When it comes to raising well-rounded children, extracurricular activities play a huge role in keeping your kids in line. According to one education consultant, participation in school activities, sports and community clubs and organizations during the middle school years has a positive effect on at-risk teens who might drop out…
I learned the truth about Santa Claus from our big brother. I was skeptical at first, so we sneaked out to my grandparents’ trailer and he showed me all the gifts we had asked Santa to bring. He was telling the truth! My brother had somehow stumbled upon an amazing…
When your teenager starts to get out of hand you have to ask yourself some hard questions. The first step is to honestly evaluate how you think you’re doing when communicating with your teen. Do you feel you are sharing valuable information and time? Or do you feel there is…
The options for drinks seem to be at an all time high with energy and sport drinks, new flavored sodas, tropical fruit juices, fancy vitamin water, and even water with protein appealing to all ages. Sodas and sport drinks, however, can have as much as 13 teaspoons of added sugar….
In case you hadn’t figured it out from your own childhood, best friends forever is just a myth. Face it — kids fight and they don’t always fight fair. At some point during their childhood, your son or daughter is going to get in an argument with a classmate, neighbor…
In the 18th and 19th centuries, American pioneer women spent months alone on the prairies raising their children, doing endless backbreaking chores, and protecting the homestead from countless sources of danger. Some of these women would go on to develop lifelong mental illnesses resulting from the continued stress and isolation….
Computers are an indispensable tool for older children, but when should parents start teaching their children computer skills? Many experts say that age two isn’t too early. At age two, educators say that kids have the hand-eye coordination and attention span to enjoy supervised computer time. There are programs online…
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…
Do you enjoy the silence? Well, if you’re a parent, especially of a young child, you likely don’t get much quiet until it’s lights out. However, there’s a lot to be said for teaching your kids to hush. Certain situations call for quiet time whether it’s in a library, in…
It’s not fair that guilt became so intertwined with motherhood, but almost every mother suffers from maternal guilt about something she does or does not do. In our culture, motherhood is so loaded with expectations of perfection that it’s impossible to live up to the standard. That doesn’t mean we…