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Top parenting stories this week
Start Your Own Holiday Traditions
Your guide to creating your own family traditions this holiday season
by: Cheryl Tallman and Joan Ahlers
Holiday Traditions
- Plan a family potluck and have everyone bring their recipe along to start a new cookbook.
- Make homemade gifts and get your kids to help.
- Create a delicious holiday cider (recipe below!) and serve it every year.
- Volunteer as a family–it’s a great way to show children of all ages the true meaning of Christmas.
oliday traditions make for fond memories and great stories. Traditional holiday meals and rituals from your past are a great place to start, but it’s fun to get creative and make some holiday traditions unique to your family. Here are some ideas to get you started: To view the full story click here.
A Safe and Fun Halloween
How to make Halloween safe and fun for your child.
by: Paula Statman
Halloween Safety
- Discuss Halloween safety tips with all of your children, no matter what age they are.
- Empower your kids by teaching them exactly what to do instead of warning them about what could happen if they disobey. (Fear disables kids and prevents them from thinking on their feet.)
- When you're out trick-or-treating, only visit well-lit homes and stay on porches rather than entering people's homes.
- If they're out with other kids, attach their names and addresses inside their costumes.
- To prevent falls and other injuries, make sure your child's costume fits properly and is no longer than her ankles. Use makeup or face paint as opposed to masks that might block her vision.
ere's how to keep your tiniest ghosts and goblins protected while having fun on Halloween. To view the full story click here.
Raise a Street Smart Child
Building street smarts will help keep your child safe.
by: Paula Statman
Street Smarts
- As soon as your toddler says her first words, it's time to start talking to her about safety.
- Don't frighten your child by expressing your own fears–instead, be matter-of-fact when discussing sensitive issues.
- Teach your child to listen to her instincts and know it's okay to say "no" to anyone acting inappropriately.
- Use the five P's–protect, prepare, practice, praise, preview–to teach your child new skills.
- Children who are loved unconditionally feel more worthwhile and are less likely to mistreat others, or allow someone to mistreat them.
t's not easy to admit how scary our world can be–especially to our children. Here's how to create a street smart child without making your child fearful. To view the full story click here.
Couple Time After Baby
Any kind of getaway is an important time to reconnect with your partner – here's how to do it worry free
by: Sydney Loney
Couple Time
- If you’re worried about leaving your baby, start with small outings.
- Leaving your kids can actually help reduce separation anxiety and gives older children a sense of competence.
- Doing lots of practice runs with your caregiver will make everyone feel more comfortable and relaxed.
- If you can’t get away on your own, take a family holiday where you can still build in alone time.
ven if it’s just a dinner date, time away from the kids is important, but many women are caught between bonding with their partners and worrying about their children, says parenting expert Jennifer Kolari. Here’s how to take the time you need – without the worry. To view the full story click here.
How to Manage March Break
Your guide to a low-key, stress-free week the whole family can enjoy
by: Sydney Loney
March Break Survial Guide
- Allow your child to experience a healthy amount of boredom.
- Create an exploding craft cupboard for days when you run out of ideas.
- Don't feel you have to be endlessly entertaining–let your child explore their creativity.
- Plan some fun, one-on-one time that you and your child can both enjoy.
arch Break doesn’t need to be a frenzy of planning, organizing and rushing from one activity to the next, says parenting expert Ann Douglas. “You can use this time to teach your children some new skills, develop their curiosity and help them learn to cope with boredom by tapping into their creativity,” she says. Here’s how:
To view the full story click here.
