America's favorite parenting expert
Posts tagged as: elementary school
We’ve all been glued to the TV sets, watching as Haiti copes with the tragic aftermath of a devastating earthquake. As a result, you might be struggling with how to talk to your children about the disaster and how to protect them from news-overload. Continue reading
{ 0 comments }
Recently, a viewer wrote me with an excellent question. Her son had picked up the dreaded F-word and, much to Mom’s chagrin, proceeded to share his new, sure-to-shock term with friends. Continue reading { 0 comments }
How to support your child and avoid homework hassles.
1. Provide a good work space: Many of us grew up believing that the best place to do homework was alone in a quiet room at a tidy desk, sharpened pencils in hand. But lots of kids do better sprawled on their bedroom floor or sitting at the kitchen table. Let your child pick the spot; just make sure there’s a relatively clutter-free surface on which to write, good light, and no TV or blaring music. Continue reading
{ 2 comments }
Give yourself credit for small acts of caring.
My to-do list has amazing regenerative powers. For each "to-do" I slash off, two more magically appear in its place. But whenever I have a day that feels particularly unproductive, I take a second to remember Lego Man’s hair. Yes, you read that right: I’m talking about the tiny piece of plastic that fits on Lego figures’ heads. I call this to mind because of an incident that happened a few years ago on a not-so-wonderful day. Continue reading
{ 1 comment }
Recent research may make your family’s food woes a littler easier to digest.
One study, from University College London, that looked at identical and fraternal twins, suggested that some children are genetically predisposed to shun new foods. Continue reading
{ 0 comments }
Dear Annie,
Reminding my kids (6 and 8 years old) to help with chores, whether it’s cleaning up their rooms or helping with dinner, is a nightmare. They whine and "why" me to death. I hear myself saying things I swore I’d never say, like "Because I said so!" But bargaining for every tiny task is driving me crazy.
Sarah
Dear Sarah, Continue reading
{ 0 comments }
Rethink family rituals.
When my kids were young, I was obsessed with a desire to have dinner as a family every single night. I had read the research on the importance of family meals and despite the fact that Steve and I rarely managed to get home from work before 7 - closer to the kids’ bedtime than their dinnertime - I would attempt to throw some kind of meal on the table before the kids had a total meltdown. Suffice it to say, I rarely succeeded. I would then complain to Steve that we had to get home earlier, that depriving the kids of warm family-dinner memories would lead them straight to the psychiatrist’s couch, and so on and so on. Continue reading
{ 1 comment }
How to use play to win bedtime battles, get kids to do chores, and more
I’ve met hundreds of mothers with kids of varying ages who suffer from the perfect mom fantasy, but it seems to cling with punishing tenacity during our children’s school years. Their lives are suddenly a lot busier, homework and after-school activities much more demanding, and when they feel the pressure, we do, too. Given the current state of the economy, many parents are working extra hours or trying to find ways to cut back on treats - like dinners out - so the dreaded "witching hour," between work/school and dinner/bedtime can be particularly rough. Continue reading
{ 0 comments }
Under-the-pillow penny pinching
Recession reminders are rampant these days. Just ask the tooth fairy: According to a poll by Securian, a dental insurance company, the average going price for a tooth is around $1.88, down from last year’s average of $2.09. Continue reading
{ 1 comment }
