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Most Recent Articles
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- Playtime…motivating Kids-to Make Exercise Fun
You know your kids should be active, but often they can be found hunkered down in front of the TV, video game or computer while the sun shines outside. It's a scene parents everywhere have lamented. The solution is pretty simple: Get them active by making exercise fun.
In fact, don't even call it "exercise." Call it "play" and give them lots of opportunities to do it. If you gently suggest a bunch of activities (running through the sprinkler, playing whiffle ball, drawing a hopscotch grid with sidewalk chalk), they're very likely to take you up on one. And if they enjoy themselves, they may take the initiative next time to choose that activity over being a couch potato. - Redefining The Notion Of " Super Mom"-all You Need Is Love
Every day as I watch my three children grow, I reflect on my most important career choice-the day I became a mom. Like other women, I've struggled to balance work, life, home and family, but the good news is there is a solution.
First is to forget trying to be a "Super Mom." These are moms who try to be all things to all people and come up short in the process. Today's moms have learned to prioritize, focusing not only on our families but on taking care of ourselves. Our lives come in seasons, and I find that when I'm stretched too thin, I'm not effective at anything. Taking time for myself is a win-win for everybody. - National Security Expert Offers Tips For After-school Safety
Smart parents know to do their homework today when it comes to home safety and security during the school year, especially if kids are coming home to an empty house.
"With more kids today 'home alone,' there really are some golden rules parents should follow to make the home a safe and secure place," said Bob Stuber, nationally acclaimed security expert, whose work with kids and safety issues has landed him on countless national TV shows, including "Oprah," "The View" and ABC's "Primetime." - Helping Children Learn Through Music
If the thought of your children's development is music to your ears, you may want to share the joy of music with your kids--and it seems the sooner you do it, the better.
Exposure to music during the early years of childhood enhances the learning process by promoting language development, creativity, coordination and social interaction, according to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The group says vocal and speech development can improve through singing; listening and concentration can improve with aural training; and the values of cooperation are reinforced by the sharing of instruments and encouragement of other students. - Keep Kids Safe Online During Summer Vacation
During vacation, kids often stay up late, sleep in late and play outside a lot. Today's kids also spend more time online during the summer, playing video games, surfing the Internet, and meeting friends in chat rooms and social networking sites. Although these online activities can provide hours of entertainment and learning, they can also expose kids to inappropriate content or people who might want to take advantage of them.
Parents don't have to unplug the computer or be Internet gurus to help protect their children online. "Even if parents can't tell a blog from a wiki, new technology safeguards and online resources can help them take more control of their children's Internet use and create a safer online experience for the entire family," said Kristin Johnsen, senior director for security outreach at Microsoft Corp., which offers dozens of pages of online safety guidance and resources online for no charge, at http://www.microsoft.com/athome. - How To Keep Kids Active And Entertained
During vacation time, many children--and their parents--are looking for fun activities to keep them occupied. Parents need look no further than their local toy store for inspiration to keep children busy, entertained and active during the summer months.
Bob Weinberg, Senior Vice President of Merchandising for KB Toys, the nation's largest mall-based toy store, offers a few fun ideas: - Survey: Moms Feel Need To Foster Kids' Creativity
Swim lessons and summer camp aren't the only activities that parents will encourage their kids to take on this summer break. According to mothers of grade-school-aged children surveyed by Parenting® magazine's MomConnections®, more than 75 percent of moms say they feel responsible for fostering their kids' creativity.
Creative Products - Tips On Talking To Kids About Not Smoking
Any time parents spend with their kids can be a good time to talk about not smoking cigarettes-and if it seems hard to find the time, maybe it's a good idea for parents to set a date.
It's important to set up special times to talk to your kids about critical issues like not smoking, says Dr. Michael Popkin, a parenting expert. - A Parent's Dream: Successful Sleepovers For Children; Tips From Parenting Expert Penny Warner To Help Make Sleepover Season Simple
The sleepover season is here, with children spending nights away from home at friends' houses, family vacations and camp. Sleepovers are considered a rite of passage for kids, but common fears such as making new friends, missing Mom and Dad or experiencing bed-wetting can make kids hesitant about spending the night away from home. To ensure that your child is ready and confident to enjoy their next sleepover, GOODNITES® disposable underpants teamed up with childhood expert Penny Warner, who offers some great advice and tips to help make nights away from home stress-free.
If you're hosting a sleepover: - "safety First" Tips For Water Fun
There may be few better ways to spend a hot day than at the beach, lake, water park or swimming pool but amid all the fun and games it is important to put safety first.
