By Aviva Patz
You've survived the up-every-two-hours newborn period, and you're finally slumbering peacefully through the night. Out of nowhere, your... Read more
Summer Fun with Science
Kids love summer vacation, but parents often find it difficult to keep them engaged in productive activities. And most kids experience a summer learning slump during ... Read more
By Helice "Sparky" Bridges
Founder and CEO
Difference Makers International
"The deepest desire in the human spirit is the craving to be acknowledged."
-William James, Father of American Psychology
DID YOU KNOW?
• Children who bully are more likely to come from home situations in which there is little warmth and little positive adult attention.
• Two out of three teens are verbally or physically assaulted every year.
• A victim of bullying is twice as likely to take his or her life compared to someone who is not a victim.
-Source: Mental Health S
... Continue reading Biggest Bully Apologizes.
Scholarships for Student Athletes
High school student athletes now have the chance to score some extra cash for college. The National Milk Mustache "got milk?" Campaign, in partnership with USA Today, is announcing the call for entries for the 14th annual Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year (Sammy) Award program. The Sammy Awards recognize 25 outstanding high school senior student athletes who represent excellence in academics, athletics, community service and leadership and include lowfat milk in their daily routines.
The Sammy scholarship rewards exceptional student athletes by helping to offset some of the costs associated with college
... Continue reading Scholarships for Student Athletes.
Teenage Girls & Social Networks
The Girl Scouts of America recently conducted a survey of more than 1000 girls nationwide, between the ages of 14-17, to examine their behavior on and perceptions of social networking. The study found that:
"...increased exposure to social media puts teenage girls in a confusing situation where a girl's image is not always what it seems, as nearly 74 percent of girls agree that most girls use social networking sites to make themselves "cooler than they really are." The survey finds that girls downplay several positive characteristics of themselves online, most prominently th
... Continue reading Teenage Girls & Social Networks.
Checklist for Choosing a Safe Day Care
By Madonna Behen
Finding the right day-care center requires a balance of many practical issues: location, cost, hours of operation. And you of course also want a nurturing staff. "But bottom line, your child's health and safety is what matters the most," says Patricia Skinner, executive director of the Capital District Child Care Council, a resource and referral agency serving six counties in the Albany, N.Y., region. "After all, it doesn't matter how stellar the caregiver's interactions are if there's broken glass on the playground," she says. Checklist for Choosing a Safe Day Care.
Preserving Your Relationship Once Baby Arrives
by Tracey T. Serebin
Whether you are expecting your first child or your second, as you are gearing up for the arrival of this little bundle of joy, one area that seems to get overlooked is how this new baby will change your life once he or she arrives on the scene, and especially how a little one will affect your relationship with your partner. The reality is that for any couple, whether they have been together for a short time or have weathered many changes over a number of years, this transition will alter every aspect of your relationship. The first few months are especially the most difficult,
... Continue reading Preserving Your Relationship Once Baby Arrives.
Making Field Trips Possible Despite Budget Cuts
Education budgets are being cut nationwide, forcing schools across the country to eliminate valuable programs such as field trips. According to a recent report by the American Association of School Administrators, 11 percent of schools nationwide reported eliminating field trips in 2008-2009. This number grew to 24 percent in 2009-2010 and topped a staggering 51 percent for the 2010-2011 school year.
Many experts agree that field trips can be an integral part of a child's education, giving students real-life experience to supplement abstract classroom lessons-and parents and caregivers play an important role in creat
... Continue reading Making Field Trips Possible Despite Budget Cuts.
Tips for Simplifying Back-to-School
From Wanda Urbanska, Simple Living expert and author of The Heart of Simple Living: 7 Paths to a Better Life
• Commit to a successful school year. Sit down with each child and discuss the upcoming school year. Identify each child's favorite activities or memories from past school years and what they count as their greatest accomplishments, as well as their least favorite things about school and the things that cause the greatest difficulty. Write down goals for the upcoming school year.
• Establish a routine. Pay attention to the choreography of daily life - getting kids in the habi
... Continue reading Tips for Simplifying Back-to-School.
