Children

Talking about the more serious and less generic reasons of children not wanting to attend school…

Sometimes, the reason behind a child not wanting to go to school could be far more serious than we realize. This holds especially true when the child in question is going to great lengths to avoid school, to the point of causing himself emotional or physical stress, trauma and even harm. Listen to your child, s/he may be trying to say something to you with his or her actions…

Bargain – would your child like you to change anything?

School blues? Try these seven OTC hacks (read: rules) – depending on the age of the child, and the intensity of school hate!

“But I don’t want to go to school” – a dreaded, often chronic line that most parents wish they never heard or will never hear in the future. Unfortunately, most, if not all, parents do face this situation, repeatedly and in varied extremes. So how does one deal with a child, of any age, not wanting to go to school or having school stress?

Children do delight us, but many times manage to irk us to kingdom come! Here’s how to be a calm, Zen-like parent despite it all…

Swimming can be a fun summer activity and a great way to exercise. Here are a few of the benefits you can get from making swimming a regular part of your weekly routine.

I never thought I would say this, but when I was a kid, summers were spent playing outdoors. There were no smartphones, iPads, laptops, or any other fancy technology to distract us. And vacations? Well, we spent those camping.

It can be really alarming to realize you have a child who is a picky eater.  Are they getting the nutrition they need?  Are they getting enough calories for their growth?

It can be baffling, too, if you’ve had older children whom you raised in the exact same way, giving them all the same food choices, who eat healthily and enjoy everything.

Have you noticed the happiness that lights up the face of a small child?  Have you heard the pure joy in the chuckle of a baby?

You can be certain when an infant or small child is happy, every single thing is perfect for that small being at that moment.  They are not smiling in spite of having a headache/cold/tummyache.  They will let you know in no uncertain terms if there is a problem!  And that makes it all the more perfect when you see the unbridled joy.

*These are my tips based on what worked for my family. It is not medical advice. Please consult your Pediatrician before starting your baby on a feeding program.

Children love to cook!  

Increasingly, we see more cooking incorporated into curriculum at schools. Jamie Oliver, the British celebrity chef, has been tremendously influential in educating the way schoolchildren view cooking.  Michelle Obama has made exercise and nutrition in schools a priority.

As Director of an after-school program, I have worked with children for many years. During this time, I have come to appreciate the many benefits of yoga for kids.  After-school programs offer many varied enrichment opportunities (as they should), but the yoga classes stood apart. 

Following a day cooped up at their desks, children usually came to the program rambunctious and with the day’s pent-up energy and frustrations.  I would send them into their class with silent sympathy for the yoga teacher.  They came out an hour later noticeably tranquil and calmed.