Living with a teenager is challenging in and of itself; trying to assist a student who may not want help is even more difficult. Teens desire nothing more than independence from their parents. They crave autonomy even though they still want parental feedback and approval. Teens are known for testing…
When your children are crying their hearts out, the first things that will shut them up are their toys. If you give them their toys while they are having their tantrums, they forget about where they are and just do what they do best: play. This piece of information proves…
Grandparents Day began with the idea of honoring the elderly and championing the cause of the lonely in nursing and retirement homes. Marian McQuade, a housewife from West Virginia, brainstormed the idea, which was later to become a nationally recognized holiday, thanks to Jimmy Carter in 1978. Now the holiday…
Back when Ernie of “Bert and Ernie” fame sang his famous love song to his rubber duckie, millions of children could relate; the classic yellow rubber tub toy was the most popular (and in many cases the only) floating fun item to be found in the family bath tub. These…
Let’s face it; we live in a pretty competitive world. Because of that, children may not understand the importance of sportsmanship when involved in competition. Winning can easily become the sole focus of a game, so children may not think much about the importance of good sportsmanship. Parents and coaches…
Computers and the internet have become a way of life. Telling your kids that they can’t go on the internet is like telling them they can’t breathe. Not only has the internet become a social aspect for kids, it is also educational. Kids are expected to know their way around…
The number of recalls issued by toy manufacturers is staggering. Today there seems to be little attention and thought in the design of children’s toys, other than to make them as cheaply as possible. The design level is certainly lacking the element of making safety first. It is apparent the…
Before cliques, dating, break-ups and office politics, comes that first and developmentally vital tradition in a human being’s life: play dates. Play dates are a child’s first foray into the world of friends and social rules. Kids can learn a great deal about social interaction during play dates, which is…
Halloween may be a holiday for children, but for parents, trick-or-treat time can be a little troublesome. Nearly 40 years ago when I was younger, I remember some of my parent’s concerns like razor blades in apples or treats from Ex lax made to look like chocolate candy, and avoiding…
With kids, anytime is the time for a party. You do not have to rent giant blow-ups for your front yard and feed every kid within a radius of 100 miles either. Letting your kids have a slumber party with a homemade cake, homemade pizza, a couple of bags of…