How to Gain an Autistic Child's Trust

Some autistic children are more withdrawn than others. While some autistic kids are very trusting and open towards people, others are shy or nervous. Some have trust issues. With a careful and sensitive approach, you can gain the trust of a child who finds it hard to trust others.

EditSteps

EditIdentifying Barriers to Trust

1. Consider if the child has been mistreated in the past. Some autistic children have faced severe bullying or abuse (including therapy abuse) that may make it difficult for them to trust other people.
   
   • A child who doesn't feel safe is unlikely to be trusting.
   • A child who was harmed physically or emotionally by adults, or whose requests for help were ignored by adults, may not trust adults.
2. Look at the child's communication skills. If the child isn't able to reliably express their needs, then it's less likely that their needs will be met. When adults don't meet a child's needs, the child struggles to trust them. If a child can't speak or use AAC reliably, helping them learn to do so is crucial.^[1]
   
   • If the child can only use a very limited type of AAC (such as PECS or buttons to press), a therapist should be helping them expand their repertoire so they can learn to express more complex thoughts.
3. Consider ways you may have misbehaved in the past. If you have interacted with the child before, and they don't seem to like you, it could be because you did something that was rude or inconsiderate.
   
   • Did you force hugs, kisses, or eye contact?
   • Did you respect their need for quiet time when they got overwhelmed?
   • Did you trick them?
   • Did you treat them with respect?
   • Did you coerce or lie to them?
4. Consider whether you could be scary to the child. Adults can be large and scary, especially if they are unpredictable or loud. Do your best to stay calm and consistent when you interact with the child.
   
   • Unexpected sensory input, such as touch from behind or a sudden shout, can be scary to an autistic person.
   • Many autistic people find it scary to look into someone else's eyes. Don't try to make eye contact, and consider wearing sunglasses so that they don't need to worry about your eyes at all.
5. Look at the environment. If a child is hypersensitive to sounds, light, et cetera, then a busy environment may be uncomfortable and distracting to them. If the surroundings are upsetting, then they can't relax enough to interact well. This isn't an issue of trust, but discomfort.
   
   • A quiet, low-key environment is good for a hypersensitive autistic child. When they aren't startled or distracted, they may be able to open up better.
6. Ask the child's family members and loved ones, if you can. They may have insight regarding why the child is shy or withdrawn. They can also tell you what scares or upsets the child, so you know to avoid doing these things.
   
   • If you are going to be doing activities with the child, you can also ask the family about the child's favorite things, to give you ideas.

EditBeing Trustworthy and Predictable

1. Recognize that trust needs to be earned, especially if a child has been hurt before.^[2] You can't expect to be trusted if you don't make a habit of being trustworthy. Don't expect the child to immediately love you. Continue being trustworthy and persistent.^[3]
   
   • Different children take different lengths of time to warm up to someone. Don't give up on them. Keep showing that you care.
   • Don't take it personally if the child doesn't trust you yet.^[4]
2. Stay calm, consistent, and predictable. Do your best to keep things pleasant and low-key. Shouting and mood swings can be frightening to an autistic child.^[5]
   
   • Keep the rules consistent, and follow through each time.^[6] For example, it's confusing if sometimes you let them watch TV after 7 pm but other times you scold them.
   • Phrase demands as demands, not as requests.^[7] This can confuse the child, and make them think that they are not ever allowed to say no to requests.^[8] If you're making a request, phrase it like a request.
3. Be mindful of the noise you make, especially if the child is hypersensitive. Do your best to avoid making sudden or loud noises. If you need to do something loud, warn the child first. For example, "I'm going to get some ice from the ice machine. You might want to cover your ears."
   
4. Be honest and keep your word. Autistic children focus on the literal meaning of your words, and this might be the only thing they can use to judge your intentions.^[9]
   
   • Don't make promises you can't keep. If you aren't sure if you can do something, say "I'll do my best to..." or "I want to..." This keeps a level of uncertainty for unplanned contingencies, such as you getting too sick to visit or you being late due to a traffic jam.
   • If you say "We're leaving in 5 minutes," that means literally five minutes. Get out your watch.
5. Be fair. Treat the autistic child with the same love and respect that you give their peers. Showing favoritism, or being strict with the autistic child and lenient with other children, may make the child feel rejected and they may no longer trust you.
   
   • Don't make the child follow rules that other kids can get away with breaking.^[10]
   • Consider how much time you spend praising the child, and how much time you spend correcting or criticizing them. Are you supporting their self esteem, or only tearing them down?
6. Make your emotions clear. Autistic children may have difficulty reading tone of voice and body language, so they may struggle to figure out how you feel. It can help to verbalize how you're feeling.^[11]
   
   • For example, "I'm not mad at you, just frustrated about the delay. I know it's not your fault."
   • Avoid sarcasm, as many autistic children don't understand it.
   • Match your body language and emotions. If there's a mismatch, explain how you really feel, so that they don't get confused.
7. Take a break if you're experiencing strong emotions. Autistic children can be easily frightened,^[12] and they might be afraid if they see an angry, scared, or frustrated adult. You can making the situation less scary by taking a break, and coming back when you are able to express yourself more calmly.
   
