Why a preschool classroom in your home?

When you set up a preschool-like classroom or space in your own home, you’re helping your child learn and fine-tune gross motor skills while playing with age-appropriate — and often play-based —  toys. This environment also encourages independence as well as social interactions between parent and child and between child and peers.

The Montessori method is a common and popular preschool curriculum for both Montessori-based preschools and traditional preschools. Montessori learning consists of using all of the human senses to experience and learn from the toy, object, place or experience presented to the child. Because preschool-aged children naturally rely greatly on their senses, Montessori tends to be one of the more natural environments for them.

Homeschooling methods: How to find the right approach for your family >>

These tips make creating a Montessori learning environment in your home easy and fun for your preschooler.

• Tip: If you have a child with Sensory Processing Disorder or special needs, a space filled with sensory materials can help calm and engage your child through transitions and play time.
  Read up about the Montessori method and how it’s easy to implement with a preschool-aged child.
• Set up everything at or below the eye level of the child.
• Make the space inviting, colorful and engaging.
• Organize your space to encourage productive play.
• Once your child has mastered an activity or toy , create an extension. An extension is simply taking the activity to the next level. For example: You can trace or rub crayons over leaves in between two sheets of paper and then take a nature walk in your yard to experience the leaves in the trees and on the ground.
• Introduce everyday activities and chores into your child’s play time. Pouring a pitcher of water, sweeping the floor or washing the windows are all activities that preschoolers enjoy and they count as productive play time.

You can easily make a room in your house, a playroom or even a section of a bedroom or living room into a preschool area for you child. The main thing to remember is to make everything easily accessible to your child.

By placing toys, games and activities on low shelves, in baskets or displayed on a child-sized table, your child’s natural reaction is to explore and experience those items that are within reach.

Think outside the box to create an educational play space for your child by utilizing your furniture and storage space to its best ability. A bookshelf in a living room can be used to house children’s books, puzzles and baskets full of toys and activities while the bottom shelf on a console table can house manipulation toys like block tracks, push toys and more.

Art can be made anywhere — especially when you incorporate a chalk wall, hanging paper rack or child-sized easel into your home décor.

Incorporate your child’s play furniture into your home décor by using a train table for a coffee table, a child-sized table and chairs in the corner near the toys and floor pillows to encourage a safe and comfortable reading spot.

Label your toy storage bins to teach placement and organization while keeping things in its place. Once you open up your home to being a preschool classroom, you will find that toys and objects that were otherwise contained to a bedroom or playroom will now be in your living space. By modeling and encouraging clean-up time, your child will learn at an early age the skill and importance of chores and organization.

Building brains with building blocks: The importance of kinesthetic play >>

More on preschoolers

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Keep learning fun for preschoolers
Fun lunchtime learning activities for your preschooler

Amp up your child's ego

Come back-to-school time, you may find your child getting a bit anxious to return to class. But with these five easy self-esteem boosters, he'll be ready to head back to school with his head held high.

Teach them to compliment themselves

Stephanie Owens, MA, coach, speaker and author suggests teaching your children to compliment themselves rather than you constantly complimenting them.

She says, "When you want to encourage your child to feel good about him or herself, you tell them what you think about them. Even the most positive, supporting words roll right off like Teflon if he or she sees themself differently."

But wait... don't forget the importance of praising your kids >>

Instead, she encourages parents to "help [kids] build [confidence and self-esteem] from the inside out. There’s infinitely more power in the words kids speak aloud than any positive strokes that come from outside."

Simply ask your child to tell you what she likes about herself. She admits, "They might be shy or uncomfortable about this at first. To get the wheels turning, smile lovingly and ask questions like, 'Tell me what’s so special about you?,' 'What do you like/love most about yourself?' or 'Do you know what I appreciate about who you are?' (Be ready with a short list of specific traits… not actions. For example, 'You have such a good heart' versus 'You always take care of people.'"

Appreciate their talents and encourage their dreams

Allow your children their own dreams and help foster their natural talents and gifts.

PCI certified parent coach and certified family manager coach Susan Heid suggests, "Whatever way your child is gifted, embrace it. Often as parents, we want things for our children that we didn't have. This can unwittingly crush their tender dreams. Allow for their self-expression and accept them for who they are."

Get more details on helping your child discover her talents >>

She adds, "When your child says they have an aspiration, get 
behind it."

Take time for your kids

Part of boosting your children's self-esteem involves making time for them and making them feel like an invaluable member of your family, according to Mary Jo Rapini, MEd, LPC, a nationally known psychotherapist, author, public/keynote speaker and television and radio commentator.

Rapini suggests ignoring everything else for a little bit while you spend some quality time with your kids, saying, "When you are with your kids on a play day, walk or activity, shut your phone off. Nothing is as important in your life as this moment."

She also encourages families to start a "family day" once a week in which you all engage in activities/hobbies you share.

Get inspired for family with these 50 family fun night ideas >>

Rapini adds, "Take time and cook with your children. Take time and fix things around the house with your children. Take time and help your kids with their homework. Take time and go to your kids' after-school activities." Notice a pattern here?

Increase your child’s sense of mastery

Dr. John E. Mayer, author and expert of families, encourages parents to help their child gain a sense of mastery, adding that the younger your child is "the more effective it is to do this through a physical task or activity."

He notes, "Let your child choose an activity for the whole family to participate in. Let them set or even make up the rules of the game and then everyone joins in. Let your child plan and choose the foods/dishes for a family meal or better yet, even a family party. Or, if you have several children let each child choose a dish for the party and then label that dish, 'Jessica's Creation' or 'Dwayne's Dessert.' Of course, let them help in the preparation. See their delight when the company loves it!"

Provide the proper environment

Anastasia Gavalas, MS, SDA, family life teacher, author and mother of five says, "Providing a nurturing yet independent environment for children to discover their preferences and strengths helps them develop confidence in themselves and their sense of self."

