Children today are being exposed to more technology than ever before and faring better on it than their parents. But, it seems that many are engaging in less free play time than their parents. Is all of this advanced technology exposure truly advantageous to our young ones’ minds or is it somewhat detrimental to their young bodies?
For most kids, their favorite veggie is….french fries. While fries are indeed made of a vegetable, the potato is not generally considered to have high nutritional value. And when deep fried, potatoes really don’t make for the best choice of veggies. In fact, even the French are amazed at the fascination of American children (and adults!) with our freedom fries. So how can parents help their children make better vegetable choices that are more nutritious as well?
It goes without saying that our actions as parents can greatly influence our own children’s behavior. While there is something to be said about your child’s natural disposition due to his or her genetic make-up, there is also quite a lot to be said about the environment in which you raise your child. Is it a calm and loving environment? Or is it one filled with stress and tension?
If your child throws tantrums, rest assured you are not alone. Most toddlers throw a tantrum at one time or another. But when this becomes an all too frequent scenario, the situation can quickly become overwhelming for any parent or caregiver. The (distant!) consolation is that most children tend to outgrow this by the age of 4 or 5. But how can you manage to live through these frightening scenes…right here and now?
How often has your child gotten out of his or her bed claiming to be afraid of the dark? In their early toddler years, children begin to develop much more vivid fears and insecurities. Most of this stems from the anxiety of not wanting to be separated from his or her parents. At the end of a long day of activities, a child already has enough trouble winding down. Then when placed in a dark room – alone! – it is no wonder that a child becomes a bit anxious at the thought that they are being left by themselves and that their parent may never return.
When most of us parents were growing up, things sure were different. Video games were just starting to make their way into our homes, but they were not necessarily interactive. Nowadays, kids have an inexhaustible list of options for educational, interactive activities and games. The digital world is their oyster. But when exactly should they begin dipping their toe in that digital pond?
Parents are supposed to care for and protect their children. Yet, when the pressures of a traumatic situation are added to the mix, even parents can be pushed to the normal limits of what they can handle. The Iraq War was no exception. Many families lost relatives and friends during the conflict in Iraq, leaving the typical Iraqi family unit shattered. Iraqis, who tend to rely on extended family members to instill the fundamental values of respect and value, were left without this core support as family units were destroyed by the ravages of war. Without this traditional infrastructure, the remaining family is now left struggling to pass along these values.
Most parents become overly concerned with how to handle tantrums during the infamous terrible twos stage. Many new parents don’t realize that tantrums can actually manifest themselves in older children as well. So how can you effectively deal with tantrums during this later stage?
Getting a baby to fall asleep and stay asleep are two slightly different things. For most new parents, a baby’s sleep cycle can seem puzzling. Aren’t babies supposed to just eat and sleep for hours on end? Sometimes it is just not that easy. In fact, newborns tend to awaken easily because they are typically in a light state of sleep called “active sleep”. This means that your baby can sometimes be easily awakened at the slightest noise or glimmer of light. So when your little one does not seem to want to cooperate, rather than throwing your hands up in despair, here are a few tips for ensuring that your baby falls asleep and stays in a deeper state of sleep!
As a parent, things can get a bit overwhelming on a daily basis. With all of the added responsibilities of being a parent, you may find yourself having some difficulty controlling your anger. So when things don’t go smoothly, your frustrations may be quick to surface. Keeping your anger in check can be a challenge especially when it is time to discipline your child. How can you make sure that you can properly discipline your children when you are brimming over with anger?