New in Parenting

How to Deal With Siblings and Co-Dependent Behavior

When you're young, it's normal to defend your siblings against others, even when they're wrong. Family loyalty in the schoolyard fosters an "us against them" mentality, in some cases. But when the need to over-involve...

What Can Stifle a Toddler's Development?

Watching your toddler grow is a joy, but every day can bring new worries if you feel that his development has stalled. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a child should reach certain milestones -- like walking on ...

Behavior Problems in Toddlers

Toddlers are notorious for being energetic, curious and impulsive, which can result in behaviors that parents find problematic. When your own 2- or 3-year-old child is whiny, loud or aggressive, the fact that his peers behave s...

How to Combine Sports & Motherhood

Serious female athletes, like their male counterparts, spend countless hours training and conditioning in order to maximize their performance. Regardless of what sport you're involved in, if your goals include competing to win,...

How Old Should a Baby Be Before Using a Pillow?

As you lay your head down on a soft pillow each night, you may fret that your baby is uncomfortable sleeping on a flat mattress. However, sleeping with a pillow is potentially dangerous for young children. Your child may not ne...

Does Reflux in Babies Lead to Food Aversions?

If feeding times for you and your baby feel more like a battle than an enjoyable activity, food aversions related to acid reflux may be to blame. Acid reflux is a common condition in babies, whose small digestive tracts may cau...

Violent Temper Tantrums in Children

...frustrating, embarrassing and even frightening. They are, however, a normal part of most children's development, and some temper tantrums may become violent. When children throw violent tantrums, the parents' goal should be ...

Feeding Aversions in Infants

Approximately 25 percent to 35 percent of children have a feeding aversion problem to some degree, according to Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Infants, considered from newborns to 12 months old, might exhibit the prob...

Can Greasy Foods Make My Toddler Throw Up?

Fried chicken, pizza and other foods that leave a greasy mark on a napkin can also irritate your toddler’s stomach, leading to reflux and stomach discomfort. While greasy foods may not be a good idea for your child’...

Directions for How to Use Digital Food Thermometers

Digital food thermometers allow you to measure the internal temperature of food before you serve it. Cooking your food to the recommended internal temperature ensures that the microorganisms that can cause food-borne illness ha...

How to Create a Safe Place for Children

A safe environment reduces the risk of serious injury while providing the emotional security that allows children to grow and explore. Creating a safe place for kids requires both physical and behavioral considerations. Whether...

Practical Parenting for a Child With Diabetes

A child with diabetes needs a special type of parent -- and special parenting. Because your child's very life depends on careful management of his diet, physical activity and emotional state, you as a parent must maintain a del...

Developing Social Responsibility in Teens

A socially responsible teen wants to change society in a beneficial way through actions and ideas. However, most children aren't born knowing the importance of social responsibility, but must be taught to care about the world t...

How to Stop Bottle Feeding in Toddlers

Weaning from a bottle typically occurs around age 1 to prevent problems for your toddler. Extended bottle use increases the chances of tooth damage and can lead to excessive consumption of milk. Toddlers may resist giving up th...

Special Issues That Affect Toddler Development

No two children develop in the same way, even if they have the same parents and genetic background. While toddlers normally have a wide range of abilities, children with special issues can have an even wider range. Many factors...

Pregnancy Related Hives

Hives, or urticaria, are uncomfortable skin symptoms that may occur during pregnancy. The condition may arise for reasons such as an allergic reaction to a food or medication, or as an immune-system phenomenon. Hives appear mos...

How to Wean the Attachment to Sippy Cups

Every milestone in your child’s life is cause for celebration, but some habits are harder to break than others. Sippy cups are often used to help wean a child from the bottle, which can result in a passionate attachment t...

Parent Teamwork for Housework vs. Playing With the Kids

Juggling household duties can be one of the most stressful parts of life as a parent. According to research published in "The Price of Motherhood," household chores are still not evenly split between men and women, an...

Body Hydrating With Water Vs. Fruit

Water keeps your body hydrated for optimal functioning. Fruit juice aids in hydrating your body, but the juice may contain added sugar, fructose or high-fructose corn syrup, which adds calories and slows absorption, preventing ...

How Do Sports Affect Families?

Sports participation is often a family affair. When children are involved in sports, parents must devote significant time to the sport -- or sports -- of choice, and when parents play sports, they model athletic behavior to the...

How Does Exercise Affect Younger People?

Exercise is an important way to maintain and protect your health. The amount of exercise a person gets during his younger years can affect his long-term health and well-being. Certain aspects of a younger person's future health...

Helping Children Who Will Not Eat

If your child is a picky or a reluctant eater, don't panic. As long as she's showing normal progress on her growth charts and has enough energy for a normal day's activities, she's probably getting enough to eat, even if it see...

Food for a Toddler That Has Vitamin A

Nutrition is one of the most important aspects of keeping your toddler healthy. Your toddler needs between 1,000 and 1,400 calories per day from nutrient-dense foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy fo...

Vitamins for Toddlers to Help Hives

Urticaria, also known as hives, is a condition in which your skin is inflamed and has itchy white or red welts. Exercise, cold, heat, pressure and allergies can all cause hives. Unless your child has chronic hives, hives genera...