Learning to swim and be safe in and around the water are important survival skills. Accidents only take a few seconds to occur, but they can often be prevented by ensuring your loved ones follow simple water safety guidelines. - Develop A Family Sun Care Strategy This Summer. Simple Tips And Sunscreen Innovations To Help Protect. Your Kids From The Sun This Summer
Anyone who has ever taken kids to the beach knows that it's fun for the kids, but can sometimes be a hassle for whoever is in charge. For parents it can mean the constant chore of sunscreen application and reapplication. To curb the sun care battle and make sun protection a routine part of outdoor play, parents can take a few simple steps now to help ensure sun safety all summer long.
Sun protection is an essential part of any outdoor activity because the sun produces invisible rays known as ultraviolet-A (UVA) and ultraviolet-B (UVB), which cause sunburn and sun damage. Harmful UV rays are more intense in the summer, which makes right now the perfect time for parents to develop their summer sun care strategy. - Families In The Fast Lane: Innovative Solutions Make 'get Out And Go' Easier And More Convenient
Ask "stay-at-home" moms or dads about their day and what will you hear? Probably that they rarely stay at home! As Jill Clark, mom to 4-year-old Graham and 3-month-old Evan, says, "There are so many fun things for us to do-like going to the zoo, the science museum or a kid's craft event-that we just pack up and go. It can be a struggle to carry what each of my sons needs for an outing, but it's worth the effort to have such a great time together."
To help moms like Jill, and equally involved dads and grandparents, Fisher-Price has focused on making life easier for families with young children. The company's new line of Active Gear provides helpful solutions for real-life situations, adding convenience to a family's quality of life-so the good times don't have to wait. - Helping Parents Keep Kids Safe On The Internet
Are your kids safe online? If you think they are, you may want to think again.
Recent studies reveal some shocking statistics. One in five young Internet users received an online sexual solicitation during a one-year period; and almost one in three gave out their home address. - Moving With Kids Made Simple
If you plan to move this year, there's a lot to know before you go, especially if you have children.
As difficult as the move is for adults, it has a far greater impact on children. Psychologists tell us that moving is the third most traumatic event in a child's life, just after death and divorce. Not only do they have to adjust to a new home and school, but all their best friends will be gone. - School's Out For Summer, But Health Is Still Important
For teens, this is the season for sleeping in, beach trips and first jobs. For their parents, however, it's time to worry about common summer health risks.
In fact, a new survey supported by the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) reveals that one in four parents of teens is extremely or very concerned about their teen's health during the upcoming summer break. Notably, heat exhaustion is the top health concern for 35 percent of parents and 75 percent will insist that their teens wear sunscreen while engaging in summer activities. - Read A Book; Watch The Movie And Inspire Discussion
A school break can be an ideal time to read more books and watch more movies-and if you coordinate this kind of fun into a family activity, there may be far more benefits for your children than what first meets the eye.
"Watching a movie gives children and adults an opportunity to discuss the content together, covering its events, dilemmas and moral implications," says Dr. Andrea Pastorok, educational psychologist for Kumon Math and Reading Centers. "Moreover, reading a book based on a movie provides opportunities to revisit the tale in another format. This combination sharpens both comprehension and decoding abilities, two of the most important skills for future academics and for life." - Tips To Keep Your Children Safer
Nearly 800,000 children are reported missing each year in the United States. If you're a parent or guardian, the realization that your child could go missing may be your biggest fear. With summer vacation in full swing, and thousands of children out enjoying the weather, families need to take extra precautions to keep their children safer.
Here are some quick and easy tips from Knowing the Rules... Summer Safety Tips for Parents and Guardians by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) to help increase the safety of children in your community: - Mom's Guide To Keeping Kids Safe Online
Today's moms need to defend their children against threats in two worlds: those outside the front door and those on the Internet. Although online resources such as Web logs (or "blogs") and social-networking sites teach kids how to communicate and express their opinions, they can also expose kids to online predators and scam artists.
Like many moms, Triva Hamilton guided her children from Web site to Web site when they were taking their first steps online. But now that her kids are getting older, "I can't be in the room every second that the kids are on the computer," she said. - Making The Right Entertainment Choices
America's children are avid consumers of movies, music and video games. But sometimes their entertainment choices may not be appropriate for them. How is a parent to make sure that the latest hit movie, hot video game or chart-busting album is right for their child?
