Parenting Articles

Shockingly, 2% to 6% of the general public had engaged in self-harm at least once in their lifetime. Where the peak of self harm actions are among students, ages 16 - 22, see falls in 13% to 35%. For most, the problem will resolve before adulthood but sadly, 10% of the remaining still continues to self harm throughout their adult lives.

Children do not come into this world able to care of themselves. In the beginning they are dependent upon their parents for everything, but gradually they learn to wash, dress and feed themselves. Typically, a child will master daily self-care skills with relative ease. Many are self-motivated as is demonstrated by the words of a young child who wants to be like mom or dad, “I do myself.” Of course they can easily revert to “I can’t do,” within the next second.

What is Self Respect? It is to have pride and knowledge of one's own worth, to value one's self. To have due respect for oneself, one's character, and one's conduct. With self respect we like ourselves because of who we are and not because of what we can or cannot do. Respect is earned, not ...

The jury is out on whether video games are safe for children. Experts agree, however, that too much time spent playing video games can be unhealthy for kids of all ages. In general, you should be worried if your child spends more than 30 hours a week playing video games or if other areas of his or her life, such as grades or friends, have suffered. If you suspect that your child may be addicted to video games, here are five strategies to help wean him or her from the screen.

I have been a single mom for 12 years. I had both of my children outside of marriage and they are from different men. I could be ashamed and for a long time I was. I could barely hold my head up on some days. It seemed like everyone was looking down on me and criticizing me about my life ...

We always have a choice, in every given moment, to be, act and communicate in whatever way we do, however, most of the time we do it unconsciously. We’ve heard it, read it or have said it many times…kids don’t come with a manual and we all do the best we can with what we know!

How Resilient Are Children Really? By Jennifer McLeod When a crisis or traumatic situation occurs we often hear people say something like “he/she will be fine. Children are very resilient. They will pull through it.” Yes children and young people will “pull through” it but at what cost? At what cost to themselves? At what cost to society? Let’s consider for a moment an adult experiencing a similar or the same traumatic experience, e.g. bereavement or marriage break up.

Being a single mother, most of us happen to have a hard time getting into a serious relationship. Almost all the time it always ends up to a short lived love affair. There are some men who thought that when you are a single mother, you are that desperate to have a relationship and most likely more desperate to have sex. Most single moms have a lot of experiences when it comes to indecent proposals for quite a few men of different age brackets. But mostly the old married ones are more prominent and more vocal about their desires.

Who Are They? All children have the natural intelligence of intuition (II). Some children are highly skilled or gifted in this talent in the same way that others have a talent for math, music, languages or physical dexterity.

Child rearing methods like a legacy is passed on from one generation to another. Every new mom and dad is lumbered with oodles of advices regarding child care and parenting. Little we know that, parenting is all together a unique and different experience for every parent. Every set of parents face their own set of challenges and problems. So, it is not advisable to be guided by redundant myths and rumors. Following are some of the common myths along with their facts- Myth #1:

Lately there seems to be a renewed debate amongst the parenting community about gun control. I have read numerous articles and seen many programs on the issue. Most suggest that guns should not be in a home with children and if you must have guns in the home then they need to be properly ...

In the field of behavioral health, there is a reason persons under the age of eighteen cannot be diagnosed with a personality disorder, (Axis II). The reason is, with intensive psychotherapy and familial support; young persons have been known to make significant changes to detrimental aspects of ...

Waking up a few days ago, who would have guessed that it would be my last normal morning; that this could happen to my fit, athletic and what I considered to be a very co-ordinated body…but it was...and it did! I often get bursts of inspiration and creativity when I get home from my runs and this day was no exception. As I left my computer to go upstairs to greet my daughter, I was still in that great energized space. Upon taking my first step towards the staircase, I suddenly noticed that my left leg was asleep…I had been sitting for over an hour in the same position.

Why are temper tantrums so difficult for parents to handle? Besides the fact that they’re loud, annoying and embarrassing, we often feel it’s our job requirement to make our kids act the way we feel they should behave. If we can’t do that, we feel ineffective. We also don’t like the judgments that we imagine others are making of us when our kids are out of control. We don’t know what to do, but feel we must do something—after all, we are the parents.

