It is important to know how fortunate we are. I learned this life lesson last year over spring break when we worked at a Mexican orphanage. The house where we stayed had no air-conditioning and no hot water. At the orphanage I saw that their soccer “field” was made of bricks and had torn-up goals. Two children had to sleep together in each twin bed. They didn’t get any snacks and they had to eat all their dinner before playing....
Types of Car Seats Another type of seat is the harness-to-booster seats that start out as forward-facing car seats and can be turned into booster seats (where the child uses the vehicle’s seat belt across them as their restraint) later on. There are also 3-in-1, 4-in-1, and all-in-one seats that are forward-facing car seats that become high back boosters. Some rear-facing seats can turn into backless boosters for the oldest kids....
But believe it or not, kids’ fighting isn’t all bad, as long as it’s not physical fights or bullying. It’s just that learning that stuff takes a really long time. Read on for tips on how to be part of the peace process in your kids’ war of words. But if fighting escalates, parents may need to step in. If you must intervene, make it quick and decisive. Find a compromise or separate kids, either by the command (“Everyone to your rooms....
Parents can play a key role in helping nurture a good sibling relationship and reduce sibling rivalry and conflict. By encouraging activities that foster teamwork, setting kids up to have fun together, and giving kids the tools to work out conflicts in a constructive and respectful manner, parents can help siblings develop a good relationship that will carry them through the rest of their lives. Research has shown that sibling relationships often play a major role in how we will interact in other relationships with friends, romantic partners, and others later in life....
If you are like most parents, you immediately feel terror as you imagine the one hundred and one bad things that could be happening to your child. It is important to remain calm though, as what you do first might mean the difference between whether or not you have a happy ending. In addition to calling for help, the first thing to do is to check the places in and around your home that pose the greatest hazard to your child....
One of the most common newborn skin conditions is cradle cap. This form of dermatitis causes yellow or white scaly patches, with red oily skin underneath. It occurs mainly on the baby’s scalp and is somewhat reminiscent of dandruff. While the condition may look uncomfortable for your child, it typically does not cause discomfort, and with proper skin care, will clear up as your baby develops. Symptoms of Cradle Cap Red scaly flakes and crusty patches are the main symptoms of infant seborrheic dermatitis, commonly known as cradle cap....
Don’t Dismiss Their Feelings Telling your child not to worry about their fears may only make them feel like they’re doing something wrong by feeling anxious. Let them know it’s okay to feel bad about something and encourage them to share their emotions and thoughts. Listen You know how enormously comforting it can be just to have someone listen when something’s bothering you. Do the same thing for your child. If they don’t feel like talking, let them know you are there for them....
Before you go, do some preconference homework first. Advance preparation gives you the chance to prepare for a worst-case scenario. It also puts you in the best position for volleying suggestions and making crucial decisions. The more you know and share, the more strategic advantage you and his teachers will have. Common Teenage Issues Though much of the hormonal tensions of middle school eases as James moves into late adolescence, life can still be an emotional and philosophical taffy pull for you both....
Many tween girls worry about when their period will begin. Will it be while they’re at school, camp, or even a friend’s sleepover? The unknown can be scary to a tween who has never had to deal with menstruation before. But you can help prepare your daughter for the unexpected, and ease her anxieties. Tips for Preparing Your Daughter for Her First Period For starters, it’s important that you talk with your daughter about what to expect when her period begins....
Picking a specific theme, not just “Halloween,” pulls everything together. Just one Halloween symbol can do it. Put bats in your belfry or spiders in your web. Whatever you and your child choose, take it to the hilt. Make decorations, costumes, favors, food — everything — follow your theme. Here are three suggestions. Pumpkin Party Serve foods made with pumpkin and carve or otherwise decorate your Halloween pumpkins (if the party is held in advance of Halloween)....
“We take our responsibility to deliver high-quality products very seriously,” says Joe Manning, executive vice president of nutritional products at Abbott. “We internally identified the issue, are addressing it, and will work with our customers to minimize inconvenience and get them the products they need.” According to the company, most of the recalled products were distributed to hospitals, healthcare providers, distributors, and some retailers in the U.S., including Puerto Rico....
If your child is struggling or underperforming in school, then it is important that you intervene early to keep problems from snowballing. School years go by quickly, and a child can fall behind in a matter of weeks without the right support. In order to understand when to ask for an IEP, it is important to understand what an IEP is and who can get one. Then you can decide if it is time to ask for an IEP or try a different option for support....
(The following is taken from How to Say It to Your Kids, by Dr. Paul Coleman.) Gabriel said she didn’t mind being home alone after school. During the two hours she waited for her father to arrive home from work, the 12-year-old usually did her homework or watched television. She was good at monitoring the answering machine and not opening the door to just anybody who happened to knock. She liked the sense of being trustworthy and the feeling of independence that came with being home alone....
Because learning is so important, everyone deserves a chance to go to school and it’s unfair that some kids have to miss out. The next time the school bell rings, try to remember how lucky you are to be there! Getting to School For some kids, getting to school is uncomfortable; for others it is outright dangerous. In some parts of the world children must cross dangerous rivers in tire tubes....
In “The Broken Compass,” authors Angel Harris and Keith Robinson report that parental attitude is one of the largest influences on school success. They found three effective strategies you can use to create a positive attitude towards school. Show That You Value Education Upper-middle-class kids tend to be academically successful. One reason why: These kids hear about the importance of education during their interactions with adults. But they also see and experience it....
Do I Need to Pre-Wash Baby Clothes? Many parenting and pregnancy books will advise you to pre-wash your baby’s clothes before they ever wear them. This is because these garments have had a life before your little one, even if the items are brand new. They’ve sat in warehouses and on store shelves and possibly been treated with chemicals during the manufacturing process. “If you don’t normally for your own new clothing, please do pre-wash new baby clothing,” advises Brandi Winch, owner of Homemaid Cleaning Service and Homemaid Home Organization....
More: 10 Signs Your Child is About to Have a Temper Tantrum Tough Love or Laissez-Faire? Discipline is one of the hardest parts of parenting, in part because we love our kids and we don’t want to see them suffer. Sometimes, in an effort to shield them from negative emotions, parents are too permissive. These parents don’t really discipline at all. Sadly, kids without sufficient structure and consistency grow up to be less-well equipped to handle adulthood....
While topics that are considered funny may differ in various cultures, the study results give insight into what traits contribute to humor in kids. All About the Study Researchers with Anadolu University in Turkey culled data from over 200 participants—sixth and seventh graders from the mid-western part of the country. The students came from several different schools across the region. The study authors used the Anadolu Sak Intelligence Scale (ASIS), the first Turkish test providing intelligence profile scores, to assess the students’ intellectual aptitude and IQ levels....
Imagine the following scenario… I watch carefully as my son places one foot in front of the other, climbing to the top. I don’t hover. I don’t stay close. I’m off to the side with my arms crossed. I may look calm, collected and self-assured on the outside, but I’m trembling with worries on the inside. I’m holding my breath, fighting my instincts to grab him so he doesn’t fall. I’m counting to 10 in my mind and slowly easing those nervous feelings with thoughts like, “He’s going to be okay....
15 to 20 minutes Materials Empty half-gallon milk cartonHand-sized plastic objectsShallow baking dish Directions Extensions Instead of toys, add some grapes or strawberries before freezing.Put the frozen cube into a wading pool during water play.
