For over a decade CASA Columbia has been promoting the benefits of frequent dinners by celebrating Family Day on the third Monday of September. The family dinner table (or breakfast or lunch) offers a great opportunity for parental engagement on a daily basis. Research that shows youth who eat regular meals with their families are […]
Relationships
Make someone happy, Smile
When we think of acts of kindness, they can be very simple things like holding the door for someone or letting them go ahead of you in line at the store. But they can also be things that take time, energy and effort to plan and execute, but ultimately, they make us smile. According to […]
Why Should You Read to Your Young Children?
A recent survey from the non-profit group Reading is Fundamental found that only one-third of parents read at bedtime to their young children. While over 85% of parents report reading some of the time, 50% said that their children spent most of their time watching TV or playing video games. Why should it concern us […]
How to Get Your Children to Eat Healthy Foods
Every day on the news we hear stories about childhood obesity, programs to improve the foods served at schools, or the garden at the White House. But have you learned the steps you can take to encourage your children, grandchildren, or the children in your scout troop or 4-H club to try healthier foods like […]
The Magic of High School
Ah, the high school years. That brief window of four years that every pre-teen anxiously waits for and every parent dreads. A recent, fascinating article about the power of the high school experience for teens published in New York Magazine online combines much of what we know (and don’t know) about how adolescent brain development, […]
Giving After Getting
It seems to be a lost art to send or give a Thank you note. When was the last time you received one? However, after all the gifts this time of year we can give back to others by thanking them for their gift, time, company, and/or help. A thank you can be a gift […]