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

From decorating your home on a budget to using eco-friendly items in your holiday home décor, we’re sharing some easy to implement frugal and creative holiday ideas.

Follow these tips for gift-wrapping this year’s holiday gifts without breaking the bank:

Use scraps of fabric to wrap presents: Apply puffy fabric paint to give the present a rich three-dimensional look!

Paper bags or craft paper can be jazzed up as great gift-wrap: First wrap the gift and then decorate. This is a great way to decorate grandparents’ gifts. Have your children place their hands in washable paint and decorate the package with their handprints. *Helpful Hint* Instead of wrapping paper, recycle brown paper bags, when you wrap the present use double stick tape and work the extra seams into the pattern.

Sweet wrap using an ice cream container: Decorate with rope, colored duct tape, ribbon, or silk flowers. Not only is this a great gift-wrap, it’s a wonderful keepsake box!

Don’t have enough of one wrapping paper to wrap an entire present? Make a mosaic of wrapping paper. Embellish the seams of the wrapping paper with ribbon, beads, or colored duct tape. Read More

Countless families are cutting back on expenses on an all-time new level. So many of you are in this same uncertain boat, paddling through money-saving waters. One helpful way to not let resentment darken your outlook is to change your way of thinking. Instead of thinking that you are ‘sacrificing’ more than ever before, in reality you have been sacrificing your hard-earned income all along, giving up dollars that could have stayed in your pocket from day one. Yes, you have worked hard for every penny you have made – don’t lose sight of that. So every penny you ever “over spend” is that same hard earned income down the drain!

Take pride in your job, but also take pride in possible savings. Don’t view it as a sacrifice, but as a challenge. As you approach grocery shopping, protect every dollar. Don’t let the grocery system out-smart you by robbing you of the savings you deserve. Not paying attention to prices is exactly what the grocery store wants you to do and you are their very favorite customer! When you do this the joke is on you and the grocery store producers are laughing their way to the bank…with your overspent money!

Adopt the mentality that you can give yourself a raise. Some of you have taken an income hit and you are looking for ways to earn extra money. I don’t know how many times I have heard someone say, “I need to find a way to earn a few hundred extra dollars a month.” You don’t have to look very far. There are money saving tips at your fingertips that can free up that kind of money; giving you the raise you are looking for.

Here are some VERY practical, doable suggestions:

1) Eat dinner at home! Start by taking just one month and go on an ‘Eating Out Fast’. Track your savings and be amazed. Then reward yourself. If you saved $300 by eating at home, take $100 and buy a new dress or golf club! Re-invest the $200 back into your pocket as a wealth-building tool.

2) Don’t eat out at work. It really will not kill you to eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Chances are good your mom and dad ate lots of “PB&J” so you could have your college education, so you can eat a lot of them too! Another secret, if you are cooking dinners at home, chances are you will have ample leftovers for a great free lunch.

3) Attempt coupons. But don’t let it overwhelm you to the point of throwing out the baby with the bath water. If you are eating at home and making a dinner plan based on the sales, then you are already saving a lot of money. You are in the game! Many people think you have to eat the ‘whole enchilada’ and clip coupons, shop several stores, etc. The thought is so overwhelming and taxing to an already stressed person, the “what’s the use” feeling takes over. Try starting out small, use a few coupons and venture into another whole level of savings one little bit at a time.

4) Switch to store brand products. Pick the 2 or 3 national brands you can’t live without, then search for coupons for those items. Keep using store brands – don’t go back! Use store brands in recipes and dishes that will go unnoticed by your family, ie. pasta, sauces, etc. Read More

Building a gingerbread house is a wonderful holiday project that families can do together. Children will delight in the entire process, from planning the design and grocery list to adding a final sprinkling of sugar “snow” to the finished house. With a little planning, a gingerbread house can be completed in two or three days, making it a perfect activity for a weekend at grandma’s.

Whether you choose to follow a recipe to bake and build a gingerbread house from scratch, or to use a pre-baked or pre-assembled gingerbread house kit, the following pointers will help you have a fun and memorable experience, and a gingerbread house that the whole family will be proud of!

• Allow each family member to have a say in the planning and design of the house, and remember to keep the process fun! Part of the charm of a gingerbread house is the clutter of mix-matched candies and crooked windows. Any cracks or “mistakes” can be covered up with candy or extra white icing “snow”.

• Space out the work. If you are baking your house from scratch, mix the dough one day, and roll it out and bake it the next. Before you begin decorating, the walls and roof of the house should be assembled either a day ahead or time, or at least early in the day. This will allow the icing to dry, and result in a sturdy house that can withstand lots of icing and candy.

