April marks Alcohol Awareness Month. It’s a great opportunity to discuss the topic of alcohol abuse and its consequences with your children. Unfortunately, a child’s first exposure to alcohol – and alcohol abuse – can be at home. As a parent, it’s your responsibility to lead by example. In other…
Who says there ain’t no cure for the summertime blues? You’ll be hard-pressed to find a child who doesn’t enjoy spending time by the pool. For most families, it’s the highlight of the summer — both fun and affordable. While it’s great that you and your children are looking forward…
The idea of owning a cell phone appeals to most kids, especially tweens, who are forming social groups and getting involved in after-school activities. But how do you know when it’s time to let them phone home with their very own phone? The first thing to investigate is whether or…
If you’re a mom who dreads taking the kids when you run errands, then there are ways to keep them occupied and perhaps make those mundane trips learning experiences for them. For example, a grocery store excursion could become a way for them to learn about nutrition. Make comparisons among…
Which way do you swing when your child behaves? What’s best – spanking or time outs? Before you even get to the point where discipline is needed, experts say that kids need clear-cut boundaries so that you can head off discipline problems before they even happen. Certainly, those boundaries need…
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…
Does the thought of shampooing and conditioning your child’s lovely locks make you want to pull your own hair out? The number of children who actually enjoy having their hair washed is few and far between. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make the normally painstaking process more fun. The…
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…
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…
It may seem like the ultimate invasion of privacy. We’re talking about putting a tracking device on your child. Although it may seem creepy and over the top for some parents, others feel a sense of security knowing they can keep tabs on their children at all times. A child…