We often hear conce s from parents about the “secret language” teens use on their technology, so-called webspeak used as shorthand in texting and instant messaging (IM’ing). Like many things, this language is another area for parents to learn and connect with their teen. To ease parents’ fears, we offer these 5 tips from experts: 1. The impact on language remains minimal. Parents and teachers have worried that the poor grammar and misspellings in texting language has had a n

Last night Tom’s daughter, Sue, came out of her room to see her dad and said, “I got another one of those instant messages. It says, ‘tomorrow you had better not show up at school or else‘.” She has been getting messages like this now for weeks. The result of this is that she no longer likes to turn her computer on.nnSue is now 14 years-old and in the 8th grade. She has been bullied at school for a number of years and they have had a difficult time getting the Princ

First, examine the underlying factors of your teenager’s behavior. Many parents are in such a rush to “fix” things that they end up treating the symptom instead of the cause. While some teenager rebellious behavior is typical and even developmentally appropriate, there are many situations where the defiance is actually a symptom of something much deeper. The best thing you could do is to start with the understanding that this isn’t about the parent, it’s about the t

Communication...it is the root of many misunderstandings and conflicts that we experience in our relationships, whether it is with our partner, our parents, our kids, friends, siblings, bosses or anyone! Sometimes we may keep silent because we don’t know how to say what we want to say and other times we might be afraid to speak up because we don’t want to hurt someone else’s feelings or we’re nervous of their reaction. It takes practice to learn how to communicate from our hearts and share how we are feeling without making the person we are talking to wrong or responsible.

nAn inappropriate soiling without evidence of fecal constipation and retention is referred to as “nonretentive encopresis. Signs and symptoms of nonretentive encopresis include:nn• Soiling accompanied by daily bowel movements that are normal in size and consistencynnThere is rarely an identifiable organic cause for nonretentive encopresis. A medical assessment is usually normal. A full developmental and behavioral assessment is necessary to determine if the child is ready

Every child has a dream of what they want to be when they want to grow up.

Reading – The Key to Success Reading skill is essential to learning all other subjects taught in school. The better the reading skills children have and the earlier they have them determines how rapidly and how well they will achieve in school. Failure to be able to read at grade level by 8 years old is predictive of future learning and behavior problems. There is no reason why a child with average intelligence cannot achieve this goal with early and appropriate reading instruction. Encouraging Reading Parents are the first and best teacher.

Carrying a baby in your womb for nine months and eventually bringing the baby home is a beautiful experience. However, what follows after this can be exhilarating and exhausting. I know the feeling that every mother has when they know they have a little being to take care of. This shows that as a responsible mom, you should at all costs arm yourself with all the tips and tricks of ensuring your child has all that she needs. To make this a reality, you have to buy all the newb

One of the many problems for children exposed to domestic violence, is that for some, it comes to be included amongst their own interpersonal management strategies. Children exposed to domestic violence learn the use of violence as a strategy to mediate their needs and wants. They see the ...

Spousal maintenance helps you to run family expense and meet your daily needs. It is a necessary financial support for a partner to lead an independent life after divorce & separation. Spousal maintenance is a form of financial assistance paid by either the wife or the husband to support various types of expenses. It means it could payment of bills such as mortgage payments, utility bills, health insurance child education and other household expenses. This financial support c

As my daughter turns thirteen, I figure it is time to seek advice on how as a parent I should handle the defining years ahead. I attended a seminar by Ken Sapp on ‘Preparing Youth to Handle Peer Pressure’. (See acknowledgement at end of article).nnIn this article, I share some of his main points, and add in a number of ideas that struck me as I ponder the subject. nnTimes have changed since the 1950s. Back then, teenagers were shaped primarily by home, school and

Parents influence their children in many ways, but none may be more significant than the quality of the relationship between parents and their children. The quality of the relationship between parents and their children exerts one of the strongest influences upon child behavior. When parents and their children clash, their children cannot demonstrate their best behavior. Any parent who wants help in dealing with a challenging child behavior problem will find at least some rel

If you think backtalk is something you have to endure as a parent or have to control with strict limits and consequences, you are mistaken. If you follow 5 simple steps in the proper order you will dramatically reduce backtalk and become closer with your child than you ever imagined. • Connect • Calm • Listen • Limits • Fresh Start Do you find your frustration building when the simplest request you make of your child results in backtalk? The natural response is to react to the backtalk by attempting to shut it down. After all, our goal is to stomp it out, right?

