Do you remember as a child opening up that new board game under the tree or at a birthday party? I do – every year at least one of the girls in my family received a game (there are four of us) and as soon as the paper was cleared away we were off to […]
Parenting
What to Do When Your Child Tells a Lie
One behavior that parents of young children most fear is lying; what parent hasn’t had the image of their child growing up to be a criminal, living a life full of deception in which they can never be trusted, all because the child didn’t tell the truth in pre-school? Some parents think their child is […]
Eat Together
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 […]
School Shopping on a Budget
For some of you school is already starting and others it will come soon. If you have delayed your back to school shopping and need to get going quickly, don’t forget that a little planning can go a long way in not breaking the bank. Here a few tips to keep your budget in line […]
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, […]