Preschool is a fairly recent development in American education history. In 1950, few if any children crossed the threshold of the school doorway before they entered kindergarten. In 2005, 43 percent of all 3-year-olds learned s...
Caring for a newborn and a toddler is probably the most exhausting task you'll ever undertake, but it's also one of the most rewarding. The time you spend with your new baby and toddler should be the stuff of lifelong memories,...
The way in which you raise your child can affect her ultimate well-being, health and behavior. A child uses her parents as a model and the effects of parenting styles persist even as she ages and enters school. Certain parentin...
Your personality is comprised of your behaviors, attitudes, feelings and thoughts. Sigmund Freud believes that your personality crystallizes at age 5, whereas most modern-day psychologists believe your personality can change o...
Child assessments evaluate development and progress by gathering objective information. Checklists provide a tool for recording a child's behavior to assess potential problems or to develop a behavior management plan. Understan...
Training pants combine components of diapers and underwear to serve as a transition during potty training. The padding absorbs urine if your toddler has an accident, but the design allows him to pull the pants up and down like ...
If you have children, you have messes, at least occasionally. Picking up toys, putting clothes in the hamper, hanging up towels and washcloths and putting dirty dishes in the sink are all well within the abilities of the averag...
Creating a rewards system that will break through the complaints of the average five year old can be challenging; what works well for your child one day might not work on another. So be creative, vary your rewards and make it c...
Telling your 2-year-old your family is about to enlarge isn't always easy. But your approach can make him more accepting of the changes. While he won't understand all the implications, he will pick up on your nervousness if you...
Sleeping well is not just a matter of rest and relaxation; it is vital to your overall health. Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and depression are all associated with insufficient sleep, according to the Centers for Di...
Hands-on dads are not unusual today; according to the 2011 U.S. census, around 176,000 dads are at-home parents, and many more share equally with working moms in child care. But even involved dads may prefer to pass on potty tr...
Toddlers can be surprisingly messy at mealtimes. Small children learn how to feed themselves at each meal, developing their fine motor skills each time they try to properly use a fork or a spoon. If your little one ends a meal ...
Encouraging a toddler's imagination in a positive way helps her develop social skills, use creativity and enjoy the wonders of childhood, but some fantasy images cause fear or confusion. Most children under six often cannot dif...
Some children are hypersensitive to sensory stimuli. For example, they may be excessively bothered by noises or be resistant to being touched, according to Thomas L. Whitman and Nicole Dewitt, authors of "Key Learning Skil...
At some point in their lives, most children go through a defiant phase in which they engage in verbal altercations with adults or other children. However, some children exhibit a pattern of violent behavior that can endanger th...
Their methods depend on a number of factors, including the frequency with which they act as the disciplinarians, their temperaments, their upbringings and the intensity of their feelings about the child's behavior. When these d...
Expanding grocery lists and empty refrigerators are often the first indicators to parents that their sons have started the rapid growth associated with adolescence. Once puberty begins, a boy may continue to grow for another fi...
Empathy -- the ability to feel for others and mentally put yourself in their place -- develops as a child ages. Because empathy is learned, you as a parent can help foster empathetic behavior and understanding. At certain ages...
Children with special needs require exercise just as much as other children, and exercise is particularly good for eliminating stress and emotional problems in these kids, according to the book "Steps to Independence."...
Creative dance just might make you smarter. In addition to being a good workout, dancing might also sharpen your mental acuity and ward off mental disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. As an athlete, you might be wondering why...
How tall your child grows is largely a matter of genetics, but nutrition plays an important role, too. Without a healthy, balanced diet, your child may not grow normally, explains Jo Anne Hattner, registered dietitian and pedia...
Potty training takes an average of 13 months if a parent begins intensive training -- asking a toddler to use the potty at least three times a day -- between 18 and 21 months, according to a 2003 study in "Pediatrics."...
It's important to stay calm when disciplining your toddler, so that you can model patience and keep control of your actions. Practice calming techniques and work to keep your cool even when your child is acting out. Staying cal...
Parents often go to extraordinary lengths to ensure that their little ones are tucked into bed at an early hour. Conventional wisdom maintains that an early bedtime paves the way for a good night’s sleep, which in turn is...