Tips for Cutting Down a Teen's Phone Use & TV Time

The average US teenager spends three hours and 20 minutes watching television every day, according to a 2009 Nielson report on teen media use. Thirty-seven percent of teenagers access the Internet with their cellphones, and the...

How to Improve Eye Contact With a Toddler

Appropriate eye contact plays an important role in nonverbal communication. In the United States, good eye contact demonstrates self-confidence, helps communicate emotion and lets someone know you are interested and paying atte...

Daytime Sleepiness & Chest Congestion

Feeling sleepy during the day while having chest congestion could be caused by several conditions. These symptoms may indicate that you have nothing more than a simple cold, or they may also be caused by a serious condition. Da...

Salivation In Babies

Babies begin drooling at about 3 months of age, according to pediatrician Howard Bennett. Some babies drool a little bit; other babies seem to drool constantly. If you find yourself changing your baby's outfit several times a d...

Toddler Behavior After a New Baby Arrives

Your toddler may act out, have extra tantrums and cling to you more than usual when you spend time with your new baby. You have to remember that you are the one the toddler wants. Your older child just thinks the new kid on the...

Post Surgery Tips on Hydrating Children

Surgery and use of anesthesia can upset the fluid balance of even well children undergoing elective surgery. If your child has outpatient surgery, he will come home a few hours after surgery. Maintaining hydration will be an im...

Knees & Ankles Turn Purple After Running

Discoloration in the legs after exercise may be associated with having a condition known as peripheral artery disease, or PAD. This circulatory disorder affects the limbs, depriving them of proper blood flow and oxygen. In many...

Dance Versus Karate for ADHD Kids

Structured physical activities, such as dance or karate, can provide a valuable outlet for energy and the basis for developing personal discipline, especially among children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADH...

Help for Parents With an Argumentative Child

An argumentative child, whether age 5 or 15, has reasons for each rebellion. Her reasons may not stand up to the rigors of adult logic, but in her mind, they are important enough to warrant disobedience, tears or outright tantr...

Acupuncture for White Spots on the Skin

Vitiligo is a skin condition that causes white spots to form on the skin. This condition can begin on any part of the body and stay confined to that area or spread to other areas. This condition has several treatment methods ra...

How to Get the Most Out of Growth Spurts

Growth spurts happen to all kids, but they can wreak havoc on your athletic life. Your body will go through periods of rapid vertical growth punctuated by periods of "filling out" as your muscles catch up to your bone...

Red Bruise-Looking Rash on Toddler's Ankles

If you have suddenly noticed a red bruise-looking rash on your toddler’s ankles, don’t panic yet. Kids are regularly exposed to irritants and illnesses that cause changes in their skin’s color and texture, acc...

What Is the Ideal Age Range Between Siblings?

A major part of family planning is determining the most suitable interval between pregnancies. For each family, a variety of factors ranging from culture to finances influence this decision. According to MayoClinic.com and the...

Legs and Feet That Turn Purple in Toddlers

If the legs and feet of your toddler turn purple, contact your doctor. Skin color changes are typically indicative of a circulation problem. If the toddler is diagnosed with a heart or circulation disorder, medication is likely...

What Kind of Poor Nutrition Can Stunt a Teenager's Growth?

Growth and development during the teenage years depends on a variety of factors, including adequate sleep and exercise, hormone levels, overall health and proper nutrition. Nutritional deficiencies can significantly stunt growt...

How to Keep Toddlers From Climbing on Window Sills

Windows can pose significant risks to curious toddlers. In the United States, more than 5,100 children under the age of 18 end up in the emergency room each year after falling from a window, according to the Center for Injury R...

Activities for Toddlers With No Television

You don’t need a television to have fun with your children. Toddlers' minds are creative and ready to learn, making it easy to entertain and educate them at the same time. Activities can be just for fun or they can be use...

Healthy Sneaky Foods for Toddlers

Mealtimes can be especially challenging for parents of toddlers. Fussy eaters often refuse to eat anything with nutritional value, while parents resort to begging, pleading or bribing their tots at every bite. Turn mealtime aro...

Wool Rug for Allergies in a Toddler's Room

An allergy is an immune response to something in the environment. Many allergies cause nasal symptoms like a runny nose, sneezing and coughing, and even skin symptoms like eczema. According to BabyCenter, dust mites are a commo...

Soft Stool in Toddlers

Soft stool in toddlers often is more of a laundry problem than a medical problem, but it's important to understand what is normal and atypical. Fortunately, most cases of soft stool go away on their own or are easily treated by...

Music Toys for Toddlers & Auditory Development

Musical toys for babies and infants may be frustrating or irritating for adults to hear again and again, but for your child, they are valuable learning and development resources. At birth, the auditory system is quite underdeve...

Is Creatine Usage for Teenage Boys Harmful?

...ine is a supplement used by bodybuilders to put on muscle mass quickly. Like other supplements, creatine is not under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Teenage boys and their parents likely have many...

Structure Vs. Play for Toddlers

Toddlers need a mixture of both structure and play as they develop. A structured environment allows a toddler to become familiar with rules and behavioral expectations. Play gives the toddler the chance to develop her creativit...

