Effort: Quick and easy – no sewing required Materials: Big cardboard box Festive and fun wrapping paper (enough to cover the box) Scotch tape Large bow Greeting card (homemade is good) Scissors Black or dark-colored clothing Instructions: Cut the bottom of the box out. Cut out armholes in the sides of the box, and a head hole in the top. Wrap the box with the wrapping paper. (Leave the bottom of the box open....

Of course, the characteristics of a good parent aren’t fixed or absolute. What may seem like good parenting to one person may not fit that definition for someone else. But generally speaking, these traits and habits can be found in parents who are practicing good parenting skills. Every child is different and so is every parent, and every family has unique needs and circumstances. But most kids will benefit from parents who strive to provide care, attention, and unconditional love—but set expectations for behavior too....

How to Choose the Right Volunteer Activity for Your Child One tip to keep in mind is to tailor the volunteer activity to your child’s personality, abilities, and interests. For example, if your child is very young, volunteer activities that require hours of physical work may not be a good fit. If they love to be active and would prefer to be outdoors, participating in a park clean-up or riding a tricycle or bicycle in a bike-a-thon might be a fun way for them to help others....

Others experience eczema for the first time while pregnant. The itchy, inflamed skin patches may linger (or show up for the first time) after your baby is born, too. Wondering why eczema often pops up with pregnancy and during the postpartum stage, and how to keep your symptoms in check? Here is a guide for managing your eczema after delivery and beyond, including which treatments and medications are safe while breastfeeding....

Level: Moderately difficult Time involved: One to two hours Ingredients: 3 eggs 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup milk 3 cups flour 3 teaspoons baking powder Dash of salt 1 teaspoon vanilla Approximately 5 cups vegetable oil 1/2 cup sugar (to coat the doughnuts) Equipment: Deep-fryer or large, heavy pan Slotted spoon Paper bag

The study, published in the Journal of Marriage and Family in June, followed 203 couples who were having their first child and observed both the pregnancy and postpartum period. The results showed that it’s possible to have a baby and still be happily married. About the Study During the study, couples were categorized into four groups at the end of that first postpartum year. What they discovered was that 46% of them retained high satisfaction and commitment, and 35% reported “moderately high” satisfaction and high commitment....

The first day of preschool has arrived, and it’s time for your child to begin an educational journey that will last nearly two decades. How can you make this monumental first day a great one? Get Ready to Say Goodbye on the First Day of Preschool Saying goodbye to mom and dad, particularly if it’s the first time out of the house alone, can be difficult for many preschoolers. For some it’s old hat—they’ve been in daycare for years or just have an incredibly easy-going, go-with-the-flow personality....

For: Kids 10 - 14Required: Reference sources. Ask your child to research an historical event (or begin with one he or she has been studying in school). Then, assign your junior journalist a news story, based on the happening. The piece should answer these questions: who, what, where, when, why, and how. It can even be illustrated by a family “photographer” (the reporter or a younger sibling). As a variation, encourage your child to embellish the facts....

Skin-to-Skin Contact Your baby will likely be given to you to hold close to your body as soon as she is born. This is because skin-to-skin contact with you has important benefits, including warming her and helping her to regulate her breathing. However, this contact is not only important on the day of birth; its value holds true throughout infancy. So, take some time each day to hold your baby close to your bare skin during those first few months....

Plan AheadPlan and discuss with your family your interfaith approach to the holidays well before the holiday season. There should be no anticipatory anxieties, worries or confusion about how you will celebrate your holidays. Share Your Decision You must come to a mutually agreed upon decision about your holiday celebrations and share this decision with your children. Your kids need you to set the tone, direction and comfort level of the holidays....

20 to 30 minutes Materials White paperRulerPencil1/2 teaspoon of sugarMarkers or crayonsPackage of unflavored gelatinSmall paintbrushWater Directions Extensions Use small pictures cut from magazines to make into stickers.Add a few drops of flavored extract, such as peppermint or lemon, to the glue for a better taste.

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with depression, it is important to understand the painful effects family members may experience as they try to understand the diagnosis and provide emotional support. Knowing what to expect and how to interact are important elements that protect the entire family’s well-being. Here are some ways depression may affect the family including what you can expect and how to cope....

Challenging Behaviors Foster children in your care may display behaviors that are difficult to manage. Know that the following can be brought into your foster home and be prepared to address these behaviors and issues in your home and around your children. Cursing Some foster families do not allow cursing in their homes. These same families may be very surprised at the level of swearing some foster children use on a daily basis, including very young children....

These ranges may not match up with what you’ve heard friends report about their experiences, however. While it’s normal to wonder what the average labor time is for most women, especially as your due date approaches, it’s important to remember that every labor and delivery is different, and labor time is often very unpredictable. Furthermore, how labor time is counted can vary, which affects reports that come from researchers and healthcare providers (and, therefore, reported statistics)....

Here’s what your Scout and you need to do and when. Tenderfoot to Life Tenderfoot is the second rank for Scouts and it’s the first advancement one can make on the path to becoming an Eagle Scout (Life is the rank that precedes Eagle). Preparing for and chipping away at this goal early on can prove helpful. To that end: As a child advances from the earliest stages of scouting, as a novice Scout and then Tenderfoot, up through Second Class, First, Star, and Life levels, they’ll be completing various advancement projects and working on merit badges....

In fact, it’s not uncommon for older kids to experience a variety of sleep challenges like insomnia, sleep debt, and even sleep apnea. And because lack of sleep can impact everything from their academic success to their physical health, instilling healthy sleep habits becomes more important than ever for older kids. Not only will they need to establish healthy sleep practices now, but they also need to learn how to manage their sleep needs on their own, especially as they get closer to their college years and young adulthood....