Staying dry overnight is one of the last toilet-training skills children learn. According to a 2002 study in "Pediatrics," 50 percent of girls don't remain dry overnight until 34.1 months and 50 percent of boys don't ...
For a parent, the idea of your preteen child being exposed to a flood of text messages can seem disturbing and a challenge to your authority. That said, texting is part of the modern world -- and in the long run it can be good ...
Kindergarten-aged children are still developing their fine motor skills and sense of personal responsibility. Some 5-year-olds might have the hand-eye coordination and physical control necessary for folding clothes neatly, but ...
Parents often believe that their children's social skills are a fundamental part of who they are. Some children are shy while others are outgoing, and with these traits come a particular set of social skills. However, research ...
Expected developmental milestones occur throughout childhood, and each child develops at a slightly different pace. Many of the biological changes occurring during childhood involve children's brains, so social developments hap...
The frustration-aggressive syndrome — also called a theory and a hypothesis — applies to both adults and children. It has been used to explain why children become bullies and why bullied children may turn violent. I...
Inadequate social development of visually impaired children may occur because of isolation and diminished social interaction. The tentativeness of nonvisually impaired kids and adults toward engaging with visually impaired chil...
Sleep not only makes young children happier to be around, but it also makes your little ones healthier people as well. Getting enough sleep -- in the form of daytime naps, but especially at night -- is vital for ensuring young ...
According to 2010 statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 17 percent of American children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 years are obese. Low levels of cognitive stimulation in the home, mean...
Many child experts have expressed concern about the effects gymnastics has on teens' health and behavior. Gymnastics frequently requires a hefty time commitment. When this occurs, teens can suffer. Parents should encourage thei...
Babies start learning from the day they are born. Everything they see, hear, feel, taste and smell helps to develop their perceptual abilities. In infancy they also start developing cognitive powers of memory, language, thinkin...
Your 3-year-old is learning to assert her independence, which often comes at the cost of others' feelings. As your child learns her likes, dislikes and basic values, she might offend or hurt other children and even adults. Unfo...
When your home has limited space, two small children likely have to share a bedroom. While in theory it sounds like a convenient option, two children squabbling and waking each other at night could disrupt your peaceful sleep. ...
By exercising regularly, you will feel better about yourself, improve your body image and self-esteem, and improve your chances of living a longer, healthier life. According to the website Kids Health, obtaining the right amoun...
A preschool-age child's most pressing question is often "why?" Children's minds are constantly working and processing, and as they grow older and more mature and learn more about the world, they're able to better proc...
Nightmares and night terrors are common for small children, but night tremors are a rare occurrence. Night tremors may or may not be a cause for medical concern, but parents should note symptoms and consult a medical profession...
Proper clothing and equipment keep your child safe and warm when she hits the ski slopes. Warmth while skiing allows your child's body to function properly and keep her energy levels high. Limiting the amount of skin that is ex...
Brain development primarily occurs during sleep in the first two years of life, according to the National Sleep Foundation. By the time children turn 2 years old, they've spent about 40 percent of their lives sleeping. As child...
From clearing the throat to repeatedly grimacing, the repetitive behaviors and sounds worsen under stress and fatigue. Tics affect up to 25 percent of all children, and the most common type -- transient tics -- disappears in le...
Puberty marks the entry of a child into adolescence and sexual maturity. During puberty, your body goes through many changes that affect the way you look, feel and behave. Eating a healthy diet affects the age at which you reac...
While bedtime is supposed to be a gradual winding down of the day, it often becomes a struggle when you have two young children. Kids who are afraid of missing out on nighttime activities, who are defiant or who simply aren't t...
Whether you are 6 or 16, learning how to get buff can lead to a lifetime of healthy choices for kids. However, there are different rules for children. Your bones and muscles are still growing. Plates of cartilage -- that harden...
American children miss a total of 22 million school days each year due to the common cold and 38 million days because of the flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s impossible to prevent you...
Your 8- to 11-year-old child begins to take on new personality characteristics as he leaves middle childhood and reaches preadolescence. As he enters late childhood and becomes a youth, he will become more autonomous and spend ...
The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2000 survey found that 18 percent of Americans older than 5 spoke a language other than English at home. Children in these households grow up with a working knowledge of two or more languages and ...
A resistance to cuddling, a robotic voice and repetitive hand-flapping are possible symptoms of autism that can be alarming for parents to witness in their children. According to the United States National Library of Medicine, ...
