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Many children in foster care have been exposed to domestic violence, physical abuse, or emotional abuse prior to being placed in foster care. To help them feel safe and secure in their foster homes, most regulating agencies prohibit foster parents from using corporal punishment. Children in foster care need the positive discipline that teaches them new skills. Many of them lack problem-solving skills, healthy coping skills, and emotion regulation skills—all of which can lead to misbehavior....

Understanding the general concepts behind gender identity and expression—and sexual and romantic orientation—is key to understanding your child or loved one. Being comfortable with the language of LGBTQ culture can help you have conversations with your child and express that you accept them as they are. Sex A person’s sex is a biological descriptor, usually in reference to the genitals they were born with. A person’s sex can also be referring to their genetic makeup (XX or XY, for example)....

The amount of sleep needed by children varies based on age, but not getting enough of it can have similar outcomes regardless of age. A lack of sleep can contribute to issues in school, health problems, and more. For this reason, taking care of a child’s sleep routine is a crucial part of their overall health. A Closer Look at the Findings The September 2021 report shared by the CDC examined sleep-related findings from 2016 to 2018....

Even though I was in Manhattan on September 11th, and had lots of thoughts and feelings about that day, I felt unsure about how to discuss it with my son. How much information should I share? How could I share details that were informative, but without scaring him? What was the right balance here? Somehow I stumbled through an initial conversation with him, and it went well enough. Over the years (he’s in fifth grade now) we’ve built on that conversation, and I think he has a pretty good understanding of what happened that day, what it signifies, and what the September 11th attacks’ place is in American history....

Simply having pregnancy tests readily accessible, however, doesn’t help you decide whether or not you should take a pregnancy test, nor does it tell you whether or not you should believe the results. So, how do these things work? And which one should you take to get the most accurate answer? Yes, there are a lot of questions about home pregnancy test kits. Here are some answers. How Do Home Pregnancy Test Kits Work?...

Identifying Diarrhea Normal baby poop can be a variety of colors and consistencies. It’s even typical for newborns to have many bowel movements each day. So, how can you tell if your baby’s bowel movements are normal or if your child has diarrhea? Regular baby poop can look yellow, tan, brown, or green. It can be runny, soft, thick like paste, or more formed. A baby can have several poopy diapers a day or just one or two....

Crib tent models from Tots in Mind, Inc. were recalled in 2010 and 2012 following tent failures including one catastrophic brain injury, and one fatality. The dangers of these models were entrapment and strangulation, which could happen if the dome inverted inside the crib or play yard or became partially detached. These crib tents were widely sold at major retailers. Alternatives to Crib Tents A crib tent isn’t a necessity....

A study by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) found that levels of diesel exhaust on four Los Angeles school buses were eight and a half times higher than average levels found in California’s smoggy air. This was four times higher than the fumes from inside a car driven directly in front of the buses. NRDC researchers measured diesel exhaust levels during five hours of tests conducted on actual bus routes in the city....

When Can Bath Time Play Begin? While adults need to scrub-a-dub-dub daily, babies are a bit different. In fact, until they reach an age where solid foods are a part of their regular diet, it is recommended that you limit bath times to a maximum of three times per week. Why? First and foremost, babies under three months of age have a difficult time regulating their temperatures. What this means is that their time in the tub should be short and sweet....

Getting hit in the head with a ball is one of the potentially serious injuries a child can suffer playing baseball. Players should wear a batting helmet when batting, running bases, or waiting to bat. Some youth leagues also require players to wear helmets with face guards to reduce injuries to eyes, noses, and mouths. You also should remind your child to keep his eye on the ball, not only to improve his performance but to keep him from getting hit....

Structured play can take on many forms. It can be any physical or mental activity that teaches preschool-aged children new skills. The skills can be basic knowledge or help with their physical development. The goal of structured play is to have fun while teaching your child. Often, kids do not even know they are learning and adults have can have just as much fun devising new ways to keep the children active while learning!...