Perhaps the best tip ever, Gavalas adds, "Love children without conditions and for who they are.
"

More on child development

The myth of self-esteem
Does self-esteem promote childhood obesity?
Confidence: Help your child gain confidence

A school memory box is a safe place to keep your child’s artwork, accomplishments and memories throughout each school year. There are many ways to make a memory box — from an easy organized space to a more involved DIY project, which is perfect for older kids and parents to make together.

This easy family tradition can be done yearly and becomes an organizational tool for you and your child to keep prized possessions from his childhood. Possessions you can both reflect back on as the year passes and as your child gets older.

Scrapbooking 101 for moms >>

No matter what age or grade your child is currently in, he or she will bring home a massive amount of papers and memories throughout the school year. Here are some ideas of things to keep in your child’s memory box for safe-keeping and future use.

Tip: If a school project is too large for the memory box, take a picture of the project, write the name of the project and the date on the back of the photo and place the picture inside your child’s memory box. This can also be done with photographs from school events, recitals and plays.

A memory box can be as simple as buying stackable boxes from the store and writing your child’s name and grade on the side in permanent ink, but you can make it into a craft project and encourage your child to express his or her personality with the decorations placed on the memory box.

Materials:

Directions:

1. On a piece of paper, write your child’s age and grade with a marker.
2. Have your child hold the paper while you take a picture.
3. Print or develop the picture.
4. With double-sided photo tape, tape your child’s picture on the front or top of the box.
5. Decorate the box with pictures cut from magazines, photographs and other craft items.

Back-to-school crafts for kids >>

Watch this How To video and learn how to make a memory book for you children's school year highlights.

More back-to-school tips and ideas

Get your kids excited for back-to-school
Closet organizing tips for back-to-school
Prepare your child for preschool during the summer

Tess Kinker of Alliance, Ohio, was recently dismissed from her post as committee chair for her son’s Boy Scout pack. Kinker says it's because she was breastfeeding her baby during the meetings. Read on for her story.

Discreet nursing was too much

A devoted mother claims was ousted from her position as committee chair for her local Boy Scout pack. Not because she was bad at her job, but because she nursed her small son while the meetings were going on. We were able to speak with Tess, who shared what went down.

Challenging and rewarding

Tess has been the committee chair of Cub Scout Pack 170 in Alliance, Ohio, for over a year and absolutely loved the position. She was involved with planning events, fundraisers and activities for the year and really enjoyed being involved in the pack, of which her son was a Webelo member. “I loved asking him what go-see-its and activities he thought would be fun for the whole pack,” she shared. “I had a blast being the committee chair. The work was challenging but very rewarding.”

The issue

After a meeting that included their Cub Master as well as Boy Scout Council members and the Boy Scout troop committee, Tess and her husband John were unhappily surprised to discover that they were going to be voted out. Tess says the reason given was the fact that Tess breastfed her little boy during meetings and it was felt to be inappropriate and offensive.

Tess alleges she was then subjected to a verbal tirade — she says was told that breastfeeding is disgusting and that it did not belong in the scouting organization. She and her husband were told that they and their children were not welcome on the premises and they were voted out of their positions. Tess further says that when her husband spoke in her defense saying that nursing a baby is a protected right, they were told otherwise. “They argued back that my rights were only in public venues — not at the church where our pack meets,” she told SheKnows. “They compared our rights to that of the most recent case of LGBT vs. BSA, and said that me breastfeeding endangered the boys.”

What lies ahead

Tess is unsurprisingly upset and bewildered at this outcome. “I was angry that they would try to make me feel ashamed to nurse my baby, even though I was very discreet,” she explained.

It’s been two weeks and Tess says she has yet to hear personally from Boy Scouts of America, but did hear about their decision through the new Cub Master. “I'm allowed to show [up] at the Cub Scout functions and this weekend's campout, but I'm not allowed to breastfeed according to Buckeye Council and the Chartered Organization Representative,” she shared. “If I go to visit my son at the family campout this weekend, I have to walk all the way back to my hot car to nurse my child.”

Tess is facing the challenge head on and wants mothers to be able to breastfeed their babies at scouting functions in the future. Rachelle, mother of two, feels the same. “I really hope the Boy Scouts of America comes out with a stance that supports breastfeeding,” she told us. “Many mothers are involved with the organization and many of them breastfeed. The Boy Scouts say they are for healthy living, so you would think breastfeeding would be included. It's nature's best food and God made breasts to feed babies.”

More about breastfeeding

Breastfeeding photos: Moms with their babies
Is breastfeeding in a military uniform taboo?
Kicked off a plane for breastfeeding

New school? No problem!

Soon, many kids will be starting school and for some this will mean a new town, new classmates or just a new school. How can you make the transition easier for kids?

Get involved

Cate O'Malley of Sweetnicks knows a thing or two about changing schools. Her dad worked for an oil company when she was in grade school and she transferred schools a few times as a result. She suggests that parents volunteer in the classroom to ease the child's transition. "Whether it be assisting as a room parent, helping lead the Brownie meeting at night, or being team mom at the soccer games, having a very familiar face every now and then will help ease your child into their new, unfamiliar surroundings," says O'Malley.

O'Malley also says it's key to get kids involved too. "By signing them up for sports, extracurricular activities, or even homework club, it's giving them the opportunity to get to know their peers in a more intimate, smaller group setting, instead of all at once," suggests O'Malley.

Learn how to help your teen adjust to a new school >>

Educate yourself

Candace Lindemann, educational consultant and owner of Naturally Educational, says that parents should learn as much as possible about the new school before school begins. "See if you can go on a tour of the school before your child enrolls. Anything you can do to boost confidence and familiarity and minimize anxiety is a plus," says Lindemann.

Also, you should reach out to your child's teacher before school begins to introduce yourself. "It is a lot easier to discuss issues later if you have already opened up communication," says Lindemann. If you are changing schools midyear, setting up a meeting is a great idea.

Curriculum concerns

Worried about curriculum? "Different school systems cover the same subjects at varying paces," explains Lindemann. "If the new school is further along in the curriculum than the previous school, you need to make sure your child has a concrete plan, with specific goals, signed off by the teacher, for making up that material."

