Kids That Go Bump in the Night
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 toddler starts showing up like an uninvited guest at all hours. "I lost my blankie," she says. "I'm thirsty." "I wanted to give you one more hug." There's a million reasons your merry wanderer may give for crawling out of bed, but there's only one thing you need to know at that time of night: It's critical to get your child back to sleep for the full 12 or so hours she needs.
Families need to make sleep a priority because it affects every aspec
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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:
Teacher knows best If you plan on playing the role of teacher in this g
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Being a Better Buddy
By Cindy Schweich Handler
Toddlers love to play with their pals, but as any parent who's refereed a preschool playdate knows, learning how to get along with each other isn't always fun and games. "Kids this age are the most energetic and impulsive that they're going to be their whole lives, and they have short attention spans," says Michele Borba, Ed. D., author of numerous parenting books, including Nobody Likes Me, Everybody Hates Me (Jossey-Bass). But this is the perfect time for tuned-in parents to teach toddlers the skills that will serve them well for the rest of their lives.
"If you s
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Tips for Your Child's First Haircut
Taking a young child for their first haircut doesn't have to be a stressful experience. Following are some tips to ensure it is an enjoyable experience for you and your child:
- Bring your child along to a sibling's or a parent's haircut beforehand so they can get familiar with the process.
- Avoid saying haircut to your child as the word "cut" may evoke fear of pain. Instead, call it a hair trim.
- Visit the salon at a time of day that works best for your child. Obviously, it doesn't make sense to go right before naptime when your child may be fussy.
- Ask for a s
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Is My Kid Spoiled?
by Chris Grannis
The screaming child in the shopping cart grabs at the candy while his frazzled mother tries to unload the groceries at the checkout. Before she has the chance to react he rips off the wrapper and proceeds to cram the chocolate into his mouth. Does this sound all too familiar? Have you ever asked yourself the question, 'Is My Kid Spoiled?' Well, you are not alone. According to a recent study* 94% of parents believe that American children are spoiled. Deciding if your little angel is, in fact, a little devil is not rocket science. Thankfully, neither is the solution.
Asking yourself
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Story Time Success
By Aviva Patz
It might seem like kids' brains are now more stimulated than ever with all the media they're exposed to -- TV, the Internet, computer games, cell phones. But in fact, all that electronic input is actually eroding their sense of imagination, educators say. "When children are given images, they don't learn to form pictures in their mind's eye, which is the basis of creative imagination," says Elizabeth Rose, Ed.S., director of National Youth Storytelling Showcase, an organization that aims to get youth involved in storytelling.
Story Time Success.
Beating the New Baby Blues
By Jacqueline Mroz
When Paula Costa gave birth to a baby girl a few months ago, she expected her son, Alec, 2, to have a hard time adjusting. But she didn't expect him to take his aggression out on her.
"Initially, he wasn't interested in the baby, but he'd have tantrums with me," says Costa, of Glen Ridge, NJ. "He would get really ornery and say, 'I want milk.' When I gave him milk, he'd say, 'No, I wanted juice!' Then he'd say that the cup was wrong. He'd create situations where there was no way to please him."
Defiance and aggression are common reactions for toddlers who ha
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