Physical and cognitive development includes a number of stages: growth that provides the cells needed to make up tissues; cellular maturation to give rise to mature, functional tissue; and cellular communication that allows sep...
A mother is a protector, disciplinarian and friend. A mother is a selfless, loving human that must sacrifice many of her wants and needs for the wants and needs of her children. A mother works hard to make sure her child is equi
Anxiety and sleep disturbances affect some children -- and both these difficulties often go hand-in-hand. Children who are anxious about separating from their parents or are worried at bedtime may experience trouble sleeping. U...
Bedwetting is also known as nocturnal enuresis and is a problem for many young kids. Bedwetting usually has no medical cause, but it is often troubling for both the child and his parents. Kids will often avoid social situations...
Nutrition is essential for good health at every age, but is especially important during puberty. This is a time when rapid changes in your body increase your nutritional requirements. Nutritional quality during puberty influenc...
Babies' cognitive development is affected by a number of factors. Though many parents believe that their children were predestined by genes or personality to have a particular intelligence level, cognitive development is much m...
Your youngest child meekly submits to time-outs, but your oldest throws screaming temper tantrums until the time-out is over. Because your children have such different personalities, you need to discipline them in corresponding...
Up to four percent of children who are at least 4-years-old experience daytime wetting accidents, according to data from “Oski’s Pediatrics.” If your child’s daytime pants-wetting accidents last for more...
If your child experiences a sleep disorder, it’s essential to address the problem, as chronically sleep-deprived children tend to perform poorly academically and exhibit behavioral problems.
As with so many other parts of parenting, education can be your best tool in understanding your child and encouraging the behavior you want. The available advice is copious and often contradictory. However, the majority of pare...
About 75 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds in the United States own cellphones, and 75 percent of these teens send text messages, according to the Pew Research Center's Pew 2010 Internet and American Life Project. More than half...
Eating habits formed as a child can remain with you well into your adult life. It is important to monitor your children's eating habits at mealtime and while snacking, if possible. Picky eating is a common complaint among paren...
A 10-year-old child is hungry to learn, eager to please and still hangs out with friends of the same gender, although he is becoming preoccupied with the opposite sex, explains the University of Iowa Children's Hospital. A 10-y...
Use communication, age-appropriate methods and teamwork to help you define expected behavior and reward adherence to rules. No one method of discipline works across all age groups, so it's important to change and adapt tactics ...
Sleep disturbances in children with special needs may have neurological, physical or behavioral causes. They are common in children with many conditions, including ADHD, autism spectrum disorders and seizure disorders. Poor sle...
Few behaviors get an adult riled up more quickly than a child sticking his tongue out. This gesture almost universally signals defiance, disdain or rebellion. Young children act impulsively and rarely consider the implications ...
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports an increase in the annual fructose consumption from less than a ton in 1996 to 8.8 million tons by 2003. Research suggests that dietary fructose intolerance may influence behavior in c...
Social relations affect children's cognitive and emotional development, says Carol Seefeldt, author of "Early Education: Three-, Four- and Five-Year-Olds Go to School." Young children typically respond with energy and...
A balanced diet that provides all the vitamins, minerals and energy needed for healthy development is very important for growing children. The brain produces chemical messengers called neurotransmitters that control mood and be...
The advantages of breastfeeding are numerous and well-documented. Breast milk builds a baby's immunity and fights disease, changes as your baby develops and lowers the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. In addition, breastfe...
It is no secret that physical activity is necessary to a person's well-being. Because children are continuously developing physically and emotionally, they are especially affected by the benefits of activity – and inverse...
The manner in which you touch children can communicate a variety of emotional information. Touch may indicate dominance, affection or comfort. In a study conducted by DePauw University psychologist Matthew Hertenstein, blindfol...
The developmental process will differ from child to child, but there are age-appropriate markers that you will notice in most children. Even at such a young age, knowledge of the development process is imperative in assuring th...
Aggressive and defiant behavior from boys is especially challenging to deal with. This can be particularly true for single mothers. One mom wrote to Family Matters Parenting Magazine: "He is about 5 inches taller than me, ...
A child breaks rules that weren't spelled out properly, a parent levies a punishment that the child doesn't agree with and both parties begin to feud. A parent and child behavior contract helps clear up miscommunication since b...
