Best Places to Raise a Family – 2017

Parents want the very best for their children. They want their family to live in a place that is safe, healthy, and filled with opportunities. WalletHub evaluated each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia to determine what the best (and worst) states to raise a family are. Here is a look at the very best states to raise a family in. WalletHub’s data team compared the 50 states (and District of Columbia) based on 40 key indicators of family-friendliness. Some of those criteria included “median family salary”, “housing affordability”, and “unemployment rate”. From there, they grouped criteria … Continue reading

Ways to Help Your Child Understand Business

Do your children understand the value of a dollar? Many kids do not. There are things that parents can do to help their children, and teenagers, to get a basic grasp of money. They can also learn a little bit about business. Forbes has a really interesting article titled “13 Ways to Help Your Children Understand Business”. It was written by Dan Matthews, and posted on May 30, 2014. He gathered tips that will help parents to encourage their kids to become interested in finance and business. Each tip came from someone who is involved in business. One of those … Continue reading

Earn Money Selling Children’s Clothing

Selling children’s clothing can be an easy way to earn money! You can make your own hours and work as much or as little as you like. Whether you need an income that will allow you to stay home with children, a fun project that will earn money, or some extra cash to put toward debt, consider earning money by selling children’s clothing. How to Get Started The nice thing about selling children’s clothing is that, if you have children, you can start with the items that they have outgrown! This means that initially, there is no cost to you. … Continue reading

When Your Child Doesn’t Want to go to Preschool

Your child has been happily attending preschool for a while now. He or she always comes home with a smile and a story about something fun that happened that day. Now, suddenly, your child has started to resist going to preschool. What happened? Here is a quick checklist for parents who are baffled by their child’s declaration of “I don’t want to go to preschool!” Keep in mind that it is totally normal for a child to decided that he or she no longer wants to attend preschool. There are days when you don’t particularly want to go to work, … Continue reading

Protecting Your Children from Online Scammers

We live in an age driven by technology. Children are more technologically advanced than ever before. My four year old is no exception. He can work an Ipad much better than I can. He knows how to get into all his favorite games, how to get to the Dinsey Channel, and just about anything else he sets his mind to. I think kids these days are just born that way. While technology can be an amazing educational tool for our children, it can also be a very dangerous place, as we all know. More and more predators are out there … Continue reading

Children’s Classic Makes a Comeback

Chompo Bars, spelling “ice cream” with a “q” and a “p”, made-up songs, and internal torment about sharing with a sibling… oh, the memories. I’ve missed you Frances. It’s been decades since I journeyed to the whimsical world of Frances the badger, and returning is like slipping into a well-worn pair of cozy footed flannel pajamas. The warm, fuzzy feeling envelopes you like a mother’s hug. Interestingly, that feeling hasn’t diminished over time. When I flipped to the first page of A Birthday for Frances, it was like taking a stroll down memory lane. Still, it’s hard to believe it’s … Continue reading

Advice for Parents of Children With Special Needs

I’ve always heard it said that parenting can be a uniquely rewarding experience. It can also, at times, be very stressful. Sometimes, the best advice can come from other parents, who are going through similar situations. An article by Laura Shumaker offers advice, understanding, and hope for parents who are raising children that have special needs. I came across an interesting article that was written by Laura Shumaker. She is a writer and an autism advocate. She also is a mom, of a son named Matthew, who had been described as “pervasively developmentally delayed”. The article was titled “How to … Continue reading

Children’s Books We Are Loving Right Now

I love the library. Ever since I was a young child I have enjoyed reading immensely. My parents brought me to our local library all the time, and I have many fond memories of going there and choosing books to take home and enjoy. Now that I am a mom, I am discovering the library all over again. Even though I live in a different town now, and a different state, too, the feeling of going to the local library is a warm and familiar one. Dylan loves the library too. Whenever we pass by it, he asks if we … Continue reading

Nuance Helps Your Child to “Speak Dragon”

A company named Nuance has created a very special type of assistive software. It is called “Dragon Speech Recognition Software”. It can help children (and adults) who have certain types of special needs to be able to transcribe their thoughts. This might make homework a little less painful! School can be really difficult for children who have learning disabilities. Many schools have reduced the number of teachers and paraeducators due to budget cuts. This means that there are now more children placed into one classroom due to necessity, and not because this is the best way to provide an education. … Continue reading

Stop Hurting Your Children

Why can’t we all just get along? Words made famous for a different battle but apply just as much to people after a divorce. Divorce is one of the worst things you can go through, for you and your children. Even worse though are the battles that often continue after the divorce is final. Every day I see people who have turned completely against their ex’s and are trying to drag their children with them. How is it fair to a child to talk negatively about their other parent. I’ve heard parents tell their children that their father doesn’t love … Continue reading