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32 Fun and Frugal Activities to Do With Your Preschooler This Fall (With Videos)
Pumpkins appear at the stores, leaves fall to the ground, apple turnovers get baked in the oven...fall provides new sights, sounds, and smells to thrill preschoolers. Whether it’s going to a corn maze, making pumpkin play-dough, or learning to measure with candy corn, it’s time to create memories!
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50 Baby Names Inspired by Children's Picture Books and Chapter Books
When choosing a baby moniker, picture books and chapter books are ideal sources of inspiration. Hearing the name of a beloved character can bring us instant joy. Moreover, searching for a name in literature offers the ideal opportunity to curate a home library for the family's new addition.
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90 Baby Names Inspired by Movie Musicals
Classic movie musicals are rich sources of inspiration for baby names. Films such as "My Fair Lady" and "Guys and Dolls" have stood the test of time and brought joy to generations. As such, naming a baby after a character or actor from a musical is a plucky act of optimism and faith in the future.
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Beyond Daisy and Lily: 51 Garden-Inspired Names for Baby Girls
When choosing a name for a girl, there's no better source of inspiration than a garden. Sweet, feminine monikers such as Violet, Lily, and Rose have long been favorites among parents. However, other flowers, shrubs, and trees offer out-of-the-box options that represent determination and resiliency.
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10 Ideas to Calm a Preschooler During Stressful Times (Includes Videos)
A long-time preschool teacher details 10 fun, relaxing, and developmentally appropriate activities to do with a young child during stressful times. Not only do they build a comforting routine, making a youngster feel safe when tensions are high, they help the parent and child decompress together.
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How South Dakota Is Pushing Back Against Inclusivity, the LGBTQ Community, and the Nonreligious
South Dakota passed a law that required "In God We Trust" be emblazoned in all public school buildings. The state was aided in its effort by a Christian Right group that seeks to bring prayer to the public square while marginalizing those who are nonreligious as well as those in the LGBTQ community.
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5 Reasons Why Parental Verbal Abuse Is More Damaging Than We Think
Most of us experienced some degree of name-calling when we were kids, from siblings and classmates. But what happens to a person's psyche when those hurtful words came from their own parent? New research reveals that verbal abuse can be just as damaging as other forms of mistreatment.
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What Germany, Japan, and Finland Can Teach Us About Improving Kindergarten in the US
In our nation, we're now experiencing the perilous impact of less play at kindergarten. Kids in the US are battling depression, anxiety, narcissism, and suicide at alarming rates. By looking at Germany, Japan, and Finland, though, we can find inspiration to reboot and restore joy to our classrooms.
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How to Avoid Common Mistakes That Fatherless Daughters Make
Daughters who grew up with absent fathers (due to death, divorce, or emotional neglect) can fall into the trap of ignoring their anger, acting invulnerable, and blaming themselves. These three critical missteps can keep them stuck in a state of victimhood, closed off from giving and receiving love.
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5 Reasons Why Kindergarten Today Is Unkind to Kids
Our country's obsession with an "earlier is better" philosophy is cruel to children in kindergarten. A teacher points out how homogeneous reading groups, too many standards and assessments, and the elimination of imaginative play are evidence of this.
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How a Fatherless Daughter Can Heal From Her Dad's Rejection
Whether her dad was physically or emotionally absent, a girl can get stuck in grief and self-pity because of it. As an adult, she doesn't want his rejection to lessen her joy and limit her potential. The author gives 5 pieces of advice so fatherless daughters can move on and enjoy purposeful lives.
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How to Spot a Bad Preschool: 10 Warning Signs Parents Must Know
When choosing a preschool, some parents get seduced by the very things that they should avoid: an academic focus, computer learning, teacher-directed lessons and paper-pencil work. A longtime educator explains why these indicate poor quality and an ignorance of developmentally appropriate practices.
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Why a Father Should Choose His Son's Preschool, Not His Mother
A long-time early childhood educator explains why dads should choose a preschool for their sons, not their moms. She argues that boys need a male advocate as they enter this female-ruled world where they can be labeled as “hyperactive” and “immature” just for being boys and get turned off to school.
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50 Child-Centered Activities to Do With Your Preschooler This Summer
Over-programming their youngsters with structured activities during the summer (camps, sports teams, music lessons, and dance classes) has become common practice among parents. Yet, research now suggests that kids should spend more time in child-centered pursuits and less time in adult-led ones.
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Does Your Child's Preschool Shun the the Latest Findings in Early Learning?
Early childhood education is in a harrowing state as preschools adopt practices contrary to the latest research in brain development. Even though studies show that exploring, socializing, and playing are best for building literacy, they're decreasing while teacher-directed lessons are increasing.
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How to Find the Right Preschool for Your Introverted Child
One-third to one-half of all youngsters are introverts, but there's little recognition of that fact at most preschools today. Kids are crammed into noisy classrooms where they're expected to constantly interact with their peers and teachers. No downtime causes introverts to feel drained and unhappy.
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Picking a Preschool for Your Child: What to Look for and What to Avoid
When looking at preschools, parents should realize how far early childhood education has strayed from its original focus. Over the last 20 years, it's been narrowed to one goal: getting kids academically prepared for kindergarten. As a result, children are now less creative, curious, and empowered.
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What's Wrong With Your Child's Middle School? Things That Should Alarm Parents and Cause Them to Take Action
When the author (a teacher) began volunteering at her son's middle school, she was shocked by the lack of academic rigor. There were few classes offered for students who needed to be challenged. Technology and engineering were not taught, and kids spend large chunks of time on their cell phones.
