Parenting Articles & News
Where to Look for Affordable Baby Clothes
Once the newness has worn off a little, you will realize that your baby grows very fast. So fast, in fact, that he may need new clothes on the average of every two months during the first year. The sizing of baby clothes just does not apply to most children. For example, my four month old is now wearing 6-12 month clothes. There is no way he will still be in 6-12 month clothes when he is a year old.
Parenting Your Teenager: When is it OK to Quit?
Q. My daughter is a junior in high school and has played an instrument and/or played in band all her life. Now all of a sudden she wants to quit lessons and quit band. Is this normal or a warning sign of something bad? Should we let her quit?
Tips For a First Time Dad
So you're going to become a father. Now is not the time to panic. You've got lots of time to get used to the idea, before that new life you helped create, arrives to join your own. These tips for a first-time Dad will help you to survive the pre-baby and post-birth jitters.
Achieve Success At School Parents, Help Your Kids Easily Be Top, Honor Roll Students!
With the beginning of the new school year coming VERY soon, here are some tips to give us a “heads-up” to start the year off knowing what to do.
Parenting Your Teenager: 4 Traps to Avoid
4 traps to avoid Trap 1 - Parents need to realize the trap that is being set when your kids ask, "Well, why can't I (fill in the blank)?" Many well-intentioned parents then proceed to give a well-reasoned response and then wonder why the kids blow up and don't accept it. Here's a response I believe a parent will never get: "Thank you for that explanation Mom and Dad. I've never thought of it that way before. And now that you've explained ...
Parenting Your Teenager: Driving and Having a Car is a Privilege, Not a Right
Q. My teenage son is turning 16 early next year and he's already lobbying us for a new car. He says all his friends are getting new cars, that he deserves one because it's his right when he turns 16, and he won't drive what he calls a POS car. Do you think he is trying to manipulate us, and what do you think we should do? And since he won't tell us what a POS car is, do you know?
Helping Your Kids Handle Divorce
Every year over one million parents have to talk to their kids about divorce. For each parent, the discussions differ, but the goals of the discussions are universal: to openly and honestly reassure your child of your love.
Parenting Secrets Revealed
So your little Susie wants to join a competitive gymnastic club? You conclude that this is going to be great fun! Maybe, you even think this is just the ticket your bouncy little girl needs to get rid of her pent-up energy while meeting other little friends. Initially, all seems well as you proudly watch your Susie happily striving to achieve equilibrium success. However, as the first competitive trial draws near, Susie is apprehensive and fearful. She doesn’t appear quite as secure as ...
Let Your Children Name the New Baby
Choosing a baby name is an important job, so make your children feel important by letting them help you name the new baby. After all, you're not the only one who's having a baby - your whole family is ! Use the process of naming the baby as an opportunity to get your other children involved in and excited about their new brother or sister, and make the process fun. Try a little humor, with wild list-making sessions that may eventually lead you to the perfect baby name that ...
Give Your Child Life Skills for a Lifetime
Many parents struggle with solutions to put their child on the fast track to success, and one such solution is not usually far from home. It is your local martial arts school.
How To Foster An Environment For Successful Communications With Your Child
As parents, we strive to address all of the questions asked by our children. If we don’t have the answer, or don’t like the question, we would never think of ignoring the child. We do not accept improper communication as acceptable behavior. Most parents, however, are quick to excuse or overlook the behavior of their child when he / she reacts the same way and are often left wondering when the lines of communication broke.
Parenting Your Teenager: How to End the Curfew Battle
Q. Things have been relatively calm and OK with our 16-year-old son so far. Now all of a sudden, there is a huge battle about curfew. He wants to stay out later and later, and we don't think he is ready. How do we set appropriate curfew in our house?
Parenting Your Teenager: Are Sleep Overs with the Opposite Sex OK?
Q. Our 17-year-old son wants us to let his girlfriend spend the night at our house in his room. He has two beds since his older brother left for college. He says nothing will happen and lots of his friends' parents allow this. Should we try it and see how it works?
I'M OVERWHELMED 5 Tips On How Parents Can Take Control Of Their Lives
Are you feeling overwhelmed being a parent? Do you want to feel more relaxed and empowered raising your child? Working parents, stay-at-home parents, visiting parents – it doesn’t matter which one you are because these days almost every parent feels overwhelmed by their daily day. Parents every day experience anxiety, stress and despondency because they feel as if they are losing control of their natural balance. The natural balance that once allowed them to walk, talk and chew gum ...
