Parenting

Menstuff® has compiled information and books on the issue of parenting. The father says to his daughter, "It seems like you need to practice your reading!" The mother thinks it's way too harsh, and says so. Remember: "Mothers see the world in relation to their child, while fathers see their child in relation to the world." Both philosophies are essential building blocks for kids. Respect the differences in your parenting styles, and negotiate. Or, you can insist on your style all the time, and you can have a short-lived marriage See Fathering also.


Troubled Teen Advisor

COLUMNS

Mark Brandenburg

Ted Braude

Armin Brott

Tim Hartnett

John Hershey

Independent Means

Bruce Linton

Linda Nielsen

Reena Sommer

Steven Svoboda

Newsbytes - The latest news for parents
Pathways to Positive Parenting Monthly Newsletter

How much it will cost to raise a child
How to Help Your Teen Resist Peer Pressure
Parental Alienation Syndrome
Dedicated Dads
Anxious Parents
Talk to Your Kids about Tought Issues
Talk to Your Parents about Tough Issues

Journals - on Child, Emotional, Religious, and Sexual Abuse and Trauma
Related Issues: Talking With Kids About Tough Issues, Fatherhood Aptitude Test to check if you're ready to be a Dad.
Periodicals - Children, Parents, Teens

How to Help Your Teen Resist Peer Pressure

Set Boundaries. Make sure that the rules and expectations that you set for your teenagers are clear. This should apply to things that your teen shouldn't do, like smoking and drinking, as well as to privileges like driving and curfews. It is important that your teen knows that consequences for breaking the rules will be enforced.

Know Your Teen's Friends. How do your teens interact with their friends? Are the relationships equal and respectful? Are your teens easily influenced by what their friends say to them? Use these observations to talk with your teens about their choices in friends. Make an effort to know the friends' families too.

Encourage Independent Thinking. Help your teen practice thinking for themselves. Ask questions like, "What do you think of what that group's doing? What do you think of those choices?" Having your teen think through the answers to these questions is just as important as the answers themselves. The more your teen trusts his or her decision making skills, the less vulnerable they'll be to peer pressure.
Source: Adapted from the2003 Philip Morris USA Youth Smoking Prevention brochure


Talk To Your Kids About Tough Issues

Newsbytes

PTA president hires stripper for sons 16th birthday party

A former PTA president just pleaded guilty to charges that she arranged a birthday party for her 16-year-old son that featured booze, marijuana, and a stripper named Kristi. Joan Boysen, 47, even admitted giving her teenage guests (aged 13-16) a lesson on how to roll a joint. Below you'll find excerpts from a Mason County (Washington) Sheriff's Office report detailing the April bacchanal at the Boysen family's weekend home outside of Olympia. Included in the report--which was released following Boysen's November 6 conviction--are accounts provided by several teen partygoers and the stripper herself, a 30-year-old woman who also works as a dance instructor and teaching assistant at a Montessori school. Boysen, who pleaded to one felony and a pair of misdemeanors, was sentenced to 30 days in jail, 60 days home confinement, and ordered to perform community service and pay a $15,000 fine. Boysen's husband is also expected to face a misdemeanor charge of providing alcohol to minors. TSG has redacted the names of Washington State's underage party animals. (10 pages)
Source: www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/boysenparty1.html

"I wish they all could be California girls."

Gee, we never got invited to the kind of raucous slumber parties they throw on the Left Coast. In fact, according to this incredible set of police reports, the teenage girls in Pleasanton, California not only hire male strippers for their bashes, but they don't hesitate to, um, interact with the paid entertainment.

In fact, that's what recently landed 29-year-old stripper Steven Schmitt (stage name: Steve Mitchell) and the mother of one of the party hosts in hot water. Seems that Schmitt got real familiar with some of the nubile partygoers (most of whom were 15 or 16), while mom/chaperone Carye McGrath was observing the action unfolding in her San Francisco-area home.

Before Schmitt arrived (he was hired via an online Strip-a-Gram firm and came dressed like a cop), the precocious girls amused themselves with classic party games like the door-to-door condom hunt and Bobbing for Trojans. Prior to Schmitt's performance, McGrath allegedly had to warn her excited teenage charges not to touch or lick the talent.

So, you might ask, what did these girls learn from an incident that resulted in the arrest of Schmitt and McGrath? Well, dirty dancing with a guy in a g-string is no Kodak Moment. And when mommy says, "don't grope the naked guy," you should listen to her. And next time, limit your entertainment to the Leonardo DiCaprio canon.