• Build your house on something that is very rigid and not at all flexible. Once your house is finished you will surely need to move it at least once. If the base it is built on twists or warps even a tiny bit, it could cause the house to crack. Think of a wooden tray or cutting board, or a square of plywood covered with plain or decorative foil.

• Royal icing is the “glue” that you will use to hold the house together, and to attach all of your decorations. It is very important that you keep your bowls and utensils very clean and grease-free when making and using this icing. Even a trace amount of fat can cause the icing to break down and will keep it from whipping to the correct thickness. For this same reason, do not try to mix or store royal icing in plastic bowls or containers; stick to glass or metal bowls for best results. And, because it contains no fat, royal icing will dry out quite quickly. Keep the icing bowl covered with damp paper towels to prevent this. Read More

Maybe it’s a sign of the times, but staying in for dinner—and eating out on special occasions only—is becoming the norm these days. Many families are looking for ways to eat cheaper and healthier while also spending some time together. Busy schedules and tighter budgets have people divvying up duties and shopping for deals in hopes of making mealtime run a bit more smoothly. Unfortunately (as you know all too well!), a healthy and satisfying dinner doesn’t just appear at the snap of your fingers—there’s lots of planning, shopping, and prep-time before the finished product makes its way onto your plate.

People are realizing that home-cooked meals provide a healthier alternative to fast-food runs or TV dinners while also saving them some money. Plus, sitting down to eat with your whole family allows you to share some time together—so that’s an added benefit!

Cooking up some quick and easy meals at home can help you save some dough (money, that is!), consume a more nutritious diet, and spend time with your loved ones. What are you waiting for?

Read these eleven budget-friendly tips to help you get started planning your menu:

• Monitor your portions. Cut portions to coincide with the nutritional needs of each individual in your family. Not many people need three or four pork chops (unless they’re digging ditches). Perhaps Dad can handle two chops, but most likely Mom and the kids can do well with one apiece. You might even split one chop for two smaller children. It’s time to put down those huge portions you’ve been eating and get a grip on your nutritional needs, not wants. Not only do extra calories run up your weight, they run up your food bill. Whether you’re eating at home or in a restaurant, pay attention to portions for your wallet’s sake (not to mention your waistline and overall health).

• Watch for sales. Watch for sales, including buy-one-get-one-free (BOGO). BOGO is an easy way to halve the cost of what you’re buying. If you’re buying something in the $4 to $5 range, it’s worth it if you use the product. Some tuna (albacore) is usually $7.25 per 4-pack. That’s a good deal with the BOGO special. Another good deal is the low-fat mayonnaise that can run $4 to $5 per jar. Whether to go for these offers or not depends on whether your family will eat the products on sale. When is a sale not a sale? When you buy an item because it’s on sale and never use it. That’s no bargain. (This does not include shoes.)

Newspaper ads can determine where you do your major grocery shopping for the week. Mostly look at the cost of protein—meat, poultry, and fish—and fresh produce. You can also check out online ads to find the best deals. And try not to go from store to store to save a small amount. For $3 or $4, you could be tempted; for $5, give it a go if the store is close by! You have to make that decision.

• Clip coupons. When it comes to coupon clipping, people range from the if-I-remember-them-I’ll-use-them shoppers to the I-won’t-buy-it-if-I-don’t-have-a-coupon shoppers. The amount of money you can save depends on your interest level. Those who devote their time and energy to clipping coupons save a lot of money. Some wise shoppers use online sites to ferret out valuable coupons. You’ve read about these amazing folks who get $5,000 worth of groceries for 15 cents. That’s a gross exaggeration, but there are those people out there who know how to use coupons to their fullest. Read More

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently revoked their “No Nits” policy, which stated that children with nits should not be allowed into the classroom.  They now theorize that since a nit cannot transfer from head to head, too many days of school are being missed and it is detrimental to the child.  Only time will tell if this recommendation helps or hurts the number and length of lice outbreaks in our schools.

Most parents know that sharing hats, helmets, headbands and combs are a no-no.  But, they must also think about things such as iPod ear buds, pillows at sleepovers and princess party tiara’s and costumes – all these things can house a live louse for 24-36 hours.  If a child must share a helmet, a great idea is to insert a coffee filter into the helmet and toss after each use.  We also recommend not washing the child’s hair every day.  Lice like clean hair, not dirty!  A louse cannot attach easily to a hair shaft that is covered with natural oils and products; squeaky-clean hair is easy to grab onto.  Also, lice do not fly, jump or hop – they walk slowly and look for the warmth of the scalp.

Studies have shown that herbs such as rosemary, citronella, tea tree, and geranium can help to prevent head lice.  Hair products are now available using these ingredients and with daily use have been proven quite effective in repelling head lice.  However, weekly head checks are always recommended.

