Is your child gone off to college? When your kids move out of the house, it can be a fun, but difficult time. You worry about them. You want to make sure they are eating right, and that they are...
Continue reading "Tips for Stocking Your Child's College Dorm"
Results tagged “Parent” from Surf Net Parents
When stocking your child's dorm room, ask yourself the following questions: Does your child already have the basics? If you answer no, then when stocking your child's dorm room, getting them things like dishes, shower towels, food, etc. are a...
Continue reading "Need to Know: Stocking Your Child's Dorm Room"
As a parent it is sometimes hard to distinguish between when you ought to butt in and help your child, or stay out of it, and let them handle the problems by themselves. Parents tend to hover, and are ever...
Continue reading "How to Know When to Butt In or Stay Out of Your Teen's Behavior"
So your child is doing things you are not that happy about, or having problems that they complain about. When do you butt in, and when do you stay out of it? The question is often a difficult one, but...
Continue reading "Knowing When to Stay Out of Your Teenager's Decisions"
Part of raising independent kids, and kids that are self sufficient is letting them fight their own battles, make their own choices, and solve their own problems. However, sometimes it is your responsibility as a parent to butt in. The...
Continue reading "Need to Know: When to Butt In and When to Stay Out of Your Teen's Life"
People tend to hear mixed messages about whether or not they should get their children vaccinated. Parents may hear from some sources that it is the best thing to do to keep their children healthy. From other sources they may...
Continue reading "The Myths and Facts of Childhood Vaccines"
Bedtime can be a struggle for every parent and child regardless of age. Establishing and maintaining good sleep habits for children when they're young can help prevent future sleep problems. Unfortunately there's no magic trick to making bedtime easier. There...
Continue reading ""Can I Have a Drink of Water?" Making Bedtime Easy"
Each parent has their own way of parenting, and this is referred to as a parenting style. There are a few different approaches to parenting, and the one we are going to discuss is the authoritarian approach to parenting. As...
Continue reading ""Because I Said So, That's Why!": Authoritarian Parenting Style"
Just about everyone uses the Internet each day. Some people use it to keep in touch with people all over the world, some people use it for work, and some people use it for play. People can find just about...
Continue reading "Why You Should Be Talking to Your Child About Online Safety"
Being a parent is difficult, but the question arises, is it more difficult to be a parent to a girl, or to a boy? Most would say that it depends. The following is a look at why a girl is...
Continue reading "Raising Girls"
People who have boys swear boys are harder to raise. People with girls swear girls are. The following are a few simple reasons why despite the arguments, girls are clearly more difficult to raise. Self-image. Girls struggle with self image...
Continue reading "Why Girls Are Harder to Raise"
Despite claims to the opposite, many parents would say that girls are harder to bring up than boys. The following are a few of the reasons that girls are harder to raise. Girls are natural people pleasers, it is part...
Continue reading "Why A Girl is Harder to Raise"
The age-old question of who is harder to raise, boys or girls, is not an easy answer. It depends very much on the person raising the child, the child's personality, and of course who you talk to. There are however...
Continue reading "Why A Boy is Harder to Raise"
Despite the debate of who is harder to raise, boys are! Boys are harder to raise for any number of reasons. The following are the top reasons that a boy is harder to raise: Communication skills are often lacking. With...
Continue reading "Why Boys are Harder to Raise"
The following is a look at what to do when you don't like your kid's friends: Recognize that forbidding friends can backfire on you: Kids have a tendency to do exactly the opposite of what you want them to do....
Continue reading "You Can't Pick Your Child's Friends, Or Can You?"
What you can do if you do not like your kid's friends? Many parents face the dilemma of a child choosing friends unwisely. So, here is how to handle it: 1. Never make a big deal out of it. Usually...
Continue reading "When Your Child's Friend is A Bad Egg"
If you find yourself in the position as a parent of not liking your child's friends, it can be difficult to know what you should do. As a parent, it is your prerogative to not like your kid's friends, but...
Continue reading "Your Child's Friends and You"
When your child is a wacky dresser your emotions are likely to run the gamut from embarrassment to frustration. The following are a few of the emotions you may feel followed by some advice on how to handle your wacky...
Continue reading "Stripes with Checks: What to Do When Your Child Is A Wacky Dresser"
The following are some simple hints for how you can say goodbye to mommy guilt and embrace the good mother in you. Do the math: Many mom's feel guilt when they spend time on themselves, rather than on their kids....
Continue reading "Mommy Guilt: Say Goodbye to Guilt and Hello to Happiness"
Does your child wear bright colors and stripes with checks or polka dots? Does your child add funny accessories to every outfit they put on? Does your child's appearance often garner some stares or at least interest? Most parents will...
