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

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

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

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

All young creatures learn through play, and children are no exception. Toddlers are naturally curious and will interpret their world using all their senses, learning all the time from their experiences. Their instinct for discovery is naturally expressed through playfulness and doesn’t need to be forced. “There is a time for directed play (leading your … Read more

The stages of play Responding to your child at her level is crucial. Babying a four-year-old will stop her from testing her capabilities and developing, while having expectations beyond your child’s years will set her up for early anxiety and the possibility of “performance failure” and disappointment. Play develops through a number of stages: All … Read more

Q: My child and I always clash over her sleep patterns—she says I don’t understand. Who is right? A: You both probably are! It is true that it is typical for teenagers to shift to a sleeping pattern of later bedtimes and later rising over the weekends. However, overall she may be getting less sleep … Read more

Loner? An unhappy child It wasn’t that he just wanted to be alone for a while, it was hours and hours in his room. I’d knock and open the door, and there he was, lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling. He stopped going out with friends, saying he was tired, and he did … Read more

Q: I’m worried my child might be developing eating difficulties. Is there anything I can do? A: Parents may feel alarmed by the dangers of eating difficulties and disorders, and feel powerless to prevent them from happening, as parental influence and control diminishes in the teenage years. However, there are many simple and sensible steps … Read more

Anorexia and bulimia Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are the two main categories of eating disorder. There are many similarities between the two groups: As many as 40 percent of sufferers of anorexia engage in binge eating. However most binge eaters do not go on to develop anorexia. The neat differentiation between different types of … Read more

There is a lot of talk in the business world about the difference between being efficient and being effective. The same principles apply to running a family. Here are our basic definitions of these important terms: Being efficient means getting something done by expending the least amount of time, energy, and money. Being effective means … Read more

The self-assessment questionnaires in Tables 1 and 2 will help you determine the best format and configuration for your family’s checklists. Have each family member complete both questionnaires. Keep in mind that, in the end, each person will be able to have her own individual checklist that suits her personal style. Table 1.  Handwritten or … 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

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

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

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

Q: I heard my son being teased by his friends for being a virgin, and I had very mixed feelings about this. A: This would no doubt make him desperate to lose his virginity, and you can probably empathize with that. On the other hand I am sure you do not want him to rush … Read more

Potentially risky behavior Smoking, drinking, and sex Most teenagers experiment with smoking, drinking alcohol, and sexual activity. Initially this is out of curiosity, because everyone else is doing it, and because it is pleasurable. How do parents know when experimentation becomes a problem? Smoking Preventing your youngster from starting to smoke cigarettes may be considerably … Read more

“Get ready! Your child is about to embark on an exciting journey into toddlerhood.” On the move Your baby’s horizons will suddenly expand as she learns how to walk and starts to view her environment from a whole new perspective New activities As your toddler’s hand—eye coordination develops, he will become more skilled at handling … Read more

Your baby’s first birthday will be a significant and emotional milestone for you and may trigger mixed feelings. The past 12 months will have been life changing and it is quite normal to feel a few pangs as you put away the baby clothes and start to look forward to your child’s next phase of … Read more