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8 Ways That Parents Irritate Their Child's Preschool Teacher
A longtime educator details the things that moms and dads do that drive preschool teachers insane. From sending their kids to class in fancy duds to expecting special treatment for their precious tykes, these parents' actions exacerbate the sky-high turnover rate in early childhood education.
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Is Your Child's Creativity Stifled at Preschool? A Teacher Says "Probably!"
If we want preschoolers to express themselves through art and feel empowered while doing so, we're going about it all wrong. Open-ended art activities (painting, drawing, and sculpting) have been replaced by teacher-directed craft projects, much to the detriment of young children's imaginations.
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How to Discipline Your Child Without Spankings, Time-Outs, & Groundings
Not only are spankings, time-outs, and groundings ineffective forms of discipline, they damage the parent-child bond. Moreover, they have the potential to cause long-term psychological damage to youngsters. A teacher explains how to discipline kids while simultaneously promoting their well-being.
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How to Comfort Your Child After a School Shooting
After a school shooting or other tragedy, our children need our support and comfort. They need to open up to us about their fears and look to us for reassurance that they'll be safe.
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5 Things Parents Say to Daughters That Can Turn Them Into Victims
Girls today face radically different futures than those who came before them. Some will be the sole support of their families and confront challenging, competitive work environments. The messages we once gave them—be nice, smile, be happy—don’t serve them well and can even turn them into victims.
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How a Passive Aggressive Parent Can Negatively Impact Your Life
If you grew up with a passive aggressive parent, you may have been affected in many profound, long-lasting ways. Today, you may struggle in 3 key areas: communicating directly, trusting others, and expressing anger.
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20 Ways for Women With Emotionally Absent Moms to Mother Themselves
Sadly, some women who grew up with emotionally absent mothers don't appreciate its negative impact on their lives today. They may struggle to know themselves, find purpose, and build trusting relationships.They can begin to heal, though, by focusing on their inner world that has long been neglected.
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6 Things You Shouldn't Say to Parents of a Gay Child
When my teenage son came out, family and friends seemed fine with it at first. As time passed, though, their polite acceptance devolved into the same old annoying questions and comments.
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10 Ways to Be an Influential Grandparent for Your Grandchild
Having grown up with uninvolved grandparents, the author wishes that she could have experienced that one-of-a-kind bond. She urges older folks to embrace the role that they can play in their grandchild's life. After all, they have the time, patience, and experience that many busy parents don't.
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Celebrate Valentine's Day With Advice From 10 Celebrity Couples
Celebrity marriages come and go so it's impressive when a famous husband and wife make theirs last. From Beyoncé and Jay-Z to Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka to Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock, find out the secrets to their lasting and loving relationships.
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Stop Saying That! 12 Words and Phrases You Use That Drive People Nuts
If you start every sentence with "look," offer to "educate" someone, describe anything and everything as "amazing," and use "literally" when you mean "figuratively," you're getting under people's skin, but they're too polite to mention it. Find out what ubiquitous words are most annoying and why.
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How to Become a Happy, Healthy Adult After Being Parentified as a Child
If you switched roles with your mom or dad as a kid, becoming their emotional support system or physical caretaker, you were parentified. Having missed out on a carefree childhood, you may be depressed, isolated, and angry now as an adult. By grieving what you lost, though, you can begin to heal.
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How to Lose Weight by Loving Yourself, Not Stuffing Yourself
If you're constantly battling your weight and obsessing about food, the solution involves something other than dieting and exercising. It takes loving yourself and embracing life, not hiding from it.
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The 5 Common Parenting Mistakes You Should Definitely Avoid Making
All moms and dads will inevitably make mistakes during the long parenting journey. However, some missteps are more calamitous than others. Whether it’s putting their children before their marriage, sheltering them from failure, or parenting them from ego, these blunders can cause long-term damage.
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How to Build Female Friendships When You Grew Up With a Detached Mom
It’s not surprising some daughters of emotionally absent mothers struggle to trust other women. Their moms didn't nurture their inner lives and neglected their emotions. They may now find it hard to open up and be vulnerable. Yet, that's exactly what they need to do in order to build friendships.
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The 5 Best Pieces of Advice for Parents to Give Their Kids (Supported by Research)
Not everything that our parents told us when we were kids has become outdated and irrelevant. In fact, these five golden pieces of advice have stood the test of time. Furthermore, they're supported by research so moms and dads can be reassured about giving them to their youngsters.
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How to Make Child-Rearing Less Stressful With Conscious Parenting
Conscious parenting empowers a new generation of moms and dads to reject the old ways of child-rearing and adopt a different approach. It calls them to put aside their egos, let go of their controlling ways, embrace their child as their teacher, and make parenting a grand journey of self-discovery.
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How an Emotionally Absent Mother Impacts Her Daughter's Life
As adults, women who grew up with emotionally absent mothers can feel flat. Because their inner world got ignored as children, they may not know how to nurture it now. But by understanding their past they can make peace with it, embrace all their feelings, and say goodbye to the blahs.
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10 Ways to Lead a Life Of Intention and Bring Happiness and Peace Into Your Life
I kept hearing from experts that leading a life of intention was the key to happiness and well-being, but what the heck did it even mean? While everyone needs to discover that for themselves, I learned for me it meant meditation, gratitude, living in the moment, and always making time for tea!
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How to Help Your Child Lose Weight: Advice From a Former Fat Kid
Childhood obesity is an epidemic in the US. As a former fat kid, the author understands all too well its long-term negative impact. While concerned parents want to intervene, they often make matters worse. By focusing only on the weight and not the bigger picture, moms and dads can miss the mark.
