Children express emotions in a range of ways, and they may not always seem like appropriate reactions. Being scolded might turn a child into a wailing, hysterical mess, but the death of a close family member might be met with stoicism. This is because children model their behavior after what…
With such scrutiny on childhood obesity, you may be wondering if your child should be lifting weights in order to stay fit. Some kids who are involved in athletics and team sports might feel pressured to start lifting weights in order to improve performance. But it’s important to make the…
It may start with your 2-year-old clandestinely pinching his newborn sister…but sibling rivalry can last for years when it goes unchecked. When they’re small, squabbles about toys, personal space and competitions for affection seem to spark rivalry. When a toy dispute arises, resist the urge to intervene every time. Siblings…
“I’m telling!” may be the most annoying phrase that your child emits, particularly around the preschool age. But tattling usually boils down to one motivation: getting attention. Excessive tattling usually happens when kids aren’t mature enough to settle conflicts among themselves, and that’s normal for younger children. They look to…
After a long, hot summer, autumn is a breath of fresh air… literally. The temperatures are dropping, the leaves are changing and there’s a world of possibilities when it comes to fun fall family activities everybody is sure to enjoy. Team sports are always a good option. Between football, cheerleading,…
We’ve all heard the old wives’ tale that if food dropped on the ground or other surface is picked up within five seconds that it’s safe to eat. If you have small kids who drop food on a regular basis and stuff it right into their little mouths, then a…
All kids get bashful or uncharacteristically quiet in some settings, but what should you do if your child is chronically introverted? Experts say absolutely nothing, if this is the child’s true nature, and the shyness doesn’t exclude your child from opportunities that present themselves, either personally or academically. Never persecute…
When it comes to getting your children to eat their fruits and vegetables, you may not win the battle, but you can definitely win the war. The secret is to get sneaky. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that adults and children both consume five fruit and vegetable…
You can’t stand the suggestive lyrics in your tween’s favorite music, but your preschooler’s Wiggles obsession drives you batty. It’s tough to explain to a child terms like “sexy,” “booty” and “hooking up,” but it seems like that (and worse) is all over the airwaves. And if you catch yourself…
Which way do you swing when your child behaves? What’s best – spanking or time outs? Before you even get to the point where discipline is needed, experts say that kids need clear-cut boundaries so that you can head off discipline problems before they even happen. Certainly, those boundaries need…