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Sally Worsham
Birth Records
Public birth records, including birth certificates, are required to be filed by the government in every state of the United States. It is your right to access these records. There are many public databases of public records that, for a small fee, will grant you access to these and other records. Birth Records Database and Family Birth Records are just two examples of these services.
If you want an official copy of your birth certificate, you must contact the vital records' office from the state in which you were born. You can find a list of every state's vital office information at the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics. If you have a photo identification -- like a driver's license or passport -- and pay a small fee, the state's vital records' office will give you a certified copy of your birth certificate, complete with the seal and signature of the state's registrar office.
You will need a certified copy of your birth certificate to obtain a marriage license, a passport and, in some states, a driver's license. You also need your child's birth certificates to register for school or youth sports. You will also need your child's birth certificate to obtain their Social Security cards.
Usually if you are an immediate family member, you are allowed access to others' birth certificates. If you are a personal or legal representative of a particular person and have a notarized letter of authorization from them, as well as their identification, you may request another person's birth record. For more details on your state's law, ask your state's vital records' office.
More Genealogy Terms defined from ParentDish:
Family Tree
Death Records
Marriage Records
If you want an official copy of your birth certificate, you must contact the vital records' office from the state in which you were born. You can find a list of every state's vital office information at the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics. If you have a photo identification -- like a driver's license or passport -- and pay a small fee, the state's vital records' office will give you a certified copy of your birth certificate, complete with the seal and signature of the state's registrar office.
You will need a certified copy of your birth certificate to obtain a marriage license, a passport and, in some states, a driver's license. You also need your child's birth certificates to register for school or youth sports. You will also need your child's birth certificate to obtain their Social Security cards.
Usually if you are an immediate family member, you are allowed access to others' birth certificates. If you are a personal or legal representative of a particular person and have a notarized letter of authorization from them, as well as their identification, you may request another person's birth record. For more details on your state's law, ask your state's vital records' office.
More Genealogy Terms defined from ParentDish:
Family Tree
Death Records
Marriage Records
Marriage Records
A marriage record is generally a copy of your marriage license, if it is signed by you and your spouse and witnesses. This paper certifies that you and your spouse are legally married. There are several instances when you might need a copy of your marriage license, such as adding a spouse to your insurance policy, applying for government benefits, creating a marital life estate trust or other legal situations.
If you cannot locate a copy of your marriage license, it is easy to obtain another copy. You can visit or write to the county clerk's office in the county where you were married to request a copy. You can also check with the state's vital records' office in the state where you were married. The state determines the fee for the new copy. Another possibility is to go to an online records database, such as VitalRec or VitalChek, and request a copy.
Usually, you can obtain marriage records for your immediate family members. You may also receive a marriage record if you are a personal or legal representative of a particular person who has a notarized letter of authorization and the identification of said person. For more details on your state's law, ask your state's vital office.
More Genealogy Terms define at ParentDish
Birth Records
Death Records
Family Tree
If you cannot locate a copy of your marriage license, it is easy to obtain another copy. You can visit or write to the county clerk's office in the county where you were married to request a copy. You can also check with the state's vital records' office in the state where you were married. The state determines the fee for the new copy. Another possibility is to go to an online records database, such as VitalRec or VitalChek, and request a copy.
Usually, you can obtain marriage records for your immediate family members. You may also receive a marriage record if you are a personal or legal representative of a particular person who has a notarized letter of authorization and the identification of said person. For more details on your state's law, ask your state's vital office.
More Genealogy Terms define at ParentDish
Birth Records
Death Records
Family Tree
Death Records
A death record is an official report that lists important information, such as the time, date and cause of death, about an individual. This record also includes the person's date of birth, marital status and occupation. This document is signed by a doctor to confirm the circumstances of the death.
Laws vary from state to state on who can request death records. However, usually if you are an immediate family member, you are given a copy. Also, you may also receive a death record if you are a personal or legal representative of the deceased and have a notarized letter of authorization and the dead person's identification. For more details on your state's law, ask your state's vital records' office.
Obtaining death records can be a critical part of researching your genealogy through public records, confirming the death of a missing loved one or compiling statistics.
