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
The tween years introduce so many new options for your child. Middle schools generally have many programs that were not previously available when your child was in elementary school. There are good options and bad options, of course. But on the whole there are many new alternatives that are
Being born smart certainly helps a tween to succeed in a learning environment, and so does being curious about the world around him or her. It's a given that an engaged student, one who loves learning, will be more apt to do well in school; however, many other factors determine
The holiday season offers lots of opportunities to teach tweens about the concept of giving back. Sample volunteer positions include: ringing the bell for the Salvation Army, collecting food for the local food pantry, assisting at a soup kitchen, buying toys for economically disadvantaged children, and writing letters to
When is the right time to buy your daughter's first bra? There really isn't a specific age, but there are some signs and situations that might bring the dilemma to the table. Your daughter may be developing and may need support
As an advisor at a college, I encounter some students who tackle the transition from high school to college with relative ease, as well as those who suffer a multitude of issues, from social to academic.
Reasons for a student's success or lack thereof vary; however, I can state with
First of all, we need to start with a quick parenting update- your tween will not want to use the word playdate. Playdates are for little kids. However, don't let terminology confuse you. Your tween very much wants to hang with friends. She just doesn't want you to call it
The tween years can become the time when your child wants to be out of the house or with friends on weekend nights. So, those family movie nights you enjoyed during the elementary years may be fewer and further between. Your tween also may be wanting more alone time. There's
Your tween wants to be a teenager so very badly. It seems that the world of a teen is much more exciting- able to go to more places on their own, later bedtimes, driver's licenses, dating. Yes, it is an exciting world. But for now your tween is stuck in
Earbuds. Headphones. They are everywhere. It's not just a tween problem. Take a walk down any city street, and you'll see a multitude of people walking with either one or both ears hosting an earbud. From shoppers to joggers to executives, a good portion of them have their ears focused
When I was a child and through my teen years, I would sometimes hear at the dinner table the old saying, "Children should be seen and not heard." (Now, I'm not of an age that it was a common way of thinking. I grew up in the 70s and 80s.)
Somewhere during the middle school years your child may want to stay home alone. Whether it be while you run a quick trip to the grocery store or for a short period of time between the end of the school day and an adult coming home from work, your tween