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…
From potty training to breaking curfew, kids always find a way to challenge and sometimes completely frustrate their parents. As a mom, how can you cope with the curveballs kids will inevitably throw at you during their 18 years – or more – under your roof? First, gauge yours and…
Peanuts, dairy, gluten, soy, eggs, sulfites…many foods contain potential allergenic products. And up to 8 percent of kids have life-threatening food allergies, and those limitations can become problematic as kids enter school or change schools. But parents and administrators can keep all kids safe and happy as they deal with…
The second week of January is Folic Acid Awareness week, and for many women of childbearing age, they may not be getting enough. This particular nutrient is important because it prevents many birth defects, particularly neural tube disorders. The neural tube eventually develops into the baby’s spinal cord and brain,…
If you’re a new parent readying yourself for the first outing with baby, then you might wonder what else goes into the diaper bag…besides the obvious diapers, of course. It’s best to have the diaper bag packed while you’re still pregnant and waiting for baby to arrive. After all, in…
When it’s time to lay down the law with your kids, do you feel like you’re negotiating with a tiny little dictator? If you feel like a pushover when it comes to disciplining kids, don’t fret. It’s not too late to change the way you react when punishment issues arise….
For most parents, the days of letting their kids run around the neighborhood from sunup to sundown went out with the lax attitude about bike helmets. These days, summer is all about structure for most kids. Whether it’s camp, daycare, summer school or other activity, it’s important for kids to…
If you’re used to primping and polishing your skin, hair and body in order to look your best, then you may wonder if you can keep up all that maintenance when you’re pregnant. And even more important, whether or not certain beauty treatments are safe. The good news is that…
It’s sometimes amazing to watch what seems like an out-of-control child submit to a teacher’s bidding at school. Parents who are exasperated with their kids’ at-home antics can be really surprised when they watch their child interact successfully with their teachers away from home. How do teachers harness all that…
“Your hair is a mess.” “Why can’t you do better in school?” “Do you ever watch where you’re going? Are you constantly criticizing your children to the point where even you’re beginning to wonder if you’re too hard on them? By now you’ve likely heard the notion of choosing your…