Today's Parent | Parenting Resources… Articles, Advice, Help & Tips

Creating lasting family memories does not have to cost a lot of money or overwhelm your budget.

Here are some tips on how to turn those minutes between breakfast and bedtime into meaningful moments with your family.

1. Rub a dub dub, having fun in the tub. Bath time is a good time to reconnect and bond with your babies and toddlers. Instead of seeing how quickly you can get the dreaded task accomplished, add in elements of fun that are sure to yield giggles and smiles. Read More

The countdown to camp is fast approaching, and the American Camp Association® (ACA) has the following tips to help families prepare and pack for a fun-filled camp experience.

• Plan Ahead — Remember your happy camper will be living out of a duffel back, trunk, or suitcase for the duration. Packing light helps campers keep track of items, and guarantees that they can handle their own luggage at camp.

• Review Camp Packing Lists — Individual camps should provide a recommended camp packing list, complete with any required equipment, preferred footwear, etc. Be sure to carefully review what is needed, with special attention to those items that may not be permitted at camp. Before packing your camper’s favorite Nintendo DS, be sure that the camp permits electronic items. If you have questions, be sure to speak with the camp director. Read More

Many families are finding the road to togetherness may lead away from home. That’s because somewhere between MP3 players, social networking sites and text messaging, it’s become increasingly difficult for families to create meaningful moments and memories. Now, as parents (and grandparents) look for new and old ways to connect with their children, family travel is on the rise. In fact, according to Hospitality Net, family travel is growing at a faster rate than all other forms of leisure travel.

“Families are increasingly looking for ways to explore the world together, whether it’s touring historical sights in Rome or learning about America’s Wild West,” said travel expert Phillip Gordon. “Traveling as a family is a great way to share passions and interests and connect in more meaningful ways. It’s an investment that always has a great return.” Read More

Bright sun means outdoor fun. Whether it’s tossing the ball around in the backyard or swinging on the monkey bars at the park, kids especially spend a lot of hours outside. In fact, according to a recent Lands’ End survey of 1,400 moms, over half said their families spend two to five hours outside every day. In order to make sure outdoor family fun stays “sun safe,” parents should consider the following tips:

• Sunscreen + UPF Clothing = Protection: When kids head outside for a day of fun, it’s best to combine sunscreen with UV-protective clothing to keep them protected from head to toe. Using a broad-spectrum Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 is a good way to prevent damaging sunburns. But sunscreen will only keep kids safe on the applied areas. Believe it or not, sunburns can still happen underneath clothes. A good way to prevent these types of sunburns is to make sure kids dress in Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF)-treated clothes. Lands’ End recently introduced a collection of UPF clothing called Sun.Life. Wearing clothes with a rating of UPF 30 or 50 will block between 96.7 and 97.5 percent of the sun’s harmful rays from reaching sensitive skin. Read More

You or a relative may have received a digital or video camera over the holidays. Yet for all but the seasoned shutterbug, there remains a problem: After capturing all those great memories, how do you share them?

Rather than letting them languish, you can take advantage of free online services that let you store and present your digital adventures. It’s certainly a better option than e-mailing huge video files or “fat” photos that can clog recipients’ in-boxes. But with so many services to choose from, there are many factors to consider:

• Save your money- Many of today’s photo- and video-sharing Web sites are free. Look for a free site that is easy to join and use. Find out storage and retrieval restrictions. Read More

Society is increasingly going to the dogs. And cats. And other furry friends as well.

That’s because pets are turning up in all sorts of places, from pet-friendly motels to offices that encourage employees to bring their pets to work. And when circumstances prevent someone from sharing his/her home with a four-legged companion–or if parents feel that a child is not ready to take care of a pet–there are even ways to get a virtual fuzz fix.

Pet Care 101

For youngsters who long to have a dog or cat, there are a number of things to consider before bringing one home. Remember, a pet owner needs to: Read More

Children who enjoy science develop strong analytical and problem-solving skills — skills that will serve them well throughout their lives.

To spark a child’s interest, experts recommend taking science education out of the classroom and making it a hands-on experience. According to a new Purdue University study conducted by the National Science Foundation, students who took part in such projects learned more and showed deeper understanding of science principles than their peers.

Champions Science Adventures summer camp follows this philosophy with an innovative lineup that not only offers hands-on experiments but features activities that are fun and educational. Organized in four topical programs, each camp is one week long with flexible options to accommodate families’ busy schedules. Read More

Bonding with your baby and building a trusting relationship is one of the most essential parts of your baby’s life. Touching your baby, singing to your baby, rocking your baby to sleep, and even massaging your baby’s arms and legs can gently calm him and promote closeness between parent and child.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “There is nothing wrong with a newborn cuddling with his or her mother right after birth or having a close time together with his or her new family. If it’s possible, we encourage you to do that… But don’t think those first minutes are more important than all the hours and days that will follow. Building a healthy parent-child relationship doesn’t take place in a moment of time; it’s a long-term process.”

Knowing the importance of bonding, parents should take every moment as an opportunity to connect and further their baby’s development. And the experts agree-as explained in a recent issue of American Baby, “Your relationship with your newborn deepens over the course of weeks as you feed, soothe, and bathe your little one. It’s the time you spend caring for your baby that helps create chemistry and cements the bond.” Read More

Americans gave a record amount to charity last year, with donations estimated to have topped $306 billion, exceeding $300 billion for the first time in history, according to Giving USA.

But people give more than money. They give time and effort as well. According to the Web site volunteeringinamerica.gov, more than 60 million of us performed 8.1 billion hours of volunteer service in 2007.

When it comes to philanthropic giving, many people choose to give to a local charity. But an increasing number of people have been reaching across their communities to give. Read More

Men are from Mars and women are from Venus, which means their children are a mix of two different worlds.

Understanding and relating to your children is no easy feat, but there are many ways you can build a healthy relationship with them.

The MVParents.com Report, a survey of parents commissioned by Coors Brewing Company in partnership with Search Institute, found moms are 23 percent more likely to admit to having an open and honest relationship with their children. Moms are also 12 percent more likely to have regular discussions with their children about school and friends.

But while well-informed moms do the talking, dads do the walking.

Sixty-one percent of dads said they are more comfortable taking part in their teens’ hobbies or helping them with homework than engaging in conversations. Participating in these activities not only plays a significant role in child development, but is also a great way to start much-needed conversations. Read More