Often summertime finds older kids and teens involved in lots of activities without too much time to be bored. Young children, however, may not have as many options besides the library and an occasional trip to the pool or Pump It Up. Television or video games may become a handy back-up. And while a little of screen entertainment for young children is fine, too much of it can result in increased reliance on screen technologies to feel satisfaction, taking the pleasure out of daily play experiences. The unintended negative consequence becomes children watch more and play less. The American Academy of Pediatrics cautions parents to keep TV viewing for children under the age of eight to one hour or less a day.
For years, we were all encouraged to have a baseline mammogram done at age 35 and now they are pushing that to 50 years of age. There seems to be a lot of confusion surrounding when to start screening for breast cancer. But did you know that active cancer cells double in number every 90 days? That means that if you have 2 cells at day 90, you will have over one million in the fifth year and it still won’t be detectable by a mammogram!
At Woodlands Wellness and Cosmetic Center, Dr. Sakina Davis brought thermography to the center to find a safe alternative to mammography. “We were seeing so many of our guests in their 60’s that had never had a mammogram because it was painful or they did not want to risk being exposed to radiation. We had other guests that refused mammograms because they had breast implants and did not want the risk of having them rupture. I knew there had to be something out there tohat was effective”.
Are thumbsucking and pacifier habits harmful for a child's teeth? Thumb and pacifier sucking habits will generally only become a problem if they go on for a very long period of time. Most children stop these habits on their own, but if they are still sucking their thumbs or fingers past the age of three, a mouth appliance may be recommended by your pediatric dentist.
Call it spring fever, call it the madness of March, but it’s that time of year when we moms get anxious to get rid of the clutter! Whether it’s a few boxes of old clothes or years’ worth of stuff, everyone has something they need to unload.Tossing the stuff in the trash isn’t an option for some items as they may pose a hazard to the environment. Furthermore, many people throw away thousands of dollars in usable goods every year because they don’t know where to recycle or resell them. A local business-owner says there are ways to clean out, stay green, get organized and even make some money in the process.
It's not too late! Work with your child to set a few joint resolutions to make this school semester a success for both of you! These academic resolutions will help you and your child tune up your habits and alleviate stress that can interfere with the learning process.To make Game Night a success at your house, here are some tips on how to get started:
1. Agree on a night and time when everyone is available. Don't make the mistake of scheduling during your son's football practice or your daughter's piano lesson.
2. Don't let anyone out of game night unless it is a really important occasion. If they start missing for every little thing that comes up, eventually there will be no one left to play!
3. Decide as a family what games will be played. Vote on them and choose from several that you can switch between. If you take turns choosing which of the chosen games you will play, then keep a record of who chose last and whose turn it is every week.
4. Choose games that are age appropriate for the whole family. You don't want to play Chutes and Ladders every week and the little ones can't keep up with more complicated games. Look for those marked "All Ages".
5. Don't answer the phone. Have the machine pick up any calls to make sure you don't miss anything important. Otherwise, you will end up stopping to wait for conversations that interfere with your family's special time.
Does your daughter grumble when it’s time to go for her piano lessons? Does your son abhor the sight of his skates now? What happened? After all, they were both very enthusiastic about the programs when they started off. Is it time to give these activities the boot? We’re often confused by the disturbing and incongruous signals we receive from our children. One day the kids are excited about the new theatre class, and in just a few short weeks they wail and moan when it's time to go.
Teenagers today are bombarded with images of impossible beauty. Everything from the filtered photos on Instagram to glossy air-brushed magazine covers at the grocery store to daily doses of peer pressure can lead to unrealistic expectations of a teen’s female form. Sparkling and svelte movie stars on the big screen are promoted as role models, but represent images that are simply unattainable for most women. As the same-sex parent, you are a constant teacher and role model for your daughter.
Hopefully, by the time your daughter is a teen, you have already spent years doing things like dispelling the myth of the fairy tale princess being rescued by the handsome prince. And you have provided a family atmosphere that allows her to feel safe and loved. Building on this bond will help you to continue moving your daughter’s self-image in the right direction.
We know a secret. Pssst… come closer. There’s a knock-your-socks-off tropical retreat just a short drive from The Woodlands. There’s no need to miss Vacation Bible School, and summer camp plans can stay intact. Don’t believe us? At only an hour and fifteen minutes away, Galveston’s luxurious Moody Gardens Hotel, Spa and Convention Center delivers BIG family fun this summer and all year-round. You’ll get your fill of exhilarating activities and non-stop fun, yet still be home in time to wash the kids’ suits for Monday’s swim lesson.
Hey moms - shouldn't summertime living be easier? Nature gives us everything we need to create simple, luscious, healthy meals -- it's up to us to slow down long enough to enjoy the bounty. With extended daylight hours and no need to nag the kids about homework, dinnertime at your house can take on a whole new tone. Shake things up a bit this summer and have fun with these simple meal ideas. You'll win over even the pickiest eaters!Picasso in the Kitchen
Allow the vivid colors of summer fruits to become your palette. Grab a large white plate or pretty tray and arrange slices of watermelon, kiwi, peaches, mango, grapes, and strawberries. This beautiful arrangement can become your tables centerpiece. Add a few bowls of various yogurts around the table and your hungry brood can dip to their delight. Warm a loaf of crispy French bread, wrap it in a festive cloth and add it to the table. Arrange some sliced cheeses and smoked or roasted turkey slices (pick these up at the deli counter) and you've got an easy-does-it display that's good enough to eat.
JANUARY: Make over your teen’s bedroom. One of the fundamental benefits of this little project is that it requires starting with a CLEAN room. Get your teen interested in a new color scheme for her walls or new comforter for the bed. Your assistance might be needed in the painting phase, but the project can’t even start until she cleans the dust bunnies out from under her bed. The final result doesn’t have to be a costly remodel. Since most teens highly value their personal spaces, a bit of freshening up can go a long way.
FEBRUARY: Celebrate Valentine’s Day with your teen. Get festive by making and decorating heart-shaped sugar cookies. Add a neighborly twist by preparing a double or triple batch of dough, refrigerating several small batches in parchment paper. The smaller batches can then be shared with neighbors—providing them with an easy cookie day without all the hassle of mixing up the dough themselves. They can then focus on the fun part: frosting and decorating!
MARCH: “Date” your teen. Obviously, we’re not talking about romantic dating, so here’s what we're getting at. Research shows that teens are highly influenced by their opposite gender parent. Make some quality one-on-one time with your son or daughter this month. Mom, train to run a 5K with your son this spring. Dad, now is your chance to take your daughter out to a nice restaurant and set an example of proper male manners. This outing could also be as simple as a trip to the local coffee shop for an hour of caffeine and conversation. The possibilities are endless.
