We parents talk too much. I suppose it comes naturally to us to talk too much. When we tell our kids “NO” to having a cookie right before dinner and they begin to whine, we feel compelled to explain to them why they can’t have a cookie. When they continue to whine, we escalate our volume […]
Is abstinence realistic? This is a common topic of discussion, most recently triggered by Bristol Palin’s statement that “abstinence is not realistic at all.” If a teenage couple go out on a date, the girl is dressed in a tight low-cut blouse and low-rise pants, and they go see a romance movie, then end up at […]
According to a survey by Babycenter.com, teaching children manners is “back in Vogue.” Why? The top reason, the survey found, moms say that the world has become a more “freewheeling” place and they want to give their children tools to guide them. The number two reason that moms give for teaching children manners is witnessing […]
In the past, the society generally reinforced the values we parents try to teach to our children at home. Not so in today’s culture. We teach our children modesty, the malls are selling tight sweaters and ultra low rise pants. We teach our children abstinence from sex until marriage, the media shows sex as common […]
Imagine a child living in the toughest neighborhoods of New York City. How can he have a chance to experience the beauty of nature, to go hiking, to get some Fresh Air? Now he can, with THE FRESH AIR FUND! The Fresh Air fund, an independent, not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer vacations to more […]
“The whole idea of caring for children was to keep them from doing stupid, dangerous, wicked things that could not be undone, until they learned enough self-control and good judgment that they could be expected to make their own decisions.” That did not come from a parenting book. It’s actually quoted on page 226 of […]
Do children under 3 years old need formal education? Do we need to buy them learning programs and educational software? In a previous post, I pointed out a recent debate about whether DVD programs such as “Baby Einstein” are any use at all. Do children learn by sitting and watching? Do they learn sitting in […]
How do I handle separation anxiety? Is there anything I can do to make sure my baby grows up with a healthy self-esteem? What do I do when my toddler bites another child? How do I get my 2-year-old off the bottle? What do I help my child through grief and loss? If you have […]
Here are a few good articles I found. Bookmark them and read them over the weekend when you have time: Is helicopter parenting that bad? 10 tips for building character in children 7 ways to get your kids motivated Here is one that was forwarded to me from my 85-year-old dad: How to protect your […]
Parents want the best for their babies. Does that mean having to spend a lot of money on “educational” material such as “Baby Einstein” and “BabyGenius”? CNN reported a study that shows TV viewing of educational DVDs have no benefits. According to CNN, “researchers from Children’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, and Harvard Medical School reached […]
