The tax man cometh. But are you taking advantage of all the credits to which you’re entitled? The cost of child-rearing is mind-blowing, which is why Uncle Sam feels inclined to cut you a break — literally. Before you complete your taxes this year, make sure you’ve taken advantage of…
How many sleepless nights have you had all in the name of keeping your children close? Many parents just don’t have the energy to fight with their little ones when they come crawling into bed in the middle of the night. Unfortunately, it becomes a pattern in time, and old…
All moms know that the most precious cargo they shuttle around each day in the car is the kids. So keep them safe, whatever age they may be, by getting the right car seat and securing it properly. Full-term newborns can sit in rear-facing convertible or infant car seats. You’ll…
If your family doesn’t already have a furry friend – or your kids don’t get along with the pet – then the time may come when they start begging for a cat, dog, snake…who knows? Be prepared to field their requests by assessing first whether or not your family is…
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and while most parents don’t abuse their children, there are risk factors that lead some to do so. Learn to recognize those signs in your friends and family to prevent it. First, be sure to report your suspicions if there are obvious signs…
Your kids are clamoring for an allowance, and what better way to allow them to earn one than with regular chores? Contributing to the workload around the house benefits the entire family. Completing chores boosts children’s self esteem by making them feel like a valued part of the team. Chores…
As much as we want to teach kids to be colorblind and oblivious to other people’s differences, kids are wired to notice when people don’t look, act or live the same way they do. Even babies can recognize physical differences in people when they’re shown pictures. But what they’re not…
It’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning, then it’s the last thing you do at night. No, it’s not brushing your teeth. For many moms, it’s checking their e-mail, social networking pages, blogs, message boards or all of the above. The Internet can be…
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…
It’s a hard habit to break, but it can be done. We’re talking about the dreaded thumbsucking. Parents – take heart. Eventually, the time is going to come, probably just not soon enough. Research shows that 30 percent of preschool children still suck their thumbs, although most outgrow it by…