The development of the nerves that control your child's elimination muscles is directly related to his readiness for potty training. Whether you need to wait until his nerves are fully developed before introducing the potty is ...
Stubborn behavior by a child can be frustrating to parents and caregivers. For one, the resistance may come at a time when the caregiver is trying to get the child to do something in his own best interest, such as school work. ...
Although childhood temper tantrums are often associated with the "terrible twos," they can occur at virtually any age. To control temper tantrums, parents should know their children's triggers and aim to avoid these whenever po...
A carefully crafted I-don't-care attitude is often the earmark of adolescence. As your child begins to exert her own agency and form habits, talents and interests, she may use a nonchalant attitude to assert her own decisions. ...
Because hot cheeks and an elevated temperature are sometimes a sign that something is wrong with your toddler, it is important to pay attention to your child's behavior and any additional symptoms that occur upon awakening.
Potty training often is a frustrating time for parents. It's difficult to communicate with your child and get him to understand how to control himself when he doesn't understand what it means to be potty trained. Some kids refu...
Discipline may take many forms, but the goal is universal -- to modify or control behavior to produce a desired result. Discipline may describe the corrective or instructive means employed by parents to modify their child's beh...
Children initially learn words by mimicking what they don't understand. If your child is parroting vulgar, insulting or otherwise inappropriate words that make you cringe, it's important to stop the behavior as soon as it start...
From a child's earliest cooing to fully formed words such as "Momma" and "Dada," the first 12 months of verbal development is accelerated. In the second year, this rapid pace of linguistic and cognitive development continues un...
Castor oil used to be a popular tool for potty training because it loosens stools and makes it easier for children to go to the bathroom. However, this method can backfire and cause children to become more resistant to potty tr...
For many children, learning to poop on the potty takes longer than learning to urinate in it. A child may feel tense or anxious about pushing something out into open space rather than into a diaper. Girls are generally easier a...
From embarrassment to peer interaction problems, inappropriate social behavior in children runs the gamut. While some trivial behaviors simply need gentle reminders, other behaviors accompany learning challenges and may require...
If your child's weight is below the third to fifth percentile for his age range, he might have a condition called failure to thrive. Children who are underweight should meet regularly with a pediatrician and pediatric nutrition...
After months of having your toddler sleep consistently through the night, you may be distressed to find that night waking has suddenly started again. This is a common occurrence among toddlers and is usually due to one of sever...
Most behavior observations of children occur because someone is concerned that the child seems distracted, angry, sad or different from peers. Conducting a structured observation can help identify the type and frequency of beha...
If you're a parent, you probably know that not getting enough sleep leads to a cranky child. But exactly how much sleep does your child need? The answer varies depending on your child's age, but is also influenced based on othe...
A child who argues can quickly turn an ordinarily calm parent into one on the brink of an outburst. Discipline for your argumentative child must be swift and consistent to break the habit before it becomes so bad that you are u...
Discipline for a toddler is not the same as it is for a 6-year-old. Because children from different age groups understand rules differently, parents need to use more simplistic methods for a younger child than they do for an ol...
Most toddlers wake up brimming with energy and ready to start jumping on the couch the minute they wake up. If your toddler normally fits that pattern but suddenly wants to lie on the couch all morning instead after what seems ...
Television plays a major role in children's lives in terms of the time they spend watching it and influence it has over their thoughts and behaviors. According to the University of Michigan Health System website, the average ch...
Approximately 6 percent of 9-year-old children experience bed-wetting, reports the National Association for Continence. For such tweens, it's not just a nuisance; it can pose a significant social issue, especially if the child ...
As your child grows from babyhood to toddlerhood, boundaries are relatively specific and pertain to safety or appropriate social behavior. However, your job as a parent isn't over once your child enters preschool. Just as your ...
Children who are entitled, spoiled and rude are often the product of a society where all the information, products and media children need and want are virtually at their fingertips. Teaching your child about hard work and resp...
Giving your child gifts, positive feedback or special privileges, for example, can help to encourage good behavior. While you should focus on rewarding good behavior and pay no attention to bad behavior, some behaviors are diff...
Hearing loss and communication disorders in children are quite common; according to a statistic from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cited on the website for the National Dissemination Center for Children with D...
