Parenting Now Blog

January 2026 Blog Post: Nurturing Healthy Eating Habits in Teens The new year is a perfect time to reset and refocus on health—especially for teenagers, whose eating habits can fluctuate with growth spurts, social pressures, and busy schedules. Whether your teen is overeating, undereating, or just stuck in a snack-food rut, these strategies can help ...

Stress-Free Holiday Visits with Preschoolers Holiday gatherings are joyful but can overwhelm young children. With guests coming and routines disrupted, even festive excitement can lead to meltdowns. Here’s how to prepare your preschooler for visitors while keeping the season merry.Before Guests Arrive1. Set Clear Expectations● Practice greetings: Role-play saying “Hello, Aunt Mary!” or waving.● Pick ...

  If you are a caregiver for a child I want to share with you something that I am trying to give myself more of lately: grace.  This time of year can be quite busy, sometimes chaotic, often stressful and sometimes painful.  It can also be a time of great joy and celebration.  A time ...

As daylight saving time ends and nights grow longer, many parents worry about how time changes will affect their baby’s sleep routine. Whether you’re dealing with a newborn or an older infant, these tips can help ease the transition while keeping sleep safe and predictable.How Time Changes Affect Baby Sleep● Newborns (0–3 months): Less impacted ...

Having a little one around the house is both a time of joy and worry. “Oh look, now they can reach the junk drawer!” With every new milestone comes an opportunity to help make your home safe and welcoming for your child.   Once your child can roll, (usually anywhere from 2 months to 4), leaving ...

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 ...