By Farnaz Solomon
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By Sharolyn Leithold
We all wonder “at what age should I teach my child to swim?” On the long list of things we must do for our kids “before they turn 5,” swimming is important. You may be surprised to find out that you can start water training your child as early as a few months old. They won’t be able to swim when they are so young because they don’t have the necessary motor skills, but there are many things we can do right now to prepare them for the swimming they will learn when they are a little older. (more…)

Other than you and your significant other, your nanny is one of the most important people in your child’s life. It may be hard for some parents to think of their nannies in this way for various reasons, many related to your own feelings about being separated from your child, however your nanny’s relationship with your child is an incredibly important one. One of the most important aspects of the nanny-family relationship is being on the same page so that your child is guaranteed to be living in the most nurturing and healthy environment possible. If you and your nanny have a harmonious relationship, your child will benefit ten-fold! (more…)

What to do when your tween or teen girl doesn’t like what she sees in the mirror.

By Rachel Bernstein
Our girls are up against some fearsome foes. Images of beauty are everywhere, and the brainwashing begins at a very young age. Media, fashion trends, culture, heritage, friends, family and even religious beliefs set and reset our and our daughters’ standards of beauty.

Psychological associations are tied to beauty. Nice characters are represented as “pretty” characters in most Disney movies and picture books. The Princess is most often kind, loved, beautiful, thin, usually fair skinned, has manageable hair, doesn’t have braces, and gets the Prince. The Wicked Witch/Wicked Step-Mother is ugly, feared and hated, has bumpy skin and a large nose, and deserves the punishment she gets. (more…)

By Nathalie Kunin
Reading aloud is one of the most enjoyable activities that a parent and child do together. It is also one of the most important. Snuggling up to read bedtime stories is an important bonding time at the end of the day which sets the stage for a good night of sleep. You can share in your child’s excitement as their imagination is sparked by the story transporting them to a different place and time. The benefits of reading aloud go well beyond the simple pleasure of time spent together. Even as your child begins to grow up, and there is less time in the day to read aloud, it is important to make time for it, even just 30 minutes a day. The educational benefits of reading aloud will pay off in many ways. (more…)

By Samara Fabrick
For many of us, Valentine’s Day is a chance to sit down with our kids to make cards for their classmates, think of fun ways to surprise our partner or have an excuse to eat that box of chocolates. However, for many Valentine’s Day is another opportunity to have a million expectations that are so often dashed by our clueless spouses and our inability to express our wants. Here are a few suggestions to make sure that your Valentine’s Day is a happy one filled with whatever your heart desires. (more…)

Five Easy Ways to Ensure Your Child Gets a Quality Education

By Kevin Chaveous
Among many school leaders, the ‘crazy parents’ are the bane of their existence. Crazy parents are the ones who are always at the school, questioning the staff about things and sometimes stretching the limits by obnoxiously fighting for their child. As young parents consider how to best provide a quality education for their children, they need to adopt many of the ‘crazy parent’ approaches, minus the obnoxiousness.

All parents want their child to receive a quality education, and in today’s ever-changing educational landscape there is no shortage of options. From public schools and private schools to charter and parochial schools, parents have lots of choices. But no matter the type of school, how do you really ensure that your child is getting a good education? (more…)

Compassion begins with the parent’s ability to feel what the teen is feeling.

By Dr. Nelly Franoody-Zahiri
In the accelerated rush of our society today, it has taken me a decade to see what has been forgotten in Peace Learning Parenting. Parenting with the focus and the intention of knowing and feeling that we are all connected and that families do much better collectively when interacting and sharing values rather than perceiving each other as competitors in a highly individualistic society. To achieve this healthy emotional and social balance, and in order to stay connected, I suggest we add to our daily vitamins the following 5 Cs:

1. Compassion
2. Communication
3. Co-operation
4. Culture (meaning sensitivity to other Cultures) and
5. Conservation.

These are the Big Cs for Peace Learning Parenting. (more…)

Games you can play as a family with multi-age appeal.

By Nathalie Kunin
Playing games as a family is lots of fun, but sometimes it can be a bit challenging: too many ages, too many instructions, too many parts, takes too long…and parents who are just too tired! Here are 6 games that you can pull off the shelf that combine multi-age appeal, education and just plain old fun! The games are travel-friendly and easy to learn. Only one has a game board, and the others fit in the palm of your hand. All can be played in teams and promote family bonding. (more…)

Statistics on early childhood care and adult success.

By Negin Ascher
When life gets crazy, it’s easy to miss opportunities to nurture our youngest children. In fact, statistics indicate that very few Americans truly understand the impact of a child’s earliest years. In California, the state’s financial commitment to early care and education declines with each successive round of budget cuts.

Yet, we know now that there is a biological window of development that, once past, can hardly be revisited. We know that the earliest years are the time of greatest development and brain formation and the best predictors of eventual educational attainment, social contributions and even happiness. (more…)