   • Tell the child what you're doing: "I'm having a hard time right now, so I'm going to take a minute or two of quiet time to calm down. Then I'll come back."

EditInteracting Positively

1. Show them how much you care about them. You might know that you love the child, but that doesn't mean that the child knows it. Show your love for them in your words and actions.^[13]
   
   • Use multiple ways to show love: words, actions, affection, spending time together, et cetera.^[14]
2. Presume competence. Act with the assumption that the child is a good person who wants to do their best and make other people proud of them. This helps the child feel supported, and encourages them to rise to meet your expectations.
   
   • If a child is nonverbal and has no AAC, assume that they can hear and understand you, even if they don't look at you. Talk to them, and notice if they give a response in their body language. Nonverbal children can still be incredibly communicative, especially if you encourage them.
3. Respect their boundaries. Autistic children also need personal space, and need to be able to decline hugs, kisses, hand-holding, and other forms of touch. For example, instead of grabbing them and hugging them, ask if they want a hug, or spread your arms to signal an invitation to hug.
   
   • Some types of touch may be unpleasant or painful to an autistic child, especially if they are overwhelmed. If they seem unwilling to be touched right now, take that very seriously.
   • Give an alternate suggestion if you or someone else wants touch. For example, maybe the child can't handle hugs right now, but they can give high-fives or fist bumps. Ask if the child would like to do that instead. (Don't make it a big deal if they say no to that too.)
4. Respect the child's desire not to interact sometimes. The child won't always want to spend time with you, especially if they are overwhelmed or stressed. If so, let them have quiet time. They'll notice if you respect their boundaries, and will be more likely to trust you in the future.
   
   • Don't make the child play with children that they don't like.^[15] It's better to play alone than to play with fake friends or people who mistreat you when the adults turn their backs.
5. Be upfront about plans and facts. Tell the child what is going to happen, and stick to your word. Don't make arrangements behind their back.^[16] If there is a sudden change of plans, be clear about it, and validate the child's feelings.
   
   • Avoid sugarcoating the truth. Instead, break it gently.
   • If there is something you absolutely cannot tell them, explain why.
6. Engage their special interests. Autistic people love to talk about and do things related to their special interests. Ask about them, and show genuine interest. Their special interests can be a good topic for conversations, activities, and gifts.
   
   • If a girl loves cars, you could get out toy cars for her, so she can spin the wheels and line them up with you.
   • A boy who loves cooking might enjoy baking cookies with you.
   • A child who writes might love it if you ask them what they're working on.
7. Listen closely. Put down your phone, stop worrying about other things, and don't focus on what you want the child to do. Instead, pay close attention to what the child is telling you (whether they're using spoken words, AAC, or behavior).
   
   • Work on validating their feelings more often.
   • Listen before you open your mouth. Avoid pressing your own agenda; instead, listen to the full story before speaking.^[17]
8. Be kind when they mess up. Practice patience and understanding. Autistic children can be especially sensitive to criticism, so it's important to provide reassurance and clear direction instead of scolding.
   
   • Being gentle can reassure the child that they're allowed to make mistakes, and that messing up doesn't make them a bad person. Say this out loud if you think they're confused.
9. Embrace their individuality. Each child is different, and autistic children especially have many quirks. Embrace their uniqueness, including their autistic traits. After all, autism is a part of them.
   
   • Let the child make choices related to self-expression, such as wardrobe, bedroom decor, et cetera.
   • Don't demand that they hide their autism or pretend to be "normal." Let them do what works best for them.^[18][19]
   • Assume that any stims or repetitive motions are important, even if you don't understand them.^[20]
10. Make good memories together. Keep being positive, encouraging the child, and doing fun things together.
    
    • Remind the child of fun things that happened. "Remember when we went down to the lake and caught dragonflies?" "Remember the silly books we read last weekend? Would you like to read with me more today?"

EditHandling Problems

You may experience various problems when spending time with the child, from sensory-unfriendly environments to miscommunication to meltdowns.

1. Believe them if they say something is wrong. An autistic child might have a different perception of the world: a light is too bright, a big party is scary and not fun, the sound of Dad unloading the dishwasher must be what hell is like. If they say that something is upsetting, believe them.^[21]
   
   • If children's fears are minimized or ignored, they stop trusting their caregivers to protect them from harmful things.^[22]
   • Don't say "it's not a big deal" or "it's easy." Instead, acknowledge that it's difficult and help the child deal with it.^[23][24]
2. Be patient and respectful about unusual speech. It's okay to ask for clarification, or admit that you don't understand. Tell them that you care about what they're saying, and are having a hard time understanding.^[25] Ask them to repeat it more slowly, write it down, use AAC, et cetera so that you can understand.
   
