by derek smiley
When you are expecting a new arrival in your family choosing a name for your baby can be both exciting and frustrating. Exciting because whichever name you choose is going to be well versed for many years to come so it is important to get it right, and frustrating because the chances of everyone concerned immediately agreeing on the choice of a name is highly unlikely!

There are other things to take into consideration too. For example if you decide on a name which has a slightly strange or different pronunciation, your child is either going to face constant requests of how the name should be pronounced, or be called the wrong name throughout his or her lifetime by those who do not bother to ask how to say the name.

Quite often the meaning of the name can seem particularly appropriate for your newborn and even though the name itself will probably not have an affect on the life of the child, it may be that the meaning of the name will help you to make your final decision.

Another thing to take into account is the initials of the name of your baby. When you have come to a mutual decision about the name make sure that the initials do not spell a word which will give hours or amusement to others as they tease your child whilst he or she is growing up and even to an age when adulthood is reached. Your child will be pleased you gave this some thought when you decided on a name.

Many names get dropped and nicknames take their place. Think about what your chosen name may get shortened to and how it will affect your child at certain stages of life. A really good name may turn into something quite insulting when shortened so make sure you decide on a name which, if and when shortened, is just as appropriate as the longer version.

You could opt for a unique name which at the beginning will prove to be quite difficult to remember but as time goes on and the name is mentioned over and over again, it will suddenly stick in your mind. Unusual names make for great conversation pieces and if there is a story behind the origin of the name this makes it even more interesting. When selecting a middle name, you can simply pick a name that you like because if the child wishes not to use or be known by that name, he or she can drop the name altogether and have no reason to reveal it if they so wish.

More popular names could be described as safe but if you walk into a room where there are several people, all known by the more common names, no-one in particular is going to stand out. Giving your child an unusual name will never result in them appearing to be boring or simply one of the crowd.

Along with using the top names of the United Kingdom for your inspiration you can also look a little further a field to other countries in order to find a name which is both apt and unique for your child.

Cool and unique baby names such as the name and their meaning has been a source of fascination for the author, for many years. Babies in the UK and worldwide has intriqued Dr S for many years. Name origin is all part of pregnacy information.

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by Catherine Harvey
When it comes to having a baby in the Western world, there is a plethora of information available. Book stores and libraries have their own complete sections given over to everything from baby names to breastfeeding, from how to feed your baby to how to get it to sleep. However, so much of the advice varies and this is why there is so much information to choose from.

Choice can sometimes be a good thing. With babies, as with adults, they are all different and what will work for one baby may not work for another. The best idea is to find a book that will offer several different solutions for the one problem.

Take, for instance, the issue of sleeping. I have three children, all with the same two biological parents but they are living proof that different children need different methods of baby care. My eldest always liked to be swaddled tightly so that she felt secure and then she would happily sleep. My next child had to be free, right from the moment he was born, he couldn’t bear the swaddling technique and his arms and legs were constantly on the move. My third baby simply didn’t sleep and no amount of expert advice worked until he was good and ready.

There are many TV programmes dedicated to baby care and baby health and parenting advice. These often follow one track and that track is usually the latest trend. Over the years we have had the ‘leave them to cry’ technique, the ‘check on them every five minutes but don’t pick them up’ technique and even the ‘let baby dictate everything’ technique.

Of course, child rearing is pretty much left to the parents choices and as long as the child never comes to any harm, you can agree or disagree with their methods, but it is still their decision. Not all parents relish these decisions, they recognise the huge responsibility of bringing another human into the world and the responsibility of shaping that human into a responsible adult.

However, the first few months of a baby’s life are never going to be remembered by that baby and should be an enjoyable time for the parents, if tiring. This is the time when you can gaze into that precious face and know for the first time in your life how it feels to have unconditional love given and received.

People who already have children will offer you all the parenting advice you could wish for. Some of it will be constructive and you will forever thank them for it. Some of it will be downright annoying and it is up to you to filter out what you need and what you don’t. Just remember that it is all given in good faith, even that from the mother in law that shaped the way baby’s dad is today!

There is no right or wrong way to care for a baby or child. The love you feel for that baby will dictate many of the ways you look after it and your instincts will help enormously. You can listen to parenting advice from the experts through videos and books and you can even join parenting forums on the internet for advice or simply sharing experiences. These are always a good way of picking up tips that you may not have found in a conventional book but might just work to make your baby rearing that little bit easier.

