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

You’ve probably seen it at 3:00 p.m. — scores of kids heading out of school weighed down with giant backpacks. Considering that middle-school textbooks weigh 3 or 4 pounds each, it isn’t hard to understand why kids are toiling under the weight.

Disturbingly, a recent study conducted at the University of California points to some scary trends. Because middle-schoolers are routinely carrying loads of 10 pounds or more in their backpacks, kids are suffering from back pain.  The American Academy of Pediatrics agrees, saying that kids who regularly carry an overloaded backpack are at risk for poor posture, muscle strain and headaches.

Your child may not have much of a choice about which books he needs to carry home, but there are other steps you can take to lighten the load and keep your child pain-free.

• Weigh your child’s backpack. Use a bathroom scale, making sure that your child’s packed backpack doesn’t weigh more than 10 to 15 percent of their body weight.

• Ditch the non-essentials. Your kid may not need to bring extra pens, paper and snacks to school. Swap out a large notebook or binder for a smaller one. Send her to class with an empty water bottle instead of a full one and she can fill it up at school. Read More

Babies grow up so quickly and it’s important to capture the happiness and beauty of moments along the way… but how are parents to be sure to get their money’s worth when it comes to hiring a photographer? Inviting a stranger to photograph your family’s most intimate moments is a big decision. Follow the advice below to select a great family photographer.

1.) Get to Know Your Photographer & Create a Lasting Relationship. We suggest that you research photographers both online and via word-of-mouth. When you find a photographer that suits your style – CALL them. Emailing is fine but it is so impersonal. It’s so important to make sure you “click” with your photographer since you will hopefully be creating a relationship with them over the course of the next few years as your child and family grows.

2.) Ask Your Photographer About Their Level of Experience. You need to be aware that photography companies come with ALL degrees of experience ranging from your amateur neighbor to the world-renowned photography celebrity. More than likely you will want someone in-between who fits into your budget, preferably someone with experience and a photography education. Read More

This fall, 19 million students are expected to attend colleges across the country, and many returning students will be searching for their very first apartments, leaving dorm life far behind. For those students who are new to renting, here are a few tips from Rent.com to help make your apartment search both successful and stress-free.

Know Your “Must-Haves”

It’s helpful to create a list that prioritizes apartment amenities of interest. Mark which ones are “must-haves” and which are negotiable for you and your roommate(s). These priorities will become the basic parameters of your apartment search.

Use Online Search Tools for Increased Productivity

Using an Internet listing site like Rent.com will save time and money by providing free access to detailed property listings that include information such as amenities, pet policies, contact information, pricing, photos, floor plans and even virtual tours! Using your “must-haves” as search parameters, you can quickly narrow your choices and with all of this information at your fingertips, finding the perfect place to live is simple. Read More

“Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun.” This is unfortunately one of the most well-known fast food commercial jingles of all time.

According to Pediatrics, nearly one-third of U.S. children aged 4 to 19 eat fast food every day. Along the same line, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently reported that 17 percent of U.S. children are overweight, totaling more than 12 million nationwide.

Interestingly enough, a juxtaposing trend is also on the rise-the participation in youth organized sports. It is estimated that there are 30 to 40 million child athletes in America. Researchers, just like parents, question how these conflicting statistics are possible. Delving deeper into the subject of youth organized sports unmasks a world of stress, pressure, and intense competition, leading children to quit. Read More

Back to school is a big adjustment for students and parents and often creates a lot of stress and anxiety. Students are faced with adjusting to new teachers, classrooms, and courses. And parents are right in the mix when it comes to homework anxiety. Whether they are trying to review progress or give assistance, parents often feel the same type of homework anxiety that their child experiences.  So, to start the school year off on the right foot, you might try a few of these tips.

1.) Remove Distractions: Remove all distractions during designated study time. You can provide your child with a distraction-free workspace by eliminating potential distracters such as mobile phones, TV’s and extraneous conversations from the designated study area (including yours!). Make sure if the computer is being used, it’s for homework.

