parenting
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8 Easy Ways to Teach Your Children Gratitude
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It’s amazing what kids can absorb about gratitude when they learn by example. Give Beyond Your Friends and Family. When giving gifts (such as Chanukah or mishloach manos or anytime throughout the year) to teachers, friends, and family, remember the people like the plumber, the store clerks, the handyman, and the neighbor whose kitchen you
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Three Great Ways You Can Use Toys to Connect to Your Child

You don’t need to sit and build Legos for hours to spend time together. A parent and child can still connect. You walk into your kids’ playroom and marvel at the shelves that are literally caving in from the weight of the stacks of games they’re loyally storing. There are bins of colored blocks, Magna
Filed under: Parenting -
Listening Is a Dying Art. Let’s Revive It.

If you want to be a good friend, listen completely.“I never learned anything while I was talking.” —Larry King It’s one of my favorite quotes of all time and something I strive to remember, each and every day. Every person has a story to tell. A thought. A bit of advice. Every person and every
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Why Do We Ask Children Questions They’re Too Young to Answer?

Parents often give their children too much choice. Keep the choices and questions age-appropriate. By Toby Brecher This week, I heard my niece ask her 4-month-old, “Do you want to eat?” The better statement may have been, “Now it’s time to eat.” It wasn’t a question; she was going to feed the baby at that
Filed under: Baby & Toddler -
“Why did she get the pink one?” 3 Things to Think About Regarding Sibling Jealousy

What causes jealousy? How can you avoid it among your children? Some people, children included, are born with a greater tendency toward jealousy than others. There will always be that one child in the family who’s bound to look over his shoulder when Mommy hands out treats. He’s making sure that no one gets one
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When the Kids Learned They Had Another Brother

When is it appropriate to talk about a baby that didn’t live? And how and when do you tell your children that they had another brother? I don’t think about my first baby, born 11 months before my oldest son, that often. Baruch Hashem, the next few children came in quick succession. I never had
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Temper Tantrum Brewing? Four Ways to Diffuse or Avoid ‘Em

There might be nothing you can say that will quiet that screaming child in the throes of a tantrum. But you can handle the situation, no prob. Some mothers, while in the midst of dealing with a child in a temper tantrum, resort to some desperate measures. I even once saw one other taping together
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How to Create Special Birthday Memories

Even without a party, a birthday can be a special, memorable day…it’s the little details that make a difference. We make a big deal about birthdays around here. Of course, I love planning big bashes, but those are very often not on the actual birthday, but rather on a convenient day near it (i.e. one
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Why I Give Birth at Home

One mother explains why she prefers to forgo the hospital during childbirth Well, why not?! Joking aside, of course, I’d go to the hospital in case of emergencies (chas v’shalom)… childbirth doesn’t fall under those categories! If there’s a medical issue in the process of my prenatal care or birth, I’d go to the hospital
Filed under: Baby & Toddler -
How Renee Muller’s Family Kicks Off the Chanukah Festivities

My children are counting the days, I am sure yours are too. And no, it’s not only because they’re looking forward to the gifts. There’s so much more than that. Here’s how we get the Chanukah festivities started! Think of Chanukah and you will get this cozy, warm feeling of family time, while watching the
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