Human Environmental Sciences Extension, University of Missouri-Columbia

Alison Levitch, Human Development & Family Studies Graduate Student, Human Environmental Sciences Extension, University of Missouri-Columbia

Source:  http://missourifamilies.org/quick/divorceqa/divorceqa59.htm

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9.  Is it true that as people grow older, their intelligence tends to decline?

NO. Although there are some circumstances where the statement may hold true, current research evidence suggest that intellectual performance in healthy individuals holds up well into old age. The average magnitude of intellectual decline is typically small in the 60s and 70s and is probably of little significance for competent behavior. There is more average decline for most abilities observed once the 80s are reached, although even in this age range there are substantial individual differences. Little or no decline appears to be associated with being free of cardiovascular disease, little decline in perceptual speed, at least average socioeconomic status, a stimulating and engaged lifestyle, and having flexible attitudes and behaviors at midlife. The good news is that research data now indicate that intellectual decline can be modified by modest interventions.

Linda Breytspraak, Center on Aging Studies, University of Missouri-Kansas City

Source:  http://missourifamilies.org/quick/agingqa/agingqa2.htm

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10.  Are older adults are at risk for HIV/AIDS?

Yes. Blood transfusions and unprotected sex put older adults at risk for HIV/AIDS as in other populations. It is estimated that as many as 10 percent of all persons diagnosed with HIV/AIDS are over 50 years of age.

Linda Breytspraak, Center on Aging Studies, University of Missouri-Kansas City

Source:  http://missourifamilies.org/quick/agingqa/agingqa20.htm

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11.  I’m going back to work and sending my 12-month-old to day care. I’m worried that she’ll have trouble adjusting. How can I get her ready?

The most important first step in preparing your daughter for going to child care is to ensure that you’ve selected a place that’s right for her. For example, if your child gets easily overwhelmed when there’s a lot going on around her, it would probably be best for her to be in a center where the classes are small, or in a family child-care setting. In general, it’s best for young children to be in settings where caregivers adapt schedules to allow kids to eat and sleep based on their own daily rhythms, are sensitive and responsive to the individual needs of each child, welcome parent involvement, and provide you with information about your child on a daily basis. When you feel comfortable about the care your child will be receiving, it’s much easier to share that confidence and enthusiasm with your daughter.

Once you’ve selected the best care for your child, there are some things you can do to get her off to a good start:

Plan some brief and then incrementally longer separations so that she learns she can be safe and well cared for by loving adults other than you. This is especially important if your daughter hasn’t spent much time with other caregivers during her first year.

Take her to the child-care setting several times before her first day to help her become familiar with it. The unknown is often what’s most scary. Let her explore the classroom and outside play area and interact with the caregivers and children.

Read books with her about going to child care and dealing with separations.  Owl Babies by Martin Waddell is a good choice for her age.

Play disappearing/reappearing games such as peekaboo and hide-and-seek to help her understand that while things and people may go away, they come back. Emphasize the message that “Mommy may go away, but Mommy always comes back.”

Make an audiotape of yourself reading stories and singing songs for your child to listen to at child care (if that’s allowed) when she misses you. Or give her a picture of you and other family members—even the family pet—to look at when she’s sad. Ask the caregivers if your daughter can keep these photos in her cubby or somewhere else that’s easily accessible.

Don’t forget Teddy.  If the child care center allows, let your daughter bring a lovey—a blanket, doll, or stuffed animal—that gives her comfort and is a connection to home.

On your child’s first day, when it’s time for you to leave her, don’t linger or show worry. Children look to the trusted adults in their lives for cues on how to respond to new situations. When we look and act worried and upset, our children naturally think there’s something to be worried and upset about and are likely to have a harder time separating. Studies actually show that when parents say a brief, upbeat good-bye, their children stop crying and adjust more quickly.

If you are really worried about how your child is faring without you, some child care centers have observation rooms with one-way mirrors where you can watch for a few moments before leaving for work. Or give the center a brief call, just to be reassured that your daughter is doing fine.

Most important: Don’t be tempted to sneak out without saying good-bye, hoping that it will ease the transition. Your child experiences this as a breach of trust. Sneaking out also sends the message that you feel you’re doing something wrong by leaving her. Instead, give her the clear message that she’ll be fine, and that you look forward to seeing her when you come back.

Source:  From “Your Child’s Behavior,” a column written by ZERO TO THREE in American Baby magazine.  http://www.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_key_childcare_childcare&AddInterest=1152

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12.  How can we lower our stress level?