In some documents, police have changed names to "Jane Doe." In other reports, The Smoking Gun has redacted the names of underage party animals. And as for those two evidence photos, we had to employ the red bar.

Editor's note: Sure seems like the mother should be up on a morals charge.

Anxious Parents

It's a worrisome trend, according to this dad.

When I was a kid, if it wasn't a school day or a soccer weekend I was off in the woods with my dog or with my neighborhood friends. My family lived on a forested hill on the outskirts of town—exactly the kind of place an adventurous kid would want to grow up. There were creeks to dam, dirt mounds to jump bikes off of, tree forts to build, new and winding trails to explore. In winter, with a foot of new snow to track out, it was even better. I would leave in the morning, after doing chores, and as long as I made it home at the agreed-upon time, or checked in by phone if I ended up at a friend's house, all was good. I was free for the day.

Can you imagine letting your kids roam free today? That is, free all day, unsupervised and without a cell phone or BlackBerry or homing device strapped to their waists? There's something about our world in 2006—the seemingly ever-present threat of shooters, kidnappers, predators, drug dealers, scammers, or natural hazards like ponds and wells—that makes the child-rearing freedoms of yesteryear seem dangerous and anachronistic. And yet somehow, we survived.

My mom and dad were great parents. They were involved in all aspects of my childhood, but when it came to just being a kid, they backed off. They gave me a lot of space to grow and learn and explore and figure things out on my own or with friends, as long as I showed them I could make good decisions and be responsible for my actions.

Of course back in the '70s most people still smoked and seat belts were an abstract concept. Public safety campaigns and liability lawsuits had yet to grip America, and PlayStation/Xbox/Nintendo and the Internet weren't even blips on the short-attention-span horizon. "Disorder" probably meant you got the wrong hamburger at Dairy Queen. One could easily dismiss those days as a "different time." And certainly technology and medical science and communication and safety standards have changed dramatically, but kids are still kids. Their basic needs haven't changed.

I'm just a dad, not a sociologist, but it seems to me that for healthy development, kids need equal doses of responsibility and freedom. Get rid of one and you're asking for trouble. Get rid of both and it's going to be a bumpy ride. And yet that's exactly what I see a lot of parents doing today. They eagerly do all they can to smooth out life's troublesome potholes for their kids, while at the same time micromanaging their every move. As writer Hara Estrof Marano put it, parents try to "engineer a risk-free world for children."

In 2004, Marano wrote an article for Psychology Today called "A Nation of Wimps." Her book by the same title is due out in 2007 (nationofwimps.com). I'm not one to pay much attention to so-called experts, but I think Marano is onto something.

"Cell phones function as an eternal umbilical cord," she said during a recent phone interview, "and it's all so misguided. Kids aren't allowed the freedom that allows them to build their own identities. They can't make their own mistakes, and so they miss out on critical life skills. When something difficult arises, there's mom or dad on the cell phone trying to fix everything."

Parental anxiety is natural, said Marano, but too often horribly misplaced. "Anxious parents turn their kids into projects." And you can dispense with the notion that it's the guilt-ridden working parent who's most at fault. "Often the at-home parent is the one freaking out. A lot of moms and dads, especially in affluent homes, leave the work force to focus on their kids. They apply their professional training to parenting and try to turn their kids into résumés on two legs."

Or worse, into patients. "I think it's appalling how many parents are willing to have their kids labeled 'diseased' because they think it will help them academically," Marano continued. "It all centers around giving their kids more time to take tests, especially the big test—the SAT." She says a lot of parental anxiety involves getting children into college. "When kids do not function well in that narrow academic groove, parents try to give them an edge or have the rules bent for them." She also says kids are often labeled defective so early that they don't fight it; they internalize that something's wrong with them. They see themselves as weak.

Marano has plenty of research and experience to back up her findings. Me? Just my daily observations. You see them at the playground, at the mall, across the backyard fence, at PTA meetings—moms and dads who hover or praise or scold to the point of annoyance or irrelevance. Those parents who are so consumed by their kids' security and self-esteem and academic standing that you wonder if those poor children will ever have a chance to speak out or grow up or just be themselves.