2.) Be Your Child’s Champion: If you can’t directly help your child, make sure that those who can do! Communicate directly with his or her teacher and tutor, and review homework and quizzes—don’t wait for a mid-term grade as an indication of progress. Read More

As we approach the winter season, many parents will be watching their children for symptoms of the cold, flu, and the newest seasonal bug, H1N1. Most parents don’t know, however, about another virus that’s both prevalent and contagious this time of year, which can be very dangerous to some children, especially those born prematurely.

Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, results in twice as many pediatric hospitalizations than the seasonal flu. Worse yet, RSV can be hard to detect, with symptoms similar to the common cold. By educating yourself on the virus, you can take steps to protect your child from developing severe RSV infection this season.

What is RSV?

RSV is a virus that often results in an upper respiratory tract infection, characterized by a runny nose and fever. It affects nearly all children by their second birthday, and in most healthy children and adults, RSV simply causes cold-like symptoms that come and go within a week or two. In certain children, however, the infection often progresses to the lungs causing bronchiolitis exhibited by a severe cough, chest retractions and wheezing. This infection can be very serious in many babies; in fact, RSV infection is the leading cause of infant hospitalization in the United States.   
In most of North America, RSV is prevalent in epidemics from fall to spring. “RSV season,” as it’s often called, varies by geography and from year to year. For example, in places with warm climates, such as Florida, it often starts as early as June. To find out what time of year your baby is most susceptible to RSV, consult your pediatrician. Read More

Busy parents know the school year means a packed planner filled with everything from recitals to soccer games to parent-teacher conferences. As time gets stretched, they often fall back on routines, one of which is what they pack for lunch.

“Everyone needs some shortcuts to help during the busy school season, especially when it comes to packing a lunch,” says nutrition expert Bridget Swinney, M.S., R.D. “But it’s important to give your kids variety, make it fun and filled with favorites so you can feel confident your kids will eat their lunch and stay nourished throughout the day. Kid-favorite sandwiches always do the trick.

Following are some tips to help parents pack a lunch they know their kids will love and they can feel good about sending in their backpacks. Read More

Students are learning that the college application is a key opportunity to make a lasting impression on the people who count: those at the college admissions office. To improve your chances of gaining admission to the college or university of your choice, it’s important to do your homework and take the time to make your college application stand out from the rest.

“A college application is your chance to shine,” says Martha Holler, spokesperson for Sallie Mae, the nation’s leading saving-and-paying-for-college company. “Schools look at a variety of factors when deciding on their incoming freshman class, so students need to present themselves on paper in the very best light — that means making sure the application is complete, error-free, signed and meets the school’s deadline for submission.”

Crafting a successful application involves careful planning and organization. To make the most of the college application process, Sallie Mae offers the following tips for students and families: Read More

Parents, children and motorists should be aware of proper school bus safety protocols to make sure the children riding on school buses have a happy and safe school year.

Here are some safety rules children should follow:

School Bus Safety Tips

• Leave home early. When you rush, you tend to forget traffic safety rules.

• Walk on the sidewalks wherever available.

• When waiting for the bus, stay away from the street. And don’t play around because you will be distracted and may not follow traffic safety rules.

• Have no drawstrings, toggles or key chains on clothes or backpacks. These can get caught on bus handrails and doors.

• Grab the handrail so you don’t trip on the stairs. Read More

As parents, we love our kids so much that we dread that fateful call—The teacher calling to report that your child is misbehaving, underachieving or that they should be tested for ADHD. Don’t panic. Follow these tips to handle the situation:

1. Be aware of your child’s environment. Explore contexts that are explanations for the behavior, like external stressors. Consider any relevant changes in your family in terms of finances, physical and mental health issues, or other significant factors. Also take into account nutritional factors: too much sugar and skipping breakfast are both linked to difficulty concentrating.

2. Seek solutions. Ask the teacher, “What are we going to do to support her?” Children need to learn how to learn, and every stumbling block in education is not brain dysfunction. Your child may simply need repetition, practice of basic skills, and coaching to excel in school.

3. Consider that your child may not be the problem. Sometimes our children’s learning style and profile of strengths and weaknesses mean that they need accommodations. While changing schools may not be an option, you can still protect your child’s passion and motivation by encouraging them to pursue those things that draw their attention. Read More