What Does it Mean When a Toddler Walks on His Arch?

As your child begins to stand and takes his first tentative steps, you may be concerned because he is walking with his toes pointing in or out while standing on his arches. While it is normal for a parent to worry, your child i...

How to Help Toddlers Practice Gymnastics

Your toddler is on the move, pulling up, crawling through and climbing on every stationary object. This is a good thing. Little ones need to practice their gross motor skills with all the activities that come naturally to them....

What to Do With a Sensitive Sibling

Siblings may be your best friends or the bane of your existence, and if you have a highly sensitive brother or sister, dealing with them may feel like a full-time job. For a sensitive sibling, what should be a minor event may s...

Insomnia & Bloating in a Toddler

A number of chronic gastrointestinal conditions can cause intestinal symptoms in toddlers, although some might occur more commonly in older children. Dietary habits can also cause bloating in a toddler that could wake him in th...

Toddler Development and Not Picking Up Food

A child is considered a toddler during ages 1 and 3. During the early toddler years, parents are starting to encourage a child to develop fine motor skills with self-feeding. Most children have the motor skills needed to pick u...

Speech Refusal in Toddlers

Speech refusal in toddlers covers a lot of complex issues and might have its roots in a several conditions, from learning disabilities to hearing problems. What might seem like a refusal to talk can in fact be a lack of underst...

Dangers for Toddlers in a Cluttered House

Household accidents are among the top reasons for emergency room visits for children under 3, according to KidsHealth.org, a division of the Nemours Foundation. Even a neat house could be dangerous when not properly childproofe...

How Day Care Affects Newborns

With many new parents having to work, go to school or take care of other time-consuming tasks, the need to put newborns in day care is becoming more commonplace. While child care may seem to be a practical solution to parents&#...

Safe Bath Time Bubbles for Toddlers

Some children love to play with bubbles, and they can make it easier to convince a reluctant toddler to take a bath. However, not all bubble baths, shampoos or bath soaps are necessarily safe for use with toddlers. In fact, Bab...

How to Help Children Who Are Afraid of Animals

A fear of animals is common in children, often exhibiting around the age of 3. It may be caused by a specific incident or it could be a biological instinct. Kay Loveland, a psychologist who uses animals in her practice, told &q...

How to Alleviate Dry Nasal Passages in Toddlers

Dry nasal passages in toddlers frequently result from colds, allergies or other respiratory infections. The dryness is rarely a cause for concern; however, dry nasal passages in your toddler may be a painful experience for her....

Lethargic Symptoms in Kids

If your child is normally full of energy, showing symptoms of lethargy can make you concerned he is experiencing an underlying medical condition. While lethargy resembles fatigue, it is typically accompanied by an underlying ca...

How to Create a Routine for Toddler Starting School

A toddler starting school is exposed to a new world of structure, and the best way to help him adjust is to practice before you drop him off for his first day. Out-of-sync sleep habits and an unfamiliar pace might lead to morni...

Grapes as Nutrients for a Toddler's Appetite

The toddler stage of development introduces more foods during the transition from breast or bottle feeding to eating primarily solids. Grapes, when sliced into small pieces to prevent choking, offer nutrients important for deve...

Hyperthyroid in a Toddler

Hyperthyroidism is a serious medical condition that causes your thyroid to make too much of the hormone thyroxine. With an overactive thyroid, your body’s metabolism can accelerate rapidly, causing an array of troubling s...

Hand Clap Games for Toddlers

...songs, but even young toddlers are able to participate in simple activities that involve clapping. The hand-clapping games and activities work well in group situations like day care or at home with a parent and child. Younge...

Healthy Food That Toddlers Can Help Make

Most toddlers want to be involved with whatever their parents are doing, including meal preparation. Involving your children with the food they eat can lead to healthy eating habits, but not all food is suitable for toddler par...

Permissive Parenting & Empathy

Parents' beliefs about their role and the ultimate goals of Parenting greatly influence their Parenting style. Gwen Dewar, writing for Parenting Science, defines permissive Parenting as "being nurturing and warm" and ...

How Does Eating a Lot of Sweets Affect Kids in Sports?

Your child’s diet will greatly influence his performance in sports. Sweets, in particular, may negatively affect your child’s performance, hamper his growth and development, and increase his risk for childhood obesi...

Grasping Exercises for Toddlers

Toddlers have a minimal vocabulary, typically about 10 words at 18 months, and these children use their arms and hands to point and indicate what they want. Children at this age also develop key motor skills, coordination and r...

How to Get Teenagers Up in the Morning

Teenagers are notoriously difficult to wake up in the mornings, and the fault doesn't lie entirely with a lack of willpower. According to the Mayo Clinic, teens naturally shift to a pattern of not becoming tired until 11 PM or ...

Is Honey Safe for Toddlers?

Honey is perfectly safe for most toddlers and may be particularly useful in households with a young child. This syrup-like substance not only adds a sweet taste to foods and drinks, it can also be used as a natural remedy for r...

Red Gums on Toddlers & Unable to Eat

Gum disease is thought to be a problem only adults face, but toddlers are just as susceptible to gingivitis if poor dental hygiene is practiced in the household. Most children have some degree of gingivitis, according to the Am...

