Family

Lisa's son Jack had always been a handful. Even as a preschooler, he would tear through the house like a tornado, shouting, roughhousing, and climbing the furniture. No toy or activity ever held his interest for more than a few minutes and he would o...

Lisa's son Jack had always been a handful. Even as...

Coping With Your Child's Habit The good news is that most habits disappear, usually by the time a child reaches school age, because the child no longer needs it or outgrows it. But if you think it's time to help your child break a habit, consider the...

Coping With Your Child's Habit The good news is th...

Your 10-year-old daughter comes home crying because the girls she's been friends with are suddenly leaving her out and spreading rumors about her. She's confused because it seemed to happen out of the blue. She doesn't know what she did wrong and is ...

Your 10-year-old daughter comes home crying becaus...

By the time a child is 3 years old, parents may choose to use the correct anatomical words. They may sound medical, but there is no reason why the proper label shouldn't be used when the child is capable of saying it. These words — penis, vagina, etc...

By the time a child is 3 years old, parents may ch...

Many kids have habits that can be downright annoying. Four of the most common ones that children develop and parents complain about are: nail biting thumb sucking hair twirling nose picking Although your child's habits may bother or even worry you,...

Many kids have habits that can be downright annoyi...

It takes confidence to be a kid. Whether going to a new school or stepping up to bat for the first time, kids face a lot of uncharted territory. Naturally, parents want to instill a can-do attitude in their kids so that they'll bravely take on new ch...

It takes confidence to be a kid. Whether going to ...

Preparing Kids The arrival of a new baby can bring many changes to a family. Parents spend a lot of energy on preparations, and after the baby arrives, much of the family's attention involves meeting the newborn's basic needs. All this change can be ...

Preparing Kids The arrival of a new baby can bring...

Sooner or later, many families face the prospect of moving. Disruptive as moving can be for parents, the experience can be even more traumatic for kids, who may not be a part of the decision to move and might not understand it. Kids can need some tim...

Sooner or later, many families face the prospect o...

The recent violent tornadoes in the United States and a powerful earthquake and tsunami in Japan have killed many people, displaced countless others, and devastated entire communities. As many now struggle with the aftermath of these natural disaster...

The recent violent tornadoes in the United States ...

How can I help my younger children deal with their older brother's deployment? - Beth When your son or daughter in the military is deployed, you probably have many emotions. It's natural to feel proud of his or her service and courage. It's also natu...

How can I help my younger children deal with their...

"She's not really good at soccer and she doesn't really like it, but all her friends are doing it." "If I miss a practice, even for a doctor's appointment, I get benched." "If my son didn't have an after-school activity every day of the week, he'd si...

"She's not really good at soccer and she doesn't r...

While my husband is deployed, how can I help my children cope? - Jane No two children — even within the same family — will react to a parent's deployment in exactly the same way. There are a few things, though, that all children seem to benefit from ...

While my husband is deployed, how can I help my ch...

The Importance of Consistency Consistency and routine can go a long way toward providing comfort and familiarity that can help your family during this major life change. When possible, minimize unpredictable schedules, transitions, or abrupt separati...

The Importance of Consistency Consistency and rout...

Thousands of kids experience the stress of divorce each year. How they'll react depends on their age, personality, and the particular circumstances of the separation and divorce process. Every divorce will have an effect on the kids involved — and ma...

Thousands of kids experience the stress of divorce...

Each day, 10-year-old Seth asked his mom for more and more lunch money. Yet he seemed skinnier than ever and came home from school hungry. It turned out that Seth was handing his lunch money to a fifth-grader, who was threatening to beat him up if he...

Each day, 10-year-old Seth asked his mom for more ...

When a loved one dies, it can be difficult to know how to help kids cope with the loss, particularly as you work through your own grief. How much kids can understand about death depends largely on their age, life experiences, and personality. But the...

When a loved one dies, it can be difficult to know...

Mom and dad — they're two of the most important people in your life. You probably see at least one of them every day and, over your lifetime, they're likely to influence you more than anyone else you will meet. So if your dad worships, say, the Pitts...

Mom and dad — they're two of the most important pe...

In a house with more than one kid, there are bound to be some problems. Brothers and sisters borrow stuff, and don't always return it in top condition. Younger kids sometimes feel like the older kids get to do whatever they want. Older brothers and s...

In a house with more than one kid, there are bound...

9. Learn How Much It Costs to Run Your Household Whether you plan to stay in the house or leave, you won't know how much money you need unless you know the monthly costs of running your household. If you pay the monthly bills, your job is easy. If yo...

9. Learn How Much It Costs to Run Your Household W...

Will it be war? Before you move forward with divorce, the savviest attorneys would advise you to make some preparations. It might seem heartless, but if you plan to ask your spouse for a divorce, or if you think your spouse might want one from you, t...

Will it be war? Before you move forward with divor...

When Divorce is Urgent?We'll end with one final caveat. Occasionally, the decision to divorce is mandatory. In instances of spousal or child abuse (mental or physical)—in fact, whenever your safety is in jeopardy—you don't have the luxury of merely c...

When Divorce is Urgent?We'll end with one final ca...