Thursday, May 9, 2013
If so, a Parenting.com article says you can take steps to reverse any mistakes you've made as your kids have grown. We want your tips for how to raise empathetic, polite children.
I'm sure you've all met your fair share of spoiled children. I know I have. They don't share, they are disrespectful to adults—including their parents—and they regularly throw fits in public. My husband and I are parents to a cat, and we've been blessed with loving, respectful nieces and nephews. I remember being pleasantly surprised when my friend's four sons shook my hand, looked me in the eye and introduced themselves. It seems in recent years, however, I'm seeing more monster children when I go to restaurants or the mall. The good news is anyone with a difficult child can reverse any bad parenting, according to Dr. Phil, Happiestbaby.com and Parenting.com. Their tips include: Those are tips from the professionals, but I want to hear …
Thursday, May 2, 2013
A new Visa survey says families are spending over $1,000 for their child to go to prom. What price works for you, and how do you agree on a limit with your teen?
It has gotten more expensive to do most things in life, so we shouldn't be surprised that it has gotten more pricey to go to a high school prom. On average, parents and teens will spend $1,139 on prom this year. This is only a slight increase over last year but a 40 percent increase from the $807 average of 2011, according to a new Visa survey. The list of "needed" items can be endless: dress, tux, shoes (one pair formal and one for the dance?), corsages, limo, dinner, actual prom tickets and after-prom activities. "Prom is the new wedding," said Kit Yarrow, a consumer research psychologist, in a CNN Money article. "I think that every society has to have a rite of passage into adulthood for young people, and prom has become that." Have …
Friday, April 26, 2013
Which have you used to cover your baby?
No matter how old your kids are – diaper changing always seems to make its way back into the rotation as friends and family bring new little ones into their lives. And, I have yet to change a baby wearing cloth diapers. Most of my friends and family have opted for the convenience of a disposable diaper. However, it appears the cloth diaper continues to be a popular choice for many. For example, a group of Twin Cities parents that joined together recently for the “Great Cloth Diaper Change” event – or the Burnsville-based business that sells cloth diapers. So, before I continue to share my parenting “wisdom” with family and friends with little ones – which do you choose for your child? Disposable or cloth? SHARE: Which is better – cloth …
Thursday, April 18, 2013
How do you explain incidents like the Boston Marathon bombings to your children? Share your ideas in the comments section below.
In the aftermath of the Boston bombings, many parents may be struggling to find the write words to explain such a horrific event to children. At Patch, we wanted to use this week's Parents Talk as an opportunity to provide some resources and gather advice from readers on how to talk to kids about tragedies in the media. Share your ideas on this topic in the comments section below. The Child Development Institute gives the following discussion techniques for dealing with tragedies in the media: See the full Child Development Institute article here. Unfortunately, this isn't a first-time discussion on Patch. Following the Newtown, CT massacre, and the more close-to-home shooting incident at Accent Signage in Minneapolis, readers and bloggers…
Thursday, April 11, 2013
For the first time since the Social Security Administration has released top 100 baby name lists in the state, the Muslim leader's name is on it.
Mohamed has made the list of most popular baby boy names in Minnesota, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Mohamed was the 98th most popular boy's name in 2011 in the state. The SSA says Minnesota parents named 73 boys after the founder of Islam in that year. This is the first time the name has appeared on the list the SSA releases each year. Mohamed's place on the list is not surprising considering some recent statistics. "The name, in its several variations, is one of the most popular worldwide for Muslim parents," according to the Star Tribune. "It has risen on Minnesota’s list as the state’s population has rapidly changed. From 2000 to 2010, the number of residents of color grew 55 percent, and Minnesota’s fast-…
Thursday, April 4, 2013
As more and more children are told they have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), some doctors and parents wonder if it is over-diagnosed.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds that about 1 in 5 high-school-age boys in the USA and 11 percent of school-age children overall have received a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, more commonly referred to as ADHD. An estimated 6.4 million children ages 4 through 17 had received an ADHD diagnosis at some point in their lives, a 16 percent increase since 2007 and a 53 percent rise in the past decade, according to a March 31 New York Times article. The majority of those said to have ADHD are prescribed medications such as Ritalin or Adderall. While these medications can drastically help ADHD patients, there are other risks associated with them, such as addiction and sharing or selling pills to …
Thursday, March 28, 2013
What are your tips?
Whether you are a stay-at-home parent, working full or part time, finding enough hours in the day can be tough. Honestly, my parents made it look so easy. Or, maybe I just didn’t appreciate at the time the planning and coordination parenthood can take on a daily basis. And, trust me. It doesn’t stop when your kids are teenagers. So, what is a parent to do? How do you plan your day with some sense of organization? Huffington Post recently posted a new article, “Time Management: 6 Tricks For Parents To Stay On Track” with tips such as encouraging parents “schedule serendipity space” and “don’t fall into the multitasking trap.” My favorite tip, however, is to “pause before saying yes.” Four simple words, yet difficult to follow – at least …
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
The New Prague student who called 911 two times has now been charged. Do you think that is the right charge for what he did?
Thursday, March 21, 2013
A boy who allegedly made a prank 911 call about a school shooter was arrested Wednesday morning. What punishment should he receive, if any?
Updated: Saturday, March 23 at 2:15 p.m. See Editor's Note below. A 12-year-old Minnesota boy is scheduled to appear at a hearing later this week after he was arrested Wednesday morning for making two prank 911 calls. According to the Associated Press, a 911 caller said there was a shooter with an AK-47 and a couple of victims at New Prague Middle School. With the Newtown, CT elementary school shooting tragedy still fresh in mind, the call prompted a lockdown of the middle school, high school and Central Education Campus buildings. New Prague Police Chief Mark Vosejpka said the boy is believed to have made the calls from an emergency cell phone only capable of calling 911, According to the Pioneer Press. The child's attorney, Marsh Halberg…
Thursday, March 14, 2013
After Tuesday's approval of the same-sex marriage bill by House and Senate committees, we want to know if you think the issue should be addressed in schools.
On Tuesday, two committees in the Minnesota Legislature passed same-sex marriage bills, which moved them to the next step: approval or rejection by the full House and Senate. Discussions about gay marriage aren't confined to politics. Last year's proposed consitutional amendment and this year's bills are leading to conversations in homes and churches. But should those discussions move into public school classrooms? After same-sex marriage was legalized in New York, Chancellor Merryl Tisch, the head of the state Board of Regents, said the issue should be added to districts' curriculums. "We have to think of, how we do discuss gay marriage thoughtfully, respectfully and sensitively," Tisch said. "There has to be age-appropriateness." Same-…
Rachel Powell
7:13 pm on Monday, May 20, 2013
It's a proven fact that homophobes are the most likely to be closeted gays. That's what Jimmy is trying to tell us - he's jealous he can't be in those gay festivities. Oh, and BTW Jimmy, I have two pro-gay bumper stickers on my car. Does that make me gay? Or maybe it just matters to me that people have a right to live their lives freely. If you were around during MLK's day would you be griping … more ›