Of course it's our duty to protect our kids and help them succeed. But at what cost? The last thing we should do is project our sometimes irrational anxieties onto them, like the mother who recently told me she wasn't sure if her child was allergic to peanuts but she had the medication for it just in case.

You know, all kids are different, but they're tough. They're built to survive, and sometimes we forget that. We need to step back and remember the world for the beautiful place it is. And let kids be kids.

Let's hear it: Are parents too anxious about their kids these days?

Changing diapers all day is dirty business. So is working from home in a house strewn with kids' toys. MSN.com frequent contributor Kristopher Kaiyala—happily married and the proud father of a 7-year-old girl and 2-year-old boy—tackles the daily joys and challenges of being a full-time at-home dad in a regular column for Men's Lifestyle.
Source: men.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1127694&GT1=8784

What's The Perfect Age To Be A Mother?

I saw them again in the grocery store checkout line: MTV's Teen Moms. The show's about how tough it is to be a teen mother, but two of them smiled at me from the cover of yet another tabloid. They're bona fide celebrities. Over 4 million people watch the show. Is it possible we're missing the old days when younger couples did the parenting and older couples were grandparents?

Women in developed nations are postponing childbearing longer and longer despite the fact that the childbearing imperative is beginning earlier and earlier. So what's the perfect age for women to have children?

In days of old, women had children in their late teens and twenties.

How about starting a few years later, say late twenties or early thirties?

What if you're thinking of waiting? About twenty percent of babies are now born to women over 35, and that number is rising.

There are serious pros and cons at any age. So what should be the deciding factor?

Readiness? No, that can't be it. Any mother knows there's literally nothing you can do to prepare for the real work of it. You just have to be willing to do it.

Being settled? Preposterous. Kids have a way of taking over. Bringing home a newborn means saying goodbye to a well-organized life.

Happiness? Life isn't about being happy all the time. It's about learning, experiencing, giving and receiving and putting our happiness at stake so we can know its real value. Putting adult happiness first is a dangerous precedent for parenthood.

A stable relationship? We're getting closer to an answer here, but parents know that having children has every potential of removing intimacy from a partner relationship so that parenthood itself becomes a couple's primary sense of purpose. It's always been that way and always will be.

Fertility? With everything else equal, this becomes the real issue. I, like many women, was touched to the core by the infertility crisis of Holly Finn, forty-something author of "The Baby Chase." Still unable to conceive, she gives women aged 26 to 34 the arguably countercultural advice to, "Start having babies."

Here are the facts behind that recommendation: In their early twenties, more than 85 percent of women will conceive within a year of trying, and this falls to 51 percent by age 35. Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART), like artificial insemination and IVF, are significantly more effective for younger infertile couples than older ones. The CDC reports that a woman under 35 has at least a 40 percent chance of conceiving with ART and her own eggs. At 40 she has only a 15 percent chance, and that declines to only 1 percent when she's over 44.

Looking at all the pros and cons, it's hard not to agree with Finn -- if you want children, have them when you're younger. You can't postpone fertility, and you can spend a lot of money and emotional reserve playing the odds when you've waited too long.

But in the end, a woman should choose motherhood for the right reasons: the kids themselves. Children (teen moms) shouldn't have children to find a sense of identity, nor should every woman feel her identity ultimately lies in being a mother. If you haven't discovered who you are independent of your significant other or your potential offspring, that's probably important to work out before you have kids. If you want your children to truly know you, you first need to know yourself.
Source: www.huffingtonpost.com/janice-van-dyck/right-age-to-become-a-mom_b_979060.html?icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl20%7Csec3_lnk1%7C101223

Choking Risks for Children

Choking on food and nonfood objects poses a significant safety risk for children. A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention investigated the causes and reasons for choking among children in a large national study of U.S. emergency departments.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/research/choking.html

Stroller Injuries Are Common Among Young Children

Strollers are convenient for parents. How else would you shop at the mall, enjoy an outdoor carnival or fair, or tour the local museum? But strollers aren't risk-free - falls, pinches, and tips from strollers send many children to the emergency department each year.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/research/stroller_injuries.html

Looking for information on a specific infection?

