Germs are everywhere, especially when you're a kid. From picking up bugs on the playground and sharing cups with friends to holding hands and touching dirty sinks in public areas, it’s likely your little one or teen has been exposed to germs and bacteria. Teaching him about cleanliness is the first step in combating illness and infections caused by harmful germs. Make learning about proper hygiene fun and a priority by enforcing healthy habits at home.
Category: Sample Work
Genetic Factors of Depression in Children
At times, the onset of depression in children is obvious. Your child may become withdrawn, irritable or even show a lack of interest in his favorite activities. Other times, signs of depression can be subtle, such as changes in appetite or sleeping habits. Depression is a serious illness that many researchers credit partially to family and genetic factors.
What Should I Be Teaching My Kid at 12 Months?
As your baby grows and begins to communicate actively with you, it’s natural to question the appropriateness of her development. Should she be forming words, walking, and showing a need for independence at this age? According to Lenora Gregory, managing director of the Nemours BrightStart early literacy program in Jacksonville, Florida, parents should always actively discuss each developmental stage with their pediatrician. Your pediatrician can point out concerns, encouragement and tips, but parents can also work to enhance a 12-month-old’s development with activities at home. Teaching your child basic skills will only further her physical, educational and emotional growth.
Raising the Stakes
Establishing routines is key to running a well-oiled household. But, how do you know when it’s time to change things up, offer your children more freedom and step up the responsibilities of each family member? “As children grow older, there are two possible pitfalls: letting them stay babies or trying to make them grow up too fast,” said Crystal Lutton, Arizona-based mom of five and author of “Grace-Based Living.” “Finding that balance of respecting them where they are is such an important thing.”
Helping My Daughter Deal With a First Crush
It’s likely you can name that first boy who you thought hung the moon. He had deep brown eyes or the latest hairstyle and stole your heart right away. Whether it was in fourth grade or junior high, the feelings of that crush were real and may have led you through an emotional roller coaster. If your daughter is starry-eyed for the first time, it’s important for parents to recognize her feelings without downplaying the crush. Help your daughter through this crucial moment in her life by discussing these affairs of the heart at her pace.
Boys’ Attachments to Dads in Child Development
When a father holds his son for the first time, a sense of pride and joy beams from his face. A young boy with an attachment to his dad often has the same look in his eyes. “The relationship a boy shares with his father is a constant in life – friendships with schoolmates, fraternity brothers and work colleagues will come and go, but the father-son relationship is one that lasts throughout life,” says Christina Steinorth, the author of “Cue Cards for Life: Gentle Reminders for Better Relationships” and a licensed psychotherapist in Santa Barbara, California, with a master's degree in marriage and family therapy. A boy’s attachment to his father directly affects his development through the years. From healthy attachments to the risks associated with over-attachment, know how to foster your son’s relationships and overall development.
How to be Independent From Parents
From day one, parents take on the role of nurturer for their children while teaching the importance of independence. As children grow up, though, it can be hard for parents to let them soar on their own, to a place where mom and dad may not be able to protect them. "Most parents who are enmeshed in their adult children's lives have good intentions, and they have a strong sense of wanting to be there or support their children," says Rachel Thomasian, a Los Angeles-based marriage and family therapist.
Planning for Baby: 10 Items You Need
As you prepare for the arrival of a new bundle of joy, begin collecting the must-haves to keep your baby safe and comfortable. “With so many baby products available on the marketplace today, parents can be confused about which items they need versus items that are less necessary or even unnecessary,” says Debra Holtzman, child safety expert and author of “The Safe Baby.” Find just what you need with this quick guide to what every new parent should buy.
Super Mom: Going Back to Work After Baby
It's time to return to work, and as a new mom, you may be dreading the day you'll be leaving your child to re-enter the workforce. But don't let guilt and anxiety get in the way of the time you have to spend with your baby. "Use that time for quality interactions and positive experiences," says Texas-based licensed counselor Aline Haeger. Those experiences will foster your love for both family and work and strengthen your role as a working super mom.
Tips for Integrating a Blended Family
Blending a family can offer rewards and challenges that strengthen the bond of your marriage and your family life. To successfully merge families, parents will need to assess and discuss their similarities and differences and how they -- and their children -- plan to compromise and cooperate. Patience, consideration and open communication are essential and will help bring about a much smoother transition for the entire family.
Shannon Philpott-Sanders 