The Coalition of Entertainment Retail Trade Associations (CERTA), an umbrella group for movie theatres, video and video game stores and music retailers, encourages parents to take a few simple steps to ensure that entertainment is appropriate for their family: - Tips To Help Keep Children Safe From Internet Dangers
Parents don't have to be computer experts to keep their children safe online.
According to the University of New Hampshire's Crimes Against Children Research Center, the first step is to realize that one out of every five youths who use the Internet receives an online sexual approach of solicitation during a one-year period. - Financial Training For Teens Makes Dollars And Sense
According to a new poll, as they get older, a growing number of American teens own credit and debit cards-and the way many manage them has some people concerned.
For example, among teens ages 13-14, only 5 percent reported owning credit cards. Yet at age 17, the percentage of ownership climbs to just under 10 percent and then doubles again to nearly 20 percent for teens 18 or older. - Helping Your Child With Speech And Language Development
Speech and language skills develop at varying rates for children. Still, there are certain milestones most children reach at specific ages. Common, everyday interaction between children and those around them is the best way to boost and enhance speech and language skills. From birth, hearing is critical for children to learn and react to the world around them. An unidentified hearing loss can cause a delay in speech and language development. Consequently, it is better to identify and treat hearing loss as soon as possible.
Parents and other caregivers can do many things to encourage speech and language development and provide learning opportunities. Some examples: - When Grandparents Raise Grandchildren
With the first of the Baby Boomers turning 60 this year, the nation is beginning to see the effects of its aging population-and with the average life expectancy extending to nearly 78, those approaching retirement must plan ahead financially, emotionally and physically. However, for some people, that planning includes taking on a responsibility they thought was behind them: parenthood.
According to a 2002 U.S. Census Bureau report, 5.7 million grandparents in the U.S. are living in households with their grandchildren-and more than 2.5 million grandparents are the sole guardians of the children. The bureau estimates that the number of grandparents raising their grandchildren has increased 30 percent from 1990 to 2000. - Teaching Children To Surf The Net
While your child may not type "dadda" before she says it, there's a chance that she'll surf before she walks. The fastest-growing segment of Internet users is now preschoolers and an estimated 10 million children are online every day, according to industry statistics.
Surfing the Web can help young children learn to use technology and teach them about their world, but identity theft, Internet predators and other Web pitfalls can be a concern for parents. That's one reason experts advise people to sit with their children, review a few surfing ground rules and then visit sites together. - Keep Your Child's Smile In Shape This Summer
All children look forward to summer vacation, but the change in routine can make it difficult for them to keep up with a proper oral care regimen. Also, summertime delights such as lemonade and ice cream can put them at high risk for tooth decay-the single most common chronic childhood disease, according to the U.S. Surgeon General. By following these tips from Crest Healthy Smiles, a national outreach program designed to combat the nation's oral health epidemic, children can keep their smiles healthy all summer long.
• Play hide and seek...but don't let soda find its way into your fridge! After playing outside, kids come home thirsty and usually reach for a soda. It's best to "hide" carbonated beverages, which contain very high levels of acid and dissolve calcium from tooth enamel. Instead, keep low-sugar drinks like natural fruit juice or water on hand so kids will "seek" out a healthier way to quench their thirst. - A Parent's Guide To Social Networking
"It's 10 p.m. Do you know where your children are?" Remember that phrase from your own childhood? It's still a valid question, but now, it comes with a twist: "Do you know where your kids are-and who they're talking to online?"
Social networking sites are the hippest "meet market" around, especially among tweens, teens, and 20-somethings. These sites allow and encourage people to exchange information about themselves in profiles and journals, and use message boards, chat rooms, e-mail and instant messaging to communicate with the world at large. Unfortunately, while social networking sites can increase a person's circle of friends, they also can increase exposure to people who have less than friendly intentions. The Federal Trade Commission, the nation's consumer protection agency, offers tips for helping your kids use these sites safely: - Take A Picture, Help Prepare Your Family
Parents and guardians recognize the importance of monitoring their child's eating habits, extracurricular activities and Internet usage. Yet many are still not taking all of the necessary steps to help protect their children.
A recent survey found that, despite several child abduction cases in the national headlines over the past few years, one of the most important child identification tips is often overlooked. - Pressure To Potty-how To Cope With Pressure From Family And Friends And Help Your Child Achieve Potty Training Success
Moms and Dads get bombarded with parenting advice from every direction. From play groups to magazines, from families to co-workers, parents constantly feel pressure for their little one to reach developmental milestones. Potty training is no exception, especially since approximately four million toddlers will share this milestone this year alone. Many family members or peers are often quick to prescribe the "correct way to train" or to dictate the "proper age" for a child to start training, but paying attention to your child's cues is the best way to ensure success.