Most childhood illnesses are caused by infection, and KidsHealth has a virtual encyclopedia of them - from chicken pox and fifth disease to flu and pinkeye. Learn how to recognize symptoms and when to call the doctor. Check out KidsHealth's Infections section.
Source:  www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/

How TV Affects Your Child

Television may seem like a good thing: your child can learn the alphabet on public television and you can keep up with current events on the evening news. But how does TV affect your child?
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/tv_affects_child.html

Lumbar Puncture (Spinal Tap)

Is your child scheduled to have a lumbar puncture, also known as a spinal tap? Find out how this test is performed and when you can expect the results.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/sick/lumbar_puncture.html

When Your Baby Has a Birth Defect

If you've just found out that your child has a birth defect, you're probably experiencing a number of emotions. Fortunately, you aren't alone - with a little effort, you'll find that there are lots of people and resources to help you.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/system/ill/baby_has_birth_defect.html

 

CPR

Every parent should know how and when to administer CPR. Our informative article for parents will teach you more about cardiopulmonary resuscitation and your child.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/emergencies/cpr.html

Are Ear Thermometers Accurate?

Ear thermometers allow parents and health care professionals to quickly measure a child's temperature at the external ear. But are infrared ear thermometers, also known as tympanic thermometers, as accurate as other temperature measurement methods for children?
Source: www.kidshealth.org/research/ear_thermometers.html

What Keeps Children From Walking or Biking to School?

Are you tired of driving in the neighborhood carpool or ferrying your child to school because he missed the school bus? Encouraging your child to walk or bike to school is a great way to promote physical activity, but the majority of U.S. children don't.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/research/walking_biking_school.html

Treating Hemangiomas in Infants

Because most hemangiomas are painless and usually disappear within the first few weeks or months of life, many doctors recommend that parents wait and see whether the condition worsens before recommending pulsed-dye laser or other treatments. Researchers from the United Kingdom studied whether the hemangiomas of infants treated with laser treatment went away more quickly than untreated hemangiomas.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/research/hemangiomas.html

Proper dental care begins even before your baby's first tooth appears?

It's never too early to start thinking about your child's oral health, so check out KidsHealth's General Heath section for more information on healthy teeth and gums.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/index.html

Impetigo

Impetigo is a bacterial skin infection that is characterized by blisters that may itch. Find out the facts about impetigo in this article for parents.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/impetigo.html

Playground Safety

Playgrounds and outdoor play equipment can provide your child with fun, fresh air, and exercise, but they can also pose some safety hazards. You can make the playground a place that's entertaining and safe for your children by following some simple safety guidelines.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/outdoor/playground.html

Getting Help: Know the Numbers

The best time to prepare for an emergency is before it happens. Make sure your family knows emergency phone numbers - and make sure your kids know how to place a call for help.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/emergencies/help.html

Girls Need to Learn to Run Like Boys

Study finds doing so cuts risk of ligament injuries.
Source: www.healthscout.com/template.asp?page=newsdetail&ap=408&id=508289

Guiding Your Child Through The Early Years

Guiding Your Child Through The Early Years will lead yo
u through the major stages you and your child will face together. It includes things you need to know about keeping your toddler healthy and happy, from basic care to safety.
Source: www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/30945/30945.html

Keeping Your Toddler Healthy

Guiding Your Child Through The Early Years will lead you through the major stages you and your child will face together. It includes things you need to know about keeping your toddler healthy and happy, from basic care to safety.
Source: www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/30945/30945.html

Preventing Violence in Schools

Violence prevention programs, such as those in place at many schools at high risk for violent crimes, strive to make schools and the surrounding neighborhoods safer for children. Do they work?
Source: www.kidshealth.org/research/violence_prevention.html
 

Breastfeeding and Infant Growth

Some research has indicated that exclusively breastfed 6- to 12-month-old babies are shorter and lighter than formula-fed babies. Canadian researchers studied infants whose mothers participated in a breastfeeding promotion program to investigate possible growth discrepancies between formula-fed and breastfed infants.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/research/prolonged_breastfeeding.html

Kids and Speech Therapy

Many children see a speech therapist, physical therapist, or occupational therapist at home or at school. Want to know more about what these specialists do? Check out KidsHealth's section on Medical Care & the Health Care System.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/system/index.html

Infections That Pets Carry

Caring for animals and pets offers a tremendous learning experience for children. But it's not uncommon for animals and pets to transmit infections to humans, especially children. Read this article for more information about how to protect your child from infections carried by pets and animals.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/pet_infections.html

Childhood Cancer: Osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer. Although many types of cancers spread to other parts of the skeleton, osteosarcoma begins in bones and sometimes spreads elsewhere.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical/cancer/cancer_osteosarcoma.html
 

