Parents need timeout from parental duties. Whether it’s a night out with friends, a table for two, a concert, or a movie, quality time for parents is important to any relationship marriage and family. If you don’t think you can afford these dates without worrying about your kids’ happiness and safety, and childcare costs, you’re not alone. For this reason consider a child-swapping network with other couples. It is a convenient, inexpensive, reliable and rewarding alternative to a babysitter.

The Happy Parent, Happy Child Relationship: A parent is a role model for his or her child. If a parent is happy, a child is more apt to be happy as well. A child will mimic parental behavior, and learn what type of behavior is not only acceptable, but worthwhile as...

Expressing warmth and affection to children is important for many reasons. It's crucial for children of all ages to be appropriately touched and hugged by adults. Touching and holding infants and toddlers helps them feel secure and learn to trust their caregivers. A...

Below we present some parenting tools that we hope will help you handle normal sibling rivalry in a way that enhances your relationship with your children as well as enhancing their relationships with each other. The following recommendations are from "Siblings...

Have you ever turned to your parents, your spouse's parents, or older relatives for advice or support with your child? If you have, you've probably realized how wonderful grandparents can be. Encouraging a close relationship will benefit grandparents, parents and...

Challenging Behaviors in Young Children: What are They Trying to Tell Us? Children can and do tell us a great deal about what they need through both verbal and non-verbal communication. At those moments when we are paying closest attention, we can discern a child's...

A study, called “Project Eat,” recently conducted by the University of Minnesota has found that adolescents benefit from family meals in many aspects. Family meals provide routine, consistency, and lessons in communication skills, manners, nutrition and good eating...

We wanted to examine ways to improve relationships, not only with our significant others, but all relationships in our lives. Healthy communication is obviously one of the most important aspects of maintaining and nurturing relationships with others. The book...

Self-esteem is a major key to success in life. The development of a positive self-concept or healthy self-esteem is extremely important to the happiness and success of children and teenagers. Healthy self-esteem is a child's armor against the challenges of the world....

Peer Pressure: At one point or another most of us have experienced some form of peer pressure. To those of us who have experienced peer pressure, we realize what a strong influence it can be. Peer pressure—it's more than just a phase that young people go through....