Don't worry. Working with your child's teacher, he or she will thrive in the new environment. "Most teachers want to see their students succeed but may have little time in the middle of the year to provide extra attention to a new student. In practice, you may have to advocate for your child to ensure a smooth transition," says Lindemann.

For students who have struggled before, letting them start with a clean slate can be a good idea. "You may be pleasantly surprised to find your child rises to the challenge with this opportunity. If there are difficulties, make sure to communicate these immediately and calmly," says Lindemann.

See how to teach your kids to make friends at school >>

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Back-to-school time is already here, and for high school students, that means more than just returning to campus.

Getting your teen the help She needs

Fall is the time when many aspiring college students take the SAT or the ACT, in addition to loading up their class schedule with Advanced Placement courses. With so much pressure on students to do well, does your child need academic support?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in October 2011, 68.3 percent of 2011 high school graduates were enrolled in colleges or universities. Of these students, 91.9 percent were full-time students. With the majority of high school students moving on to college, the competition for admission is tougher than ever. Giving your child academic assistance through tutoring or test prep may be that last little push that assures he or she will receive college acceptance letters.

Has your teen had these vaccines for high school? >>

Know when to step in

How do you know when your child may need extra help? Revolution Prep, an educational software and services provider, has compiled a list of ten student behaviors that may indicate a need for academic assistance.

1. She's doing everything right, but still doesn't understand the material or concepts.
2. She wants to keep her GPA high, even when taking AP classes.
3. No matter how much she crams for tests, the results aren't as good as they should be.
4. She seems motivated to score better on tests and quizzes.
5. Your child is so busy with sports, band, and other extracurriculars, she can't find time to do her schoolwork.
6. There is parental pressure to perform better.
7. Your child has AP testing anxiety and wants to achieve the highest score possible.
8. She has trouble concentrating in class or on homework.
9. Your child feels confused in the classroom, and even when the teacher explains things and your child still doesn’t understand.
10. She needs to score well on the SAT or ACT to get into her first choice school, but didn't make the minimum score on her PSAT or practice tests.

"Most parents don't know that a student needs help until they show up with a poor grade on their first exam or assignment," according to Ramit Varma, co-founder of Revolution Prep. "However, there are ways to figure out much earlier if a student will likely need additional academic support." Varma suggests that parents focus on three points to determine whether their child will struggle in a specific class.

Who should be taking AP courses?

Many parents may encourage their students to take AP courses in high school to help them get into the college of their choice, butt are AP courses something that every high school student should attempt? Many students think that taking AP courses is only for the most highly-academic students.

"While AP courses are typically quite challenging, they certainly aren't only for the most highly-academic students," says Varma. "Students of all levels can choose to take these courses to challenge themselves to learn college-level content, and get early exposure to what college courses are like." With the highly academic coursework students will experience in an AP course, it is essential that parents stay on top of how their child is doing in order to help them succeed.

Read about teens and alcohol >>

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Understanding your teen's nutritional needs
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You’re not the only one intimidated by mom cliques in the schoolyard. Discover tips for breaking into mom groups at the beginning of the school year.

The new mom at school

Learn why you shouldn't be too quick to assume a tight-knit group is unwelcoming. Before long, you’ll be looking forward to school drop-off.

Finding mom friends is like dating without the ease of going to a bar or a singles meet-up. When the new school year starts, don't be intimidated by established groups of mom friends. Cliques exist, but they're usually not a bad thing. Learn how to introduce yourself and make new friends with the other moms at your child's school.

Be open and understanding

"With any group perceived as a clique, memories come flooding back of feeling left out in middle and high school," says Elayne Savage, Ph. D. "Try to separate the then from the now. I call it walking alongside yourself, getting enough distance from the situation to be able to make some choices about how you want to respond." When you make a conscious effort not to take things personally, it may be easier to find ways to be included and make new friends. Try not to see a close-knit group of friends as a threat. Instead, consider the benefits of a group, and remind yourself that you'd like to participate in a group of friends for the same reasons they do.

Find common ground

If you're struggling to make friends or you feel left out because your schedule or lifestyle differs from other parents, ask your child's teacher for advice. Your child's teacher may be able to suggest another parent to connect with. It's often easier to connect on the basis of common ground, whether you have kids with similar interests, you have similar interests yourself or you're both new to the school or community.

More back to school

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10 Tips for getting kids out the door
5 Tips for beating back to school blues

Your child is starting kindergarten this fall! Hooray! Right? Beginning kindergarten can be one of the most exciting moments in the life of both kids and parents, but it can also be one of the scariest.

A go-to guide for kindergarten parents

We promise that we'll try to make life as a new kinder-mom as easy as possible!

The best way to make sure your new kindergartener gets his or her school career started is by being on time to school each morning. If your child arrives to school late, it makes it harder for her to transition into the classroom. Same goes for being on time to pick her up from school! Set a reoccurring alarm on your phone so that you always leave home or work in time to avoid "mom is late" anxiety.

Moms of kindergarteners will tell you — even the kids who can plow through a stack of pancakes in the blink of an eye at home will barely touch their lunch for that first year. In many schools, recess follows lunch time and really, a PB&J can never stand up to the monkey bars. The lesson? Fill them up at breakfast time and be prepared with a healthy and hearty after-school snack.

Be the mom who makes cool lunches! Getting started with bento boxes >>

So many schools offer both full- and half-day kindergarten programs now. While there are certainly reasons why you may choose half-day kindergarten for your child, if your school has a program where half-day and full-day kindergarteners are in the same classroom together, the children who are together for the entire day seem to form a stronger bond, leaving the half-day kids feeling a bit disconnected. Before you decide, talk to other parents at the school and a kindergarten teacher, if you can.

Still learning to perfect that double-knot? Do your child's kindergarten teacher a favor — if your kiddo is still learning to tie her shoes, send her to school with lace-free shoes or shoes that have laces that don't need to be tied.

Those late summer meet and greets and kindergarten play dates are not just fun, they are a great way for both you and your upcoming kindergartener to meet new friends, find familiar faces and sometimes you even get the chance to meet your teacher!