Severe Combined Immunodeficiency

Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is a primary immune deficiency that can be successfully treated if it's identified early. Otherwise, it's often fatal within the first year.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical/allergies/severe_immunodeficiency.html

Suburbs See Rise In Low Birthweights

More and more low-birthweight babies are being born across the country, and the rate is growing even faster in the suburbs than in the cities.
Source: www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/EMIHC000/333/333/353362.html

Having Intimate Talks With Children Is Part Timing, Part Art

For children, intimacy is as much about connection as it is about content. Bedtime works like magic, but so can car time, when it's just the two of you, or chore time, when you're working at something side by side.
Source: www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/333/8014/349658.html

FDA Warns About Formula Infection

Hospitals should not feed powdered infant formula to most premature or sick newborns because the powder isn't sterilized and could cause a rare but dangerous infection, the government warned.
Source: www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/325/8015/348597.html

New! "KidsHealth Guide for Parents: Pregnancy to Age 5"

Now you can take KidsHealth with you! From the creators of KidsHealth.org comes "KidsHealth Guide for Parents: Pregnancy to Age 5" (Contemporary Books, A Division of the McGraw-Hill Companies). This 800-page book provides practical, understandable, and medically reliable information that anticipates just about every medical concern and situation that parents might face. It includes fast-access reference sections on first aid and emergencies; signs and symptoms, what they mean and when to consult a doctor; and childhood infections. Full of useful tips and advice from real parents. Makes a great gift for new and expecting parents (and grandparents). To learn more or to order, please visit: store.yahoo.com/kidshealth/index.html

5 Year Olds Show Signs of Body Image Problems

It used to be that obsessing over body image belonged mostly to teens and young adults - but now even children as young as 5 and 6 are showing signs of body image problems. What can you do to instill in your child a healthy sense of self? Check out KidsHealth's Emotions & Behavior section for ways to help your child build self-esteem and avoid destructive behaviors.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/index.html

Intestinal Malrotation

Malrotation is a type of obstruction caused by abnormal development of the intestines while a fetus is in the mother's womb. Find out more about this condition and the complications it can cause.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical/digestive/malrotation.html

Physical Therapy

Physical therapists offer treatments for a variety of medical conditions with the goal of improving the quality of life for children and adults. Learn how physical therapy may help your child.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/aches/phys_therapy.html

Mumps

Mumps is a disease caused by a virus that can infect many parts of the body, especially the parotid salivary glands.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/mumps.html

The Truth About Teeth

Did you know that there is much more to that tooth than meets the eye? Our article for kids explains all about teeth and the different parts that make them work.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/body/teeth_noSW.html

What's a Funny Bone?

Have you ever hit the inside of your elbow in just the right spot and felt a tingling or prickly kind of dull pain? If so, then you already know where you funny bone is. Find out more in this article just for kids.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/talk/qa/funny_bone.html

Dental Care Begins Before the First Tooth

Proper dental care begins even before your baby's first tooth appears? It's never too early to start thinking about your child's oral health, so check out KidsHealth's General Heath section for more information on healthy teeth and gums.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/index.html

Fighting the Biting

All children bite at some point in their early years. But are you concerned that your child's biting indicates a larger problem? Read our article for parents to find out more.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/biting.html

When Your Teen Is Having a Baby

Finding out their child is pregnant and planning to have the baby is certainly not what most parents expect, but it happens every day: nearly half a million teenage girls give birth every year. How can you support your child through the changes and challenges that are ahead?
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/teen_pregnancy.html

What's It Like to Have a Cerain Illness?

Want to know what it's like to have a condition from the kids who have it? Then take a look at My Journal, a collection of interactive articles written by kids who have different illnesses and conditions.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/closet/journal.html

What Is Ritalin?

Lots of kids need to take Ritalin because they have ADHD. Read this article to find out more.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/feel_better/things/ritalin.html

The Scoop on Strep Throat

Strep throat is a disease caused by tiny egg-shaped bacteria called Group A streptococci. Strep throat makes your throat hurt and makes it hard to swallow. Find out more in this article for kids.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/ill_injure/sick/strep_throat.html

FDA Suspends Drug-Testing Rule

The Food and Drug Administration is suspending a rule that lets the government require safety testing of adult medicines commonly given to children - from asthma treatments to Prozac.
Source: www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/333/21344/347287.html

Should You Child See a Therapist?

