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4 Super Social Activities for Tweens
by Lori Sciame July 26th, 2021 | Social, Tweens
Study after study tells parents that children spend too much time on electronic devices. The ramifications of doing so are many, including decreased social development. This summer, work with your tween to improve his or her social skills by moving away from the computer, and into the real world. Check out the following four super activity suggestions; they will surely work to enhance your
How to Prevent Sunburns in Children
by Lori Sciame July 19th, 2021 | Elementary, Safety
A day at the beach can be blissful...the crashing waves, the cool water, the endless sunshine...what could go wrong? A parent's first thought may be drowning. I agree. Children should be monitored at all times to prevent this from happening; however, another safety issue should be on one's mind: the possibility of sunburn.
The tricky thing about sunburn is that is doesn't show up for several hours after exposure. This leads to being lax about keeping the skin protected. And those who have dark skin may think that they do not need to worry about being burned, yet they most
The tricky thing about sunburn is that is doesn't show up for several hours after exposure. This leads to being lax about keeping the skin protected. And those who have dark skin may think that they do not need to worry about being burned, yet they most
How to Protect Your Preschooler From the Sun
by Jessica B. July 12th, 2021 | Preschool, Safety
In some ways it can be trickier to protect your preschooler from the sun than your little one, because they have a bit more independence. Here are a few tips to make sure your preschooler takes sun safety seriously so that you can all work together to make sure your kid is covered and safe in the sun.
1) Talk to your kid about sunscreen – When you start adding sun screen to your getting ready to go out ritual, make sure you talk to your preschooler about why it is important and allow them to get involved. You don’t
1) Talk to your kid about sunscreen – When you start adding sun screen to your getting ready to go out ritual, make sure you talk to your preschooler about why it is important and allow them to get involved. You don’t
Teddy Bear Picnic For Young Children
by Tania Cowling July 5th, 2021 | Infants/Toddlers, Social
Eating a meal al fresco (aka picnic) is fun for all ages. And, your baby or toddler will enjoy eating this new way outdoors amongst their teddy bears, just like in the book The Teddy Bears’ Picnic by Jimmy Kennedy. There are quite a few teddy bears at the picnic, and the author tells you if you want to know what is happening, you’d better go in disguise. At the beginning of the story, a little boy is dressed in a bear costume followed by other bears marching in a line that covers a hillside. These bears had loads of
Teen’s Perspective on Summer Work
by Sam P. June 28th, 2021 | School, TeensMy personal opinion on summer work is that we shouldn't have it, but alas, we do. I think that it is unfair for teachers to give us work to do over the summer while they don't do anything, but we do, so there isn't much you can do besides do the work. I also think that teachers should get things graded faster because the excuse that they have (other classes and assignments to grade) is unfair because we have other classes and assignments to do, yet students get their work in on time, but
4 Ways to Create a Memorable Vacation
by Lori Sciame June 21st, 2021 | Tweens
Family vacations rule! Why? They provide a much needed break from the daily grind, as there are no deadlines to meet, no school lunches to pack, or no fourth grade science projects to complete. Even more importantly, they have the power to create positive and lasting memories for your children.
Strive to make your next family vacation a memorable one by following one or more of the tips below.
1. Tweak Daily Schedules
While you might not completely throw eating and sleeping schedules out the window during your family vacation, it is a great idea to bend the rules.
Allowing a child to
Strive to make your next family vacation a memorable one by following one or more of the tips below.
1. Tweak Daily Schedules
While you might not completely throw eating and sleeping schedules out the window during your family vacation, it is a great idea to bend the rules.
Allowing a child to
No Sweat Olympics: Active Indoor Games for Kids
by Tania Cowling June 14th, 2021 | Elementary, Entertainment
Summer weather can often be so hot and humid that no one wants to be very active. These no-sweat active indoor games for kids do not require high-energy output, but are exciting and fun. Living in the south, these activities kept my kids engaged in easy competitive and skill
Vacations With Preschoolers and Fun for Parents
by Joe Lawrence June 7th, 2021 | Preschool, Seasonal
Vacation season is finally here. Summer is just around the corner and many of us have or are starting to make plans for the family. What can you do to make the vacation fun for the whole family?
I noticed that most of our vacation plans have been centered on the children for the past several years. For the most part, this is fine. In all honesty, most of our trips would not be happening if it were not for them, so may as well make it about them. However, in all of the planning, the parents have been overlooked.
What
I noticed that most of our vacation plans have been centered on the children for the past several years. For the most part, this is fine. In all honesty, most of our trips would not be happening if it were not for them, so may as well make it about them. However, in all of the planning, the parents have been overlooked.
What
5 Ideas for When You Have to Wait
by Tania Cowling May 31st, 2021 | Behavior, Infants/Toddlers
Whether it’s the doctor’s office, a restaurant, the bank, or long lines at the grocery store, there are times of waiting and this is probably very difficult for your young child. There’s a good reason why quiet activities without a lot of movement only last a short while. It’s because the nervous system in a child’s body is not completely developed, making it impossible for little ones to remain still for more than 10 minutes, maybe 20 minutes at the most. Experts recommend exercises and activities that stimulate breathing and circulation to be done in small spaces. Here are
5 Ways Having A Pet Helps A Teen
by Jane Wangersky May 24th, 2021 | Social, Teens
When we think of pets being good for our children, we usually think of elementary age kids. After all, they’re at the age when it’s good to start learning responsibility. Teens, not so much. Your teen probably already has a fair amount of responsibilities, maybe sometimes more than they think they can handle. So if your family has lost a pet, or never had one before, you may not be thinking of adopting one during your child’s teen years. But that’s something you should reconsider -- there are lots of reasons it’s good for a teen to have a
3 Ways to Assess Pet Readiness
by Lori Sciame May 17th, 2021 | Social, Tweens
Bringing a new pet into the home can be an amazing experience or an awful one, especially when tweens are involved. While pre-teens may express a desire for a cat or a dog, they simple do not understand the tremendous work that comes along with owning a pet. When it goes bad, one of two things will usually happen: mom or dad take over the responsibility of the pet's care, or they work to find the animal a new home.
