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What All Moms of Boys Need to Know

I am a Boy Mom.

I remember thinking during the gender ultrasound of my second baby that it was certainly a girl (after all, I always dreamed of having one of both genders), and then the technician said, “It’s a boy!”.

Strangely enough, my first thought was “I get to be the Mom of 2 BOYS!!” I was so excited. I love my oldest son, and was so excited to have another boy to love.

As much as I love little boys, there are some things that are unique to raising them.

Yes, there is penis talk, fart jokes, and dirt but there’s so much more about boys that every expecting Boy Mom needs to know.

We Didn’t Speak Any ‘Baby Talk’ With Our Daughter And Here’s How She Benefitted

Here's what happens if you don’t “baby talk” to your baby and instead speak like a regular adult.

WHEN YOUR CHILD’S FRIEND IS NOT A GOOD INFLUENCE

It can be so hard when your child’s friend is not a good influence. Here are some good advice from parents of what you can do:

Four Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Ignore or Punish Toddler Tantrums

Popular parenting wisdom advises dealing with toddler tantrums in one of two ways. Ignore the ‘attention seeking behaviour’ and reward the toddler when they are good, or discipline the toddler by punishing them through exclusion. The naughty step and time out are commonplace in millions of homes around the world. Do they really work though? Child psychology and neuroscience says otherwise. Here are four reasons why you may want to reconsider your response the next time your toddler has a tantrum.

Kids Sell Lemonade for Grandma's Cancer Battle

A Hemet family is trying to raise money to replace their car — the only way to get their grandma to the hospital for much-needed cancer treatments

8 Tips To Protect Yourself During Haze

During this time, scratchy throat, red eyes, and breathing problems are aplenty, while those with asthma can only suffer in silence. So instead of blaming the neighbouring countries, let’s read these crucial tips to survive these health-challenging days.

Today's playgrounds get kids to take risks, fail and toughen up

More childhood experts are advocating less coddling and more freedom for kids to explore, problem solve and create their own play - even if it means bruises.

Parents, It's Time To Stop Undermining Our Kids' Teachers

Since my wife is a teacher, I have spent countless hours listening to teachers tell their stories. This has caused me to recognize some things I would like to share with my fellow parents.

Love, No Matter What

What is it like to raise a child who's different from you in some fundamental way (like a prodigy, or a differently abled kid, or a criminal)? In this quietly moving talk, writer Andrew Solomon shares what he learned from talking to dozens of parents — asking them: What's the line between unconditional love and unconditional acceptance?

15-Year-Old Sushma Verma, Daughter Of A Sanitation Worker, Is India's Youngest PhD Student

In a country where more than 35 per cent of girls are discouraged from studying and going to school, young prodigy Sushma Verma from Lucknow has a different story to tell! At age 7 when most of us were barely able to dedicate 30 minutes to studying, Sushma had already completed her 10th. At the young age of 13, she had enrolled herself in college and was getting her Master’s Degree in Microbiology from Lucknow University.

Guide to Toddler Portion Sizes

It’s so exciting when your chubby little baby begins to walk, or ‘toddle’ their way into a toddler. But with that comes the challenges of feeding and introducing all sorts of wonderful foods to this little person. A lot of times, it seems they are barely eating enough to sustain a bird, let alone a body who is constantly on the move! How do you know how much to feed them?

Submarine Parenting Vs. Helicopter Parenting: What Is The Right Way of Parenting?

What is the right way of parenting? Protecting our child from hardships? Not caring at all so that they can survive on their own?

DIY Popsicle Stick Puzzles for Kids!

Why Your Toddler’s Sippy Cup Should Come With a Warning Label

I see it all too often: Mom or Dad bring in their toddler for their first visit to the dentist, and I have to break the news to them that their toddler has several cavities.

Just because baby teeth fall out doesn’t mean cavities are okay for the baby teeth. Cavities in baby teeth can absolutely affect the adult teeth, as well as the size of the oral cavity later on in development.

Google launches ‘Project Bloks’ toys to teach kids to code

Google wants to help teach kids how to code, so now it’s launching a hardware platform for kids (and curious) adults to learn the principles of code. It’s called Project Bloks.

How to Make Your Own Baby Food

Why make your own baby food when there are so many good commercial brands available? Homemade baby food produces less waste (by the time a baby is 12 months old, he’s emptied 600 jars of baby food on average), costs less, contains no chemicals or additives and is fresher. Besides, it’s simple! Here’s how to make your own baby food purees, plus some easy recipe ideas to get your started.

5-INGREDIENT MAGICAL FUDGESICLES

These are so lusciously creamy, sinfully rich-tasting – the kind of thing you put in your mouth and kind of can’t believe what’s happening. Vegan, almost raw, and full of whole food ingredients, they are also downright filling!

