Parenting Articles & News
Home And School Education Your Kids Can Benefit From Both!
Once, as a Learning Support Teacher, I made my way down to the annexe that housed the school's History Department.
How to Teach Anger Management to Your Child
Most of us recognize the continuing escalation of violence around us, due to intolerance, and many of us blame it on somebody else. Parents teach their children, all the time, and when one of us displays “road rage,” while our child is in the car, we teach a brand new skill set.
Study Skills How Can YOU Help Your Kids?
Some years ago when touring the Scottish Highlands, a man I met said something that's stuck with me ever since.
Think Like Your Kids And Understand Them More!
Seven-year old Michael was on a school trip to a Wildlife Centre in Central Scotland. It was near the end of the day and they were in the Gift Shop before boarding the bus for the journey home.
Advantages of Using a Board Certified Pediatrician
When a child is born, a new number is added to the parental speed dial. When a child wakes his parents up in the middle of the night, there is one person that they know they can turn to for the answers. When a new mom’s questions seem to be never ending, there is one person she trusts to answer them entirely – the pediatrician.
Parenting Confidence Who Needs It?
It used to strike me as odd - but really, it makes perfect sense. If you are a regular flier, or have flown recently, you'll know what I mean. The 'plane is taxiing along for take off and the cabin crew are going through the pre-flight safety routine. The odd bit I'm referring to is when they tell you what to do with the oxygen masks in the event of the cabin losing pressure. Now, all decent parents would feel the urge to see to their children first. It's ...
Responsible Fatherhood A Unique And Irreplaceable Role!
Something happened the other day that made me feel uneasy. Yet I shouldn't have felt that way!
The Long Journey Home
Once upon a time, I thought I had it all. I had a child, a career, the world at my feet. Or, so I thought.
Finding A Caregiver You Can Trust
Choosing to leave your child with a caregiver is one of the most important decisions you will make. When hiring a caregiver or nanny for your child, there are several important steps you need to take to minimize potential risks of hiring someone who will not be a good fit for your child and family.
STOP Parental Alienation Syndrome before It Gets a Chance to START
Parental Alienation Syndrome was probably first identified and codified by Dr. Richard Gardner in his book of the same name. He first laid out his thesis in 1985 in an article, "Recent Trends in Divorce and Custody Litigation." He expanded this into the book "Parental Alienation Syndrome," and since then, PAS has been written about, studdied, debated, denied, and - of course - has had dozens of websites and forums dedicated to it.
Parenting in the Kitchen – Lessons in Cooking, Socializing, and Bonding
Kitchens are where everything happens. It’s not just where meals are prepared – it’s usually the hub of the home, where family and friends get together to spend time. Cooking and eating together is about more than nutrition for the body. It’s also the experience of connecting and interacting with family members, to feed relationships. Try to choose one meal that everyone comes to the table. It doesn’t have to be dinner. This is a challenge as everyone has their own activities ...
Moms Get More Energy Now
Let's be honest! When it comes to parenting, men expect their wives or partners to do the lion's share.
In Defense of the Jelly Bean
Should a parent give a child a tangible reward when he or she has behaved properly or performed some important task such as doing homework, or helping around the house? Understandably, many parents are hesitant to use incentives, such as prizes, or food treats, to influence their children, especially considering the negative comments by some, but not all, contemporary parenting experts. For many parents, giving their children rewards feels like bribery and to them, should be thus avoided. ...
Parenting Your Teenager: 3 More Dangerous Myths
MYTH: If you have not parented as well as you would have liked up until now, it's too late to try anything different.
Back to School Success Tips
Q. With the school year just beginning, what can we do as parents to help make this a successful year for our teen-ager and our family?
Parenting Your Teenager: 4 Dangerous Myths
MYTH: All teens have to rebel, and the teen years will be miserable years for a family. REALITY: Teens do have to separate from their parents and families. That's good - otherwise kids would be living at home when they are 35. They do, however, have to earn the privilege of being in charge. MYTH: Once teens rebel, you have lost them forever. REALITY: This is the fear of every parent, but it doesn't happen in most cases. As the proverb says, "Raise up a ...
