From the category archives:

Tween

When Sorry Doesn’t Cut It

February 5, 2010
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I see parents make this mistake all the time… When their child does something mean and hurtful to another child, they tell their own child to apologize, then everyone moves on with their lives. Everyone except the child who got hurt. Let’s get one thing straight: forcing your child to say sorry doesn’t solve the [...]

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An Answer for Everything

February 3, 2010

Does your child have an answer for everything? Does your child make up excuses to explain why he or she chooses to do (or not to do) something? Michele Cheplic of Families.com shares a cute anecdote about her five-year-old daughter, who pretty much has the last say in many of their verbal exchanges. After telling [...]

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Is the iPad For You and Your Kids?

February 3, 2010

New products are introduced everyday, and for some reason parents tend to freak out… Take the newly launched Apple iPad, for example. Immediately following the introduction of the iPad, critics come out from nowhere and jump on technology’s case, arguing that the product is harming teens. I can understand why some parents may think that [...]

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Female Teachers to Blame

February 3, 2010

Is your daughther struggling at math? Is her teacher female? If you replied “yes” to both questions, you may have your answer as to why your daughter may be having a hard time understanding math. According to the Associated Press, researchers from the University of Chicago found that female teachers pass on their math anxieties [...]

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Helping Siblings Be Friends Forever

February 1, 2010

For many of you, one child is more than enough. One child can take up all your time… how do you make room for two children? Not only would you have to manage your finances better for two children, you’d also have to worry about whether they get along with each other. I’m very fortunate [...]

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Getting the Wiggles Out Before Lunch

January 29, 2010

Back when I was in elementary school, recess came after lunch. I never really wondered why. Maybe school administrators wanted kids to do the work first (eat) then play later. But some schools are now trying a new approach. It’s recess first, then lunch. Schools that implement this schedule see many benefits of letting kids [...]

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What Role Does Age Play in Academic Success?

January 29, 2010

Two kids: a fourth grader and a fifth grader. The fifth grader is “smarter” and more academically successful than the fourth grader. But the reason doesn’t necessarily have to do with the age difference. The smartest kids aren’t smarter because they’re older; instead, it has to do with the family they were born in, and [...]

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Two Mommies As Good As Mom and Dad

January 29, 2010

Have you ever wondered whether a family with two mommies would be as good of parents as one with a mommy and daddy? Many researchers have, for decades now. Judith Stacey, a professor of sociology at New York University; and Timothy J. Biblarz, charman of the sociology department at the University of Southern California, published [...]

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Family Dinners

January 28, 2010

No time to spend with family? Feel like you never bond with your kids? Here’s a solution: Have more family dinners. “Too busy” is not a reason, it’s an excuse. We all have to eat in order to stay alive. Unless you and your family are superheroes with the ability to not have to ever [...]

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Children Hear Voices

January 28, 2010

If your kids tell you they’re hearing voices, most likely there is nothing to worry about. According to a study that looked at 3,870 Groningen (The Netherlands) kids ages 7-9 years, only 1 in 10 of those kids said they hear voices. Hearing voices that aren’t really there may be a sign of schizophrenia and [...]

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Kids and Snacks

January 27, 2010

You take your kids to the movie theater, and in addition to buying the movie tickets, what else do your kids want? Popcorn and soda…and maybe some candy. You try to resist giving in, but then they start tugging at your sleeves, pouting, stomping, screaming and crying. In the end your kids get their snacks. [...]

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Raising Kids to Be Independent

January 27, 2010

Imagine your child 20 years from now still depending on you for financial help, calling you, asking for rides and complaining about how their pancakes didn’t have a smiley face made out of strawberries and bacon. Oh yeah, and they refuse to move out. Some may like the idea of a child still needing their [...]

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Dry Air

January 27, 2010

January can be a busy month for you and your kids. Winter break has ended, you’re sending them back to school, you’re writing “Thank You” notes for the holiday gifts you and your family received, and everyone in your family is trying to keep up with their New Year’s resolutions. With the many tasks that [...]

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Don’t Eat Cereals That Change the Color of Milk

January 27, 2010

I’m guilty of this… I sometimes eat cereals that change the color of my milk. Like Trix and Fruit Loops. If you let your kids eat those kinds of cereals, too, consider this: There’s a reason why the the cereal is making the color of your milk change. Michael Pollan, author of Food Rules: An [...]

