Students enrolled in ESL classes at the K-12 level are also called ELLs or English Language Learners. ESL classes are also available for adults through various college and community programs. What ESL Programs Do Many schools will place children in an ESL program if their non-English speaking family recently immigrated to the United States or if a foreign exchange student needs extra help learning the language. But many ESL students enrolled in the U....

More: Kids and Diversity As a Maternity Concierge, sometimes I go on the first few outings with new moms after the baby is born. This particular family had a three-year-old, too. So here we are having spent way too much time in Target and a cart that drops items every few feet because it’s piled mountain high because this mom had been cooped up for the last three weeks. I’m wearing the baby, who is sleeping, and the three-year-old is in the cart (and holding a few items), but growing antsy as each minute passes....

Bottle Feeding Twins Families who choose to use bottles for feeding their twins have the benefit of extra hands; Mom is not the only source of food as she is when breastfeeding. Dad, grandparents, a nanny, or other helpers can participate in the feeding process. However, there are many times when it is necessary for one person to feed both babies at the same time, and that is when it is handy to have a strategy....

Dress the Part Wearing red, white, and blue is one of the simplest ways to show your patriotism and celebrate this national holiday. Although you can probably find patriotic gear anywhere, Old Navy and Target’s Fourth of July collections are excellent sources for matching outfits for the whole family. If you’re feeling crafty, it might also be fun to decorate your own T-shirts, hats, shoes, dresses, skirts, shorts, and face masks!...

It seems like an easy enough question, but you don’t want to buy your child a toy that isn’t safe or that he isn’t going to play with. In addition to considering your child’s interests and asking what he would like, one of the most important things to keep in mind is the age recommendations for the toy. For example, for younger children, it will help you avoid toys with small parts and those that pose choking hazards....

Most people underestimate the feelings that accompany this syndrome, and this causes empty nesters to feel even more alone. The sense of a loss of purpose or emptiness can go away if you receive the right support. The period that the condition lasts for differs from one person to another. Even though this syndrome usually lasts a few months, it can last up to two years. It is important to keep in mind that letting go of your adult children is not easy, but fortunately, learning how to cope with these intense feelings is possible....

If you live with a preschooler, though, you may find that there is a pint-sized someone in your home who thinks they know better than you (and their friends, and their teacher, and everyone they come across). The preschool years are prime time for bossiness. This is not a fun stage, but it is a perfectly normal and expected preschool behavior. Luckily, this is something you can get through without your home turning into an absolute monarchy (or you or others staging a coup d’état)....

There are many milestones in an infant’s life, including being able to lift their head, roll over, crawl, and finally sit up on their own. Typically babies between 7 and 9 months of age are able to sit up without support. They might still require some assistance, and some may sit up on the earlier end of that range, while others hit the milestone later. It’s natural to anxiously await the next step in your child’s development, and want to provide the assistance they need to reach that achievement....

Types of Transitions While the biggest transition occurs at age 22, your child will go through a number of transitions—even if they stay in the same school district throughout their growing up years. Transitions can be: From one grade classroom to anotherFrom one school to anotherFrom one program to anotherFrom school to postsecondary, college, vocational program, or another program Planning for Transitions It is important to communicate with your child’s teachers concerning upcoming transitions....

More: 5 Ways Kids Can Stay Connected and Social While Social Distancing Most skills for social and emotional learning are now taught in schools, but during the pandemic, a time when kids need it most, teachers and administrators are striving to provide the basics of core academics. Educators are being faced with many challenges including online and hybrid models, accessing struggling students, and locating students who are simply missing from school altogether....

Figuring out how to let our children know we are proud of them can be a delicate balance. Too few expressions of praise leave kids feeling bad. Too many expressions of praise can leave them insufferably arrogant. Striking the balance to find appropriate praise and appropriate expressions of pride in the accomplishments of our children can be pretty tricky. These tips can help parents find the right approach to appropriate praise and appropriate expressions of pride in a child’s efforts and accomplishments....

So if you’re a work-at-home parent with a toddler or two-year-old, recognize that you’ll likely need some child care. How much and what kind will depend on your job and your child’s activity level. That said, many parents of toddlers can be productive with children nearby. You just have to accept that you can only work in short bursts—a bit like a toddler. How to Work From Home With a Toddler in Tow Helping kids learn to entertain themselves with independent play activities benefits both parents and children....

Below are a few fun ways you can motive your tween, and encourage your child to embrace opportunities. Be Upbeat If you want your tween to embrace learning, or try new things be sure you present a positive and upbeat attitude to your tween. Your excitement may be all your tween needs to try new things or take on a challenge. Let your tween know that you have high expectations for him and that you know he’s more than capable of achieving them....

Why You Should Take a Family Vacation With Your Adult Kids An increasing number of families with teens, college kids, and 20-somethings continue to vacation together. These trips are “more a luxury than an obligation” to a cash-strapped young adult, says travel guru Donna Airoldi of TravelMuse.com, but there’s more at work here than finances. Young adults, especially if they are single, enjoy time with their family as a respite from their working lives and social obligations....

In fact, knowing the ins and outs of safe sleep helps parents protect their kids from dangers like sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), suffocation, and even strangulation. Here is an overview of the things you can do to practice safe sleep from birth through preschool. Safe Sleep From Newborn to 1 Year Most new parents already know that they should be putting infants to sleep on their backs and providing ample tummy time during the day....

So, if their child wants to jump on the couch, the answer is yes. If their child doesn’t want to go to school, the answer is yes. If their child wants to stay up late playing the Xbox, the answer is yes. If their child wants to shred their comforter to see what’s inside, the answer is yes. Basically, “yes parents” attempt to say yes to all of their kids’ requests....

Researchers at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland suggest that for time-outs to be effective, they should consist of “two kinds of nothing.“ In other words, there should be nothing going on during the time-out, and there should be nothing the child can do about it. Why Time-Outs Work When implemented correctly, time-out removes positive reinforcement. The strategy gives a child a few minutes away from a stimulating environment and is one of the most effective disciplinary techniques for children beginning at age 2 and going through the primary school years....

Combine that sticky stuff with a preschooler who isn’t used to the sensation of simply chewing something, keeping it in their mouth for a long time, and not swallowing, and you’ll find a little person might be tempted to take it out of their mouth, it’s a good idea to be prepared in case a sticky mess occurs. Methods and Tips for Cleaning Chewing Gum Messes Give these methods a try when cleaning up the next chewing gum mess you encounter....

But when you decide to start a family, the game changes. “The only guarantee is that children are not free,” says Christy Matzen, CFP, the director of financial planning at Zoe Financial. “Every child comes with unique expenses, so a savings account is crucial.” While love and care go a long way towards supporting and raising your little one, saving money is also critical to making sure your baby (and your family) are safe, nourished, and happy....

Granted, you don’t need a three-step process for one-time purchases of less than $50, for example. But for bigger purchases or purchases you make repeatedly, it’s well worth it. A recent search for a Garmin Nuvi GPS navigator turned up a variety of prices. The exact same model could cost anywhere from $345 to $900. That’s a heck of a difference. How long did it take me to get that information?...