Many children see a speech therapist, physical therapist, or occupational therapist at home or at school. Want to know more about what these specialists do? Check out KidsHealth's section on Medical Care & the Health Care System.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/system/index.html
 

The Danger of Antibiotic Overuse

When you bring your child to the doctor for a cold or flu, do you automatically expect a prescription for antibiotics? If so, read this article to find out why taking antibiotics too often or for the wrong reason may do more harm than good.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/sick/antibiotic_overuse.html

New! "KidsHealth Guide for Parents: Pregnancy to Age 5"

Now you can take KidsHealth with you! From the creators of KidsHealth.org comes "KidsHealth Guide for Parents: Pregnancy to Age 5" (Contemporary Books, A Division of the McGraw-Hill Companies). This 800-page book provides practical, understandable, and medically reliable information that anticipates just about every medical concern and situation that parents might face. It includes fast-access reference sections on first aid and emergencies; signs and symptoms, what they mean and when to consult a doctor; and childhood infections. Full of useful tips and advice from real parents. Makes a great gift for new and expecting parents (and grandparents). To learn more or to order, please visit: store.yahoo.com/kidshealth/index.html

Bumps, bruises, sprains, and strains

Bumps, bruises, sprains, and strains - childhood is full of minor injuries. Which ones can you treat at home and which should be brought to the attention of your child's doctor? Check out KidsHealth's General Health section to find out.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/index.html

Cellulitis

Cellulitis is a spreading skin infection that can affect any area of the body, but it is most common on the face or lower legs. Find out more about this infection by reading this article for parents.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/cellulitis.html
 

Hearing Evaluation in Children

Many parents worry about their child's hearing, especially if he's too young to talk. Usually there's no need for concern, but it's comforting to know that hearing may be evaluated at any age.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/system/medical/hear.html

Tear-Duct Obstruction and Surgery

Blocked tear ducts are a fairly common problem in infants. The earlier they're discovered, the less likely it is that infection will result or surgery will be necessary.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/system/surgical/tear_duct_obstruct_surgery.html
 

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis may not be something you think about much now - unless someone you love has this condition. Wondering what it is? How can you prevent osteoporosis now? Read this article to find out!
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/adults/osteoporosis.html

How Important is it to be Involved in Your Kid's School Life?

Getting involved in your child’s school life is one of the most important things you can do to support your child’s success. By taking an active interest in what goes on in her classroom, you show your child that you value her efforts and her education. For tips on getting involved, check out KidsHealth’s Positive Parenting section.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/positive/index.html

Dwarfism

If your child has been diagnosed with dwarfism, you're probably wondering what lies ahead for her and your family. Read this article to learn more about the condition and living with dwarfism.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical/bones/dwarfism.html

Nosebleeds

A nosebleed can be scary, but it is rarely cause for alarm. Most nosebleeds are caused by blowing, picking, or a blow during play. Learn more about nosebleeds in this article for parents.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/emergencies/nose_bleed.html

Is Your Child Hitting Puberty?

If your child is hitting puberty, it may be a challenging time for both of you. Hormonal changes coupled with physical and emotional growth can bring on a wave of insecurity in your son or daughter and lots of questions about what's "normal." Talking ahead of time about the changes your child can expect can be a big help. To find out how to talk to your child about puberty, check out KidsHealth's Positive Parenting section.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/positive/index.html

Frostbite

Frostbite must be handled carefully to prevent permanent tissue damage. Children are at greater risk because they lose body heat faster than adults do and because they may be reluctant to go indoors.
Source:www.kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/emergencies/frostbite.html

Necrotizing Enterocolitis

A gastrointestinal disease that affects mostly premature infants, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) can be extremely frightening for new parents. Find out more about the treatment of NEC.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical/digestive/nec.html

Is Your Child Being Bullied in School?

