children
Children: Our most valuable natural resource.
The 'Why' Game
Why? Why? Why? But Why? For most of us, this why game from young children eventually hits a point where we will become exasperated from the never-ending questions that can seem to rain down. After a long day, many people might lack the energy to seriously engage in this playful but very useful component of child development. The question might not be an easy why, but why not engage and develop cognitive skills as early as possible to foster a lifelong ability to be curious about the world?
By Steven Altman7 years ago in Families
Gender Stereotypes and Children. Top Story - December 2018.
Say you get invited to a baby shower. The latest news is that she will be having a girl. You run to the store, go into the newborn section, and pick out a frilly little pink onesie and pink binky for the expected baby. Sounds cute. Easy enough, right?
By Hayley Ragan7 years ago in Families
Torn from My Arms, but Never from My Heart
August 15, 2016 was the worst day in my 30 years of life and is a day I will never forget. Middle aged, lesbian, fashionista, loving and attentive mother, full-time and successful carrier, a Leo, outgoing, friendly, social butterfly, independent.
By Vanessa Bettenhausen7 years ago in Families
Growing Up: Life After Abuse
Growing up, children seek to be protected, loved, and cared for—a basic human right. Yet that is not always the case. As the rates of harassment, abuse, violence, and anger rise up in this day and age, people fail to see the harm this is doing to the children in the world. Developmentally, children are growing cognitively, emotionally, and socially for many years, and exposure to such negativity impacts them beyond words. I grew up as a child witnessing domestic violence, a victim to emotional, mental, and physical abuse, and over a decade later I still suffer. Jamie Hanson, a professor from the University of Wisconsin released information from her research and studies that showed, "Orphaned children and physically abused children had smaller amygdala and hippocampi at age 12 than children without a history of stress. Those with the smallest amygdala and hippocampi also had the most behavioral problems, like getting in fights or skipping school."
By Makayla Richards7 years ago in Families
Baby Shark
If you are a parent, aunt, uncle, or grandparent...or if you have any association with children at all! Or have friends on social media that are associated with children...then chances are that you know this song! Is it annoying? Is it catching? Is it a lifesaver? Or is it just pure genius? The answer is yes! Yes! Yes!...and um, yes!...plus more!
By Daycare Momma7 years ago in Families
Nena
Heart beats trembling and treacherous effects, drippings of excitement as I press the "follow" button, hoping that you will not recognize me or even ignores my request. The floods of memory comes storming into my mind as I stared into the white screen and waited silently, but tornados of emotions travelled through me like an electric convulsion.
By Aiyan Turley7 years ago in Families
Why My Daughter Growing Up Scares the Shit Out of Me
My daughter is two-years-old. She is beautiful and happy. I am so blessed that I have such a happy baby. She smiles at everyone but screams for me. Timeout isn't my favorite but she's smart and beginning to understand it. She loves to brush her teeth. She's starting to talk a lot more. She's outgrowing clothes every month and goddamn is she tall. But that isn't what scares me. Watching her grow and learn is the greatest joy in my life. I love it. I don't care that I'm buying her new clothes every month or that I have pool noodles on every sharp corner in my house.
By Michelle Schultz7 years ago in Families
Parenting for Good Mental Health in Our Children
We read so much about how our overcrowded lives, lack of sleep and stiff upper lip mentality can lead us into poor mental health. We read even more about the benefits of practices to improve our mental health. Experts have noted a worrying rise in child mental health problems in recent years. Is there a way to parent our children so that they can learn to deal with their own pressurised lives as children and into adulthood? And at the same time take care of our own mental health?
By Laura Ansbro7 years ago in Families
Starving to Shame
Two weeks ago, I was babysitting at a five-star hotel. I was starving, so I put the little baby boy in the buggy and headed up to the lounge. They told me there would be free food up there, but there was nothing left but fruit. Fruit? What kind of joke was that? Maybe I could order a sandwich! But no one was around… I was going to faint any time soon unless I treated my stomach to a decent meal. The parents had made it very clear: you can either hang out in the room or in the lounge, but that’s all. Don’t go anywhere else. Don’t go outside. Why wasn’t I allowed to go to the restaurant on the ground floor? It made no sense at all. But well, you always have to please the customers…
By Mireia Prats7 years ago in Families