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Fatherless Daughters: How Growing Up Without a Dad Affects Women
One in every three women sees themselves as fatherless. Whether your dad was lost to you through death, divorce, addiction, or neglect, you struggle because of it and need to deal with your hurt. If you don't, you may struggle with low self-esteem, eating disorders, and destructive relationships.
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Method Acting: 5 Actors Who Turned It Into an Art Form
Some of America's finest movie stars are method actors. From intensely researching their roles to becoming the characters they portray, find out how these method actors commit to their art.
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7 Ways Millennials Are Making the World Better
They're called snowflakes, get blamed for the decline of shopping malls and chain restaurants, and are attacked for their addiction to phones and Facebook. But, what the media forgets to mention is the many ways millennials are making the world better!
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How to Be a Better Friend With Compassionate Listening
Bullying, name-calling, and political squabbling—we humans do a lot to divide us from one another. Find out how compassionate listening does just the opposite: building connections, creating a bond, and giving relief to those in pain.
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20 Ways to Fight Depression and Anxiety by Seizing Control
Suffering from depression and anxiety is now widely acknowledged and is no longer considered a stigma. The good news is that more people are seeking treatment. The bad news is that anti-depressants get over-prescribed while healthier alternatives get overlooked.
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Should Parents Be Friends With Their Kids? 5 Reasons Experts Say No
Hearts inevitably melt when a teen girl proclaims, “My mother is my best friend!” Yet, most psychologists and parenting experts agree that being buddy-buddy with your child is unhealthy and only serves to feed a parent's ego. Find out 5 reasons why authorities say that parents shouldn’t be pals.
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14 Reasons Why Some Women Always Need a Man to Feel Complete
While most of us agree it's hard to find a good man, we all know women who always have a guy in their lives, willing to settle for a creep rather than go it alone. Even today, when they have more financial freedom and less social constraints, why do some gals always need a man to feel complete?
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6 Ways to Stop Acting Like an Old Fogey and Seem Younger Than You Really Are!
It takes more than eating avocado toast, shopping online, and listening to podcasts to seem young and hip. It takes a desire to stay current and a curiosity about the ever-changing world around us. A person who is young at heart, no matter what their age, is always learning and evolving.
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How to Become Compassionate Again After Being Badly Hurt
When my son got diagnosed with autism, family and friends turned their backs, leaving me shocked and bitter. Find out how to become a loving and compassionate human being again after a heartbreak.
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What Is an Attitude of Gratitude and How Can It Help You Lead a Happier Life?
Ditch the anti-depressants, hot yoga, and self-help books and embrace a life of gratitude. Discover ways to promote your physical and emotional health by slowing down to appreciate the little things.
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How to Know If You're Dating a Passive-Aggressive Man
Arriving late for dates. Giving you the silent treatment when he’s mad. Sulking when things don’t go his way. These are the behaviors of a passive-aggressive man, retaliating with quiet hostility instead of communicating openly. Find out why dating such a guy can be harmful to a woman’s well-being.
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How Parents Can Avoid Rearing Anxious Kids in an Increasingly Anxious World
Anxiety and depression are skyrocketing among our kids. While genetics plays a major role, moms and dads can also make an impact with the three E's: experiences, environment, and engagement.
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7 Reasons to Embrace Your Inner Child and Heal From a Painful Past
As the daughter of an emotionally absent mother, I've struggled with sadness and anxiety most of my life. After taking anti-depressants for 7 years, I was ready to get off the medication and take control of my own well-being. By embracing my inner child, I finally found peace and joy.
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How to Set Boundaries in a Relationship so You're Not a Doormat
Do people walk all over you like a doormat because you don't set boundaries and can't say no? Find out from three highly successful women how to stop this behavior so your relationships and career can flourish. Discover how they became empowered and you can, too!
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How to Keep Your Boyfriend Happy by Avoiding These Dating Mistakes
Asking for advice but never taking it, talking too much about feelings, marinating in their problems...these are common ways women interact with one another. If they carry them over to their dating lives, though, they could be making a big mistake, leaving their men frustrated and wanting to bail.
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5 Reasons Why Moms Get Jealous of Their Daughters: What's Normal & What's Not
Maternal jealousy is a taboo topic that's rarely acknowledged, let alone discussed. While many daughters sense their mom's envy at some point, some feel its strain on the relationship. Their moms, threatened by their youth, beauty, and prospects, see them more as rivals than offspring.
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What Preschool Fits Your Family: Montessori, Waldorf, or Co-Op?
Choosing a preschool can be an overwhelming task with so many options. A long-time early childhood educator, though, urges parents to narrow their focus and pick one with a strong philosophy that attracts like-minded families. She strongly recommends Montessori, Waldorf, and play-based cooperatives.
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How to Choose an Empowering and Equitable Preschool for Your Daughter
A long-time early childhood educator details what parents should avoid when selecting a preschool for their daughters. She advises against schools that turn girls into observers, not doers, that overemphasize clothes and appearance, that promote the princess culture, and that offer excessive praise.
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Why You'll Never Be Close to Your Emotionally Absent Mother: 5 Reasons It's Impossible
Daughters dream of having a close, loving relationship with their moms and often blame themselves when it doesn't happen. Emotionally absent mothers, though, behave in ways that keep their children at arm's length. When a daughter understands this, she can start practicing acceptance and find peace.
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5 Reasons Why Some Women Fall in Love With Narcissists
While most women avoid dating narcissistic men at all cost, some are actually attracted to them. What makes them ignore the warning signs and fall in love with a self-absorbed guy? What happened during childhood that caused them to pair up with someone who will surely bring them nothing but grief?
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6 Reasons You're Still Single When You Want to Be Married
The months have turned into years and you're still there, waiting patiently for a proposal. Find out why women like you are still single and ring-less and may remain that way.
