As a white parent, I feel very conflicted about wading into a debate about Black History Month. Plenty of people have argued that we shouldn’t confine our study of Black history to just one month (and that it has failed to bring about any improvement in race relations, and it wasn’t intended for White people…
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It seems like every holiday has an aftermath when you’re a parent. Dressing up in costumes can be fun at Halloween, but then you have to deal with the negotiations over how much candy is too much candy. Our children receive gifts on their birthdays, but then we’re embarrassed when they refuse to thank the…
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Notes: This is a guest post from Evelyn Nichols M.Ed of Mighty Bambinis and explains the reasoning behind the questions found in the YPM Preschool Visit Checklist, which you can download and take with you on preschool tours – it’s relevant for children ages ~1-5. Also, check out the recently released podcast episode that explains…
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The new year is (almost!) here and that means one thing: new year’s resolutions. Some 68 percent of us set a goal (though we often give them up, too), and most of us vow to eat healthier, exercise, and save (more) money. But since 91 percent of Americans surveyed say that family is the most…
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Everyone’s favorite time of the year is almost here: big family gatherings; beautiful holiday decorations; lots of delicious food… Everyone’s most stressful time of the year is almost here: big gatherings of family members with different political opinions; beautiful holiday decorations that need to be kept out of the toddler’s grasping hands; endless treats to…
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I hosted a webinar this week on how to stop using rewards to gain your child’s compliance, and judging by the number of people who showed up and how many questions they had, this is a hot-button topic. Seems as though a lot of parents really want to find a better way to work…
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by Jen Lumanlan of Your Parenting Mojo and Lee and Elise Procida of Parentifact Only a few generations ago, it made sense to ignore expert parenting advice. Most of it was nonsense. In the early 20th century, parents were instructed by books and manuals to always keep their childrens’ heads pointed north,…
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(Photo credit: Saul Loeb) I don’t normally write political posts. It’s not my expertise, and while four of my top five StrengthsFinder strengths are related to learning the fifth is Harmony, which means that while I enjoy a conversation about ideas, I can’t stand feeling attacked. Political discussion just seems to often bring out…
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The new school year is now well underway; my daughter moved up to a new preschool class this year and we certainly seeing some changes. She’s in with the fours, fives, and some sixes now and relational aggression is rearing its ugly head. Almost every day we’re hearing some version of “[Friend] said she didn’t…
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School’s in! How’s it going for you and your child? On the first day of school, did your child give you a sweet hug and run off cheerfully to play with their friends? Or were they stuck to you like a limpet, screaming “Don’t go! Don’t go!” as you tried to extricate yourself, highly ambivalent…
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