Parenting Journals

Category: Family Events

  • Are Organic Snacks REALLY Healthy?

    As parents, we want the best for our children – and that includes stocking the fridge and the pantry with the right meals and snacks. However, as functioning adults in the 21st century, we also know that there is barely enough time between work and life demands to create every meal from scratch. So, what […]

  • 6 Tips to Keep Your Kids Safe and Healthy This Winter

    6 Tips to Keep Your Kids Safe and Healthy This Winter

    By Jamell Andrews I know it’s early in the summer season but when winter brings with it the allure of freshly fallen snow and all kinds of fun cold-weather activities that children love. Unfortunately, it can also be a time of viruses and bacteria that lead to colds and flu. Use these tips to help […]

  • Sticker Shock for Those Considering Starting or Expanding Their Family

    By Lisa Pecos If you’re considering starting a family, chances are that you’ve given some thought to the extra expense that having a child will add to your responsibilities, but exactly how much it costs may surprise you. A report just released last week is giving wannabe parents a bad case of sticker shock, reporting […]

  • 6 Fun Fall Activities for Families

    By Jamell Andrews Summer may be coming to an end, but that doesn’t have to mean making life all about school and work. The season of falling leaves and all things pumpkin-spice offers a whole slew of fun, family-friendly activities to enjoy. Here are 6 fun things to do as a family this fall.

  • 5 Tips to Keep Your Kids Safe at Amusement Parks

    By Lisa Pecos Nothing says summer fun like a day at an amusement park. From the rides to the games, amusement parks have all kinds of fun things to do for the whole family. With all of this fun, though, there are also a few risks for children, from getting separated from family to getting […]

  • How to Get the Most Out of Family Time

    By Jamell Andrews Between school and work, extracurricular activities, and household chores, it’s easy to see why family time is at a premium these days. If you, like may parent’s, are finding that you don’t have nearly as much time to spend together as a family as you’d like, then these tips can help you […]

  • W.A.T.C.H. Releases 2016 Summer Safety Report of Most Dangerous Toys

    By Lisa Pecos World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc. (W.A.T.C.H.) has released their 2016 Summer Safety Report and chances are that some of your child’s favorite warm-weather toys have made the list. With emergency departments expecting to treat approximately 2.7 million children injured in accidents this summer, parents and caregivers should have a look at […]

  • 12 Fun Family-Friendly Summer Activities

    By Vanesa Sallego Summer’s on its way, which means hot and sunny days and your children home from school for some summer vacation. To help make the most of this time of year and keep your children from getting bored, we’ve come up with a list of 12 fun summer activities that are fun for […]

  • Tips for Travelling with Children

    By Lisa Pecos Summer vacation is fast approaching, and while many parents are looking forward to getting away, the idea of travelling with children can be a little daunting to say the least. Fortunately, a little planning can help take the stress out of travelling with children and make vacations a lot easier on the […]

  • Making Healthy Foods Fun for Kids

    By Jamell Andrews Most children will take a processed snack pack or treat over fruits and veggies any day, but with childhood obesity becoming an epidemic, finding ways to make healthy foods more appealing is more important than ever. Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the last 30 […]

  • Drinking in Movies and Teenage Drinking

    Teenagers Who Watch Actors Drinking Alcohol in Movies More Likely to Drink Themselves A study published earlier this year in the journal Pediatrics found that young European teens who watched more scenes of actors drinking in Hollywood movies were more likely to binge-drink and otherwise abuse alcohol. Researchers gave questionnaires to more than 5,000 15-year-olds […]

  • Some Words of Caution Before You Buy Your Children’s Holiday Toys

    Before you buy toys for the children in your life this holiday season, the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) — and doctors — caution you to keep some important things in mind. PIRG has released its annual “Trouble in Toyland” report, which evaluates many children’s toys that are being sold during the holiday season. As […]

  • Many Simple Steps Your Family Can Take to Help Save the Planet!

