By: Staff Report When you think of corporal punishment  in schools, it's easy to think of a time from long ago or a place completely foreign from here. However, that topic is a reoccurring, still-recent phenomenon affecting children worldwide - including the U.S. And by recent, we mean very recent. Well, to give you a little history lesson, it was only in 1977 that the Supreme Court weighed

By: Carolina Pichardo It's been a rough couple of days. I'm not sure if it's part of a pre-teen phase I'm not familiar with, or the "only child" syndrome or maybe it's even the damn, summer heat. Fact of the matter is that my daughter and I have been bumping heads. When I say that the sky is blue, she has an argument that

By: Carolina Pichardo Despite the rainy, Spring weather in New York City, my daughter insists on going out to play with her friends, ride on her scooter and skate around. I feel for her. After a brutally cold season, we're both ready to step out and enjoy the sun. But living in the city (especially New York) doesn't make it always that easy. New York City alone made

By: Maria Smith Recently, I geared myself up for one of the true rites of passage for all moms—potty-training. This wasn’t my first rodeo though. A mere 20 months ago I finished potty-training my oldest child. I remembered the frustration, anxiousness, and the mess… Lots and lots of mess—everywhere. So I kept putting off potty-training my son off until it was more of a nuisance to

By: Carolina Pichardo If your child is in between that delicate, muddled Tween phase, then you've probably dealt with the Facebook dilemma: To create a profile or not? In a time when "cyberbullying" is so prevalent and widespread, you can't help but be a little fearful and confused about the process. Sure there is some good, such as the recent cultural changes in Libya and Egypt, keeping

By: Carolina Pichardo Like any parent, I always think about what my daughter's going to be when she grows up. That's why I listen attentively when she describes her dreams of becoming a doctor, teacher, chef and even the superhero that she created—Everything Girl. It wasn't until she declared her recent real dream, about becoming a soldier, that everything switched for me. What do you do when your

By: Staff Report Yesterday's events in Arizona left the entire nation speechless. Children, especially, might not know what to make of everything that’s going on. That’s why it’s very important that families discuss and incorporate these significant experiences into their overall setting. Talk about bullying, the recent suicides, terrorism, world events, global climate, etc. Allow your children to ask questions and voice their opinions. Not only will you

By: Carolina Pichardo They're with your kids for a good portion of the day, making sure they're reading, writing and learning. Although it's not the most coveted job in the U.S., it's one of the most influential and inspiring. Just think about your favorite teacher? For that alone, we should be grateful for the great educators that make it their profession to instruct our children. Take a moment to

By: Ashley Haugen Ahhh, the pacifier, the great divider of modern parents. To use one? To not use one? Is it really a question? Surprisingly, yes. And pacifiers are every bit as debatable as whether or not to breastfeed. They're sort of like a drug: once you give one to your baby, she's hooked. And once Baby's hooked ... well, we've all seen 5-year-olds walking around with a

By: Carolyn Mctighe Aside from the obvious, boys and girls are pretty much the same. Some people, though, swear that boys are easier to handle, while others claim that girls are really the best of the bunch. For the most part, boys and girls are all the same. Regardless of gender, they're all looking for love, acceptance and patience. However, how they go about getting these three