Watching a young girl hit, kick, and call her mother names I never imagined a 6 year old knew, engaged in an (ultimately successful) attempt to get dessert led to an enlightening luncheon conversation with a few friends last week. As parents ourselves, we had all dealt with incidents like…
Whoever said parenting is easy never had children. Like anything else in life, expertise comes with experience, and raising kids is no different. Proper parenting takes practice, and our skills develop with time. Of course, there are steps you can take to improve your technique. The first step is to…
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…
Living with a teenager is challenging in and of itself; trying to assist a student who may not want help is even more difficult. Teens desire nothing more than independence from their parents. They crave autonomy even though they still want parental feedback and approval. Teens are known for testing…
Perhaps the most infuriating stage of parenthood is when your child reaches the time when tantrums seem to be his only means of expression. In the “terrible twos” – or threes, fours and beyond – these full-on freakouts might happen seemingly at the drop of a hat, but there are…
You’ve got the house babyproofed with all the gadgets and preventive tools that should keep young kids out of the dangerous areas of your home. No worries, right? Wrong. There are hidden hazards in the home that can do serious damage to a child. Be extra-careful and warn children of…
We all know the feeling…the moment of pride when someone notices how outspoken or articulate our child is. We bask in the knowledge that our child is smart, has a great sense of self-esteem and succeeds at virtually everything they attempt to do. There is a fine line between confidence…
Between television, video games and all of the other daily distractions, some people often forget to read between the lines, or read at all, for that matter. When it comes to activities you do with your children, there is no substitute for reading. The American Association of Pediatrics maintains that…
The script for what’s healthy eating for kids is constantly being rewritten. Kids today are exposed to more diverse foods than ever, and inevitably, some of the healthiest are being overlooked. Sure, you know to serve those “superfoods” like blueberries, sweet potatoes and yogurt. But there are a few superfoods…
Is your child overweight? What does your child do when they come home from school? Have a snack and watch TV or play video games? Research and studies sho w that our children are growing more obese by the day. Many families all over North America are struggling to keep…