Are you concerned about bullying in your child’s school? Although it's impossible to "bully-proof" your child, there are some things you can do to help him through a tough situation. Whether your child is the victim of a bully or the bully himself, check out KidsHealth's Positive Parenting section for tips on how to handle this growing problem in our schools.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/positive/index.html

 

Choosing Safe Baby Products

Choosing products for your baby can be confusing, with all the gadgets available. But there is one consideration that must never be compromised when picking out stuff for your baby: safety.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/home/products.html

Genetic Counseling

Genetic counselors work with people who are either planning to have a baby or are pregnant to determine whether they carry the genes for certain inherited disorders. Find out more about genetic counseling. Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical/genetic/genetic_counseling.html

Folic Acid and Pregnancy

One of the most important things you can do to help prevent serious birth defects in your baby is to get enough folic acid every day - especially before conception and during early pregnancy.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/medical_problems/folic_acid.html

Helicobacter Pylori

H. pylori (Helicobacter pylori) is a bacteria that can cause digestive illnesses, including gastritis and peptic ulcer disease.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/h_pylori.html

What Don't Percentile Charts Mean?

It seems that once a child is born, the word "percentile" automatically becomes part of a parent's vocabulary. From very early on, doctors plot your child's height, weight, and body mass index on percentile charts to see how his growth compares with that of his peers. But what do these charts mean? Even more important, what don't they mean? Find out how to keep these charts in perspective by checking out KidsHealth's General Health section.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/index.html

Auto Safety

More children are injured in auto accidents than in any other type of accident, but you can protect your child by learning the proper use of car seats and booster seats.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/travel/auto.html

 Hepatitis

Hepatitis is an inflammatory process involving the liver. Hepatitis, in its early stages, may cause flu-like symptoms.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/hepatitis.html

My Child Is Shoplifting

Your child does her homework, helps you clear the table after dinner, and even helps with housework. So can it be true that this child was really caught shoplifting?
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/shoplifting.html

Neurofibromatosis

Neurofibromatosis (NF) is a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerve tissue, producing skin and bone abnormalities. Learn more about NF, including its diagnosis and treatment.
Source:www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/aches/nf.html

Separation Anxiety in Toddlers

You've always dropped off your 1-year-old child at day care without a problem - until today. She's anxious and distressed and clinging to you for dear life. It could be separation anxiety, a normal phase of childhood development.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/feelings/separation_anxiety.html

TV Turnoff Week

Studies show that children ages 2-17 watch on average 20 hours of TV per week. Combine this statistic with the recent release of a study conducted by the University of Michigan, which proved a direct correlation between TV watching and an increase in violent behavior, and you'll conclude that many of our nation's youth could be on a road to destruction. Help turn the tide by recognizing TV Turnoff Week 2002, April 22-28, in your home and community. Go to www.tvturnoff.org/index.html for information and ideas on how to turn youth away from TV and on to other healthier activities.

What Boys Think

Researchers at Adelaide's Flinders University decided it was time to ask boys what they think of school and their teachers.

The responses of 1800 boys in grades 9 through12 both support and contradict some of the current theories as to why boys' rates of retention and achievement are declining.

Many boys think school work is boring, irrelevant and a waste of time. They say that teachers don't listen to them or care what they think, and that the system won't prepare them for the world of work. Interestingly very few thought "masculinity" was an issue.

Source: Read the summary of the ABC Radio National interview at www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/lm/stories/s288946.htm
Read the full article in the International Education Journal, December 2000, No.3 iej.cjb.net/

Why Little Boys Need Toy Guns

Parents want toys that make their kids think, but all kids want are talking Barbies and Kens that can kill, according to Ralph Osterhout. Ralph used to design diving equipment for the US Navy Seals and Gulf War night-vision equipment, now he designs toys. In this New Scientist interview he shares his views about why boys play with guns and girls with dolls and what he thinks the toys of the future will look like.
Source: www.newscientist.com/opinion/opinion.jsp?id=ns22915

Parents Shape Body Image, Self-Esteem of Children

These days, it is not unusual for girls as young as age 10 to try to emulate the look of glamorous fashion models and wispy television stars--a trend that may be linked to eating disorders among young children.
Source: www.healthcentral.com/news/newsfulltext.cfm?ID=46779&src=n43

Keep Fit and Have Fun

Exercise may be wise, but sometimes it's hard to get up and get going. Keeping Fit and Having Fun is full of ideas on how to stay focused and healthy.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/index.html

What Is the Apgar Score?