The Effects of Moving on a Two-Year-Old Toddler

... still be difficult for children of this age. Two-year-olds are creatures of habit who often struggle with mundane changes in their routine, according to the textbook "Child Psychology." If parents are sensitive to...

Toddler Activities to Enhance Social Development

Social development is an important part of being a toddler because it guides how young children interact with the people around them. It allows them to form relationships with others and behave in appropriate ways. One way todd...

How to Make a Breakfast Menu for Toddlers

A nutritious breakfast gets your toddler off to a healthy start to his day. Making a menu for your toddler's breakfast helps you create a balance of the recommended servings for each food group starting with the first meal of t...

How Much Time Does a Toddler Need Outside to Exercise?

Toddlers are notorious for being active. They're natural runners, jumpers and climbers and love to explore. You may find that your little one is still going strong long after you've run out of steam, but resist the urge to curb...

The Impact of Parenting Styles on Children's Development

...cts how they develop, both cognitively and socially. A child’s development process is influenced by a mixture of all the stimuli he comes into contact with, such as people and situations. Since parents are normally a f...

How to Help Your Kids Not Be Insecure

...nsitions, both physically and mentally. Particularly as your child enters early adolescence, she may start to display behaviors such as dwindling self-confidence, insecurity and low self-esteem. As a parent, you have a vital...

5 Ways to Improve Parenting Skills

Being a parent is as challenging as it is rewarding. Just when you think you think you've got a handle on a particular stage in your child's development, along comes another stage, rife with fresh challenges that didn't exist b...

How to Help a Kid's Toothache

A painful toothache can make your child feel miserable. While visiting the dentist is the best course of action if your child has a toothache, a visit might not be possible if pain starts during the night or at another time whe...

How to Get Toddler Enough Fiber

A high-fiber diet is beneficial during childhood because it promotes bowel regularity and prevents overeating. Becoming accustomed to high-fiber foods as a kid is also beneficial later in life, as a high-fiber diet is associate...

Affection Aversion in Toddlers

Young children generally respond well to affection, but some seem uninterested or unwilling to respond to parents or peers. While, to some degree, this may be normal, it also may be a symptom of a more serious neurological cond...

Nutritional Diet for Toddlers

...e brakes for meals, and toddlers are not too young to be tempted by sugary snacks. This also is an age when some kids are stubbornly picky about their food preferences — so at times, some smart parental strategies migh...

Open-Mouth Breathing & Excessive Drooling In a Toddler

All young children drool to some degree, but it is rare for a child to drool after 18 months of age. Many causes of mouth breathing are temporary, such as the common cold, the flu or simply nasal congestion. If your child has ...

Vomiting Before Bedtime in Toddlers

As a parent, you try to create a bedtime routine that enables your toddler to transition easily and peacefully to sleep. But your child might have other ideas. Many toddlers, even those who could fall asleep easily as babies, h...

How Does Hot Sauce Affect Toddlers?

Most toddlers instinctively dislike hot sauce. Capsaicin, the oil that gives hot sauce its burn, is especially irritating to young children and can strongly affect the body's functioning. Young children should not eat hot sauce...

Resources for Parents of Pregnant Teenaged Daughters

Teen pregnancy is usually unplanned and can come as a shock to the teenagers involved and their parents. While it might be difficult to approach your teen about such a sensitive subject, communication is necessary in order to a...

How to Incorporate Vegetables Into a Toddler's Diet

Toddlers often have picky eating habits, and vegetables seem to be one of the most unpopular food groups. If your toddler has a seemingly overnight realization that vegetables are to be avoided at all costs, don't worry. As lon...

How to Get a Teenage Boy to Exercise

Exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, no matter what age you are. Physical activity greatly impact our physical, mental and emotional development and health. However, getting the teenage boy in your household to...

My Teenage Daughter Has No Social Skills

The teenage years, though awkward and confusing, is the time when parents can help shape and mold their children to become unique and competent adults. Some teens may pass through these years with ease while others may struggle...

Allergic Reaction to Grass in Toddlers

If your toddler is exploring the outdoors and his head feels increasingly miserable the longer he's outside -- along with having itchy, watery eyes -- he might be experiencing seasonal allergies. Also known as hay fever, pollen...

Early Socialization in Toddlers & Parenting Styles

As toddlers explore their environment, they look to parents for assurance and permission. As parents view their toddlers’ often unruly behavior, they wonder how much freedom to allow and how much support to provide. The d...

How Do Sports Teach Kids Good Sportsmanship?

Playing sports gives youngsters the opportunity to learn how to compete, develop strong conditioning habits and learn the concept of sportsmanship. In most youth sports leagues, the emphasis is on learning the skills needed to ...

Natural Help with Constipation in Kids

If your child is experiencing the discomforts of constipation, you may be wary of giving him a laxative made for adults. Before you administer medication, even over-the-counter varieties, try natural remedies. The solution may ...

Nutrition for Teenage Mothers

Teenage girls are already going through dramatic physical changes, so adequate nutrition during teenage pregnancy is particularly important. Because adolescent growth is not complete for about four years after the first menstru...