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10 Classic Picture Books Every Preschooler Should Own
Reading to preschoolers enlarges their vocabularies, expands their imaginations, and promotes their pretend play. These 10 picture books have stood the test of time and are guaranteed to spark the creativity of young children while delighting adults as well.
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33 Reasons to Choose a Play-Based Preschool, Not an Academic One
Parents in the US are enthralled with academic preschools, buying into the belief that earlier is better. However, research shows that play is how kids learn best. It enhances their imaginations, promotes exploration, increases vocabulary, and builds social skills.
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How to Boost Your Child's Self-Esteem and Rear a Confident Kid
Parents give lip service to boosting their children's self-esteem, often thinking that over-loading them with praise is the answer. In reality, though, it takes time, effort, empathy, and being present: validating their feelings, celebrating their uniqueness, and listening, not lecturing.
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How to Effectively Praise Your Child (Hint: "You're Amazing!" Is Harmful)
Research shows that over-the-top accolades are not only meaningless to kids but can actually be detrimental to them. Instead of piling on the praise, parents should motivate their youngsters by recognizing their effort, improvement, persistence, and willingness to take on new challenges.
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20 Ways to Make Small Talk More Tolerable for Introverts
If you're an introvert like I am, making chitchat can be a struggle. Unless you want to be a social outcast, though, you need to embrace it or, at least, make peace with it. After all, it can lead to career opportunities, build relationships, and make your life more enjoyable.
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9 Fun and Memorable Easter Traditions for Your Family
Research shows that children who grow up with rich, robust family traditions are more secure, well-adjusted, and resilient. Easter is the perfect time to add to your repertoire of rituals by making a carrot cake, creating bunny bags, learning to do the bunny hop, and having an egg roll.
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How to Know When to End a Friendship: 7 Sure Signs That It's Over
Many of us hold on to friendships long after they've soured and their expiration date has passed. Ending one is awkward and sad and can feel like a failure. Yet, it's often necessary and even empowering as we take good care of ourselves by eliminating those who drain and deplete us.
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How Parents Can Improve Middle School for Their Introverted Kids
Many introverted adults recall hating middle school. As parents, though, they have the power to improve it for their own kids. By pushing teachers and administrators to include lesson plans and extracurricular activities that address the needs of introspective students, they can have a huge impact.
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7 Surprising Reasons Why a Workplace Bully Might Target You
If you've been a target of bullying at work, you may wonder: Why was I chosen? Contrary to popular belief, research shows bullying victims in the workplace are not doormats or outliers. They're typically top-notch employees: hard-working, honest, ethical, independent, and well-liked.
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10 Easy and Inexpensive Valentine's Day Activities to Do With Kids
Valentine's Day has become increasingly commercialized with everyone feeling pressured to spend big and go elaborate. I advise parents to do their kids a favor by helping them see that love is best shown through actions, not money. Here are 10 simple activities to help you accomplish just that.
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How to Be a Better Parent by Boosting Your Child's Grit
Contrary to popular belief, the quality of grit has been found to be more crucial to a child's success in life than either intelligence or talent. Sadly, some parents actually stand in the way of their youngsters acquiring this all-important trait by protecting them from challenges and hardships.
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How to Stay Motivated and Not Feel Deprived While Losing Weight
It's easy to be motivated during the first week or two of a weight loss journey. When the initial enthusiasm dwindles, though, inspiration fades, feelings of deprivation intensify, and failure looms. To prevent this, we need to incorporate new joyful habits into our lives so we stay energized.
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5 Ways to Bolster the Bond With Your Partner Beyond the Bedroom
Building a close bond with your partner is key to a fulfilling relationship. While sex plays a big part, it's not the only way to create intimacy. Cooking together, sharing a bath, reading the same book, and giving each other massages are other effective ways to feel more connected.
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How to Give an Effective Apology: The Do's and Don'ts of Saying You're Sorry
We all make mistakes, say the wrong thing, hurt people's feelings, and need to apologize. So many of us, though, are unskilled at saying "I'm sorry" and can even make the situation worse. Find out the do's and don'ts when making amends, what to say and what to avoid saying.
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How to Have a Stress-Free First Date: 48 Affordable Ideas
Going out to dinner for a first date is expensive, stressful, and often disappointing. Why not ditch the pricey meal and awkward conversation for something that's light and fun? Why not choose an activity that will reveal the true character of your companion so you'll know if you want a second date?
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How to Stop Being a People Pleaser and Lose Weight
We know eating less and exercising more is key to losing weight. Yet, doing these two things means spending time and energy on ourselves, a practice many of us people pleasers resist. To get healthier, though, we must become more assertive and say no to others while saying yes to ourselves.
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How to Tell If Your Partner Is a Narcissist or Just Self-Absorbed
Today, the label "narcissist" gets used for anyone and everyone who's self-involved. How do you know, though, if you're dating a person who's simply focused on themselves as opposed to someone who could be destructive to your life? The author details 7 questions to ask when making a determination.
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Triggering Things Men Should Never Ever Say to Women
If we're being honest, most of us women will admit there are certain words and phrases that trigger us. When men tell us to "just calm down," suggest we smile, or accuse us of having "daddy issues," it's bound to make us angry and tap into our deepest insecurities.
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5 Things Women Should Avoid Doing If They Want to Attract a Man
If a woman's aim is to attract a man, she should keep one crucial piece of information in mind. Namely, that how she behaves around her girlfriends doesn't always fly with guys. Being catty, for example, may be acceptable among gal pals but will be viewed by most men as a big red flag.
