The Pros and Cons of the Cry It Out Method

The cry it out method is considered by some to be controversial. It is also called extinction sleep training, or Ferberizing. The idea is to let a baby cry for a period of time before they go to sleep. Parents who use this method must resist the urge to pick up and soothe their baby… for a little while. There are fans of the cry it out method and there are parents who strongly dislike it. What is the cry it out method? In 1985, pediatrician Richard Ferber presented a method of getting children to sleep. It was in his … Continue reading

Report: Instagram is the Worst App for Young People’s Mental Health

A report titled #StatusOfMind was done by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH). They surveyed 1,500 young people about social media. Of the five social media platforms that were included in the survey, Instagram was found to have the worst effect on young people’s mental health. The #StatusOfMind report examined both the positive, and the negative, effects that social media has on young people’s health. The report included Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Snapchat. The report asked 1,500 young people, who were between the ages of 14 and 24 to rank what extent different social media platforms impacted certain … Continue reading

Summer Reading Programs for Kids

It has been said that kids can “lose” some of what they learned during the school year if they don’t practice those skills while on summer vacation. Summer reading programs can inspire kids to read books during the months when school is out. Your child could benefit from participating in a Summer reading program. Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program This Summer reading program began in May and will end on September 5, 2017. Children need to fill out a Summer Reading Journal (which can be printed from the Barnes & Noble website in English or in Spanish). Kids must … Continue reading

Social Media was Not Designed for Tweens

Your tween may be bothering you, night and day, begging to be allowed to have their own social media accounts. Parents need to realize that social media was not designed for tweens. Despite what your tween may tell you, it is unlikely that everyone at their school is on social media. Social Media is for Age 13 and Up Facebook requires everyone to be at least 13 years old before they can create an account. Twitter has advice for parents of teenagers who want to get their own Twitter account. That advice is not directed at tweens. Tumblr requires everyone … Continue reading

How to Make a Family Coloring Book

Are your kids old enough to color? Many kids find coloring to be a fun way to pass the time. It also helps children to develop their small motor skills. Adults can discover that the act of coloring is relaxing. A website called ReallyColor can help you make a family coloring book. ReallyColor can turn your family photos into coloring pages. You pick the photos you want to use. You can create individual coloring sheets – or have ReallyColor put your coloring pages into a unique coloring book for, and about, your family. ReallyColor uses a patented technology that allows … Continue reading

Why Some Parents are Unschooling Their Kids

Unschooling is a form of homeschooling that involves less structure and more child-centered learning. Parents who are unhappy with the way that learning is presented at schools have been turning to the unschooling movement as their solution for what their child’s education should be like. Unschooling has some similarities with homeschooling. In both cases, a child stays home and receives his or her education there (instead of in a classroom at a school). Each educational style allows parents to be very involved in what their child is taught. Parents can set the speed that information is presented in order to … Continue reading

Where to Find Summer Reading Programs

One of the things that kids like best about summer vacation is that they get a long break from school. It is important to keep your child’s reading skills sharp over the summer. A fun way to do that is to get your child involved in a summer reading program. There are several to choose from. Your local library The first place to seek out a summer reading program is your local library. Ask the librarian in the children’s section if they are doing this type of program. If so, he or she can help you get your child involved. … Continue reading

The Facebook Motherhood Challenge

A Motherhood Challenge was going around Facebook in early February of 2016. It is entirely possible that it is still making the rounds (as these types of challenges tend to do). What may have been originally intended as a simple way to honor motherhood has run into a lot of controversy. The Facebook Motherhood Challenge had simple rules. A mom was to post five photos that represent their journey as a mother. The idea was to focus on the moments that brought joy. Next, the mom must tag five other mothers, who must do the challenge, too. On the positive … Continue reading

Sesame Street Launches Autism Initiative

Sesame Street, a show you loved when you were a kid, and one that your kids enjoy today, has launched a major autism initiative. The program is called “See Amazing in All Children”. It is designed to foster greater understanding about autism for all children and families. There is a stigma placed upon autism that need not be there. People who do not understand autism, or who do not have anyone in their lives that has it, may harbor many misconceptions about it. The goal of the Sesame Street autism initiative is to help de-stigmatize autism (which affects one in … Continue reading

Tips for Keeping Kids Safe on Facebook

Does your child have his or her own Facebook account? Are you letting your child use the account unattended? Facebook requires people to be at least 13 years old before they can create their own Facebook account. That being said, some parents make accounts for their kids who are under age 13 – and some kids make their own Facebook account without their parent’s knowledge. Either way, it is important to keep kids safe while they are on Facebook. Here are some tips for parents that can make their child’s Facebook experience a lot safer. Limit The Child’s Activity Does … Continue reading