Our family stumbled into a new parenting quandary this year. Up until now, our boys have gone to schools that required school uniforms. There was never any pressure to dress a certain way or to keep up with the Joneses since everyone dressed exactly the same. This year, with our move to the great state of Texas, our children are suddenly in a whole new environment that includes a more individualized sense of fashion -- as well as the need for various coats and jackets as the seasons change, but that’s beside the point for now.
As parents, we are
Has Your Child Written to Santa Yet?
by Margot F. December 4th, 2013 | Big Kids, Elementary, School
Has your child written a letter to Santa yet? Yes, it is that time of year when everyone rushes around looking for the perfect gift, attends school concerts and plans the family dinner on top of all the other tasks in the day. How can there be time to help your child keep up with reading?
For children age five to eight, learning to read is an important goal in school. Learning letter sounds, how the sounds fit together to form words, and how those words combine to make sentences is a huge challenge. December is a perfect time to
For children age five to eight, learning to read is an important goal in school. Learning letter sounds, how the sounds fit together to form words, and how those words combine to make sentences is a huge challenge. December is a perfect time to
Parenting Hack: When Nothing Works
by Ronald A. Rowe November 22nd, 2013 | Behavior, Big Kids, Elementary
With all the influences competing for our children’s attention and all the dangers lurking out there in the world it has never been harder to be a parent than it is right now. With all the resources available and the massive amounts of information at the click of a mouse it has never been easier to be a parent than it is right now. We could debate all day whether or not the good outweighs the bad but I think we can all agree that parenting today presents a different set of challenges and opportunities than at any time
Old Safety Rules Still Apply
by Lori Sciame November 12th, 2013 | Big Kids, Elementary, Safety, Safety
I have vivid memories of being kept safe by following a set of specific rules as a child. My dad had made it his mission to protect me from every potential hazard, from stranger danger to fire hazards. Even though times have changed dramatically since my own childhood, some safety rules for elementary children never go out of style.
The first rule that my dad drilled into my head: never get into a car or van with a stranger. Little did I know, but this rule would be put to the test. When I was six, a man actually tried
The first rule that my dad drilled into my head: never get into a car or van with a stranger. Little did I know, but this rule would be put to the test. When I was six, a man actually tried
Tween Bullying Over Social Media
by T Akery October 28th, 2013 | Big Kids, Safety, Tweens
It is always disturbing to read about the death of a tween to suicide from bullying. The death of Rebecca Sedwick in the news last week was about this very thing. But there are some real lessons for parents to learn from this tragedy. There is a lot more than Facebook that parents need to monitor in regards to their Tween's online activity. Often, you may be quite unaware of what your Tween is saying over instant messaging services or a number of other sites that Tweens use to communicate through each other. The task of discovery can
