Children are fascinated by how a book looks and feels. They see how easily you work with it, and they want to make it work, too. When your toddler watches you handle books, she begins to learn that a book is for reading, not tearing or tossing around. Before she is three, she may even pick one up and pretend to read, an important sign that she is beginning to know what a book is for....

More: The Relationship Between Social Media and Body Image in Teens What is FOMO? You may have heard the term cropping up as of recently, but it’s been around for quite some time. Originally coined in 1996 and added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2013, fear of missing out is exactly what it sounds like: suffering from a fear or anxiety of missing out on a social activity. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, It is defined as: a feeling of worry that an interesting or exciting event is happening somewhere else....

Length of Labor The length of labor is really out of your control. But we do know that babies actually help during the labor process. So a very long labor or very short labor may actually increase breastfeeding difficulty. This can be because of the exhaustion you and baby feel after birth, even for short labor because they can be quite hard. This is true even if no other interventions are used....

I have seen this firsthand. Before the pandemic, using a screen during school was a special treat for my kids. Now, it’s a normal part of their school day; they use devices frequently in the classroom, and all of their homework is done on a computer or iPad. Like many kids, their personal devices are how they interact with friends and consume their entertainment. The question becomes: How can parents create some balance?...

Until then, tune into your baby’s hunger signals and try to feed your baby on demand. This might seem like a lot but newborns have tiny tummies so they need to eat often as they are regaining the weight they lost after birth and establishing a good eating pattern. You still may wonder how much your newborn, 1-month-old, 2-month-old, or older baby should eat. A good rule of thumb is to feed newborns every 2 to 3 hours....

You used to be a great multi-tasker, but now you can’t seem to even do one thing right. Why is your brain so fuzzy? What exactly is going on here? What Is Pandemic Brain Fog? If your parenting has been plagued by fuzzy thoughts or “brain fog” lately, you are not alone. Brain fog is a common reaction to anxiety and stressful situations. And there is no doubt we are living in stressful, unprecedented times....

A 2018 study found that one in eight kids between the ages of 5 and 19 has at least one diagnosable mental health condition. And from 2004 to 2017, there was a 48% increase in the number of kids between 5 and 15 who have experienced symptoms like anxiety and depression. For this reason, parents and educators need to be prepared for an increase in mental health issues this fall....

Stairs and Doorways Blocking off dangerous doorways and stairways is at the top of any babyproofing list, but it can be a challenge to install gates if you are prohibited from drilling holes in the walls. Keep in mind that there are two kinds of baby gates, both designed to block a baby from gaining access to a hallway, room, stairway, or pet area. One type requires being screwed into the wall; the other is classified as “no-drill....

In some cases, a person who is breastfeeding might need to supplement breast milk with formula. Whether for personal preference or another reason, if you are hoping to combine breast and formula feeding, your body will adapt. If and when you do want to increase your milk supply, here are a few tips. Establish Breastfeeding First It’s best to start off with exclusive breastfeeding even if you know that will you will want to add formula later on....

If selective hearing in kids is something you’ve been struggling with in your family, here are a few reasons why it may be happening—and some tips on what you can do to break the pattern. Reasons For Selective Listening There are several different reasons why a child may not be listening to what you have to say. Here’s an overview of the most common reasons. You’re Saying Too Much Staying brief and sticking to one or two points is the best policy when it comes to communicating with kids....

This sudden change is likely overwhelming to everyone. Having the kids home during the weekdays can turn everything upside down. You’ve probably been scrambling to figure out how to play the role of a work-at-home parent and a homeschool teacher all at once. Your kids may be feeling a bit confused and saddened by the situation, as well. At first, a few days off from school may have felt fun....

The day before that, you watched your child for a while, without them knowing you were there. You saw them skirting up to the edge of a group of their peers. The kids didn’t do anything outwardly aggressive, but from what you could see, they turned away, not acknowledging your child or inviting them into the group. A lump forms in your throat as your begin to realize that your child may be feeling rejected at school....

In fact, college life can seem a bit daunting those first few months. From getting acclimated on campus, to adjusting to new roommates and absorbing college-level material, there is a lot to take in. But perhaps the biggest stressor for college freshmen is the idea of making new friends. After all, you are leaving behind friendships that you took a lifetime to build. The thought of finding new friends to spend your time with can seem like an impossible task....

Causes of Clogged Milk Ducts These common breastfeeding issues can lead to a blocked duct. In most cases, you can resolve these to prevent future problems. Incorrect breastfeeding latch: If your baby is not latching onto your breast well, they may not be able to draw that much milk out of your breast. When breast milk is left behind, it can block the ducts. Breast engorgement: Breast milk can build up in your breasts and clog your milk ducts if you don’t breastfeed often enough, miss feedings, wait too long between feedings, or supplement with formula....

Better yet, develop an anti-quitting plan even before your child signs up for a new sport. Discuss up front what kind of commitment your child is making: needing to stick out the whole season, for example, or a certain number of weeks or months if the sport doesn’t have a defined season. And of course, injuries can mean a need to quit, or at least take a break for healing....

Consider exfoliating a preventative measure. Getting rid of the dead skin cells on the surface can help keep skin smoother, fresher-looking, and even clearer by way of dislodging pore congestion. And there are easy ways to do it. Your body’s largest organ actually resurfaces itself, cyclically releasing flaky upper cells and producing new skin cells that come to the surface approximately every month or so. Why help it along? Because the process can slow with age....

Know What Your Insurance Covers You will want to find out, preferably before you are pregnant, what you will be expected to pay. Don’t assume that everything maternity-related is covered without getting the details from your insurance provider first. Ask specific questions. Will you have a co-pay or deductible? Will your baby have a separate co-pay or deductible? What procedures and tests are covered during pregnancy? At birth? For newborns? Depending on your insurance provider and the type of coverage you’re enrolled in, you can potentially save money on your hospital bill—it just might mean your monthly premium is higher....