A fifth grader in Colorado was suspended from school after wearing a handmade shirt with an “anti-obama” message. The student who was given a choice of turning the shirt inside out or being suspended, chose suspension and believes his first amendment rights have been violated. Speaking to Fox News the fifth grade student, Daxx Dalton, stated “They’re taking away my right of freedom of speech,” he said. “If I have the right to wear this shirt I’m going to use it. And if the only way to use it is get suspended, then I’m going to get suspended.”

The child’s father supports his sons message and is planning on suing the school district. The district declined to comment, but stated the suspension was for willful disobedience not the shirt. Source

Would you allow your child to take their political message to school?

It can still be somewhat daunting to establish a sense of structure after the carefree months of summer. As difficult as it for adults to shift from enjoying vacation time to being stuck in an office all day, it is even harder for kids to transition from the playground and the swimming pool to the classroom. Children—whether pre-school age or older—work best with a routine in place and may have trouble when there is significant change; plan a schedule that your family can use to make each day easier.

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Imagine if someone with authority said to you that you could not use corporal punishment to discipline your children. How would you handle it? Would it cause dramatic changes in the way you discipline your kids? Would you go into a panic? Would you give up disciplining all together?

Numerous studies have revealed that if we were raised with corporal punishment we will most likely raise our children the same way. What we know about being parents generally comes from the parents that raised us.

Some of you may be asking at this point, so what’s really wrong with a swat on the bottom? It’s fast, effective and has nothing to do with child abuse. However, very few people can say with confidence that they have never hit their kids just a little harder than they intended. It’s possible for well intentioned loving parents to get angry enough with their children to use spanking as a means of releasing their own anger. Although these parents are well aware that the purpose of discipline is to teach, when corporal punishment is used, the danger of using and abusing children is greater.

Most parents will agree that children learn a great deal through imitation, especially when they see their children dress up in their clothes, repeat familiar phrases or even pantomime cigarette smoking. When mom or dad spanks little Tommy they are using hitting as a form of communication. They are in fact teaching him through imitation to communicate with his hands (hitting) instead of with words.

When our children see us become so angry with them that we strike them, we not only lose sight of why we are disciplining them, but we show them that it is an appropriate way to deal with anger.

So where does that leave our imaginary situation where corporal punishment is not permitted? In order to teach our children right from wrong we know that discipline has an important place in rearing a child. The following case studies offer alternatives for parents who would like to, or are considering dropping corporal punishment from their lives.

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No matter how much they may deny it, children prefer to have structure and rules in their lives. It gives them a sense of security to know that there are limits placed on them. Children of all ages can find the world chaotic and arbitrary, rules define the boundaries that they must not overstep without consequences. This, in turn, prevents them from muddling through situations that they may not have the maturity to handle. Read the rest of this entry »

For parents choosing their first sandbox or other outdoor play equipment can be a challenging task with many options and materials available and a huge variation in prices. A sandbox (or sandpit- in some parts of the world!) can be an enduring piece of outdoor play equipment that can see your kids from their toddler years right up to the age of 7 or 8.
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Every family with multiple children suffer through bouts of sibling rivalry and fighting. Though it’s stressful and annoying, it’s a normal part of growing up. Learn how your family can avoid these unnecessary conflicts.
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There’s an old saying in the south: If Momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!  In my own family, I’ve found this saying to be too true!  The mother of a family sets the tone for the entire family and it’s up to her to bring balance and joy to the home. 
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Over a number of years there have been issues raised concerning the literacy levels of eight year old children in schools. The number not meeting minimum literacy levels was almost at 30% only a few years ago. It has since improved but is still a concern to teachers and parents alike.

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Many parents who work very hard to establish a healthy sleep routine can dread daylight savings time.   Parents worry about how this one hour change in time will alter their well preserved sleep schedule.  The good news is the change in time should not significantly alter your child’s sleep habits.
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Once your child begins to leave the world of baby food behind, meal times can be a roller coaster ride.  Toddlers are notorious for being fickle and picky eaters. But, how you handle your toddler’s eating habits at this age can have an impact on their eating habits for life.
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