Do you find yourself caught up in a nightly (or daily) struggle over your kids’ homework? It can be a frustration for everyone, especially if there is a lot of homework or your kids don’t understand it. And matters get even more complicated if kids lie about their homework, saying they don’t have any when…

When most of us think of discipline, we may not realize it, but we’re probably thinking of methods that are actually negative reinforcement. Punishment fits into this category, as do some consequences that are enacted in a negative way. So where does positive reinforcement fit in? Can it really help shape behavior? Positive reinforcement does…

A community with active kids tends to be a vibrant, functioning community. But how can you get your kids to be involved in your community? Here are some tips and suggestions.  Future Goals One of the things that active community involvement can do is help prepare kids for their future. So, as your kids get…

In this day and age, many parents are concerned about their children developing an “entitlement mentality”. Maybe you’re a parent who’s already seen this mentality exhibited in your kids. Teaching your kids to “pay it forward” – that is, to give back to others and their community – is a remedy of sorts for the…

Instilling values into your children is one of the most important things parents do. Many parents, though, are not sure how to go about it. A key principle or philosophy to remember is: children learn what they live.  Here are some tips on instilling values with this philosophy in mind. Criticism Psychologists say that kids…

This is a somewhat uncomfortable subject, but there seems to be a concern these days over parents who “do too much.” The problem of “learned helplessness” has reared its head lately, as children struggle to be independent after having everything done for them. Are you over-parenting? Are you doing too much for your child? How…

In today’s world, parents can easily lose sight of the fact that parenting is a relationship. Rather, we get caught up in disciplining and controlling our kids’ behavior. While discipline certainly has its place, it tends to be a lot easier if you have a foundation of respect first…and that comes from having a relationship….

Many parents who co-sleep with their infants worry about keeping them in a family bed too long.  You probably have worries about your child becoming too attached or that a toddler will affect your marital relationship.  Many families continue to co-sleep with their older children, who grow up to become healthy and well adjusted.  Just…

It seems today’s society is becoming totally apathetic to the world around them.  Many children in particular are more concerned with playing the latest video game and don’t really pay much attention to the environment around them.  It may seem hard to get your children to show an interest in the world around them, but…

Nothing can be more nerve racking for a parent than the wail of a baby who can’t be comforted.  You can lose a lot of sleep and at some points come close to losing your sanity.  While everyone has their own ideas for raising children one of the best things you can do for your…

There are a lot of different philosophies out there about how to raise your children.  One of more popular parenting philosophies that’s been publicized in the past few years is attachment parenting.  Many people don’t understand exactly what it is.  Attachment parenting is when the parents try to form a close, special bond with their…

Babies need a lot of attention and there’s a great way you can have your baby with your all day, hands free.  Imagine being able to cook, clean, shop, and play with your other children all while you baby is safely snuggled up against you.  Well you can do that and more with the art…

One of the newest trends in parenting is baby sign language.  People in the deaf community have known for years that babies could communicate through sign long before their vocal cords allow them to speak, but the trend didn’t really catch on because of the false assumption that signing led to later verbal language development….

For many parents, their worst fears are that their teen will get into trouble with drink and drugs. It is a prime time for them to experiment and try new things. Peer pressure, wanting to fit in, and the need to have fun can all lead to drink and drug issues. If your teen has…

Do you find it hard to connect with your teen? If so, you certainly aren’t alone!  Teenagers are renowned for their moody, disengaged attitude. They have a lot to deal with and the changes they experience can leave them feeling confused, frustrated and irritable.  It’s easy to forget that we parents were once teenagers ourselves….

Remember how challenging and exhausting the toddler stage was? When you’re parenting a teenager, there are moments when you’d give anything to go back to those simpler times! Parenting teens can be a real challenge. You’ve heard the horror stories, but nothing can really prepare you for the struggles to come. So, why are teens…

Raising a teenager isn’t easy. It can feel like everything is a battle as they try to push boundaries. And while it’s important to set boundaries and stay firm, it’s also crucial to know which battles to let go. Here, we’ll look at some of the battles you should absolutely let go, and which ones…

Does it feel like mission impossible trying to get your teen to help out around the house? It’s not uncommon for teenagers to resist doing chores, particularly when they are going through a lazy phase.  While it may be a battle to start with, there are some tips you can try to get your teen…

Has your teen started hanging with the wrong crowd? It’s easy for teenagers to develop inappropriate friendships. They are going through a time of change and peer pressure can be a huge factor during high school. Many teens hang out with the wrong crowd because of the reputation they develop.  The question is, how can…

Technology has brought a lot of benefits into our lives. However, it’s also become a source of addiction for teens. Smartphones can be a godsend for staying in touch, but if you find your teen is never off their phone, it could be a problem. The question is, how can you deal with this, particularly…

For a teen, being moody is just a standard part of adolescence. They often snap at their parents and start to detach themselves more from family life. It is a natural part of growing up and discovering their own identity. However, the trouble is that this normal teenage behavior can often mask if something is…

One of the biggest challenges of parenting a teen is dealing with the constant mood swings. One minute they are happy and joking away, the next they are ready to bite your head off. While these mood swings are mostly caused by fluctuating hormone levels, it’s still difficult to handle.  If you’re struggling to deal…

Parenting can be tough. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, something comes in out of the blue and you don’t know what to do. Welcome to parenting in the 21st century. The world changes quickly these days and so do the challenges of parents. There are so many things you have to…

Kids ask tons of questions, don’t they? Why is the grass green? Why do you have to go to work every day? What is sex? Where do babies come from? Kids ask these and a seemingly endless number of other questions every day. In the pre-Internet days, children asked these questions of their parents. They…

Getting your children to make smart food choices can be tough. A lot of schools these days do a great job offering healthy food at lunchtime. They also stress proper nutrition in the classroom, but even so, children are surrounded with unhealthy food influences.  Then there are the dozens of fast food restaurants located within…

Most parents want to raise a smart child. You probably want your kid to be kind, hard-working, sociable and have several other positive qualities. Those are certainly traits of a well-rounded child that can grow into a responsible and successful adult. When it comes right down to it though, you’ll probably never hear a parent…

This smart parenting tip is really ingenious. There are different opinions as to who developed it, but that’s really not important. What’s more important is that it can help you create a reality many parents only dream of … … getting your child to do something the first time you ask him. Wouldn’t that be…

Be rigid with your parenting style and you can raise a troublesome child. You want to give your child everything he needs to succeed. Sometimes this desire to raise the “perfect child” gets a little out of control. A parent believes a certain style of raising a child is what should be adhered to, and…

Consistency: how many parents sigh or roll their eyes when they hear that word? That’s because consistency is tough, and most parents don’t feel like they are nearly consistent enough. No one is consistent 100% of the time. But aiming for consistency the majority of the time is not unreasonable or impossible. Here are some…