Category Archives: Parent Guides

Seen Enough Tobacco

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ALBANY, N.Y. – Youth in this region have seen enough tobacco promotions. It’s time to protect them and put an end to youth smoking and other tobacco use. That’s the message Tobacco Free New York State is working hard to communicate to millions regionally and statewide with its “Seen Enough Tobacco” campaign.

With the goal of safeguarding children from the billions of dollars of hard-hitting tobacco promotions in places where they can see them, the campaign uses video, social media (#SeenEnoughTobacco), digital advertising and a “Jack and Jill (and Tobacco)” storybook that describes children’s encounters with tobacco promotions in convenience stores. Provocative images creatively combine cigarettes with common children’s items, like crayons, a birthday cake and a crib mobile, in scenarios intended to grab the attention of community members and parents and prompt their outrage. Viewers can learn what they can do to protect children from tobacco promotions and join more than 15,000 others throughout the state by pledging their support at the campaign’s website www.SeenEnoughTobacco.org.

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How many snacks do we eat each day?

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My kids are always asking for a snack! As a result, I always have a snack.
Snacking is okay but, are we making the healthier snack choice? And, how often are we snacking?

As a parent we walk around the house we pass the counter and if there is a dish of cookies or chips we would put our hand in grab one or two and keep moving, without even thinking about it. Then, that one cookie turns into two, three or even four cookies. Imagine how many calories we are eating and not realizing it.

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Stop Arguing Start Listening

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According to the Cambridge dictionary to argue means, “to disagree especially strongly and sometimes angrily in talking or discussing something.” If you read my article, “Are You Listening?” you might be noticing how well you really listen to others when they speak. Hopefully, you are practicing some of the insider tips in how to be an effective listener and speaker. Be aware when trying to make self-improvements, it’s easier to practice new skills when you’re not under pressure. This prepares you to be ready and avoid a meltdown when things get heated.

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9 Ways to Help Kids Fall in Love with Being Outside

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Unstructured and free play helps children learn out how to interact, behave, and enjoy being outside. Below are nine tips that will turn any child from a couch potato to a nature lover.

no fault safety surface

 

Sleep Outside

Several kids cannot resist building tents and forts out of their blankets and sheets. Turn it up a notch by allowing them to sleep outdoors. Make it fun. Bring out lots of blankets and sleeping bags. Point out different constellations in the night sky. However, do not forget the bug spray or flashlights.

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Life Hacks: Traveling in Cars with Kids

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Summer is approaching. This means warm weather, sunshine, vacations to tropical destinations (or Disney World), and long road trips to get there with the kids. Do you ever feel like your vacation is the reward and the road trip itself is all of the obstacles you have to power through in order to achieve it? Whether you’re spending four hours or fourteen in the car, doing it with kids can be quite the feat. It’s best not to look at road tripping as a brick wall between you and a white, sandy beach somewhere, but rather to see it as an awesome activity for the whole family! Here are a few family road trip hacks to help keep you from pulling your hair out and to have as stress-free and fun a car ride as possible!

summer car

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How Distracted Are You?

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Have you ever tried speaking to someone who seemed too busy to really listen?  Someone who doesn’t’ seem to really care? Maybe you encountered people who as soon as you mention you had a difficult day interrupts you and tells you how their day has been worse? They may have been looking at the phone, distracted by their surroundings or lost in their own thoughts and only mustered up a darting glance and a passing comment. A darting glance that was just enough to keep you talking and continuing to make your point. Maybe they said the “uh-huh’s,”  “really,” and ” I can’t believe that” at just the right time during the conversation but in actuality their attention was anywhere, but paying attention to what you were really saying.

lisa cbc 2

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Selecting Your Child’s Summer Carpool

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Guest Post from Free Lance Writer : Amy Patterson

Your daughter has swimming lessons each morning at the local pool, your youngest son has baseball practice, and your oldest son starts driver’s training. Their activities all start within a half hour of one another. As a mom, you’ve got many super powers, but driving to three different spots within a short period of time is not one of them; that’s why carpooling can come in handy.

While carpooling can be beneficial year round, it’s a popular way to get around when spring and summer activities are in full force. Carpooling can also be a source of stress. As a parent, you want to trust other parents to transport your child safely to and from activities, but the natural worries set in from car accidents to getting car sick to being forgotten at the soccer field. Here are some tips to help you successfully get through a summer of carpooling:

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