According to the American Sleep Association, sleepwalking is much more common in kids than it is in adults, affecting anywhere between 3 and 17 percent of children. Sleepwalking peaks at 10 to 12 years of age, with most kids gr...
The frustrations that kids deal with may not seem to be as pressing as your problems, but they are every bit as real and threatening. Children must be taught healthy ways to deal with their frustrations to avoid medical complic...
Training a toddler to sleep in a bed can be a daunting task, which can lead to frustration and sleepless nights for you and your child. To make the transition as smooth as possible, it is important to prepare your child for cha...
A child needs between 10 and 14 hours of sleep every night, depending on age. However, your child may wake during the night, interrupting his sleep and making him irritable in the mornings. This is nothing unusual and generally...
Children's epileptic seizures and spasms can be highly unpredictable. During the day, this may be an inconvenience. At night, however, the possibility of a child experiencing nocturnal epileptic spasms may affect Mom and Dad's ...
Adrenaline rushes occur when your body releases large amounts of a hormone known as epinephrine. Your adrenal glands produce and secrete this hormone. Its primary function is to increase blood circulation to your brain and musc...
His poor attitude brings everyone down with him, souring experiences and making day-to-day interactions difficult. A negative child is rarely negative without just cause; his negativity is often the result of other issues in hi...
When your child comes to you complaining of a tummy ache and inability to use the bathroom, you may think it's simply part of growing up. Irregular bowel movements do occur frequently in children and are rarely cause for alarm....
Discipline provides a means of equating choices to consequences and helping your child learn about poor choices. Never spank or hit your child. A 2004 study published in the journal "Pediatrics" reports that children hit or sla...
While acting-out behaviors are common in most 3-year-old children, a calm, quick parental response discourages negative behaviors. Prevention and reinforcing positive behaviors are the best interventions; however, periodic acti...
According to coach and teacher John Graybeal in "The Art of Empowering Children," parents play the most important role in their children's social and emotional development. Although teachers and peers also have influence, a chi...
Disrespect is more than a simple lapse in your child's normally good behavior; it's a basic disregard for others' feelings and the consequences of his actions. While some children act out and show disrespect as a method of rebe...
Many researchers and psychologists have focused on developmental stages of children and, to a lesser extent, adults. Sigmund Freud's psychosexual stages of development is the most well-known developmental theory. Freud's theory...
Behaviors that violate social rules and the basic rights of others are labeled as antisocial. While these behaviors are sometimes simply a mechanism of acting out for children, there could be an underlying psychological issue i...
The years between ages 3 and 5 are exciting ones -- for your child and for you. His frame of reference expands exponentially beyond your family and your home. He'll start to make friends and make more sense of the world around ...
Television can be very addicting to children. Weaning your child from his obsessive television watching requires dedication and the ability to tune out the whining and crying your child will likely demonstrate to get you to cha...
Many children potty-train partially and continue to defecate in their pants for some time. The fact that these children are consistently urinating in the toilet can cause frustration for parents who are tired of cleaning up dir...
If you worry about the type of media programming your child views and how it influences her behavior, you are not alone. Concerns about the effects of visual media on the social behavior of children escalate as access to violen...
Spitting is an aggressive behavior that undermines adult authority and does nothing to endear your child to his peers. Keep in mind that children are poor problem solvers. Causes include attempts to handle stress, an expression...
But there are proven ways to minimize the stress associated with refereeing arguments and dealing with messes. Remaining calm is key because kids are always looking to adults for cues on how to behave in all situations. It also...
Concrete 5-year-old thought results in some very creative, if not practical, arguments. For example, a child who does not want to brush her teeth may say, "I can't, my toothbrush is sleeping." Her world is full of magic, with l...
As Helen Keller once said, "Blindness separates us from things; deafness separates us from people." You may feel a profound sense of separation from your deaf child and worry that your child will be isolated throughout his life...
Hypersensitive children are resistant to change and tend to engage in irritating behaviors such as nail biting, nose picking, head banging and teeth grinding as a result of stress. Parents can best deal with hypersensitive and ...
Kids' toys are more than just playthings; according to Baby Center, they help grade-schoolers develop social skills, improve vocabulary and think creatively. If your child is shy about exposing her creative ideas, give her toys...