5-Ingredient Vegan Magical Fudgesicles
Makes 4 cups / 1 Liter / 10 fudgesicles
Ingredients:
1) ½ cup / 75g unroasted, unsalted cashews
2) 1 14-oz can / 400ml full-fat coconut milk
3) 1 large, ripe avocado
4) 1 cup / 250g pitted, packed soft dates
5) ½ cup / 55g raw cacao powder (cocoa powder will also work)

Optional add-ins:
1) a few pinches sea salt
2) vanilla (seeds from 1 pod, powder, or extract)
3) a few drops of food-grade essential oils (peppermint, orange, almond etc.)
4) finely diced fresh fruit (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, mango etc.)
5) a pinch of cayenne pepper
6) espresso powder
7) finely chopped toasted nuts (cashews, hazelnuts, almonds, pistachios etc.)

Optional toppings:
1) melted raw chocolate (recipe here) or melted dark chocolate
2) cacao nibs
3) finely chopped toasted nuts (cashews, hazelnuts, almonds, pistachios etc.)
4) dried fruit (I used raspberry on the ones pictured)
5) citrus zest (lemon, orange, lime)

Directions:
1. Place cashews in lightly salted water and let soak for 4-8 hours (overnight is fine).

2. Drain the cashews and rinse well. Add to a blender (a high-speed blender is highly recommended) with the remaining ingredients (and any flavourings, if using) and blend on high until as smooth as possible. Add water only if necessary – you want to mixture to remain quite thick.

3. Spoon mixture in popsicle molds. Firmly knock the molds on the counter a few times to remove any air bubbles. Insert a popsicle stick into each mold and place in the freezer until set – at least 6 hours. To remove popsicles, run the mold under hot water until you can easily pull a fudgesicle out.

4. If you want to decorate your fudgesicles, dip or drizzle them with melted chocolate and sprinkle with desired toppings. Eat immediately, or place back in the freezer to set until ready to enjoy.

Singapore: Circle of Care to Cover More Children

A three-year-old programme to help children from disadvantaged backgrounds level up has reaped benefits, and is being expanded to include more children and families.

Healing art for Fukushima’s miracle kids

Five years after the nuclear disaster, 20 Japanese schoolchildren are in Singapore for fun therapy, at a unique art camp to help them deal with the trauma of 3/11 and their disrupted lives.

Pokemon Crafts For Kids

From homemade pokeballs to no-sew costumes and LEGO pokemon creations, we’ve found the very best tutorials for all things Pokemon.

Top 10 Fun Ways to Boost Your Toddler's Brain

Want to know how to make your bright little button even more brainy? These fun learning games and activities are expert-approved and a great way to develop a toddler’s memory and problem-solving skills.

Plastic Toys Could Be Making Your Child Sick

Results showed that particles of the virus were still present 24 hours after the toy was contaminated with a humidity of up to 60 percent.

Unfortunately, people do not think that viruses can come from inanimate objects, according to Richard Bearden II, lead author of the study from Georgia State University. Bearden explains that the common notion is that viruses come from other people.

Study shows first-born children are more intelligent than their siblings

A new study has shown first-born children are smarter than their siblings. It is thought to come from having to teach their younger brothers and sisters...

Is Your Baby On Track? Everything You Need to Know About First-Year Milestones

This article has highlighted some of the major milestones your pediatrician will be tracking during the first visit. You can watch for these, too, so you know how your baby is growing and changing -- and tell your doc if you have any concerns.

Online Pressures and Unhappy Children

What do you think makes children unhappy? A recent study has shown that it is no longer unsatisfying toys or snacks. Rather, online pressure is increasingly hunting the children from early age. Parental guidance becomes crucial to instill in your child healthy self-image. This article lists which apps to blacklist, which to closely monitor, and, the most important of all, how to communicate without crossing the line.

HOMEMADE ROOT VEGGIE CHIPS

Homemade Root Veggie Chips are a great way to add color and introduce your kids to new vegetables. It’s also a great way to use up extra root vegetables in the fridge. We make these homemade chips as a special treat to eat with sandwiches or hotdogs. They’re so pretty!

10 easy back-to-school hairstyles she’ll love

Tame your little trendsetter’s hair in less than five minutes with one of these fun hairstyles.

Why We Should Stop Blaming Disney Princesses For Gender Behavior And Body Image Issues On Young Girls

"It's time to stop princess shaming. There are thousands of gendered messages my little girl absorbs every day: the way I curse how my pants fit, the way shopkeepers talk to her, the way teachers assume that I am the dominant caregiver," Vardanis wrote. "There are so many battles to be fought, but princesses with sparkly tiaras may be the least of our worries."

Perhaps the best way to lessen the negative effects of the Disney princess culture to young girls is to expose them to all things in moderation, Time reports. Disney also made an effort in redesigning its Disney Princess collection by introducing braver, "more empowered" and "less boy-crazy" princesses such as Merida of "Brave" and Elsa of "Frozen."

Why The UK Started Giving Out Those Amazing Baby Boxes

The box is thought to prevent cot death due to its small size, which can help prevent babies from rolling onto their stomach, a cause of sudden infant death syndrome, according to the London Evening Standard. In Finland, babies traditionally sleep in the box for the first eight months of their lives.