    Parents do well to teach their children the importance of doing what we each can, to help save our planet. The efforts of one person alone don’t amount to much, true; but when you add many, many people, and many families, we collectively surely can make a big difference. Below are many simple, easy things […]

  • Eight Big, Free Gifts that Parents Can Give to Their Children

    If you hit bull’s eye and got your kids some fancy, expensive gifts for the holidays that they are still playing with some weeks later, kudos to you. But what if you got your kids presents that only held their interest for a couple of days? You probably feel like you wasted money. It turns […]

  • Six Tips for Stress-Free Family Meals

    Family time is something that’s increasingly in short supply in our busy modern times. Some of the best opportunities for family togetherness are mealtimes — in particular, dinner, when we can leave the day’s cares behind and family members can enjoy a relaxing evening. Recent research by Columbia University found that children who eat regular […]

  • Ten Tips for Having a Fun and Safe Family Camping Trip

    Taking your family on a camping trip could be one of the most rewarding and enjoyable experiences you will share. It’s a great opportunity to get away from the noise and congestion, and get in touch with the beauty and serenity of nature. A few precautions will help make the trip educational for your children, […]

  • Safety Facts About Insect Repellents – and Choosing the Best Brands

    As millions of American children head off to summer camps or outdoor family get-togethers, many parents may wonder how to protect their youngsters from the varieties of insects that might be found at camping grounds and parks. These days, we all have even more reason to worry about bugs than normally, as infestations from the […]

  • Teaching Kids to Love Nature

    In an age of growing disconnection between people and nature, many parents find it challenging to instill in their children a sense of appreciation for all that the earth has to offer. In many cases, nature is remote and not easily accessible, while electronics and media are immediately available, and many busy parents understandably go […]

  • Sibling Rivalry: What Can Parents Do?

    Sibling rivalry can take many forms over the years. When the second child is first born, it can take the form of acting out, regression, and fussiness on the part of the older child. And as the kids grow up, it can turn into arguing, physical fighting, and deep feelings of jealousy and resentment. Most […]

  • Amber Alerts – What to Do in Case Your Child Goes Missing

    It is one of every parent’s worse nightmares. You take your eye off your child for a minute only to find her gone when you turn around. Or one day he does not get home from school at the normal time. Or she goes outside to play and does not come back in. Scenarios like […]

  • How to Raise a Musical Child

    When it comes to educating children, a lot of focus is placed on practical skills like reading and math, which are undoubtedly important. But we should raise our children to be well-rounded individuals, and this involves teaching them forms of creative self-expression. While different kids have different talents-some are good at drawing, some can dance […]

  • Leaving Your Child Home Alone

    By Lisa Pecos In the early years of a child’s life, parents are forced to do whatever they have to do to make sure the child is supervised at all times. But once the child reaches a certain age, the issue starts to become fuzzier. Most well-behaved kids reach a point-generally in their preteens or […]

  • Hosting a Princess Tea Party

    By Chris Molnar Oh the princess tea party — it’s practically a rite of passage for little girls everywhere. At some point your daughter will embrace this phase and celebrate it for all the dainty beauty that it is. This makes for the perfect theme of a party and your little princess can truly celebrate.

  • Techniques – When Potty Training Clashes With Your Vacation!

    There are some simple preparations that you can make in advance before embarking on a trip away with your toddler in the midst of his potty training.

  • How Safe Are Sunscreens Ingredients?

    When people go to the store to buy sunscreen, they assume that the products they purchase are safe and effective. Whether you purchase sunscreen for trips to the beach, lounging poolside, or for everyday protection against the sun’s rays, you probably expect to be able to rely on your sunscreen to protect you from sun […]

  • Summer Problems Caused By Nature

    The sun is shining, the days are longer and you have waved goodbye to coughs and colds but summer brings its own little irritations. Here are some tips to help.

  • Toxic Materials and Toys: What to Watch For

    As if we need one more thing to worry about these days, the LA Times recently published an article on watching out for toxic toy materials. Although regulations on toxic materials in toys do exist, there are  many harmful substances that aren’t regulated at all. You probably remember when Mattel made headlines in 2007 for […]

  • Dining Out With Children: Should It Ever Be Okay?

    By Lisa Pecos When it comes to dining with children, too many parents fall into the trap of thinking that the rest of the world should happily accommodate their children without complaint. Because we love our children so much, it is easy to forget that other people may not be as charmed by them. This […]

  • The Art of Sharing – Shared Custody

    My Experiences with Shared Custody Our breakup started and ended quickly. That said I had probably missed all the signals a failing relationship yields the whole year and half we were together. In that time we had shared an apartment, friends and our son. In hindsight we were naive to think a relationship with so […]

  • That, I understand! Parenting

    By Ambyr Hunt So, their are times when I am up late enough to watch the old episodes of Seinfeld. I just love Seinfeld and the raw truth that is “uncovered” during each show. The presentation of each life lesson is so hysterical that their are times when I have to pause the t.v. and […]

  • How to Lose Your Mommy Tummy

    One of the hardest things that new mothers face is figuring out how to lose their mommy tummy.  The outer abdominal muscles become so stretched out during pregnancy that even once you have given birth and your uterus has shrunk back down to its normal size, it is very difficult to get those muscles back […]

