Stress Consequences “I emphasize the use of consequences over punishment,” says Kristen Arquette, a licensed marriage and family therapist in Bellevue, WA. “They’re related concepts but with a different purpose.” According to Arquette, consequences help kids to learn from mistakes, choose better behaviors, and get along in the world. Punishments make children feel bad, or worse yet, suffer. “While punishments may ‘work,’ to interrupt a behavior short term, they have potentially negative long-term effects including causing children to feel bad about who they are (which also makes them more likely to act out again), as well as creating an adversarial relationship between parents and child....

Audrey, a well-known English name, originated from the Anglo-Norman words for “noble” and “strength.” Related meanings of the name include supernatural power and honorable. It is also related to the Anglo-Saxon names Aethelthryth, Ethelreda, and Ethelred. How Popular Is the Name Audrey? While numerous similarly classic, old-fashioned baby names, such as Olivia, Ava, Amelia, Sophia, Charlotte, and Evelyn, have soared in the popularity charts, Audrey hasn’t broken the top 30 in the past 100 years....

Rashes are extremely common in babies—especially newborns—and they’re often harmless and fleeting. That said, there are some types of infant rashes that may become concerning and could benefit from treatment to help restore your little one’s velvety skin. Two very common types of infant skin lesions such as these are baby acne and baby eczema—and it can be difficult to differentiate between the two. To help you better understand and spot the difference between baby acne and eczema, we tapped the experts....

Baby Plus reviews from parents are generally positive. The majority of parents believe that the Baby Plus system has helped their child be calm, alert, and happy. Many also suggest that their older children perform better academically thanks to the use of Baby Plus in utero. What Is the Baby Plus System? The Baby Plus system consists of a battery-operated unit and a little pouch, which is strapped around mom’s former waist so that the sound unit rests against her belly....

It is possible to contract diseases from bats. Rabies, of course, is the best known, but is actually a rare concern with bats, as very few carry the disease and they typically won’t bite unless they’re royally pissed off. That said, cats and dogs do risk infection if they pick up diseased bats, so it’s a good idea to keep their rabies vaccinations up to date. Histoplasmosis, a fungal disease that can be transmitted by inhaling the dust from dried bat manure (bird manure can contain the pathogens, too), is more of a concern, especially for people with immune disorders....

Hair and nail products Shampoos, conditioners, manicures, and pedicures are safe. Minute amounts of hair dye may be absorbed through the skin, but there’s no evidence that this affects the baby. Chemical hair straighteners and curlers are also thought to be safe. Piercing Facial piercing or piercing the belly button, nipples, or genitalia isn’t advised since you’re at a higher risk of infection. If you have a navel piercing already, you can change a metallic ring for a flexible plastic retainer made from PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene)....

These findings are alarming, especially in light of the fact that challenging behaviors are one of the strongest predictors of more serious problems as kids grow older, including delinquency, aggression, anti-social behavior, and substance abuse. What’s going on? More importantly, what can we do about it? Many researchers view the continuing rise in bad preschooler behavior as an indication of the need for change in school programs and classroom management....

Published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the study found that when children are the youngest in their class, they have a greater chance of experiencing educational problems, as well as social and even emotional complications. The findings could help parents considering when to enroll their child in school. The Study Researchers with King’s College London, the Karolinska Institute, and Orebro University looked at information on almost 300,000 individuals....

Makes you feel better physically. Improves self-esteem and provides a more positive mental outlook. Makes you look better and helps to control your weight. Increases your balance, coordination, and agility. Helps prevent osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and non–insulin-dependent diabetes. Makes you feel invigorated and more energetic. Strengthens bones and muscle, giving you the functional strength for everyday living. Before you begin, there are some things to consider: Have realistic expectations. For all you beginners, don’t expect to turn into a muscle-man or super-model overnight....

Effort: Quick and easy — no sewing required Materials: 2 large sheets of poster board Permanent markers (black, brown) Bingo card (for reference) Ping pong balls Headband Black turtleneck and sweatpants Yarn Highlighter Black markers Glue Instructions: For an adult-sized person, use two large sheets of poster board for the front and back of the costume. If a child will be wearing the costume, you’ll have to cut the poster board to fit....

November arrives, the temperature drops and the clocks turn back. Suddenly, it’s Thanksgiving. As you rouse from your turkey induced coma, it hits you. You’re at the precipice of Black Friday. Shopping Armageddon is upon you. But this year is different. You’ve done your research, made your lists and mapped out a store flow chart. Now all that’s left is to survive Black Friday is to factor in your one wild card: shopping with your kids....

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, by Bill Martin Children see a variety of animals, each one a different color, and a mother looking at them. Bedtime for Frances, by Russell Hoban It may be bedtime for Frances, but that doesn’t mean Frances is ready to go to bed – not by a long shot. Kids will enjoy the antics of Francis as she thinks up new diversions to keep her from going to bed....

If your child does suck his thumb, you know that he finds it comforting. When he’s upset, it calms him; when he’s hurt, it soothes him, when it’s bedtime, it lulls him to sleep. Thumb sucking can continue to provide a sense of security, even for a preschooler. So gather more evidence from your doctor and think long and hard before deciding to wean your child from his thumb. All children eventually stop sucking their thumbs regardless of what their parents do....