Happiness is a warm puppy. If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. Don't worry, be happy! Rules for how to live happily are nothing new. But lately, our well-being -- and that of our kids -- seems to be in free fall. Depression, anxiety...
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July 26, 2018
The Stories Our Photos Tell Us
by Bob Brody
That’s my son Michael in the photo right there. He might be a month old, maybe two. He’s asleep. I’m in the picture, and my wife, Elvira, is there, too, leaning toward him. We’re both smiling. Our faces seem to say, We have our own kid now—yay!...
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July 19, 2018
How to Begin Preparing Your Child for Kindergarten
The first day of school prompts many emotions for both parents and kids—excitement, fear of the unknown, and the promise of endless possibility. However, the transition from preschool to kindergarten can also be challenging for your young child....
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July 12, 2018
Who Do You Love More?
On special occasions, like birthdays, my parents would let my sister and me share a can of soda with our dinner. I remember how we would put two identical glasses side-by-side on the table and take turns pouring a little soda into each of them,...
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June 28, 2018
How to Set Screen Rules That Stick
By Caroline Knorr, Parenting Editor, Common Sense Media
In many homes, getting kids to turn off their cell phones, shut down the video games, or quit YouTube can incite a revolt. And if your kids say they need to be online for schoolwork,...
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June 21, 2018
How to Raise a Farm-to-Table Eater
by Pam Abrams
One thing that’s better about raising kids today is the access we have to locally grown food—and a growing awareness of its benefits. The number of farmers’ markets has increased dramatically across the country in the last decade, from under 2,...
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June 14, 2018
Take the Summer Slide into Fun and Learning
School’s out. That big whooshing sound you hear? That’s the collective exhale of parents everywhere, who were, at the end, hanging on by their fingernails.
Now, it’s summertime, and the living is, if not exactly easy, easier. No more...
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June 07, 2018
5 Ways to Make Summer Reading Fun
The summer months offer a great opportunity to show your child how fun and engaging reading can be. Looking to strengthen your child’s reading skills while simultaneously getting him excited about reading? Here are five ways to do just that:
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May 24, 2018
Why the Best Parental Control Is You
By Christine Elgersma, Senior Editor, Parent Education at Common Sense Media
If your kid's online, there have probably been times when you've wanted to track everything they've texted, see their entire social media history, or...
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May 17, 2018
The Goldfish That Went to Sea
by Bob Brody
“I want a dog,” Caroline begged. “Please.” Our daughter was seven years old and had made up her mind.
“Someone will have to take care of the dog,” we told her. “It’s a lot of responsibility.” I had a full-time job and we had two children....
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