It can be one of the most stressful things about parenting. You get up in the morning, expecting the day to go like normal, but your kid is warm to the touch or in the bathroom sick. How do you know when to keep your child home from school or daycare? How do you deal with your employer or looking for someone to watch them? When to keep your child home Every school and day … [Read more...] about Keeping Your Child Home When Sick
Child Care
How to Choose a Babysitter
As much as you may want to, you likely will not be able to spend every waking moment with your child. This may mean hiring a babysitter to fill in from time to time. But how to choose the perfect one? Here are some tips to find a good babysitter: Ask around. Your friends, neighbors, co-workers, or pediatrician may have recommendations or know someone looking for work.Check … [Read more...] about How to Choose a Babysitter
How to Adjust to the School Schedule
Of all the changes that come with the beginning of a new school year, perhaps one of the hardest is to adjust to the new schedule. Your child may have to get up early. They may have to adjust to eating regular meals rather than snacking all day. How can we adjust to the coming schedule rather than having a sudden shock when school starts again? Adjust bedtime … [Read more...] about How to Adjust to the School Schedule
Catch Up Kids in Class: The Benefits of Reading with Children
It helps with language and literacy skills. Reading with your children is proven to drastically improve speech, vocabulary, writing, story comprehension, and reading skills. This is a great way to supplement your child’s schooling at-home, especially after COVID-19 delayed many students’ learning progression timelines. It encourages a natural love of learning. Allowing … [Read more...] about Catch Up Kids in Class: The Benefits of Reading with Children
Catch Up Kids in Class: 10 Tips
No matter why your child has been out of school — whether because of an injury, illness, or school shutdown — or maybe she or he is just behind in a certain subject, parents are asking, “What can I do about my child being behind?” First and foremost, remember that almost all of the children are behind. You are not a failure and your child isn’t the only student in this … [Read more...] about Catch Up Kids in Class: 10 Tips
Catch Up Kids in Class: Math Basics
Many students have found themselves falling behind or losing skills due to illness, lockdowns, and other unforeseen reasons. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to get your child’s skills back on track! Here are a few simple ideas for restoring the mathematics literacy of your children at home. 1. Check out Khan Academy. Khan Academy is an incredible free resource used … [Read more...] about Catch Up Kids in Class: Math Basics
Help for Homeschoolers
Are you a mother or father seeking out how to best give your kids a proper education? Do you want to give homeschooling a test drive before you commit? If so, keep reading for 11 great tips. Break up your day. Just because your kids no longer have sports, clubs, or other extracurricular activities to attend, does not mean that they will want to work for the whole day. … [Read more...] about Help for Homeschoolers
Family Resource Centers on Military Bases
In a military family, raising children, especially when relocating, can be challenging. It can disrupt the children's academics, social networks, health care, and sports activities. Today's military spouses who tend to be under 35 and largely female are often in an unfamiliar location without a support network. Being informed and utilizing the available resources, whether it … [Read more...] about Family Resource Centers on Military Bases
7 Tips to Keep Your Child from Falling Behind
With all of the difficulties of learning from home, there has been a growing concern that some children who have or have had to learn remotely are falling behind. If this is true for your family, you and your child are not alone! There are some things you can do to help this situation: Keep up with your child’s online learning. Read and respond to any emails you get from the … [Read more...] about 7 Tips to Keep Your Child from Falling Behind
6 Ways to Get Wi-Fi When You Don’t Have Internet
School has started again, and for many, that means online learning this year. This is very difficult for some families who can’t get an internet connection due to financial difficulties. School districts are struggling to fill in the gaps. In the meantime, here are six ways to get your child online when you don’t have an internet provider. Public Wi-Fi: This one might be … [Read more...] about 6 Ways to Get Wi-Fi When You Don’t Have Internet
What Does Baby Really Need?
