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…
“I’m telling!” may be the most annoying phrase that your child emits, particularly around the preschool age. But tattling usually boils down to one motivation: getting attention. Excessive tattling usually happens when kids aren’t mature enough to settle conflicts among themselves, and that’s normal for younger children. They look to…
Parents know that kids love to dip, whether it’s chicken nuggets, fries, veggies, chips or pretty much anything else. And if you serve a dip as an appetizer, it might get challenging to get the kids to eat their meals. So why not serve the dips as the main dish?…
Admit it – there’s nothing fun about rainy days, especially when there are kids in the picture. Within a few hours, it feels like everybody has come down with a serious case of cabin fever. There are ways to be prepared for the worst-case scenario. Arm yourself with these techniques…
It may start with your 2-year-old clandestinely pinching his newborn sister…but sibling rivalry can last for years when it goes unchecked. When they’re small, squabbles about toys, personal space and competitions for affection seem to spark rivalry. When a toy dispute arises, resist the urge to intervene every time. Siblings…
Oww! A scraped knee, a bad bruise, bug bite, splinter or other minor injury can send a child into hysterics. But moms can take quick action to stem the tears and reduce scarring by taking the right measures fast. For the inevitable cuts and scrapes, hold a clean cloth or…
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…
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…
“Mommy, Missy won’t stop touching me.” It’s the incessant backseat bickering that will drive any parent to drink. So what’s a mom or dad to do to put a stop the madness? For starters, if you have a minivan or any other vehicle that has three rows, put some distance…
Is medicine time a royal pain for you? Welcome to the club. Unfortunately, most of us aren’t trained in the medical field. So dispensing meds — whether it’s pain reliever, cough syrup or even eye drops — can become a real hassle. How many times has your little one left…