To help make the potty training process easier, the PULL-UPS® Potty Training Partners (PTPs), a dedicated panel of child psychologists, pediatricians and parenting experts, offer their tried-and-true tips to parents. - "please Stop Whining!"
Ask parents how they handle whining and you're likely to get a variety of suggestions-along with a confession that they hate whining. Many call it the single most irritating childhood behavior.
Parents agree there are many ways to deal with whining. Some say: "Stop whining and then we'll discuss it." Others believe that whining is all about your child needing your attention, so attention is what he should get. - Children Can Keep Learning While On Vacation
The phrase "use it or lose it" may describe the way many students deal with new information. Experts say that within 24 to 48 hours after learning new concepts, students often begin to forget information.
Although a vacation from school is great for recharging your children's batteries, it can often offset the learning process. - Make Cleanup Time Fun For Moms And Toddlers
Each day, toddlers everywhere enjoy playtime activities that engage their natural curiosity and allow them to demonstrate their fun-loving enthusiasm. But as every parent knows, when the playtime ends, the much-needed task of cleanup begins. Moms can help toddlers ease cleanup time hesitation by incorporating engaging games, fun and imagination into the process.
A nationwide survey revealed that 98 percent of moms would like to team up with their toddlers to be actively involved in the cleanup process and help them learn good hygiene habits. - Your Teen: Tips On Successfully Fitting In
Most teens feel "different" in one way or another. Parents may understand their teens, but sometimes not in a way their children want them to. Here are some things to remember that may help parents understand their teens and help them to fit in:
• Remember, at this age friendships are very important. School is a teen's home away from home and parents should be prepared to feel a little neglected at times. - V-chips Allow Parents To Control Children's Tv Programming At Home
While parents want to protect their children from offensive or inappropriate TV programming, many don't know that the tools they need may already be right in their living room. Every TV 13-inches and larger built since 2000 contains a V-chip, which can block individual channels or programs depending on content. This technology lets parents, not broadcasters, determine what is appropriate for their children to see and hear on TV.
Most television shows now include a rating, as established by the broadcasting industry. The rating icon is displayed in the upper left hand corner at the start of the program and succeeding hours if the program is longer than one hour. This rating also is encoded into the programs, so the V-chip technology can read the encoded information and block shows according to parental presets. Using the remote control, parents can program the V-chip to block certain shows based on their ratings. Because programs are rated by episode, ratings may vary from week to week and be blocked accordingly. - Teaching Teens About Money Management
More and more young adults are falling into debt. In fact, more students drop out of college as a result of credit card debt than academic failure; they find themselves in debt and are unable to get jobs to pay that debt off.
From the latest electronic gadgets to high-priced clothing and accessories, teenagers are being seduced into buying items they can't afford. According to a study conducted by a major credit card company, 78 percent of parents say their high school student does not have a budget. - How To Get Your Kids To Be More Active
Mia Hamm, U.S. Olympic gold medalist and World Cup soccer star; Jennie Finch, U.S. Olympic gold medalist and Chicago Bandits softball star; and Vince Carter, U.S. Olympic gold medalist, NBA All-Star, and New Jersey Nets basketball star, are encouraging kids across the country to run, jump, skip, bike and dance their way to the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity each day. As national champions of the Get 60 program, these celebrity athletes are challenging five million kids to get the daily amount of physical activity recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's new MyPyramid for Kids. Get 60, part of the Get Kids in Action partnership between the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) and The Gatorade Company, is designed to identify proven solutions to encourage kids to be more active and reduce childhood obesity.
"There is no more important message that athletes can send to kids today than to get up, get active and enjoy what you're doing," said Mia Hamm. "As a former UNC student-athlete, I support Get 60 because I am as passionate about encouraging kids to get active as I am about winning on the soccer field." - Ymca Helps Families Bring Healthy Habits Home
Keeping kids physically active and healthy isn't exactly child's play. Efforts to keep kids fit are most successful when scheduled as a family affair, according to Chicago-based YMCA of the USA. Children are more likely to stay active and to make smart, health-related choices when parents lead by example.