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Bad Friends

January 26, 2010

You may disagree, but I think there are very few “good friends” out there. In grade school there are basically four groups of people: the ones that your kids don’t want to be friends with, the ones your kids don’t know, the ones that are merely acquaintances, and the ones that are considered “good friends.” [...]

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The Good Thing About Sharing a Room

January 26, 2010

What’s the one good thing about sharing a room? In The Parenting Post, a blog on Parenting.com, a blogger finds that one good thing about sharing a room is when she can put both her kids in their cribs with some toys. That’s when she finally has some time for herself. I think sharing a [...]

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Turn It Off

January 25, 2010

What did kids do before computers and text messaging and MP3 players? As someone who grew up in this day and age I don’t know if I can answer that question. Can you? According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, kids 8-18 years old spend close to 7.5 hours a day with entertainment media like texting, [...]

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Why Kids Learn Less When Schools Get Rid of Recess

January 25, 2010

Forty percent of elementary schools across the U.S. have either eliminated or considered eliminating recess. Now that probably doesn’t sound like a big deal to you, because it reassures you that your kids are spending more time learning in school, but let’s be careful here… Recess is a GOOD thing, believe it or not. My [...]

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Blood Pressure

January 25, 2010

Checking blood pressure is often associated with grown-ups, but it’s time to get in the habit of checking your child’s blood pressure. According to Dr. Sue Hubbard, “the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children, beginning at the age of three years, should routinely have their blood pressure checked.” Three years old! Can you [...]

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Boost Your Kids’ School Success

January 22, 2010

We’re not all born rich. Many of us have to work to get to where we are now. But even if we are getting by, doesn’t it seem like having extra money to spare is rare? You may not have the money to hire private tutors to boost your kids’ school performances, but when it [...]

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Reading to Alzheimer’s Grandparents

January 22, 2010

One of my greatest fears is forgetting. Forgetting memories, good and bad. That’s one reason why I’ve taken up the habit of journaling again. Unfortunately, those with Alzheimer’s can’t help it if they forget. It’s something that’s out of their control. A blogger on BlissTree.com (Mary Emma Allen) tells a story of how she takes [...]

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Concussions Not Taken Seriously

January 21, 2010

Concussions, as MayoClinic.com defines them, “temporarily interfere with the way your brain works. They can affect memory, judgment, reflects, speech, balance and coordination.” The most important term in that definition is “brain.” Concussions affect the brain, the part of your body with neurons that don’t grow back once they’ve been destroyed. So why aren’t people [...]

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Make it a plan this year to take your kids camping!

January 21, 2010

If you ask those who frequently camp, they’ll tell you it’s a great activity because it’s fun to do with the family, it’s memorable, and it gives everyone a chance to enjoy each other’s company. I’d add that it takes away some of your worries back at home–the only thing you need to worry about [...]

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PTSD

January 21, 2010

Did you know that over 3 million children are currently diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? With the earthquake that occurred in Haiti, that number will surely increase. In a nutshell, PTSD is an anxiety disorder that people develop AFTER having experienced a traumatic event, such as accidents, natural disasters, or domestic abuse. It’s [...]

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Valentine’s Day Ideas for Kids

January 20, 2010

Valentine’s Day isn’t just a holiday for two people in love to share. You can share it with your kids, too. More importantly, you can teach your kids that February 14th is a day for all kinds of love. Make your kids’ Valentine’s Day this year a memorable one, not because of the candy and [...]

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Today’s Girls Have Become Boys

January 20, 2010

Have today’s girls become more like boys? A blog on Cafe Mom claims: yes, today’s girls have become boys. I say absolutely not! What does it mean to be boy-like anyway? The writer claims that if you swear, get drunk, punch or hit, don’t have manners, then you are a boy. According to her, girls [...]

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Blame Barbie

January 19, 2010

Kids these days are growing up faster and faster. By growing up I mean doing things like dressing trendier, wearing make-up, and getting boyfriends, all at earlier ages. Does this come as a surprise to you? A blogger on Single Mom Survives tells a story of something that her daughter did in front of her [...]

