Just because you’re willing to make some adjustments to your family’s schedule to support your teenager’s growing independence doesn’t mean that you have to—or should—rearrange your family’s schedule to accommodate everything your teenager wants to do. If you’ve shown respect for your teen’s scheduling needs, your teen should show a reciprocal respect for the rest … Read more
Your toddler will be raring to go, and ready to try many new experiences. It isn’t always easy to keep up with an energetic toddler, and to ensure he’s getting all the nutrients he needs. But it’s not as hard as you may think to keep things going on the run, whether he’s in day … Read more
Got a few minutes? That’s all you need to make fast work of the three dirtiest rooms in the house. Family Room 5-Minute Cheat Toss out-of-place items—magazines, sneakers and video games—into a laundry basket and stash in the closet for the time being. Run a microfiber duster across coffee and side tables. Straighten and fluff … Read more
Up until the teenage years, children generally are pretty happy if they’re told when they have to do things. But with a growing sense of independence, your teenager may quickly decide that such time-dependent scheduling is being “treated like a child.” What can you do to alleviate the stress this situation causes without having your … Read more
Finger foods aren’t just snacks or incidental additions to your toddler’s diet. You can supplement even the fussiest toddler’s menu with appealing goodies that will both add nutritional value and encourage her to learn the skills of independent eating. Q: How can I encourage my child to eat foods with different consistencies? A: Some little … Read more
Physical challenges Coping with disability If your child has a physical disability such as cerebral palsy (a condition that affects movement, posture, and coordination), or a hearing or visual impairment, starting school will bring additional challenges. Many more children now attend mainstream as opposed to special schools, which is a positive step forward in many … Read more
Bilingual families Children under the age of three who are raised in a bilingual environment are believed to learn both languages simultaneously, with no detriment to developing language skills. The easiest way to support language-learning is to be consistent in approach, perhaps by adopting a “one parent/one language” approach at home or by agreeing that … Read more
Q: My son complains of stomachaches on school days. Is he just attention-seeking? A: Upset stomachs and headaches are often a sign of anxiety, but you may want to rule out any physical causes with a visit to your pediatrician. However, if your son is genuinely worried about school, his stomachache may be very real, … Read more
Your toddler needs to learn to communicate so that he can relate to other people and develop the social and inter-personal skills that are so important for building friendships and being understood. He relies on nonverbal, verbal, and listening skills and in many ways operates at an intuitive level. “Karl is a real chatter-box. His … Read more
Q: My toddler wants to pick up his new baby sister. Is this safe? A: It is positive to see that your toddler wants to help with the new baby, to touch and cuddle her. As he’s seen you pick her up, he will almost certainly want to copy you, and may even try to … Read more
1.6. Thermometers and timers Probe thermometers are awesome because they use a thermocouple attached to a long heat-safe lead, designed so that you can stick the probe into a piece of meat and set the controller to beep when it reaches the desired temperature. Timers are handy, and if you’ll be doing much baking, one … Read more
If this movie star’s life were a film, it would definitely be a family comedy. The 44-year-old “kid trapped in a man’s body” can’t get enough fun at home in New York City with his supermodel wife, Christy Turlington, and their kids Grace, 8, and Finn, 6. “Christy and I are on the same page … Read more
1.5. Spoons & co. Few things symbolize cooking more than a spoon, and for good reason: stirring, tasting, adjusting the seasoning, stirring some more, and tasting again would be virtually impossible without a good spoon! I prefer the wooden variety. In an age of technology and modern plastics, there’s just something comforting about a wooden … Read more
Dear Tanya Q: I feel guilty because I get so bored with playing games with my two-year-old daughter for longer than 10 minutes at a time. A: You are by no means alone in your feelings. Many parents find it extremely hard to remain consciously engaged as their son or daughter insists on playing something … Read more
Lasagna Al Forno Nothing is more of a crowd-pleaser than a big dish of baked lasagna—at any age and any time of year! Mixing the meat and cheese sauces may sound odd, but it makes the sauce taste richer. 1 hour 35–40 minutes NOTE A family of 4–5 1 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for … Read more
As you have probably already realized by now, one of the greatest challenges of being a parent is juggling all your roles and responsibilities. It probably seems like there are never enough hours in a day and it can be a challenge to manage your mood at the same time as managing your toddler. “The … Read more
Family meals offer a great opportunity to encourage your toddler to try new foods, and to experiment with new tastes. Too many people assume that babies and toddlers want bland, tasteless meals, when, in fact, most of them love to try new flavors, and have sensitive palates right from the word go. Q: My toddler’s … Read more
Your two-year-old is just beginning to understand that the world extends beyond his immediate family. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends are starting to play more of a part, too. He will also become more aware of the differences between being a boy and being a girl. “Yasmin’s grandparents are important in her life. She … Read more
Boys seem to be a non-scandal choice to “chat” about your girlfriends and about the person who broke your heart. Then, why is everything so complicated? The kind of friendship you have with your closest male friend is quite amazing. He is the only person you can be yourself with, the one giving you the most sincere advice on your love life and who you can see on Friday evenings without having to buy a new … Read more
As long as your toddler is a confident eater, with a varied diet full of fresh nutritious food, she’ll continue to grow at the right rate for her. It’s also normal for babies to gain a little extra weight before a growth spurt or to appear thinner following a period of growth or an illness—all … Read more