- 0
8 Fun Things to Do With Your Kids in Summer
Summer means longer days, warmer weather, and lots of time with the kids. From making ice cream to building forts, to going on nighttime nature walks to learning about ladybugs, it's the season to live life to its fullest and create memories to last far into the future.
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The 3 Most Critical Ways That Helicopter Parents Damage Their Children
“Helicopter parents” are moms and dads who hover around their child, prepared to jump in and help them at a moment’s notice. While most clearly see it as poor parenting, others are blind to its negative impact. Yet, studies show it can make kids feel incompetent and reluctant to take on challenges.
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6 Fun and Free Activities to Do With Your Preschooler This Spring
The weather is finally getting warmer and the days are growing longer. Spring means it's time to get outside with your preschooler and do fun things that cost virtually nothing. A longtime preschool teacher recommends going on a scavenger hunt, making a bug bottle and learning how to compost.
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8 Fun and Simple Activities to Do With Preschoolers This Winter
Banish the winter blahs and suspend the shopping stress with these eight simple and fun activities for preschoolers. Eat monster toast. Make gingerbread play-dough and have a blast with shaving cream.
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Fun Activities to Do With Your Family That Celebrate Fall
The long, lazy days of summer are over, and it's easy to descend into a fall funk. But don't despair! Autumn is the perfect season to slow down and create special stress-free moments with your family.
- 0
"Follow Your Passion" and 5 Other Toxic Things Parents Say to Kids
Follow your passion...I just want you to be happy...You can grow up to be anything...These are things parents routinely say with only the best of intentions. In reality, though, they can be detrimental to kids and may even make them question their parents as sources of truth, experience, and wisdom.
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How to Heal From an Emotionally Absent Mother: 5 Things for Daughters to Do
If you grew up with an emotionally absent mother, your basic needs got met but your inner world was largely ignored. To win her love, you sacrificed your own needs and desires. As a result, you may not even know who you are as an adult. Here's how to heal.
- 4
Tom Cruise and Scientology: Separating Fact From Fiction
When seeing Tom Cruise's look-alike daughter, Suri, on tabloid covers at the supermarket, one can't help but wonder why this celebrity dad abandoned her for Scientology. How is his religion's pull so strong that it led him to ignore the primal instinct to parent and remain estranged from his child?
- 4
4 Huge Concerns You Should Have About Your Child's Elementary School Teacher
As our education system grows more bureaucratic, elementary school teachers are under enormous pressure to assess students and meet Common Core standards. In the process, though, they can neglect the whole child (body, mind, and spirit) and that's when parents need to advocate for their kids.
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How to Become a Better Listener in 5 Easy Steps
Listening is a powerful tool in our work and personal lives. The author realized what a horrible listener she had become, how it was hurting her relationships, and took steps to change it.
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How to Decorate Your Home With Eclectic Cottage-Style in 10 Easy Steps
Decorating your home in cottage style is about the 4 c’s: casual, cozy, comfortable, and charming. It’s ideal for those who want an eclectic and informal space that mirrors their fun personality. It's warm, inviting, and budget-friendly. It never takes itself too seriously and is anything but fussy.
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What Parents Need to Know About Early Childhood Education: Sorting Fact From Fiction
Busy moms and dads are highly susceptible to misinformation about early childhood education.They're even more vulnerable now because it spreads so rapidly on social media. Sadly, they too often believe it. A long-time teacher sets the record straight on vital issues that affect young children today.
- 0
5 Celebrity Scientologists Who Are the Most Devout
The Church of Scientology has received much criticism and scrutiny of late. But what makes long-time celebrity Scientologists such as Tom Cruise, John Travolta, and Kirstie Alley defend the religion and credit it for their success?
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What 5 Common Preschool Activities Are a Waste of Time and Detrimental to Kids?
Calendar, craft projects, teacher-directed lessons, worksheets, and letter of the week are part of the daily routine at preschool. Yet, are they supported by research? A former teacher explains why they're not only a waste of time but can squelch a child's innate curiosity and love of learning.
- 4
5 Things You Shouldn't Say to Parents of an Autistic Child
The mom of an autistic son recalls the insensitive comments that magnified her grief after her son's diagnosis. 1 child in every 40 is on the spectrum so we need to be more sensitive about what we say to parents who are hurting.
- 0
Are Your Expectations of Your Preschooler Reasonable or Unreasonable?
Parents do themselves and their preschoolers a disservice when they have absurd expectations of them. By not understanding what's age-appropriate for 3-5 year-olds, they create undue stress in their homes. They push their kids to grow up too fast and miss out on each miraculous stage of development.
- 2
10 Ambitious Celebrities Who Work Incredibly Hard to Stay in the Spotlight
The author lists 10 celebrities who went to great lengths to get famous and stay famous. Marketing themselves has been key to their success. The list includes Madonna, Brad Pitt, and Miley Cyrus.
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10 Gay Celebrities Who Risked Their Careers by Coming Out
Times have changed so rapidly that many people forget that coming out was once a risky proposition for celebrities. The author details 10 who refused to keep their sexuality hidden even though it meant losing their fame. Some became bigger stars, some lost roles, and some face an uncertain future.
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How to Treat Social Anxiety Without Medication: What Worked for Me
I suffered from social anxiety since puberty. As an adult, I took an anti-anxiety drug for seven years. I now regret taking it for so long, and I want to promote ways to overcome anxiety without drugs.
- 0
How to Improve Your Preschooler's Fine Motor Skills for Kindergarten
Preschoolers are spending more time watching screens and less time playing. As a result, many of them will struggle with fine motor skills in kindergarten. A longtime teacher details what activities parents can do at home so their kids can bypass this needless frustration.