The Apgar score is the very first test given to your newborn, and it occurs right after your baby's birth in the delivery or birthing room.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/medical_care/apgar.html

Scarlet Fever

Scarlet fever is a rash that is caused by strep infections. Learn important facts about scarlet fever in this article for parents, including how to recognize its symptoms.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/scarlet_fever.html

Shaken Baby/Shaken Impact Syndrome

Shaken baby/shaken impact syndrome (SBS) is the leading cause of death in child abuse cases in the United States. The syndrome results from vigorously shaking an infant, which can cause brain damage.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical/brain/shaken.html

Tetanus and be Fatal

Tetanus (also called lockjaw or trismus) is a serious, often fatal disease that affects the muscles and nerves. It occurs when a certain type of bacterial infection grows in a contaminated wound.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/teen/health_problems/infections/tetanus.html

Snoring

Not only does snoring interrupt a good night's sleep - sometimes, it's a sign of a serious problem that should be treated by a doctor. Read this article to find out more about the snore!
Source: www.kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/teeth/snoring.html
 

Talking to the Pharmacist

If your child is sick, you'll probably think of countless questions to ask your child's doctor. But how many times have you made a list of questions and concerns to share with your pharmacist?
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/sick/pharmacist.html

Your Child's Cough

Coughs are one of the most frequent symptoms of childhood illness, and although they can sound awful, they usually aren't a symptom of anything dangerous. Learn about your child's cough and what you can do to help.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/sick/childs_cough.html

Milk Allergy

Almost all infants experience irritability and sleeplessness at times. But if your bottle-fed baby seems excessively fussy much of the time, it could be due to an allergy to cow's milk.
Source: www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical/allergies/milk_allergy.html

Free Curriculum on Daughters

For all you teachers, mentors, parents and home schoolers out there, New Moon has free curriculum and study guides available on our website for each issue of New Moon for Girls. This is a great resource that we are proud to offer. Find them at
Source: www.newmoon.org/what_we_do/curriculum/index.htm

Creating Safe Space: A Collaborative Journey in the Art of Facilitating Young Women's Talking Circles

Have you ever thought how incredible it would be, how healing it would be, to sit in a weekly circle with young women who felt safe to tell the truth about their lives and with whom you, too, could tell the truth about yours?

For the past 10 years, women from the Daughters Sisters Project and other national organizations have been practicing the growing D/S model in compassionate listening and speaking to do just that. The results have been phenomenal for everyone involved. In May, D/S Project is offering two trainings, where young women who have been involved in circle work, as well as adult facilitators, will share the process with women who are interested in starting a circle in their communities. Please contact Linda Wolf for more information at 206-842-3000 or daughtersi@aol.com or www.daughters-sisters.org

Surgeon General Targets Children's Mental Health

US Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher unveiled an action plan aimed to improve services for children and adolescents with mental health problems, which the Clinton administration calls a "health crisis."
Source: www.healthcentral.com/news/newsfulltext.cfm?ID=46584&src=n49

Today's Moms and Dads say They're as Good as Their Parents

Moms and Dads who were asked to compare their parentsing skills with those of their parents said they're going:

About as well as their parents - 48%
Better than their parents - 24%
Much better than their parents - 17%
Not as well as their parents - 8%
Much worse than their parents - 1%
Don't know - 2%

Source: Dr. Benjamin Spock, 1,016 parents, April 19-22, 2001

Babies Who Can't Sleep Alone Risk Sleep Troubles Later

Sleep deprived parents might believe that their infant's regular 3 A.M. request for a story is par for the course of parenthood, but according to preliminary findings this habit may signal future sleep problems.
Source: www.healthcentral.com/news/newsfulltext.cfm?ID=46635&src=n49

Breast Milk Feeding Boosts Preemies' IQ

Low birthweight infants who are breast-fed or given breast milk in a bottle appear to have slightly higher IQs at ages 7 and 8 compared with similar children who are not given breast milk!, a new study suggests.
Source: www.healthcentral.com/news/newsfulltext.cfm?ID=46415&src=n49

Mental Illness can Pass from Parent to Child

The children of parents with panic disorder or major depression are at increased risk of developing the same disorders that afflict their parents--even at a very young age, according to researchers in Boston.
Source: www.healthcentral.com/news/newsfulltext.cfm?ID=46551&src=n49

Opting Out of Vaccinations Bosts Disease Risk

Children whose parents opt not to vaccinate them against measles or whooping cough are much more likely to contract the illnesses compared to children who are vaccinated, according to a new study.
Source: www.healthcentral.com/news/newsfulltext.cfm?ID=46375&src=n49

*    *    *
Where parents do too much for their children, the children will not do much for themselves. - Elbert Hubbard

"To honor thy parents means they have to be honorable." ---Author Unknown

 
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