Ian and Jen Stoddart are the parents of Holden. Exercising is important to them. Jen is a jogger and when Holden was born it was important to her that she was able to continue jogging. To do this she needed to purchase a jogging stroller that she could use when jogging or walking Holden. She also wanted a stroller that she could use when out shopping with Holden. This e-book explains the factors that Ian and Jen considered when they purchased their jogging stroller.nnWeight a

Why do kids blame others for their own mistakes? Don't they know that blaming brings trouble? Look inside to find out the benefits of blaming and what you can do to build character. Why Kids Blame: Blaming is a smoke screen. Sooner or later the smoke dies down and the blamer is caught. Most kids live in the moment. They don't think about smoke screens. They think blaming will save them from: 1. Trouble because to them trouble is a disaster. 2. Punishment because they think punishment is unbearable. 3.

Do you remember that phase in your child's life when all you heard was "I want to do it!"? You're in a hurry, and you want to help your child get dressed, but your two or three year old will have no part of that. You must wait for 15 minutes while she masters the socks and shoes. Your helpful child, at this age, wants to take out the trash, put away the silverware, bake cookies, and clean the bathroom. What on Earth happens to this independent child?nnNot all children, but ma

When Things Go Wrong: Trauma and Our Youngest Children nnOur children's nightmares are filled with the dangers and fears that span development from infancy into adulthood. These bedrock fears -- of losing our lives or the lives of those we love and upon whom we depend, of losing the love of others and the love of ourselves, of damage to our bodies and impairment of functioning, of losing control of our urges, feelings, and rational thought, and of losing the order and structu

An old saying goes, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” While that’s true, I believe we can speed up the process. Following are 12 suggestions both teachers and parents can implement to get kids motivated this coming school year. 1. Create curiosityr

Some children think they’re the center of the universe, and behave as if everyone should revolve around them like the planets orbit the sun. From the 10-year-old “diva” who demands center stage at all times to the 17-year-old who takes out his frustrations on his family when his girlfriend breaks up with him, this attention-seeking behavior can be exhausting for everyone. When it starts affecting everyone around your child in a negative way, it’s time for you, as a parent, to act. Parents often naturally make their children feel like they’re the center of the universe.

Are you going to be a first time mom? Giving birth to your first child might seem a little intimidating at first, but some advanced preparations would make it a lot easier. Go for pre-natal classes. They would help a lot. Breathing exercises during labor would help you manage the pain and stop yourself from pushing before time. Learn to relax. During the early stages of labour, breathe deeply, in and out in rhythm. When the contractions come and it is time to push baby out,

The current schedule of CDC-recommended vaccines is so crowded that doctors administer several shots during a single office visit, often with disastrous results. For example, infants receive eight vaccines during their two-month visit to the doctor: diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP), polio, hepatitis B, Hib, pneumococcal and rotavirus. This regimen is repeated at four months, and again at six months. (The flu vaccine may also be given at six months -- nine chemical and

Recently, I got into the car to make a quick trip to the store. I popped in a CD, Michael W. Smith’s "Healing Rain." The second track on the CD is the song "Healing Rain." As I listened to it, the Holy Spirit came over me so strongly that I began to weep. I have always believed that this is truly an anointed song. It has spoken to me for a number of years. Michael repeats over and over again “healing rain is coming down, healing rain is coming down, don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid of healing rain.” On a cognitive level, why would someone be afraid of healing? Healing is good, right?

There are two ways of spreading light - to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it - Edith Wharton It is looking around the world, at what is happening with starving people and violence, which makes me feel small and helpless sometimes. I can remember thinking about it ever since I was 15 ...