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Why Students With Autism Need More Than Inclusion: A Teacher's Perspective
Parents who have children with autism often want them to be just like other kids and not singled out for their differences. However, a teacher warns that this can be a critical mistake and urges them to pursue services such as speech therapy, direct instruction, and occupational therapy.
- 2
10 Strategies Bitchy Bosses Use to Get the Upper Hand
From calling you the wrong name to pointing out imperfections in your appearance, find out how bitchy bosses make you feel inferior. Their calculated moves are used to make them feel more powerful and you feel weak and self-conscious. But, once you spot their maneuvers, you can counteract them!
- 0
20 Must-See Movies to Watch Together as a Family
Nothing creates warm, cozy memories like cuddling on the sofa and watching TV together as a family. That's why a weekly movie night makes a fun, inexpensive tradition.These 20 films delight adults and kids alike and include classics such as Charlotte's Web, Bye Bye Birdie, and Mrs. Doubtfire.
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How to Care for an Aging Parent While Keeping Your Sanity
As our parents live longer, some of us will take care of them for more years than they spent rearing us. Therefore, it helps to remain patient, show tolerance, and keep a good sense of humor. This becomes challenging, though, if our moms and dads were lousy parents and we resent our caretaking role.
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7 Fun Activities to Do With Your Preschooler This Easter
A preschool teacher details seven fun ways parents can celebrate the Easter season with their kids, including growing a grass basket, creating a cotton-ball rabbit, planning a treasure hunt, and reading books about bunnies.
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How to Use Nonverbal Communication Effectively to Project Strength and Confidence
Experts say communication is largely non-verbal: eye contact, hand gestures, and body language. Find out how you can project strength and confidence without uttering a word.
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How to Start a Perceptual-Motor Program at Your Child's Elementary School
If you're like me, you fondly recall the perceptual-motor program at your school: walking on a balance beam, crawling through tunnels, and skipping around cones. It was not only fun but enhanced your balance, coordination, and gross motor skills. It's now time for parents to demand its return.
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How Parents Can Teach Their Child to Read in 3 Easy Steps
A longtime educator argues that moms and dads are best suited to teach their child how to read. She explains that schools have made it onerous, having kids memorize sight words and drilling them on digraphs and blends. She urges parents to bring back the joy so kids will become lifelong readers.
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The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe Ever
Stop the search! This is the best chocolate chip cookie recipe you'll ever find. Gooey from the oven or frozen from the freezer, these cookies are what you've been wanting.
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How to Teach Your Child to Read With Zoo-Phonics and Have Fun Doing It
A longtime educator explains why Zoo-phonics is ideal for parents who want to teach their children how to read. It combines movement, music, and games that promote phonological awareness, the foundation of early reading. It lets kids be kids as they act silly, wriggle, and use their imaginations.
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How Parents Can Help Their Child With Autism Make Friends
Like most parents of children with autism, I worried about my son's future. Could he attend public school, go to college, and get a job? Given his limited social skills, though, the thing I fretted about most was whether he'd develop friendships. Luckily, I discovered ways to help him get his tribe.
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How Play-Dough Can Help Your Child Get Ready for Kindergarten
Today, kindergarten teachers worry about their students' fine motor skills. Because they’re playing less and staring at screens more, many kids lack dexterity and struggle with using pencils and scissors. Parents can prevent this, though, with a simple fix from their own childhoods: play-dough!
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20 No-Fail Ways to Improve Your Marriage and Live Happily Ever After
Creating a happy marriage means being proactive. It means letting go of old, stale notions of what marriage is and definining it in a new, fresh way to suit yourselves.
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How to Make Peanut Butter Pancakes and Start Your Day With Protein
Making pancakes is fun and easy. It has become a tradition in our family every Sunday morning without fail. Pumpkin and peanut butter are my sons' favorites!
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How to Trust Again After Being Betrayed
Rebuilding trust in a relationship takes time, effort, and commitment. If you decide to stay and make it work, you might wind up with a relationship that's better than it ever was.
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How to Say Cute Things to Your Boyfriend Without Stressing Over It
While some women naturally come up with cute and witty remarks to captivate their boyfriends, most of us have to work at it. As a diehard introvert, I always struggled to come up with clever things to say and it ruined my dates. Then, I learned to stop trying so hard and focus on him, not myself.
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How to Plan a Sweet 16 Birthday Party With Your Daughter
Throwing a Sweet Sixteen Party creates memories to cherish for a lifetime. The food, theme, and decorations come secondary to the bond created between mother and daughter as they plan it together.
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How to Declutter Your Home and Make It a Sanctuary
Decluttering your home and getting organized is a commitment to yourself. It says, "I'm worth the time and effort it takes to create a positive, peaceful space where I can thrive." Let's get going!
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How to Be a Good Houseguest: 7 Tips for Getting Invited Back
Staying with friends or family is a terrific way to save money when traveling and to get inside information on the place you're visiting. By being thoughtless and ill-mannered, though, houseguests can leave their hosts feeling put upon and resentful. Find out how to be welcomed back with open arms.
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20 Ways Common Core Promotes Misconceptions About Early Reading That Hurt Young Learners
The Common Core standards—with their push to teach reading in kindergarten through discrete skills—is not based on research and is hurting our youngest learners. Parents get the false impression that early reading has long-term benefits when it doesn't. Kids would be better served by more play.
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Why Early Academics at Preschool Are Harmful: A Teacher Explains
We have decades of research that reveal young children learn best through play. However, our false belief that early academics create smarter children has triggered a "push-down" curriculum at preschools. As a result, kids now have less time for exploring, playing, pretending, and socializing.
