The good news is that there are vaccines to help protect your child’s health over the next few months. Annual flu shots are available for children aged 6 months and up. COVID-19 vaccines are now available for all children 6 months and older, including an updated bivalent vaccine that is tailored to more closely match the currently circulating COVID variants. Now would be a great time to take the whole family to get either their booster shots, or even initial vaccine series....

All children create from who they are in the best way they can. Beauty is in the innocence and truthfulness of their gesture, not in critical aesthetic evaluation. If parents and teachers don’t introduce the idea of better and worse, the children won’t, either. When children are a little older, they have already been conditioned to think in this way. It is then up to adults to break that unfortunate conditioning....

The most successful disciplinary procedures are graduated in nature. In other words, as bullying increases in severity so should the disciplinary action. Zero-tolerance policies are usually not effective. If a school suspension is the only consequence for any type of bullying, students and teachers may fear it is too harsh and refrain from reporting less severe forms of bullying. The result is that more bullying will take place because fewer incidents are being reported....

Even if you can’t find time to have dinner together every night, schedule family meals whenever you can, as much as you can. If your weeknights are packed with late hours at the office or extracurricular activities, you can still find solutions, such as having breakfast or snacks together. The key is to make family meals fun, talk about the day, and stay connected with your kids. Then be sure to talk about your day, and share details like what you were most proud of achieving that day or what problem you may have and how you plan to solve it....

Effort: Easy - no sewing required Materials: White gloves A yellow shirt Yellow pants (sweats will work the best) Black shoes (optional) Yellow face paint Black face paint Yellow hairspray (optional) Instructions: Dress child in yellow clothing. Paint face and hair yellow. Add black circles around eyes and draw a smile around the mouth for an instant happy face! The black shoes and white gloves complete the outfit! It is simple, fast, and cheap!...

Parents and kids alike are raving about Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone . What’s the secret ingredient that sets this book apart from other children’s literature? Here are a few insights from readers both young and old(er). More: 15 Harry Potter Baby Names Only True Fans Will Understand “The bully gets his comeuppance, and the good guy gets the magic powers. I wish real-life were more like Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone!...

Keep in mind that children who were adopted can find sometimes personal timelines challenging, but you can adapt the activity to make it easier. Instead of starting at birth, use the more general terms of “past” and “present.”" Your child can choose what events are significant in her personal history without the pressure of knowing the details of the time before she was adopted. Skills Being Practiced Sequencing Historical perspective Expository writing...

The Whys, and the Must-Haves The idea of homeschooling through high school can be scary. Parents tell me, “I could never homeschool my teen - I barely got through some of my own high school classes!” But homeschool advocates are discovering there’s a better way for teens to learn, and homeschooling your high-schooler may be easier than you think. Why Homeschool? It’s not uncommon for homeschooled teens to complete four years of traditional high-school studies in 24 months or less....

For instance, autistic kids may have speech and language delays, display behavioral differences, and interact with others differently than other kids their age. This doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong—they are simply neurodivergent. But at this time, parents may start to question if there’s something they should do. If you find yourself in this situation—where you wonder if your child might be autistic—beginning the assessment process to get an official diagnosis may seem like a daunting task....

Freshly pumped milk will be okay for 4 hours, but if you baby has some of it, the rest of the bottle can only stay out for 2 more hours. If you defrost frozen milk, it can stay out for 1 to 2 hours and it should never be refrozen. Let’s take a look at what that time frame is, what the storage options are, and tips for keeping breast milk fresh and safe for your baby....

According to Michelle Katsnelson, a speech-language pathologist and creator of Speech with Meesh, language skill is not just about the number of words a child has. “The term “language” refers to expressive language (spoken words and sentences), receptive language (words and sentences the child understands), and pragmatic language (a child’s ability to use language socially)”, she says. Though there is some variability in the rate at which children typically develop language, some children experience language delays....

The sperm-freezing process is much simpler and less invasive than egg-freezing, so the associated costs are generally lower. But, there’s still a price tag attached to the procedure, which makes it essential to plan ahead. If you’re thinking about freezing your sperm, here’s what you need to know about the cost of each part of the process, so you can be prepared before making any long-term decisions. How Much Should You Expect to Spend to Freeze Your Sperm?...

Bilingual programs vary in the way they integrate using a second language. Some programs split time between the two languages while others focus more on one language. It’s important to know the elements to look for and kinds of questions to ask when searching for a bilingual preschool so that you can make the best choice for your child. Read on to learn more about the process of choosing a bilingual preschool for your child....

Insomnia comes in a few different forms. You can have trouble falling asleep when you try to go to bed or wake up in the middle of the night and have trouble going back to sleep. Between the various physical discomforts of pregnancy and the worries of bringing a child into the world, there may be plenty to keep you up at night. Taking medication to help you sleep during pregnancy can be risky, especially in the first trimester....

Yet, a child thrives when he knows what to expect—even if he doesn’t always like it. By creating a structured environment for your child, you can help him feel safe and secure, which is an essential component in preventing behavior problems. Why Structure Matters Creating structure in your child’s day is about establishing a regular routine. That may mean keeping wake up time, meals, snacks, and naps at the same time every day....

“If only one or two members of the family are doing all the chores, it can lead to feeling overwhelmed and possibly frustrated with others. By splitting up chores, you’re sharing responsibility amongst the family, which means that everyone can have more time for fun and connection,” says Jody Baumstein, LCSW, a licensed therapist with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Strong4Life. Having everyone do their fair share doesn’t mean each child gets the same responsibilities or even the same amount of work....

Where to Look and What to Ask When Trying to Find a Babysitter The best place to start looking is within the community you know, including your church, local schools, neighborhood, or your workplace. Once you have some options, it’s important to check references. These may come from teachers, youth group leaders or from other families who have used the sitter. When you contact families the sitter has worked for, ask how many kids they have....