Kids
Teach children to respect animals’ boundaries
Like many people, I have always loved animals. That sentiment didn’t prevent me from getting bitten in the face by a dog when I was about 4 years old. I remember the episode vividly. Even at that young age, I instinctively felt it was my fault and never told my parents. I felt guilty about [...]
Is my kid ready for sleep-away camp?
How do you know when your child is ready for camp and it’s worth the expense? Clinical psychologist and author Julia Simens, of Incline Village, Nev., has worked with parents who face this exact decision. With more than 20 years as a school counselor, this mother of two has had endless conversations with parents about [...]
It’s never too soon to have ‘the talk’ with kids
In the Internet Age, the average kid encounters pornography by age 10 – when they mistype a link while doing their homework, or when it pops up on the side of the screen while they’re watching a cat ride a Roomba on YouTube. “They’re not seeking it out,” Amy Lang said the other day. “It’s [...]
Half of parents keep track of kids on Facebook. Should you?
Is Mom or Dad creeping on your Facebook? There’s half a chance. A new study by Education Database Online (www.OnlineEducation.net) says one out of two parents say part of the reason they set up a Facebook account was to keep tabs on their kids. “I think it is fine for parents to check on their [...]
Small, high-powered magnets hazardous to kids remain on market
Last summer Kelly Bruski went to the store with her sons to buy a birthday gift for her boyfriend. When the boys, now 6 and 9, chose a magnet desk-toy called Buckyballs, “I saw they were really picking out a gift for themselves,” said Bruski, a sales rep in Crystal Lake, Ill. Bruski allowed her [...]
Flying with kids: Never a dull flight with children on board
The indignities and annoyances of air travel can be profound. We fly among those who kick seats. Those who do not pay any mind to bodily hygiene, hog the arm rest, invade personal space, recline too far, don’t let you recline, drink too much and persist in unwanted advances. It is often not mankind’s finest [...]
Ask Mr. Dad: Military kids suffer during a parent’s deployment
Dear Mr. Dad: A few weeks ago, you wrote about how PTSD after deployment affects spouses in addition to servicemembers themselves. You talked a little about how it affects kids too. But what about families where PTSD isn’t an issue? My brother is in the Army and he and his wife are both being deployed [...]
Make Toddler Leg Warmers from Woman’s Knee Socks
Boutique style leg warmers for babies and toddlers seem to be all the rage lately. They are a fun and trendy way to accessorize your child however they can be pricey at around $8-$15 per pair. I’d like to share a very easy way to make your own using woman’s knee socks. I found [...]
Child Sense: Teaching your kids road safety
Road safety is an important issue, and one that we as parents can’t afford to be lax on. It is very important that children learn from day one the habit of practicing street and sidewalk safety. By applying the use of your child’s dominant sense you can make the lesson easier for them to assimilate [...]
The Parent ‘Hood: Cheating in school
Your high schooler cheated on a big assignment. Is this a sign of larger problems? Parent advice (from Tribune staff): Cheating is abhorrent. The fact it happened is certainly a sign of a larger problem: not knowing right from wrong. Blow the whistle on him or her! -Bill Daley Certainly you want to get at [...]
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