Parenting Tools

Introducing the Quarterly Allowance

Here is a creative idea for increasing your teen’s money management skills:

After many years of an inconsistent allowance system which produced uneven results in chore completion and school performance, a parent we know began a revolutionary funding program for her teen daughter. When Charlotte turned 13, she began receiving a quarterly allowance, instead of the standard $10 or $20 weekly allotment for completing required household tasks.

What to Expect When Your Newborn Needs NICU Care

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If you have a baby who is born too early or has serious health problems, he or she may be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), a hospital unit that provides around-the-clock specialized care to newborns.

If you or someone close to you is pregnant, understanding what to expect if a NICU stay is required can help you focus on taking care of the new baby and yourself.

Learn the ins and outs of the NICU with information from March of Dimes, the nation’s leading nonprofit that advocates for the health of all moms and babies, which partners with hospitals across the country through its NICU Family Support^® program to provide in-person and online support for families with babies in the NICU.

Is Your Trampoline Safe Enough?

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Big backyard? Extra money? Bored or inactive kids? That’s the perfect recipe for buying a new trampoline! While there’s no doubt trampolines are fun for children and adults, did you know that the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend the use of home trampolines?

There were approximately 300,000 medically treated trampoline injuries in 2018, and that number is on the rise due to the trampoline's heightened popularity in recent years. If you are considering buying one, or if you've already made the purchase, read this injury and safety information before your family's next "backyard" evening.

Want to raise kids who are compassionate? Be sure you're doing this essential thing!

Do you think you're on the right track for raising kids who are kindhearted and compassionate, and then they say or do something so inexcusably mean or inconsiderate, and it makes you wonder, "Where the heck am I going wrong?"

There’s a saying that goes, “Preach the gospel. If necessary, use words.” Along these same lines, I’d like to say “Show your children how to be compassionate towards others. If necessary, use words.” This basically means that while verbal guidance might be necessary at times, we should primarily show / teach with our actions, because these actions are what will most influence others – especially our own kids. It's true, and I have the letter that proves it!

The other day, I ran across a stack of 7 folded notes written to/from my 15-year-old and 6-year-old daughters. Because I’m a nosy mom (I bet you are too!), I took a seat and read through them all, and it appears as though the first note that initiated the back & forth exchange was from the teenager. It was an apology to her baby sister, telling her she was sorry that she was too busy with schoolwork the previous day and couldn’t play with her. The note went on to ask “If you have a chance, we should have a meeting at 2pm today. If you think this is a good idea, please meet me in the kitchen at promptly 2:00.”