For many families it’s back-to-school time, but if you have a three or four year old, school is a whole new concept to your family.  Your child is probably excited about the big first day but nervous as well. After all, for many young children, it’s the first time they’ll be heading away from home.  So, how do you deal with separation anxiety in preschoolers?  Check out these tips to avoid breaking your child’s heart and yours.

If you’re looking for some books that might help motivate your little one to get some exercise, Lil Sugar has the list for you.  Here are some children’s books about fitness, including My Daddy is a Pretzel (about yoga) and Hop a Little, Jump a Little (for toddlers).

Jame Mollison’s collection of photos for his new book, Where Children Sleep,  is grabbing the attention of people from around the world, and this week, the New York Times featured a selection of photos from the book.  The photos feature the portraits and bedrooms of children from around the world and depicts what their life is like.  This is a must-see collection.

Being a parent is amazing, but many people often find themselves reflecting back on their lives, wishing they would have done one thing before giving birth or adopting.  The Bump asked its readers what they would have done, and answers ranged from honeymoons to buying a house.  If you could go back and do one thing before becoming a mom or dad, what would it be?

If you’re pregnant and near a running car, you might want to step away.  According to a new study from England, exhaust from running vehicles can be unsafe for unborn children.  What kind of harm does it cause?  The study says it can cause respiratory problems later in life, such as asthma and allergies.

“I don’t need anymore toys.”

“More veggies please.”

Chances are, these are things you’ve never hear your child say and probably never will.  Take a look at eight more things you’ll  probably never hear your child say in 10 Things We Wish Children Would Say.

Bullying is everywhere these days, especially amongst kids and teenagers.  Sadly, it’s not a topic kids feel like they can talk about with their parents and other trusted adults.  It’s embarrassing to the child and in some cases, they may be afraid tattling will only lead to more bullying.  If you’re afraid your child might be getting bullied at school, here are some signs to look out for.

We’ve all heard how bad secondhand smoke can be for children and grown-ups alike, but a new study shows that secondhand smoke may affect a child’s mental health as well.   Unfortunately, the United States Surgeon General suspects over 60% of children are exposed to secondhand smoke.

We all know that it’s hard to get into the habit of studying. For children, it’s even harder. Sure, the grades pay off but what else can motivate our kids?

If your child is struggling to get those good grades, there’s something you can do about it. Instead of passive learning, which is learning through observation or process of information. You can take an interest in what your child is learning in school which is helpful in many ways such as partaking in interactive learning. This could be the solution for you and your child. Interactive learning is a method of learning by using your five senses; sight, taste, touch, hearing, and smell.

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Children are naturally full of wonder about life, nature, people, habits and so much more. If you are careful to cultivate this innate curiosity, your children may never lose the awareness of the awesome world we live in. Adults who keep learning have more options open to them. They are eager to take on new challenges in the work place or at home. Folks who never stop learning are less prone to mind-related illnesses like dementia as they grow older – talk about improving the quality of life. Learners lead richer and fuller lives than those who simply let others do their thinking for them.

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Considering Private School?  Laying an application foundation is the most important part of the process. 

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Fall is the perfect season for getting in shape and spending more time with your children. If you don’t mind bundling up against cooler weather, you can use the family walk to have discussions and other beneficial experiences with your children. Here are some ways that fall walks benefit kids.
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Do you have a child who tends to see the problems, who thinks of the reasons that something can’t be done? Quite possibly, your child is a pessimist in the making. Over the course of a lifetime, pessimism has been linked with increased stress, high rates of depression, limited success, poor health and a shortened life span. What a favor we could do our budding pessimists if we could teach them to think more positively! Below are a few ways to challenge negative thinking in children:

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Surveys tell us that children today are getting less sleep than their peers of 30 years ago.  Lack of quality sleep can affect your child’s mood, behaviour and well-being.  In order to give your child the best chance of a good night’s sleep, try the following five tips.

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Tips for Getting Children to Bed on Time

 By Jennifer L. Tuso

 For some kids, letting go of the day and going to bed can be difficult. However, not getting enough sleep will make the next day with your child even more challenging. To successfully get children to bed on time means taking the time to get your child’s mind and body to relax.    

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