Grandparents Day began with the idea of honoring the elderly and championing the cause of the lonely in nursing and retirement homes. Marian McQuade, a housewife from West Virginia, brainstormed the idea, which was later to become a nationally recognized holiday, thanks to Jimmy Carter in 1978. Now the holiday…
More and more children under the age of six are now in school. The sweeping social, economic, and technological changes of the last decade have made school an increasingly important part of our children’s lives at ever-younger ages. We no longer see early childhood schools as the luxury our parents…
Picking out toys for young children is no simple task. There are so many choices that it can easily be overwhelming. It’s important to consider options that are appropriate for the child’s age. It’s also important to know the individual child’s likes and dislikes. Toy Textures: Children thrive on all…
You want to go out – just Mommy and Daddy. That’s perfectly normal, but you can’t find a family member that is available to care for your children. So you decide to hire a babysitter. Hiring a babysitter can be one of the most important choices you have to make…
Having a bored child around the house is no fun for anyone. Kids have so much to entertain them these days that boredom doesn’t have to last for long, but it’s wise to look closely at what kinds of entertainment children are consuming. The most popular diversion for children is…
“It’s hot!” “I’m bored!” “There’s nothing to do!” Ah, the familiar refrains of summer… The dog days of summer leave many parents and caretakers desperate to find something — anything! — to keep the kids busy. Take a break from those monotonous moans and help yourself to this guide to…
Taking the kids along on a shopping trip can be a treat or a hassle, depending on how you handle things. With a good plan in mind and the right supplies you can turn a dreaded chore into a fun and potentially educational experience. Pre-Planning Your Shopping Trip Before you…
Raising sports active kids is difficult, perhaps more today than ever before. Parents feel pressure to help their kids succeed. They want to keep up with other parents in an increasingly winner-take-all society. Too often, parents just like you feel that if they don’t do everything for their child, they…
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…
Really young children just don’t understand the concept of giving on particular holidays. Buying dad a tie or a coffee mug just doesn’t mean much to them. Young kids love to make things, though, so here are some common crafts that kids make for Father’s Day that you could try….