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At What Age Should Young Kids Begin to Explore Art? Art is a great first educational enrichment program for toddlers. Abrakadoodle’s Twoosy Doodlers program is a special parent and child class that is designed for children ages 20-36 months and a parent or caregiver. While the Twoosy’s explore art using a hands-on, sensory approach, parents learn about the skills their children are developing and what is developmentally appropriate. Types of Art Activities Best for Toddlers Young children benefit from discovering art by doing and exploring an array of art materials....

A great way to feel the magic of Christmas around you is to snuggle up with a good book by the fire, which is why we’ve compiled a list of the best Christmas books for kids. Settle down together and get into the holiday spirit while enjoying beautiful illustrations and lovely tales with the option to choose paperback or board books depending on your child’s age. More: 12 Days of Fun (and Cheap!...

Give it up, and give it up now. You’re being arrested for Brady Bunch-itis, illegal in all states, plus Canada. It’s amazing to me how many people have internalized the Brady Bunch TV show and somehow think that their combined family is going to be like that. Even with a lot of work, your family will never be the Brady Bunch (no, not even if your last name happens to be Brady)....

Kids are not only starting to use technology at a younger age, but they are also using it in more situations, both at home and at school. Having a better understanding of where experts’ recommendations come from may help you decide what limits you might want to set in your home when it comes to screen time. Advantages of Screen Time There are countless benefits that can be garnered from using technology....

What Does a Lactation Consultant Do? Lactation consultants help postpartum parents with breastfeeding (lactation) related issues. These issues include a number of postpartum concerns, challenges, or feeding problems. A consultant could help a new parent to: Lactation consultants may also help pregnant women to learn about breastfeeding and prepare for the experience. This could include one-on-one consultations or group classes, or providing information sessions. Who Works as a Lactation Consultant? These dedicated healthcare providers include a wide range of people who come from many different backgrounds....

More: I’m Having a “Geriatric Pregnancy.” Am I Really At Risk? There are a few places in this journey that birthing people will face the most manipulation. During these times, it’s ultra important to explore your options, know the choices you have, and understand your rights as a patient of the medical system and as a consumer. These places of manipulation often include (but are far from limited to) reasons for labor augmentation like going past your guess-timated due date, during pushing, being told they have a “big baby” or “low amniotic fluid....

The host proposes a toast, often welcoming a guest to a meal, at the beginning of the meal. The toast may also occur in the middle of the meal, when the host raises a glass to the guest of honor on his or her right. If the host has stage fright, it is acceptable to have his or her spouse make the toast. A guest may also propose a toast, but only after the host....

Thyroid Antibodies and Their Role in Miscarriage Thyroid disease is actually a category of different problems rather than a single entity. There’s a lot of mixed information as to which can be a factor in miscarriages. Here’s what UpToDate, an online reference site for doctors and patients, has to say: “Some studies have reported an increased rate of fetal loss in women with high serum thyroid antibody concentrations (thyroid peroxidase or thyroglobulin), including those who are euthyroid....

If your twins are not developmentally ready to train, you’ll encounter more resistance and frustration. Evaluate your twins individually to determine the right timing for them. Signs of readiness include showing an interest when others use the toilet, the ability to go for an extended length of time without wetting a diaper, hiding in a private place when they feel the urge to go, being uncomfortable with a soiled diaper, and wanting to wear “big kid” underwear....

Photo Source: Flickr/Yair Aronshtam In Law Issues As the saying goes, you can’t choose your family. That goes for your spouse’s family too. Having in-law issues simply means you belong to a large club, as 3 out of 4 couples encounter in-law problems. Psychology Today delves into preventing and controlling those conflicts when they arise. First off, you and your partner need to form a united front. That means being able to talk to your spouse about issues that might seem trivial to him but are important to you....

When my oldest daughter was four, I agonized over whether to homeschool or send her to kindergarten. I doubted my ability to teach her. When I sought advice from Mel, a dad who homeschooled his five children, he said, “You’ve made it through the sleepless nights of infancy and toddlerhood, taught your daughter to speak, feed herself, dress herself, and behave properly. You’re finally dealing with a reasonable little human being, the real fun of being a parent is about to begin, and suddenly you think you’re no longer qualified?...

Overview UTIs don’t resolve on their own. These infections need medical attention and prescription medication, but the good news is that they’re usually pretty easy to treat. The most important thing is to get timely diagnosis and treatment, because if left untreated, UTIs can cause damage to the kidneys or lead to more serious infections. Causes UTIs are often caused by normal bacteria that are found in the bowel. While the urinary tract typically fights off any bacteria it comes into contact with, sometimes the bacteria will cause an infection....

Materials Heavy white paper or postcard Paper doily Red or pink paint Paintbrush or sponge Clear contact paper (optional) Directions

Heart-shaped soap is easy to make and is a nice gift for teachers, friends, and family members. Materials Heart-shaped cookie cutters, baking sheet, and tape (or foil liners and miniature muffin pan) 1 1/2 cups pure soap flakes or grated bar soap 1/2 cup water Red food coloring Funnel Cellophane and red or pink ribbon Directions

10 to 15 minutes Materials Flat piece of wood that is at least an inch thick and 5 feet long Directions Lay the board on the grass or indoors on a rug and show your toddler how to walk across it with your hands extended to the sides for balance. Extensions Use towels to raise the plank an inch or two.Show how to walk the plank with 1 foot on and 1 foot off....

“We never used to do that when we were raising you kids.” Today’s parenting styles and approaches to raising a family look very different than they did for the parents and grandparents of previous generations. Some older generations still view millennials as the kids who let video games and the Internet rot their brains, are more entitled than the hardworking folks of the 70s and 80s, and are still avocado toast obsessed!...

Granted, having babies as a same- or similar-gender couple or transgender individual can be complicated. There are logistical issues, legal hurdles, and financial obstacles that cisgender heterosexual couples rarely consider or ever need to deal with. Fertility in LGBT Families Just like heterosexual couples, some LGBT people will face infertility on top of “situational” infertility. Further, intersex individuals (some of whom identify with the LGBT community) may be infertile or have diminished fertility....