The Power of No – The Best Gift You’ll Give This Year

’Tis the season for kids to plead, beg and whine for Barbies, Xboxes and iPods. But you don’t have to grant every wish — and more importantly, you shouldn’t. “Hearing ‘no’ helps kids learn to cope with the disappointment and frustrations that are part of everyday life,” says educational psychologist Michele Borba, author of The Big Book of Parenting Solutions. It also makes your... 

Why Kids Really Lie – and How to Stop It

Kids tell little lies every day – about who spilled the juice and whether they brushed their teeth – but they don’t always mean to deceive. “Lying is a self-protective device that children learn to use at different ages and stages,” says education professor Sally Goldberg, developer of the blog Parenting Tips with Dr. Sally. “It’s perfectly normal, but how you handle it is... 

Is Your Stress Harming Your Kids?

Money worries, job demands and a lengthy to-do list have us stressed to the max… and it’s taking a toll on our kids. A 2010 survey by the American Psychological Association (APA) found that children who said their parents were stressed said they were stressed too. They reported feeling sad, worried or frustrated – and their parents had no idea, according to the survey. Stress is bad for your... 

The Surprising Benefits of Peer Pressure

Kids do some crazy things to keep up with their friends – even preschoolers (“I dare you to eat a worm!”). But as negative as it can be, there are a few benefits of peer pressure. “There’s no doubt that peers can make each other more aggressive, but they can also make each other smarter and happier,” says psychology professor William M. Bukowski, Ph.D., of Concordia University in Montreal.... 

The Stress-free Method to Get Kids to Brush Their Teeth

Getting kids to brush their teeth can be like pulling teeth. So how do you make polishing those pearly whites less of a chore — for both of you? “The key to good oral hygiene is to start young and make it fun,” says Judith Post, D.D.S., a dentist in Bloomfield, N.J., adding that it takes just two minutes, twice a day, to build the brushing habit. Here’s how to make the most of those two...