You can read a million lists, books and articles about preparing for kindergarten, but truly, the best resource you have is another mom. Find a mom friend in your neighborhood that goes to the same school and can show you the ropes. It's invaluable to have someone you can ask all those silly questions that you don't want to bring up to your child's teacher — trust us, you'll have some!

Add a permanent fabric marker to your back-to-school shopping list! Every kindergartener loses something or another over the course of the school year — backpacks, lunch boxes, sweaters, coats — take a look at the school's lost and found around the holidays as proof! Put his name on everything that goes to school so that it can easily find its way back to your kindergartener.

"What did you do at school today?" Every single mom asks after the first day of school. "Nothing," replies every single kindergartener. It's like they can sense how much we're dying to know about what they did all day long — Mommy Torture 101 ! Instead of asking an open-ended question that is sure to get you a close-ended answer, try first-day-of-school questions such as, "Who did you sit next to at lunch?"

It's rule No. 1 in the kindergarten parent handbook — don't linger. We know you want to stay and hang out and see how your child settles in, but it's best if you don't. Get your child in the door, set up with a new friend and a new puzzle, make sure your child's new teacher knows your child is there and then book it! Lingering mommies make for tearful kindergarteners.

Starting kindergarten is such a milestone in the life of a mom — the first true test of how you've done as a mother, sending your baby off into the "real world." But, kindergarten is not all sing-a-longs and smiles and you need to keep your expectations realistic for your new student. Make sure you try to look at kindergarten through the eyes of your child and help him have the best kinder-experience he can have and he wants to have — not what you want him to have.

More on kindergarten

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How to choose a kindergarten
4 Preschool skills needed for kindergarten success

Each year the Social Security Administration releases a list of the top baby names of the year — and this year Sophia was the girl name that was most popular among parents here in the U.S. What we find more interesting, however, is those names that have made the biggest jump on the list. Not only is this a great find to discover baby name trends, but it is also a fun way to find unique and cool names for your baby girl.

Last year the baby girl names Maci and Giuliana made the biggest jump. Who made the list this year?

Briella is the hottest baby girl name of the year, jumping a whopping 394 spots from being ranked 891 the year before to 497 on the Social Security Administration’s top baby name list. Why the jump? The name could have caught the ear of parents who are fans of Briella Calafiore, the hairstylist from the Style network’s reality show Jerseylicious.

Angelique jumped 247 spots from one year to the next. This beautiful French name means “like an angel” and could have been inspired by Angelina Jolie or the character Angelique in the movie Dark Shadows, which was re-released this year.

Love to learn the meanings behind names? Check out our list of girl names with great meanings here >>

The raise in popularity of the name Mila could be inspired by Black Swan actress Mila Kunis. Nylah are both climbing the charts — and perhaps are inspired by the adorable cat Nylah who is a YouTube sensation?

Check out the top celebrity baby names here >>

Names ending in –nn have a southern sound to them and are a huge trend among parents, including Raelynn, Adalynn and Quinn. Many parents are also switching the ending from -y or -ie to –ee, for example Brynlee, Aubree and Charlee.

Whimsical baby girl names are climbing the charts as well, including Olive, Eloise, Kinsley, Hazel and Cora.

For those that are curious, the names Brisa, Dana, Desiree and Denise showed the biggest drop in popularity from this year to the previous year.

More baby name ideas

Top 100 baby names from the Social Security Administration
Elegant baby girl names
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Why do you write in your book, The Homework Trap: How to Save the Sanity of Parents, Students and Teachers, that kids today are homework-trapped?

Dr. Kenneth Goldberg: Being homework-trapped is a lifespan issue that starts in elementary school and goes on to affect the child throughout his life. In elementary school, it manifests in a failure to do the work, conflict at home, deteriorating grades, and unsuccessful parent-teacher efforts to get the child to do the work.

In middle school, there is usually a window of homework compliance at the beginning of the school year. This is because the child has several different teachers and is able to do all of the work for some of the teachers. The child appears energetic, enthusiastic, and proud of his work until the other teachers bring to the parents’ attention that their work is not getting done. The key is that the child was never able to do all of his work in elementary school so there is no reason to think he can do it all now.

The real sign of being trapped is that the parent feels helpless to use his or her judgment, and I don't think educators even think of measuring parents’ opinions, rather they look at student test scores.

Keeping boundaries

How can parents and teachers work together to help kids?

Dr. Goldberg: Before we work together, we need to clarify the boundaries between home and school. Teachers and parents are all concerned for the welfare of children, but they have different roles. The teacher is the leader of the class. The parent is the head of the home. Homework is an anomaly that traverses the boundaries between home and school. When there are no homework problems, these hierarchical factors are not important, since most parents agree that children should do what their teachers tell them to do.

The problem with boundaries comes up when there are persistent homework problems. At that point, the parent is placed in the position of having to enforce behaviors, as an agent of the school, without the authority to define what needs to be done. This is a shaky position for a parent to assume and in the long run, does far more harm than good. Children need parents who feel in charge, rather than flailing around helplessly trying to enforce someone else’s agenda.

Creating change

What can parents do at the beginning of the school year to take a stand and make changes in how much homework is assigned?

Dr. Goldberg: Time is a central issue in resolving homework problems. Most homework problems stem from the fact that children do not work at the same pace. But at home, children are expected to work into the night, no matter how long it takes, to get the work done. This is highly persecutory, and I daresay abusive, to the slower working child.

Parents first need to establish time containers in which homework will be done. Educators typically cite ten minutes per night, per grade as a homework standard. The teacher may share an estimate at back-to-school night about how much time the homework should take. You may have an idea, knowing your child, how much time works for him. However you determine the standard, it’s important that the homework session be based on time, not on the actual assignments that are given. Once you establish a time-based routine, you’re on the right track.

Regarding the “stand” you take with the school, I recommend going lightly on what the teacher “assigns,” and focusing more on the time standard you have set. Just hold firm on your at-home decision which is your child is excused from working after a specific amount of time. In my experience, parents who do this find that their children get more done than they do berating them through the night. And once they start to do more, teachers often become more flexible accepting that some of the work won’t get done.

