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Teaching Your Child About the Body The majority of young children enjoy running around the house with no clothing on. So if their parents do the same, it’s likely they don’t even notice. And if they do, it’s to point out differences — “Mommy, why don’t you have a penis (or whatever word your child uses to describe his private parts)?” As kids get older, say 6 or 7, they may become more aware of nakedness, particularly as they interact with peers and are exposed to more on television....

The follicles that do not release a mature egg disintegrate, a process known as atresia that can happen at any stage of follicular development. About 99% of ovarian follicles will disintegrate and never become mature enough to release an egg. Follicle growth and development are tracked during fertility treatments. During superovulation (used during IVF treatment), the goal is to stimulate the ovaries to develop several mature follicles at once. An ultrasound exam, also known as an antral follicle count (AFC), may be performed as a part of fertility testing....

How to Teach Children Empathy Empathy is the central component of emotional intelligence. And if taught correctly, empathy can go a long way in preventing bullying. What’s more, studies show that kids who are empathetic have better relationships and perform better in school. Here are seven ways you can teach your child to be empathetic. Meet Your Child’s Emotional Needs It is very difficult for children to treat others kindly if they do not feel loved....

No matter what your child’s preferences and habits are, it’s always a good time to nurture positivity around food and eating experiences. Kids also need support in listening to their bodies in terms of what makes them feel good. You can make a game out of picking different colors of fruits and vegetables (green broccoli, yellow and red peppers, orange carrots). Then, talk about the dishes you can make in the coming week using your rainbow of produce, such as a stir-fry....

Although your child shouldn’t be immune to discipline, it’s not always the best strategy. If they’re punished without truly understanding the problem with cheating, it’s less likely that they’ll stop cheating and more likely that they’ll just try harder not to get caught in the future. Listen to All Sides of the Story As a parent, it could be in your nature to go to bat for your child and take a stance against the teacher or student who accused your child of cheating....

The debate over “free-range kids” overlooks the fact that kids can be encouraged to be more independent and responsible in many different situations. Going to play at a public park or walking to school by themselves at age 6 is not the only way you can teach your child to be more independent. It isn’t fair to label parents who want to, say, walk an 8-year-old to school “helicopter parents....

Ask anyone who grew up in a bilingual household will know, younger children absorb new words and languages like a sponge. The brain is the most flexible between ages 0-5, meaning that the time to start learning is now. Pediatric neurologist Harry Chugani, Director of the Children’s PET Center at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit, believes that the time to learn foreign languages is in preschool and elementary school when the chemistry of the brain is charged for it....

The following is a list of 7 common complaints that kids say about school. The complaints could be a sign of small frustration or a warning sign of trouble. They could also be the early warning signs of a child who no longer sees the value in school and not feeling motivated to do well—in other words, they are starting to develop a poor attitude. It’s best to avoid jumping to conclusions about what these complaints mean....

The best way to help your child through this stage is not to make a particular fuss about it. Avoid teasing, as this may add to the ribbing your son may already be receiving at school. This doesn’t mean that you ignore the changes or pretend like they’re not happening. Rather, it’s important to step forward if you sense your son is experiencing any discomfort and to answer questions that he might otherwise be reluctant to ask....

How to Find a Nanny Available nannies can be found through referral, online services, or childcare agencies. Here’s a look at some of the ways you might find a nanny. Referral If you’re like many new moms who lean on Facebook for all the things, you’ll find local Facebook parenting groups to be a rich resource for nanny referrals. As kids grow up or families leave the area, highly recommended nannies will often find their former employers pitching in to promote their services....

Risk Factors Risk factors for postpartum depression or anxiety include: Prenatal or previous depressionLife stressLack of social supportMarital dissatisfactionUnwanted pregnancyHistory of sexual abuseTraumatic birth experienceHigh expectations of birth/parentingPhysical problems with the babyProblems with health providers Depression of Some Sort After Birth Is Common Childbirth classes often limit the postpartum discussion to the mother’s physical recovery and taking care of the baby. Rarely do parents have the opportunity to prepare themselves for such an emotional roller coaster....

When you homeschool your child, you might ask yourself “How do I know if my child is learning anything?” This is one of the most common questions asked by parents new to homeschooling because the style of learning is so different from traditional schooling. This doesn’t mean you can’t measure your child’s learning at all during homeschooling, but that you have to find creative ways to evaluate their progress. If you’re concerned with having a quantifiable record of what your child knows (and, by default, what they don’t know yet), here are some ideas for figuring it out....

Why Is There a Baby Formula Shortage? The answer is multifaceted. The COVID-19 pandemic has strained global supply chains, induced labor shortages, and increased demand for many products. On top of that, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and related international sanctions have made certain products scarce. In addition, President Biden announced Operation Fly Formula, which directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to use Department of Defence (DOD) commercial aircraft to import infant formula that meets U....

Follow this expert advice and you’ll both feel more confident navigating this unfamiliar territory. When Is the “Right Age”? As is the case with many things in child-rearing, the “right age” for when a child stays the night elsewhere for the first time depends entirely on the child. “It’s not necessarily about the age, but more about the readiness,” says Megan Romano, a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) based in Brooklyn, New York....

More: At-Home Learning Resources for the COVID-19 Outbreak Because the 2020-2021 school year will be unlike any other, it’s important to talk to your child about how to be safe and responsible. If there is one “must have” on the back-to-school list this year, it’s not a new set of markers, it’s a resilient child. We drew on our own teaching and parenting experience, and talked to experts about what to say to your kids as they head back to school....

But what’s normal for you isn’t necessarily going to be what’s normal for your child. If they have a bowel movement just once or twice a week, for example, does this mean they’re constipated, or simply that their digestive system is on a different clock from yours? It’s not uncommon for a child to become constipated, but at the same time, how often they need a poopy diaper changed or head to the bathroom on their own isn’t the best indicator....

Picture a sweet, snuggly baby burrito. According to Dr. Harvey Karp, author of The Happiest Baby Guide to Great Sleep, swaddling resembles the constrained environment of the womb. It also keeps babies from waking themselves up if they startle or twitch and triggers a calming reflex that helps them sleep. Will it work for your twins? Well, if you are desperate enough for some shut-eye, anything that promotes sleep with twinfants is worth a shot!...

One method is the use of breastfeeding herbs in conjunction with increased nursing and/or pumping. An herb that some people have success with is alfalfa. However, it’s important to consider safety and efficacy before taking it. Here’s what you need to know about alfalfa and breastfeeding. What Is Alfalfa? Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is a common plant from the pea family, and it’s one of the oldest and most cultivated crops in history....

But exercise has particular benefits for pre-teens and teens. It can: Reduce anxiety, stress, and depression Improve self-esteem Boost academic performance Help establish lifelong healthy habits That’s in addition to the way fitness helps teens manage their weight, build muscle strength and bone mass, and control blood pressure. Pretty convincing! But rates of physical activity tend to decline as kids get older. They’re busier with school and friends, they are easily discouraged if they feel their performance doesn’t measure up to their peers, and puberty can make them feel ashamed of their bodies....