Family Articles

Family | By Amy Nutt @ Friday, 14th December 2007 @ 1:43 AM

Okay, so this opinion might not be the most popular. But please, don't crucify me. I'm a good dad. I got my kids all the toys my wife found to help the kids' "development." You know, educational toys. The kind you have to drive twenty miles out of your way to tiny store in a strip mall in West Nowhere to find, or order from some obscure catalog or website based in Canada. And believe me, I'm glad my kids have things like mini computers that teach spelling and m... more...

Family | By MIKE SELVON @ Thursday, 13th December 2007 @ 6:08 PM

The type of childcare services offered by a daycare center can vary from business to business. All should operate under the same principle: provide quality childcare and ensure child welfare. This may seem basic but there is so much that goes into caring for children. Parents are placing a sacred trust in a preschool by letting them protect their most precious gift. As a parent, there are some questions that you must ask and have answered by the facility. Some of the most common to... more...

Family | By MIKE SELVON @ Thursday, 13th December 2007 @ 6:06 PM

There are many factors that come into play when looking through available daycare centers for your child. The education plan may be the first thing many parents look at whereas other parents look towards the teacher-child ratio. But many poor childcare centers are chosen based on these criteria without noticing the smaller signs. It may look clean and all the paperwork may be in order, but the center could have deeper flaws not always immediately seen. All such facilities should o... more...

Family | By MIKE SELVON @ Wednesday, 12th December 2007 @ 6:37 PM

It is not always easy for parents to relinquish the care of their child to strangers. Parents hear horror stories of daycare facilities that ignore or otherwise cause harm to innocent children. Quality child care providers are always in high demand and it is no mystery as to why. Parents want to be reassured that their children are safe. Safety is not the only issue either. Parents also want to be sure that their children are actually learning something and not spending all day parked in... more...

Family | By MIKE SELVON @ Wednesday, 12th December 2007 @ 2:02 AM

Childcare in this decade alone has come to the forefront of politics. In the political arena, education has become the number one issue concerning most voters. Parents worry that their children will be ill prepared to handle the demands set forth by the government when it comes to educational guidelines, so they are turning to preschools as a way to help their child gain an advantage. Child care centers, in many people's minds, involves a child being checked into an institution-like ... more...

Family | By Joseph Jordan @ Wednesday, 12th December 2007 @ 1:51 AM

Many vacations are based around water-related activities such as boating. While these activities can be a lot of fun, they are also the cause of the majority of vacation accidents. To truly enjoy your boating vacation without mishap, it is important to keep a few safety tips in mind. Children are particularly vulnerable to boating accidents, so you really need to lay out some ground rules and stick to them while on the boat. For example, small children should be kept inside or, if on the ... more...

Family | By Joseph Jordan @ Tuesday, 11th December 2007 @ 11:19 PM

Vacation rentals can be the perfect way to enjoy a comfortable vacation with a family. Although anyone can request vacation rentals, families find them the most useful and economical. What is a vacation rental? Quite simply, it is a house that is available to rent in a tourist location for short periods of time. Some allow rentals of just two or three days, over the weekend, for example. Others require a week minimum. Prices vary drastically, depending on what part of the country the vaca... more...

Family | By Emily Sandberg @ Tuesday, 11th December 2007 @ 6:31 AM

Planning any type of vacation can is fun and exciting as the possibilities are endless and you can do whatever you want! If what you want to do is go on a mountain biking vacation, there are many things to keep in mind to ensure you and your family have a great time. Equipment: At bare minimum, you'll need a bike for every member of your party. Where you intend to ride will determine what type of bike you want to have--off road adventures require a mountain bike with big knobby ti... more...

Family | By Emily Sandberg @ Tuesday, 11th December 2007 @ 6:28 AM

Your summer can hardly be considered complete with out a summer road trip. Here's a list of ten things you cannot leave home without, and one bonus item you just might find revolutionizes your time in the car! 1. Music. happy, adventurous music that will keep you moving down the road. Bring CDs, your ipod, satellite radio, whatever it takes to keep you grooving all the way there. 2. A DVD player with kids' choice movies. If you have kids in the back, this is really ... more...

Family | By MIKE SELVON @ Monday, 10th December 2007 @ 6:42 PM

There is a little doubt that a great percentage of working parent's wages goes toward child care facilities. Parents need someone to take care of their children while they are working but sometimes wonder how they can ever afford to pay out such high fees. The differences in charges vary from city to city, but no matter where the family is located, it sometimes causes doubt as to whether or not the second parent is simply working to pay for childcare. There are many things that can ... more...