   • Sometimes, an autistic person will repeat a phrase because they are trying to tell you something, but don't know how to phrase it. Ask questions to help figure out what they mean.^[26]
   • Odd phrasing often means they're struggling to find words. Ask questions to help figure out what they are really trying to say.^[27]
   • If you smile and nod, the child can usually tell that you aren't truly listening.
3. Protect them, even if it looks different from how you'd protect a non-autistic child. This might mean stopping Auntie when she wants to plant a wet kiss on the autistic child's cheek, or taking the child away from a noisy room.^[28] If they find something unpleasant, believe them, and show that you care by helping protect them from it.
   
4. Be patient and understanding. When interacting with each other, the two of you might experience problems like miscommunication or disagreement. If you stay friendly and caring towards the child, they'll be more likely to trust you in the difficult moments.
   
5. Sit with them or disengage if you don't know what to do. If a child is having a crisis, and you aren't sure how to respond, don't try to guess what to do.
   
   • Ask someone who knows the child better if you don't know how to do something. It's okay to get help if you're uncertain.
   • Never forcefully grab or pin down a panicked child. It will only make them even more panicked, and they may hit or kick you in an attempt to free themselves.
6. Apologize if you mess up. If you upset the child or mishandle a situation, say that you're sorry and you didn't mean it. This reassures the child that you still care about and respect them.
   

EditTips

• Keep secrets, if you are told any. For example, if the child says that they're scared of bugs but they don't want other people to know, don't tell other people.^[29] If you think you need to share something, talk to the child first.

EditWarnings

• A child who shows signs of trust issues should be taken to a professional for help.^[30]

EditRelated wikiHows

• Encourage an Autistic Child
• Love Your Autistic Child
• Talk to an Autistic Child
• Interpret Autistic Body Language
• Help a Hyposensitive Autistic Person
• Help a Hypersensitive Autistic Person
• Calm an Autistic Child

EditSources and Citations

Cite error: <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found

from How to of the Day http://ift.tt/2i6yFKC
via Peter

How to Eat After a Workout

Before working out, your body needs fuel, mainly carbohydrates, for energy. Since exercising weakens muscle and puts extra stress on bones, your body needs fuel after a workout, too, in order to replenish and repair. Getting the proper nutrition after working out will help lessen stress injuries, restore energy, and leave you in a peak state for physical performance.^[1] Once you understand what to eat and when to eat it to maximize the benefits of your workout, you can implement a plan that will work for you.

EditSteps

EditCalculating Your Daily Calorie Intake

1. Find your basic metabolic rate (BMR). Your BMR is what you use to calculate your calorie intake. It is based on your age, height, weight, and gender. Most calorie calculators use the Harris-Benedict equation to determine how many calories you should be eating every day.^[2]
   
   • If you are a man, your BMR is equal to: 65 + (6.2 x weight in pounds) + (12.7 x height in inches) – (6.8 x age in years)
   • If you’re a woman, your BMR is equal to: 655 + (4.3 x weight in pounds) + (4.3 x height in inches) – (4.7 x age in years)
2. Determine how active you are on a weekly basis. Calorie calculators also factor in your level of activity. If you are very active, for example, with hard exercise almost every day of the week, you may need to consume more calories than if you lead a more sedentary lifestyle, where you do little to no activity. The five different levels of activity are:^[3]
   
   • Sedentary: You have a desk job where you sit all day long and do little to no exercise every week.
   • Lightly active: You do light exercise or play sports, one to three days a week.
   • Moderately active: You do moderate exercise or play sports, three to five days a week.
   • Very active: You do hard, intense exercise or play sports, six to seven days a week.
   • Extremely active: You do intense daily exercise or sports twice a day, and have a physical labor job or are doing a training camp for football or another contact sport.
3. Use your BMR and your fitness goals to determine your calorie intake. You can put all of the above information in calorie counting tool that will estimate your required calories per a day, based on your BMR, available here. Once you have your estimated calorie intake, consider how you will reduce or increase your calorie intake per a day based on your fitness goals.^[4]
   
   • If you are trying to lose weight, reduce your estimated calorie intake by 500 per a day. Balance your fitness plan by eating 250 calories less a day and exercising enough to burn 250 calories. For example, walking or running 2.5 miles a day. When planning your meals, cut back on portion sizes to reduce the amount of calories you consume by 250.
   • If you are trying to gain weight, eat 500 calories more per day and limit your cardio exercises. Focus on strength training, involving free weights, to add lean muscle mass. You should also be eating at least 1 gram per pound of body weight of protein and get plenty of rest to recover after your workouts.
   • Always start by reducing or increasing your calorie intake a little at a time, no more than 500 calories either way. This will prevent your body from going into shock and ensure you are consuming enough calories to allow your body to function.^[5]

EditPlanning Your Meals

1. Create a workout diet based on your calorie intake. Use your estimated BMR, minus or plus 500 calories based on your fitness goals, to create meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as post workout meals. Always eat at least three meals a day, and balance out the protein, vegetables, and healthy fats on your plate to maintain a healthy diet.
   