More Genealogy Terms defined from ParentDish:
Birth Records
Family Tree
Marriage Records
Laws vary from state to state on who can request death records. However, usually if you are an immediate family member, you are given a copy. Also, you may also receive a death record if you are a personal or legal representative of the deceased and have a notarized letter of authorization and the dead person's identification. For more details on your state's law, ask your state's vital records' office.
Obtaining death records can be a critical part of researching your genealogy through public records, confirming the death of a missing loved one or compiling statistics.
More Genealogy Terms defined from ParentDish:
Birth Records
Family Tree
Marriage Records
Family Tree Search: Finding Your History
Starting a family tree can be a rewarding experience for you and your family, but where do you begin? The first step is to gather all possible information about your family from your relatives, including names, relationships, birth dates, death dates, marriage dates and places of residence.
Once you have gathered this information, you can begin charting it to clarify relationships. At this point, you may want to consult a book about genealogy, such as Gilbert Harry Doane's "Searching for Your Ancestors".
To fill in any gaps in your chart, you can consult the a particular state's vital records office for birth and death records. The National Center for Health Statistics provides a list of links to each state's vital records office contact information.
Once you have exhausted the vital records resources, it is time for you to begin historical research. You can study the historical and geographical background by looking at maps of the towns, counties and states where your relatives lived. Next, you can begin the last step of visiting libraries to research genealogical collections, historical societies and other archives.
More Genealogy Terms defined at ParentDish:
Birth Records
Death Records
Marriage Records
Parenting Styles: Which One is Right for You?
There are three main parenting styles that most psychologists recommend.
Authoritative parents who treat their children like mature adults. These parents give their kids choices and believe in letting them see the results of their decisions as a positive learning tool. Kids of authoritative parents tend to have high self esteem because they feel more in control.
Authoritarian parents are strict and generally want to control every aspect of their kids' lives. These parents focus on punishing bad behavior rather than encouraging good behavior, which can cause children to have low self-esteem and lack independence.
Permissive parents are the complete opposite of the authoritarian parents. They refuse to set behavioral boundaries and allow their children to do whatever they want. These parents strive to be friends with their children and fear that their kids will rebel if the parents inflict rules. Children of permissive parents can be impulsive and aggressive. As they age, they are more likely to experiment with drugs and alcohol. They also have a low self esteem.
While parents may recognize their style from these descriptions, there are many online tools like the Active Parenting Quiz and Dr. Phil's Parenting Style Questionnaire that can help parents determine their most effective parenting style.
Parents have a tough job. At ParentDish, we've got the latest parenting news to keep you in the know.
Authoritative parents who treat their children like mature adults. These parents give their kids choices and believe in letting them see the results of their decisions as a positive learning tool. Kids of authoritative parents tend to have high self esteem because they feel more in control.
Authoritarian parents are strict and generally want to control every aspect of their kids' lives. These parents focus on punishing bad behavior rather than encouraging good behavior, which can cause children to have low self-esteem and lack independence.
Permissive parents are the complete opposite of the authoritarian parents. They refuse to set behavioral boundaries and allow their children to do whatever they want. These parents strive to be friends with their children and fear that their kids will rebel if the parents inflict rules. Children of permissive parents can be impulsive and aggressive. As they age, they are more likely to experiment with drugs and alcohol. They also have a low self esteem.
While parents may recognize their style from these descriptions, there are many online tools like the Active Parenting Quiz and Dr. Phil's Parenting Style Questionnaire that can help parents determine their most effective parenting style.
Parents have a tough job. At ParentDish, we've got the latest parenting news to keep you in the know.
Attachment Parenting: A Brief Overview
Attachment parenting is a parenting style developed by William Sears, M.D., a pediatrician and father of eight who believes that children form a strong emotional bond with parents or caregivers during childhood with lifelong consequences.
Attachment Parenting International has developed eight principles of attachment parenting that stress forming an immediate bond with the child.
The principles include:
1. Preparing for pregnancy, birth and parenting.
2. Feeding with love and respect.
3. Responding with sensitivity.
4. Using a nurturing touch.
5. Ensuring safe sleep both physically and emotionally.
6. Providing consistent and loving care.
7. Practicing postive discipline.
8. Striving for balance in personal and family life.
To help parents achieve these principles, Dr. Sears has identified "The Baby B's," seven tools designed to improve the parent-child relationship.
