Posted by
Shannon M. on
Friday, March 9th, 2012
Image source: stephhicks68.hubpages.com
If we do daily tasks, well, every day, then why do they feel so hard sometimes; so boring? Children have these same questions except, most of the time, they don’t have the words to ask them. What results is often a cacophony of whines, cries, and hissy fits – otherwise known as the bane of every parent’s existence. Believe it or not, there are ways to skirt the daily doldrums.
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Posted by
Shannon M. on
Thursday, March 8th, 2012
Image source: inclusive-solutions.com
The self-esteem we build or, adversely, destroy in childhood often follows us into adulthood. A healthy self-image and perception is the very foundation on which most of our social and intellectual happiness rests. Without self-esteem to armor your child, she is left exposed and nearly defenseless to the challenges of the world. Although parents are unfortunately not the only factors in developing a child’s image of herself (media, friends, etc), they are the greatest source of strength in implementing these values.
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Posted by
Shannon M. on
Tuesday, March 6th, 2012
Image source: blog.sfgate.com
Few things are more American than the family road trip. When I was a kid, my summer was often punctuated by my family’s annual California vacation to see the grandparents. Every July, my mom and dad packed up their station wagon with suitcases, toys, coolers, and kids and we headed out west. Times seemed simpler then – there were no iPods or Gameboys – and, often times, my sister and I were left to our own devices in the back seat. This basically means that my parents endured hours upon hours of maniacal laughter turned whining when one gave the other a cross look or dared to breach the invisible barrier of “my side.” Try as my parents did (and, for the record, they did a darn good job), they definitely could have benefited from a few of these “secrets.”
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Posted by
Shannon M. on
Wednesday, February 29th, 2012
Image source: exercisingvalues.com
Childhood obesity is on the rise and it seems as if everyone from Beyonce to Michelle Obama is speaking out against it. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children and adolescents get at minimum 60 minutes of physical activity per day.
To children of the Digitial Age this recommendation might sound more like an order of death than a long-term effort to save their lives. There are ways, however, to increase the amount of exercise your child receives without your child, well, actually realizing that they’re exercising.
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Posted by
admin on
Friday, February 24th, 2012
Image source: flickr.com/photos/ebee
Spending quality time with the whole family is important. And, no, watching TV or a movie together doesn’t count. Shut down the computers, tablets, e-readers, mp3 players, and smart phones, too.
“What’s left?” you ask.
I had the same question. So I went down to the library, checked out some old articles, popped them into the microfiche viewer and read about what the heck people used to do for fun.
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Posted by
admin on
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
Image source: ibabuzz.com
American children are born with an innate desire to visit the land of Charles Eugene Cheese. My daughter was no exception.
For months, I turned down her requests with distractions and excuses. Then my best friend told me about how he never got to go as a kid.
This was my chance. I could be the coolest dad/friend in town and make two dreams come true in one fell swoop.
It was a nightmare.
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Posted by
Shannon M. on
Saturday, February 18th, 2012
Image source: sfgate.com
When you find out you’re expecting your first child, everything changes. After I learned I was going to be a father, I suddenly transformed into a geriatric driver – every pot-hole, dip, or detour posed a potential threat. In other words, I became one of those annoyingly slow drivers I once cursed.
Parenthood also found me, for the first time, really considering where I live. In my younger days, I valued a city based on its nightlife, job opportunity, and the dating scene. When I became a dad, though, I began looking at cities based on student-teacher ratios, museums, city parks, and public safety records. In my research (and personal experience), I found these five American towns to be some of the more family-friendly:
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Posted by
admin on
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
Image source: bromwell.dpsk12.org
Being a parent typically means spending countless hours at the park. In the early years, you’ll be on swing-pushing duty much of the time. However, as your child gets older, he or she will play with other kids more and pay attention to you less. This is when you find yourself hanging out with the other abandoned parents. Most of the people I’ve met are perfectly enjoyable. There are a few you should be prepared for though.
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Posted by
admin on
Tuesday, February 7th, 2012
- Image source: thereelbits.com
Remember when Tom Selleck’s character read a detailed article about a boxing match to the baby in Three Men and a Baby? Well, the content may not have been ideal, but he had the right idea. Several studies have shown that kids who are exposed to reading before preschool are more likely to do well in all facets of formal education, which is just one of the many reasons you should start reading to your children at an early age and keep reading to them even when they are old enough to do it themselves. Here are a few of my favorite bedtime stories to get you started.
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Posted by
admin on
Saturday, February 4th, 2012
Image source: parentingclan.com
Some people think you have to spend a lot of money or go on a fancy vacation to share something special with your child, but you really don’t. The most memorable experiences I’ve had with my daughter came from doing the simplest things together. Here are a few examples.
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