   • For example, you might be a 28 year old female who weighs 140 pounds and is very active. You do intense exercise seven days a week, with one hour at the gym every other day and recreational soccer two days a week. Your estimated calorie intake, based on your BMR, is around 2,050 a day. If you are looking to lose weight, you would remove 500 calories by subtracting 250 calories from your daily intake and burning 250 more calories during your exercise routine. You would now consume 1,800 calories a day and add more exercise to your existing routine to burn 250 extra calories.
   • You could break down your 1,800 calories a day further into each meal, so 600 per a meal (600 x 3) or you could allot more calories for lunch and dinner and less calories for breakfast (500 for breakfast, 650 for lunch or your post-workout meal, and 650 for dinner).
   • Be sure that you are not putting too many calories after your workout. You need to make sure that you have enough calories left for the rest of your day.
2. Make post-workout meals that are high in protein and carbohydrates. You should eat a meal that balances protein and carbohydrates within two hours of your workout. If you are training as an athlete and are doing a weight training workout, you should eat a meal high in nutrient rich carbs right after you have finished your workout. Your body is in recovery mode after a workout and this will help your body recover and will improve your muscle strength. Possible post workout meals include:^[6][7]
   
   • Greek yogurt with fruit like blueberries or raspberries: This meal is full of protein and low on calories, so you won’t risk going over your daily calorie intake per a day.
   • A peanut butter and banana sandwich: This easy meal is great for recovering after a workout, as it’s packed with carbs and is easy to digest.
   • Tuna and crackers: A handful of whole grain crackers with a can of yellowfin tuna makes a great protein-rich post-workout meal that only 300 calories.
   • Low-fat chocolate milk and crackers: Chocolate milk is a great source of protein and carbs, as well as water to replace the fluids you lost during your workout, plus calcium, and sugar. These ingredients will help you recover quickly from your workout. The crackers will give your body some extra carbs that are not too heavy or fattening and will help your body digest the nutrients from the chocolate milk.
   • Grilled chicken with brown rice or vegetables: This is a nutrient-rich meal that contains protein and carbohydrates, but won’t make you feel bloated. The vegetables are also good for your overall health and are good sides to protein-rich grilled chicken.
   • Whole wheat pasta with meatballs: This is another high-protein meal that won’t lead to indigestion or bloating. Make the meatballs with lean beef or chicken to keep the protein from getting too fatty.
3. Avoid foods high in fats and empty calories. Skip the french fries, cheeseburgers, chili-dogs, and pizza, as they will add fat to your body’s fat stores and slow down your digestion.^[8] While fats do sustain energy, they are less effective when eaten before and after workouts. This is due to the fact that they tend to be high calorie and prevent the body from tapping into it's own fat stores for energy.
   
   • You should also skip salty snacks like pretzels and chips, as they can lower your levels of potassium. Potassium is an electrolyte and and essential mineral that helps your cells function. Don’t deplete your potassium levels with salty snacks, as your body needs to try to replenish as many electrolytes as possible post-workout.
   • Though it may seem like raw vegetables are good for post workout recovery, they are lacking in enough nutrients to give you the protein and carbs you need. If you have raw veggies, eat them with a protein source like hummus, a yogurt dip, or a nut butter.
   • Milk chocolate bars and pastries should also be avoided, as they are full of empty calories that will not speed up your body’s recovery. You may feel a burst of energy after eating a milk chocolate bar, but this will soon fade and your body will crave more substantial sources of protein.
4. Use supplements after a bodybuilding workout. Supplements such as creatine can help your body recover from an intense body building workout, especially if you are doing high-intensity weight training.^[9] These supplements (about 5 grams) can be dissolved into water and consumed right after your workout.^[10]
   
   • Studies have shown that consuming creatine after your workout can increase your muscle strength and reduce the fat stores in your body.
   • Protein shakes are a great way to consume a high amount of protein quickly after a workout.
5. Drink water instead of sports drinks. Drinking lots of water post-workout will help your body recover and stay hydrated. You should only have sports drinks if your workout required you to sweat out a lot of electrolytes or you are doing intense training for more than 60 minutes. Water, coupled with a banana for potassium, is the best option for quenching your thirst and replenishing the electrolytes you released through your sweat.^[11]
   
   • Downing sugary fruit drinks or soda after a workout can slow down your metabolism and cause you to gain weight, not lose it.
6. Continue with your workout diet for the rest of the day. Maintain your estimated calorie intake by following your workout meal plan. Try to have a post-workout meal that fits within your calorie breakdown for the day. Avoid overeating after working out or indulging in cheat foods, as this can lead to poor recovery, low energy, and possible weight gain.
   