They include:
1. Baby bonding
2. Breastfeeding
3. Babywearing
4. Bedding close to baby
5. Believing in the language value of your baby's cry
6. Being wary of baby trainers
7. Balancing
Naturally, attachment parenting has come with some controversy. Some mothers choose to formlua feed. Some feel babywearing spoils children. There are claims that co-sleeping can cause SIDS. Sharon Hays, sociologist and author of "The Cultural Contradictions of Motherhood"," feels this parenting philosophy imposes unrealistic obligations on parents, particularly for working women.
Despite the criticisms, attachment parenting has grown in popularity, giving birth to a network of support groups across the country. Advocates claim that this parenting style encourages a secure view of the world.
Experts, including Dr. Sears, agree that parents must use these guidelines and tools to create a parenting style that works best for their family.
Have more tough questions? ParentDish can answer your childcare questions.
Attachment Parenting International has developed eight principles of attachment parenting that stress forming an immediate bond with the child.
The principles include:
1. Preparing for pregnancy, birth and parenting.
2. Feeding with love and respect.
3. Responding with sensitivity.
4. Using a nurturing touch.
5. Ensuring safe sleep both physically and emotionally.
6. Providing consistent and loving care.
7. Practicing postive discipline.
8. Striving for balance in personal and family life.
To help parents achieve these principles, Dr. Sears has identified "The Baby B's," seven tools designed to improve the parent-child relationship.
They include:
1. Baby bonding
2. Breastfeeding
3. Babywearing
4. Bedding close to baby
5. Believing in the language value of your baby's cry
6. Being wary of baby trainers
7. Balancing
Naturally, attachment parenting has come with some controversy. Some mothers choose to formlua feed. Some feel babywearing spoils children. There are claims that co-sleeping can cause SIDS. Sharon Hays, sociologist and author of "The Cultural Contradictions of Motherhood"," feels this parenting philosophy imposes unrealistic obligations on parents, particularly for working women.
Despite the criticisms, attachment parenting has grown in popularity, giving birth to a network of support groups across the country. Advocates claim that this parenting style encourages a secure view of the world.
Experts, including Dr. Sears, agree that parents must use these guidelines and tools to create a parenting style that works best for their family.
Have more tough questions? ParentDish can answer your childcare questions.
Permissive Parenting: Too Lenient?
Childcare, Resources, Amazing Parents
Permissive parenting, also called indulgent, lenient or non-directive parenting, is a parenting style in which parents have few controls over or demands on their children.
In these families, parents are very involved in their children's lives, but have few behavioral expectations for their kids. These parents are more concerned with being their children's friends and fear their kids may rebel against them if they are too hard on them. Permissive parents are usually the children of strict parents.
As children with permissive parents age, they are likely to be impulsive and underachieving. As teenagers, they also experiment with drugs and alcohol more frequently because they know they will not be punished if they get caught. Additionally, these children may have unrealistic self-esteems, blaming others for their mistakes.
However, children with permissive parents often learn good social skills.
Though permissive parents often feel that they are helping their children by letting them do whatever they want to do, they may be in for a shock when they realize their lack of boundaries has created insecure, demanding, selfish kids with no sense of personal responsibility.
Are you worried about your child's emotional or physical growth? ParentDish has development covered!
In these families, parents are very involved in their children's lives, but have few behavioral expectations for their kids. These parents are more concerned with being their children's friends and fear their kids may rebel against them if they are too hard on them. Permissive parents are usually the children of strict parents.
As children with permissive parents age, they are likely to be impulsive and underachieving. As teenagers, they also experiment with drugs and alcohol more frequently because they know they will not be punished if they get caught. Additionally, these children may have unrealistic self-esteems, blaming others for their mistakes.
However, children with permissive parents often learn good social skills.
Though permissive parents often feel that they are helping their children by letting them do whatever they want to do, they may be in for a shock when they realize their lack of boundaries has created insecure, demanding, selfish kids with no sense of personal responsibility.
Are you worried about your child's emotional or physical growth? ParentDish has development covered!
Safety First: Keeping Kids Healthy
The term "safety first" means that being safe is the first priority when performing a task.
Freedom from danger, risk or injury is foremost in whatever activity is being executed. In order to insure "safety first," one must know basic safety rules.
