Summer vacation is meant to be carefree — a break from the structure and routine of the school year for children. For families, however, it can often feel more chaotic than relaxing. While planning fun summer activities may seem simple, many busy families struggle to fit daily exercise and outdoor play into an already packed schedule.
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The new year offers a chance to reset and set meaningful goals for yourself as a parent/caregiver. You may often put yourself last but caring for your own well-being strengthens your ability to care for others. Parenting demands constant emotional and physical energy. When you’re exhausted or overwhelmed, it becomes harder to be patient, calm and engaged. Taking care of yourself replenishes your energy so you can show up as the parent you want to be.
The holiday season can be a mixed bag of joy and stress, especially for parents trying to balance tradition, family dynamics and kids’ expectations. Here are some practical tips to help make the season more enjoyable and less overwhelming:
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As a parent, it’s natural to worry about your child’s development and if they are reaching important milestones. No one can predict when a child will master milestones because every child develops at their own pace. Even siblings can achieve milestones at a much different timeframe. It can be confusing as a parent to know when your child is on target or when to reach out for help. Here are a few things to consider if you’re concerned. Read More about Mastering Milestones: When to Reach Out for Resources »
It may seem like reading to a newborn doesn’t make sense. But science shows reading to a child from birth makes a big difference. By reading five books a day, a child will hear 1.4 million more words by kindergarten than a child who was not read to. Even just reading one book a day to a child will introduce 290,000 words by age 5.
Not only does reading introduce new words, but it also introduces new concepts such as exploring Antarctica and the animals that live there or how families in different cultures live.
August and back to school comes with mixed feelings for school-age children and their families. The new school year is exciting but it can also cause some anxiety among both caregivers and children. Here are some ways that families can help smooth the transition and ease the anxiety, especially for children who are attending school for the first time.
Summer is finally upon us and children are enjoying the relaxed days and nights. But there’s always a worry about what has been coined “summer slide.” According to a recent study, children between the third and fifth grades lose 20% of their school-year gains in reading and 27% in math during summer break.
The good news is that there are fun, educational activities that can help prevent the slide. Here is a list of ideas that you and your family can incorporate into your lazy days of summer:
Spring is finally here! The weather is beginning to warm up, flowers are blooming and the little ones are playing outside more. Not only are children ready to feel the warmth of the sun on their skin and the breeze in their hair, but parents are also eager to get outside.
This is a great time of year for your family to create a bucket list of all the fun-filled crafts, recipes and outdoor adventures you want to do. Here’s some ideas to help you come up with your family’s spring-time bucket list.
Raising children involves more than ensuring their physical well-being, it’s also about supporting their emotional and social development. It is never too early to start teaching children about the building blocks of healthy relationships that include empathy, respect and communication.
Here are a few ways you can teach and model how to create and maintain meaningful relationships.
The holiday season can be a mixed bag of joy and stress, especially for parents trying to balance traditions, family dynamics and kids’ expectations. In fact, 9 out of 10 U.S. adults say the holidays give them some stress.
Here are some practical tips to help make the season more enjoyable and less overwhelming:
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