EditVideo

EditRelated wikiHows

• Avoid Indigestion
• Get a Little Healthier While Staying Just as Lazy
• Eat Slowly to Avoid Overeating
• Burn Fat by Running

EditSources and Citations

Cite error: <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found

from How to of the Day http://ift.tt/2h8Cgdk
via Peter

Which Kitten Is Not Like The Others?

How well do you notice small details?

from BuzzFeed - Animals http://ift.tt/2kXIuzx
via IFTTT

How to Buy Stocks (for Beginners)

When you buy stocks, you are buying a small part of company. Twenty years ago, stocks were primarily bought with the advice of a stockbroker. Nowadays, anyone with a computer can buy or sell stocks with brokerage firm. If you are new to buying stocks, you may feel overwhelmed. But, with a little knowledge, you can buy your own stocks and make money from your investments.

EditSteps

EditEstablishing a Framework for Investing

1. Set your goals. Spend some time thinking about why you are considering investing in stocks. Are you investing to build an emergency fund for the future, to buy a home, or pay for college expenses? Are you investing for retirement?^[1]
   
   • It's a good idea to write out your motivation. Try quantify it in dollars, considering how much money you need for your goals.
   • For example, purchasing a home might require a down-payment and closing costs of $40,000. Retirement might cost $1 million or more.
   • Most people have more than one investment goal. Those goals often vary in priority and timing. For example, you may want to buy a house in three years, pay for a child’s education in fifteen years, and retire in thirty-five years. Documenting your investment goals will clarify your thinking and help you focus on the goal.
2. Determine your time frame. Your investment goals will determine the time during which your investments will remain in place. The longer investments can stay in place, the greater the probability of positive returns.^[2]
   
   • If your goal is to have money to buy a house in three years, your time frame, or "investment horizon" is relatively short. If you investing to fund your retirement 30 years from now, your investment horizon is much longer.
   • The S&P 500 is a collection of 500 of the most widely held stocks. There were only four ten year periods between 1926 and 2011 where the S&P 500 as a whole produced a loss. For holding periods of fifteen years or more, there were no losses.^[3] If you bought and held these stocks over the long term, you would have made money.
   • By contrast, holding the S&P 500 for just a single year would have produced a loss 24 times in the 85-year period between 1926 and 2014.^[4] Over a short period, stock are extremely volatile.^[5] As a consequence, investing for short time periods is more risky than investing for longer time periods. You can gain more if you've invested well. You can lose everything if you've invested poorly.
3. Understand your risk tolerance. All investments have risk. There is always a possibility that you will lose some or all of your money. Stocks are no different. You are not guaranteed a return on your investment, nor are you guaranteed to receive your initial investment back. How much risk you are willing to take is called your "risk tolerance."^[6]
   
   • Before making any investment, you need to ask yourself, “How much money am I willing to lose if something goes wrong?”
   • In most cases, the more risk you take, the higher the potential return. But, there is also a greater likelihood of loss.
   • For example, an investment that you expect to double in value within a month is more risky than an investment that doubles in ten years.
   • No investment is worth losing sleep at night. If achieving your goals requires investments that make you uneasy, review your objectives. Then, adjust either the time frame or your goals themselves.
   • For example, imagine your goal was to save enough money to build a down-payment of $40,000 for a $250,000 house in 3 years. You might revise the goal to $30,000 for a $200,000 in 3 years. Or, you might consider a longer time frame. $40,000 for a $250,000 house in 5 years might be more achievable. Or, you might consider a combination of reducing the goal and extending the time horizon.
   • One of the first rules of investing is to avoid losses when possible. Do not take on investment risk when it is unnecessary to reach your goals.
4. Calculate the investments needed to reach your goals. Use one of the many free investment or retirement calculators found on the internet.^[7] Calculate the rate of return that you must earn and the investment needed to reach your goals.
   
   • For example, imagine you need $30,000 in three years, but can only invest $500 per month. You will need to earn a whopping 38.2% on your investment each of the three years to reach this goal. This means that you must accept an extraordinary amount of risk. Most people would consider such investments a bad decision.
   • A better choice would be to extend your time horizon to four and one-half years. This would require a much more achievable and safe return rate 0f 4.8%.
   • You could also increase your monthly investment from $500 to $775. This would let you reach your $30,000 goal with a realistic rate of return of 5.037%.
   • Or, you could reduce your financial goal of $30,000 in 3 years to $19,621 in three years while investing the same $500 a month. To reach this goal, your return would only need to be 6% each year.

EditChoosing Investments

1. Understand different types of investments. The next task to select which investment is most appropriate for you. An important first step is to understand the different types of investments available.
   