Continue reading "So Your Child Is A Wacky Dresser - Should You Be Concerned?"
Are you feeling that awful feeling often referred to as mommy guilt? You know, that feeling when you are dragging yourself down because you snapped at your kids, didn't have the energy to have sex with your husband or had...
Continue reading "Say Goodbye To Mommy Guilt"
Tips for saying goodbye to mommy guilt: 1. Take care of you and see the results in your children. It is like a mathematical equation You + time for yourself = Happier you Happier you + your kids = Happier...
Continue reading "Mommy Guilt - Saying Goodbye to Guilt Forever"
Every kid has their own sense of style and sometimes that style just doesn't jive well with what you, as their parent, would like them to wear. This can be especially difficult if your child is a wacky dresser. However,...
Continue reading "Your Wacky Dresser: Tips for Coping with Your Child's Unique Style"
1. Have fun with your kids If you want to enjoy being a mom, then do stuff that is fun. You are not going to enjoy being a mom if you only do stuff that is lame all of the...
Continue reading "Ten More Ways to Enjoy Being A Mom"
1. Take time for you. You can enjoy being a mom by enjoying being a person. You can take time for you by doing whatever it is that makes you happy. Finding happiness outside of being a mom, and taking...
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Being a great parent is something many people aspire to. The following are five tips for how you can be a great parent. Tip one: Learn to listen. Good parents listen to their children. Whether your child is five or...
Continue reading "Five Steps to Great Parenting"
How can you be a great parent? The following are five ways to be a great parent: 1. Love your kids. The first thing you have to do to be a great parent is love your children unconditionally. This means...
Continue reading "Five Tips For Great Parenting"
The following are five ways to be a great parent: Number one: Respect your kids. Great parents have a great relationship with their kids generally. While this is not always the case, it is always true that good parents respect...
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Being a good parent is fine, being a great parent is something to aspire to. The following is a look at how you can be a great parent. First, set some rules or boundaries with set consequences. Great parents do...
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1. Simplify. It is easy as a parent to put too much on your plate. If you want to enjoy being a mom, then it is time to cut back some. Let each child be involved in one or two...
Continue reading "Ten Easy Ways to Be A Joyful Mom"
Your tween probably has a lot to say, and can talk and talk. They will talk to you, to their friends, etc. They will use the phone, the Internet, texting, email, instant messaging, and more to communicate. Sometimes this communication...
Continue reading "Keeping Your Tween's Talk Positive"
1. A is for Answer One of the things that annoy parents is when their children ask a million questions. If you do not want it to be two million, then answer their questions right away. You will find your...
Continue reading "Joyful Mom's ABCs"
Gossip can be hurtful, and is not something parents want their child to perpetuate. So, what can you do as a parent to keep your tween's chatter from turning into gossip? One, set a rule against it. If you do...
Continue reading "Chatter or Gossip: Your Child's Conversations"
1. A is for Answer One of the things that annoy parents is when their children ask a million questions. If you do not want it to be two million, then answer their questions right away. You will find your...
Continue reading "Mom's Enjoyment ABCs"
If you want to keep your tween's chatter from turning to gossip there are a few things you can do: First, be the best example you can. From childhood, kids mimic what they see from their parents. When they are...
Continue reading "Keeping Your Tween's Chatter from Turning into Gossip"
Giving your daughter the sex talk can be one of the most nerve-wracking things you do as a parent. You have to make sure she understands it, you have to make sure she isn't totally grossed out, you have to...
Continue reading "Talking to Your Daughter About Sex"
Setting rules as a parent can be extremely hard. You don't want your daughter to do certain things, but then you don't want her to hate you either. It is a fine line between too controlling and fair. To help...
Continue reading "How to Set Rules for Your Children"
Parenting is hard. Parenting a teenager is even harder. They are at a time in their life when everything is changing and when everything seems strange and new. Being a parent through all of that takes patience, courage, and understanding....
Continue reading "How to Parent Teenage Girls"
Being a parent is probably one of the hardest things you will ever do. It demands time and effort. It is the center of your life. Being a good parent is even harder. It demands more than just time and...
Continue reading "How to Parent Little Boys"
Self esteem is something that girls always have issues with. Girls usually are more concerned about it than boys, because of all the peer pressure and the pressure the world puts on girls. As a parent, there are many things...
Continue reading "Helping Your Daughter Have Self Esteem"
Growing up is a part of life. You constantly are growing and getting older. When you are a parent, it is your job to guide and give advice to your daughter. She needs it. But you also need some advice...
