Childhood memories of climbing trees, squelching through mud, and carrying out fantastical role-playing games with neighborhood children are memories that many adults treasure from their youth. These adults may not realize that, for a large portion of today’s children, these experiences are nearing extinction. Many parents are aware of the national lack of active play […]
It’s an American tradition to make resolutions for the new year. But sometimes these resolutions are so lofty, people don’t keep up with them. This year, keep it simple. Instead of making a whole list of complicated goals for the year that are way too specific, make some general decisions that apply to the whole […]
Some of my favorite memories growing up are from family game nights. My oldest sister would be making cool creations with the game pieces, my dad would be trying his best to win, and the rest of us would gang up against my dad. There was always plenty of laughter, joking, and all-around fun. While […]
Checking blood sugar, counting carbs, injecting shots of insulin — all this and more are just another part of living with diabetes. And it’s not just a few people who have to constantly worry about keeping their blood sugar levels just right. In fact, over 30 million people in the US have diabetes, or about […]
Research shows that teens are now more stressed than adults and are overdosing on drugs and committing suicide at higher rates. In Part 1: How American Teens are Hurting Themselves, we saw from a pediatrician’s perspective how stressed and depressed teens are abusing drugs and alcohol, committing suicide and even finding new ways–like extreme “fad” diets […]
Play has developmental value Research has repeatedly shown that play has numerous developmental benefits for children. Children “practice” the concepts they learn through their play. It is delightful to see children focus on a block or science activity for hours as they learn about how things work. Other reasons for play include: Children learn math […]
Are family meals worth it? For as long as I can remember, my family had dinner together. Whether mom made dinner or we had take-out, we ate together. I just assumed it would always be like that. Then after getting married my husband and I found out it’s a lot harder than it seemed. At […]
Finding a way to keep children entertained during the holidays can be tough. We might want children to watch television so we can get to cooking or get other things done around the house. However, instead of keeping kids up in front of the television we can plan activities for the children. Some ways to […]
Holiday’s can be stressful for stepfamilies, especially since children may have to go with an ex or ex spouse for the holidays. Some tips found online include: Plan early where the children will go for the holidays. Don’t make promises in the family you can’t keep. Be realistic with plans. Create new holiday traditions. Also […]
Aristotle described the good life as being characterized by the habit of virtuous action. Today there is too much focus on feeling good. We choose activities and purchase things that make us feel good. This isn’t what makes us happy though. With the rise of materialism in society, there has also been a rise of […]