   • You can buy shares of specific companies. Buying shares of an individual company means that you are an owner of that company. As a result, your return will be like the owner of any other business.^[8] If the company sees increases in its sales, profits, and market share, the value of the company will normally increase. This is especially true over a long term.
   • In the short term, the market price of the company depends on how people feel about the future of the company. Emotions, rumors, and perceptions will drive changes in value.^[9] The prices at which you buy and sell will determine whether you will make a profit.
   • You can also invest in mutual funds. Mutual funds allow many people to invest together in many different stocks. The result is lower risk, but also lower return, especially in the short run.^[10]
   • In recent years, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) have become popular. Many people call these “index funds”. These are like mutual funds. They are portfolios of stocks that typically aren't overseen by a manager. Most seek to copy the price movement of an index, such as the S&P 500, Vanguard Total Stock Market, or the iShares Russell 2000.^[11]
   • Like individual stocks, ETFs are traded on the market. The value of an ETF can change over the course of a single day.^[12]
   • Some ETFs track specific industries, commodities, bonds, or currencies.
   • One advantage of index funds is that they are diverse investments. They reflect the various holdings that make up the index.^[13] Some index funds are also available for little or no commission. This makes them an affordable way to invest.^[14]
2. Understand key terms. Many people rely on financial news to understand the performance of different stocks or the market in general. To get the most out of these information sources, its important to understand several key terms.
   
   • Earnings per share: the part of a company's profits that is paid out to stockholders. If you're hoping to earn dividends on your investment, this is important!^[15]
   • Market capitalization ("market cap"): the total value of all a company's shares. It represents a company's overall value.^[16]
   • Return on equity: the amount of income a company generates, relative to the amount invested by stockholders. This is useful for comparing firms in the same industry to determine which are most profitable.^[17]
   • Beta: A measure of a stock's volatility, relative to the market as a whole. A useful measure for assessing risk.^[18] As a rule of thumb, beta numbers below 1 represent fairly low volatility. Numbers above 1 suggest higher volatility.
   • Moving average: The average price per share of some company over a specific period of time. This can be useful in determining whether the current price of a stock is a good deal.^[19]
3. Pay attention to analysts. Analyzing a stock can be time consuming and confusing, especially for first timers. As such, you may want to use research from stock analysts. Usually, an analyst watches specific companies closely to assess its performance.
   
   • There are free, reputable websites that provide synopses of analysts’ opinions on companies.^[20][21]
   • Analysts often provide advice, in the form one or two word recommendations, for each specific stock. Some of these are quite obvious, such as "buy," "sell," or "hold." Others, such as "sector underperformer" are less intuitive.^[22]
   • Different analysis firms use different words to make their recommendations. Financial websites often provide guides that explain the terms used by each firm.^[23]
4. Determine your investing strategy. Once you've gathered your information, it's time to think about your investment strategy. Different investors have different approaches, and there are several factors to consider.
   
   • Diversity of investments. Diversification is the degree to which you spread your dollars over different investments. Investing all your money in a small number of companies can lead to a big payoff if those companies perform well. But, this approach also exposes you to a lot more risk. The more diverse your investments, the lower the risk.^[24] The more diverse your investments, the lower the risk.
   • Compounding. This is the result of consistent re-investment of any earnings you receive. If you reinvest your earnings, you will then generate more earnings on those original dividends.^[25] Some companies have programs that allow you to do this automatically.^[26]
   • Investing versus trading. Investing is a long term strategy that aims at earning money based on long-term growth rates. Prices rise and fall, but hopefully rise in the long run. Trading is a more active process. It involves trying to pick stocks that will rise in price over the short term, and then quickly selling them.^[27] This "buy low, sell high" approach can result in big returns, but requires constant attention ad higher risk.
   • Traders try to gauge people’s emotions about a company by interpreting historical price movements. Their goal is to buy while the stock price is rising and selling before the price begins to fall. Trading over short periods is high-risk and not for novice investors.^[28]

EditBuying Your First Stocks

1. Consider a full service broker. There are many ways you can make your stock purchases. Each comes with its own advantages and disadvantages. If you have little or no stock buying experience then you may want to start with a full service firm. Full service brokerage firms are more expensive, but they come with expert advice.^[29]
   
   • For instance, your broker’s job is to guide you through the stock buying process. He or she is there to answer questions. You may ask things like, “What stocks do you recommend based on my risk tolerance?” and “Do you have research reports on the stocks that I want to buy?”
   • There are many full-service firms to choose from so you can ask around for a recommendation. For instance, a friend or family may have a broker whom they trust or have used for a long time. If not, then there are some larger, more reputable full service firms that you can explore. Some of these firms include Edward Jones, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Raymond James, and UBS.
   • Keep in mind that if you do go with a full service broker, you are usually going to be paying larger commissions. Commissions are fees that you pay any time you buy or sell a stock.^[30]
   • For example, if you buy $5,000 worth of Disney stock, your broker might charge a $150.00 commission for executing the trade.
2. Consider a discount broker. If you don’t want to pay higher commissions for your stock market activity, you can use a discount or online brokerage firm.^[31]
   
