Development

Building Baby's Brain

Jackie Silberg,

In the first years of life, the brain is busy building its wiring system. Try these fun exercises to help boost your baby's brainpower throughout the first year of development.

Sexual Behavior and STDs: Some NC teens are taking big risks

D'Ann George,

On the national front, Americans appear to be winning some battles against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Rates of HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia have decreased across all age groups over the last decade. Yet a recent study shows that when all STDs are taken into account, the infection rate is actually on the rise.

Clean Kid Rooms? Tips for Making Fantasy a Reality

Jessica Fisher,

1. Find a home for each possession and communicate it to the kids Designate specific spots for clothes, books, toys, towels and toiletries. Repeat this many times over. Check for understanding by encouraging kids to tell you where something should go. Have young ones demonstrate where to place certain items. Labeling (with words or pictures for non-readers) is helpful for everyone, including those outside the family, like grandparents or babysitters who come to help out.

Prepare Your Baby to Walk with Ease

Olga Sysoef,

One concern many parents have is teaching their baby to walk. It may seem like it just comes naturally – and to an extent it does! However, there are things you can do to prepare your baby to walk...

How the Internet Changed the Way We Choose Summer Camps

Cathy Ashby,

Traditional sleepaway camps may still offer kids the opportunity to experience a low-tech life that’s in tune with Mother Nature, but the explosive growth of the summer camp industry and the ever-expanding capabilities of the World Wide Web have changed, not just the definition of "summer camp," but also the ways we research the programs for our children.

Ask the Expert: What is Oppositional Defiant Disorder?

Dr. Irm Bellavia,

Q: Over this past school year, my 6-year-old daughter has been increasingly defiant at home and having difficulties behaving at school. She argues constantly, does not listen to my husband or me and seems to purposefully provoke me. Everything is a power struggle for her, from what she eats for breakfast to the clothes she wears. Last week we were called by her school to pick her up because she would not listen to the teacher and was unable to calm down after her tantrum. My mother thinks she

Special Olympics Athlete Has Hockey Dreams

Megan O’Donnell,

Decked out in a two-sizes-too-big red, white and black Carolina Hurricanes jersey, Rory Kinane of Charlotte entered the RBC Center in Raleigh to cheer on the Canes at a recent home game. The 10-year-old Special Olympics North Carolina speed skater is a huge hockey fan and one day wants to play on a team.

Ages & Stages: 0-5: Why Doesn’t My Child Sleep?

Glenn E. Jennings, M.D.,

Q: Our 5-year-old has never been a good sleeper, and now we have a new baby who is 6 months old. How much sleep do most 5-year-old children need? The baby is not sleeping through the night yet, and we are terrified that we will have the same sleep issues with her. My sister says that at some point you have to just let them "cry it out," and they will be better sleepers. Can you help?

The Learning Dilemma: Educating your special needs child

Kara Lynn Mann,

Raising a child with special needs, whatever his or her limitations might be, is challenging. Trying to find a program or a school that fulfills all his or her education needs may be even more difficult. The public school system has specialized programs, but, for some, exploring alternatives outside the public school system just might be the answer.

Guiding Kids Through Grief

Brenda Nixon,

Hurricanes, terrorist attacks, accidents, old age, war and terminal illnesses are a part of life today. Death is never an if — it’s a when event. And with loss of people, pets and the familiar comes a stinging sadness. Educating children about death and guiding them through grief is something we prefer to avoid. But it’s one of our teachable moments. With our help, children can appreciate the feelings that are unique to this occasion, learn new coping skills and how to embrace life.