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For instance, we know that, on average, girls first experience signs of puberty around 10.5 years of age. While this is important information, it’s also valuable to consider differences in pubertal development. Some girls experience puberty very early or very late. Psychologists have realized that either situation can have major consequences for the girl’s future. Which Individual Differences Does Your Tween Exhibit? Individual differences have been most often studied in the area of personality development....

And as any parent of a toddler who refuses to go to sleep at bedtime, wakes up frequently in the middle of the night, or refuses to sleep alone knows, a child’s sleep—or lack thereof—impacts your own as well, affecting your mood, mental clarity, energy levels, and overall productivity. If this all sounds familiar, you’ve probably heard the standard advice: Stick to a regular schedule, set a calming bedtime routine, and be consistent....

Phonics skills are important for children to be able to read fluently. Children who master phonics learn to recognize individual sounds and how to blend them together to read words. Many children with learning disabilities in reading may have difficulty with phonics skills. However, they often respond well to phonics instruction. Benefits of Phonics Instruction Some reading research suggests that phonics instruction is an effective strategy to use with reading disorders and can be used along with word recognition strategies....

Now that most of us are stuck in our homes 24/7, you may be starting to feel like you’re losing your mind trying to work from home, provide your kids with some semblance of an education, and (somehow) keep the place reasonably clean. Oh, and did we mention feeding everyone breakfast, lunch, and dinner? It’s a rough time, to be sure. The luxury of taking a few precious moments for yourself may seem like the stuff of a bygone era....

Balance fails after 20 weeks as your abdomen throws off your center of gravity, making you more susceptible to falls. This is something to remember if you participate in activities such as jogging or tennis. As the growing uterus crowds the lungs, you’ll find that you lose your breath much sooner during exercise. Working out harder and longer won’t change this fact. Your heart naturally beats faster during pregnancy. This means you won’t have to exercise as vigorously to reach your target rate....

For parents who have lost a child, it makes no sense for life to end at such a young age—particularly when the death is sudden and without warning. The loss cuts so deep, it can be suffocating. If you are dealing with this type of loss in your family, here are some ways to help you and your family cope. Stick Together Stick together as a family and lean on each other for help....

Wake Up Early On the first days back to school, start your morning 15 to 20 minutes earlier than you think you need to. As the school year goes on, you may be able to adjust your wake-up times. But having a little extra time is a great cushion for those unexpected hiccups everyone experiences. Some parents find that it’s helpful for them to get up earlier than their kids, especially if they are trying to get out the door to work....

In addition to the notion that you should spend countless hours with your kids, there’s also the notion that the time spent together should always involve special activities. Marketers have figured out how to prey upon parent’s insecurities that they aren’t doing enough special things with their kids. From vacation resorts to expensive family recreation products, many advertisers will try to convince you that their products or services will help you get quality time with your kids....

What causes envy? And how can you cope? Overview Envy is a normal emotion. You’re not a bad person, friend, or relative for feeling pangs of jealousy. Understanding the underlying thoughts that feed into jealous feelings may help you understand yourself better and even reduce these uncomfortable feelings. Common Jealousy Rational #1: “I would be a much better parent, but Ms. Terrible-Mother gets pregnant yet again.” Why do women get pregnant who were “not even trying?...

Why Kids Spit Sometimes, kids just spit for fun. They may simply spit on the ground because they think it’s entertaining. If they get a reaction from anyone, it can make spitting even more fun. Preschoolers tend to spit out of anger. When they aren’t able to verbalize their feelings of frustration, they spit to show how upset they feel. A child who knows not to hit may think spitting is a better alternative....

Convincing your child to sleep in his own bed can be a challenge once he’s gotten into the habit of sleeping in your bed. Whether your child refuses to fall asleep in his own bed or he ends up crawling into your bed halfway through the night, kids who don’t want to sleep alone can be persistent. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to take back your bed if you’re tired of sharing....

Why Host a Baby Shower Virtually? The pandemic seriously changed the way we did just about everything. Social distancing nixed close in-person events—and suddenly it seemed like everything from breakfast business meetings to the traditional baby shower went from group gatherings to zoom sessions. Even though the COVID-19 vaccination may have changed the virtual party landscape and brought some of us back together for parties, showers, and more, expectant parents may still prefer the safety of an online event....

Cats and dogs might be the most common pets in the U.S., but sometimes kids want something a little more exotic—and often parents give in to their pleas. If your child is desperate for a pet with a hard shell rather than a furry coat, think twice before bringing a small turtle into your home. Not only is it against the law to sell these little guys as pets, but they could also make you sick....

Conduct a Beach Scavenger Hunt If you’re planning a day trip or a vacation at the beach, or if you live near the shore, take advantage of all the wonderful things your tween can find on his scavenger hunt. Provide the tweens with a small plastic shovel, a small net, binoculars, sunscreen, a pail to put their finds in and a small journal or notebook. Look for: To Find Five different types of shells (oyster, mussel, crab, etc....

We reached out to some experts to learn how to prevent and treat insect bites and stings. Thankfully, you can soothe those boo-boos quickly with several things you probably already have at home! Preventing Insect Bites and Stings Photo credit: Pixabay First, let’s figure out how to keep annoying mosquitoes, bees, flies, ants and other insects at bay when enjoying the outdoors. The bug-pro entomologists at Terminix-Triad suggest the following: ⦁ Reduce or eliminate standing water in the areas near where your child plays....

School and parents often mandate reading time for kids, but this does not mean the kids fall in love with reading. In fact, sometimes, attempts to get your child to pick up a book can fuel conflict and negativity about reading. Luckily, there are many effective strategies parents can use to help their child actually enjoy reading rather than dread it. “Parents who facilitate positive book and reading experiences set the groundwork for a love of books, reading, and learning,” explains Dana Reisboard, PhD, a professor at the College of Human Services at Widener University in Pennsylvania....

FamilyEducation’s Managing Editor Laurie McKenna Mega, a mother of two toddler boys, shares some laundry hacks she’s learned the hard way. Read on to learn ways to make laundry time less stressful, more kid-inclusive (really!), and much cleaner: Use Changing Area as Laundry Area When helping your kids undress, do it right in the laundry area. It’s most likely a big hassle if you have to carry those soaked clothes to the laundry room on the opposite side of the home, or into the basement....

So, instead of limiting your preparations to stocking up on the right school supplies, consider helping your child think about what they hope to accomplish academically in the new school year—and then turn these goals into a plan of action. Why Set Goals? Your child may aspire to finish a whole chapter book by themselves, tie their shoes independently, learn to write a five-paragraph essay, or master geometry. They may hope to join a club, make a few new friends, or speak up more in class....

Parents Speak Out: “What Is the Hardest Part of Communicating with Teens?” “They didn’t always want to do what I wanted them to do, especially WHEN I wanted them to do it. We don’t argue that much, but it’s usually when I think they are making a mistake about something and try to tell them… they insist they are correct and don’t always listen that well.” – K, mom of 3 teenage boys “We argue a couple of times a week maybe, usually about keeping the house clean, letting us check her homework, or generally doing something we think she should be doing that she does not want to....

Once kids discovered how much faster they could go on in-line skates, traditional roller skates became passé. Cruising speeds on these skates average 10 to 17 miles per hour. Kids don’t like being confined to indoor rinks, either, which has been the traditional venue for roller skating. And in-line skating is versatile. It has spawned a whole new sport: roller hockey, which is similar to ice hockey but without the ice....