   • The disadvantage of a discount broker is that you won’t get the advice that you would from a full service brokerage firm. The advantage is that you will pay less and be able to buy your stocks online.^[32]
   • Some reputable discount brokerage firms include Charles Schwab, TD Ameritrade, Interactive Brokers, and E*Trade.
3. Look into direct purchase options. These plans allow investors to buy stock directly from the company of their choice. They come in two varieties: direct investment plans (DIPs) and dividend reinvestment plans (DRIPs).^[33]
   
   • These plans allow you to buy stock without a broker.
   • Both are inexpensive and easy ways for investors to buy stock with smaller amounts of money at regular intervals. Not all companies have these options.
   • For example, John enrolls in a DRIP plan that allows him to invest $50.00 in Coca-Cola common stock every two weeks. At the end of the year, he will have invested $1200 in the stock and paid no commissions.
   • A disadvantage of investing through a DRIP or DIP can be the paperwork. If you invest in many companies, you'll have to complete forms and review the statements for each one.
   • For instance, if you invest in 20 DRIP or DIP programs, then that’s 20 quarterly statements that you are going to receive. On the other hand, if you are investing $1000 every two weeks, that is a lot of commission saved.
4. Open an account. Regardless of which option you choose, your next step will be to open an account. You'll need to fill out some forms and possibly deposit money.^[34] The specifics will vary based on which option you choose for making your purchases.
   
   • If you use a full service firm, pick a broker you are comfortable sharing your private financial information with. If possible, meet face to face so you can explains your needs and goals in specific details. The more information he has, the more likely he will solve your needs.
   • If you use a discount brokerage firm, you will need to complete some online paperwork.^[35] You may need to mail in other forms that need physical signatures. You may also need to make a deposit depending upon the dollar value of your initial trade.
   • If you invest through a DRIP or DIP, you will need to complete online and physical documents before buying your first stock. You will also need to deposit cash for any transactions before they occur.
5. Place an order. Once you've got an account set up, making first purchase should be quick and easy. Once again, though, the details will vary based on how you make your purchase.
   
   • If you have chosen a full service firm, then you simply call your broker. He or she will buy the stock for you. Your account will already be open, so the broker will ask you for your account number. He or she will make sure that you are one of the account holders. Then the broker will confirm your order before he or she places it into the system. Listen carefully. Brokers are humans and can make mistakes when putting in an order.
   • If you have chosen a discount firm, you will most likely place the trade online.^[36] When doing this make sure that you follow the directions carefully. Don’t confuse stock price with the amount of money you want to invest. For example, if you want to invest $5,000.00 in a stock trading at $45 a share then you DO NOT want to put an order in for 5,000 shares of stock. This will cost you $225,000.00 as opposed to $5,000.00.
   • If you are using a DRIP or DIP, you can find the enrollment paperwork on the company’s website. Otherwise, you can call the company’s shareholder division and request that they send the paperwork to you.
6. Watch your investments. It is important to recognize that stocks and the stock market as a whole are volatile. Values move up and down, especially in the short term. If you see that one of your investments consistently performs poorly, it may be time to consider a change in your portfolio.
   
   • Prices reflect human emotions. They will react to rumors, misinformation, expectations, and concerns, whether valid or not.^[37] There is little benefit to watching the price of your stock move during the day or week if you are investing for a time frame of a year or longer.
   • Monitoring too closely encourages impulse decisions, which may exaggerate losses. Watch your stock performance over the long term.
   • At the same time, recognize that something can go wrong with one of the companies that you own. For instance, if a company loses a major lawsuit or has to compete with a new entry into their market, prices may fall dramatically. In such cases, you need to consider selling.

EditTips

• There are many helpful books, magazines, and websites about stocks and the stock market. It is a good idea to do some research on your own before making any purchases.
• Before buying stocks, you might want to try paper-trading for a while. This is simulated stock trading. Keep track of stock prices, and make records of the buying and selling decisions you would make if you were actually trading. Check to see if your investment decisions would have paid off. Once you've gotten comfortable with how the market functions, try trading stocks for real.^[38]

EditWarnings

• All investments have risk. Do no invest more than you can afford to lose.

EditVideo

EditRelated wikiHows

• Buy Stocks
• Invest in Stocks
• Invest in Dividend Stocks
• Do Common Ratio Analysis of the Financials

EditSources and Citations

Cite error: <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found

from How to of the Day http://ift.tt/2k62Rd9
via Peter

How to Tell the Difference Between a Frog and a Toad

Frogs and toads may seem similar, but they are quite different. There are many physical differences, such as differences in skin, color, and body type. There are also differences in behavior. A frog will need to be in close proximity to a body of water, for instance, while a toad can be further away. Frogs also tend to hop higher than toads. With some attention to detail, you should be able to tell a toad from a frog.