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Mommy, Who Is Martin Luther King?

January 18, 2010

If your kids are wondering why they don’t have to go to school today, let them know it’s because of Martin Luther King, Jr. Ask them if they know anything about MLK and listen to what they share with you… If you want a short way to describe him to your young kids, try something [...]

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Praising Kids and Music

January 18, 2010

Here’s a quick test for you: Question: Your son or daughter has been practicing the same part on the piano for over an hour now. He/she still can’t get that part right, and you’re getting frustrated – not only have you spent a while helping your child, but practicing hasn’t shown any progress. What do [...]

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Students Today Deal With More Stress

January 18, 2010

According to a study led by Jean Twenge, a psychology professor of San Diego State University, students today are dealing with more anxiety and other mental health issues than youth during the Great Depression era. As a parent, you read this and think, what can I do to help my kids? For starters, open those [...]

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Attention Walmart Shoppers: Today we have a special in children’s jewelry

January 18, 2010

Walmart and other retailers around the country have taken the initiative to pull jewelry and toys from their shelves after The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) launched an investigation with findings that many toys and jewelry had high levels of cadmium, a toxic metal known to cause cancer. Dr. Jeffrey Weidenhamer, a professor of chemistry [...]

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How To Say I Love You To Your Kids on Valentine’s Day

January 15, 2010

February 14th. Some kids love that day, and others hate it with a strong passion… (I know this year I’ll hate it.) But wait a minute, Valentine’s Day doesn’t just have to be a holiday for boyfriends and girlfriends. It could be for you and your children, too. Use this day to show your kids [...]

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Tracking Kids By GPS

January 15, 2010

The technological advances that are available to you can make you do crazy things, like using a GPS to track your kids when they’re away at school or on a field trip. The idea may sound pretty awesome at first, because you may think you won’t have to constantly worry about your kids’ safety while [...]

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Teens Need More Sleep

January 14, 2010

Teens need more sleep. That can’t be any truer. I remember in high school, I wouldn’t go to sleep until around 1 a.m., then would have to get up for school at 6:45 a.m. I’m still in awe at how I managed to keep that routine every school day. I would catch up on sleep [...]

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Helping Adolescents Cope With Social Cruelty At School

January 14, 2010

Just Parenting Advice recently posted an article about bullying and what you can do to help your kids if they are being bullied at school. Carl Pickhardt, Ph.D., has something to add to that. Social cruelty at school is no fun, especially for the victims and their parents… What you can do as a parent [...]

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The Skinny on Sugar

January 14, 2010

You can’t avoid sugar. Sugar is everywhere. Even foods that say sugar-free sometimes mean that there is no ADDED sugar, but natural sugar is still there. Our bodies need sugar; it’s a form of energy. Your kids need energy to perform in school and keep up with their extracurricular activities. I know that for me, [...]

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Are Your Kids Googling These (Jaw-Dropping) Popular Search Words?

January 13, 2010

Your kids are searching “Miley Cyrus” or “Taylor Swift” on the Internet. Okay, no big deal. It’s when they’re entering keywords like “sex” and “porn” that you should begin to worry and intervene. Think they’d never do something like that? Don’t be so sure. Check out this list of the most popular searches kids’ made [...]

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Why You Should Teach Your Kids To Talk To Strangers

January 13, 2010

You may actually be doing your children harm if you forbid them to talk to strangers. (No, I’m not crazy! Hear me out…) For instance, if your child got separated from you in a public setting, would he or she feel comfortable going up to a stranger and letting them know they needed help? Would [...]

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The 3 C’s Your Kids Need You To Teach Them

January 13, 2010

One of the most rewarding things about being a parent is being able to teach your kids what they can’t learn in school. Your kids’ teachers will take care of the reading, writing and arithmetic; you can take care of nurturing the 3Cs: creativity, curiosity & courtesy. Be a smart parent by NOT focusing just [...]

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Preventing Teen Drug Use

January 12, 2010

Now, you can’t just tell your kids that drugs are bad, and expect them to listen to you. You know teens – what you tell them goes through one ear and out the other. If you resort to yelling and scolding, your teens will definitely not listen to you. Stay calm. Don’t be harsh or [...]

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