There are four classic styles of parent behavior: authoritarian, authoritative, permissive and unengaged. Parenting style impacts the effectiveness of children's discipline, regardless of what punishment is meted out. The type ...
"Studying" and "fun" are two words that don't seem to go together well. Teens are likely to view studying as a chore that they'd rather not do. Create an ideal environment for studying and give rewards for good habits to make s...
The impact that a dysfunctional family has on a child can linger long into adulthood, according to Kansas State University. Angry parents who take out their frustrations on children provide poor role models for kids learning ho...
It's a time to get things done for many busy parents or a time to sit down for a few minutes' peace. For a developing child, sleep is a critical part of their day. While each child's needs vary, nap time benefits some kindergar...
Genetic conditions, maternal infections, birth complications and environmental factors are the leading causes of hearing loss among children in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For...
Helping your children connect with peers is an important part of developing social skills and building characters. Friendship is like a training camp. Children learn the give and take of social behavior, how to set up and play ...
Babies enter the world wired for social interaction. Children reach such social milestones as recognizing the feelings of others, taking turns, demonstrating sympathy and coping effectively with frustration in their first 3 to ...
Teens that are rude when you have company typically have a hidden agenda. Notoriously poor problem solvers, adolescents acting-out in the presence of company to get back at you for a real or perceived slight, gain power, expres...
Helping your preschooler understand parental expectations before being disciplined is key to his success in implementing positive behaviors. Explain to your preschooler the appropriateness of certain behaviors and their consequ...
Children with childhood apraxia of speech, or CAS, have difficulty planning and executing the physical aspects of speech. The brain of a child with CAS cannot properly coordinate the movements required for the child to speak. T...
A newborn child expresses his needs, letting his parents know what he is feeling. Parents who are emotionally in tune with their child meet his physical and emotional needs, teaching him he has value and can trust others. As th...
Ever since women starting entering the workforce in vast numbers in the 1970s, experts and parents alike have debated the effects on children. Some studies show that children with two working parents may have developmental diff...
Children at age 3 often immerse themselves in make-believe worlds and stories. Although these activities seem lighthearted or even silly, they actually play a major role in cognitive development at this age. The preschooler yea...
The grocery store features many temptations and opportunities for misbehavior, especially for younger children. Grabbing items off the shelf, running away and throwing a temper tantrum are just a few of the possible behavior pr...
The purpose of disciplining children is to correct negative acting-out that is dangerous, teach positive social skills and bolster coping mechanisms. Parents should have an arsenal of effective coping mechanisms available that ...
For most children, the age of 6 is a good time to starting sleeping over with friends, according to KidsHealth. A sleepover is an exciting part of growing up, becoming more independent and having fun with friends. However, for...
Some children avoid new, challenging or uninteresting tasks, much to the chagrin of parents and authority figures. Children who avoid tasks do not develop the necessary skills, knowledge and abilities needed to succeed in the a...
Today, a changing social and economic landscape redefines the traditional hierarchy between parents and children. Disrespect from a rude adult child is difficult to address, since your child is old enough to be responsible for ...
When you pack a hot lunch for your school-aged child, you don't want her to have to eat a lukewarm dish when lunchtime rolls around. Taking a few steps when packing your child's lunch in the morning will keep her meal hot and f...
Every child is different, which is why one method of discipline isn't necessarily adequate or appropriate for all children. Understanding a child's needs and personality is the key to choosing the most effective means of discip...
As children develop, it's only natural that they test their boundaries and assert themselves. But for some children, that desire develops into stubborn defiance and a penchant for arguments against authority. Oppositional defia...
Whether you have a toddler or a teenager, proper listening skills are necessary for your child to obey your instructions. Your child naturally tests your boundaries by defying rules and expectations as a normal part of aging an...
Other consequences of being sick, such as vomiting and diarrhea, can have their own negative implications. A serious health risk is dehydration due to the loss of fluids. Children are at risk because they may not be aware of th...
The period between 2 and 6 years of age is pivotal in the psychosocial development of children. Children in this age range are in the midst of discovering themselves, their feelings, how they identify themselves and how they sp...
Sliced apples make a sweet, healthy treat for your kid's lunchbox. By lunchtime, however, they may have turned an unpleasant brown color -- meaning they may just end up in the trash can. Apples contain an enzyme -- polyphenol o...
