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Tips for Raising Tough Kids Kids who are mentally strong are able to tackle problems, bounce back from failure, and cope with hardships. Helping kids develop mental strength requires a three-pronged approach. There are three ways to help kids become mentally strong. Help them learn to control their emotions so their emotions don’t control them.Show them how to take positive action.Teach them to replace negative thoughts with more realistic thoughts....

Travel Systems MVP: The Car Seat When buying a baby travel system, you must choose the car seat first. While strollers add convenience, the car seat will keep your new baby safe in the car. Narrow down your choices quickly by selecting travel systems with car seats that fit tightly in your vehicle and that you can easily install and use. Look for 5-point harnesses on infant car seats, and check to see whether or not you can install the car seat without the travel system base in case you need to switch vehicles quickly....

But for bisexual parents, particularly those in relationships that society might perceive as “straight,” coming out to their child might prove to be trickier. In a world that unfairly assumes a “default” of straightness unless stated otherwise, how does a parent come out to their child? What questions will children have? And how can parents speak to them in a way that doesn’t overwhelm them—or the parents themselves? We turned to some experts to find out ways to talk to children about sexual identity, how to prepare for their questions, and how to keep the conversation going....

Research shows that 43% of grandparents say they travel over 200 miles to see their grandchild who lives the furthest from them. Travel time, however, is not the only challenge to being a part of a grandchild’s life. Strained family relationships, feuds, and even religious differences can have an impact. Accepting the challenges, coping with the reality of the situation, and working to develop a resolution can give you hope as you attempt to reconnect with your grandchildren....

Some Kids Are Naturally More Prone to Socialize Some kids make it look so easy. Gregarious and affable, they can work a room with the best of them, laughing, ​playing, and giving high-fives to every kid they meet. Within minutes, it seems, everyone knows their name and wants to be their friend. They’re born extroverts. On the opposite end of the spectrum, there’s the shy child. A shy child can often be found hanging onto mom or dad, or in the absence of a trusted loved one, sitting by themselves, head down, not talking to anyone....

Postpartum Sore Muscles You might find that your whole body is sore from laboring in different positions and pushing. This might be a shock. You assume certain parts of your body would be sore, like your bottom, but why are your arms and legs sore? We weren’t joking when we said labor was a marathon, and even a short labor can cause muscle strain and stiffness. Sometimes your hips can really be sore as well....

These tips for parents will help your child understand and follow through on your instructions. Get your child’s attention directly before giving directions. This means face-to-face and direct eye-contact (not just calling out what you expect your child to do). You may need to walk over to touch or physically cue your child prior to giving directions. Don’t attempt to give directions or instructions if you are competing with the distraction of TV, music, video games, etc....

A loss of innocence, the look of confusion in their eyes, and fielding questions about hate-filled practices are heartbreaking as a parent. It’s a subject no one wants to have to teach, but for Black parents, it is inescapable. You love your children too much not to prepare them for the realities of the world. When discussing racism with your child, there’s a fine line between teaching them to be careful and aware of racist acts, while not teaching them to hate others....

What’s more, the targets of gossip can change at a moment’s notice. One day kids are talking about who did what with whom and then the next moment, it is your child that is being targeted. As a result, you need to be prepared on how to handle these situations. So, how should your child deal with rumors and gossip in a way that won’t make the situation worse? While every incident is different, here are few ideas on how you can help your child cope with gossip and rumors....

And when it is used during and after a breakup it can cause all sorts of issues, both for the one being dumped and the one doing the dumping. Consequently, when your teen is navigating their first breakup, it is important that you give them some guidelines on how to handle social media, smartphones, and the Internet. Many teens are so accustomed to doing everything through texts, emails and social media, they do not realize that relationship issues are something that should still be handled offline....

These individuals surface in a variety of ways. Some of them take advantage of disaster situations and prey on homeowners when they’re most vulnerable. Others surface via word of mouth; someone will tell you about a guy (or gal) that does great work for a great price. This may very well be true, but more often than not, there’s a price that comes along with getting things done cheap. More than one homeowner has had to fix problems caused by an underground contractor, and ended up spending more than he or she would have if they had bought aboveground talent in the first place....

“Young kids may not understand what healthy friendships look like or even realize that a friendship is unhealthy,” explains Michelle Risser, LISW-S, a mental health therapist. “For older kids, peer pressure, a desire to fit in, friend group alliances, or even social media pressure can contribute to staying in unhealthy social situations.” If you suspect that your child or teen is in an unhealthy friendship, it is important to be able to recognize the signs and know how to intervene....

With concerns about the coronavirus dominating conversations and headlines (not to mention the seasonal flu), it’s comforting to know that so many people appear to be aware of the need to stop the spread of germs and increase personal hygiene. But one big question remains: Are kids washing their hands correctly? Does your preschooler know how to really wash their hands the right way? It seems like such a basic task, but even the most basic things need to be taught at some point....

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends kids get at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day, and hula hoops can be a fun part of meeting that requirement. Playing with a hoop also burns calories, strengthens muscles, and improves coordination at any age. Try these hula hooping activities to get started. Once you’ve got the hang of it, encourage each other to try something fancier: Shift the hoop up and down your neck, or get a pair of hoops and see if you can whirl one on each arm at the same time....

Implantation occurs eight to 10 days after fertilization. At this point the embryo moves out of the Fallopian tubes and into the uterus, where it burrows into the uterine wall. After implantation, the embryo will continue to grow and develop until it becomes a fetus, 9 weeks after fertilization. Medically speaking, successful implantation (not fertilization or conception) equals the start of a pregnancy. Learn more about implantation, what happens after implantation, and the early days of gestation....

What Are Immersion Schools? Foreign language immersion schools are often public schools of choice. These schools may be very popular with parents and have waiting lists and lotteries to determine which children are admitted to the school. These are schools that are often sought out by parents. Some school districts have chosen to make a local public neighborhood school a language immersion school. In this situation, all children who live within the school’s boundaries may go to the school....

From STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) camps to robotics camps and language camps to art camps, academically focused children can find an offering that suits their particular concentration. Most academic camps are run by colleges and private schools, but there also are nationwide non-profits that hold “touring” camps at local public schools. Listed below are just a few ways these camps can help kids. Extending Learning Beyond the Classroom Studying in the same setting, day after day, can be monotonous....