Family | By MIKE SELVON @ Saturday, 8th December 2007 @ 1:35 PM

Childcare is a common topic among parents. All parents, at one time or another, find themselves in need of relief from a couple hours of parenting responsibilities or need to find a suitable daycare center when they go to work. With so many horror stories about child care services, and nannies or babysitters who actually hurt the children placed in their care, it is no wonder why so many parents take the decision of finding the perfect facility to care for their children, so seriously.more...

Family | By MIKE SELVON @ Saturday, 8th December 2007 @ 4:56 AM

It is unfortunate, but many of the old-time Christmas traditions are fading into the background, partly because of the high-tech world we find ourselves living in nowadays. But for many, when Christmas Day comes, it is still a time to stop and enjoy family, friends, gifts and food. While there are thousands of different ways that people choose to make it a special time for them and their family, there are three wonderful ways in which you can ensure that you will have the basics to bring ... more...

Family | By Amy Nutt @ Thursday, 6th December 2007 @ 8:31 PM

Many families have to move only a few times throughout their life, while others have to move almost every other year due to work schedules and locations. Many military or service personnel have to go where their respective offices station them and there is very little that they can do about it. Most families who have to move often simply become used to the whole process of packing up, moving and settling down time after time throughout their lives. Many children who have to go through a ... more...

Family | By Jimmy Walker @ Wednesday, 28th November 2007 @ 10:05 PM

Today, American children are watching more television than ever before. On average, our kids are spending up to six hours per day in front of a television set. Because of the amount of time spent watching television, the development of a child's behavior and perception of real life are affected. Violent and sexually explicit TV programs dominate the airwaves during primetime, which is when most children and adolescences watch television. Many studies have found that kids are becom... more...

Family | By dror klar @ Saturday, 24th November 2007 @ 10:21 PM

There is something about a bathroom that children find magical. Anyone who has children will tell you, no matter where they go the children have to go to the bathroom. Notice I did not say use the bathroom, because most of the time they do not use it, they just want to explore. While we teach our children the basics of personal hygiene such as daily bathing, washing their hands, brushing their teeth, and of course, potty training, we also need to teach them the dangers associated with the... more...

Family | By Charlotte Buelow @ Wednesday, 21st November 2007 @ 8:12 PM

While adopting a child is an exciting period in a parent's life, the adoption process may become time-intensive and taxing. In order to create as smooth as adoption process as possible, parents should seek information and resources. Informed parents should also identify resources for life-after-adoption. One of the best ways to find information about adoption, the process as well as after adoption, is through the number of adoptive publications available. These publications focus o... more...

Family | By Jeremy Johnson @ Wednesday, 21st November 2007 @ 7:35 PM

Many of my fondest childhood memories were made while on vacation with my family. When the money was there, we flew all over the world and saw places as varied as Thailand and London. When the budget was tighter, we went on road trips around the U.S. towing the camping trailer. Either way, we spent time together and we were better for it. A few of the best reasons to take time out for travel and recreation with your family are listed below. 1. Bonding as a family. It's no s... more...

Family | By Bob Alexander @ Friday, 16th November 2007 @ 9:58 PM

I've attended more than my share of funerals and memorial services over the last couple of years. As a result, I've compiled a list of questions that I've overheard and which I don't think are appropriate for such solemn occasions. Here's the list in no particular order: .01 "Can I have his bass boat? I'll pay you for it of course, but I'm sure Steve would have wanted me to have it at a very reasonable price. After all, we've been friends f... more...

Family | By Alex Olson @ Thursday, 15th November 2007 @ 9:34 PM

Holidays in America usually include gathering with friends and family, feasting, and celebrating the joy of the holiday and togetherness. Regardless of the particular holiday's roots, this is a common practice. Of course, traditions and practices change depending upon which holiday people are celebrating. Common Holidays: Perhaps the most popular holiday in America is Christmas. This holiday is celebrated on December 25, and is the celebration of the birth of the baby Jesus. A... more...

Family | By Alex Olson @ Monday, 12th November 2007 @ 4:56 PM

When you are putting together a birthday party for someone, there are many things that you must keep in mind. Is there a theme to the party? What will you be serving? Is there anything the guests should know or bring? While all of this together can be stressful, you'll realize that once you ask these questions, you'll be able to figure out what you want in terms of birthday invitations in no time at all! The first thing to think about is where you want to get the birthday... more...