Types of Anemia in Toddlers

Anemia is a general term describing a decrease in the number or function of red blood cells leading to reduced oxygen circulation. Iron-deficiency anemia is the most common blood disorder found in toddlers, which can be caused...

How to Plan Menus for Adult Foster Care Homes

Meal planning for adult foster care homes, also known as group homes, is a multifaceted process. Planners must consider the residents' health and preferences, the home's budget and preparation capabilities and the legal ramific...

Development Levels for Toddlers

Your toddler hits some wondrous and exciting milestones between the ages of 1 and 3. The tiny person who relied on you for everything grows into an independent little person by leaps and bounds, learning new things and grasping...

Can Caffeine Cause Tremors in Toddlers?

Coffee is a potent source of caffeine, but so are a number of beverages that appeal to kids, particularly soft drinks. Kids are attracted to these drinks because they are sweet and taste good, and in small amounts, they do not ...

Broken Collarbones in Toddlers

The collarbone, or clavicle, is the bone children break most often. Although a broken collarbone may signal child abuse or neglect, it's more commonly the result of a normal, rambunctious toddler's activities. Because very youn...

Rash on Toddler's Bottom

From bright red and scaly to mild pink and itchy, the specific appearance of the rash sprinkled across your toddler’s bottom is a key to its cause. Some of these rashes require a doctor’s attention, but you should b...

Arm Flapping in Toddlers

Arm flapping or hand flapping are classic autistic behaviors, but that doesn't mean your child has autism if she does this occasionally. Normal children may flap their hands or arms when they get excited. If you suspect your ch...

How to Increase Calories in Toddlers

The recommended daily caloric intake for toddlers is between 1,000 and 1,400, according to Kids Health. Whether your child is underweight or simply doesn't eat much due to picky eating or the inability to sit still and eat, sne...

How to Help Children Cope With an Absent Father

A divorce or separation can be a painful and stressful time for the children involved, especially if a parent is absent. Although you are likely hurting as well, help your children cope with the difficult transition. Even if yo...

Activities to Help Kids Develop Social Skills

In order to get along in the world, children need to learn to develop social skills. According to Eileen Kennedy-Moore, Ph.D., in an article for "Psychology Today," this involves adapting personal desires to fit each ...

Nutrition for the Teenage Body

If you're a teen, you might prefer pizza, burgers, sweets and cola to healthy foods because they're readily available and they taste good. However, you might be missing out on the excellent benefits of eating healthy foods, suc...

How to Take Care of a Child's Swollen & Sprained Wrist

While a wrist sprain can be scary for parent and child alike, wrist injuries are common in childhood, often the result of trying to break a fall. No matter how your child injured his wrist -- demonstrating an amazing new trick ...

Toddler Eye Swelling

A toddler with a swollen eyelid can give a parent cause for concern, particularly if the child complains of pain. A pediatrician or eye doctor needs to examine your child’s eye to determine what is causing the swelling an...

Magnesium in Toddlers

Magnesium is a nutrient necessary for your toddler's growth and development, and it helps his body uses other vitamins and minerals. It is important to understand how much magnesium he needs each day, as well as the best food s...

Swollen Lips in a Toddler

If your toddler looks like he's been in a back-alley fight -- with swollen, puffy lips -- he may be experiencing an allergic reaction. Take allergic reactions that cause facial swelling seriously, because they can affect your...

Meditation Techniques for Teenagers

Teenagers lead hectic lives. Between school, work, after-school activities, socializing and preparing for college, being a teenager can leave you feeling stressed out and on edge. Meditation can help relieve some of that stress...

My Toddler's Tooth Is Bleeding

Tooth decay is an increasing problem in young children, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Oral health problems may cause systemic infection, tooth loss and extreme pain. If your toddler's tooth is bleeding, it mi...

Stages of a Toddler

Walking generally marks the transition from infancy to becoming a toddler. Children 1 and 2 years old are defined as toddlers. Tykes in the first and second year are busy growing, learning and developing a sense of willpower an...

Gas In Toddlers

Though gas is generally not a serious problem for toddlers, the effects can be especially painful for small stomachs and as a result worrisome to those who are caring for children. Understanding the causes and symptoms of gas i...

Why Does My Toddler Scream in the Middle of the Night?

If your toddler suddenly screams in the middle of the night, it is probably a case of night terrors. While not ultimately dangerous, night terrors can be frightening for parents. These incidents, also called confusional arousal...

Gluten & Toddler Behavior

Gluten has been blamed for a variety of disorders, and many people have had improved health by eliminating gluten from the diet. Gluten is a type of protein found in wheat, rye, barley and sometimes in oats. It is actually a c...

Do Sports Affect Growth in Kids?

An overwhelming array of evidence points to the benefits children receive from sports. Sports raise self-esteem, reduce obesity, maintain health and encourage critical thinking, according to pediatrician Dr. William Sears. In s...

How to Teach Teenagers to Deal With Gossip & Criticism

The teen years can be notoriously difficult for teenagers, especially if other kids gossip about and criticize your child. Adolescent bullying can leave lasting scars, making it essential that parents, teachers and other adults...

Teen's Insubordination to Parents

Teen defiance is characterized by anger, disobedience and general disrespect. While at times all teenagers can be insubordinate to their parents, when this unruly nature becomes a day-to-day problem, you need to intervene. Insu...

