The Homework Trap by Kenneth Goldberg, Ph.D. Do you fight with your child night after night to get the homework done? Have you talked with his teachers, but nothing seems to change? Are you at your wit’s end? Do you still have hair, or have you pulled it out? Perhaps, you are in the homework trap. Here’s what may be happening with your child. The problem starts in elementary school. The notes come home, and the parents get “the call.” They meet with the teachers as … [Read more...]
Christmas Gifts, 10 stellar hiding places
November 30, 2012 by
When the kids are little it usually isn’t all that difficult to keep their gifts a secret, but as they begin to get older and understand that Christmas entails receiving gifts, they tend to get a little more inquisitive and may start poking around trying to find out where you’re hiding the presents. Kids, and even some adults, are never more curious than they are during the holiday season. Many kids will search the house far and wide in an effort to learn what presents await them come the … [Read more...]
PARENTS, Boosting Your Child’s Self Esteem
November 14, 2012 by
Your child’s self-esteem is an important part of his self-image. It helps him feel he’s worthwhile just as he is and helps him feel good about his choices and decisions. A healthy self esteem doesn’t just happen overnight. It’s something that is nurtured and grown throughout a lifetime, and something that the important people in his life have a chance to help cultivate. Here are some tips for boosting your child’s self-esteem. Give your child choices throughout the day. A big part of … [Read more...]
“Latch Key Kid”, is your child old enough for this?
October 17, 2012 by
How do you know if your kids are old enough or responsible enough to stay home alone? With more and more households becoming two income households, the number of latchkey kids, or kids who are left home alone for a part of each day, is also steadily growing. According to NBC’s Today Show there are over 3 million children who are latch key kids today. But before you decide to let your own child be a latch key kid, it’s important to evaluate if your child is ready for that … [Read more...]
Parenting – How to host a kid-friendly ‘Afternoon Tea’
October 4, 2012 by
While the concept afternoon tea originated in France, contrary to what most people believe, the English made taking an afternoon tea fashionable. The English usually take their afternoon tea between 4 and 5 o’clock in the afternoon, whereas Americanized versions of afternoon tea tend to be held between 3 and 4 o’clock in the afternoon. Children may not care for tea, most enjoy the pomp and ceremony that comes with a traditional high tea experience. Here’s how to host a kid-friendly … [Read more...]
10 Things Kids Learned from Mister Rogers Neighborhood
August 29, 2012 by
From 1968 to 2008, when PBS permanently pulled Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood from their programming line-up, kids tuned in every day to watch Fred Rogers cheerfully come home and take them on an adventure filled with fantasy characters and life lessons. Though the beloved Mister Rogers died in 2003, the lessons that he passed along to those children, now adults themselves, have carried on. For the sake of nostalgia, here are 10 of the things that a generation of children learned from Mister … [Read more...]
PARENTS, How to Save Money by Making Your Own Mixes in Bulk
August 29, 2012 by
Nearly everyone accepts a little help from the store when it comes to seasoning mixes, baking mixes and even cake mixes. Take a look at the ingredients of those mixes. Many times they are full of salt and other preservatives that are just not all that good for you and your family. To avoid getting all of the bad stuff, but still having these convenient mixes, you can make your own. Since you are doing the work you are also saving money over buying the mixes from the store. Check out some of … [Read more...]
PARENTS, 6 Key Components of a Nanny’s Annual Review
August 28, 2012 by
6 Key Components of a Nanny’s Annual Review For nannies and their employers, an annual review can be a nerve-wracking experience. While private, in-home childcare providers who have been with their employers for an extended period of time may be less nervous when the time for the review rolls around, it’s almost impossible for either party to feel completely comfortable with the process. Parents that are approaching their first-ever annual review with their very first nanny may find that … [Read more...]
Parents ~ Tips for Dealing with Separation Anxiety in Your Kids
August 20, 2012 by
Few things tug at a parent’s heartstrings like the cries and pleas of a child in the throes of a separation anxiety attack; still, they are a normal (if distressing) part of childhood development. With proper coping strategies and plenty of love, the worst of your child’s anxieties can be managed until he’s older, at which point most children tend to outgrow their fears of being separated from a parent or familiar adult. Managing your child’s separation anxiety and helping her to cope with … [Read more...]
PARENTS, Steps Nannies Can Take To Prevent Common Childhood Injuries
August 14, 2012 by
While minor injuries are a largely unavoidable part of an active childhood, one of the most important aspects of a nanny’s job is to keep her charges safe and healthy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than nine million children between infancy and 19 years of age are seen in emergency rooms across the United States each year, and that the leading cause of death among this demographic is injury. While the vast majority of the injuries that you tend to will … [Read more...]
PARENTS, tips on Head Lice: Symptoms and Treatments
August 13, 2012 by
Head Lice: Symptoms and Treatments Few things strike fear into a parent’s heart like the dreaded letter from school or daycare stating that there has been a reported case of head lice. The frantic combing of hair, checking of scalps, and stripping of beds is enough to drive even the most level-headed parent into a small-scale panic, but there’s no need for excessive worry. Treatment is fairly simple, and almost always effective, provided that you recognize symptoms early and follow treatment … [Read more...]