At the end of the day, enjoy your baby and trust your own parenting skills and it will all fall into place without too much worry. A worrying parent creates an anxious child and then you are on one bumpy rollercoaster!

Parenting expert Catherine Harvey looks at the plethora of information given regarding baby care and how to trust your own instincts.

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by Stephanie Foster
Back to school means it’s time to go over your child’s wardrobe. What fits, what doesn’t, what’s stained, what’s plain worn out?

Even if there’s still a good selection of clothes you’ll probably still do some back to school shopping. What child doesn’t like having a new outfit for the first day of school?

This can also start the annual debate… what kind of clothes are you willing to buy for your child?

I’m lucky. My daughter is 6 and still doesn’t care about brand names, although if you put a princess on it she’ll want it. I don’t expect that situation to last forever. Not for the brand names, and please oh please not the princesses!

But problems can be more than just the brand names. You may not approve of current fashions. Too short skirts for girls, questionable sayings and sometimes just plain ugly (to your eyes anyhow) clothes. Shopping’s a pain if you don’t agree on the basic styles to buy.

Fortunately when you’re the parent, you can decide what you will spend your money on for your child’s wardrobe. You earned it after all. If he or she doesn’t like it, that’s their problem.

And if they’re old enough to buy their own, you’re still the parent and you can set rules for the kinds of clothes that can be worn.

I don’t recommend being an utter tyrant about it, of course. Appropriate compromise can make life much more pleasant for both of you.

At my daughter’s age, we start out with appropriate clothes, but she gets to decide how she combines them. As she has absolutely no sense of what goes with what, her clothing combinations can look ridiculous, but she’s happy. I’m content so long as it’s appropriate to the weather.

In contrast, I see many of her classmates already in carefully coordinated outfits. I don’t know whether it’s the child making that choice or the parents, but that makes little difference to me. My daughter is happy and in clothes that she is not feeling self conscious about.

I gather it can be somewhat different for boys, as many are reputed to care less about what they wear, or have a single favorite item that must be worn repeatedly. My son right now has a few favorites, but at age 3 it’s out of sight out of mind.

But just as with girls it comes down to which battles are worth fighting. So long as the clothes are kept reasonably presentable, is it a disaster if he chooses to wear the same shirt frequently?

That said, there are some fashions I really hope aren’t popular when my son gets older. Just for the sheer sloppiness of it.

Whatever your family rules are, start out by shopping accordingly and don’t overdo it. It’s very easy to buy more outfits than a child needs, which wastes money and increases the mess in their bedrooms. Remember that you can always add more if what you start out with at the beginning of the school year turns out to be insufficient.

Stephanie Foster blogs at http://www.homewiththekids.com/blog/ about being a work at home mom. Get more tips on getting ready for back to school on a budget

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by Catherine Harvey
All it takes is to hear the catchphrase, as in the title of this article, or to hear the theme tune of an old television programme and immediately you are transported back to your childhood. Romper, bomper, stomper, boo was what the hostess of Romper Room used to say when she looked through her mirror to see all the children in television land. I can remember it as if it was yesterday.

Constant disappointment marred my childhood when I would faithfully watch children’s programme, Romper Room, every day yet the hostess never read out my name. I tried to be a good girl as she advised, I asked my mum to write in which she assured me she had, and I watched and played along, acting out all the things that went on in the programme. Still my name was never read out but I still have fond memories of that time.

And it’s not just the TV programmes. There are sights and smells that can immediately transport you back to your early years. My parents brought my old teddy bears out of their loft retirement recently for my grandson to play with. However, while I’m quite sure they didn’t smell like that, my parents assure me that they did, due to my insistence that they weren’t going to be released long enough for a wash.

The smell of liver also does it for me. I am back to my childhood once again, about seven or eight years old, and remembering the fantastic liver and onion meals my grandmother used to cook for me. There is nothing quite like a grandmothers cooking!

Looking back on my childhood with such fond memories, I can’t help but worry about the children of today and what sort of memories they will have. Of course, where I was all excited when we got our first modern trim phone in the house, today’s youths will know that they got the compulsory mobile for their fifth birthday. I remember the day trips to the seaside and today’s youngsters will remember the stranger danger talks. I remember the days of hanging out at the park with my mates and they will remember the lecture on not to go near the strange man that watches them through the railings.