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A Teacher Explains Why You Shouldn't Send Your Child to Preschool
Going against decades of research in early childhood education, preschools today have become more academic than ever. Youngsters are now guinea pigs in an experiment that may prove highly detrimental to their futures and society's as a whole.
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Get Ahead by Doing Less: Being Busy Hurts Your Creativity and Makes You Less Effective
Are you annoyed by people who always comment on how busy they are? This preoccupation with being constantly on-the-go is prevalent in American society but actually inhibits creativity and innovation.
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What Is Full Inclusion and How Is It Damaging Our Public Schools?
As a teacher and mother of an autistic son, I'm outraged when school officials deceive parents with the inclusion lie. Students with special needs require special help and full inclusion is not enough. While it saves money in the short-term, it has a long-range negative impact for kids and society.
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Charlie Sheen: Douche-Bag, Anti-Semite, and Woman Hater
In this third edition, we look at two celebrities who've been dubbed courageous: Charlie Sheen and Caitlyn Jenner. In truth, one is a total douche-bag and the other a greedy opportunist.
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Why Hands-On Learning Is the Essence of a Quality Preschool Program
A preschool teacher explains why the decline in hands-on learning should distress parents. It was once the bedrock of early childhood education, getting kids excited about discovering new things. Today, it’s been largely diminished due to our nation's fixation with preparing kids for kindergarten.
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Why Kate Winslet Says No to Photo-Shopping
The second edition is hot off the presses! It features three gorgeous women, 40 and over, who are grabbing the headlines: Kate Winslet, Sophia Loren, and Halle Berry.
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Rosie O'Donnell: How the Queen of Nice Became the Monarch of Mean
Rosie O'Donnell, dubbed "the Queen of Nice," was once the darling of daytime TV. But recent events have us wondering if she's now "the Monarch of Mean."
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7 Gifts That Every Preschooler Will Love and Use
If you need to buy a gift for a preschooler, stay away from trendy toys that get quickly discarded (or broken) and choose something that stimulates creativity, independence, and curiosity. A former preschool teacher makes her recommendations based on years of experience.
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Best Bundt Cake Recipe (The Secret Ingredient Is Prunes!)
This elegant bundt cake is sure to impress your family and friends. It's moist, delicious, and unique. It will quickly become a favorite for the holidays or any special occasion.
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What Makes a Good Preschool: 50 Best Qualities, Characteristics, and Practices
When choosing a preschool, some parents get impressed by ones that offer academics: a second language, STEM lessons, and handwriting workbooks. However, a long-time teacher says developmentally appropriate practices and free play are what matter most when cultivating independent life-long learners.
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How to Enjoy Parenting a Teen: 7 Tips That Make It Easy and Fun
Self-absorption, negativity, an inability to plan ahead...these are traits of teens that can frustrate moms and dads. Parents, though, need to appreciate that their children's brains are still developing and this behavior is normal. Then, they can relax, stop worrying, and enjoy their teenagers.
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How to Make Marzipan Cupcakes
Do you love marzipan, the tasty almond treat that's often shaped like fruit? If so, these cupcakes – filled with the confection – are perfectly suited for you and your sweet tooth!
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Why Nagging Doesn't Work and Damages the Parent-Child Bond
Moms and dads nag their kids even though research shows it's highly ineffective and damages the parent-child relationship. If they take the time to figure out why they resort to badgering, they can stop this destructive habit and find better ways to motivate their youngsters.
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Was Your Child Just Diagnosed With Autism? Loving Advice From One Mother to Another
A mother looks back 11 years ago when her 4-year-old son was diagnosed with autism. Battling feelings of anger and despair, she was close to a breakdown until seeing a therapist. She now advises moms to learn from her mistakes by taking good care of themselves, their marriages, and their other kids.
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What Is a Student-Study Team and Why Parents Should Demand Them at Their Child's School
Many parents are unaware of a powerful tool they have to help their child succeed at school: the Student Study Team. A teacher and mother explains what an SST is and why it's so effective.
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What You Should See With Your Family When Visiting the Black Hills of South Dakota
The Black Hills of South Dakota are a stress-free, family-friendly destination. Kids will delight in learning about the characters of the Wild West such as Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok. Parents will appreciate the wide-open spaces and the affordable attractions with no lines and no crowds.
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5 Red Flags at Your Child's Preschool That Shouldn't Be Ignored
A teacher warns parents that they're making a big mistake when letting their guard down after selecting a preschool. She advises them to stay vigilant, making sure quality remains high. Because an owner's profit margins are slight, they strive to keep costs low and this can negatively impact kids.
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How to Recover From Your Dysfunctional Family and Find Peace
People whine and complain about their dysfunctional families but rarely take action. A highly motivated person, though, can end destructive patterns that have plagued generation after generation. The author explains how becoming a "transitional character" can end a person's pain and lead to peace.
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How Did Bill Cosby, America's Favorite Dad, Compartmentalize His Life for Decades?
Bill Cosby has been famous for over five decades—long depicted in the media as the model husband, "America's Favorite Dad," and a champion of higher education. Now he stands accused of drugging and raping dozens of women over the years. How did he compartmentalize his world and lead a double life?
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Why Middle School Is the Weak Leak in Public Education and More Parents Are Homeschooling
American students rank in the middle of the pack when compared to those around the globe. An average student in Finland and South Korea is a genius here. Why are we so satisfied with mediocrity?
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How to Prevent Reading Difficulties Before Your Child Starts School With Early Literacy Activities
Parents hate to see their children struggle with reading and will go to great lengths to help them. But, what many moms and dads don't understand is that reading difficulties are hugely preventable.