  • Are Sunscreens Harmful for Kids Health

    When choosing a sunscreen for your kids health, the greatest urge may be to simply grab something off the shelf of your local drug store. There are a variety of sunscreens that are specifically marketed for children, but in reality the formulations of these sunscreens are not really that much different than the ones you […]

  • Personalize It: Giving the Perfect Gift for Every Occasion

    By Diane Cullen One of the best gifts I ever gave was a ceramic plate. Given to a dear friend on the occasion of her daughter’s baptism, the plate was hand-painted in pink and pale green and featured a cross, just as I had specified. The baby’s name and baptism date were spelled out in […]

  • Last-Minute Fun & Easy Party Games & Activities to Make Your Kids Birthday a Hit!

    By: K.D. Grant Last minute kids party planning made easy! Find a full day’s worth of fun, ready-to-play, and often free, interactive games and activities to make your child’s next birthday party truly memorable.

  • Easy Kids Craft Ideas: A Refreshing Alternative to Extravagant Parties

    By Rachel Messina As shows such as MTV’s “My Super Sweet 16” showcase the growing trend of over-the-top and extravagant parties for children and teens, it becomes increasingly difficult to remember the days of simple gatherings where Pin the Tail on the Donkey and Musical Chairs were considered prime entertainment.

  • Surprising Secrets to a Successful Summer

    by Toni Schutta   You’re probably busy planning every detail so your kids can have a memorable summer packed with vacations, summer camps, sports activities and more.

  • Grappling with the Birthday Beast

    by Jennifer Kirsch A mother starts to plan her son’s birthday party five months in advance, calling the parents of children with proximate birthdays to coordinate dates. A bewildered father wonders where to corral the many toys his daughter receives for her birthday. A friend confesses her relief at learning her son would like to […]

  • Road Trip Bliss – 5 Tips for Enjoy Road Trips with Your Family

    By Sylvia Wells Road Trip Bliss

  • Raising Strong Children from Shaky Relationships

    By Sylvia Wells I always wanted five children, just like my mother. Even knowing they would all be boys in accordance to the needle and thread test I did when I was about ten years old. The funny thing is that, although I planned to have all these children, I didn’t put a second of […]

  • The Holidays, Toy Safety, and Parents

    With millions of toys made in China pulled from the shelves over safety fears in recent months, deciding what to buy your children for the holidays has become an increasingly difficult decision. The holidays are dangerous enough without having to worry about giving children gifts that could potentially harm them.

  • Fun Family Activities to make your Christmas Season Memorable

    By: Kaydee Grant Plan for some old-fashion holiday fun with simple games and activities that will have your family playing, singing, and laughing together while creating lasting Christmas traditions and memories. You’ll find ideas that will send your kids off on an exciting Christmas gift hunt, or finally get your Christmas party guests caroling, and […]

  • 2008 Financial Crisis Raising Family Stress?

    Numerous factors create stress within a family, but the current world financial crisis is hitting many homes all over the world. How does the family coupe with this type of stress?

  • New Journal Provides Communication Tool for Separated Parents

    A new journal available to separated or divorced parents allows them to communicate important information about their children to ensure a smooth transition between both homes, and peace of mind for the parents.

  • Kids Birthday Parties. Have They Gone Over the Top?

    By Janie Kimball In our, “more is better” society, kids birthday parties have gone over the top. Find out have to create an inexpensive, yet memorable birthday party.

  • Mommy, My Skin Hurts. I Don’t Feel Good.

    Exposure to the sun is associated with all forms of skin cancer, but the most common type of skin cancer is basal skin cancer. Frequent severe sunburns and intense sun exposure in childhood increase the risk of basal cell skin cancer. Basal cell skin cancers usually appear on sun-exposed areas, most commonly the face and […]

  • Parents and Lifeguards Beware. Dry Drowning!

    Parents need to know the three warning signs of dry drowning, since dry drowning occurs most often in children and the small amount of water necessary to claim another victim to dry drowning can be inhaled during a child’s bath time, in the neighborhood pool, or at the beach.

  • Surefire Hit Gift Ideas For Kids

    Whether it’s a holiday or a birthday, kids can be especially hard to buy gifts for. Here are some surefire gift ideas that will make any kid happy. Games The best games to get…

  • Why Plan an After Prom Party

    by Lori Heatherington From the time I enrolled my daughter in elementary school it seemed that the world was out to ruin her innocence. Her know-it-all six year old friends with older brothers and sis…