sherri snyder, ma, lmhc Technology has moved far too quickly than most of us adults can keep up with, and kids defi nitely are more adept at all of it, smarter and more agile with all the changes and updates. (I still have the “old fashioned” fl ip cell phone and am quite content with … Read more
Breastfeeding offers a magical opportunity to develop a close, intimate bond with your new baby, and gives him the best possible start to life. Your breast milk provides all of the ingredients he needs for optimum health, growth, and development, and has plenty of benefits for you, too. Q: What are the advantages of breastfeeding? … Read more
Your baby’s first birthday will be a major milestone for all of you. Just when you think you have your routine figured out, and know what to expect, your rapidly developing baby may start to resist your attentions and show every sign of developing an independent mind. Welcome to the toddler years! “The first year … Read more
Your new baby will gradually settle into a routine of feeding and sleeping, growing more alert and investigating her world as she stays awake for longer periods. Your baby will grow more in this period than at any other time in her life. Settle in and enjoy the process of bonding. Q: Why is it … Read more
Caring for the Pets in Your Family People aren’t the only ones whose needs you must consider. Family pets come along with their own list of care requirements. If you are still at the stage of deciding whether to get a pet or what kind of pet to get, then you should choose responsibly by … Read more
Coping with exam stress Top 10 tips Signs that your teenager may be experiencing significant levels of stress include: Negative thoughts and self-statements (“If I fail this my life is over”); physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, and trembling; and changes in study behavior such as avoiding or putting off work (more than usual). All … Read more
Caring for the People in Your Family When we work on putting together a family schedule, we completely forget about the essentials needed to take care of the people in our family. As we mentioned before, we get so caught up in the extra, special activities that we overlook the basics that are crucial to … Read more
Q: I don’t want my son to make the same mistakes I did. How can I get him to understand? A: Exam time can be a very stressful period for parents. It’s easy to put yourself in your teenager’s shoes and imagine yourself sitting at a desk, nervously waiting for the examiner to tell you … Read more
If taking care of the basics sounds tedious to you, remember that a little time invested to make your family’s basic life run smoothly will allow everyone to enjoy the special activities even more. In this section, you’ll learn how to build a schedule that accommodates the demands of your job, along with the necessities … Read more
Beef, Mushroom, and Spinach Stir-fry Here is a recipe to boost your iron levels. Beef and spinach are both high in iron and make a quick and tasty stir-fry. If you start cooking the rice or pasta before you start stir-frying, dinner will be on the table in less than 30 minutes. 10 minutes 13–17 … Read more
Dear Tanya Q: My girlfriend seems to have changed since we had our daughter. She is the perfect mother and takes pride in making our home immaculate, but I am beginning to wonder where the fun person has gone. A: Becoming a parent is a life changing event and a period of great personal transition. … Read more
Seeing you relax will allow your children to get to know you as a whole person, rather than simply the person who comes home from work and takes care of his every need. However, in reality, the needs of adults who want to unwind don’t always mix smoothly with the needs of toddlers. “The true … Read more
As a new mom, you’ll need to make sure that you get plenty of fresh, wholesome food to keep your energy levels high. Eating well also helps to ensure that your breastfed baby will have a constant supply of good-quality milk to keep him healthy and satisfied. Q: How many calories do I need when … Read more
Avoiding labels Every child is a unique mix of the traits, but there are three clusters of traits that the New York study (see Understanding your child’s temperament) showed were more common than others. Although it is important not to straight jacket your young child with a rigid label, it can be useful to understand … Read more
The subject of child abuse is a very difficult one to read about and harder still to acknowledge if it occurs within your own family. However, the reality is that in the vast majority of cases, child abuse is committed by someone who is already known to the abused child. “Children are vulnerable and need … Read more
Q: My son is an “emo.” Should I be worried? A: Subcultures of youth culture develop around musical styles, political positions, fashion trends, ethnic groups, and sex and gender roles. “Emo” stems from the word “emotional,” and is a broad title that covers many different styles of emotionally-charged punk rock and the more light-hearted pop-influenced … Read more
Understanding your child’s temperament Much of what we understand about children’s temperament derives from a study of 233 children age 0–8 that began in the US in the 1950s. Known as the New York Longitudinal Study of Child Temperament, it is still going strong today. Although times have changed, young children haven’t, and so the … Read more
Toddlers usually grow out of the habits that make adults feel uncomfortable, although occasionally these may be a sign of deeper distress. This section looks at common types of behavior that sit on the borderline between acceptable and unwanted toddler behavior, and suggests coping strategies. “Make sure your child has plenty of opportunities to be … Read more
Q: My son keeps threatening to leave home whenever we argue. How can I deal with this issue? A: Much like the young child who learns that throwing his toys around will get him out of a situation he doesn’t want to be in, your son may have figured out that threatening to leave home … Read more
Parenting trends and expert opinions come and go as society changes, and every generation of parents wants to do things “better.” In reality, however, children’s needs and wants remain unchanged. The challenge is to listen to the combined wisdom of the “experts” and decide what is right for your child. “Avoid making unfair comparisons between … Read more