Continue reading "Dealing with Growing Up Issues Specific to Girls"
Parent involvement in the education system, more specifically in your own child's education is extremely important. Not only does it show the teacher that you are willing to help and do what it takes to help your child succeed, it...
Continue reading "Why You Need to Know How Your Child Is Doing in School"
As an educator I would have to say that parent involvement is extremely important. I have seen children's lives literally changed when a parent decides to get involved more in their child's life. Academically their grades and attention improve as...
Continue reading "Why Parent Involvement is Crucial to Proper Child Growth"
If you don't have kids yet you may not know the importance of parent involvement. Parents can provide other opportunities for their children to grow and learn by getting involved in their lives; socially and educationally. Parents have a responsibility...
Continue reading "Tips for Improved Parent Involvement"
In a fast and busy world it is getting more and more difficult to spend any time, let along quality time with our children. And education seems to be taking the biggest hit because of it. With fewer parents involved...
Continue reading "The Importance of Parent Involvement"
Although most of us believe that parent involvement is a good thing, we too understand that too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. Yes, when you look at the role in which parents play when it...
Continue reading "Pros and Cons of Parent Involvement"
It seems that with busy schedules, responsibilities, and work that parents are finding less time to spend with their children. And what's even worse than that, is that they may not even know what their children are doing or where...
Continue reading "Parent Involvement in Your Child's Social Life"
Everyone would agree that parent involvement in sports is a good thing if parents behave appropriately and professionally. Unfortunately there are a few parents out there that take parent involvement far past the word "involved" and can create poor environments...
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There is increasing concern among parents today about the quality of education being given to their children. Each state is participating in different things to monitor and maintain standards within their local schools. The education system can only do so...
Continue reading "Parent Involvement in School"
It isn't unusual these days to walk into someone's home and find loads of media equipment in every room of the house. And it's even less unusual to find them in children's bedrooms. Children are spending several hours each day...
Continue reading "Parent Involvement in Media Choices"
Extra-curricular activities such as sports, drama, music, dance, and other clubs are an important part of the education system and a child's experience in the school system. And while parent involvement in education is extremely important, parent involvement in extra-curricular...
Continue reading "Parent Involvement in Extra-Curricular Activities"
Dorothy Rich, author of Mega Skills once said, "In this complex world, it takes more than a good school to educate children. And it takes more than a good home. It takes these two major educational institutions working together." Parent...
Continue reading "Parent Involvement in Education"
As children become more independent they begin to form relationships with friends, siblings, and other adults. Parent involvement in children's relationships is extremely important so children can model and learn appropriate and healthy relationships. Let's talk a little more about...
Continue reading "Parent Involvement in Children's Relationships"
There are different levels of appropriate parent involvement with children of different ages. Parent involvement is important to all stages of childhood development, but as children begin to get older, more responsible, and search for their own identity it becomes...
Continue reading "Levels of Appropriate Parent Involvement"
There aren't many parents who don't want a few extra hours during the day to be more involved in their child's life, and most will tell you that being involved has great benefits to the parent and the child. And...
Continue reading "How to Be Involved As A Parent: Even If Your Child Doesn't Want It"
Being an active and involved parent with your child can take a lot of time, effort, and energy. Statistics have proven that with the right parent involvement, students' academic achievements have improved, self esteem increases, and motivation to do better...
Continue reading "How Parent Involvement Affects Children"
Parent involvement is important in every aspect of a child's life, especially when it comes to education. It can increase motivation levels and keep kids on the right track. However, there are instances where parents have taken their role and...
Continue reading "How Much Involvement is Too Much?"
Every parent faces challenges in their parenthood. Whether it is a difficult toddler, or a rebellious teenager. We all doubt out abilities and wonder why this precious child was entrusted to our care. We were probably not as ready to...
Continue reading "Being A Better Parent"
Many books have been written on the topic of minimizing sibling rivalries. Therefore many different opinions and suggestions exist. It is impossible to give a text book response to exactly what the parent is responsible for controlling when it comes...
Continue reading "Parents' Role Regarding Sibling Rivalry"
Of course you want to keep the peace in your house by curbing sibling rivalries. The only problem is that you either may not know how to do this or you may have run out of patience. The truth of...
Continue reading "Curb Sibling Rivalry and Keep the Peace at Home"
Introduction At some point everyone has an argument with their sibling. Sometimes these rivalries are tame and other times they can be quite serious. If you are a parent of more than one child chances are that you have witnessed...
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The highlight for many teens is their sixteenth birthday when they finally get their driver’s license, borrow mom and dad’s keys and hit the road with their friends. Driving provides teens with much more than a mode of transportation, driving...
Continue reading "Tips for Teaching Your Teen Safe Driving"
When shopping with little ones there are a few things that, if you remember, will make your experience a lot less stressful. Here are just a few such tips for shopping with little ones: Children have limits Children are not...