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How to Give a Dinner Party When You Hate Entertaining
A reluctant hostess tells how to make a mouth-watering Italian-style dinner that's sure to leave everyone satisfied and impressed. Best of all, it's super easy and won't keep you in the kitchen away from your guests.
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Why Catholic Schools Are Closing in the Inner-Cities
A former Catholic school teacher details the decline of Catholic schools in the U.S., especially in the inner city. She explains how they lost their identify by trying to be all things to all people.
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How Parents Can Make Sure Their Child's IEP Meeting Is a Success
I've attended IEP meetings as the parent of a son with autism and as a teacher of students with special needs. Whether there as a mom or as an educator, I left feeling alone and defeated. To improve their experience, moms and dads need to be prepared, speak up, and stay engaged.
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How to Make Fudgy Bonbons With Hershey's Kisses
Fudgy bonbons are a unique and elegant-looking treat. Part cookie and part candy, they're ideal for a gift platter, a cookie exchange, or an after-school snack. Biting into one of these moist and delectable delights becomes a serendipitous experience when you discover a Hershey's kiss!
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The Best Jell-O Salad With Blueberries
Groovy Blueberry Jell-O Salad is a light, refreshing treat for long, hot summer days. It's perfect for a picnic or neighborhood block party or dinner outside on the patio. Best of all, it showcases the blueberry – a “superfood” that's rich in vitamins and minerals – in a starring role.
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Why Preschool Circle Time Can Be a Waste of Time and Detrimental to Kids
Many preschools have at least one circle time as part of their daily routine. Research, though, shows kids learn a lot more with small group activities, kinesthetic learning, play, and hands-on exploration. Why then are circle times getting longer and being overused?
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How to Make Savory Crescent Chicken Squares
The days of housewives gathering at midday for elaborate luncheons have fallen to the wayside along side pantyhose, VCRs, and pet rocks. But this recipe for Savory Crescent Chicken Squares has survived the changing times and is still as yummy tasting and impressive looking as ever.
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How to Handle a Bully at Work
Bullying at school has become a much talked about topic, but what about bullying at work? It's more common than you think and can wreak havoc on your self-esteem.
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How to Grieve the Death of Your Pet and Heal Your Pain in 5 Steps
When a pet dies, some experience a deep sorrow that hits them hard. They may be troubled that the death is causing them more grief than the passing of a relative and wonder if that's normal (it is). To move forward from their pain and prevent long-term suffering, they need to honor their pet's life.
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Magic Chocolate and Peanut Butter Middles Are a Family Favorite
If you crave the combination of peanut butter and chocolate, this recipe for magic peanut butter middles is for you! These are the ideal cookies for an after-school snack with a cold glass of milk.
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What Parents Need to Know About Early Intervention Services
The author is a teacher and mother of an autistic son who knows firsthand how painful it is to hear your child needs early intervention services. She explains, though, why parents should embrace this help, not refuse it.
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Getting Creative With Collage: A Fun, Easy, and Open-Ended Art Project to Do With Your Child
As an educator myself, I get frustrated by the teacher-directed art that rules at schools today. The projects look the same and do nothing to promote creativity, independence, and initiative. Fortunately, parents can encourage their kids to do collage at home—simple art that inspires originality!
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3 Easy Ways for Parents to Help Kids Love Writing, Not Loathe It
A long-time teacher explains how schools today fail to instill in their students a love of writing. Instead, many kids get turned off by it, finding it frustrating and stressful rather than empowering. She details specific ways that parents can counteract this at home and make kids love to write.
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The 3 Most Critical Questions to Ask When Choosing a Preschool
Parents can get enticed by STEM activities, foreign language instruction and music lessons, thinking they will give their child a leg up. What really matters most, though, is a preschool program with a strong philosophy that emphasizes a learn-by-doing approach: playing, socializing, and exploring.
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Stephen Ira Beatty: the Transgender Son of Warren Beatty and Annette Bening
Columnist Michael Musto urges Warren Beatty and Annette Bening to speak out in support of their transgender son, Stephen Ira. The author says: " Leave these parents alone!"
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Before Caitlyn Jenner, There Was Renee Richards: How She Paved the Way for Transgenders
Long before Bruce Jenner transitioned to Caitlyn Jenner, there was Renée Richards. She fought to compete in women's professional tennis and won but faced a tidal wave of criticism and scrutiny.
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Best Places to Visit in Solano County
When visiting the Bay Area, it's sometimes difficult to find affordable kid-friendly destinations. Solano County in the North Bay, however, has three that are fantastic for families.
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How to Prepare a Preschooler to Read With Phonological Awareness
Research shows that preschoolers with “phonological awareness” are much more likely to emerge as strong readers, writers, and spellers. Yet, most parents don’t know what it is, let alone how to foster it. Therefore, a kindergarten teacher explains it and shares specific activities that promote it.
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Get Ahead in Your Career Without Working Harder: Why Brown-Nosers Succeed
Are you busting your butt at your job to no avail? Working hard is not enough. Add some new skills to finally get noticed: Artful Brown-Nosing, Strategic Advice-Seeking, and Shameless Horn-Tooting.
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Monterey Bay Aquarium: A Hands-On Experience for Kids
Whoever designed the Monterey Bay Aquarium had children in mind. This kid-friendly experience includes touching pools, interactive displays, and the popular, Splash Zone.
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Why Parents Should Choose a Preschool That Empowers Their Daughters and Eschews the Princess Culture
The princess culture has invaded preschool with girls coming to class in full regal attire: long gowns, high heels, and sparkly tiaras. A teacher explains why this trend is harmful to girls, turning them into spectators, not participants, and making them need constant approval for their appearance.