Of course, it is essential that we teach our children common sense and safety but have we gone too far the other way? Have we taken away their innocence with the fear that someone else will? Have we wrapped them in cotton wool to the degree that they will never fully understand the risks in life until it is too late?

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents say that we are protecting our children too much. They say we should make our environment as safe as necessary, not as safe as possible. They say that it is vital that children take part in activities that may well lead to some strains and sprains, that this will not cause them any lasting danger other than to toughen them up and help them to learn how to judge risks and deal with them themselves.

My own childhood memories consist of running through fields unencumbered by worries of strange men, although I’m pretty certain there would have been some around and I’m pretty sure I would not have gone off with one should they have approached. Nowadays, we have ridiculous events like foam floats being removed from the swimming pool in case they hurt someone and goal posts removed from a football pitch in case someone runs into them. This is what ruins childhoods and hinders memories and that, in the long run, will detract from their quality of life.

Childcare expert Catherine Harvey looks at the way TV programmes such as romper room leave lasting memories.

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by Paul Turner
For a new parent, there are few things that seem more important than making sure you surround your baby with the kind of environment that will help them develop into the best person they can be. Raising a baby is a big responsibility, an there is a myriad of different methods and approaches that can be used by parents to ensure their child is raised correctly. The more work and attention you give to your baby’s environment and surroundings, the more likely they are to succeed with their natural talents and aptitudes. But how do you make sure that you’re focusing on the right tactics and techniques to ensure that bright future for your baby?

First of all, don’t fall into the trap of believing that you have to spend tons of money on the latest “baby genius” toys and tools in order to spur your child’s imagination and develop their skills. Some of the greatest geniuses and most productive members of society that the world has ever seen were born during times before electronics, televisions and batteries. Even so, they were adequately stimulated enough as babies to grow up and become names that would be remembered throughout history.

While having a few bucks to spend on educational tools for your baby won’t hurt, you should never rely completely on outside influences and tools to raise your child the right way. Instead, your number one asset is your own motivation and love for your baby, and regardless of your income level, you will not fail.

As a new parent of a very young baby, how exactly can you tell what their future personalities and talents will be, and how to start them with a head start to nurture those talents? Many parents make the mistake of assuming that their babies will end up having the same likes and dislikes as they have, and although genetics is not to be underrated, this isn’t always the case. It’s fine to surround your child with football-related toys if you are a sports nut, or with music-themed toys if you are an instrument fanatic. Just don’t get disappointed if it starts to become evident that your baby isn’t as enthusiastic about your plans for them as you are. Instead, embrace whatever natural abilities and talents your baby begins to show aptitudes for, and encourage them to be the best and most productive they can be with that talent.

In the end, the most important rule to follow in order to set up your baby for a bright future is this: help them develop and capitalize on their natural talents and abilities once they start to show themselves, regardless of how that fits with your own expectations. And, very vitally, make sure you ground them in the realization that any skill, talent or aptitude can be translated into a rewarding, financially stable career if they apply themselves correctly and work hard. This, more than anything, could end up being one of the greatest gifts you could possibly bestow on your baby and his or her future.

You can browse lots of free cute baby contests and baby photo contests by visiting our forum today. And don’t forget to check out our network forum for other great free sweepstakes, too.

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by Rick Hendershot
No matter what your background, as a parent you want to give your child the best. That applies whether we are talking about education, food and shelter, opportunities for growth and advancement, or providing a pleasant and wholesome environment in which to grow.

It is no different with clothing for your children. You want your children to look the best they can – to have the best possible clothes you can provide. But as every parent knows, providing clothing for your children can be expensive.

Not only do they quickly outgrow their clothing, but most children are very hard on their clothes. Most children think nothing of rolling in the mud with their friends, and are completely unphased when they tear out the knees of their pants when they hit the ground running.

Multiply that by two or three if you have more than one child, and you have a major expense on your hands. Providing good looking, properly fitting clothes to a growing brood of children can put a strain on anyone’s wallet.

Yes, the challenge of providing nice clothes for your children is daunting, but there are ways to save money on children’s clothing. Here are some tips that should help.

First, put aside the constant barrage of promotion and advertising aimed at making us think we have to buy the latest fashions. If it is possible, try ignoring the fad of the moment, and consider what is most important in children’s clothing. That will help you in your quest to save money on clothes for your kids.

Second, it is really important to accept the fact that no matter how much you spend on clothing for your child, he or she won’t be able to wear those clothes for more than a year or two at the very most. There are several reasons for this. The most important is that children grow very quickly – often more quickly than most first time parents realize. So any clothes you buy today will probably be outgrown in less than a year or so.

