Parenting Now Blog

This was originally posted by the Marion & Polk Early Learning Hub here. Do you have a favorite routine in your day?  Perhaps it’s your morning coffee…or sitting down with a good book after a long day at work.  Maybe your favorite routine is just sitting back and doing nothing during the very few precious minutes ...

Raising Resilient Kids From toddler tantrums to teenage heartbreaks, children face emotional challenges every day. This October, we’re focusing on resilience—the ability to cope with feelings, setbacks, and stress in healthy ways.What Is Resilience?Resilience isn’t about avoiding hardship; it’s about learning to:● Recognize and accept emotions (e.g., “I feel disappointed, and that’s okay”).● Express feelings ...

  September Is Baby Safety Month: How Parenting Now Supports Safer Beginnings As families ease into fall routines, September brings an important reminder for parents: it's Baby Safety Month. This national observance, led by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), highlights the importance of safety in baby gear, home environments, and everyday parenting decisions. For ...

As parents, we want our teens to form healthy relationships and engage meaningfully with their community, but in today’s world of social media and rapid change, guiding them can feel overwhelming. This month, we’re sharing strategies to help your teen build confidence, social skills, and responsibility while staying connected to family values. Why Connection MattersTeens ...

Helping Your Teen Build and Maintain Healthy Friendships As parents, we know how important friendships are, especially during the teenage years. Peer relationships shape identity, build social skills, and provide emotional support. But navigating friendships as a teen (or as the parent of one) isn’t always easy. From social media pressures to peer conflicts, teens ...

Mealtimes with a toddler can be both joyful and chaotic! As your little one learns to feed themselves, spills, messes, and food battles might test your patience. But with the right approach, family meals can become an enjoyable social event rather than a daily struggle. Here are some practical tips to help your toddler develop ...

  Summer Moments, Lasting Values: Using the Season to Connect and Grow with Your Child As the school year is at an end and summer approaches, parents often find themselves caught in a seasonal tug-of-war: excitement for longer days and fewer obligations, mixed with uncertainty about how to fill the time meaningfully. Summer can be ...

Toilet Training Tips for Toddlers Toilet training is a significant milestone in a child's development, but it can also be a challenging time for parents. With so much conflicting advice out there, it's important to approach toilet training with patience and understanding. Here are some tips to help you start toilet training with your toddler: ...

In a world where screens glow brighter than candlelit dinners and drive-thrus replace home-cooked meals, the tradition of gathering around the dinner table seems to fade away. Yet, this seemingly simple act holds profound significance for our well-being, especially in the face of modern distractions. So, why does it matter? Because family dinners are more ...

Managing Whining in Young ChildrenWhining is a common behavior in young children that can be challenging for parents to deal with. It often occurs when children are unable to effectively communicate their needs or desires. However, with patience and consistency, parents can teach their toddlers to communicate in a more appropriate manner. Here are some ...

Helping Your Child with Homework Homework is an important part of a child's education, but it can sometimes be a source of stress and frustration for both children and parents. However, with the right approach, homework time can be a positive and productive experience. Here are some tips to help you support your child with ...

Encouraging Language Development in ToddlersAs your child transitions into toddlerhood, you'll notice significant changes in their language development. It's an exciting time as they start to grasp the complexities of communication. Here are some tips to help you nurture and stimulate your toddler's language skills:When Do Children Start to Communicate? Language development begins from birth ...