Early Motherhood

“Yes, but when does Joey go back to the hospital?”

At times, parents may ask you for advice in helping their children adjust to a new brother or sister. Most children welcome new siblings with excitement and affection, but the changes in their lives may also frustrate them. A mixture of positive and negative feelings and behaviors is common in children when a new brother or sister arrives. For example, children may feel jealous and left out, but they may also feel a great deal of pride and affection for their new sister or brother. Here are five ideas based on current research that can help promote good sibling relations.

Menstruation is a momentous event in a girl’s life. Some girls greet those first drops of blood with glee: Yes! Me! Finally! Some feel bewildered and shy. Whatever the reaction, the arrival of the first period holds the same meaning for every girl. It’s proof that she’s becoming a woman.

On average, most girls start their periods when they’re 12 or 13 years old (although some girls get them earlier or later). But if you wait until your daughter gets her period to talk to her about menstruation, that’s too late.

Raising children is one of the toughest and most fulfilling jobs in the world – and the one for which you may feel the least prepared. Here are nine ways to tackle child-rearing responsibilities that can help you feel more fulfilled as a parent – and enjoy your child more, too.

Your 8-year-old son wakes up crying in the night complaining that his legs are throbbing. You rub them and soothe him as much as you can, but you’re uncertain about whether to give him any medication or take him to the doctor.

Sound familiar? Your child is probably experiencing growing pains, a normal occurrence in about 25% to 40% of children. They generally strike during two periods: in early childhood, among 3- to 5-year-olds, and later on, in 8- to 12-year-olds.

What Causes Them?

How can I tell if my child has a learning disability?
During the preschool and kindergarten years, children learn at different rates and with different styles. But if your child has significant trouble with numbers, letters, or speech, she may have a learning disability. Learning disabilities are a category of disorders that affect how the brain processes information, making it difficult to grasp some concepts.

A child with a learning disability may understand a story perfectly when it is read to her but will struggle to answer questions about it afterward. Another child might easily recite the alphabet from A to Z but be unable to name individual letters when they are pointed out. Still another child may have a hard time putting together puzzles, tying her shoes, or buttoning a sweater.