If you’re more likely to think allergies in the spring and cold during those back-to-school months, you might be wrong. Although most people think of spring as allergy season, depending on what your child’s allergic to, autumn can be just as bad. Symptom Overlap Allergies and a cold are not treated the same, so it’s important to know exactly what’s behind your child’s symptoms. The problem is that the two conditions have similar symptoms, making them easy to confuse....

And now, young adults are delaying parenthood, or even deciding against it, in favor of pet ownership. But stereotypes, finger pointing, and pearl clutching over dropping birth rates don’t help anything. And if you scratch below the surface of the clickbait, there’s some sound reasoning behind all of these trends. Even, or perhaps especially, the trend toward pets. Why Some Young Adults Are Delaying Parenthood We can all agree, I hope, about a few things....

Introduce your puppy or dog to your other pets carefully. The last thing you want is for anyone to be frightened or hurt. Be sure that a responsible adult is in a position to intervene immediately whenever your pup or dog interacts with the other animal until you’re certain they’re safe together. Remember, when different species meet, they have to learn how to communicate with one another. Be reasonable about what you ask....

But if you dive deeper, you’ll see that Noor shares the good, the bad, and the ugly in her life—including her struggle to get pregnant and a miscarriage that she says “broke her.” Although the Internet is not always a positive place, Noor turned to her followers for support and love, and they helped her through one of the toughest times of her life. Noor says she feels lucky to have created a community over the years who share her values and want to see more diversity in the world around them....

Most children nowadays receive vaccination against chickenpox, but the virus is still circulating in the population because it is highly contagious and some families choose not to (or are unable to) vaccinate their children. Chickenpox can be risky in pregnancy if the mother is unvaccinated and has not already had the disease. Most likely, it will not cause miscarriage, but it can cause birth defects and stillbirth, depending on the timing of exposure and other factors....

The Best-Interests Standard Many parents find this legal jargon confusing. Don’t all parents want what’s best for their children? For the most part, yes. However, in the majority of contested child custody cases, the judge determines what would be best for the children, despite both parents’ good intentions and competing wishes. Crucial Factors While there’s no Magic 8 Ball, you can expect the judge to consider the following factors before making a decision:...

First, make your duck pattern. Cut out two circles of paper; one should be about a half-inch larger than the other. Trace the circles onto the finger-painting paper. Lay the larger circle in the middle of your paper and trace around it. Then lay the smaller one over the circle you just traced. The smaller circle should intersect the larger one. Then trace around it. Now your child can finger paint the traced pattern with the yellow paint....

Effort: Quick and easy – no sewing required Materials: Sturdy cardboard box (appropriate for the size of your child) Blue construction paper or cloth (several sheets) Black paint or marker White glue Clear or blue cello food wrap Fish cutouts, or plastic toy fish, seaweed, etc. Dark-colored clothing Instructions: Cut the front of the box so that you have a narrow rim around the edges, just like an aquarium. Cut a hole in top for your child’s head, and a hole on each side for his arms....

There are a lot of places to find free handouts to share with your students and clients. Here are some of the ones that I have gathered. Healthy Birth Practices These are written by Lamaze International and thoroughly researched. These six practices come with companion videos as well. They have an introduction to the care practices, Let Labor Begin on Its Own, Walk, Move Around, and Change Positions Throughout Labor, Bring a Loved One, Friend, or Doula for Continuous Support, Avoid Interventions That Are Not Medically Necessary, Avoid Giving Birth on Your Back, and Follow Your Body’s Urges to Push, and Keep Your Baby With You - It’s Best for You, Your Baby, and Breastfeeding....

So what went wrong? Within a very short time, major boredom set in. Jessica was simply not interested in what I was trying to teach her. She became uncooperative. I was frustrated and angry. The more I pushed, the more she resisted. Seven years later, things are different around here. Jessica is reading way above grade level. She’s an accomplished musician and loves learning with a passion. So what made the difference?...

As our school systems progressed and came into their own, the idea of practicality was most important. It was for that reason that early on, much learning was gained in the school of hard work. Later, as towns and school districts began to emerge, boys in many parts of the new country received a rudimentary education but girls were generally excluded. While this practice changed gradually, most often girls were only admitted to the public schools many years after the boys....

This Halloween activity will teach your preschooler about physical properties, as he watches wax crayon repel water-based tempera paint. Construction paper Orange and black crayons Black (or other contrasting color) tempera paint and brush Varnish (optional) Directions

The toys on this list are fun, engaging, and educational—in that order. Plus, they don’t need a lot of adult supervision, at least after the initial set up and instructions. And that is something any parent can appreciate but the work-at-home parent really needs. When browsing this list keep in mind that some toys that may not be as good for kids at the younger end of the manufacturers’ recommended age range are still, in fact, great for older kids....

For example, if a child has the strength and muscle tone to climb the ladder of a slide, but they can’t place their feet in the right spots and in the right order to reach the top, they may have poor motor planning skills. Here is what you need to know about gross motor skills. What Are Gross Motor Skills? Gross motor skills are those used to move the arms, legs, and torso in a functional manner....

Age group: 30-40 months Duration of activity: 15 minutes Materials: 1 sheet construction paper Blue tempera paint Yellow tempera paint 2 pie tins This activity is a great way to reinforce Jewish holiday traditions as well as introduce your child to counting concepts. title: “Handprint Menorah” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-09” author: “Jennifer Kim” Materials White, yellow, and orange tempera paint Blue construction paper Directions

If he grows up understanding why these habits are important—and they become like second-nature—it can prevent power struggles. Here are eight healthy habits you should start teaching your child when he’s a toddler. Use simple terms that they’ll understand. Say, “Washing your hands means that we get rid of the dirt and germs that can make us sick.” Next, enforce all the occasions where he should wash up—after going to the bathroom, when returning home from playing outside, after blowing his nose and before eating a meal....

Give these generalized suggestions some intense and creative thought in order to tailor them to fit your daughter’s needs. Things You Want to Express Often Remember, when it comes to your daughters, actions speak louder than words. That does not, however, alleviate the need for good clear statement of support. Be sure to voice these often: “I love you.” “I am here to help you.” “Would you like to talk?...