Age 14

7 Signs your child needs help in school

Molly Cerreta Smith — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 04:44:00 -0700

If your child is falling behind in school, you may be the last one to know about it. Your child might be too embarrassed or ashamed to ask for your help, but if you look for these seven signs that your child needs help in school, you can get your child the assistance he needs before it's too late.

Teaching children to embrace their differences

Ami Burns — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 09:05:00 -0700

Everyone feels different at some point in her life. Rather than focusing on differences in a negative way, parents can teach their children to embrace their differences. This can be easier said than done -- so here are some expert teaching tips.

Family bonding: Trying something new, together

Jen Klein — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 08:19:00 -0700

Last weekend, we took the kids to a climbing gym about an hour away. We'd seen the ads for the place and wanted to try it for at least a couple of years. I am so glad we finally made the time to do it. It was a great day of family bonding.

Boost your teen girl’s self confidence

Kori Ellis — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 07:30:00 -0700

Help boost your teenager daughter's self confidence by nurturing her talents, being a good role model, and helping her build a positive self image. By improving her self esteem, your teen girl can be happier, healthier and more successful.

The Nutmeg high: A new drug trend?

Meagan Morris — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 05:41:00 -0700

YouTube is now home to several videos of teens smoking nutmeg in order to get a "nutmeg high." What is up with this and what can you do to keep your kids from trying it?

4 Ways to get kids to school on time

Julie Ruditzky Loffredi — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 06:19:00 -0700

For most families, the most hectic time of day is when the alarm clock goes off. Getting the kids out of bed, dressed, fed and ready for school can be a daily battle. Here are a few tips to help make mornings easier on everybody.

Help your child discover her talents

Ami Burns — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 06:41:00 -0700

Is your child a talented, budding artist, athlete or academic? No matter where your child’s talent lies, you can help him discover and nurture it.

Stop online bullies from harassing your child

Abbi Perets — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 08:35:00 -0700

That cell phone you just got for your teen could be a deadly weapon. And, no, we're not talking about texting while driving. There's another, more insidious danger that lurks in these devices, as well as in your home computer and any other connected device your kids use to keep in touch with friends. Is your teen at risk?

How to explain to your kids why parents fight

Michelle Maffei — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 09:35:00 -0700

When kids witness their parents butting heads or engaging in a yelling match, they may be confused, scared or even worried that the family is headed for divorce. From explaining the difference between having a disagreement and an argument, to letting them know that it doesn't mean you don't love each other, here's how to explain to your kids why parents fight.

OMG mom! Kids and slang

Jen Klein — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 06:45:00 -0700

Every generation has it's own slang. Every generation develops its own ways of communicating certain issues within the group. What was "groovy" or "awesome" in previous generations is now OMG! and LOL! and will be something else entirely in coming generations. Whether you cringe or giggle when you hear your kids use these words, it's a part of the passing of the torch, generationally speaking. You have little control over the terminology.

Teens & makeup: What's OK for school?

Kori Ellis — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 01:59:00 -0700

Though many young teens wear makeup on special occasions, your daughter may want to start experimenting and wearing makeup every day for school. Don't let her go out of the house with bright blue eyeshadow, overlined lips or caked-on foundation. She'll embarrass herself . Instead, figure out together what's OK for school and what's not.

Is 3-D okay for your kids?

Sarah W. Caron — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 05:59:00 -0700

Advances in technology are bringing 3-D into movie theaters, the home and even your kid's hand-held video game. But the technology is flawed. Experts say that one in four viewers experience motion sickness or other ill effects. And Nintendo has even said that their new 3-D hand-held video game system isn't okay for kids under age six. That said, is 3-D okay for anyone?

How to help your child choose a musical instrument

Jen Klein — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 08:04:00 -0700

It’s the beginning of the school year and elementary schools across the country are introducing musical instrument instruction to students. The choices of instrument are overwhelming!

Is your child over-scheduled?

Tiernan McKay — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 07:30:00 -0700

As a parent, it seems there are a million opportunities to sign your child up for some sort of activity. Whether it's sports, clubs, enrichment courses or lifestyle classes , there's never a shortage of extra-curriculars. While these activities help our kids become well-rounded, they can also create unmanageable schedules. What's the right balance between enriching your child and over-stressing him? Read on for more tips to determine the best way to keep your child interested but not over-scheduled.

How many activities should my child have?

Sarah W. Caron — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 04:23:00 -0700

Here's a quick guide to activities for kids of all ages, including recommendations on what different age groups can handle.

Teaching your kids different types of deal making

Jen Klein — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 05:16:00 -0700

If you’re like a lot of moms, you use deal-making terms pretty much interchangeably. Negotiation, bargaining, compromise…they’re all the same, right? Well, no, they’re not. And when you’re teaching your children about deal-making and negotiating the ins and outs of life, it’s helpful to understand the difference between types of deal-making. Deal-making is not just for entrepreneurs.

Kids help with the cooking? Sure!

Jen Klein — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 06:15:00 -0700

Sometimes our lives get so busy that feeding our family can feel like a chore. After a long day, toiling in the kitchen seems like…not a treat. But you have to eat and so do your kids, so you do it. Wouldn’t it be nice if your kids could help you in the kitchen? A little bonding time could make that toil seem less like toil and more like fun. And you’ll be teaching your kids some terrific life skills. One day, you’ll even be able to call ahead and dinner will be waiting for you when you get home, thanks to your kitchen-confident kids!

Getting your sedentary children moving

Jen Klein — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 15:47:00 -0700

Sometimes resolutions for fitness in a new year aren’t just personal goals. Sometimes it’s a goal for your whole family. If your family has gotten into a sit-in-front-of-screen-and-not-being-active rut, there’s no time like the new year to do something about it. You can get even your most Wii-attached child exercising and making healthy choices in this new year.

Introducing your kids to what it takes to run a household

Jen Klein — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 08:37:00 -0700

What does the term “running a household” mean to you? Is it cleaning? Is it budgeting and bill-paying? Is it cooking? Is it scheduling? Is it home maintenance tasks? Is it personnel management and conflict resolution? Is it daily planning? Is it all that? Is it more? Yes, yes and yes. For all the tasks moms do in the course of a day, MBA programs could learn a thing or two about management. And your kids need to learn it, too, on their paths to independence.

Helping the introverted child make friends

Sarah W. Caron — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 07:45:00 -0700

Being introverted can make it hard to develop friendships -- especially for children. But parents can help.

5 Ways to help your teen resist negative peer pressure

Jen Klein — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 13:45:00 -0700

The teen years are no picnic -- for your child or for you as a parent. There are hormones, school pressure and mood swings -- and perhaps the largest looming of them all: Peer pressure. Will your angelic daughter succumb to the influence of her peers and start making less than stellar choices? Will your sweet mama’s boy turn into a being you don’t recognize, either inside or out, because of the influence of his friends? While there is no guarantee it won’t happen that way, you can take some steps to try to head it off.