EditSteps

EditExamining Physical Traits

1. Look at the hind legs. You can tell the difference between a frog and a toad by the length of its legs. If you can get close enough, get a good look at the back legs specifically.^[1]
   
   • A frog's hind legs are very long, as frogs hop more frequently than toads. A frog's hind legs will be bigger than its head and body.
   • A toad's hind legs will be smaller, as toads tend to crawl. Their hind legs will be shorter than their heads and bodies.
2. Examine the feet. Frogs have webbed feet, as they spend most of their life in water. They will usually have webbed back feet, and some will have webbed front feet. You may also see sticky pads on a frog's feet. Toad feet are generally not webbed and do not have pads.^[2]
   
3. Consider the shape. Frogs tend to be slender and athletic in appearance. Toads, on the other hand, are shorter and stubbier.^[3]
   
   • A slender looking amphibian, with longer limbs, is probably a frog.
   • A short, chubby amphibian, with smaller legs, is likely a toad.
4. Take note of the skin. Frog skin is a lot smoother than toad skin. A toad's skin will be bumpy in appearance. While a frog will have smooth, rubbery skin, a toad may look like it's covered in warts.^[4]
   
5. Look at the color. In general, frogs are lighter colored than toads. They tend to look greener. While toads may have a greenish skin, they tend to be darker overall than frogs.^[5]
   
   • Toads come in various shades that range from a dark green to an olive green.
   • Frogs are on the more yellowish, brighter side of the green spectrum. Frogs may have a yellow-olive color.
   • However, do not rely on color alone. Always consider other factors, as some frogs do have a brownish green appearance.

EditConsidering Behavior

1. Watch how the animal jumps. Both frogs and toads jump. Frogs, however, tend to jump more often and much higher.^[6]
   
   • Frogs take very high jumps, and can also jump great lengths.
   • Toads take very small hops and lack the ability to jump very far.
2. Notice if the animal ever crawls. Toads are much more likely to crawl than hop. Crawling is a toad's main form of movement. You will rarely see a frog crawling. An animal that is crawling is very likely to be a toad.^[7]
   
   • Always consider other factors, as an injured frog may crawl.
3. Consider where you found the animal. Frogs need to be close to water to survive, while toads can spend a lot of time out of water. An animal that stays close to water is likely to be a frog. If you find an animal far away from water, it is probably a toad. A frog is unlikely to wander far from a source of water.^[8]
   

EditAvoiding Problems with Frogs and Toads

1. Dim your lights to reduce noise from frogs. Frogs can make a lot of noise at night, especially when they're breeding. Frogs eat insects and bright lights can attract insects near your home. This may also cause frogs to gather in your backyard.^[9]
   
   • Keep things like your porch light off at night.
   • You can also use curtains at night to keep light from inside your house from attracting bugs.
2. Keep dogs away from frogs and toads. Some frogs and toads may be toxic to dogs. If a dog picks up a toad in its mouth, toxins could be released that are poisonous to your dog. If you see your dog carrying a toad, take your dog to a vet immediately. This is a medical emergency.^[10]
   
   • Symptoms of toxins from a toad include excessive drooling, pawing at the mouth or eyes, seizures, difficulty breathing, and unsteady moving.
   • If your pet has any of these symptoms, it needs immediate treatment.
3. Wash your hands after handling frogs or toads. In general, refrain from handling wildlife. However, if you touched a frog or toad, wash your hands afterwards.^[11]
   
   • If a young child picked up a frog or toad, make sure to have them wash their hands.
4. Do not take in wild frogs and toads as pets. It's never a good idea to take in a wild animal as a pet. Frogs and toads in the wild are not raised in captivity, and will not take well to being captured. They may also carry diseases. If you want a pet frog or toad, get one from your local pet store.
   
5. Care for a pet toad or frog properly. Pet stores do sell frogs and toads as pets. If you want a pet frog or toad, make sure you care for it properly. Provide the right environment and shelter for your pet.^[12]
   
   • You will have to clean your frog or toad's tank every day. Dirty tanks can pose a major health risk for a frog or toad.
   • Frogs and toads need a varied diet. You can buy food from a pet store, composed of crickets and mealworms, but you will also need to give your frog or toad plenty of other insects to survive. You will need to feed a frog or toad things like grasshoppers, snails, and silkworms as well.
   • Limit touching a reptile pet. Even one from a pet story can carry diseases. Wash your hands after handling your pet, do not clean their cage in your bathroom or kitchen, and do not kiss or cuddle a pet frog or toad.^[13]

EditWarnings

• Some frogs and toads may be poisonous. Check with your local Department of Natural Resources office for help identifying potentially poisonous amphibians in your area.

EditRelated wikiHows

• Catch a Salamander
• Catch Tadpoles
• Raise Tadpoles
• Keep a Firebelly Newt Alive for Nearly Twenty Years

EditSources and Citations

Cite error: <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found

from How to of the Day http://ift.tt/2k4eBM2
via Peter