Parenting Advice

The Right Way to Parent
by Kelly Herdrich
I've spent the past three years on a quest for the right way to parent. Does it really exist?

The Importance of Apologizing to Children
by Kelly Herdrich
Apologizing to your children when you make mistakes teaches children more than you may realize.

Drinking Alcohol in Front of Children
by Kelly Herdrich
Not all parents who drink alcohol in front of their children are alcoholics, and even experts are saying that exposing kids to responsible drinking could be the right choice!

Babysitters: 4 Tips to Not Over Paying
by Kelly Herdrich
When considering how much to pay the babysitter, don't assume that all babysitters should be paid the same amount.

Save Money for a Child's College Education without Sacrificing Retirement
by Kelly Herdrich
It's possible to save money for your child's college education without sacrificing your own financial security.

Seven Steps Towards Avoiding Conflicts with your Spouse Regarding Discipline
by Lisa Carey
One of the most important disagreements that occur in a marriage is how to handle the discipline of the children.

Kid's Nutrition: Are Your Kids Getting 5 Fruits and Vegetables A Day?
by Angela La Fon
Like many major changes that I attempt in life, this family nutrition overhaul was inspired by pure jealously and extreme guilt. A friend and I had met at the park with my two kids and three for some exercise. When the kids starting asking for snacks she pulled out a container of green pepper. Green pepper strips! All three of her children, including a one year old, grabbed a handful like these things were popcorn. More accurately, they grabbed them like they were caramel popcorn. My daughter looked at them in shock but managed a "No thank you." My one-year took one but not at all convinced that it was eatable, he began writing with it in the dirt.

Financial Preparation Tips for New Parents
by Kelly Herdrich
Financial preparation can ease the stress new parents feel as they await the arrival of their infant. Before you worry that you won't be able to afford to have a baby, consider these ways to keep your bank accounts in the black after the arrival of your infant.

Tips for Calculating Ovulation & Achieving Pregnancy
by Kelly Herdrich
Not only do factors such as lifestyle influence your ability to conceive, but an unclear understanding of your own body's functions and cycles can also contribute to difficulties in conceiving. Do you know enough about your body to get pregnant?

3 Misconceptions about Charting Your Temperature to Achieve Pregnancy
by Kelly Herdrich
Charting your temperature can be a very insightful experience, but it's essential to realize that there are some common misconceptions about charting your BBT.

Secondary Infertility: The Silent Suffering
by TheProf
Everyone grieves with the woman who cannot conceive her first child. Everyone is blessed by the birth of a child. But what happens when you fall somewhere in between?

Kangaroo Care: Care for Stable, Premature Infants and Full Term Infants
by TheProf
Taking our cue from a mother kangaroo, this method of care promotes health in the tiniest of infants.

Cloth Diapering: Could You Really Make the Switch?
by Kelly Herdrich
Cotton Babies bumGenius! 2.0 One Sized Pocket Diapers are so user-friendly that they have the potential to make a cloth diapering convert out of anyone.

Crawling: Do Babies Need To? What Happens if They Don't?
by Momie Tullottes
More and more babies seem to be skipping the crawling milestone. Should this be cause for concern? While crawling is an important milestone, not every baby who doesn't crawl will be in danger further down the road, but it's possible that some very well could be.

3 Signs Your Child Isn't Getting Enough Sleep
by Kelly Herdrich
Everyone needs a good night's rest--is your child getting the sleep that he or she needs on a regular basis or are you raising an overtired child?

3 Steps Parents Can Take to Help Their Child Get the Sleep They Need
by Kelly Herdrich
Parents can and should help their children get the sleep they need on a regular basis, or they may wind up with an overtired child.

How to Get Toddlers to Brush Their Teeth!
by Heather B.
Does your toddler hate brushing his teeth? Do you know why? Do you want to know how you can make him more cooperative? I have the answers!

4 Tips for Handling Frustration in Toddlers
by Kelly Herdrich
By addressing your child's frustration you can successfully curb tantrums and help your child learn to become more independent and successful.

Zoo Themed Lesson Plans for Teachers of Toddlers and Preschoolers
by Lisa Carey
Zoo lesson plans are the best. You can teach your child about colors, textures, sounds and contrasts. Color reinforcement and letter recognition are easily incorporated.

Tips for Helping Your Toddler Become Confident and Independent
by Kelly Herdrich
Parents can help their toddlers avoid frustration and tantrums by helping them in their struggle to become more confident and independent.

Simple Chores for Toddlers
by PamIAm
Getting into the habit of doing chores is important for children. Even toddlers can help out by doing special chores.

4 Battles You Shouldn't Let Your Toddler Win
by Kelly Herdrich
When setting realistic expectations for your toddler, you may find that there are some areas that are non-negotiable in your household.

4 Battles You Should Let Your Toddler Win
by Kelly Herdrich
Picking your battles and setting realistic expectations for your toddler can save you lots of headaches in the long run.

A Parent's Guide to Adjusting to Preschool
by Anne Chekal
The transition to pre-school can be challenging for 3 and 4 year olds and their parents. Preschool is a big step for children, even those who are veterans of the daycare system, because of the larger-scale environment and school readiness emphasis. And for parents, the seemingly overnight changes in their children can be startling.

Parents Setting the Stage: Acting as a "Bad Sport"
by Lisa Carey
We all read about parents that may have started a fight with other parents or officials; getting ejected from games; even hitting coaches or other players, not to mention a parent actually physically or verbally attacking their own child. In response to this I took the opportunity to speak with a Licensed Social Worker who does individual and family counseling, consultation, and public speaking in addition to her private practice.

What Parents Can Learn from the Four Blocks Literacy Model
by Kelly Herdrich
Parents play an essential role in their child's early literacy development. The Four Blocks Literacy Model has the potential to reach outside of the school based classroom and into your home or homeschooling classroom as a means of enhancing this development.

Learning to Read: Motivating Kids to Sound Out Words
by Angela La Fon
A teacher, mom, and homeschooling parent gives suggestions for tips that work when teaching kids to sound it out.

Should Current Homework and Studying Methods Be Re-Evaluated?
by Momie Tullottes
For many students, homework consists of an hour or more full of worksheets and textbook work, as if they were still in school, but is there a better way to keep up with skills?

A Dark Party: How to Get Rid of Your Child's Fear of the Dark
by Momie Tullottes
Many children are afraid of the dark and parents are constantly searching for new ways to lessen that fear, and preferably make it non-existent. None of the traditional ideas seemed to work for us. Hence, the "dark party" was born.

As a stay at home mother, parenting has taken on a whole new life for me. I have compiled these additional articles specifically with stay at home mothers and fathers in mind. Their jobs do not, as many think, involve watching soap operas, taking naps, and eating bon-bons.

Lifesavers for the Stay at Home Mom
by Kelly Herdrich
Stay at home moms have their hands full, and there are items out there to help them get through some tedious activities at the speed of light!

5 Tips for Avoiding Stay at Home Mom Burnout
by Kelly Herdrich
Taking care of yourself can help stay at home moms avoid the burnout that might accompany their demanding jobs.

Winter Blues and the Stay at Home Mom
by Kelly Herdrich
Stay at home moms are at risk for the winter blues, and should keep these tips in mind to make it through the long winter months.