How to talk to your kids about the ‘Birds & the Bees’

Talking to your kids about sex

When should you talk about sex with your child?

by Cheryl L. McKinzie, M.S., M.A., LPCI

Imagine the following:

You are in the kitchen making an after-school snack for your son and his friend. They have your iPhone. You hear noises from the iPhone that are vaguely familiar. When you take your iPhone back from your 9-year-old son, you discover that they were watching adult content on YouTube. What do you do?

Or imagine this scene:

It’s spring break, and several parents bring their kids to the office (no babysitters!), and put them around a computer in a back office. These kids range from 8 to 10. They find porn on the internet. How do you handle this?

Should these scenes be your child’s introduction to sex? What is an appropriate introduction to this oh-so-touchy topic?

Free Pancakes from IHOP!

February 5th is National Pancake Day at IHOP   On February 5, 2013, dine-in guests from around the country will once again celebrate National Pancake Day at IHOP and enjoy…

How to Minimize Allergens in Your Home

Allergens - Boy Sneezing

Simple Tips to Eliminate Your Children’s “Wheezes and Sneezes” in The Winter

 

Most parents expect the winter months to lessen their children’s allergies because there’s no pollen in the air, but allergies still affect many kids this time of year because of what’s inside your home: cats, dogs, dust mites, mold and more.

Robin Wilson is CEO of Robin Wilson Home, an ambassador to The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and has a hypoallergenic bedding line at Bed Bath and Beyond.  She says most parents don’t realize that their home is probably making their kids sick, but there are simple solutions to help eliminate the “wheezes and sneezes.”

How minimize allergens in your home

  • For allergy and asthma sufferers, make sure and use synthetic pillows over feathered ones, and anti-allergen or hypoallergenic pillow cases and covers. Wash your pillow case once a week, your pillow protector at least once a month and wash your pillow at least twice a year. Replace pillows every three years.
  • Don’t use a vinyl shower curtain because it holds mold more easily and off gases. Use a nylon curtain instead. It’s also less expensive.

DIY Kids Birthday Party Favors: Treasure Stones

Kids Birthday Party Favors : Treasure Stones

Treasure Stones: Inexpensive Kids Birthday Party Favor

“For his 6th birthday, our son Kellen wanted a pirate-themed party where we would give out mystery rocks, store-bought stones with tiny treasures inside, as favors,” says Danita Thomas. “Rather than buying them for the 15 guests, John suggested trying to make them. He remembered his mother making stonelike clay with used coffee grounds when he was a kid. So after some experimenting, we came up with our own surprise-filled mystery rocks that turn trash into treasure.”

‘The Hobbit’ Illustrates Value of Adventure Tales for Pre-Teens

The LIghtbridge Legacy

Juveniles on Brink of Personal Journey, Says Youth Advocate

It’s only appropriate that fantastical genres of storytelling are often geared toward pre-teens, says writer Elayne James.

“It’s an extremely impressionable time, with the wonder of childhood firmly established and a dramatic transformation about to take place,” says James, author of “Destiny’s Call,” the first installment of the fantasy series “The LightBridge Legacy,” (www.lightbridgelegacy.com).  

It’s also not surprising that the “Lord of the Rings” movie trilogy from 2001 to 2003 was one of the most successful in film history – and that fans were eagerly anticipating director Peter Jackson’s return to Middle Earth on Dec. 14 with the release of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” she says.

In addition to being masterfully interpreted on the big screen, many of us were attached to the story from the books, which are often introduced during the middle school years. The narratives and personal experiences we have during preadolescence tend to stay with us more than those from other phases of life.

Researchers frequently cite pediatric neuroimaging studies, which show that during the ages of 11 and 12 our brain development is at a fundamental stage. A four-month journey across America at that age left an indelible impression on James. The trip culminated in New York City which became the launching point for the “Tolkien-esque” adventure in her most recent novel.

5 Super Powers Available to Teens

Heroic Abilities Aren’t Exclusive to Comics, Novelist Says

Cynical adults may sneer when they say, “Youth is wasted on the young.” But young world-traveler Ryan Pearson sees a more positive message in George Bernard Shaw’s often repeated quote.

“I see it as meaning that youth is an opportunity to seize direction, enlightenment, significance and to expand one’s powers,” says Pearson, author of “Green Hope” from “The Element Series,” (www.theelementsseries.com), about a teenager blessed with wealth and fame who discovers he has the added responsibility of super powers.

“It’s sad that so many teens get sidetracked by trying to fit in with a crowd, or worrying that they don’t measure up somehow. At a time when they should be enjoying a new sense of independence and capabilities, they’re often paralyzed by self-doubt.”

Pearson says all teens have super powers – they just need to recognize them: