Encouraging Creativity Through Imaginative Play: It can be tempting for people to think that either you’re born creative, or you’re not. But that’s far from the truth. In fact, there is a lot that parents, teachers, and other caregivers can do that encourages creativity in their young charges. And one of the greatest tools grownups can use
Imaginative and Creative: How Kids’ Pretend Play Encourages Creativity Read More »
While I grew up with only one living grandparent, who was always quite elderly and frail; the other three had all passed before I was born. Today, my children are blessed to have three doting grandparents in their lives. But just during their lifetimes, they’ve watched their grandparents battle cancer, heart conditions requiring surgery, joint
How To Discuss Grandparents’ Aging With Your Kids Read More »
Should I Hire a Tutor For My Child? Stress is a normal and important part of the learning process. A certain amount of stress over schoolwork can actually be good for students, as it can push them to test their limits, take risks, and reach for their potential. But if your child is struggling in
Does My Child Need a Tutor? Read More »
When I think of holidays with my family growing up, I remember all of us together. In fact, many of my memories of my family growing up involve lots of “together” time, even though my dad worked ridiculously long hours during my earliest years. When I compare that to my own family nowadays, it sometimes
Straightforward Ways To Bring Your Family Closer Together Read More »
With so much in flux in the economy these days, I know lots of families who are finding themselves suddenly on a different career track or life path than they had expected. Which means a lot of them are looking at packing up and relocating, often to a new state. Besides all the hassle of
Family Services Available for Families Moving to Alabama Read More »
Tips on How To Fall Asleep In The Heat: As longtime readers know, I am obsessed with getting a good night’s sleep. As a result, I’ve hunted down every sleep hack I can over the years, both for myself and for my sleep-challenged offspring, all in the quest of a decent night’s sleep. But sometimes
How to Sleep When It’s Hot Read More »
High School Back to School Made Easy: It’s only July, it seems as if school just let out yesterday, and yet already I’m trying to figure out how and when we’re going to squeeze in back to school shopping. I am NOT a big fan of schlepping from one store to the next, often over
Your Back To School Clothes Shopping List (High School Edition) Read More »
Kids LOVE to move. From babies who’ve just learned to crawl, to preschoolers and school-age kids enjoying the playground at recess, to older kids playing their favorite sport, children’s bodies thrive on activity. All this movement helps children become stronger and more agile, while also honing their balance; but the ability to control those movements
How Coordination Exercises Help Kids Improve Motor Skills Read More »
How Do I Know If My Child Is Dyslexic? My brother Evan was in the second grade when his teacher, Miss Shaw, changed his life by reaching out to my parents. Miss Shaw was fresh out of college, and noticed signs of a learning difference called dyslexia in my brother’s struggles with basic reading. It
A Parent’s Guide to Understanding Dyslexia Symptoms in Children Read More »
So much of the world has gone more casual in the past decade – from Michelle Obama’s famous pantyhose avoidance, to the athleisure “workwear” that became ubiquitous during the pandemic and subsequent work-from-home era – that it’s easy to forget how to dress up. (Or, for that matter, that choosing the perfect dress is even
Special Occasion Dresses: 5 Tips for Formal Dress Shopping Read More »
Leaving the hospital with your newborn feels surreal. I can still remember how strange it felt when we were discharged after Kimmie’s birth. Were they really letting us take home this tiny little infant? Were they really entrusting this little creature to our care? The fact that we’d just moved a month before Kimmie’s birth
Bringing Home Baby: Preparing for Bringing Baby Home from Hospital Read More »
Most of us who are parents now are raising children in an era unlike anything we grew up with. Artificial intelligence was the stuff of science fiction, people didn’t carry computers in their pockets because smartphones didn’t exist, and social media was also nonexistent. Thus it makes sense that figuring out how to protect your
Protect Kids Online: Do’s and Don’ts for Parents Read More »
Newborns are fragile, and they require all the care you can give. As a new parent, it is natural to feel anxious when you bring your little one home for the first time. I remember how strange it was when we left the hospital with Kimmie – Dear Husband and I kept looking at each
How to Ensure a Healthy Home Environment for a Newborn Read More »
Congratulations – you’re about to become a parent! No doubt, the choice between breastfeeding your baby and relying on baby formula has been weighing heavily on your mind. I know it was when I was pregnant with Kimmie. I thought I had it all figured out; I was going to breastfeed, case closed. Until Kimmie
5 Crucial Facts About Cow Milk-Based Baby Formula Every Parent Should Know Read More »
Congrats! You’re pregnant! Whether you’re expecting your first baby or you’re a seasoned pro, the first trimester is an exciting and often overwhelming time. Especially if this is your body’s first rodeo with being pregnant, you may have no idea what to expect. But even if you’re already a parent, each pregnancy is unique. By the time
Your First Trimester: What’s Happening at 10 Weeks Read More »
Don’t you just love the winter holiday season? So much fun family time, so many joyful celebrations, so much cozy togetherness. And with all that quality social time comes a gazillion opportunities to share germs. That’s why all mamas (really, everyone) need some good hacks on how to NOT get sick over the winter, so
How To NOT Get Sick This Winter Read More »
Best Practices for Taking a Hearing Test Online: Have you wondered whether your (or your partner’s) hearing is starting to take a nosedive? Do you have elderly parents whose hearing is compromised, but who have a hard time getting out of the house to medical appointments? Or are you just a parent wondering if your
Benefits of Online Hearing Tests for Busy Families Read More »
Awesome Pool Party Ideas for Kids: Whether you’re a family with your own pool at home, or one with a winter-birthday kiddo and a nearby hotel, there’s nothing more fun for little ones than a birthday party at the pool. Planning the perfect pool party for your little one is, in some ways, just like
How to Throw an Epic (and Safe!) Pool Party for Kids Read More »
There’s a saying that circulates among my friends and colleagues who parent children on the autism spectrum: If you know someone with autism, you know one person with autism. In other words, no two people with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis are alike, even though they may all struggle with communication skills, interpersonal relationships,
Empowering Parents: Tools and Resources for Supporting Your Child With Autism Read More »
Ah, those carefree days when my kids were in elementary school! It seems as if we had all the time in the world for things like taking them out of school for a few hours so we could get their vision checked and try on glasses. But with a middle schooler and a high schooler,
How to Order Eyeglasses Online: A Step-by-Step Guide Read More »
