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Child developmentResolutions RevisitedIn 2009 I resolve to stop yelling at my kids. That is precisely the New Year’s pledge that Marion Budnick broke the first week of the new year. It wasn’t that she didn’t have positive intentions. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to end the yelling. It wasn’t even that she wasn’t sincere about her goal. All of those were firmly in place. Yet something else was missing. Marion Budnick sincerely wanted to stop yelling at her children, but she had no idea of what to do instead. She knew what she wanted to stop, but she didn’t have an appropriate replacement behavior in mind for when she felt like yelling.
Submitted by community on Tue, 20/01/2009 - 7:50pm
Reading With Your Kids
Instill a love of reading into your children by reading books with them and discussing them as you go along. This could include novels they’re reading in school or supplementary reading. Make your children truly rich in spirit – read with them! Warmly, Mark Brandenburg Mark Brandenburg MA, CPCC
Submitted by community on Thu, 08/01/2009 - 8:26pm
How to stimulate your baby's development with home made toysThe following DIY toys were made by Vicky Ellison with bits and pieces she found in her household and garage. They are really easy to make and provide hours of fun for your baby / toddler to explore a particular developmental stage.
Submitted by stefan on Tue, 16/12/2008 - 9:56am
Bring it on!
“You think so?” my daughter yelled back. “You’re gonna get what you deserve!” My son came at me from the front, while my daughter snuck around behind me. I spun to the ground, and was assaulted on both sides. It was only a matter of time before they each had a shoulder pinned to the ground. While they celebrated their victory, I planned my next attack, knowing that the “results” of the battle were far less important than the battle itself. Do you want to be an effective father? One of the easiest ways to be effective is to wrestle with your kids. Not only is it loads of fun, but its’ benefits go a long ways towards teaching your kids some valuable lessons.
Submitted by community on Wed, 26/11/2008 - 7:12pm
Time for Your Kids is Now
She spins and she sways It's been a long day There's a ball at the castle So I will dance with Cinderella
Submitted by community on Tue, 21/10/2008 - 8:40pm
Reflecting You
They’ll reflect your joy, your enthusiasm, your anger, and your love. They’ll see how you treat your wife, and how you treat women in general. They’ll see how you respond to stressful times, and how honest you are. They’ll see how you take care of yourself, and how you nurture others. And they’ll see how important your family is to you. You give it to them, and they reflect it back. What are you choosing to give your children? Warmly, Mark Brandenburg Mark Brandenburg MA, CPCC
Submitted by community on Wed, 08/10/2008 - 8:36pm
Parental Discretion Advised
When the scene changed, and April thought it was safe for Alleke to watch again, she took her hand away. Alleke must have thought the show was still too scary because she took April's hand, put it back over her eyes, and held it there. Posted with permission from Spain Dad
Submitted by community on Thu, 28/08/2008 - 10:41pm
Pointy issue: to vaccinate or not to vaccinate
Flu vaccination seems to be a hot topic at the moment in the country's current political fever as evidenced by the election-themed campaign "Flu Vaccination: Choose Your Administration." It's an effort to increase flu knowledge and empower Americans to take action for their health and the health of their families. According to the media release by MedImmune, flu vaccination is an important part of the healthcare dialogue. The decision to vaccinate or not is particularly topical as it is the first flu season following expanded flu vaccination recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which now advises that all school-age children get vaccinated against the flu each year.
Submitted by stefan on Tue, 26/08/2008 - 5:11pm
Be a successful failure
It’s no different in fatherhood. Are you a successful failure? Or does your pride in not admitting your shortcomings build a wall between you and your children? The best thing you can do for your kids is say you’re sorry when you need to, and give them some freedom to fail as well. The idea is not to have a perfect family, but a learning family. And that can only start by admitting mistakes. Mark Brandenburg Mark Brandenburg MA, CPCC
Submitted by community on Thu, 21/08/2008 - 8:22pm
The Daddy Rules
As I picked up the Things at daycare one day, I realized there are an awful lot of rules that I have to follow, too. Rule #1: Bring snacks for the ride home. Sure, it may not be the best idea before dinner, but it isn’t worth the price of crying and whining I’ll pay if I don’t have them. Rule #2: Snacks must be the same, and that means the same size. God forbid Thing 1 or Thing 2 thinks they have the smaller snack. If snacks are a sandwich bag of animal crackers, for example, the bags need to have the same number of crackers in them.
Submitted by community on Mon, 21/07/2008 - 9:36pm
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One sociologist, looking over 8,000 years of human history, writes that the measure of wealth is the ability to own a book and be able to read it. Literacy is the ultimate luxury. And yet, in that regard, our country is becoming poorer and poorer. 
1) Glitter Bottle
“Bring it on,” I yelled to my kids. “I’ll pin you both at the same time!”
The next time you feel busy and overwhelmed, and one of your kids wants your attention, think about the lyrics to this song written by Curtis Chapman:
Remember that when it’s all said and done, your kids will accurately reflect many of the things you’ve given them. 
Last night we were watching TV before bed, and April had Alleke on her lap. The show we were watching seemed relatively harmless until one point when the main character's skin melted off his face, and he turned into a talking meatball. I grimaced, and April put her hand over Alleke's eyes.
Do you get flu jabs for your kids? Yes? No? According to a survey just released by American drug company MedImmune, 44% of all parents in the US have their children vaccinated. So what are the pros and cons?
The successful entrepreneur has averaged four business failures in his lifetime. According to leadership expert John Maxwell, "Failure is the price you pay for success." The key is to fail well... meaning you learn from your mistakes. 
Kids are always complaining that there are too many rules to follow. No running in the house. No fighting with your brother. No putting your fingers up your nose.