Even preschoolers can understand the importance of keeping all windows and doors locked, not opening the door to strangers and how to dial 9-1-1.
"Safety first" can also be used for outdoor activities, school-aged children should always wear a helmet when riding a bicycle or tricycle.
While remembering this philosophy is a very important thing to do as a parent, some safety gadgets can go overboard. Attachable GPS trackers can tell you every move your child makes. In most cases, your common sense will help your safety skills more than an expensive gadget will.
Turn to ParentDish for further Health and Safety questions and answers.
Freedom from danger, risk or injury is foremost in whatever activity is being executed. In order to insure "safety first," one must know basic safety rules.
Even preschoolers can understand the importance of keeping all windows and doors locked, not opening the door to strangers and how to dial 9-1-1.
"Safety first" can also be used for outdoor activities, school-aged children should always wear a helmet when riding a bicycle or tricycle.
While remembering this philosophy is a very important thing to do as a parent, some safety gadgets can go overboard. Attachable GPS trackers can tell you every move your child makes. In most cases, your common sense will help your safety skills more than an expensive gadget will.
Turn to ParentDish for further Health and Safety questions and answers.
Internet Safety
Kids 5-7, Kids 8-11, Teens & tweens, Gadgets & Tech, Resources
How can you be sure that your child is safe on the Internet? It can be easy if you set the following Internet safety guidelines with your kids.
Among our top ways to stay safe. Remind your kids to:
1. Be careful with strangers on the Internet. Never give out personal information, including your last name, address, phone number or password. If someone asks for any of this information, kids should not respond; they should log off and tell a trusted adult.
2. Never agree to meet anyone without you, the parents, in tow.
3. A child should tell her parents immediately if she ever feel uncomfortable in a chat room or other online situation.
4. Stick with "kid-friendly" websites.
As adults, parents can use software, like My Kids Browser, to insure your child will not be able to access any adult-only websites.
ParentDish has complete, up-to-date information on the latest Gadgets & Tech.
Among our top ways to stay safe. Remind your kids to:
1. Be careful with strangers on the Internet. Never give out personal information, including your last name, address, phone number or password. If someone asks for any of this information, kids should not respond; they should log off and tell a trusted adult.
2. Never agree to meet anyone without you, the parents, in tow.
3. A child should tell her parents immediately if she ever feel uncomfortable in a chat room or other online situation.
4. Stick with "kid-friendly" websites.
As adults, parents can use software, like My Kids Browser, to insure your child will not be able to access any adult-only websites.
ParentDish has complete, up-to-date information on the latest Gadgets & Tech.
Pikachu: A Brief Overview
Kids 5-7, Kids 8-11, Teens & tweens, Toys & Games
Pikachu is a central character in the Pokemon series. One of the Pokemon franchise's most recognizable characters, Pickachu is often considered the franchise's mascot.
A Pikachu is a short, chubby, forest-dwelling rodent that has yellow fur with brown stripes on its back and a lightening-bolt shaped tail. Pikachus can release electrical discharges at will through electric sacs in their cheeks. If a Pikachu is unable to discharge this electricity, it can result in paralysis or even death in severe cases.
Although Pikachus usually discharge electricity for battle purposes, they can also roast berries, a dietary staple. Pickachus usually travel in packs. When threatened, they can generate an intense electric field that can result in a thunderstorm. Despite their electrical powers, Pickachu are great virtual pets that are easy to maintain in Pokemon.
The Pokemon franchise includes video games, anime, trading cards and books.
Check out ParentDish's coverage of Toys and Games for more kid favorites.
A Pikachu is a short, chubby, forest-dwelling rodent that has yellow fur with brown stripes on its back and a lightening-bolt shaped tail. Pikachus can release electrical discharges at will through electric sacs in their cheeks. If a Pikachu is unable to discharge this electricity, it can result in paralysis or even death in severe cases.
Although Pikachus usually discharge electricity for battle purposes, they can also roast berries, a dietary staple. Pickachus usually travel in packs. When threatened, they can generate an intense electric field that can result in a thunderstorm. Despite their electrical powers, Pickachu are great virtual pets that are easy to maintain in Pokemon.
The Pokemon franchise includes video games, anime, trading cards and books.
Check out ParentDish's coverage of Toys and Games for more kid favorites.