Communication is key to stopping the cycle of an outbreak.  While many parents complain that an infestation can last for months, with proper management, this does not have to be the case.  Tell your school nurse immediately.  The school should conduct lice checks and send a note home to parents.   The sooner the better as the quicker it’s controlled the quicker it stops.  The school needs to wipe down all surfaces and vacuum nightly.  Expensive sprays are not necessary, just a good vacuum.   Coats should be brought home and washed in hot water and returned to school in large bags until the outbreak is under control. For younger children, car seats should also be vacuumed, but only if live bugs can be seen.  Stuffed animals should be bagged for just a few days. Read More

The holidays are upon us, bringing all those personal and family images and sensations we cherish. But for many of us, there are a few not-so-joyous holiday sights (a purse overflowing with credit card receipts) and sounds (the ca-ching! of the cash registers marking our escalating debt). These negatives can easily outweigh all that we love about the holiday season, especially during this less-than-prosperous economic period.

Overall, the recession has brought about a renewed dedication to saving. Before the recession, our national personal savings rate was close to zero, and now it’s around 5 percent. But it is very important that you not let your holiday spending zap all of the saving progress you made during the year.

Whether it’s a dedication to the gift-giving tradition, a sense of obligation, or a feeling that the holidays entitle us to have a little more fun than usual, too many of us seem to turn a blind eye to the budget-busting reality of all that spending over just a couple of months. Don’t let excessive holiday spending cause any unnecessary financial stress for you and your family.

What if you could have a wonderful, memorable holiday and avoid the financial hangover afterwards? Here are some great tips on how to keep your holiday spending in check.

• Find an alternative to gift-giving during the holidays. Many people feel they have to give gifts during the holidays, either because it’s a family tradition or because they know their friends and relatives have gotten gifts for them. There are plenty of great ways to trade in this tradition for another one that is even more meaningful, and chances are your family and friends will be happy to save gift-buying dough as well.

Instead of exchanging gifts, your family members might want to pool their money and spend it on a holiday outing. If you have kids, you’ll probably want to get them a little something, but set strict spending limits. Instead of piling up the toys, let each child choose an outing or event that he or she gets to spend with you one-on-one. Kids will look back on the valuable time you’ve spent together a lot more fondly than they will any toy or video game they use a couple of times and then toss aside.

• If you must buy gifts, cut your expenses elsewhere as necessary. Perhaps you’d rather dine out or go to the movies less, or maybe you can forego that new pair of shoes you’ve been wanting for yourself in order to afford gifts for the grandparents. It doesn’t matter where you make cuts, just that you make them. Keeping your other spending under control while you’re out there doing your shopping can be a challenge, but just keep repeating to yourself the importance of not over-spending. That way when it comes time to actually pass out those presents you’ve purchased, you can do it without grimacing as you think about the damage they did to your bank account.

• Set a budget and keep tabs on what you are spending. While you’re doing your holiday shopping, your new best friends should be your checkbook register, credit card statements, and all of your receipts. It’s easy to get into a spending rhythm when shopping for yourself or others, and that’s why you need to physically write down every purchase you make and make sure you don’t go over your budget. When you start to add up everything you’re spending, you may be shocked at what all those expenses from this store and that store add up to be. And don’t forget about all those ‘necessary’ holiday extras. Most people don’t budget their shopping and don’t realize that by the time you buy all the presents, plus wrapping paper, cards, decorations, etc., it’s added up to a ridiculous amount. Having a budget that you know you must stick to will help keep your impulse spending from getting out of hand and will help you hone in on the most reasonably priced holiday items.

• Plan what you are going to buy, and don’t get any extras! Particularly during the holidays, companies pull out their most appealing packaging in hopes of snagging the eyes of shoppers. That’s why along with your budget, you’re going to want to take an exact list of what you want to buy for your gift recipients. Don’t go shopping for someone’s gift until you know exactly what you are going to buy. Read More

Parenting is a tough and frustrating job. More than anything we want to help our kids grow into healthy, happy adults. Yet when they don’t behave the way we want them to, it’s all too easy to resort to tactics we’re not proud of. Yelling. Threatening. Spanking. We use these discipline techniques even though we feel bad afterward (and, obviously, so do our kids). And we stay stuck in our cycle of negativity because, quite frankly, we don’t know any good alternatives.

There are positive, effective discipline techniques out there—techniques that result in happy, well-rounded, well-behaved children. And best of all, they allow us to avoid the fighting, stress, and general feel-bad techniques we’ve resorted to in the past.

There are better ways of teaching children to be cooperative. Fear and aggression are not effective, and they don’t feel good to anyone.

The true meaning of the word discipline is ‘to guide.’ And guidance means teaching. When we punish our children, we often leave out the guidance, which means we don’t often get the results we are looking for.”

The alternative is to employ a technique known as emotion coaching. It’s a gentle, open-hearted alternative to old-fashioned, often aggressive discipline that can be used with babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and young school-age children.

