Category: Parents Corner

Kids bully for a variety of reasons. Sometimes they pick on kids because they need a victim — someone who seems emotionally or physically weaker, or just acts or appears

Kids deal with stress in both healthy and unhealthy ways. And while they may not initiate a conversation about what’s bothering them, they do want their parents to reach out

-Help your child learn to do things -When teaching kids how to do things, show and help them at first -Avoid over-praising -Praise effort rather than fixed qualities -Be a

Self-esteem is the result of experiences that help a child feel capable, effective, and accepted • When kids learn to do things for themselves and feel proud of what they

When children feel good about themselves, it sets them up for success — in everything from school to friendships.
Positive feelings like self

-feel self-critical and are hard on themselves -feel insecure, or not as good as other kids -focus on the times they fail rather than the times they succeed -lack confidence

• feel valued and accepted • feel confident that they can do what’s expected • feel proud of a job well done • think good things about themselves • feel

• becoming clingy, impulsive, or distracted • nervous movements, such as temporary twitches • problems getting to sleep and/or staying asleep longer than usual • sweaty hands • accelerated heart

• Babies experience stranger anxiety, clinging to parents when confronted by people they don’t recognize. • Toddlers around 10 to 18 months old experience separation anxiety, becoming emotionally distressed when

-Talk about it. -Remove the bait -Buddy up for safety -Keep calm and carry on -Don’t try to fight the battle yourself

All kids get fevers, and in most cases they’re completely back to normal within a few days. For older babies and kids, the way they act can be more important

-crying that won’t stop -extreme irritability or fussiness -sluggishness and trouble waking up -a rash or purple spots that look like bruises on the skin (that were not there before

The exact temperature that should trigger a call to the doctor depends on a child’s age, the illness, and whether there are other symptoms with the fever. Call your doctor

-is still interested in playing -is eating and drinking well -is alert and smiling at you -has a normal skin color -looks well when his or her temperature comes down

It’s important to remember that fever by itself is not an illness — it’s usually a symptom of another problem. -Infection -Overdressing -Immunizations

All kids get a fever from time to time. A fever itself causes no harm and can actually be a good thing — it’s often the body’s way of fighting

Sleepwalking is far more common in kids than in adults, as most sleepwalkers outgrow it by the early teen years. It may run in families, so if you or your

Most preschoolers do still need naps during the day. They tend to be very active — running around, playing, going to school, and exploring their surroundings — so it’s a

A bedtime routine is a great way to help your preschooler get enough sleep. Here are a few things to keep in mind when creating one: -Include a winding-down period

-Walk like a penguin, hop like a frog, or imitate other animals’ movements. -Sit facing each other and hold hands. Rock back and forth and sing the song “Row, row,

Family meals are a comforting ritual for both parents and kids. Children like the predictability of family meals and parents get a chance to catch up with their kids. Kids

One important message here is that your preschooler is clearly keeping an eye on how you spend your time, so set a good example by exercising regularly. Your child will

So what should parents and caregivers do? You probably already know what will motivate this age group best: fun. To keep active time fun, know what activities are best for

Preschoolers can be unstoppable — running, spinning, leaping, and climbing at every opportunity. Their desire to move, move, move makes this a great time to encourage fitness habits that will

-Keep healthy snacks in your refrigerator or pantry. Let kids choose their own snacks from among a couple of nutritious options. -Offer a variety of snacks, not just the ones

Toddlers should have 7 milligrams of iron each day. After 12 months of age, they’re at risk for iron deficiency because they no longer drink iron-fortified formula and may not

Toddlers need to eat healthy to get the nutrients their growing bodies need. Candy, potato chips, and other low-nutrient “junk foods” shouldn’t be part of their diet because they can

Kids should start finger feeding around 9 months of age and try using utensils by 15-18 months. Provide many opportunities for this, but make sure your toddler eats enough so

Most parents have bribed their child by promising some tasty treat, but this isn’t a good strategy. Using sweets as a bribe creates the impression that they’re more valuable or

Juice — even 100% fruit juice — contains about the same amount of calories as soda. And juice drinks have excessive amounts of added sugar. Letting kids carry around a

Kids do better with a routine, so try to serve snacks and meals at about the same time every day. That way your child will know what to expect. Feeling

For children 12-36 months old, current National Association for Sports and Physical Education (NASPE) guidelines recommend this much daily activity: • at least 30 minutes of structured physical activity (adult-led)

-walks independently -pulls/carries toys while walking -stoops and gets back up -begins to run -kicks a ball -holds railing going up/down stairs -walks backward -balances 1 to 2 seconds on

It might look like just child’s play, but toddlers are hard at work learning important physical skills as they gain muscle control, balance, and coordination. Each new skill lets them

Between the ages of 1 and 2, most kids need about 12-14 hours of sleep a day, including one or two daytime naps. At around 18 months, or sometimes sooner,