Play, in its varied forms, helps children develop many of the skills vital for academic and life success. It stretches the muscles of creativity and imagination. It provides opportunities to cooperate as well as to try on the leader’s hat. It’s a way to both gain and dispel energy. Play is indeed a child’s most important work. Homeschooling’s one-on-one attention to a child’s academics is so time-efficient that the homeschooled child has bonus hours for additional play....

Almost ten years ago, when I was making the decision to homeschool, I wrote up a list of pros and cons. The pros won me over, but since then, I’ve discovered there were many more pros and cons that I couldn’t possibly have anticipated! More: How to Get Started with Homeschooling To help other parents who are considering homeschooling, here is a new list of pros and cons. This list is based on both my experience and the experiences of dozens of families who’ve shared with me the ups and downs of their day-to-day homeschooling....

Effort: Easy - no sewing required Materials: Large plant basket 6 Helium-filled balloons Colorful ribbons Brown tights/sweatpants Small pillowcases Rope Poly fill Duct tape Instructions: Tie 6 helium balloons and tie with colorful ribbons. Remove bottom of large plant basket and attach suspenders to each side in order to wear over the shoulders. Fill small pillowcases with poly fill and hang them over the side, with rope. Attach balloons to the inside of basket using duct tape....

That’s the official definition. The unofficial definition is, it’s essentially milking yourself to make sure you empty out your breast fully and your baby gets all of that milk. Why Breast Compressions Help Increase Milk Supply Breastfeeding works on a “supply and demand” system, so you need to make sure your breast is emptied fully to send the signal for your body to produce more milk. The milk at the end of a feeding is called hindmilk and has more fat and calories than the foremilk at the beginning of a feeding....

Little did we know that he was doing just fine for a newborn. A lot of parents have questions about how much a formula-fed baby should be eating. We consulted Healthy Foods, Healthy Kids: A Complete Guide to Nutrition for Children From Birth to 6-Year-Olds and Johns Hopkins Medicine to get the answers. Feeding Your Baby in the First Few Days Like breastfed babies, infants nourished with formula should be allowed to feed on demand....

The AAP’s new recommendations acknowledge that technology is integrated into our daily lives, making it nearly impossible to police a strict two-hour per day limit on school-age children. Additionally, technology can be a valuable component of learning. Children access computers and tablets at school and use computers to do their homework. But, some kids are growing dependent on their devices. They’re using video games and TV as their main form of entertainment and they’re replacing face-to-face communication with text messages and social media....

When the ABCD study was first thought of, the focus was on how substance use during the teen years affects future outcomes. But this is only one part of the picture. There are many other factors affecting teenage development, including physical and mental health, sports injuries, sleep habits, and time spent on screens. The study started looking at a group of children at ages 9 or 10, with the aim to begin tracking data before they start using substances....

One glance at a social media parenting group shows that everyone is using a different type of cup, and that there are strong opinions about hard spouts versus soft spouts. Between social media, online searches, and looking in stores, the information can seem overwhelming. Here’s everything you need to know to help your little one make the transition go smoothly, including what a sippy cup is, which kinds are best for your baby, and when to stop using one....

Here are some suggestions for places to visit and things to do that will help any grandparent to make the most of spring and summer with their grandkids. Grandma Camps are organized in different ways, according to the capabilities and interests of the grandparents. If you’ve never done one before, you’ll want to start with the basics of Grandma Camp. Then you can move on to deciding on activities for your Grandma Camp....

In addition to kids choosing screen time over outdoor play and sports, schools and homework also increasingly put children in front of computers, even when they are attending class in person. This cuts into the time kids have to be physically active. In fact, concerning statistics show that students are far too sedentary at school and at home—a trend that’s contributing to serious health concerns. There are plenty of ways for teachers and parents to encourage movement throughout the day, from running around outside at recess to signing your child up for an afterschool sport....

This study analyzed data from the OxWell Student Survey on mental health and is the first study to ask children their thoughts and feelings about the coronavirus vaccine. Feeling disconnected from their school community and coming from a low socioeconomic background were also linked to a reluctance to get the jab, as was children’s belief that they had already had COVID-19. The results illuminate the need to help kids understand more about why getting vaccinated is important and to provide more resources to help younger children feel comfortable about getting vaccinated....

With all the pressure piled onto today’s teenagers, it’s no surprise that some start to get in trouble with their schoolwork. Teens who fall behind may fall into a pattern of poor test grades, incomplete homework, and failing grades. While you can’t force your teen to do their work, you can offer a little extra support to help them. With your help, they should be able to catch up on homework before they fall behind too much....

Finding out that you’re pregnant may be some of the best news you’ll ever receive. Likely, the thought of your growing baby inside of you is a welcoming and warm feeling. However, the side effects that come with pregnancy, like morning sickness, interrupted sleep and (extreme) fatigue can put a damper on your lifestyle, especially on your career. Juggling pregnancy and work is difficult for many women, especially those who already have children....

More: Helping Kids Deal With Anxiety Related to the Coronavirus Pin it to save for later: Bookmark Your State’s Standards Look up the standards that your state has adopted and find your children’s grade levels. Most states have adopted the Common Core for math and language. Familiarize yourself with the standards and write down the ones you are working on somewhere where you can see it. Post-its are great for this....

If you have never created your own plan for teaching at home, this can seem like an overwhelming and daunting task. But taking the time to personalize the curriculum you will be using for your kids this school year can make your homeschooling experience much more meaningful and individualized for your children. So, if you are planning to homeschool, here are some things to consider as you decide just what your kids will be learning this school year....

Balance Self-Acceptance with Self-Improvement It’s important to teach your children that they can love themselves the way they are while also striving to become better. You don’t want them to think they can’t be happy with themselves until they lose 10 pounds or until they make the all-star team. Help Your Child Identify Their Strengths Ask them what they like about themselves. Make sure they identify qualities that reflect their personality, not just their outward appearance....

You don’t have to be a professional musician to make this happen. There are simple things you can do at home to run a baby music class for your little one. All it takes is a little time and creativity! We’re going to share some ideas with you on how to run your own baby music class and shed some light into why exploring music is such an important aspect of your child’s development....

If you have kids, this may sound like any given weekday. When you’re this busy, it can be challenging to make those hurried meals healthy. It’s not uncommon to find yourself heading for the drive-through in between activities, grabbing a bag of chips from the nearest vending machine, or heating up a frozen pizza once you get home. Unfortunately, foods that are convenient are also likely to be high in calories, fat, sodium and added sugars, while being low in nutrients, vitamins and minerals....