Family

A home filled with reading material is a good way to help kids become enthusiastic (and proficient) readers.What kind of books should you have? Ask your kids about their interests. If they're too young to have a preference, your local librarian can o...

A home filled with reading material is a good way ...

When and How to ReadHere's a great thing about reading aloud: It doesn't take special skills or equipment, just you, your baby, and some books. Read aloud for a few minutes at a time, but do it often. Don't worry about finishing entire books — focus ...

When and How to ReadHere's a great thing about rea...

Why Read to My Baby? You may wonder about the benefits of reading to your baby. Clearly an infant can't understand what you're doing or why. But you wouldn't wait until your child could understand what you were saying before you started speaking to h...

Why Read to My Baby? You may wonder about the bene...

During this period, teens spend much of the day outside the home — at school or at after-school activities or jobs and with peers. But it's important to try to talk with your teen every day to share opinions, ideas, and information.Here are a few tip...

During this period, teens spend much of the day ou...

Communicating with a child is one of the most pleasurable and rewarding experiences for both parent and child. Children learn by absorbing information through daily interactions and experiences with other kids, adults, and the world.Communicating Wit...

Communicating with a child is one of the most plea...

Communicating with a child is one of the most pleasurable and rewarding experiences for both parent and child.Children learn by absorbing information through daily interactions and experiences with other kids, adults, and the world. And between the a...

Communicating with a child is one of the most plea...

This is an exciting time for parents — babies this age make real progress toward communicating. They'll recognize Mommy and Daddy, laugh, squeal, and smile spontaneously.Your baby's personality begins to become evident as he or she becomes a more act...

This is an exciting time for parents — babies this...

Communicating with a child, from infancy onward, is one of the most pleasurable and rewarding experiences for both parent and child. Children learn by absorbing information through daily interactions and experiences with other kids, adults, and the w...

Communicating with a child, from infancy onward, i...

During these months, your baby might say ‘mama’ or ‘dada’ for the first time, and will communicate using body language, like nodding and shaking his or her head. Your baby will pay even more attention to your words and will try very hard to imitate y...

During these months, your baby might say ‘mama’ or...

Your baby's range of sounds and facial expressions continues to grow, with lots of babbling, squealing, smiling, and laughing — which may mean less time for crying. Your baby is also imitating sounds, which are first attempts at speaking.How Babies C...

Your baby's range of sounds and facial expressions...

Do you remember your baby's very first cry? From the moment of birth, babies begin to communicate.At first, your newborn's cries may seem like a foreign language. But before you know it, you'll learn your baby's ‘language’ and be able to answer your ...

Do you remember your baby's very first cry? From t...

Language development really takes off during this time, especially as your baby approaches the second birthday.Kids this age can better able to comprehend what is said to them and express what they want. They take joy in their ability to understand m...

Language development really takes off during this ...

Ages 9 to 12Kids in this age group — just as with all ages — can be disciplined with natural consequences. As they mature and request more independence and responsibility, teaching them to deal with the consequences of their behavior is an effective ...

Ages 9 to 12Kids in this age group — just as with ...

How do you keep a 1-year-old from heading toward the DVD player? What should you do when your preschooler throws a fit? How can you get a teenager to respect your authority?Whatever the age of your child, it's important to be consistent when it comes...

How do you keep a 1-year-old from heading toward t...

Ages 3 to 5As your child grows and begins to understand the connection between actions and consequences, make sure you start communicating the rules of your family's home.Explain to kids what you expect of them before you punish them for a certain be...

Ages 3 to 5As your child grows and begins to under...

7. Be Flexible and Willing to Adjust Your Parenting StyleIf you frequently feel ‘let down’ by your child's behavior, it may be because you have unrealistic expectations. Parents who think in ‘shoulds’ (for example, ‘My kid should be potty-trained by ...

7. Be Flexible and Willing to Adjust Your Parentin...

4. Make Time for Your KidsIt's often difficult for parents and kids to get together for a family meal, let alone spend quality time together. But there is probably nothing kids would like more. Get up 10 minutes earlier in the morning so you can eat ...

4. Make Time for Your KidsIt's often difficult for...

Raising kids is one of the toughest and most fulfilling jobs in the world — and the one for which you may feel the least prepared.Here are nine child-rearing tips that can help you feel more fulfilled as a parent — and enjoy your kids more, too.1. Nu...

Raising kids is one of the toughest and most fulfi...

Guide kids to solutions. You can help reduce worries by helping kids learn to deal constructively with challenging situations. When your child tells you about a problem, offer to help come up with a solution together. If your son is worried about an ...

Guide kids to solutions. You can help reduce worri...

Kids don’t have to pay bills, cook dinners, or manage carpools. But — just like adults — they have their share of daily demands and things that don’t go smoothly. If frustrations and disappointments pile up, kids can get worried. It’s natural for all...

Kids don’t have to pay bills, cook dinners, or man...

Help your child think of things to do. If there’s a specific problem that’s causing stress, talk together about what to do. Encourage your child to think of a couple of ideas. You can get the brainstorm started if necessary, but don’t do all the work...

Help your child think of things to do. If there’s ...