Since September 11th, we have been subject to many new security precautions. Knowing the alternatives, most of us understand we must tolerate these new regulations, along with whatever extra time and energy they require. But, as parents, we now have even more "red tape" to get used to. We have researched some of the new rules for you to help you become more aware and better prepared for your child’s next trip.
National Poison Prevention Week (March 18-24) is a great time for cleaning safety tips. Kids get into everything; use these 10 tips from the Soap and Detergent Association (SDA) to keep kids safe from potentially harmful situations.
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.
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?
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.
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.
Use these tips to turn your family's attention away from the screen and toward more creative ideas for fun.
Would your child know what to do in an emergency? Meet five young heroes who acted fast when it mattered most.
Some of my finest childhood memories are of sweltering summer days spent wading through the shallow creek close to home. With an empty jar in hand, my neighborhood buddies and I spent hours catching minnows and examining streambed rocks in search of the best skipping stone.
"I want to quit!" is becoming as prevalent as the droning chant, "Are we there yet?"
A new study relays a simple message: If you are pregnant and have unresolved personal issues, try to resolve them or it may rub off on your child.
As obesity rates rise among children and teens, it will take more than an apple a day to improve the health and well-being of today’s young people. Some experts suggest that an hour of outdoor time and more physical activity each day along with those apples (and other healthy foods) may be the solution.
From a dad who takes time to coach his son’s little league… to the stereotypical "soccer mom" who shuttles her kids to various games and practices… sports are a way of life for many Charlotte families.
Touch is as important to the human as food so let your hands tell your babies they are loved! Infant massage is not a new concept. It is common practice in the eastern hemisphere and as evidence mounts regarding its therapeutic benefits, it is becoming an exciting therapy across the U.S.
Moving to a new school can be difficult for children, but parents can help ease the transition, according to Donna Henderson, professor of counseling at Wake Forest University and co-author of "The Handbook of School Counseling." "The transition from one school to the next is a point at which children have more opportunities for trouble," says Henderson, whose family moved more than a dozen times before she graduated from high school.
Each day the routine act of riding a school bus exposes children to a toxic mix of airborne carcinogens and particles from diesel exhaust. Diesel engines have long been known to spew dirty exhaust from their tailpipes, but studies now reveal that levels of diesel pollutants getting inside school buses can be up to four times greater than outside levels.
Student safety has always been a priority for state and local school officials, but the emphasis on keeping our classrooms safe has increased in recent years with the numerous tragic school shootings nationwide.
The 2007-08 school year will be an exciting one for CMS. The district will shift to learning communities as part of our decentralization, and we will begin to put into place some new programs designed to boost student achievement. All of these programs are important ones, and we think they’ll help students learn. But our biggest asset in helping CMS raise student achievement is you — the parents of our students.
The beginning of a new school year can bring many new experiences for children. They may need to become accustomed to an unfamiliar routine, get to know a new teacher or perhaps ride a school bus for the first time. But whether a child is new to the school bus or a seasoned "veteran" in junior high, it’s important for them to know the rules of school bus safety.
The next time your family is making a beeline toward the video game department of a toy store, try taking a detour into the board game section. You’ll find plenty of old favorites and new variations. Along with the simpler luck-of-the-dice racing games for younger children, there are complex scenario strategy games for older kids and teens.
It seems like everyone has an opinion about music and its benefits for children. Some say listening to classical music will make your child smarter while others speak about its ability to soothe even the fussiest of infants. All of this could be well and true, but at the very least, an early exposure to great music can create a life-time love affair and appreciation for it.
The school cafeteria has become a place filled with poor diet choices. From franchise fast food offerings to soda machine temptations, today’s kids are faced with a lot of unhealthy options at lunchtime. So, what can parents do? They can pack a better lunch! But many parents could use some help — the typical child’s lunch box is often filled with fat, sugar and salt, and lacking healthy fruit, protein and whole grains.
The Mozart Effect, a 1997 theory by Don Campbell, states that listening to classical music, more specifically, music by Mozart, increases intelligence. Though results are often debated, research continues to support the idea. In 2005, students taking the SAT with prior coursework in music appreciation scored 60 points higher on the verbal and 39 points higher on the math portion of the test.*
A computer in every crib! For a while that seemed to be the motto for those who thought it could never be too early to learn about technology. Fortunately, common sense seems to have prevailed. Although technology can be part of a healthy childhood, it should get at most a sliver of a young child’s attention.
