Ahh, the tween years. Has it really been 12 years since the little bundle came home from the hospital? New parents think that if they can only make it through potty training and toddler separation anxiety, the rest will be a piece of cake. As a parent who has lived to tell the tale a few times over, I?m here to tell ya, ?It Ain?t So.? You think you had it bad when little Susie cut her bangs into some crazy porcupine looking do at the sweet age of 3? Just wait until same da...

Choosing a baby name can be difficult. At first it seems like a fairly straight forward task but when it comes to settling on the final name there is so much choice and the result is often so final that the task can become difficult. If you are choosing a name before the baby is born and you do not know the baby?s sex then the task is doubly difficult as you need to have made two selections. So how can you make the job easier and more enjoyable? First consider the type of ...

As people, we all fear abandonment. We look upon the abandonment of a child with a very deep sense of sadness. We realize that no child should be left to grow alone. We see the infancy of a child as a crucial stage to his/her development as a human being. Child adoption is sometimes seen as a solution to the ever-increasing number of abandoned children every year. Child adoption bridges the gap between children who have no parents and adults who have no children. ...

If you are like me (and thousands of other people) we all have dangerous household cleaners in our home. In fact, kids, and even teens, are at risk with these dangerous cleaners in our home. Cleaning the kitchen can be hard work. Most people have a variety of household cleaners under the sink for each cleaning problem. To get things clean it takes a lot of muscle and ?elbow grease? to get the job done. Unfortunately, the harder you work, the more you breathe in dangerous f...

So your daughter wants to be Wonder Woman for Hallowe?en, or your son wants to be Batman. They?re both morally appropriate superheroes, and you don?t see any problem with that. But what should you pay attention to in keeping your children?s costumes appropriate? Playing with Guns One of the major factors in keeping your child?s costume appropriate is making sure that it isn?t violent. Some parents choose to allow their children to play with guns and other weapons. Other...

Many adolescents who have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) experience a number of behavioral and academic problems that can limit their success in interpersonal relationships, school, and individual achievement. These adolescents may lack self-control, have greater difficulty making friends and finding acceptance, be more likely to abuse substances, become involved in delinquency, or experience anxiety, mo...

Parents often struggle with knowing when it?s time to consider an out-of-home placement for a defiant teenager. This decision may seem complex at first, but is actually quite simple. The following guidelines will help you to make an informed decision. 1) Determine whether a change in the environment is needed. Youth tend to create an external environment that both complements and reflects their current attitudes and behaviors. That environment consists of the social relati...

Most mothers instinctively lovingly massage their babies. Perhaps it was by understanding this and observing the effect upon the infant that the idea of infant massage was born. Actually infant massage has been in practice for many years. But recently its popularity has taken off worldwide. It should really come as no surprise since both babies and parents enjoy the benefits. Let?s take a look at some of the benefits of infant massage below: Infant Massage Facilitates Bond...

Parenting is not something one should ever take lightly. Having children is a 24-hours business and taking good care of your kids is something you should invest time to study and learn; preferably not on their expense. But very few parents are always conscious of the fact that their present choices and behavior can and will shape the character of their kids. Treating your child with the same respect and attention you want it to treat you later is not always what parents focus...

The present threat of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) among infants has created a stir not only to mothers, but to medical experts as well. Over the years, modern science have been looking for better sleeping position that can prevent such tragedy. Among babies, sleeping on one?s back is recommended as opposed to sleeping on one?s stomach. It has been a popular myth that when babies are allowed to sleep on their backs, they are most likely to choke. This is actually no...