Playground Pettiness
Recently I took my two children to a popular new park in the area. It's a beautiful new playground, all wood, divided into different areas of play for different age groups. It's wonderful for me as well, as my children can play at age appropriate areas and I can see/interact with both of them at the same time. This is what makes it our entire family's favorite playground, as well that for many other families in the area.
CAMP INJURIES 7 Things You Must Know
WHEN AN INJURY HAPPENS AT CAMP, HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The call you never want to hear is made to your home… “Your son was injured in the dining room…he fell through a window…” “Your daughter was burned with hot coffee in the dining area…” “Your child was hit in the head with a baseball…” “Some kids were horsing around and your son broke his leg…” Where do you turn? What do you do? Here’s a checklist of what you need to do immediately: 1. Find out ...
Fun Things to Do with Your Kids this Summer
10 Fun Things You Can Do With Your Children this Summer that Won’t Break the Bank For a family with small children like my own, a big family vacation in the summer isn’t always an option. But just because your summer entertainment budget is small doesn’t mean you and your kids can’t have lots of fun this summer. Here are ten ideas to get you started on lots of fun this summer – on a budget. 1) Water + Kids = Lots of Fun Put everyone in bathing suits and turn on ...
Parenting Your Teenager: How to Respond to Manipulation
Q. My daughter has gotten very good at manipulating us, and sometimes we do not even know it has happened until much later. How can we tell if we are being manipulated, and how can we stop it, or at least handle it better?
Got To, Get To – Change The Way Your Family Thinks
I recently heard a story that has literally changed the way that I, and my family, think about life. The story is as follows:
How Public Schools Coerce Parents Into Giving Mind Altering Drugs To Their Children
Despite the potentially dangerous side-effects of Ritalin, public school authorities now pressure many parents to give Ritalin to their children so these kids won’t “act up” in school.
Did You Get the Hidden Parenting Message in Finding Nemo?
In the movie, Finding Nemo, Nemo's father, Marlyn asks the sea turtle, "Dude, how do you know when they are ready?"
Parenting Your Teenager: Late vs. Too Late, and 5 More Sure Fire Tips
Late vs. Too Late Every now and then, I'll hear a parent tell me something like this, "I know we should do something about how we handle our son/daughter, but it's really too late since they are almost 18." Sorry, but you are wrong. While it certainly may be late in the game, it is never too late. I often find myself thinking I wish I could have worked with this teen/family/marriage sooner. It's always easier to work with a problem when it has first ...
I WON'T DO IT! Tips for Working with the Oppositional Child
"I WON'T DO IT!" "YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!" Whether parent or teacher, we have all "been there" and "done that" with a child exhibiting refusal behaviors. Before "losing your cool" and your power as well, interventions and strategies are provided for use to help deescalate this classic power struggle. -Avoid placing yourself in a stand-off situation with the child. -Don’t “mark a line in the sand” unless prepared to follow through with the consequences on your own. ...
No, No, No What Else is a Parent to Say?
The word no is probably the most overused word in the English language. I speak from experience since I myself use it frequently.
5 Great Tips For Choosing Safe Toys For Your Children
Every children in the world whishes to have toys and every parent trys to give them what they want. So until they grow-up children spend most of their time playing with different toys. If you are careful when you choose toys for your kids you can even consider that you are making an investment. But you have to know if you are making a good investment or not. There are many educative and safe toys. but you can also find many dangerous toys on the market this days. In this article you will ...
Summer Camp Care Packages
Every summer our daughter goes to summer camp. She looks forward to it every year. I can't believe next summer will be her last opportunity to go to camp before she goes off to college.
ParentingYour Teenager: Don't Buy the I Don't Know and I Don't Care Attitude
"I don't know and I don't care." I've heard those words more than a few times in my office. Sometimes I think "I don't know and I don't care" is the universal teen tribal motto. So what to do? I remember working with one kid who said absolutely nothing in the first session but "I don't know and I don't care" at least 10 times each. So just before he came for his next session, I wrote "I don't know" on one side of a sheet of paper ...
Keeping Your Children Safe
The purpose of this article is to address some of the key points parents need to know in order to keep their children safe.
Who Wants To Date Their Mother?
Do any other reality TV junkies remember a show on TV last year called "Who Wants To Marry Our Dad?" Well, my life is starting to sound very very similar lately. All you have to do is listen to my kids for a day, and you'll see exactly what I'm talking about.
Back to School Responsibilities Again
It’s that time of year when mom and dad look for ways to improve their child’s academic standing, during the upcoming scholastic year.