Continue reading "Tips for Shopping with Little Ones"
You would not let your child venture out late at night without first giving them some precautions that would keep them safe. Likewise you would not send your child to work at a machinery shop without first teaching them how...
Continue reading "Safe Driving Rules For Your Teen"
Shopping with kids can add hours to your day and wrinkles to your face. If you have children, you know that taking them out without the help of another adult is challenging. Even when there are multiple adults present children...
Continue reading "Shopping Sanity: How to Shop With Little Helpers"
Sometimes keeping your teen safe when they are driving means taking matters into your own hands. Most states require by law that certain training be accomplished before a teenagers is granted the privilege to drive a car. Depending on where...
Continue reading "Keeping Your Teen Safe When They Are Driving"
Teens are better able to understand more of the finer points of fire safety than are their younger siblings. Teens are also better able to retain and bring to memory more of the details of fire safety. For these and...
Continue reading "Teaching Teens Fire Safety"
Introduction Teens learn driving safety rules in school and at home, but often times it becomes more of a challenge to enforce these safe driving rules with your teens once they are actually allowed to get on the road. Preparation...
Continue reading "How to Enforce Safe Driving With Your Teen"
Teenagers are not gifted with the ability to drive perfectly once they turn sixteen, yet they often feel like they are able to drive just as well as everyone else on the road. This mentality of teenage indestructibility is just...
Continue reading "Helping Your Teen Be A Safer Driver"
Teens are excited to get their licenses and to explore their newfound freedoms of being able to drive themselves wherever they please. Teens often overlook the dangers associated with driving, underestimating the possibility for harm and the power of a...
Continue reading "Causes of Unsafe Teen Driving"
Parental involvement in the teaching of safe driving techniques is vital. Statistically, teens who have parents who are involved in their driver’s education to the point where they are establishing house rules of their own in addition to the state...
Continue reading "Best Practices for Parents to Help Teens Drive Safe"
In school kids are taught what to do and where to go if there is a fire in the school building. Fire drills are held regularly and your child probably does well and follows instructions for safe evacuation during these...
Continue reading "Keeping Your Kids Safe in the Event of Fire"
Introduction Fire safety basics are often left up to the school system to teach. And while the school system may do a fine job at teaching the basics of fire safety they cannot teach each and every child about the...
Continue reading "Help Your Kids and Teens Understand Fire Safety Basics"
Fires are devastating. No one wants to ever have the experience of being involved in a house fire, yet no one is immune to the possibility of this happening. That is why it is so imperative that all of us...
Continue reading "Fire Safety for Kids and Teens"
In today’s busy world it is hard to know what kind of schedule is most appropriate for your children. For parents the daily schedule can become easily overwhelming. The pressure to juggle work, relationships, chores, and kids schedules has a...
Continue reading "Your Child Needs A Break: How to Ensure They're Not Too Busy"
Where on the one hand we see that many children spend countless hours watching TV or playing video games, there is a different sort of problem regarding how children spend their time that is less apparent. This problem is that...
Continue reading "Is Your Child Too Busy?"
Introduction Most times we hear talk about how children have too much free time on their hands. Or that the free time that our children have is spent poorly. Many people focus on trying to find solutions for kids who...
Continue reading "Make Sure Your Child Is Not Too Busy"
Introduction In today’s world of video games and gadgets it is easy for our children to waste many valuable hours doing activities that we as parents may not believe to be the best use of time. So instead we encourage...
Continue reading "How to Determine If Your Child is Too Busy"
It is hard to know exactly what your child needs to become a well-rounded adult. Opinions differ when it comes to how we should raise our children, what kind of exposure is good for them and even the level of...
Continue reading "How Much Activity is Too Much For A Child?"
When you send your child off to school for the first time there are a lot of things that go through your head. You are probably worried about whether or not your child will make friends easily or if they...
Continue reading "Need to Know: Backpack Safety"
Being a parent is no easy task. Parents encounter many situations that are difficult to handle. In many cases a parent can be unsure about how they handled a certain situation or if they have raised their children right. One...
Continue reading "Your Role As Parent Includes "Teacher""
Your role as a parent in helping your teen to deal with peer pressure is very important. As the parent, you are the base support for your teen to turn to when faced with all the different types of peer...
Continue reading "Arming Your Teen Against Negative Peer Pressure"
Children today are bombarded with images of what beautiful people are supposed to look like. Just as adults are infatuated with Hollywood and the celebrity of having a nice body, children are not immune to the effects of how we...
Continue reading "Your Child's Weight Loss the Emotionally Healthy Way"
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