Children also tend to get tired of their clothes in less time then adults do. This is especially the case as they get older and more aware of their appearance.

Remembering these two facts should encourage you to be less concerned with fads and fashion and more concerned with wearability. Of course fashion is important even for children. If they do not like the way they look in a piece of clothing, chances are they won’t wear it.

By the same token we’ve all seen children (especially boys) who latch on to a particular hat or jacket or pair of pants and are happy to wear them non-stop for months on end – hopefully with the occasional washing every now and then.

Some resourceful parents look for good used clothing for their children. Of course there are the traditional “hand-me-downs” that every second or third child is familiar with. But even if you only have one child there is a very good chance that other members of your family have recently-retired children’s clothes just waiting for someone else to make use of them.

Or you can take it to the next level and go looking for children’s clothing in second hand stores or in classified ads. Experienced second handers know you can find many fantastic deals this way.

The simple fact is that many well-off parents buy far too many clothes for their children. And because their children have closets full of outfits, many of these clothes are hardly ever worn.

That’s how children’s clothes that are just like new often end up on the used clothing racks of second hand stores and thrift shops. Many times these clothes are in near perfect condition. They are also usually of high quality and quite fashionable because the people who originally bought them usually buy more expensive brands.

Another thing you can do is take advantage of the almost limitless resources available on the internet. For example, there are websites that sell wholesale children’s clothing where you can purchase clothing from the previous season at significant discounts.

Often it is possible to buy in bulk from this kind of store and save even more. This is something you might consider doing with another parent – a friend or sibling – who has children of similar age to yours. This is a perfect way to save on items such as tee shirts, underwear and socks. But it also lets you mix and match different pieces to create several outfits instead of just one or two.

With a little bit of planning and resourceful shopping you should be able to find quality, fasionable clothing for your children while saving a significant amount of money.

Wholesale children’s clothing from Ice Canada a wholesale clothing provider of all major brand names and designer urban wear. Check out the Link Builder Network for link building and web promotion programs.

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by Paul Hata
Self-esteem is one of the many important things that all parents want to provide for their children and yet many seem to feel that they do not know how and what to do in raising a self-confident child. Very often self-esteem seems to be such a fragile, distant thing that many know but yet do not know how to develop it. Your self-esteem is a compilation of how you feel about yourself. It encompasses everything from your confidence in relationships, to your body image, to your work life. So how do we foster this thing called self-esteem in your child?

From time memorial, all of us have been taught honesty is the best policy. As much as we expect this to be practiced by our children, they do like to be reciprocated likewise. Children are highly sensitive and are able to sense it if and when you are not being honest. Hence, when it comes to dealing with a child’s self-esteem it is best to be honest. For example, if art is not your child’s forte, do not compliment saying that his or her drawing is the best you have ever seen. Your child will know it is not, and will not believe you the next time you say something meant to be positive, no matter how honest it is. You may like to try instead to tell your child something genuine about the piece of artwork or about the effort that has been spent. It is best to make non-judgmental statements such as, I see you have used your imagination in creating the flowers in many different colors.The statement is simply an observation rather than a false statement.

It is also important to understand that your child and your child’s behavior are two separate things. This is not something easy to remember especially in situations when your child is acting out in ways that make you mad or that are unsafe. However, when disciplining your child for the behavior rather than the person, you can positively influence and foster self esteem. Why? If your child feels that you are mad because of him or her as a person rather than for the behavior, this can negatively affect his or her self-esteem. Try using statements to help with this. Say something like,”I do not like it when you leave you leave your toys scattered all over the floor.” This addresses the behavior, rather than “You are a slob!” which attacks the character.

Letting a child make some choices is a good way for them to learn to be less dependent on others. Most children are constantly in situations where they are told what to do, when to do it, where to go, what to eat and many more. When children are given the opportunity to make some choices, regardless of how insignificant these may be, they learn to be self-reliant. As a parent, you would not want your children growing up feeling dependant on others for direction, would you? Simple everyday choices like what to wear (you can offer two or three choices) or choosing a special lunch item will foster your child to think independently.