Successful Childhood Learning Starts With Reading Aloud
Research has consistently shown that children who love to read excel in school and continue to excel in higher education and life in later years. Reading aloud with your child is key to sparking the passion for reading.
What To Do If Your Child Is Experiencing Bedwetting
Most children who experience bedwetting have at least one parent or first degree relative who also had a problem with bedwetting. Knowing this often helps the child feel less stressed about the situation.
MORAL ARMOR'S Irrational Parenting, Part I
"If a kid asks where rain comes from, I think a cute thing to tell him is “God is crying.” And if he asks why God is crying, another cute thing to tell him is, “Probably because of something you did.”"—Jack Handey
Would You Hire This Teacher?
Imagine you were the principal of the school that your child would be attending. Imagine that you were authorized to pick out which teachers to hire.
Parenting Your Teenager: How to Build Trust
``Mom, can I go to the mall with my friend Jenny?'' ``No, not after you came home late last night.'' ``Well, everyone else gets to.'' ``I don't care what everybody else gets to do; you can't.'' ``You just don't trust me.'' ``You've got to earn it.'' ``I have.'' ``No, you haven't.'' ``Have, too.'' ``Have not.'' SLAM! Etc. If ...
Parenting Your Teenager: 7 Tips for Back to School Success
Blink. That's all we did, blink, and summer is ending and a new school year is beginning.
Where Is Your Homework, Lisa?
Is Homework Really That Important? Dear Friends, I no longer teach in public schools, but for what seems like 100 years, I did. During my long career, I did the best I knew how to do at the time, based on where I was in life, and what I had learned about teaching. In parenting and teaching both, however, we sometimes learn things too late. If only I could go back, I would do many things differently. One thing I would handle differently would be homework. Today, ...
Helpful Tips for the Adoptive Grandparent
Few things are more completely enjoyable than becoming a grandparent. Grandchildren are one of life’s joys, whether they come by birth or via adoption. All grandchildren are loved equally and are equally lovable.
The Theme from MASH Suicide is Not Painless
The Theme from MASH I flipped the button on the remote control, pausing mindlessly at each channel to see the picture on the screen; I could not motivate myself to do anything else. I had worked all day and was too tired to move. I needed to do something that would require no expenditure of energy, no time to feel. Because feeling hurts. All of a sudden, the theme from the old television show, MASH, rang out of the screen. I looked up to see Hawkeye and and Hotlips laughing ...
Lifebooks: Every Adopted Child Needs One
Information is gold when you are adopted. Every tiny piece is precious, whether it’s a photo or quote from the orphanage staff. LifeBooks help put all the information pieces together in a way that helps your child make sense of, and ultimately feel good, about his/her history.
Honey I Can't Afford The Kids
Sex has a lot to answer for … babies usually … which then with time and much financial investment grow up to be beautiful mutations of their parents. Yet as the family absorbs more money as it grows, the need for financial planning and protection becomes more important. So, where do you start and how do you move your finances forward?
6 Ways to Communicate Clearly with Your Teen
How would you like to have a closer relationship with your teen again? Your ability to communicate effectively with your teen is one of the most precious skills you can develop to achieve this goal. When we think of communication, we tend to think only of the way we can express ourselves. This is certainly important, but listening is the single most crucial of all communication skills. As a mother of two teenage boys I know that it isn't always easy to communicate ...
The Secret To Keeping Kids Interested on Family Vacations
Vacations and trips are great family events, but how do you keep kids interested and busy during the down times? Have them keep journals of the trips and their impressions.
Parents' Healthy Food Confusion
Many parents struggle to know which foods are healthy for their children. When they are able to opt for healthy choices, about two-thirds struggle to get their children to eat healthily, a poll of nearly 800 parents found. Developing Patient Partnerships (DPP), which commissioned the survey, said that parents need more support to tackle the growing problem of childhood obesity. Childhood obesity has tripled in the past 20 years, official figures show.