How 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 MoreHow to Handle Medical Emergencies Away From Home
At home, you probably have your doctors’ numbers posted near the phone and your child’s medical records handy in case of an emergency. On vacation, you should be no less prepared. Here are some tips:Before You GoAsk your doctor if he or she can refer …
Learn MoreCorporal Punishment and Trauma
It was spring when Joshua Watson, a sixth-grader at Alvarado Intermediate School in Alvarado, Texas, had an unsettling decision to make — whether to accept a five-day in-school suspension or be struck three times with a paddle. His offense: earning h…
Learn MoreAggression, Ages 3 to 6
My child hits, kicks, and bites other kids. Should I be concerned?Not necessarily. Aggressive behavior is a normal part of emotional and behavioral development, and almost every child hits, kicks, and yells when he’s overwhelmed by strong emotions. Ho…
Learn MoreStuttering Basics
How can I tell if my child has a stuttering problem? Everybody has trouble speaking from time to time. We’ve all filled sentences with “um” or “uh” or stumbled through a nerve-wracking speech. But when a child has a stuttering problem, words can be a …
Learn MoreBonding With Your Baby
Expectant parents can be forgiven if they panic when they hear the word “bonding.”Library shelves and web sites are devoted to the importance of bonding with a newborn and the trauma that may result when it doesn’t take place. Many parents now fear th…
Learn MoreBaby Bottle Tooth Decay
If your child is old enough to have teeth, he’s old enough to have tooth problems. For infants and toddlers, the biggest threat to dental health is baby bottle tooth decay. Here’s what you need to know about this common — but largely preventable — p…
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