Tell Your Kids Stories — They May Just Remember Them Forever

The best gift I’ve ever received was a slim black folder that my dad presented to me when I graduated from college. Inside were about 15 different letters, not from my dad (or at least not officially), but written to me from all of the imaginary characters we’d created together during my childhood.

30 unbelievably happy kids from all over the world who’re just enjoying their day

No matter what their culture, or where they live, or whether they have toys, kids will always find ways to have fun. And happy childhood moments captured on camera make for truly magical photos.

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A KID LEAVES TRADITIONAL EDUCATION

Logan Laplante is a 13 year-old boy who was taken out of the education system to be home schooled instead. As a result, he was given the opportunity to receive an education tailored to his interests and his unique style of learning – something traditional education is not always able to offer. In a pretty remarkable show of wisdom, particularly for someone so young, Logan has said that when he grows up he wants to be happy and healthy. At a TEDx talk in 2013, he discussed how hacking his education is helping him achieve that goal.

Science says parents of successful kids have these 13 things in common

Any good parent wants their kids to stay out of trouble, do well in school, and go on to do awesome things as adults. And while there isn't a set recipe for raising successful children, psychology research has pointed to a handful of factors that predict success.
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Unsurprisingly, much of it comes down to the parents. Here's what parents of successful kids have in common:

17 FINDING DORY IDEAS

Is your child excited about the upcoming arrival of Finding Dory? Here are some cool ideas you don't want to miss!

Dad adorably helps daughter 'stick the landing'

If you're this talented 2-year-old named Emerson, you just do it with a bit more style. Turns out her dad, Andrew, a cheerleading instructor, knows a few things about perfect cheer posture. The 2014 clip gained significant attention after an Instagram post, by the man's cousin, actress Brooklyn Decker.

24 Adorably Mismatched Fashion Trends Invented by Little Girls

Kids put together the strangest outfits. You’d think this is because kids can’t be bothered with style (so many more important things to do!), but that’s not the case. Kids care very much about what they wear.

What Doesn't Work: Literacy Practices We Should Abandon

Here are some common literacy practices in US schools (and everywhere) that research suggests are NOT OPTIMAL use of instructional time:

10 Ways to Tame Your Kid's Tantrums

When your toddler has a temper tantrum, it may send you into one, too! However, experts agree that it is crucial to keep your cool. With these coping strategies, you can head off two tantrums at once: yours and your child's.

Boy Dumped in Forest as Punishment

Yes, it was an extreme punishment from the beginning. However, the boundaries between extreme punishment and child discipline can be blurry for some people. Perhaps, before barraging blames to the accused parents, it is time to remind ourselves again of the unseen repercussions of child discipline so to prevent such incident from recurring.

I'm not just cute

"See babies as people in their own right, naturally deserving of our respect. See babies not as helpless beings but as active, phenomenal learners with an innate urge to explore their world and the people in it, from birth. When we see babies in this way, our practice will naturally change for the better." - Lisa Sunbury Gerber

The 50 best kids' movies to watch as a family

Need some fresh ideas for your next family movie night? Our editors help you choose the best movies for kids -- movies the whole family will love.

The exhausting truth about parenting a toddler while pregnant

Parenting a toddler while I was pregnant was not as simple as I thought it would be.

I imagined in that last trimester as my stomach housed a whole human, that I'd be able to sit on the couch and rest while instructing my two-year-old how to engineer towers with blocks.

Laugh on.

Media Keeps Preschoolers From Communicating With Their Parents

Even preschoolers nowadays are being sucked in the media revolution and this is keeping them from communicating with their parents while using media, a new study from the University of Michigan has revealed.

Attachment parenting: the best way to raise a child – or maternal masochism?

It’s the increasingly fashionable approach, with an emphasis on baby-wearing, co-sleeping and long-term breastfeeding. But does it make for happier, better children?

21 Fun And Delicious Recipes You Can Make With Your Kids

Cooking with kid is a time-efficient strategy -- by playing with kids, you get your dinner ready. And these recipes are amazing as they allow you and your kids a roomful of space for freedom and creativity.

13 Kids' Wrong Exam Answers That Were Absolutely Perfect

Some kids take the philosophy of being wrong and strong very seriously, and it often leads to amazing results. Here are some of the moments kids had no clue what to do with their homework or exams, but didn't let that keep them from going down in a fireball of glory.

Why Danish Parents (And Their Kids) Are Happier Than Americans

Can you really raise happy, well-behaved, resilient, confident children just by consistently rewarding them with delicious pastries? Perhaps, but that’s not what The Danish Way of Parenting is about.

3 Reasons Why You Should Not Be Afraid to Be Strict With Your Child

We all know how difficult it is to be consistent with parenting. The area of discipline is even fraught with a lot of hand-wringing, usually out of guilt on our part. We've lost count at how often we've given the kids a pass from an infraction that would have meant automatic suspension of iPad privileges if it happened on a day when we're not distracted (read: bone tired).