Wednesday, May 25, 2011
And what precautions should we take to keep them safe on their own?
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Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Every mother has heard horror stories of bad things that can happen when children are left alone without parental supervision. Whether it's a short walk to the bus stop to pick up siblings, several minutes required to run an errand, the time gap between when school lets out and you're off work, or long days during summer vacation; at some point, our kids will be able to stay at home, which makes life much easier on the parents. But, how do you judge when the children are ready to stay at home by themselves? What are the main dangers (real or imagined) that you worry about when you venture out of the house and leave the kids behind?
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Holidays like Easter provide plenty of sugary treats. What do you do with them all?
We're finally at the end of what Denise Lee's kids call "sugar season." And I know I've tallied so much candy over the past few months that I have an entire table in my home that holds everything from Peeps and jellybeans to Sixlets and Dove chocolates. It's an exercise in self control to not indulge every day. How do you, as a parent, limit sugary consumption (or do you)? Do you hide the candy? Get rid of it? And do you resist sugary urges to set a positive example for your children (as difficult as it may be!)? Please share your stories in the comments box below. Our Moms Council members will offer their thoughts too.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Do you have a natural disaster family plan and emergency kit?
In light of the recent tornado that tore through Lambert-St. Louis International Airport and the surrounding communities, we thought we'd bring up the topic of emergency preparedness for this week's Moms Talk Q&A feature. I won't forget the lesson taught in my 10th-grade physical science class. Mr. Floyd Koehler offered us extra credit if we assembled emergency kits with our families. My kit had flashlights, batteries, water, granola bars and, most importantly, cans and cans of Spaghettios (I'm sure I made room for first aid supplies too). Does your family have an emergency kit? If so, what was it like putting the kit together and what supplies did you include? What other emergency plans did you make with your family? Please share your …
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
With so many families constantly on-the-go, what do you to make time for physical activity?
Between school, sports, extracurriculars and Xbox, kids might sometimes forget about making time for physical activity, even if we all recognize the importance of exercise. What do you do as a parent to encourage physical activity? How do you make the time? And, most importantly, what tips can you share for other moms and dads in the community? Please jump in and offer your thoughts in the comments box below. Our Moms Council members will share their stories too. And if you missed last week's Moms Talk Q&A, we talked about what shocks parents in today's society.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
And how do you address the situation with your children?
Today is far different from the good ol' days and parents must address new family issues each day, whether it's modern technologies, new lifestyles or something different. What has shocked you as a parent? Do your children do or say anything that makes you feel like kids today are very different from your days as a child? How do you handle these situations? Please jump in and offer your thoughts in the comments box below. Our Moms Council members will share their stories too. And if you missed last week's Moms Talk Q&A, we talked about how peer pressure affects both kids and parents.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
And how do you approach the subject with your kids?
We live in a culture that places value in fitting in. Most kids like to feel accepted by their peers, but the same is true for parents as well. What kinds of peer pressure do your kids experience and how do you talk to them about it? And do you feel peer pressure as a parent to have your kids participate in specific activities or act a certain way? We'd love to hear your thoughts. Please jump in and share your stories in the comments box below. Our Moms Council members will offer their wisdom too. And if you missed last week's Moms Talk Q&A, we talked about how families discuss major headline disasters, like in Japan or Libya.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
What age is appropriate?
The birds and the bees. As difficult as it may be, it's a subject that every family must talk about. When should parents start talking to their children about sex? Does it depend on the parent? On the child? Maybe you don't talk about it at all? We'd love to hear your thoughts. Please jump in and share your stories in the comments box below. Our Moms Council members will offer their wisdom too. And if you missed last week's discussion, we talked about how many extracurriculars are good for children.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
How many do your children experience at one time? What have been the most rewarding activities?
Last week, we talked about how important grades are to a student's success. Some parents believe grades aren't always indicative of a student's effort, while others won't settle for anything other than A. This week's discussion is a good follow-up to last week's. How many extracurricular activities are good for children? How many do your children experience at one time? What have been the most rewarding activities? Please jump in and share your stories in the comments box below. Our Moms Council members will share their thoughts too.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Do you demand perfect grades from your child or are grades less important than other things?
Whether we're in the classroom or in the workplace, we're constantly rated and ranked based on our performance. But what do these ratings really mean? And for families, how important are grades? Do you demand perfect grades from your child or are grades less important than other things? Our Moms Council shares their personal stories below, and I encourage you to ask, answer and share in the comments box below. Tonya Powell I grew up in an area, and maybe even a time, where academic success just wasn’t a huge focus. Sure, we were all pushed to pass our classes and you couldn’t play sports without a C average, but there was no real emphasis. I think this was especially true for girls. You were expected to pass but not pushed to excel. I can …
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
With so many options, and so many price levels, how do you choose a summer camp for your child and why?
Welcome to Moms Talk, where our Moms Council of experts and smart moms takes your questions, gives advice and shares solutions. We invite you and your circle of friends to help build a community of support for mothers and their families right here in Maplewood-Brentwood. So, grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today with the question: How do you deal with bullies? The Moms Council offers responses below, and we encourage you to jump in with your experiences, too. Becky Slatin Looking for the right summer camps for my child has become an annual mission for our family, beginning every January. With so many to choose from at all price ranges, and with some applications as long as a college application, it can …
JuliannaSmith
11:44 am on Wednesday, November 16, 2011
As for me, I have recently started leaving my daughters 7 and 10 home alone when I go on trips to the local store or when my husband and I go out to dinner. The advantage is that these destinations are all within a mile of our house and with cell phones, we could easily return home in case of emergency. Last week, while reading an article on a blog, it mentioned that there was a service I could … more ›