Gimme, gimme, gimme. If that refrain sounds familiar, then you may have a materialistic kid. With all the online and television ads — not to mention peer pressure — that bombard kids every day with the coolest, trendiest toys, it’s no wonder kids want more and more stuff. If your…
The trappings of modern American culture-TiVo/high-speed Internet/texting–make it a special challenge for families to stay fit and active. Unless you and the kids walk or bike to work or school, chances are good that you have trouble squeezing in as much daily physical activity as your family needs. Even when…
After a long, hot summer, autumn is a breath of fresh air… literally. The temperatures are dropping, the leaves are changing and there’s a world of possibilities when it comes to fun fall family activities everybody is sure to enjoy. Team sports are always a good option. Between football, cheerleading,…
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…
When it comes to our children’s happiness, less is more. That’s the surprising perspective of one Chicago psychologist concerned about the rising rates of youth depression and anxiety. “Millions of well-intentioned parents have made life harder for their children by shielding the kids from every kind of unhappiness,” according to…
Think about your interactions with your children today. How many things did you notice they did wrong? What did you do or say to them because of their wrong doings? Have they engaged in the same kind of behavior before? What did you do or say the times before? Is…
Most kids carry backpacks to school everyday, and pediatricians, physical therapists and parents are reporting increasing numbers of schoolchildren complaining of back, neck and shoulder pain, along with tingling or numbness in their arms and hands. This is being attributed to children carrying heavy loads of schoolbooks in backpacks and…
It’s great to see your kids growing up healthy and strong, but those growth spurts can take a toll on your wallet and their closets after awhile. Each time a season begins, do you find yourself having to discard or give away all the clothes your child has outgrown? If…
If you’re ready to do some spring cleaning or just tired of a potential avalanche every time you open the hall closet, it may be time to consider a yard sale. You don’t need to invest a huge amount of time and effort, just a few hours for the actual…
Whether it’s an injury, illness or other medical emergency, when your child feels bad, you want her to feel better as soon as possible. But with the array of healthcare professionals available at all hours, you may be confused as to where your child needs to go. Your schedule and…