Do you know the difference between discipline and punishment with their Latin roots? Punishment implies inflicting pain, while discipline means to teach. Parents who use punishment are missing important opportunities to teach their children better behaviors and help them self-discipline. Children can actually be taught responsible behaviors to help them…
Have you ever felt a deep pang of irritation at something involving your spouse? Has that irritation progressed to a gnawing anger that you harbor for days, months, even years? Welcome to the world of spousal resentment. Luckily, you don’t have to stay angry forever. Dictionary.com defines resentment as “the…
Raising a confident child can be a challenge. While some children have no issues going for what they want, other kids are more reserved and struggle to be assertive. It’s important to note there is a big difference between being assertive and being aggressive. As a parent, you probably want…
When you hear your child’s daycare classmates or friends speaking up more often than she does, then you may wonder why she’s not a Chatty Cathy. There are myriad explanations for speech delays. Here’s what you need to know. By age 2, experts say children should say at least 50…
We all know that charity begins at home. However, how many parents really know how to get their children involved in volunteering? Although there are some opportunities that are more age-appropriate than others, your child is never too young to lend a helping hand. There are plenty of reasons to…
Most of us already know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Beginning your day without breakfast is like trying to fly a kite without any wind. It’s hard to get started and even harder to keep going. Breakfast is the first chance your child’s developing body…
As kids begin school, the subject of having friends sleep over will rear its head. One of the nice things about having a sleepover instead of traditional birthday party is that you can supervise all the activities in your home, plus you tend not to have to rent expensive spaces,…
Whether it’s a nursery that needs updating as your child gets older or your teen needs a grown-up take on his childhood room, an entirely new room can break the bank. But a whole new look can be had on the cheap, and the number-one low-cost item that can transform…
Just because you aren’t Jewish doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate Hanukkah, the festival of lights. Many people now celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas, even if they don’t practice Judaism. Hanukkah is a great opportunity for you to expose your children to other religions. More than just a learning experience, it…
From Facebook to MySpace, it seems the users are getting smaller and the problems are getting bigger. Although many social networking sites have a minimum age requirement of 13, children often disregard the age limitations altogether. Or they seek out sites that are geared more toward their demographics, but are…