"Families that make health, activity and exercise priorities in their daily life enjoy many benefits like strengthening family ties, developing similar interests, preventing chronic diseases and, most importantly, simply having fun as a family," said Mike Spezzano, national health and fitness specialty consultant for YMCA of the USA. - Getting Kids To Brush Up On Proper Oral Hygiene
Though parents may have reason to smile at the recent improvements in dental care in the United States, tooth decay is still one of the most common childhood diseases, according to the American Dental Association (ADA). It is five times as common as asthma in 5-17-year-olds, according to the association. And it affects more than one-fifth of American children aged 2-4, half of those aged 6-8 and nearly 60 percent of those aged 15, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.
Here are tips from the experts at HealthSaver, an emerging discount health service, and recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the ADA: - Raising Confident Girls
Many parents today have discovered an enjoyable way to help their daughters develop self-confidence and learn to express themselves freely-two proven traits that help kids resist peer pressure. Young girls can learn these and other important characteristics through movies, DVDs and games, as well as in role playing.
According to experts at Columbia University Medical Center, a youngster with healthy self-esteem is better able to resist negative peer pressure than one who is insecure. Fortunately, parents can help by staying involved. As they watch a DVD with their children, parents can point out when the characters are acting with self-reliance and then ask their own girls what they would do in similar situations. - Fed Kids Page Gets Good Grades
The next time you hand your children their allowance there's a very good chance they'll know more about how to spend it and why prices are what they are. - Playground Bullies: Resolving Conflict Peacefully
Most parents are always looking for new tools to help them teach their children life lessons in an informative, compassionate way. Whether it's an everyday problem or a complex emotional issue, many parents find comfort, guidance and inspiration in familiar stories.
For example, the story of the prodigal son helps children understand the concept of family and how their love is unlimited. The story of Joseph and his brothers helps youngsters learn not to be boastful, or to try to be their parents' "favorite." And the story of David and Goliath helps teach kids about how to deal with bullies, an all-too-frequent playground presence. - A Child Carrier For Bikes Puts Safety Up Front
There's good news for parents who want to introduce young children to the joy of bicycle riding but are concerned about safety.
A safer bicycle ride for both parents and young children may be available thanks to what's been described as a design breakthrough in child carriers. - "clean Your Plate" Is Not Always The Way To Go For Healthy Kids
According to obesity researchers, the United States obesity rate has more than doubled for preschoolers and adolescents-and more than tripled for ages 6 to 11-over the past 30 years. Obese children are at greater risk for health problems such as diabetes and heart disease, and often carry these problems into adulthood.
So, how do parents help children, and the entire family, eat healthier, both at home and away-from-home? - Parents' Involvement In Schools Is Critical
One way to help your child to succeed in school may be to drop by for a visit.
A little involvement can go a long way, say experts at National Parent Teacher Association (PTA). You don't have to spend hours at school each week. Even a monthly visit can make a difference. - The Supernanny Serves Up Tips For Families
Although she knows how hard it can be to gather everyone together, TV's "Supernanny," Jo Frost, believes in the benefits of the family dinner.
"I understand how difficult it can be for busy parents to keep their families on track," said Frost. "But with a few simple and easy-to-follow tips, families can achieve happy, well-balanced lives." - Kids Behaving Badly: A Misdiagnosed Epidemic?
What's wrong with kids today? Although every generation seems to ask the same question, the debate on children's manners has heated up significantly with articles, Op-Eds and even TV shows like "Nanny 911" that paint an alarming picture of manners and misbehavior unparalleled since…well, since the last generation grew up.
To help desperate parents and frustrated onlookers, child development experts are pointing out clues-and perhaps cures-for the causes of what they say may be a publicly misdiagnosed epidemic. - Preserving Your Baby's Dental Health
When it comes to caring for an infant, most parents are well aware of the need for routine pediatrician visits as part of their baby's health care regimen. What's less well-recognized is the importance that early and regular dental care plays. For optimal oral health, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that dental visits begin with the appearance of a child's first tooth as an effective way to kick-start a lifelong program of preventive dental care.
One Baby Tooth + One Pediatric Dental Visit = Zero Cavities - Advanced Tonsillectomy Less Of A Pain For Kids
Each year, over 400,000 children undergo a tonsillectomy, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, making it the second most common childhood surgery. Parents typically schedule their child's surgery during school breaks, including summer and holidays, to accommodate what has traditionally been a long and painful recovery. However, thanks to an advanced approach to tonsil removal, kids can spend more of their school vacation playing at the park, beach or lake with friends, rather than in bed and in pain.
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