As a white mother or father, you probably didn’t have a lot of experience in working with black children’s hair, and that’s OK. While there is a lot to learn, once you do…and you will, teaching your children how to care for it themselves one day will make it so much easier, as well as help boost their self-esteem. The first step is to acknowledge that you need help because most of the best tips and techniques that work for your caucasian hair won’t work on black hair....

The physical and psychological benefits of athletic involvement are acknowledged, but there’s certainly an inherent risk in group activities. Still, parents and athletes alike hope that sports can take place as long as there’s a plan for adhering to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for face coverings, social distancing, and sanitizing equipment. Safety Considerations: Is It Safe to Play Sports During COVID? While many students are eager to get back onto fields, courts, gyms, and mats across the country, the AAP urges parents to be extremely cautious and informed when making their decision....

Instead, most childbirth classes concentrate on deep, abdominal breathing. This form of breathing actually promotes relaxation. It also helps supply you and your baby with the most oxygen in labor. This is a very natural form of breathing, so it is not difficult to master. The key is to watch your abdomen rise as you inhale and contract as you exhale. Doing so slowly will ensure good oxygenation of your blood and will begin to relax you without much effort at all....

Hearts and Showers Make paper hearts and mark some with a special drawing, stamp, or sticker. Pile them all on a blanket or bedsheet. Players stand around the edges of the sheet and hold it in the air. Show them how moving the sheet (gently at first) gets the hearts moving, too. Then tell them to get ready for the Valentine shower. On the count of five, everyone lifts the sheet and gives it a good tug, so the hearts go flying high....

CorduroyThe Day the Goose Got LooseGood Night, GorillaOver in the MeadowOonga BoongaRoad BuildersA Summery Saturday MorningThe Snowy DayFive TrucksLittle Cloud Back to Early Learning: Birth to Age Two

Effort: Easy — no sewing required Materials: Color-coordinated clothes for a twosome, in Space-y colors Face makeup to match or coordinate Spangles, sparkles Antennae (purchased) Oblong cardboard box large enough for two Scissors or X-Acto® knife Rubber cement or glue Aluminum foil (heavy-duty, wide) Instructions: Cut out two holes in the top of the box to pop the kids’ heads through. Cut out an armhole for each side. Leave the bottom of the box open, of course!...

First and foremost, we love you. That is a given, and our kids are blessed to have you in their lives. We are doing our best as parents and appreciate everything that you do, yet there are some sticking points that are hard to discuss because, well, you’re our parents and we still feel about 5-years-old when we’re around you. So here goes… Car Seats Save Lives When we were kids, we rarely used seatbelts and many of us sped down the highway doing somersaults in the back of a van or station wagon while mom sat holding baby brother in her lap in the front passenger seat....

Here are some of the most common questions people ask new adoptive parents—in the way that they ask them—so get ready to cringe: Are you sure you’ll be allowed to keep her? Many people have heard of those few—and very unusual—headliner media cases in which adopted children were sent back to their birthparents. So when they ask whether you’ll be able to “keep” the child, in most cases, the sentiment behind the question is really a sincere caring and concern for you....

Sure, she’s practiced going to school, like when she attended a six-week summer camp. But it still feels monumental that for five days a week for an entire school year, she’ll begin a learning journey that will continue through her early twenties. This life event also means I get to be a class mom. And that’s a big deal for me. Birthing not just one but two babies during the COVID-19 pandemic made it challenging, at times, to make mom friends....

15 to 20 minutes Materials Large blanket or towel Directions Your toddler will enjoy feeling the pull of gravity from the middle of a large blanket that you drag slowly around the floor. Talk about what you are doing and how it feels as you go. Extensions Take this activity outdoors.Go fast and then slow, using those words to talk about what you are doing.Ask your toddler to tell you when to go fast and when to stop....

Certified personal trainer and founder of Every Mother, Leah Keller, assures us, “Bike riding is a safe, low-impact option for aerobic exercise that can be enjoyed throughout the entire pregnancy.” There’s no need to switch your commute method or change your exercise routine if a bicycle is your preferred choice. As long as you still feel like riding and your doctor says it’s OK, it is safe to ride a bike while pregnant....

Reasons for NICU Blood Transfusions In most cases, a blood transfusion is used to increase the number of red blood cells that carry oxygen to body tissues, including the brain and heart. Transfusion can be given as either packed red blood cells (PRBC) or as whole blood. Individual components of blood can also be transfused, such as to increase the number of platelets to help stop bleeding. In the NICU, babies may be given a red blood cell transfusion for several reasons....

Overview It’s common to experience bouts of blurry vision during pregnancy. You may also find that your eyes become dryer and itchier during pregnancy, and even that your glasses or contact lens prescription temporarily changes. The good news is that, in most instances, these changes are completely normal and there are ways to alleviate these symptoms. For the most part, these changes will resolve on their own. Nonetheless, because blurry vision may be an indicator of a more serious pregnancy complication, like preeclampsia or gestational diabetes, it is important to discuss any new vision-related symptoms you experience with your healthcare provider....