When you make the decision to take a foster child into your home, the emotional stress can outweigh the financial or social stress of adding a temporary member to your family. Foster children are placed in your care while their...
While parenting offers many rewarding moments, the annoying moments tend to send parents over the edge with frustration and even anger. Feeling annoyed with your children at times is normal. Learning how to control those feelin...
The National Sleep Foundation reports that 25 percent of infants, toddlers and preschoolers are sleepy during the day, and 30 percent of school-aged kids have trouble getting up in the morning. Establishing soothing bedtime rou...
"Normal" is a difficult and loaded term for some families. Identifying normal behavior for your child depends on whether the child is full-term and his developmental status. However, within the range of normal delivery dates an...
Disruptive or anti-social behavior that isn't age-appropriate usually is met with disapproval in all areas of a child's life. Implement strategies when your children are young to deal with poor behavior, righting the ship and h...
Children can be picky eaters. When it comes to packing a school lunch, most parents opt for sandwiches, pudding or fruit cups, and other non-perishable items. Many cold foods can be kept cold by the use of an insulated lunch bo...
Many factors contribute to volatile teenagers including stress, hormones, social pressures, dealing with intense emotions or following negative role models. Because teenagers have not yet developed mature impulse control, an an...
But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid." This observation is never truer than when raising children. Each child has a different set of strengths
A child's general lack of concentration, difficulty with instructions and short attention span could be diagnosed as one of the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, a condition which makes it difficult for a ch...
Handling cranky children demands a cool head. The way you respond to children when they display negative behavior is a factor in how long they remain cranky and whether they escalate into a tantrum. Stick to short-term, concret...
It's not unusual for children to test their boundaries as they begin to learn. During this process improper behavior can start to surface. Appropriate discipline is essential to stop these behaviors, as well as help your child ...
When a child experiences anger, fear, worry or sadness, he generally cannot easily identify his feelings and use language to express them. This can result in angry behavior that serves as the only way the child knows to communi...
According to BabyCenter.com, you may have to repeat yourself 100 times before your child finally understands what not to do; screaming and yelling will not make him understand it in a more timely manner. It's easy to lose your ...
While it's only natural for young children to fight over toys or have playground arguments, you have an influence over your child's social behavior as you show him how to share and demonstrate proper social interaction.
With the changes occurring in a teenager's body and mind, along with peer pressure, school and possible problems at home, stress is a predominant part of teen life. Unfortunately, teenagers do not always have the knowledge or m...
Bullying, hitting, biting and issuing demands are aggressive behaviors that elicit attention and concern from parents and caregivers. Although toddlers and preschool children may demonstrate aggressive or antisocial behavior in...
Regardless of the ages of the children in your life, mastering the art of negotiation helps prevent your interactions from turning into power struggles. With kids, negotiation does not mean bribery or knee-jerk bargaining as a ...
Overeating is a serious problem. For some, it has even become an addiction. Like any other addiction, outside support can help you control this behavior. Fortunately, there are programs available to help those with an overeatin...
As many as one in every 25 children has a food allergy, says Jennifer Kim, clinician and clinical researcher in the Jaffe Food Allergy Institute at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York and a member of the American Aca...
Parents who have not come to terms with their own negative feelings often have a hard time relating to unhappy children. Parents sometimes minimize an unhappy child's emotions in a misguided attempt to make the child feel bette...
It's now known that children come into the world with their own unique temperament; however, they still need parents to teach them right from wrong. Rewards, rules and consequences help shape children's understanding of which b...
Reaching base is a goal every time you step into the batter's box. Hitting the ball hard and getting a single, double, triple or home run are common ways to reach base. Getting a base on balls will also help your team set up a ...
All parents experience their child lying at some point. Children all lie for different reasons. Perhaps your child is of preschool age and doesn't yet understand what a lie is. If your child is older, she may lie to raise her s...
Children are high-energy individuals who want to have fun and often like to have things their way. As a result, you might notice or have heard from your child's teachers that your child will not keep his hands to himself. This ...
Others try to emulate friends or adults in their lives, thinking it is cool or a grown-up way of speaking. If you have zero tolerance for swearing, it's best to handle the behavior quickly and appropriately with consequences th...
Prepare yourself for potential problems and learn to deal with them while keeping the situation under control. Your actions and words will help determine your role in a newly formed family.
