For Parents

No matter where you work or where you live or how many kids you have, we all feel the pressures and high expectations of the holiday season. What’s meant to be a season of coming together and taking time to appreciate family and loved ones often becomes a season of stress as we fret about [...]

Becoming a parent is one of the most joyful experiences of life. Once you see that sweet face and your little one wraps his or her hand around your finger, your life changes forever. Instantly, your heart is full of love and gratitude, yet your life has suddenly become more complex, busier, and stressful. Soon [...]

Why is having a date night so important for parents? Because being a parent is stressful! Most of your time is spent attending to the needs of your children. Studies show that parents who schedule dates—talking, spending time together, going out to dinner or sharing an activity—build stronger relationships and increase the likelihood that they’ll [...]

We are surrounded by screens these days. They are literally everywhere we go. Restaurants have multiple flat screen televisions all over the walls, we’ve got two or three in our own homes, add to that all the laptops and tablets and the smart phones we can’t live without. It starts to add up! What amount [...]

You’ve probably heard that reading is good for you and it’s absolutely true. Reading a book can increase your intelligence, boost your brain power, help fight Alzheimer’s disease and just help you relax. Reading can boost your creativity and spark your imagination, take you to distant lands and let you fly through outer space. As [...]

You give your child ample calcium so he or she can build strong teeth. If only your child didn’t use them against you… and the kid down the street… and Uncle Harry! Today we’re discussing biting: who does it, what it means, and how to stop it. First, if your toddler bites, know that you’re [...]

So, I’m approaching a beach vacation in a few days and I’m really looking forward to it. Who doesn’t love the beach, right? I do! But it’s changed a lot since I’ve had kids. Ever since my children started invading my vacations, it’s less about relaxation and more about managing meltdowns. Kids are wonderful! Don’t [...]

We are all familiar with the common saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” Most of us have probably quoted it a time or two as we tried to solidify our toughness. I certainly have. I really believed it until I realized how powerful words can be and [...]

Playing outside is one of the greatest joys of childhood. I vividly remember playing on my school’s playground as a little girl—running, swinging, skipping, playing tag with my friends. Those were the good ole days! Now as a mom and the Director at School for Amazing Kids, Calera I realize just how important it is [...]

Play may be as old as human existence itself. The philosopher Plato once said, “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” Our brains are hardwired for playing. In fact, for young children there is no distinction between playing and learning. To a child, it’s [...]