How to Help Children Stand Up for Themselves

It’s impossible to escape childhood without experiencing peer pressure or bullying, and it’s not uncommon for these difficult social situations to crop up throughout adulthood. Parents can take a variety of actions ...

Frequent Gagging in Toddlers

Gagging is not only unpleasant to hear, but potentially very dangerous, too. A toddler who gags while he eats can easily choke. Never leave a toddler alone while he eats; stay facing him at all times since he can choke quietly ...

How to Deal With Your Kid's Bad Attitude in Sports

Playing sports helps children build confidence, handle conflict and make new friends. However, children sometimes develop a bad attitude while playing sports when they are frustrated or disappointed. Children may also act in an...

Workout Guidelines for Teenagers

Childhood and adolescent obesity and excessive weight are on the rise, and one reason is sedentary activities, such as watching television and playing video games, are more tempting to many teenagers than working out, according...

Recurrent High Fever in Teenagers

If your teen has a high fever, you might be concerned. Oftentimes, a fever is caused by a viral infection; however, sometimes, your teen’s fever might occur due to a bacterial infection or inflammatory condition. Knowing ...

The Nutritional Statistics for a Teenager's Nutrition

With school, after-school activities and family obligations, a teenager’s life may be hectic, and choosing the right nutritional foods is not always easy. For many, breakfast is skipped and fast food or vending machines m...

How Can I Motivate Myself in Parenting?

Parenting is an unrelenting job often requiring you to be nicer than you want to be, care more than you wish you had to, and defer your own favorite activities time and time again. It requires patience when you're not feeling p...

Toddlers & Congested Noses

A stuffy nose in a toddler may cause irritability and trouble sleeping. If he still uses a bottle or nurses, he may also have trouble drinking. Most of the time, nasal congestion is not caused by anything serious and will pass ...

Toddlers With Abnormal Stools

Your toddler’s body is growing and changing, so her stool often changes frequently as well. Looking at her waste may not be fun, but it’s an easy way to keep track of what’s going on inside her. Stool that var...

How to Teach Toddlers About Their Senses

Your toddler typically satisfies her innate curiosity with sight and hearing, appearing oblivious to the remaining senses of smell, touch and taste. The world remains largely unknown to your toddler, who utilizes the five sense...

Torticollis Exercises for Toddlers

Also referred to as wryneck, torticollis is a condition in which the head is tilted to one side. The top of the head usually tips one way, while the chin is pointed in the opposite direction. It may occur as a baby develops in ...

The Emotional Effect of Sports on Children

Children are beginning team sports at younger and younger ages. The proliferation of youth travel leagues and all-star teams provide many opportunities for children to play at a competitive level, even when they are in elementa...

How to Make Buttercream Frosting Spread Smoothly

Buttercream frosting, also known as butter icing or mock cream, is a sweet topping made from butter and powdered sugar. Ideally, buttercream frosting should spread smoothly on whatever cake, cupcake or cookie to which it is app...

When Can a Toddler Speak?

Most children are able to say a couple of words before their first birthday, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. It takes several years for children to learn to speak in sentences ...

How Should Parents Give Privacy to Their Teenagers?

As a parent, you walk a fine line between keeping your teen's life an open book and giving too much privacy. Your teen is beginning to explore his adult identity, so he wants more privacy for himself, but it's still your respon...

Triangle Activities for Toddlers

Although your toddler may not be able to pronounce the word "triangle," she is able to understand basic shape concepts. The shape concept is an important foundation for math skills that come later in life. Exposing yo...

How to Deal With Teenage Lies

Catching your teen in a lie doesn’t necessarily mean that he has a serious problem. Lying can be a normal part of development when your teen is testing boundaries and seeing how much he can get away with. However, both sm...

How to Help a Sour Stomach for Kids

"Sour stomach" generally refers to indigestion, which is not a disease but a symptom, according to the Mayo Clinic website. The sour sensation is caused by a buildup of acid in the stomach. This acid buildup can lead ...

Heat Related Hives in Toddlers

Hives are red, itchy welts. Heat hives are more accurately described as heat rashes or cholinergic urticaria. They can develop after activities that raise your toddler's body temperature. Your toddler can develop these hives af...

How to Deal With an Immature Teenage Kid

Parenting teenagers is never easy, but it shouldn’t feel like you’re weathering the “terrible twos” all over again. Yelling and lecturing won’t work with unruly, childish adolescents. If you deal w...

The Effects of Parenting Styles on Delinquency

Parents discipline and respond to their children in several different ways. The parenting style you incorporate when dealing with your children will affect every aspect of their life, as well as their future. Delinquency is a c...

Squints in Toddlers

If your toddler squints, tilts her head or rubs her eyes it’s time to schedule an eye examination. Kids don't know when they have vision problems, so they will make adjustments rather than complain. Knowing what to expect...

Green Mucus in Toddlers

When your toddler becomes ill, she will often have thick green mucus. In the past, medical professionals used to believe that green mucus signified a bacterial infection, which could be treated with antibiotics. As of 2011, how...

