How to Talk to Your Child About Sex, Ages 3 to 6
How early do children have sexual feelings? Almost from the very beginning, children are exploring their bodies. But before that idea makes you anxious, remember that at this point your child’s curiosity is less about sex as you think of it and more a…
Learn MoreViolence: How it Affects Children
Spurred on by family instability, violent crime now touches millions of young lives. The control of crime in the streets, in the schools, and in the home ought to be the preeminent ‘children’s issue.’–Karl Zinsmeister, “Growing up Scared,” Atlantic M…
Learn MoreAggression, Ages 6 to 12
My child hits, kicks, and lashes out at other kids. Should I be concerned?Yes. Most children outgrow this kind of behavior by the time they enter grade school, because they’ve developed the language skills to express themselves in words and been socia…
Learn MoreAnxious Child, Ages 1 to 3
Anxiety is a normal part of your child’s behavioral and emotional development. Toddlers often get uneasy when separated from their parents or introduced to strangers. Fears of the dark, the toilet, animals, and loud noises (such as fireworks or thunde…
Learn MoreHow to Talk to Your Child About Sex, Ages 6 to 12
How do I handle the birds-and-bees speech responsibly? Give up on the idea of presenting the subject in one big talk — you’ll overwhelm your child with more bewildering and even distasteful information than she can process at once. Instead, think of …
Learn MoreHow to Talk to Your Child About Sex, Ages 12 to 16
What’s the best way to initiate a conversation about sex with my child? First of all, give up on the idea that it’s going to happen the way you plan it — fruitful conversations with adolescents rarely take place when and how their parents want them t…
Learn MoreTravel Tune-up: How to Help Your Child Adjust
Vacation is the time to chuck the alarm clock and strike out for unfamiliar territory. But your daily grind is your child’s security. She thrives on predictability, on knowing what’s next. Take away her routine and she’s liable to start whining, cryin…
Learn MoreKids, Soda, and Obesity
Soda addiction has long been a problem in our nation’s schools. Every day for years, many kids have lined up at vending machines to buy their 20-ounce bottles of sugar and carbonated water before they go off to study important subjects like history, m…
Learn MoreBaby Supplies: The Checklist
As the Girl Scouts motto goes: Be prepared. The better supplied you are before your baby gets here, the smoother your transition to parenthood will be. What follows is a handy checklist so you can make sure you’ve got the right stuff in time for your …
Learn MoreBabyproofing Your Home
With his 2-year-old upstairs taking a nap, Tim Anderson* seized the chance to do some yard work. A few moments later, he was bewildered to find the toddler lying on the lawn, crying inconsolably. That’s odd, he thought: How did he get downstairs so fa…
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