When I was pregnant with Amelia, I had big plans for her nutrition. She wasn?t going to be one of those kids eating sweet, processed cereal bars for breakfast, or hot dogs and French fries for dinner. Oh, no. She was going to eat only fresh or minimally processed, whole grain, organic foods. She was going to eat a rainbow of fruits and vegetables each and every day. Her diet was going to be naturally vitamin-rich and full of variety, to include everything from cantaloupe to q...

Is your child super-picky? It?s sometimes tough to know whether cautious eaters, as I like to call them, are getting proper nutrition. Here are a few strategies that have worked for getting my toddler to eat her fruits and vegetables. Every kid is different, but some of these tips might just work for you, too. 1. Bake fruits or vegetables into quick bread or muffins. My daughter?s favorite are apple-banana muffins. 2. Make a yummy casserole. My girl likes rice and chees...

As a working mom, I am the queen of guilt. Every morning I drop off my little girl at the day care center, where there is a caring staff she has really bonded with. She seems happy enough most days. She will reach for the teacher as soon as she sees her, and contentedly watch as I say my ?Goodbye, baby, I love you!? and walk out the door. I keep my voice cheerful and my demeanor upbeat, but my heart always sinks into my shoes as the door shuts and I start on my way to work. ...

?I?m going to breastfeed?, is a common refrain amongst pregnant women. But what many women don?t do is to prepare for breastfeeding beforehand. They simply make the statement and then put it to the back of their minds. The next time the issue arises is often in the delivery suite when the new mum has just gone through the ordeal of childbirth. When presented with her newborn, the new mum may be exhausted and the last thing she wants is to have anyone else poking at her. Th...

Most women I know love shoes. We love to shop for them, and we?re always checking out each other?s shoes. Finding that perfect pair is like a little slice of heaven. Even so, I was amazed to find that my 17-month-old daughter already has a shoe obsession! That?s right - she?s starting early. My husband and I first noticed her fondness for shoes two or three months ago, when she began refusing to wear certain ones. I?d bring her the green pair, and she?d shake her head and ...

Even if you do not have suffered from a jealous sibling or have acted like a jealous vindictive spoiled kid against your sister or brother when you were young and immature, you have probably heard that jealousy between siblings can be a very powerful emotion leading children and parents to deal with all sorts of unexpected "thrills." Neglected older children or "babies" that cannot get over the fact that they are not alone in world compete against each other in order to gain ...

There is only a fine line that separates normal fears, diligence and mannerisms from the earliest signs of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD. The strength, frequency and intensity of OCD symptoms gradually increase; its because of this that parents and affected individuals themselves only recognize OCD symptoms as they are when its already too late. People must also know the difference between OCD and OCPD because it makes advance awareness of OCD symptoms unnecessary; ...

All child experts will tell you: one of the most important ways of encouraging your child?s interest in school is to set up his own study corner. Having a dedicated ?learning area??including a space to write and even his own Child Desk ? encourages him to focus on his homework and even enjoy it. Here?s why: No distractions When a child shares a desk or a computer table with other people, other people or the things on the desk can easily distract him. For example, he may...

One of the greatest gifts you can give your children is a love for reading. When a child discovers the world of books, he has the tools to learn much more than letters. He can now find, in the pages, doorways to other places and other lives. He can be a king conquering a dragon. A spy saving the world. A boy magician, a bandit, an island castaway, a sheriff. He can be anything, and all he has to do is to take a book, and let his imagination take flight. But before he devel...

While television and other media have made it a practice to anoint well-known celebrities as positive role models for kids, the great majority of people still believe that parents should be the foremost role models of their children. The following is a compilation of various ways that can help parents become better role models for their kids. In terms of nurturing children, the most common comment is to show your love and concern. Tell them you love them every day and show...