Your 3-year-old daughter's bed wetting, or enuresis, is likely very stressful for her. However, wetting the bed is a common problem for kids under the age of six. Having trouble waking to go to the bathroom is a natural part of...
When parents hear their child begin to whine, a cure can't come quickly enough. Whining is most prevalent in children between the ages of 2 and 4. During this developmental stage, children are able to verbalize their needs, but...
As children grow and develop, they explore new concepts and ideas that adults may take for granted. It is not possible to simply explain these concepts to your child; he must develop them himself through thought and experimenta...
For parents of teenagers, puberty can be a tumultuous time. In an adolescent's life numerous mental and hormonal changes are taking effect and changing your son into an entirely new person. Fortunately, by paying attention to ...
Whether it's just for a few nights or a longer-term arrangement, putting two toddlers to bed in the same room can lead to frustration and sleep exhaustion. Toddlers are naturally curious and exploratory, adding up to messes, tr...
Stubbornness can be a common behavior among toddlers and teenagers learning to exercise independence in different ways. While stubbornness is an inborn trait that tends to remain stable throughout a person's life, a parent's re...
Around age 2, most children are ready to begin toilet training. Some tots may be on board with the idea as young as 18 months, but making the transition from diapers to the toilet can take as long as 3 months. Even a toilet-tra...
For stepparents of male children, the approach to discipline can either bring a blended family closer together or wreak havoc in the household. Given the huge gender disparity in custody agreements (according to the U.S. Census...
If your child has a habit of spitting on people and objects or spitting out of frustration, you can try to learn what causes your child to engage in that behavior and how to get him to stop.
Toddlers need 12 to 14 hours of sleep every day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, as any parent knows, getting a toddler to sleep can present serious problems. In some cases, toddlers may ev...
Research into the social effects of the computers on children -- researchers include teens in this group -- is in its infancy. There are certain positive effects, especially for young children, from computer use, mostly concern...
He is whining, a combination of speaking and crying -- the sound comes out as a high-pitched noise. When you know why he is whining and what leads to that behavior, you can figure out how to make it stop.
While it may be best to ignore a periodically whiny child, if the behavior has become habitual, it's time to step in and set some specific limits. Failure to do so can result in your child developing poor social skills, that w...
Potty training is one of the challenges of child rearing that intimidates many parents. By waiting until your child is ready to take this step, remaining calm and keeping your attitude positive, you can help him master potty tr...
Misconduct can range from annoying to disobedient actions. At the extreme, you may find yourself yelling or threatening your child, when usually you are patient and understanding. Children do this because they get a reaction fr...
By the time your child reaches 3 years old, he should be just about done with the behaviors that are characteristic of the "terrible 2s." Two-year-old children generally are self-centered. They dislike sharing, interact poorly ...
Newborns should not be disciplined because they are not able to understand how their actions lead to punishment, but toddlers on up need to be disciplined in some form to learn the consequences of bad behavior and the importanc...
Toddlers and young children still discovering the world may use their mouths to investigate new objects. However, past 3 years old, biting and mouthing behavior usually subsides. Yet, some young children continue to bite siblin...
You can prepare to talk with your child by practicing what you will say, seeking advice from your child's pediatrician or talking to other parents who have talked with their children. Although the process might not be easy, it ...
Middle-child syndrome affects children born in between the oldest and youngest child in the family. The oldest sibling usually claims the title of head honcho, while the youngest takes the crown of baby of the family -- leaving...
Up until now, your child has spent a lot of time being coddled and held and taught. Now that she's 2 years old, she's ready to take on the world on her own terms. While turning 2 brings other exciting milestones, one most notab...
Whether or not to use spanking as a form of punishment is one of the most controversial issues parents confront. Although corporal punishment continues to come under fire, the majority of children do receive some form of physic...
Asperger Syndrome -- or AS -- is a developmental disorder, once thought to be a form of autism. According to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, AS is now recognized as a separate condition. Children with AS may first be diagnose...
Even if your child stays dry all day, many children aged 6 and younger still wet the bed frequently. It takes time for the brain and bladder to learn to communicate during sleep. While most children learn this by age 6, a small...
Despite their angelic faces, no child is an angel all of the time. On occasion, you may have to discipline or punish your child to stop negative behavior. Using appropriate punishment helps prevent repeat behavior in the futur...
