January 25th, 2010 by admin
by Annye Rothenberg, Ph.D., Child/Parent Psychologist
As parents, we want our children to be accustomed to healthy eating from the earliest possible age so good nutrition will be a lifelong habit.
Young children are ready to begin to learn about nutrition (“healthy food” vs. “treat food”) and about food plans (why meals need to include each food group). These nutrition lessons will need to be repeated many times, in more detail, as your children get older and want to understand more about why. Read the rest of this entry »
January 20th, 2010 by admin
Excerpt
The following is an excerpt from the book Love, Magic & Mudpies
by Bernie Siegel, MD
Published by Rodale; November 2006;$17.95US/$21.95CAN; 1-59486-554-X
Copyright © 2006 Bernie Siegel, MD
Send Love Letters To Your Kids
Smile at your children, smile at each other — it doesn’t matter who it is — and that will help you to grow up in greater love for each other.
–Mother Teresa
It’s not enough to love your kids. You have to tell them that you love them. They need your love poem tattooed on their hearts so they can take it with them wherever they go. The famous poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote, “I love you not for what you are but for what I am when I am with you.” That’s the essence of a family. Let your children know that their mere presence makes your life better every day and that they don’t have to do anything other than be themselves to make the world a better place. That is what makes your life and theirs meaningful. Don’t just say it; write it down for them. Words seem to carry more weight when they are on paper. Write love letters to your kids, send cards, and leave notes for them around the house. Read the rest of this entry »
January 8th, 2010 by admin
By Wednesday Martin, Ph.D.,
Author of Stepmonster: A New Look at Why Real Stepmothers Think, Feel, and Act the Way We Do
The media is in love with the term “blended family.” From USA Today to Star magazine to the New York Times, from 20/20 to Oprah, there’s no escaping the articles about repartnering with children that don’t just label such families “blended,” but further suggest that “blending = success.” That is, not blended = failed stepfamily. Read the rest of this entry »
January 5th, 2010 by admin
Whose Bed Is It Anyway? Tips on Cosleeping (Bedsharing) and Room Sharing
By Kim West, LCSW-C,
Author of The Sleep Lady®’s Good Night, Sleep Tight: Gentle Proven Solutions to Help Your Child Sleep Well and Wake Up Happy
Here are some things to think about as you figure out the right and comfortable sleep-enhancing arrangement for both you and your child. Read the rest of this entry »
September 7th, 2009 by admin
The Creative Park Web site offers ideas and templates for any lesson plan with projects ranging from 3D Paper Crafts, to scrapbooks and calendars and even tips on digital photography! It is a simple and interactive way to help teach your children about geography, history, social studies, sciences and more. These smart ideas are both an easy and affordable way to turn your home into a creative, educational environment. Canon also offers a range of solutions to take these projects to the next level. To learn more, please visit http://www.learningtocreate.com.
August 31st, 2009 by admin
By Kirsten Olson,
Author of Wounded by School: Recapturing the Joy in Learning and Standing Up to Old School Culture
Schools can be frustrating and difficult places to learn, as many parents of children and young adults know. From a kid’s point of view, feedback on schoolwork is often negative, red-pencilly and snarly. Learning tasks are flattening, and opportunities to choose what will be learned are few and far between. “I’m one taco short of a combination plate,” a middle schooler recently told his mom. Fostering a kid’s potential, especially if that kid is unusual or offbeat, can be daunting. Read the rest of this entry »