Your kids are clamoring for an allowance, and what better way to allow them to earn one than with regular chores? Contributing to the workload around the house benefits the entire family. Completing chores boosts children’s self esteem by making them feel like a valued part of the team. Chores…
Decades ago, vegetarianism was considered something of a fringe lifestyle, reserved for hippies and Buddhist monks. Those days are long gone. As more Americans focus on green living and conscious consumerism, vegetarianism is becoming a widely accepted and even celebrated way of life for people of all ages. If your…
Words can open up a world of knowledge and adventure for your children, and reading to them is so important in their development. Here are 5 ways to make reading to your child a habit. Read your child’s favorite book over and over… and over… (you know the drill). Choose…
When it comes to cooking, there’s nothing quite like getting your kids in on the act, especially if they’re finicky eaters. Your child will have even more incentive to polish off his meal when he’s the one to prepare it. In addition to getting a helping hand in the kitchen,…
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…
Just because you’re trying to keep the family on a sensible budget doesn’t mean you have to do without everything fun. Likewise, an economical evening with the family isn’t limited to a night of shadow puppets, though in the right context, even that can be a blast! Instead of dwelling…
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…
It’s a drink. It’s a dessert. It’s a little bit of both. When it comes to cold weather, there’s no better way to warm up than with a cup of piping hot chocolate. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a child who doesn’t enjoy the comfort of this traditional winter treat….
Do your kids know the value of a dollar? In an age when parents whip out the plastic to pay for things, or the ATM seemingly spits money into your lap with no repercussions, it’s hard to teach kids about managing money. But in today’s economic times, it’s important, and…
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the cost of raising a child can be an estimated $200,000… not including the price of college. With those kinds of expenses, it behooves you to cut your costs wherever you can. Most people don’t realize how very simple saving a buck can…