"I Can Do It...With a Little Practice": Learning to Use a Growth Mindset

As a teacher, I noticed that children respond to challenges in different ways. Some children try harder when facing a tough task. Others, like Marshall, crumble at the slightest challenge.

"It’s Okay to Make Mistakes:" How Being Wrong Can Help Us Learn

My 4-year-old works hard to keep up with his two older brothers. We were recently building towers with blocks together, and my youngest son couldn’t get his creation quite right. His tower just wouldn’t stay together. I could feel his frustration bubbling, and his big emotions soon erupted into tears.

"Use Your Words”: Moving Beyond Tantrums to Express Challenging Emotions

We were in the grocery story parking lot, and my two-year-old was in the middle of a tantrum. I let my daughter know that I was going to carry her to the car to keep her safe. Once the car door closed, I tried one of the strategies I learned as an early childhood teacher. I said out loud, “Let’s take deep breaths together to calm your body down.” Unfortunately, taking deep breaths was the last thing on my daughter’s mind — she let me know through gasping sobs,“I DON’T WANT TO TAKE DEEP BREATHS! I DON’T WANT TO CALM DOWN!”

"We Can Do Hard Things:" Building Resilience in Kids

My 6-year-old was excited to make a star out of sticks and string, but as the materials tangled, his frustration spiked. So we took a break and went on a walk together.

"We Can Do Hard Things:" Four Ways to Help Kids Build Resilience and Perseverance

My 6-year-old was excited to make a star out of sticks and string, but as the materials tangled, his frustration spiked. So we took a break and went on a walk together.

10 Ideas: Creating Quality Time With Your Kids

These ideas will help you develop deeper relationships with your children, even in spite of a hectic schedule.

10 Tips for Parenting Your Pre-teen

It's typically between the ages of nine and twelve that our cute, cuddly little children, once so willing to climb into our laps and share their secrets, suddenly want little or nothing to do with us. Your pre-adolescent is not the same person he was just a year or two ago. He has changed physically, cognitively, emotionally and socially. He's developing new independence and may even want to see how far he can push limits set by parents.

What he may not know is that he needs you as much as ever, because a strong parent-child relationship now can set the stage for a much less turbulent adolescence. But it won't be easy, because you as a parent need to respect your child's need for greater autonomy in order to forge a successful relationship with this "updated" version of your kid.

3 Ways to Help Your Child be More Independent

Why your kid always wants you to "do it for them" and how to get them to be independent.

7 Reasons to Eat Family Dinner Together

Research shows that sharing dinner as a family improves teenage behaviors, increases toddler vocabulary and teaches kids to eat healthier.

7 Ways to Fix Rude Tween Behavior

Tips to deal with your child's attitude as she grows into a teenager

9 Ways to Help Your Child Be More Self-Sufficient

Start by letting your children tackle little activities and following up with praise when they succeed.

Age-Appropriate Chores With Rewards and Consequences

Teaching children to do chores will allow them to grow up knowing how to take care of themselves and the place they live. Kids benefit from having chores because it gives them responsibility. The key to teaching chores successfully is to start early. Children as young as 2 years old can help with basic chores, and their responsibilities should increase steadily from there.

Back to School: How to Get a Good Routine Going

Before you know it, the school bells are ringing, and it’s time for the kids to head back to school. Do you have your back-to-school routine planned out? Personalize your family’s routine with help from the following ideas. Once you have a method in place, your family will start the new school year on a bright and less harried note.

Bedwetting

Bedwetting is an issue that millions of families face every night. It is extremely common among young kids but can last into the teen years.

Doctors don't know for sure what causes bedwetting or why it stops. But it is often a natural part of development, and kids usually grow out of it. Most of the time bedwetting is not a sign of any deeper medical or emotional issues.

Benefits of Reading & Writing Skills

Children who read tend to do better at school and professionally. The rise in technology means increased demands for higher literacy and consequences are grievous for those who fall short, according to "Preventing Reading Difficulties in Young Children."

Boredom Isn’t a Bad Thing for Kids

Boredom gets a bad rap. Kids whine about it, grown-ups dread it, entire industries aim to eliminate it. It might come as a surprise, then, to hear that being bored sometimes is good for kids. Before you sign your child up for a class or hand over your game-loaded cell phone, consider the benefits of boredom.

Boredom Isn’t a Bad Thing for Kids

Boredom gets a bad rap. Kids whine about it, grown-ups dread it, entire industries aim to eliminate it. It might come as a surprise, then, to hear that being bored sometimes is good for kids. Before you sign your child up for a class or hand over your game-loaded cell phone, consider the benefits of boredom.

Bring It On! Four Attitudes That Will Help Kids Tackle Challenges

Let’s start with a little self-reflection, as parents:

When you are learning a new skill, what’s your first reaction? Are you excited? Nervous? Do you want to walk away or dive in? What happens when you try to solve a problem, but the first attempt fails? Is your instinct to give up? Get mad? Roll up your sleeves and try again?

Carbohydrates, Sugar and Your Child

Carbohydrates are the body's most important and readily available source of energy. Even though they've gotten a bad rap lately and are sometimes blamed for obesity, carbs are a necessary part of a healthy diet for both kids and adults.

The two major forms of carbs are:

• simple carbohydrates (or simple sugars): these include fructose, glucose, and lactose, which also are found in nutritious whole fruits
• complex carbohydrates (or starches): found in foods such as starchy vegetables, grains, rice, and breads and cereals

So how, exactly, does the body process carbs and sugar? All carbohydrates are broken down into simple sugars, which are absorbed into the bloodstream. As the sugar level rises, the pancreas releases the hormone insulin, which is needed to move sugar from the blood into the cells, where the sugar can be used as energy.

Chore Ideas for Kids Ages Two to Eight

“Five minutes till clean-up party time! Choose your songs now!”