Here are some tips to Manage Stress:

1. Plan your time well. Be more organised. Make a list of all the things you need to do and arrange them in order of importance. Decide how much time you need for each job, and then stick to your plan.
2. Spread out the changes in your life – Give yourself time to adjust from one change to another. For example, avoid getting married, buying a house and changing jobs all at the same time.
3. Be realistic about what you can do – Choose your work according to your own ability and interest. Do not hope for the impossible. Set goals which are achievable so that you don’t become frustrated or discouraged.
4. Make decisions wisely – Get all the relevant information first – don’t make major decisions blindly. Consider the good and bad points of each choice. Involve the people who will be affected by the decision in the process.
5. Learn to like yourself – Don’t worry too much about your looks, height, pimples and other faults. Make the best of what you have and learn to accept what you cannot change.
6. Think positive – Prevent negative feelings from building up. Learn to identify the cause of these feelings and deal constructively with them. Don’t blow things out of proportion.
7. Share your problems – Do not keep all your problems and worries to yourself. Remember you are not alone. Talk to your spouse, friend, supervisor or religious leader. They may have had experience with similar situations and they may be able to suggest a solution to your problem.
8. Build a happy family – Be kind, loving and polite to your family. Treat them the same way you should treat your friends. They will provide you with love and support in times of need. Set aside some time each day to talk, play or relax together. Make your home a happy place to come back to after a hard day’s work.
9. Make friends – Just as you need a happy family, you also need friends to talk to and laugh with, to visit you and go out with you and to help you in times of need. Treat others the way you would like them to treat you. Respect their views and be patient with their faults. Try giving in to others sometimes – even when you are right.
10. Keep healthy – Keep your body healthy by exercising regularly, eating wisely and getting enough sleep. Do not turn to cigarettes or alcohol to relieve your stress. Smoking and drinking do not solve anything and will cause more problems for your health.
11. Make some time for yourself – Do something that you really enjoy. It could be a hobby like collecting coins or an exercise like jogging. Take a short break when you feel tensed or tired. You deserve to have a little fun sometimes.
12. Learn some Relaxation Techniques – Deep breathing exercise, meditation, massage and muscle relaxation techniques can be helpful in relieving stress.

Source:  http://www.hpb.gov.sg/hpb2/qna/hpb_faqmain.asp?strItemChoice=200511803814&strSubItemChoice=20052151810&action=SHOWTOPICS

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13. What is the essential difference between someone who can learn to read easily and someone who has reading difficulties?

Research over the past 20 years has uncovered striking differences between children who learn to read with ease and those who do not. The purpose of experimental research into how children learn to read has in the main been concerned with uncovering what a good reader does and contrasting it with what poor readers do. Thus we are able to say with confidence that a person likely to become a good reader possesses phonological sensitivity while a poor reader lacks this awareness. In fact, one of the important conclusions of the research into instructional approaches is that as part of the teaching approach, it is necessary to produce phonological awareness before introducing children to the visual aspects of the alphabet. In simple language, sound comes before sight. One of the biggest mistakes made by untrained teachers of reading is to show children the letters of the alphabet prematurely. We know this because by measuring the phonological skill differences between good and poor readers we have been able to isolate phonological skills as an essential component of learning to read. Phonological sensitivity is the awareness that the spoken sound system of the English language, a language that consists of strings of words being arrayed together in sequence to make meaningful expressions, also includes within that sound system an accessible number of distinguishable sounds that are indivisible.

Source:  http://www.icanreadsystem.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19&Itemid=35

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14.  Fitness – Why Should You Exercise?

The overall benefit of being active and fit is an improved quality of life-being able to do things you enjoy for longer periods of time (for example, playing with the kids, gardening, dancing, or walking).

Research repeatedly shows that fitness is a strong measure of health. In a study of more than 25,000 volunteers, researchers at the Cooper Institute found that a person’s fitness level was more important than body weight. Men in the study who were overweight or obese but who were physically fit had a lower risk of death than men who were a healthy weight but were not physically fit.¹

Being fit improves your overall health and reduces your risk of disease.

Short-term benefits include:²

• A healthier heart. Physical activity makes demands on your heart that make it stronger and better able to function.
• Healthy muscles, bones, and joints. Resistance training such as weight lifting improves muscular strength and endurance and increases bone density, which is especially important for older adults to prevent falls and injuries.³
• Increased burning of calories. Physical activity burns calories and helps you achieve a healthy balance between the calories you take in from food and those you expend. (To find out how many calories are burned during different activities, use this Interactive Tool: How Many Calories Did You Burn?) When you exercise regularly, your body burns more calories, both during activity and at rest. Being fit may also lower your percentage of body fat and increase muscle strength and tone. Your percentage of body fat depends on genetics, lifestyle, and physical activities.

No matter what your size or shape, physical activity has important health benefits. These may include:

• Improved ability to fall asleep and sleep well.
• Increased energy.
• Increased mental acuity-sharper and faster thinking.
• Better mental health and ability to cope with stress. People who are fit have less anxiety, depression, and stress than people who aren’t active.⁴

Long-term benefits include reduced risk of:^{2, 5}

• Dying early.
• Developing coronary artery disease. Men who are not active have about twice the risk of developing heart disease as men who are regularly physically active.⁴
• Having a second heart attack. Also, people who get regular physical activity as part of a cardiac rehabilitation program have a lower risk of dying from a heart attack.⁴
• Developing high blood pressure. Regular physical activity can also lower blood pressure in those who have high blood pressure.⁶
• Developing type 2 diabetes. Physical activity may prevent type 2 diabetes through its effect on insulin, how the body processes sugar, and maintenance of body weight.
• Developing colon cancer or other cancers.
• Becoming obese.

Source:  http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/tc/fitness-why-should-i-exercise