As we approach the holidays, our little (and big) ones want to get in the act too. They have friends they would like to give presents to. This simple guide from USA Weekend helps parents think through the best way to teach kids about responsible giving. Hint: There is a theme.
Latest Additions
'Tis The Season Tue Nov 29, 2005 11:41 pm
Surprising Secret To Help Your Child Achieve Sun Nov 27, 2005 9:25 pm
Child development experts like to use fancy words and phrases that those of us in the thick of it don’t use very often. One of these phrases is “autonomy support,” and it refers to a child-rearing approach that supports the child’s autonomy rather than emphasizing control. Several studies suggest that by using autonomy support, parents will actually encourage higher levels of achievement in their children than if they simply work to control the outcome through punishment or other means. This is an interesting concept, and one that could use a bit more definition before we can put it into practice. Good ideas don’t always come with a solid blueprint, but maybe there is a morsel of truth that can be modified appropriately for different family situations.
Preschool Teacher Education Levels Sat Nov 26, 2005 10:49 pm
With Rob Reiner’s current push for universal preschool, it bears mentioning that our early childhood educators have an abhorrently low education rate themselves. Over the last twenty years, the percentage of preschool teachers with four year college degrees has declined as the percentage with high school diplomas and some college has increased. This represents a decrease in educational requirements to become an early childhood educator, and I’m struggling to understand how we can claim such extreme benefits with a workforce in place that clearly needs more educating before they are ready to teach.
Getting Accepted Is Just The Beginning Fri Nov 25, 2005 9:57 pm
It is difficult to be a parent these days and escape the constant peer parent pressure of getting your kid into the right preschool, then the right grammar school, etc., until Junior is in the right college and you can start partying because you’ve accomplished an important milestone, right? After all, once your child is accepted to a good college, you know they’ll get a good job, and everyone can take a deep breath. Apparently, getting into college is only half the battle, according to this CNN article. In the United States, just over 50% of college entrants actually graduate, and the results vary wildly between universities. Researchers are starting to take a hard look at the reasons for this trend, but as parents, we need to help our children enter college prepared for the experience as much as possible.
Antibiotics and Lymphoma Tue Nov 22, 2005 11:02 pm
As if we don’t have enough to worry about, now a new study indicates the possibility that heavy antibiotic use in the early years can increase the risk of lymphoma. This seems to be a hypothesis at this point, and for many illnesses, we have no choice but to give our kids antibiotics, but still, it is frustrating to receive conflicting messages from the medical community. It was not long ago that another study found daycare kids to have stronger immune systems. The research is not conclusive on whether antibiotic use actually causes higher risk, or if the underlying inflammation and infections are the real culprit. Hopefully they’ll figure it out soon, because this type of finding is very significant to those of us with small children.
If You Have a Depressed Child Sun Nov 20, 2005 9:00 am
In the continuing saga of drugging children too much, now it seems that there has been a marked increase in drug therapy vs. psychotherapy for depression. If you know a child who is entering treatment for depression, please read this article and make sure that the child is not drugged as a knee-jerk reaction. It would be interesting to know how many parents try to deal with their kid’s depression at home in order to avoid drug therapy.
Colic Survival Sat Nov 19, 2005 10:03 pm
My kids never had colic, so the most I can offer parents of colicky babies is sympathy and information as I discover it. As if being a new breastfeeding mom isn’t hard enough, now the experts are saying that colic can be tamed if Mom avoids allergenic foods. There seems to be some disagreement among physicians and researchers on the validity of this theory, but many parents with colicky infants will try anything just to get some relief for their families. During the research test, a change in Mom’s foods showed a 40% reduction in colic fussing, so maybe this idea has some validity.
I Have *What* Living In My Toothbrush? Wed Nov 16, 2005 11:33 pm
I thought maybe I was nuts when I started worrying about the germs in my kids’ toothbrushes. Turns out, others have thought of this issue, and now there is a product (besides a dishwasher) to sanitize toothbrushes. If you have kids who get sick a lot, and you’d like to find ways to cut down on the spread of germs in your home, read on.
What If Your Child Doesn't Like Sports? Mon Nov 14, 2005 9:56 pm
With all the pressure on team sports like soccer and baseball these days, what is a parent to do if their child doesn’t enjoy playing sports? There are actually lots of options, and it is nice that there is an article addressing this situation. One idea offered is dancing as a “non-competitive” activity, and as a kid who danced through most of my childhood and teen years, I have to offer some correction. Dancing is very competitive, but in a different way. If you don’t think that a bunch of girls in a room compete on who can turn the fastest, jump the highest or hold their leg up for the longest period of time, think again. It is still a valuable experience for girls who may not be the soccer types, and I am glad to see parents being encouraged to help their children find an activity that will allow them to develop and shine.
It's All The Rage Sat Nov 12, 2005 10:01 pm
I remember when our pediatrician told us about organic milk, and how it may have benefits for babies. We knew all the buzzwords like “pesticides” and “growth hormones” without really understanding the issue of additives in detail. We aren’t any more informed today, but we still buy organic milk, and it is available right next to the regular milk products in the store. According to this article, an increasing number of parents are turning to organic foods for their children, even making the baby food they serve. If you are considering such a change, you are not alone, as CNN reports.