Ultimately, emotion coaching gives parents the know-how and the confidence to build strong, productive relationships with their children.

There are a few simple, feel-good strategies parents can employ to make their disciplining more effective. Read on for twelve tips you can use starting when your child is an infant.

1. Set limits and expectations all along the way. Parents often make the mistake of thinking that discipline starts once children are older—not babies. But, it’s a good idea to begin providing guidance and setting limits as early as infancy. This sets your child up for success—if she knows what the boundaries and expectations are from the beginning, then when she’s two you won’t be trying to undo all her bad habits or behaviors. Read More

As a child and adolescent clinician, there isn’t a day that goes by I am not inundated by my overweight patients reporting low self-esteem, depression, a lack of motivation to participate in activities and the daily dread of having to walk into school knowing they may face another day of bullying.

More than 50% of child and adolescent patients I see are obese and just about 100% of them have obese parents. While the nation’s youth are faced with the one of the greatest health problems, the need for mental health care providers is also in demand to provide treatment for our obese youth. Childhood obesity has been correlated with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV criteria for Major Depressive Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Bulimia Nervosa (American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 2006).

I spend many family sessions reviewing self-care habits including sleep, eating and exercise patterns with the usual answer of no time for sleep, a diet of fast food and lack of motivation to exercise.

As a parent educator and advocate of youth fitness, here are several tips I provide to parents and guardians:

• Model healthy behaviors for children. Children have learned that eating fast food and sedentary lifestyles are the norm within the culture of the family. If parents are eating high calorie meals, they are giving their children the same food. Research has shown parents with healthy eating patterns, including a well-balanced diet of complex carbohydrates, lean protein and dairy, fruits and vegetables, have children who eat more fruits and vegetables on a consistent basis. This includes both the home and school environment. The same is applied to exercise. According to the Journal of Family Psychology, active children are two times as likely to have parents who support and encourage physical activity as compared to non-active children. Read More

If you check throughout your home, you will be shocked to find an array of potentially poisonous products, such as medicines, household chemicals, and plants. And in the hands of a small child or pet, these products can be deadly.

Fortunately, accidental poisoning is a preventable injury. But it’s up to parents, grandparents and caregivers to be educated about what types of substances can be harmful to children and pets.

Here are some potentially poisonous products in the home, which some people may overlook:

1. Table salt: As little as half a teaspoon to an infant or a tablespoon to a toddler can cause damage to his central nervous system.

2. Alcohol: It can lead to seizures, coma and even death in a young child. (Examples of household products that can contain alcohol: mouthwash, perfumes, colognes, and aftershave, vanilla extract, cough and cold medications and hand sanitizers.)

3. Baby oil: When you swallow baby oil and other hydrocarbons, they can easily go down the wrong way and get into your lungs. Only a small amount can cause pneumonia within a few hours.

4. Antifreeze: Children or pets could drink large amounts of this sweet-tasting liquid if it is left out in an open container or if spilled on your driveway. The main ingredient in many major antifreeze brands is ethylene glycol, which is extremely toxic. Use antifreeze with propylene glycol, which is considerably less toxic, or use antifreeze that has a bittering agent (denatonium benzoate) added to make it taste unpleasant. Read More

I recently read a fascinating article in the Wall Street Journal about how writing by hand engages the mind in learning. It said that in a study using advanced MRI technology, children who had practiced printing by hand had far more enhanced and “adult-like” neural activity than in those who had simply looked at letters.

I smiled when I read this because for years my tutors and I have urged our students to take notes as they read text.  We have learned by experience that students who systematically take notes as they read retain more and, of course, do better on tests. Here are a few ways any student can improve retention and sharpen learning.

Take Notes While You Read

Learning is an active process, not a spectator sport. It requires energy and, most important of all, concentration.  For many students, focus is not a problem when they are reading about subjects they enjoy. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. In the course of their studies, students have to plow through a good deal of material they find dense and boring. This is when taking the time to take good notes while reading becomes very useful for enhancing learning.

Note taking works on a number of levels. It heightens attention by forcing students to actively engage with the material they are reading. Just as importantly, it encourages students to put the material into their own words and into some meaningful order. This simple task improves comprehension because the student must summarize the information he’s just read. Reiterating and condensing text is one of the very best ways to understand and remember.

There are a number of methods for taking notes while reading. The most basic involves margin notes and “self-talk,” a technique in which the reader questions himself about what he’s reading. You can coach your child to use this strategy by saying, “After you read a page in your novel (or a section in your textbook), ask yourself, ‘What did I just read?’ or ‘What is the main idea here?’” His answers should be briefly recorded in the page margin. If writing in the textbook is not an option, your child can use Post-it notes. Read More