Read more on kids and homework

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10 Ways to make homework time less stressful
How to make homework more fun for kids

Banish the back-to-school blues

Forget the kids, they couldn't be more excited. Your daughter has the same home room as her BFF and your son got the coolest backpack at the store. But you? You're not exactly jumping for joy.

When mom's not ready for school to start

It's been a great summer, and, frankly, you like having the kids home everyday. So now what? Read on for tips on how to get over your back-to-school blues.

So you've got a case of the back-to-school blues. Well, you can rest assured that you're feelings are completely understandable and normal. "Feeling sadness at a transition time is entirely normal!" says Deborah Gilboa, MD. But why do you have them?

Why do you have the blues?

"Our kids still need us during the school year but the roles change. We may play less of a starring role in our kids' lives. Also, the stresses of the school year are greater so this may be a time parents enjoy less than the more relaxed summer time."

Natalie Caine, of Empty Nest Support Services, adds that moms may also be sad because they realize they're one step closer to when kids leave for college. "Mom gets the blues in part because she knows the clock is ticking as far as time together."

Carole Lieberman, M.D., adds another reason for why you might be feeling down. "The more a mom identifies herself only, or predominantly, as a mom, the more likely she is to get the back-to-school blues because it means her identity has been lost, to some extent. Sure, she's still a mom, but her kids aren't around to need her 24/7 now."

I'll take a little me time, please! >>

Why your blues aren't good for your kids

Kids are like sponges. What we feel, they often feel. So, while you may have the best intentions behind feeling sad, Deborah Gilboa, M.D., points out how your blues could be affecting them. "There are three concerns when a child knows that they are causing us real pain by moving on to their next developmental stage," says Gilboa.

1. They often feel guilty for going through a normal passage, and can look for reasons to not like what they are doing or sabotage the experience for themselves.
2. When we are struggling, our kids want to step up and be fine for us. This is a lovely expression of their love and empathy, but they may hide negative feelings and experiences, feeling that Mom can't handle them.
3. Kids may start to believe that they are failing and abandoning us by succeeding at their tasks of growing up.

Banish those blues!

Alright, so the kids are going back to school whether you like it or not, so now is the time to pick yourself off and start feeling better.

Andrea Weiner, Ed.D., offers these tips:

1. Get busy doing activities for yourself: Many moms enjoy the summertime 
for the less frantic pace school time can produce. This slower pace allows 
moms to spend more quality time with the kids. This is a double-edge sword 
since you put things things on the back burner that you could have been doing for 
yourself but are now focused on the children. When you throw yourself back 
into activities that are meaningful to oneself, it reminds you that your 
identity is not just being someone's parent.
2. Enjoy the quiet: Feeling that the house is too quiet without the 
background noise of kids arguing with one another, TV blasting in the other room, or doors 
slamming with children going in and outside can feel disarming at first. 
However, this sad feeling of thinking that it's too quiet in the house can 
be turned around and viewed as a spa moment of peacefulness and 
relaxation.
3. Acknowledge feelings about the sadness or loneliness about the children
 going back to school: Being able to be aware of these feelings and then accept them is a wonderful way to also let them go. The more we resist
 feelings, the more they tend to persist.

Weiner adds that she knows exactly how you feel. "As a parent
, I can remember each year taking my daughter to school after the summer and
 each time feeling sad and blue and shedding a few tears. Those lazy days 
of summer without the pressure of homework and extracurricular activities 
were a welcomed respite."

"And, I
 also saw her growing up and then not needing me so much which would shatter 
my persona as a devoted parent. But then I would remember that my job was 
to help her learn important life skills both academically and socially 
which was a gift. And then, I would wipe my tears and smile."

It's "me" time not "mom time" >>

More ways to make back to school fun

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With more than 46 recalls of over 11 million cribs since 2007, the Consumer Product Safety Commission decided to take action in December 2010. The action? New safety standards for all cribs effective June 2011.

Important information about crib safety

According to a study published in March 2011 by Pediatrics, approximately 26 U.S. children under the age of 2 are harmed daily by or in a crib. Find out how you can ensure your child’s sleep space is safe and what you can do to keep it that way.

Practice crib safety at all times

In June 2011, the Consumer Product Safety Commission's new requirements for crib safety standards required that all crib manufacturers and distributors provide a safer environment for babies. These requirements were to increase structural stability and integrity — both vertically and horizontally, improve crib-slat stability and integrity, eliminated drop-side cribs, eliminate structural pieces made of wood, reduction of toehold exposure and better visibility and wording of all labeling.

Safety precautions

According to the CPSC, these safety practices should be followed for children under 12 months of age. These crib safety practices help to reduce the risk of SIDS and prevent suffocation.

• A crib manufactured after June 2011 — or a crib that meets CPSC safety requirements — must still provide adequate ventilation, have tall enough sides for risks of falls and be designed so parents can see inside the crib to avoid other potential injuries and hazards.
  Do not place comforters, quilts, pillows, sheepskins, sleep positioners, bumper pads or stuffed toys inside the crib.
• Consider using a sleeper or wearable blanket instead of a blanket.
• If you do opt to use a blanket, place Baby’s feet closer to the end of the crib, and tuck the blanket around the crib mattress, covering the baby only to his or her abdomen or chest.
• Place Baby on his or her back while sleeping.
• Only use a firm, tight-fitting mattress inside the crib.
• Use only fitted bottom sheets made specifically for a crib mattress.
• Keep a baby monitor in the baby’s room or leave the nursery door open to hear Baby at all times.
• Keep Baby’s crib away from windows, curtains and window coverings with cords and keep all electrical cords at least 3 to 4 feet from the crib.

7 Newborn dangers in your home >>

Checking your baby’s crib for safety

Many changes have been made recently and all cribs manufactured after June 2011 meet all current safety requirements. But it is best to periodically check your child’s crib to ensure it’s the safest it can be for your child. If you purchase, borrow or obtain a used crib, checking the safety of the crib — and checking for potential recalls — is essential.