Why a Toddler Is Nervous and Covers the Ears

Even a toddler who has a wide vocabulary will not always be to explain what she’s feeling. Physical cues like covering her ears or having a scared or tense expression on her face may be her way of telling you she has a pr...

Nutritional Issues in Teenagers

As parents focus on getting school lunches packed and dinner on the table, they may not notice serious teenage nutritional issues. Hectic schedules, popular convenience foods and body-image concerns all play roles in adolescent...

Very Important Nutrients During the Toddler Stage

Significant growth and development occur during the toddler years, and nutrients help fuel that growth. Toddlers need to consume between 1,000 and 1,400 calories per day, with very active toddlers on the higher end of the range...

Sprains in Toddlers

Your accident-prone toddler probably has a new bruise or scratch every day, but a sprain is not a common injury at this age. Your toddler is likely to break a bone before having a sprain, according to BabyCenter’s website. I...

Toddler With Bladder Leakage

Toddlers that have been potty trained may continue to have occasional accidents. However, if your child is suddenly leaking urine frequently, it may be caused by a few issues other than your child's young age. Your child may be...

How to Get a Toddler to Take Magnesium

Magnesium is an important mineral for the healthy functioning of many organs and systems in a toddler's body. Although the best way to get it is through diet, many toddlers do not eat enough whole grains, nuts and green leafy v...

Does Exercise Help Kids Grow?

Exercise is a critical part of growth in children. Aerobic exercise in children and teenagers promotes bone growth that ultimately leads to an increase in height. Exercise also bestows a number of other benefits to growing chil...

What to Give a Toddler for Hives

Hives are red or white raised welts that are swollen from histamine being released under the skin during an allergic reaction. Depending on the age of your toddler, you may be able to treat her with antihistamines, but read the...

My Toddler Gets an Allergy When Eating

...ction to harmless proteins found in particular foods. That response usually happens shortly after the food is eaten. Symptoms can range from very mild to life-threatening, so it’s important for parents and pediatrician...

Teenagers and Problems Dealing With Parents

As they push toward adulthood, most teenagers experience emotional conflicts with their peers and parents. The transition from childhood to adulthood involves building your sense of self and developing independent living skills...

How to Feed Toddlers Protein

Toddlers and young children require 1g of protein for every two pounds of body weight per day. This means that a 30-pound toddler needs 15g of protein daily, or the equivalent of two tbsp. of peanut butter or two cups of low-fa...

Zinc in Toddlers

Like adults, toddlers need zinc to support their immune systems and to help them recover from cuts and other wounds. Because zinc promotes healthy cell division, zinc is especially important to help toddlers grow and develop pr...

Symptoms of Overstimulation in a Toddler

Toddlers have started to gain control over their ability to react to stimuli in the environment. They learn to shut things out in ways they couldn't as infants. However, they're still new at this skill and can get overstimulate...

Care After a Tonsillectomy in Toddlers

Often a child's first surgery, a tonsillectomy can be as difficult for a toddler's caregiver as it is for the toddler herself. A tonsillectomy involves removing tissue at the back of the throat. The procedure often leads to bet...

Helpful Hints for Parents to Help Their Children Read

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis once said, "There are many little ways to enlarge your child's world. Love of books is the best of all." Through books, your child can travel to magical lands, meet courageous heroes, learn ...

Ways to Help Children With Emotional Behavior Disorders

...t be depressed, avoid building relationships with their peers or struggle to learn and grasp concepts in the classroom. Children with these disorders also misbehave, which can make life difficult for parents and children ali...

Dehydration in Teenagers

Dehydration in teenagers most often occurs during the summer months and is more common in teens who participate in endurance or team sports, such as running or soccer. Without prompt treatment, dehydration can lead to heatstrok...

How to Stop Toddler Tantrums & Misbehaving

The terrible twos, threes and fours can come with temper tantrums. If you have a toddler at home, then you have probably experienced tantrums, if not full-on meltdowns by your child. Temper tantrums and misbehaving mostly occur...

My Toddler Has Red Palms & Soles of the Feet

A child with red palms and soles of the feet likely has a mild virus called hand, foot and mouth disease. It’s not uncommon for half a daycare class to have this illness at the same time due to the highly contagious natur...

Nutritional Recommendation for Teenagers

The teen years are known for major developments physically, mentally and socially. Beginning as early as age 10, you may notice an increase in your teenager's appetite. Girls begin to increase their percentage of body fat and ...

How to Help Kids Improve Their Thinking Skills

...they are better able to reason, evaluate and anaylze problems and situational conflicts. These skills can also help a child academically, since thinking skills are critical in all subject areas. As a parent or teacher, becom...

How Can Parents Help Children Grow in Mathematics?

Young children are concrete thinkers: It's time to go when Mommy gets her purse and "two" is how many shoes are needed to get ready. Developing math skills helps even the most math-averse child think more abstractly a...

How to Get Toddlers to Start Chewing Their Food

As your toddler starts to transition from purees to whole foods, choking can be a concern. In addition to ensuring your child’s food is cut or torn into small enough bites, you also should teach him to chew thoroughly and...

How to Help a Kid to Walk

One of your child's most exciting milestones is when he starts to walk. Your baby works toward this important day starting at 4 months old, when his muscles and coordination levels allow him to start rolling over, sitting up, c...