I am often told by parents that they are tired of having to nag their kids all the time. Not only do they hate to have to nag, but their kids hate it and consequently start tuning them out even more. But, “if I stop nagging” they ask me, “how do I get them to follow the ...

Successfully raising a child and having a great relationship at the same time is becoming more challenging. Parents are finding their credibility and power dropping as the Internet takes more powerful roles in our children’s lives. The old rules aren’t working, and the new ones are ...

To raise a child smart and bright, nThe "tools" you use, are must be right!nnTo build a long-lasting beautiful house you will need: the right tools, the high quality material and a knowledgeable person to do that. Nobody will start building a house without proper education, great understanding and a proven plan. And no house can be built without strong and solid foundation. nnDon’t you agree raising an intelligent, smart child is a similar process? Don’t you think that to

Motivation is your child's North Star. It's the guiding point your child can use to reach goals. Find out right now how to motivate your child with positive self-talk. “You can't make me!” shouted the young girl. Her mother looked down and walked away. If you have an unmotivated child, don't give up. Don't walk away. Why Raising a Motivated Child is Crucial to an Enthusiastic Life

How to teach your child about loyalty? As your children begin elementary school they learn a lot about relationships. Your daughter's best friend today may betray her trust tomorrow. Or possibly your son wants to leave his basketball team because there's someone he doesn't get along with. How do you help your child when you see her blindly following a friend or a trend? Or maybe your son keeps leaving a friendship whenever someone more interesting comes along or things become

A traditional jogging stroller will have a fixed front wheel. When using the term fixed front wheel it means that the wheel does not swivel or turn. Because of the fixed front wheel when you want to turn the stroller you tilt the stroller back onto its rear wheels to make the turn. The fixed front wheel is ideal for jogging, because it provides the stability and straight tracking that you need. Many parents that like to jog with their child want more flexibility from their

We can never escape death. It is inevitable and yet when a loved one or a close friend died we suffered a great range of emotions. We desperately try to avoid the hurt, the pain, anxiety and feelings of helplessness we feel when we lost a loved one. Then we feel like life has gone back to normal, until at least we realized that our lives changed irrevocably. Grieving for someone helps us cope and heal for the loss. The intense anguish that is heart breaking shows that a deep connection has been severed or damaged. Undoubtedly, grieving is painful but it is necessary.r

Getting ready for the day can feel like a full time job in itself. Many working mothers spend their mornings getting the kids out of bed (which sometimes takes an act of God- or at the very least, a crane and a bucket of water), finding all of those lost items that are needed for the school day, getting everyone dressed and fed, packing lunches and making sure it all happens before the bus arrives and mom fights the morning traffic to get herself to work on time (or close to

Have you taught your child about “good touch/bad touch”? That’s a good place to start, but not enough to protect your child from possible sexual abuse, according to Libby Bergman, executive director of the Center for Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment. “Children need to know the difference between what touches are acceptable and what touches are not. They also need to be taught about stranger danger, but these methods put the onus on the child.

Are you the parent of a young child, who is receiving specialneducation services, that is conce ed about whether your child has the needed skills, to learn how to read? Are you a parent of an older child with autism or a learning disability, that is conce ed about your child’s reading success. ...

Some may be excitedly anticipating their return, while others want the lazy hazy days of summer to continue well after the school bell rings. But in either case, the countdown is on…only three weeks until both students and teachers go back to the classroom. It can bring back memories of how we felt when we were kids at this time of year while also remembering which category we fell into! We all remember that special teacher. We may have been in kindergarten, grade one, four, six or ten, but somewhere in our schooling past there was one, at least one teacher who stood out from the rest!

I believe the simple principles of family harmony are three fold, when you look at your family you must look at three key elements, body, mind, and spirit. A healthy family is like a healthy body, the system works together, almost effortlessly. The brain is functioning, the heart pumps, the ...

You have a chore to do around the house and you kids want to help out somehow. You know that it might nbe nice for them to help but you're feeling a bit impatient. And you know that it might turn into a two hour project andnthere might be a big mess to clean up. A mess that could nbe avoided ...