How to safety-check your baby’s crib:

• All cribs are required by law to have two fixed sides — for cribs manufactured prior to June 2011, contact your manufacturer for the hardware to fix the drop-side in place. These pieces are supplied free of charge directly from the manufacturer.
• The crib mattress should be firm and tight-fitting to prevent the baby from getting trapped between the mattress and the crib.
• There should be no broken, loose, missing or improperly installed screws or hardware anywhere on the crib or the mattress support.
• No more than 2-3/8 inches between the crib slats and no missing or cracked crib slats.
• Do not use a crib with headboard or footboard cutouts as Baby could get trapped inside them.
• The corner posts on the crib should be no more than 1/16-inches high so Baby’s clothing cannot catch or get stuck. Avoid cribs with decorative finials and knobs for this reason.

What to do when Baby won't sleep >>

What can Parent safely use inside a crib?

Both the CPSC and the AAP have essentially banned crib bumpers due to potential suffocation and entrapment risks. In some states, like Illinois, they are banned. It’s only a matter of time before more and more states follow suit. But with the obvious hard crib slats, parents want an option to keep baby comfortable and free from bumps and bruises — while following crib safety standards and requirements. There are safer options available to parents.

Wonder Bumpers are vertical crib bumpers that attach to each crib slat, making the crib environment more breathable for Baby while protecting his head, face and body without compromising airflow, which prevents all risks of suffocation. Breathable bumpers help to keep a child's limbs from getting trapped between crib slats, but do so without the unsafe padding like that of a standard crib bumper. While these options are available, it’s best that parents consider their child’s age and stage before using such items. Even though the breathable bumper is considered a safer option, a toddler can use it as a step to leverage a climb or a fall from the crib.

More baby safety

Child safety checklist for the home
Surprising dangers to children in your home
Child safety devices: Tips for childproofing your home

Bagged lunches your kids will love

Back to school means back to brown bag lunches. Don't start the year off with tired old peanut butter and jelly or plain old ham and cheese. Get your kids excited about their lunch with these fun new ideas they'll gobble up.

Fill half of a whole grain pita pocket with tomato sauce , mozzarella balls and pre-cooked turkey pepperoni. No need to heat — just eat!

If your kids aren't wild about the idea of cold pizza , you can fill a pita with healthy chicken salad made with chunks of cooked chicken breast mixed with a small amount of plain Greek yogurt and sour cream and chopped celery, walnuts and grape halves.

Cut an individual focaccia loaf in half lengthwise. Spread either side with a Swiss cheese spread such as Laughing Cow. Top with thin slices of green apple, then a bit more spread to glue the halves together.

Need more inspiration? These healthy lunch tips for back to school may surprise you >>

For a super healthy yet inspired lunch that’s definitely outside the lunch box , give skewers a try.

The options are literally limitless when it comes to skewered lunches. A few ideas:

• Alternate light cheese cubes, thin slices of prosciutto rolled up and asparagus tips.
• Line a lunchtime skewer with grape tomatoes, kalamata olives, cubes of feta and slices of cucumber. Pack a small cup of tzatziki sauce to really set this skewer off.
• Fill a skewer with fruit like watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, grapes and pineapple — whatever fruit your kids like!

Fruit can be your kids’ friend, not their foe! Here are some fun ways to make fruit kid-friendly >>

Hummus is a low-fat yet protein-packed spread that goes so well with so many yummy veggies. Spread some plain hummus on a whole grain tortilla, top with some julienned carrots, red peppers and jicama. Then roll up and slice into wheels.

Don’t miss these fun bento boxes >>

Even if your kids don’t have exotic tastes, you can still offer them a creative lunch. Make a simple meal of peanut butter on whole grain bread fun and silly with a fruit face. Cut a grape in half for the eyes, use a strawberry for a nose and make a smile with a slice of apple. Don’t forget to pack this silly sandwich in a sandwich Tupperware instead of a plastic bag to maintain the integrity of the “face” until lunchtime.

More on school lunches

5 Creative school lunches
5 Healthy brown bag lunches kids will love

Creating cool school lunches — Hot, cold, bought or brought

Traveling abroad can be a life-changing experience for a young person. By hosting an exchange student, you give someone the chance to experience your culture by immersing himself in your day-to-day activities. Rather than playing the role of tourist, your exchange student becomes a part of your family for a period of time.

Why host?

The interactions between your family members and the student you host provide a window into another culture that enriches everyone’s lives. Your guest will be eager to share stories about life in her home country, and to compare her experiences to those she shares with you. Many host families stay in contact with their students long after they have gone home. The Labrum family of Utah says, "This year has been wonderful. We feel like we have added another daughter to our family. We love our student and cherish the opportunity to have had her in our home.”

Has your family visited any of these top museums in the country? >>

Are you considering becoming a host family? While the experience will be rewarding, the commitment of time and resources should not be taken lightly. Here are some questions you should discuss with your family before agreeing to participate in a hosting situation.

How to teach your child about household budgeting >>

A student’s perspective

What is it like to be an exchange student? We asked Michael, who was 15 years old when he participated in an exchange program and lived with a host family in Germany. “Living with my host family in Germany was a good opportunity to experience a different culture and family life,” says Michael. “It was definitely one of the best experiences I have ever had.”

Hosting a student from another country can be an amazing experience for your whole family.

More on parenting teens

Help your teen get the most out of school
Exercise and teen girls: How much is too much?
Encouraging healthy sleep habits in your teen

This adorable owl sandwich didn’t require a special owl cutter. By cutting into rectangle bread with only a small portion of a circle cookie cutter, you have enough of an owl shape to know what he is. Adding in large eyes and a beak is just enough to make him cute. Usually the less you do, the cuter it will be!

Another way to shake things up is by adding in themed side items. After making so many themed lunches over the years, I was finally starting to run out of ideas. This led to my current obsession of making lunches that rhyme. It not only adds in a little learning for the student, but it also kick-starts my creativity process. This led to breaking out my alphabet cookie cutters to add some fruit Es to the pretzel Os combining to make vowels to rhyme with owls. Rut averted!

