Adolescence: "What the heck?!" (Do your kids say that all the time? Mine do.)
By Julie Burton
As I entered the parenting arena nearly 1... Read more
Easing Into Summer
by the Editors of Your Family Today
School's out for summer ... so why aren't your kids jumping for joy? Many children, especially young ones, have d... Read more
When Should Kids Date--How Old is Old Enough?
by Deb McCleod
The day your child comes to you and asks if he can ask a girl out is the day when you realize he's not a baby anymore.
But is he ol... 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.
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.
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 their time away from school. According to the National Summer Learning Association, at best, students show little or no academic growth over the summer, and at worst they lose one to three months of learning.
It's possible to give kids a fun way to keep up with learning by providing engaging books that feature hands-on activities. Three new books from DK Publishing will help kids of all ages fill their summer with science fun.
Adolescence: "What the heck?!" (Do your kids say that all the time? Mine do.)
By Julie Burton
As I entered the parenting arena nearly 15 years ago, I began to hear all sorts of talk about colicky babies, the terrible twos, and the f-ing fours (sorry, that's what my friends called it). But I noticed that people started to clam up a bit as their kids hit the earliest stages of puberty. When I'd complain about something my toddler was doing, like wetting the bed or throwing food at the dinner table, people with older kids would respond with a little chuckle, "Oh yeah, just you wait
... Continue reading Surviving Your Child's Adolescence.
Imagine That! Parents' Guide to Playing Pretend
Kids think that playing "supermarket" and dress-up is fun; child development experts know it's much more than that. Pretend play is a learning experience for young children. It lets them explore the world around them and experiment with social and emotional roles. It also boosts problem-solving skills. So pick up a wand or sword, put on a cape and get into your child's fantasy world. Who knows, you might just have fun yourself!
Here are some new additions to old-fashioned make-believe games that you can enjoy together:
We all want our kids to be involved in sports activities, as we know that doing so will keep them healthy, happy, and out of trouble. The problem is that all this involvement costs money. Depending on the sport it can run you a few hundred dollars or more every year for the equipment for just one sport, let alone the two or three different activities that most kids want to get into. Even sports that are done through school usually require that you pay for the equipment.
The trick is finding a way to balance your child's sports and your budget. Luckily, there are many ways tha
... Continue reading FrugalMoms Guide to Kid's Sports Equipment.
