Our colleague Irene Maher has some great tips in her article here on how to help your kids set some New Year's resolutions. As she notes, "the new year provides a good opportunity for kids to take a personal assessment — how things are going for them at home, at school, with their friends, their physical fitness — and see if they'd like to make improvements." The benefit of resolution-making for children is that it builds self confidence and self esteem. It gives them a sense of accomplishment. In the end, it helps make them thoughtful, productive citizens. That means it helps keep them out of trouble later in life. ... Read more

Christmas morning may look like a breezy time on the Hallmark cards, but it can be meltdown-worthy mess if you aren't careful. Toys packed in vacuum sealed plastic "clamshells" that require a jackhammer to open. No batteries. No breakfast ready. The coffee isn't ready and you REALLY need it, the camera's batteries aren't charged.

Face it, Mommas, you need a survival kit. Here's what's in mine: ... Read more

When you have more than one kid, you no doubt have this dilemma. Should the kids' Christmas presents be equal in price? Equal in amount? Or should you just not worry if it all comes out equal?

A mom on here once suggested wrapping the presents 1-to-1. It might mean you can't wrap as you'd like, but by doing it that way, you are assured they generally come out to the same number of packages under the tree.

I don't think equal spending is nessarily a good guide, especially with little kids who won't go price-checking, unless you tell them what you spent and why would you do that? While I wouldn't get a $2 gift for one child and a $200 gift for the others, I don't see a need to make sure it equalizes down to the penny.  We try to get the kids something they really like, and this might mean one is more expensive or bigger.

The way I see it, fair and equal are totally unrelated. ... Read more

As you think about the people who help you raise great kids please avoid at all cost the "gifts for teacher" aisle with its apple-related knickknacks, apple-themed jewelry and we beg you, put the coffee mug down. They have tons of them. Instead, think about a nice warm thank you note and maybe throw in some cash or a gift card for movies, coffee or groceries.

A teacher once wrote to me to agree with this advice saying, "Every thank you note that I have ever gotten from a parent or student is in a pile in my drawer, and when I need a boost, I do go back and read them again." Talk about the gift that keeps on giving!

Here's some other gift ideas we have gathered over the years that teachers and child care providers tell us are most appreciated: ... Read more