Trim crust off of bread with knife and position a circle cookie cutter just slightly onto edge of rectangle to cut. Depending on the type of sandwich, you can add fillings before or after this step. This sample sandwich is a good old PB&J, so I chose to fill after.

Tip: When using cookie cutters with bread, the bottom side of the bread will have the crispest edge, so I always make sure the side I want to show is facing down during cutting. Also, make sure everything cut through completely before removing cutter.

Cut off the two ends of a marshmallow with a knife or kitchen shears. Press back into a circle shape if deformed while cutting. If your sandwich is savory, try cutting out circles from a white cheese such as provolone or Swiss instead.

Cut out a triangle shape from the heel of a bread loaf using a knife or kitchen shears.

Tip: Always save your sandwich heels to have available for sandwich embellishing since they are a darker color.

Glue eyes and beak onto bread using peanut butter. For a savory sandwich, attach your cheese eyes with cream cheese instead.

Draw dots at center of marshmallow circles using a black food marker.

Your owl is now complete! I use an EasyLunchBoxes divided lunch box to keep lunches easy with one main compartment and two smaller ones. I like that there is one lid and the child can see the entire lunch presented at once instead of pulling out separate containers or bags. Add the owl to the main compartment and add in some fillers to keep it secure.

Tip: Dry veggies are good to add here as they won’t transfer any mess to your sandwich. I went with a carrot to serve as a branch and sugar snap peas for leaves.

For my rhyming vowel sides, I added yogurt covered pretzel rings to represent the letter O and I cut out melons into the shape of Es.

Tip: An easy way to cut shapes from melons is by making thin slices beginning from the outside. Keep in mind the depth of your cookie cutter if it has a top rim. Make slices until you reach the seeds of the melon. At this point you can turn it around and make slices from the other side if needed, or simply cut up the rest of the melon as you normally would.

Another way to jumpstart side ideas is to pick foods that all start with the same letter. Here we have owls, an orange and ovals . I always like to include a little note with their lunch to let them know their lunch’s theme.

No matter what theme you choose to use, your child will enjoy the extra bit of fun they will find in their school lunch.

More school lunch ideas

Getting started with bento boxes
Lunchbox boredom busters
Pack a better lunch for your kids

Kids are pros at falling into bad habits but — with some guidance from you — they can just as easily adopt these six habits that will serve them well throughout childhood and into adulthood.

The test of time

During the late 1800s and early 1900s, Charlotte Mason dedicated her life to educating British children. Her methods have truly stood the test of time and continue to be very popular with educators today. In her Original Homeschooling Series, Mason communicates the importance of developing good habits in children, saying, "The mother who takes pains to endow her children with good habits secures for herself smooth and easy days; while she who lets their habits take care of themselves has a weary life of endless friction with the children." How’s that for motivation?

Read about teaching healthy habits to elementary students >>

Habit forming

Helping your children form good habits can be a challenge, but if you stay the course, doing so will become a habit of your own. Once you have a goal in mind , focus on it daily until your child has demonstrated an acceptable level of mastery before moving on to the next habit. Your expectations should, to some degree, be contingent upon your child’s age and stage of development.

Read about starting healthy habits at home >> 

Bad habits are easy to recognize and even easier to adopt, but sometimes good habits are so scarce that they’re difficult to identify. If you need some inspiration, consider how the following habits would enhance your household:

Read more about kids and habits

Teaching good sleep habits
Teaching your children to be healthy eaters
Quiz: Are you teaching your kids healthy eating habits?

Megan Fox

Pregnant actress Megan Fox showed off her baby bump in a floral dress paired with red heels as she and her sister, Kristi, headed out for coffee in Los Angeles yesterday. After showing a "barely there" baby bump for quite some time, the 26-year-old actress has finally popped! She and her husband, Brian Austin Green, are expecting their first child together; however they have yet to make a public announcement about the pregnancy.

Fox recently opened up about being a stepmom to Green’s 10-year-old son Kassius. "A lot of things make me happy. But I feel unbelievably happy when my stepson tells me I'm beautiful,” she said. “When I started living with Brian, his son was only 2 and I was 18. I've been looking after Kassius since he was 3 — it's part of my world that very few people really ever understood about me. I love being a stepmom and the experience grounds me when nothing makes sense in my life."

Next up: Wow! Drew Barrymore’s large baby bump

Photo credit: Celebrity Baby Scoop - Celebrity Mom and Baby News

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Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore showed off her baby bump in a pink and black patterned dress paired with a cropped black cardigan and striped flats as she and her husband Will Kopelman dined at Square One Dining. The 37-year-old actress is expecting her first child any week now.

How is Barrymore handling the last trimester of pregnancy? A friend of Barrymore told Closer magazine that she is feeling strain. “Drew's at the bloated and exhausted stage. She's not sleeping well and she feels like she's overheating in the L.A. summer — she needs ice cream and cold drinks," the source said.

Barrymore’s husband is reportedly doing all he can to help her feel comfortable while the actress is trying to stay healthy.

“She's trying to stay calm by doing yoga, but she's feeling sluggish,” the source said.

Next up: Pregnant Reese Witherspoon looks adorbs in Rachel Zoe flats

Photo: Celebrity Baby Scoop - Celebrity Mom and Baby News

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Reese Witherspoon

Pregnant Reese Witherspoon looks adorable in a white babydoll dress with a blue embroidered neckline. The actress, who is expecting her third child, is wearing her favorite GLADYS flats from The Rachel Zoe Collection .

Although she hasn’t spoken much about her pregnancy publicly, she did recently tell reporters on the red carpet that, “Frankly I’m feeling very round tonight.”

Witherspoon is filming Devil’s Knot with Colin Firth and revealed her plans once that is wrapped. “After I finish that, I'm going to take a little time off — and go have a baby," she said.

Next up: Melissa Joan Hart wearing A Pea in the Pod

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Melissa Joan Hart

Pregnant actress Melissa Joan Hart made an appearance on Good Afternoon America and looked adorable in the green chevron print wrap dress from A Pea in the Pod .