How can a parent assess whether a tween is truly ready for pet ownership? There are a number of ways,
How can a parent assess whether a tween is truly ready for pet ownership? There are a number of ways,
Keeping Your Whole Family Safe While Spending Time Outdoors
by Editorial Team May 14th, 2021 | ElementaryKeeping your family safe is always a concern. However, when you are trying to keep your family safe from a little-known problem, it becomes much more difficult. People of any age can fall victim to the effects of Lyme disease, but only a small percentage of people know what it is or even what to look out for. Having an idea of how to keep your family safe from this disease is
3 Necessary Social Skills
by Lori Sciame May 10th, 2021 | Elementary, Social
Children need to learn a variety of social skills to be able to fit in with their peers. These many skills are critical in the development of a young person's self worth. As suggested by Social Skills Central, "failure to make friends can have a significant impact on a
Get Moving With Your Child This Month and Forever
by Tania Cowling May 3rd, 2021 | Entertainment, Preschool
May is National Physical Fitness Month and a reminder that exercise is so important for health. But, there are many ways to get your kiddos moving that are fun, as exercise shouldn’t just be jumping jacks and pushups – it should include daily activities, as well as sporting games. Here are a few daily movement activities that get the body revved up.
Take neighborhood walks together that include fitness skills. Ask your preschooler to run and skip down the sidewalk. Add a crepe paper streamer to her arms with a piece of tape and have your little athlete
Take neighborhood walks together that include fitness skills. Ask your preschooler to run and skip down the sidewalk. Add a crepe paper streamer to her arms with a piece of tape and have your little athlete
Turn Off the TV and Play Some Baby Games
by Tania Cowling April 26th, 2021 | Infants/Toddlers, Seasonal
Some parents use the television as a baby sitter ,and I admit I have done this myself when trying to tidy up the house. Yes, the noise and conversation sometime soothe a baby, and kiddie shows stimulate toddlers. Now, I’m not saying your little one can never watch television, but please keep it to a limit. Every year, there is a designated week where we turn off the TV and electronic devices to engage in other together time activities. See how much fun the power of play will give you and your baby. And, yes, the bottom
Teen’s Perspective on Earth Day
by Sam P. April 19th, 2021 | Seasonal, Teens
It may just be me, but it seems as though many teenagers do not care about the environment as much as they should. I often see kids lazily tossing bottles on the ground, while they're just a few yards from a trash can, or throwing away an entire lunch at school. I, personally, love our Earth and if we want to keep it how it is today, we need to start taking better care of it. This means recycling, reusing, and reducing what we waste.
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3 Issues to Warn Your Tween About
by Lori Sciame April 12th, 2021 | Safety, Tweens
Being a parent is a huge responsibility. Children not only need love, they need proper guidance as well. Part of steering a child on the right course, involves teaching him or her to follow safety rules. Some rules are easy to teach, such as "don't play with fire." Other rules are more difficult to discuss. These rules may make you uncomfortable, but don't ignore them. Make it a point to talk to your child about the following issues.
1. Drugs Can Kill, So Don't Experiment
Tweens are
1. Drugs Can Kill, So Don't Experiment
Tweens are
3 Benefits: When a Child Entertains Himself
by Lori Sciame April 5th, 2021 | Elementary, Entertainment
I have a cousin who is continually exhausted. It's not because she works too many hours, or that she has an elderly parent to take care of, or even because she has a dozen children. She is worn out because she has not taught her only son how to
3 Ways to Keep Manners Alive With Preschoolers
by Joe Lawrence March 29th, 2021 | Preschool, Social
Are manners dying off in today’s society? Are we as parents doing our part to keep them alive? According to most studies manners are dying and we are not holding our own as parents. Here are three ways to reverse this tide.
I never thought I would consider having a toddler and preschooler in the house at the same time as a blessing. They are both very demanding of our time and have to be taught everything. Just when I thought we were past some foundational stuff with my preschooler, I discover we still have a lot to do. Manners
I never thought I would consider having a toddler and preschooler in the house at the same time as a blessing. They are both very demanding of our time and have to be taught everything. Just when I thought we were past some foundational stuff with my preschooler, I discover we still have a lot to do. Manners
Teething Tips for Mothers of Babies
Tania Cowling March 22nd, 2021 | Care, Infants/Toddlers
Has your baby been drooling steadily? Does she mouth every toy she picks up? Your little one may be teething. Teething can be annoying to babies – the gums can be painful. Here are some important tips to learn when those pearly whites may pop and what to do to comfort your baby.
Physical Signs of Teething
Babies usually begin to cut teeth
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Physical Signs of Teething
Babies usually begin to cut teeth