For more colorful rainy fun, sprinkle a few drops of food coloring or tempera paint powder onto a paper plate (or ​other sturdy piece of paper). Take it outside and let the rain give you watercolors. You can swirl the liquid around to make designs. Bring the plate inside to dry, or press another piece of paper on top, then peel off to make a print. On a warm, summer rainy day, dress kids in swimsuits or old clothes, then send them outside with washable or bathtub paint....

Colored construction paper Scissors Paper plate Paper fastener Crayon, pen, or marker Directions

Every set of twins is different and the correct choice may be together one year and separate the next. Sometimes the school system will set a policy that forces the decision, but parents’ input should always be considered. If you are trying to ​decide the best option for your twins, consider these reasons to separate your twins into different classes. There is a natural tendency to compare twins, and the comparison can become quite uncomfortable when one twin is distinguished more favorably....

Their discoveries may make it possible to detect pregnancy complications and even save potential pregnancy losses without invasive procedures. Creating The Model Examining any internal elements of a pregnancy or fetus usually requires a needle, incision, or a method of entering the expecting mother’s body. In this study, researchers from the University of Missouri worked to remove the invasive component. Using organoids, which are stem-cell created tissues, the researchers were able to create a simulation of uterine fluid....

Despite such problems, couples can and do put their marriages back together, although only through extremely hard work. But both members of the couple must do the work, or it will be doomed from the start. Generally, the best approach is finding a marriage counselor to help you. Therapists come in as many styles as this year’s wall calendar. The question is, what should you look for in a marriage counselor?...

In a child’s mind, even the smallest nook or cranny can become a hideaway, a fortress, or a teahouse. Create your child’s own pint-sized private world, ripe for imagination and exploration or even just an afternoon snooze. Use a corner of her room to erect a small fabric teepee (canvas over PVC pipe, wooden dowels, or even bamboo sticks from a garden shop work great) or a circus tent made out of a big, colorful sheet or parachute....

It’s important to establish guidelines that will help your teen make healthy decisions with their smartphones, laptops, and video games. Create a list of written rules that clearly outline your expectations. Explain the negative consequences for breaking the rules ahead of time so your teen isn’t surprised when you take away privileges. Here is a sample list of electronics rules for teens that you may want to consider adopting in your home:...

Stan Zatkowski, an admissions counselor at Boston College, offers this advice: “Many schools do not have a preference. The SAT assesses a student’s potential to learn by testing math and verbal skills, and the ACT shows what a student has already learned in a variety of subjects. Schools take a student’s day-to-day performance into account as well as his or her exam scores. Since most schools have no preference between the two tests, I’d suggest that the student take whatever test he or she is comfortable with....

Writing paper Pen Envelope A secret code letter is exchanged between best friends only. You and your friend need to put your heads together and create a secret code that no one else can decipher or understand. One way is to use the letters of the alphabet in a different sequence, e.g., A=B, B=C, C=D, etc., so that DOG would = EPH. Or you could use symbols, pictures, or a rebus, e....

What Your Child Should Know Your child should: Feel free to express her nervousness, sadness, concern, fear, or even if she is getting a tummy ache whenever she is away from mom or dad Know that her feelings are valid and that it is okay to share her feelings with you as well as her teacher Develop strategies, with your help, of how to make the best out of spending time away from you Plan to come home and tell you all about her time away so her accomplishments can be celebrated together...

As teens and children increasingly carry smartphones and use tablets, computers, social media, apps, and messaging, the risks that they will be exposed to or send or receive sexually explicit content has become a concern for parents, teachers, and law enforcement. Sexting is often done as a joke, a way of trying to seem “cool,” to get attention, or as flirting. Parents should discuss the issue with their children to ensure they understand the risks and what to do if or when they’re exposed to or participate in sexting....

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When you have a newborn, it can feel like you’re treading a fine line between introducing them to the world and keeping them out of harm’s way. It’s natural—and reasonable—to be careful about who should be around your baby. Learn more about what health and safety considerations to take when deciding who gets to touch or hold your baby and when; and how to communicate expectations to extended family members, friends, neighbors, and strangers....

Who Should Consider Freezing Their Sperm? Anyone can freeze sperm if they want to. “If having a genetic tie to a child might be something that’s important to you in the future, then it’s [something] to do to give you more options,” says Susan Hudson, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist with the Texas Fertility Center. While cryopreservation is an option for anyone who wishes to explore it, there are certain groups of individuals who especially might want to speak with their healthcare provider about this procedure....

To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a checklist of key considerations and skills needed to be a successful foster parent. While there is much more to fostering a child and knowing for sure that you’re ready, this list is a great place to start. Honest Self-Evaluation Before jumping into foster care, most families spend two or three years just thinking about it. Here are a few points to consider before making the final decision on whether or not to take on foster care....

Rule One: Build a Reliable Team Around Your Child The first step in building a reliable team is to find independent evaluators who can help you understand and advocate for your child. Other members of your support team may include a trained educational advocate who can help you understand the procedural steps and think through strategies as well as attend meetings and help you make your case. (As a general rule, an expert evaluator should not also be your advocate; the skills are different, and an evaluator is more credible if allowed simply to comment as an expert in your child’s needs....

Becky Miller: Meteorologist for Southwest Airlines Becky Miller knew that she wanted to be a meteorologist from the age of eight. She grew up in a home that valued science; her mom was a nurse and her dad was a doctor. “I never felt science was male dominated,” Miller says. “I never felt that way as a kid. Many of my science teachers from 5th grade on were women. Not many college professors were women, but a few were....