We all want our children to be protected and safe from harm at all times. We take whatever precautions are necessary to ensure that safety by childproofing our houses and trying to anticipate dangers. And when it comes to vehicle safety, we don’t have a lot of control and we need to be extra cautious. … Read more
Sheri Goeser Stritof from Ocean Park, found out that at any time, a child could need cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). One crisp, sunny day, she had a premonition that something bad would happen to one of her children. She was right. “Eighteen years ago, while taking a college examination, I felt that one of our kids … Read more
If you had the power to make your child more intelligent, would you? Doctors and scientists agree: Breast milk is the best nourishment for babies. Human milk provides nutrients essential to building strong human bodies that cow’s milk or formula simply can’t supply. But does it also enhance brain function? Recent studies indicate that yes, … Read more
Dorothy Simpson and her son Ryan faced a tough transition. “Ryan had occupied every second of my life. I had even given up my full-time job to stay home with my baby. But then I began to realize that my baby was growing up … it was time to cut the cord,” says Simpson, a … Read more
Grandma is doing a lot more than baking cookies these days. After raising her own children, she is stepping in and caring for grandchildren while their parents work. In the process, she is helping forge bridges between generations and strengthening family bonds. Grandparents caring for young children is an increasing trend in the United States. … Read more
The holidays will soon be here, and you can involve your toddler in the celebrations. Use this time to start teaching your child about the value of gift giving and its real meaning. Talk to your child about gift giving on different occasions, such as holidays and birthdays. Explain that sometimes people give gifts for … Read more
Has your 2 year old ever looked at you, presumably understood that she’s not allowed to press the buttons on the television remote control, smiled sweetly and pressed them anyway? No, she’s not the evil conniver Aunt Sally makes her out to be. She’s a toddler. And with toddlerhood come the initiative, curiosity and autonomy … Read more
Although the primary parties involved are parents, divorce affects every member of the family. Children are witnesses to the stress, confusion and hurt that often accompany divorce. With the current divorce rate at 52.4 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Vital Statistics, many children are forced to deal with divorce – and the emotional, … Read more
Thirteen-year-old Sara’s transformation from a child into a preteenager could be best described as a whirlwind. At a time when this St. Louis preteen was venturing into the realm of adolescence, as most preteens adorn wrists with silver stackable bracelets and hang dangling earrings from their lobes, along came the dentist to add another set of … Read more
When her 14-year-old daughter closes herself up like a fan and writes dark poetry in her diary, Paula Dawidowicz of Blacksburg, Va., gently pulls her into a conversation. Parents like Dawidowicz often wonder which is worse: the silent treatment or the grunts and snarls that seem to be more appropriate forms of communication among wild … Read more