Parenting Now Blog

Ensuring Safe Journeys to School: A Comprehensive Guide for Parents As the new school year approaches, ensuring your child’s safety on their way to and from school becomes a top priority. Whether they walk, bike, or take the bus, it’s crucial to establish a solid transportation plan and teach them essential safety practices. Here’s a ...

Transitioning back to school can be both exciting and nerve-wracking for kids. Whether they’re starting preschool or returning to high school, parents can play a crucial role in helping them adjust. Here are some tips to ease the transition: Role-Model Coping Skills: Teach deep breathing techniques to calm anxiety. Familiarize with School: If possible, attend ...

Kids are naturally curious and energetic, making them prone to wandering off when given the chance. As a parent, it's essential to teach your child to stay close, especially in potentially dangerous situations. Here are some tips to help you manage wandering behavior and keep your child safe:Understanding Why Children WanderChildren wander for various reasons, ...

Summer Safety Tips for Kids As temperatures rise, it’s essential to prioritize safety while kids enjoy the great outdoors. Here are some practical tips to keep your little ones safe during the summer months: Protect Kids’ Skin: Sunburn is a common concern. Apply sunscreen with at least 15 to 50 SPF before outdoor play. Reapply ...

Nurturing Your Relationship: The Key to Positive Parenting Parenting is a journey filled with joy, challenges, and countless decisions. One of the most significant factors in successful parenting is the relationship between partners. When parents work together, communicate effectively, and support each other, they create a stable and loving environment that benefits the entire family.Common ...

Middle grade students outside walking up stairs with backpacks. As the school year draws to a close, parents and children alike anticipate the arrival of summer break—a well-deserved respite from early mornings, homework, and packed schedules. However, this transition isn’t always seamless. The shift from structured routines to the uncharted territory of summer can pose ...

Children love to explore and having a safe home environment allows them to do this to the fullest extent! The more opportunities kids have to safely explore, touch, taste, smell, and look at things, the more they develop and learn. Children are curious and love to experiment- that’s how they learn and master skills. We ...

Getting Along with Others Toddlers have a lot of big emotions - they’re learning how to exist in the world and how to navigate day-to-day experiences while managing their emotions and feelings. They often don’t have a filter or even know what is or isn’t appropriate to say or do, and at times this can ...

Child Abuse Prevention Month: Empowering Families, Protecting Children April is a significant month for child safety and well-being. As the flowers bloom and the days lengthen, we also raise awareness about preventing child abuse and neglect. In Oregon, this critical mission is championed by our staff at Parenting Now, who are dedicated to supporting families ...

Your kids learn from watching you, they want to grow up and be just like you- and that includes cleaning the house! Kids benefit from participating regularly in chores in many different ways. Chores teach childrenresponsibility, pride in their belongings and their home, routine, and other lifelong skills that willhelp kids become more successful and ...

High levels of stress can make it hard to be calm and consistent with our children. Stress is a natural response to a threat or a challenge. It's our mind's and body's way of preparing us to respond to something difficult or unexpected. When we experience stress, our bodies have a physical reaction, and our ...

Giving your children opportunities to express their natural creativity enhances their braindevelopment. When they have fun expressing themselves with activities like music, arts, andcrafts, they learn to actively solve problems and look at situations in new ways.Creative expression is an important part of life! The arts provide opportunities to explore cultureand develop thinking, communication, and ...