Get your toddler to share the load by turning chores into fun.

Divvying up chores in which little ones can participate not only teaches them to appreciate you, but empowers them to feel needed instead of needy. And if no one alerts them to the notion that houswork is drudgery, it won’t be.

Read More »

Santa Clara County officials vote to ban toys and other promotions that come with high-calorie children’s meals.

After a contentious meeting between parents and restaurant owners, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted in favor of banning the Happy Meal in Silicon Valley restaurants.

Read More »

Children’s food allergies are unpredictable, and misinterpreting them could be deadly. Learn to separate fact from fiction.

MYTH:  Children are allergic to any kind of food that causes a negative reaction.

FACT: Many negative food reactions are unrelated to food allergies and are simply food sensitivities.  True food allergies are not as common as people think and only affect 2% of children.

Read More »

They may not say it, but they can sign it.  

It’s not too late to teach sign language to your toddler. Many toddlers can’t speak clearly until they are 3 or 4 years old. And those who can speak may not be able to get their tongue around certain words and letters. Signing can fill those language gaps.

Read More »

Get your your little ones on their feet and moving wherever you are.

Getting kids physically active is more important than most  parents realize. Even if your couch potato isn’t tipping the scales, getting him to use his muscles, pump his heart and flex his joints is essential for growth. Sports scientists say active kids become taller adults. They are also happier, more sociable and better-behaved. They even tend to do better in school.

Read More »

Don’t wing it when when flying with your toddler.

Here is a list of “Flying with Little Kids” necessities.  Remember that what works for one child may not have the same mileage for the other, so come armed with options.

Read More »

Children who engage in creative and active play may grow up to be healthier adults.

The finding comes from a British study that asked 505 young adults to describe their health and their childhood play experiences.

Playing is one of the cornerstones of a young child’s world. Play builds imagination, promotes social skills, advances physical development, and allows a child to work through emotions.

Read More »

No one likes a tattletale.  Help your preschooler keep her constant need to tell on others from turning into a real problem,

Preschoolers often can’t resist tattling. They love to run to  parents or teachers, to tell them what wrong-doing their siblings, friends or classmates are engaged in.

Read More »

Help your child form healthy screen-time habits with 7 no-brainer rules you can start today

When children enter the social vortex of school life and no longer live in the parent-censored bubble of Sesame Street and Blues Clues 30-minute videos, they’ll demand to know what all the fuss is over the Power Puff girls and Pokemon. You’ll want to keep them in the know, just so they can keep up with the conversation at school.

As with everything in life, moderation is key.   Watching too much TV can lead to eye strain, a diminished attention span, laziness and obesity. While no parent really wants to be a member of the kill-joy brigade, sometimes you have to be a little tough for your children’s sake.  Here are some easy and realistic rules you can implement today:

Read More »

Bond where you are with what you have

Here are several simple ways you and your kids can step out of the norm, learn more about each other, and have fun in the process.

Wii Are Family

Whoever thought a game console would open new doors for family bonding? Gaming, a popular albeit isolating activity for kids, typically does little more than improve eye-hand coordination.  With the Wii, families are forced to get up on their feet and play among themselves. Studies have found that parents find the Wii has made parents feel closer to their children.  Tennis doubles, bowling matches, yoga, and racing together all make for great family interaction and scenes of absolute hilarity (imagine four people racing in place!).

Read More »