Can Diet Cause Yellow Feet & Hands in a Toddler?

As a parent, you'll treat a number of fevers and upset tummies in your children but most parents are uncertain what to do when their child’s hands and feet turn a peculiar shade of yellow. In general, discolored palms in ...

Can Allergies Make Teenagers Feel Tired?

Teenagers seem to be on the go all the time, with school, extracurricular activities, part-time jobs and busy social lives. Many teens also suffer from allergies, which can strike at just about any time of year. If your teenage...

Toddler Complaining of a Constant Stomach Ache

All parents must eventually deal with their child's dreaded--yet normal--"tummy ache," but when your toddler complains of stomach pain on a consistent basis, a greater problem might be to blame. Chronic stomach aches in toddler...

Loose Teeth Injuries in Toddlers

Toddlers' baby teeth are smaller, softer and less embedded in the gums than adult teeth. This makes them easier to knock loose. When trauma causes loose teeth, it can be frightening, but the injuries are normally easily treated...

My One Year Old Is Suddenly Waking During the Night

While most people expect short sleep cycles with newborn babies, the resumption of night wakings in previously sound-sleeping toddlers comes as a nasty surprise for many parents. Assuming your child is healthy and teething is ...

How to Grow Muscles for a Teenager

It's not uncommon for a teenager to want to increase muscle mass. Reasons may include improved strength, sports performance or the desire to impress a special someone. Whatever the reason, a teen must wait until he reaches pube...

Fructose Malabsorption in Toddlers

If your toddler often has tummy aches and has changes in the frequency and consistency of his bowel movements, consult your doctor to identify the cause of the problem. Many conditions can trigger these gastrointestinal symptom...

How Sports Benefit Children Academically

Many youngsters dream of playing sports and becoming a key part of a winning team. Competing hard and learning to push yourself to achieve success is one of the benefits of playing sports. That experience can carry into the cla...

How Much Should a Teenager Exercise in a Week?

A 2007 to 2008 study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that 18.1 percent of Americans age 12 to 19 are obese. Lack of physical activity is a major factor in overweight and obese teenagers, as ...

Tiredness in Toddlers

The toddler years involve a great deal of growth and development, which require vast amounts of energy. This being the case, there is little wonder why toddlers frequently experience tiredness. While tiredness comes naturally d...

The Effects of Pop Culture on Teenagers

While the research on the effects of pop culture on teenagers is not yet conclusive, the predominance of pop culture in today's society definitely has some effect. In particular, it affects the way teenagers think of themselves...

Teenage Exercises

With computers, televisions and video games to occupy their limited free time, teenagers might forget to exercise. Physical activity is important for people of all ages, including teens. The National Institutes of Health's Medl...

How Younger Siblings Influence Teen Siblings

Usually, parents think of teenagers as good or bad role models for their younger siblings. However, younger children also influence their older teenage siblings in positive ways, providing opportunities for teens to nurture, te...

Parental Influences on Children in Sports

A parent's role in his children's sporting activities can be either positive or negative. Positive things parents do to facilitate their children's involvement in sporting activities include taking them to practices, paying fo...

When to Take the Front Off a Crib

The decision time for converting a crib into a toddler bed -- which typically involves removing the front rail of the crib -- varies greatly based on your child's needs and your comfort level. Most of the time, babies are ready...

The Effects of Strict Parents

The method of strict parenting came up for debate in January 2011, when Amy Chua wrote a book called "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother," detailing her uber-strict method of parenting her daughters for excellence. Among her metho...

How to Wind Down a Hyperactive Toddler

Don't be alarmed if your toddler would rather run around the room than play a quiet game. Most toddlers have lots of energy and doctors do not usually diagnose children under the age of 5 with hyperactivity disorders like ADHD,...

Toothaches In Toddlers

When your toddler is uncomfortable, you know it, and you want to do everything you can to make her feel better. If your child has a toothache, it doesn't always mean it's related to teething. Toddlers are susceptible to serious...

Halitosis in Teenagers

Killer outfit. Knock-em-dead shoes. Clean, shiny hair. Bad breath. Your body's digestive process contributes to bad breath, or halitosis, so knowing what happens after you eat a burger or salad can help you take the right steps...

Drinks to Help Children Who Are Picky Eaters

Most children spend some portion of their childhood as picky eaters. Though Parents may be concerned by their child's nutritional habits, few picky eaters suffer from nutritional deficits. Parents should continue offering healt...

Ideas for Parents Supporting Their Teenagers

Parenting a teenager is challenging. Your teen has his own views and opinions, moods and problems, but you are still responsible for supporting him. Your support is needed to maintain his educational success, physical health, e...

Tots & Toddlers Yoga

Yoga enthusiasts believe that the discipline of yoga unites the body, mind and spirit. Participants increase flexibility by moving through various poses while focusing on their breathing. Yoga for tots and toddlers, approximate...

Should I Be Worried If My Toddler Eats Dirt?

Anyone who has spent time with toddlers knows their propensity for putting anything and everything in their mouths. It's natural for a young child to explore his world by tasting different items. Some researchers suggest the pr...