In helping to boost your child’s self-confidence, it is important that as parents, we must encourage them to develop their talents as well as to try out new things. Trying out new things help to overcome fears of the unknown and at the same time allows us to learn to deal with success and failure. If a child is never given the chance to try out new things, this can possibly create problems later in life. After all, we live in a world that is ever changing! Life is never constant, whether it is a move to a new city or starting a new career. Children who are experienced at trying new things, even if small, will find that life’s bigger transitions like leaving for college and starting a career – are much easier to handle.

Paul Hata is active in various community and social programs aimed at providing access to education and training to all. Access 1000s of Educational, Training and Degree Programs here – WorldChristianPages.com and ChristianWorldPages.com

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by Chris Jensen
First-time parents especially consider the gift a measure of how much you care about them. With so much emotion wrapped up in a simple gift, you want to shop carefully, bearing in mind that the parents are the ones who consider the gift a symbol of your friendship, so take your time and try to find a unique baby gift!

While selecting a gift, keep in mind that babies like the rest of us require a lot of stuff! If you think the new parents need a bassinet or a diaper pail, you can take this gift idea a step further — fill it with the essentials, for example, diapers, wipes, soap, shampoo, and socks.

Remember too that newborns don’t stay new for long. Purchase clothing items in several sizes. Many people will be giving the child newborn sized gifts, so get something baby can grow into and the parents will be forever grateful to you. A bassinet filled with goodies is only one idea. Think of some gifts that you know would be appreciated by the parents and then build on that idea. In no time you’ll have a unique gift.

One gift you can never go wrong with is clothes. Today, there are many adorable baby outfits that cannot be resisted! Fortunately, newborns require a lot of clothes. They go through multiple changes of clothing daily, and they keep growing, rapidly. This constant need for more clothes ensures that gifts of clothing will always be welcomed by the parents of the baby and remembered long after the initial excitement of the arrival of the baby. Moreover, with some creativity and careful choices, clothing can be a very special baby gift!

For example, personalized baby gifts look very good and demonstrate to the recipient that you have made an extra effort in selecting the gift. A monogrammed baby towel, drinking cup, or baby dishes with baby’s name painted on them can make your gift stand out.

You can also do something as easy as purchasing a variety of scrapbook supplies, so the proud parents can make a customized album to capture the sweet memories of their baby’s childhood!

Today, most expectant parents register for baby gifts, especially if there is going to be a baby shower. This makes it easy for you to check on what they already have (or will be getting) and what they still need. But don’t overlook simply asking the parents what they would appreciate. Sometimes new parents wait to buy things for a new baby until after they get gifts, so that they don’t end up with duplicates. You can make it easier on them by picking up the item for them yourself.

Finally for the baby who seemingly has everything, you can make a book filled with coupons promising free babysitting, running an errand for the parents or providing some homemade dinners so that in those first few weeks the baby is home, they don’t have to worry about what’s for dinner.

And one more idea — money. You can make an investment in baby’s future. Open a savings account in baby’s name, purchase a bond, or even a small share of stock! Think outside the box, it’s only the baby that is small, your gift options are limitless. Free up your imagination, and your gift for baby will be remembered for a long time to come.

Chris Jensen is a contributing Author of Jetfly Blog. For more related articles and reviews visit Jetfly Family & Parenting Blog now. Also, for the Best up-to-date related Online Products, check out Jetfly Developmental Baby Toys Shop for Todays Current Online Deals.

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by Jamie Jefferson
Being a parent today is much different than it has been in generations past. Even though the Internet has been in homes for nearly 20 years, it has just been within the past 5 to 10 years that teenagers and children have had routine use of the Internet.

If you are beginning to feel like your children know more about the online world than you do, it’s no wonder that you’re concerned about keeping them safe. There are many steps that you can take to protect your children and to direct their online behavior so they present themselves correctly. Here are five important places to start.

1. The first step you should take is to ban computers from your children’s bedrooms. The entire family should use a common desktop computer that is in a well-trafficked area in the house. Keeping the computer (and your children) in sight will help minimize where they visit online and what type of activities they can take part in. Limiting their computer time is also a good way to keep them safe. A child that is on for an hour per day, rather than four or six, can get in a lot less trouble.

2. Set some ground rules with your children for their Internet use. For example, many parents allow their children to have their own e-mail address but only if the parents have the passwords. When you use the computer you can double check that this rule is being followed by checking the history and making sure no unauthorized email addresses are being used.

