I have a question for all the fathers and father-figures out there: “When do you think fatherhood begins?” Some of you might say it’s when you find out your partner is pregnant. Others say, it’s when you first see that sonogram or hear Baby’s heartbeat for the first time. Still, others say it really hits …
Dads, when does fatherhood begin? A case to be made it’s when you were born Read More »
Wow, what a time of year, right?! All the lights, activities, shopping, hustle and bustle — all while parenting, too! Parenting is a full-time job, and it requires a commitment to taking care of your child’s physical and emotional needs. But what about your own needs? When’s the last time you checked in on your …
Stress, we all handle it differently. And we all do better when we know some ways to deal with it. Parenting Now’s Make Parenting A Pleasure program helps support parents who are experiencing high levels of stress by helping them identify ways to manage stressful moments during the day. What is stress? Stress can affect …
Parenting Stress: Ways to support your emotional health Read More »
Children contribute to our lives in so many ways. We experience fun, joy, wonder, and connectedness with them. But life with young children can also bring fatigue and frustration. You spend so much energy on their needs that it’s hard to meet your own. Over time, neglecting to keep up with your own needs—such as …
Each child is born with a unique “temperament.” Temperament is the way we approach and respond to the world. Some children warm up quickly in social situations, while others are more cautious. Children can also be persistent or easily agitated, or easy going, jumping right in to explore their world. Your role as a parent …
The COVID-19 pandemic has upended our daily routines. Work schedules have changed, kids are at home instead of in school, work meetings are happening at the same time as your child’s classroom meeting—it can feel like chaos at times. Routines build a strong foundation for children of all ages, and it’s important that, as parents, …
Children Need Routine—Especially During Uncertain Times Read More »
You’ll hear Parenting Educators focus again and again the importance of taking care of yourself as a parent—and it’s with good reason. You can’t be on top of your parenting game when your own needs aren’t being met. But even under the best conditions—let alone a pandemic—it can be hard to put your needs above …
As many parents’ balance working from home, helping their children with distance learning, and trying to meet everyone’s basic needs, communication skills can sometimes suffer under the weight of managing it all. It’s important—especially during times of stress—to give special attention to how we communicate with our children. Here, there, everywhere! There are a lot …
Communicating With Your Child During Times Of Stress Read More »
Successfully getting your toddler out of diapers and using a toilet all the time is a huge accomplishment (go ahead, give yourself a celebratory pat on the back). It takes a good amount of sweat, tears (mostly from you), vigilance, and determination to help your toddler meet this milestone. So much so, in fact, that …
The data is in! Research shows that children of present, engaged fathers are less likely to drop out of school, go to jail, and avoid high risk behaviors later in their lives, such as smoking, underage drinking, or teen pregnancy. This is great news, especially as cultural roles are shifting and many families are choosing …