Can playing music to your baby or young child make her smarter? That was the claim of the much-hyped “Mozart Effect” several years ago, but the truth isn’t exactly black and white. Certainly, music is a great complement for stimulating babies’ brains and teaching toddlers vocabulary, but the jury’s out…
Vampires may be all the latest rage, but what’s a parent to do when she discovers she’s rearing her own little Edward Cullen? We’re talking about the dreaded biters. Getting a call from the school that little Bobby has bitten one of his classmates can be among a parent’s worst…
With so many kids engaging in television, video games, and computer activity, it seems what most children are in dire need of is some time outdoors. Playing outside gives your child a chance to blow off some steam while getting their daily dose of physical activity. And yes, we all…
Letting your kids sleep in your bed – aka co-sleeping – is a hot-button topic, regardless of the child’s age. Nursing moms might find that sleeping with the baby makes nighttime feedings easier, allows more bonding time and promotes sounder sleep. Those who do not co-sleep with their newborns may…
Ready or not, here it comes – the time for kids to leave the nest and board a bus for school. But how do you know if your child is ready? Age is the first consideration to take into account. In most public schools and many private schools, children must…
“I’m hungry!” How many times a day do you hear those dreaded words? By the time most children arrive home from a long day of school, they’re likely famished. And we’re guessing your children probably aren’t much different. If you’re one of those parents who are on the never-ending quest…
For many kids, summer fun just wouldn’t be fun without a big outdoor bubble party! But before you go out and buy a pricey bubble-blowing machine, why not give making your own bubble formula a try? It’s cheap, easy and may even make bigger bubbles than the storebought kind. You…
Leaving your child with a new babysitter so that you can enjoy a little adult time can be a daunting task. Of course you worry about how the sitter might handle an emergency, how much to pay her and how the kids will act while you’re gone – but do…
Roughing it might sound, well, rough if you have kids, but there are a lot of reasons to consider a camping vacation this summer. Regardless of where you live, it’s usually convenient and easy to find a campground within a couple of hours from your town. Many campgrounds allow you…
What better way to get your child to eat her vegetables than have her grow them herself? When kids take an interest in gardening, they’re looped into the process it takes to get produce to grow from seeds and ultimately end up on their plates. For toddlers and preschoolers, it’s…