A child's brain grows and develops while they are sleeping. However, children require more than just a set amount of time in bed to achieve that healthy brain development; they require sound, peaceful, refreshing sleep. Being hooked into electronic gadgets is one thing that can prevent them from getting the right amount and quality of sleep. Your child may not get the necessary amount of sleep if they are exposed to screens or if there are other electronics in the bedroom. Bluelight from Scre …
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Maintaining a safe and elegantly decorated home while allowing your children to feel at home makes for a challenging balance to strive for. On the other end of the scale, you can wind up with a house (or even a child's bedroom) that is so sparsely furnished, that it resembles a sterile showroom rather than a cozy home. Going to yet another extreme, you can have a room cluttered with mismatched kid items that makes you grimace if you're a perfectionist or decorator. However, there really is a mi …
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Mornings around here can be a bit hectic. When something is said over and over again, I grow weary of hearing it. My children were probably also sick of hearing it. So I stopped. I assessed. And I came to the conclusion that we needed to teach ourselves new morning-making habits. This is what we did then. Repetition Makes Perfect I am aware of that. We've all heard the proverb "Practice makes perfect," which is only slightly (but noticeably) different. But that is untrue. If the practice isn't …
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When it comes to creating kid-friendly spaces, tailoring your general sense of style and applying fundamental interior design concepts might be a little hard. On the one hand, you don't want your child's room to appear exactly like yours. However, you don't want Mickey Mouse decorations poking out from behind everything, nor do you want to have to redesign your child's room every year! You can have the best of both worlds by following a few simple design principles while still considering your …
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If you're a parent of a tween, you don't need to be told that this can be a challenging stage. But don't worry: there are a few survival skills that can help you navigate this new phase - and keep your sanity as well as your family relationships intact. Understanding the origin of the term and what it refers to can give you some insight about what is causing such strain between you and your child - I mean, er, tween. A Little History The term "tween" is fairly new, appearing in print to desig …
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Pants with legs that get too short, an abandoned doll house, and shoes with holes. These are just a few of the challenges that arise with children who just won't stop growing. Of course, we all know that's good for them. It does, however, raise a problem: Each purchase we make for our kids can be fraught with uncertainty: Should we invest our hard-earned money on good quality items when kids may outgrow them before they show signs of wear? What if this is the size he actually wears for a year - …
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Whether you had a happy childhood or not, you undoubtedly want to give your own child a happy, memorable one. Despite the diverse views on parenting, most parents would concur that safety and stability, play opportunities, and space to grow are essential components of any happy childhood. Security and Safety There are several factors involved in creating a proper home, a sanctuary from the harsh reality of the outside world where one can feel emotionally comfortable. Although it would be wron …
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Many things we wish we could provide for our children yet we are unable to do so. There are also some things we should probably completely quit doing for them. Our kids need to mature and learn to take care of themselves. At the same time, there are things we can and should do to help them: Allowing for healthy physical, cognitive, and emotional growth can be as simple as providing a safe place for them to sleep, suitable storage solutions to encourage neatness, and open room for creative play …
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Making the most of limited spaces isn't only for city dwellers and organization experts; many parents want to do it, but few know how. You can't make more space, as city planners and architects know, but you can always maximize the square footage you currently have by rising up. Buildings such as high-rises, parking garages, and even billboards take advantage of previously untapped possibilities. Whether you live in the city or the suburbs, the same approach may help you maximize your home's s …
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Making family relationships a priority can benefit you and your children academically as well as in other ways. While there is no substitute for consistent, routine times for relationship-building (as we discussed in Part 1), parents can get creative in arranging a setting and planning special events that intentionally celebrate and anticipate closeness in relationships, one of the key elements in a child's academic success. Environmental Elements Your home both reflects and impacts your pers …
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