Shopping for a new baby can often feel overwhelming and confusing, especially when there is so much to consider. However, babies don’t need the fanciest or newest products to thrive. Below are a few things you should expect to use in caring for a baby: Diapers: You might choose to use disposable or cloth diapers, and neither option is better or worse. Brand does not matter. … [Read more...] about What Does Baby Really Need?
Shutdown Parenting: Protect Your Child’s Education
I’m going to respond to some comments I’m receiving during this shutdown. As a former homeschooling mum with previous homeschool support experience, I have some words of affirmation for the parents trying to maintain academic consistency at home. “My child refuses to participate.” I’m sure many parents trying to follow the distance learning programs coming in by the … [Read more...] about Shutdown Parenting: Protect Your Child’s Education
11 Tips for Homeschooling Temporarily
Whether because of a snow day or some other unforeseen crisis, sometimes, your child's school needs to switch to more of a homeschooling format to keep the learning going through this unplanned time off. So now, parents like you who have previously sent their kids to school are finding themselves needing to act as their children’s teachers. Here are some tips from someone who … [Read more...] about 11 Tips for Homeschooling Temporarily
How to Start a Babysitting Co-Op
Raising children and supporting parents is a community job. A babysitting co-op is a group of parents who babysit for each other. It helps the children to socialize, and it gives the parents the peace of mind of knowing the person who is watching their child. It helps to build the community that is so important in raising a child. 1. Start small. Ask around in your group of … [Read more...] about How to Start a Babysitting Co-Op
Where Can You Find Emergency Babysitting?
Many parents are being placed in the difficult position of trying to find someone to watch their child so they can go to work. If you are in this position, there are resources for you. First, the best thing for you and your child would be for you to calm down and list out all of the people you know. The simplest solution may be right under your nose with an unemployed … [Read more...] about Where Can You Find Emergency Babysitting?
Getting a Head Start on Head Start
Head Start is a federally funded program serving low-income children and their families. The goal of Head Start is to give your child the best social, educational, physical, and emotional preparation to start kindergarten. What Services Does Head Start Provide? The best way to find out what Head Start services are offered near you is to contact your local programs. This … [Read more...] about Getting a Head Start on Head Start
Finding the Right School for You and Your Family
When someone recommended a school to me that was billed as “catering to working adults,” I thought, “Why not?” So I requested information and began a journey of discovery about schools and how it all meshed with single parenting. Simultaneously, I was in transition and needed to find a school for my rising kindergartner. How it all came together is still a mystery, but with … [Read more...] about Finding the Right School for You and Your Family
What to Do If Your Child Is Bullied
Bullying has become a huge problem in schools, and every day we see its terrible consequences all over the news. Children are often reluctant to talk about it. Here are some warning signs to look for: If you suspect your child is being bullied, talk to her first. Let her know you are proud of her and you love her regardless of what happened. Give her space to express … [Read more...] about What to Do If Your Child Is Bullied
What Type of Child Care Is Best for Your Family?
Most parents need at least some form of child care. Unfortunately, child care can be quite expensive. However, the good news is it doesn’t have to be! It is possible to find good child care and still stay within your budget. From school and government programs to private arrangements with other parents, there are a number of ways to find quality child care. Visit … [Read more...] about What Type of Child Care Is Best for Your Family?
How to Find Child Care in Your Community
Finding child care can be one of the most challenging tasks all parents take on. It’s not always easy to know where to find the highest quality care in your area. Even beginning the process can be a daunting task. There are, however, resources to help! Child Care Resource and Referral, known as CCR&R, are agencies that keep a database listing of child care centers, … [Read more...] about How to Find Child Care in Your Community
What Are Au Pairs, and How Do They Save You Money?
Parents today have several options when it comes to hiring child care, such as nannies, day cares, or babysitters. An additional lesser-known alternative, hiring an au pair, can be a wonderful and very cost-effective solution for families with an extra bedroom. Au pairs are young adults from another country who live with a host family and provide up to 45 hours per week of … [Read more...] about What Are Au Pairs, and How Do They Save You Money?