3. One of the most popular sites these days is Myspace. Myspace is a social networking community that brings people together from all walks of life. It’s also become a popular place for teens and preteens to meet one another and bond after school. You can make sure your children are staying safe by building their Myspace account with them. This way, you know the password and you can check in on the account from time to time. Make sure that you communicate to them the importance of limiting their communication to friends only. There are many spam programs that will ask to be your child’s friend, and then expose them to inappropriate material. If your children only accept friend requests from people that they know in real life, this cuts down on their exposure.

4. Make sure that your attempts to keep them safe aren’t all punitive. You can prevent a lot of problems by getting involved in your child’s online life. Visit websites together and let them show you where they like to “hang out” online. Encourage them to tell you about their online friends and how they spend their time online. If you are a part of their world, you’ll know exactly what they’ve been up to and whether they are following your ground rules or not.

5. If you need to, you can take your level of parental protection to the next level with a professional monitoring software that will tell you just exactly where they have been. This type of software can also limit their usage to specific sites. This can be very helpful if your child is young.

Protecting your child online is easy if you involve yourself in what they are doing from the start. Interacting with your child and the Internet in a friendly way when they are 10 is a lot easier than cracking down on bad online usage when they are 16. Just like with all other parenting areas, it’s better to try to prevent problems first.

Jamie Jefferson writes for Susies-Coupons.com, where you can find Vistaprint Coupons as well as Symantec Coupons. Symantec has a number of programs to protect privacy and security online.

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by Connie Allen
Because your child spends many of his waking hours in school and in school-related activities, time spent in school plays a big part in his life and significantly impacts his development as a person. He probably spends more time at school than he does with you. Because of this, it is important you use the time you have with him to the maximum benefit and focus your attention on nurturing his emotional wholeness.

A child’s participation in school is often as stressful for parents as it is for children. Parents feel pressured to meet the school’s expectations to follow through on their child’s homework and behavior at home. They feel pressured to make sure their child’s homework is done well to the best of her ability or to make sure her behavior conforms to the school’s standards of appropriate conduct.

This added pressure on you and your child affects both your child’s and your emotional well-being throughout the day. It also dramatically impacts your relationship with him. The increased tension carries over into other areas of your life together. Your precious time together may not be as much fun or loving as you’d both like it to be.

You may be like other parents who frequently feel frustrated with their child’s academic motivation and achievement. You try to help her get her work done, even if it means you do the work yourself. Or you may simply stand over her every night after school, making sure her work is done and up to the standards of which you feel she is capable. All of this often results in parents and children raising their voices at one another in frustration.

These painful interactions and stress are not good for you or for your child. Your child needs to feel loved and connected to you, no matter what he does in school. Your loving connection with your child is also very important to you. Harsh words spoken in anger can ruin your day. Only to come home and begin the whole cycle again.

Here are five tips on how to make the best of the time you have together. All of these help your child succeed in school.

* Make your emotional connection with your child your highest priority. Nothing matters more, not grades, not a messy notebook, not homework. Your effectiveness as a parent and your child’s sense of well-being in life depends on this. Your child needs to trust you and feel loved and appreciated by you.

* Pay attention to how your child is doing emotionally. Usually we pay attention to how our child is doing academically and socially. However, your child’s emotional wholeness is the foundation for both his academic and social success. Is he happy and enjoying his time in school? Does he love to go to school? Be sure to explore what’s working and what’s not working during those hours he is not with you.

* Listen to what your child tells you with an open heart and an open mind. Her experience of school or of a particular situation is her experience. Even though you may perceive the situation differently, try to see the situation through her eyes.

* Be willing to think outside the box. Not all children learn in the same way. Math may not be your child’s interest or strength, but this does not mean he cannot create a meaningful, satisfying life for himself, both now or in the future. If you have concerns, don’t assume the problem is your child. Children learn in many different ways.

* Take action to improve challenging situations at school, even ones that seem to be inconsequential or temporary. When you or your child is struggling emotionally, it is never inconsequential and seldom temporary. Get help from someone outside the school who can observe your child and the situation from all perspectives.

Make your relationship with your child the best it can be, no matter what happens in school. You may believe that your child’s academic success and behavior in school is your highest priority. What I’ve seen is that it’s her emotional wholeness and the quality of the emotional connection she has with you that makes all the difference. Use your power and influence to make a positive differnce in your child’s life.

Connie Allen, M.A. of Joy with Children. Connie helps parents and educators who are unsure how to best empower their child. . For information on how you can nurture the joyous inner spirit of children, subscribe to her free e-newsletter “Joy with Children”. Visit her blog.

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