Can playing music to your baby or young child make her smarter? That was the claim of the much-hyped “Mozart Effect” several years ago, but the truth isn’t exactly black and white. Certainly, music is a great complement for stimulating babies’ brains and teaching toddlers vocabulary, but the jury’s out…
For many parents, the family holiday picture is the nightmare before Christmas. But with a few smart strategies, it’s not impossible to get that perfect shot for gifts or cards. Digital cameras have made getting the perfect shot super-simple, especially if you’re a do-it-yourselfer. Consider using a good candid shot…
From Facebook to MySpace, it seems the users are getting smaller and the problems are getting bigger. Although many social networking sites have a minimum age requirement of 13, children often disregard the age limitations altogether. Or they seek out sites that are geared more toward their demographics, but are…
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…
There’s nothing worse than a spoiled sport. While you want your child to strive to be the very best, the last thing you want is to raise a child who pitches a fit when something doesn’t go his or her way, especially when it comes to team sports. The name…
A new baby is a big change for everyone in the house, but the transition from a three-person household to a four-person household may cause the most turmoil for the firstborn child. You might be excited about the potential for your child to have a lifetime playmate, but he or…
Leaving your child with a new babysitter so that you can enjoy a little adult time can be a daunting task. Of course you worry about how the sitter might handle an emergency, how much to pay her and how the kids will act while you’re gone – but do…
“But Mom, I don’t want to wear that!” It’s the dreaded wardrobe discussion. For some, it might happen once in a blue moon, but other not-so-lucky parents might find themselves in engaged in the clothing power struggle on a daily basis. Whether your child is 2 or 12, there is…
If your summer plans include a family beach vacation, then there are a few things to know before you run into those waves. Before you embark on your trip, do a few checks first. Call the hotel or property where you’re staying and inquire whether or not lifeguards are employed…
Roughing it might sound, well, rough if you have kids, but there are a lot of reasons to consider a camping vacation this summer. Regardless of where you live, it’s usually convenient and easy to find a campground within a couple of hours from your town. Many campgrounds allow you…