The Melissa & Joey actress has two sons and said that her husband wants to find out the sex of their third child; however she wants it to be a surprise.

“I don’t want to know. I have two boys. I like the mystery of it — it’s like the last big surprise,” she said.

Next up: Backstreet Boy A.J. McLean and his pregnant wife Rochelle

Photo courtesy of A Pea in the Pod

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A.J. McLean and Rochelle Karidis

Backstreet Boy A.J. McLean proudly rubs the pregnant belly of his wife, Rochelle Karidis. The couple is expecting their first child together and he recently shared the baby’s sex and baby name in a video announcement.

“We’re having a girl! A little girl named Ava Jaymes. Thank you guys for all your love and support,” he said.

The singer recently posted a picture of his wife’s baby bump with the caption, “Hello ava?? Hello? Anybody in there???”

From Anna Paquin to Sarah Michelle Gellar, check out more celebrity baby bumps here >>

Photos: WENN unless otherwise noted

Quick ideas for marketing yourself

Short on time but need to further your career? Self-marketing is a must. But for busy moms and mompreneurs, it can be a challenge to find the time.

Here's how to market yourself when time is short, without taking time away from your kids.

Your kids need your attention. Your business needs your attention. Your home needs your attention. As a busy mom and mompreneur, finding time for all the things you need to do is hard. But armed with some tactics that work, you can self-market and still have time to break out the Play-doh with the kids.

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When your young adult is ready to move out, how far will you let her go? Help your teen evaluate the pros and cons of dorm versus off-campus living.

Where will your college freshman live?

Now that your child has chosen a college, it's time to select living arrangments. Unless your child is commuting to a school within driving distance, he or she will have to secure living arrangments either on or off campus.

I do regret not doing at least my freshman year on campus. I met a lot of people and had a lot more experiences that I couldn’t get with off-campus housing. ~Danielle

10 Dorm safety tips for college kids >>

20 College essentials >>

Mom tip: When Abby’s son moved into an apartment with three of his good friends, the roomies decided that they would split the food costs four ways. “The arrangement lasted about a week,” said Abby. “One of the roommates ate everyone else’s food plus his own.”

5 Celebrity college confessions >>

My son stayed in a four-bedroom, four-bathroom apartment about a mile from campus. He was comfortable with it, which made his transition to college life easier. And his apartment didn’t cost much more than a dorm. ~Jeanette

Common scams against college kids >>

Find more advice for parenting a college student

How parents and students can survive the first year of college
How to cope when your child goes away to college
Care packages for college students

Your child can let everyone know when to use quiet voices so he or she can concentrate on homework and then turn it around in the morning to provide your child with a quick, visual checklist of things to do before school.

Materials:

Directions:

1. Cut a square from one piece of cardstock paper.
2. Write “Shhh… I’m doing my homework!” on one side.
3. Cut a rectangle from the second piece of cardstock.
4. Write “My Morning” along with any morning chores your child needs to complete before heading off to school.
5. With double-sided tape, tape the two pieces of cardstock together.
6. With a single hole punch, punch two holes near the top.
7. Laminate and cut around the sign .
8. If laminated, carefully poke a hole through each hole punch with the scissors.
9. Cut three pieces of string and carefully string them through one hole, securing it with a double knot.
10. Braid the three pieces of string and then carefully string the pieces through the second hole, securing it with a double knot.

Essential craft supplies to keep in the house >>

Save your page each night with a customized bookmark!

Materials:

Directions:

1. With scissors, cut a rectangle from the cardstock paper.
2. Write: “I love to read!” on one side and decorate both sides.
3. Round the corners with scissors or a corner punch.
4. With a single hole punch, punch one hole close to the top.
5. Laminate the bookmark .
6. If laminated, carefully poke a hole through the hole punch with scissors.
7. String ribbon through the hole and secure the ribbon with a double knot.

A paper weight makes a great teacher gift or can be used at home to organize homework and school projects. Get creative and make some with numbers or days of the week to prioritize which homework needs to be completed first.

Materials:

Directions:

1. With a permanent marker, draw your favorite face, animal or design.
2. With a paintbrush, paint the rock to your liking.
3. Let dry.

Next up: More back-to-school craft ideas >>

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Keep your pencils close by with a fun and funky pencil holder made to fit your unique personality.

Materials:

Directions:

1. Clean and dry one aluminum can.
2. Gather items from around the house and hot glue gun them to the sides of the can.

Safety tip: This back-to-school craft is for children 8 and up. For younger children, consider using ribbon, tape strips or paper around the can to decorate it without the use of a hot glue gun and potential choking hazards.

You'll always know which backpack is yours when you have your very own, unique name tag.

Materials:

Directions:

1. Using a circle hole punch, cut a large circle from a piece of cardstock.
2. Write your name, classroom number and decorate the circle with craft markers.
3. With a single hole punch, punch a hole near the top.
4. Laminate the backpack tag .
5. If laminated, carefully poke a hole through the hole punch with scissors.
6. Feed a circle key ring through the hole and then on the zipper or side of a backpack.

Craft supplies you can make at home >>

Create your own school year scrapbook and fill it with special photographs, drawings and notes as the year progresses.

Materials:

Directions:

1. Fold a piece of cardstock in half.
2. On the front write: “My 2012 – 2013 Preschool Days…” .
3. With a single hole punch, punch four holes along the folded edge.
4. Fold multiple sheets of printer paper in half and place inside the cardstock paper.
5. Mark inside the punched holes so you know where to punch the holes on the printer paper.
6. Remove the printer paper from the cardstock and punch holes where marked.
7. Place the folded printer paper back inside the cardstock and secure with string.
8. As the year goes by, place photos, artwork and memories inside the book with double-sided tape.

Watch this How To episode and learn how to make a special door hanger for your super student!

More back-to-school ideas and fun

6 Back-to-school outfits your elementary school kid will love
Get your kids excited for back-to-school
6 Tips for getting your house ready for back-to-school time