Christian Parenting Today articles from January 2001

Christian Parenting Today archives from January 2001

The Joy of Boys.(Editorial)
January 1, 2001... My favorite people on the planet are 9-year-old boys. When I was is college, I spent my summers working at a Bible camp. Every week a new group of campers arrived. Most of the time, I was ready to say goodbye to one group and start with a fresh...

Do-It-Yourself.(water bottles for children)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... To avoid spilling accidents, my daughters keep their own personal water bottles with retractable straws in the refrigerator. Any time they need a drink, they can get it without help. This gives my daughters independence, reduces the number of...

Color Coded.(schedule keeping)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... With 5 kids, it can be tricky to keep track of our family's busy schedules. We've found that using a large dry-erase board as our monthly calendar works best for us. Each child is assigned a different color marker so I can easily see who needs...

It's in the Bag.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... Make gift-giving for any occasion more special by encouraging your child to decorate his or her own gift bag. I've found that plain white bags work best. My 17-month-old's imagination runs wild with stickers, crayons, paints and fun buttons....

Family Uniform.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... When my boys and I are at the playground, I like being able to find them quickly amongst the other children. I've found that by dressing them each in the same color shirt or hat, it's much easier to spot them. It also makes me feel better...

Frozen Relief.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... I have tried several different kinds of teething rings for my 10-month-old daughter, Madeline May. Each brand I buy seems to return to room temperature within minutes. One day, out of desperation, I tried giving her frozen green beans. They...

Toy Turmoil.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... To avoid tantrums while we're at a toy store, I let my 3-year-old choose a stuffed animal from the store to hold while we shop. Before we leave, I tell her to give her "friend" a hug and a kiss and put him back on his shelf. We've done this...

Take a Closer Look.(advice for fathers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... Is your family calling for help? Recently I read a heart-rending story that began with great hopes and expectations. On December 11, 1941, an entire ship full of Romanian Jewish immigrants set sail for their new homeland in Palestine. These...

When Children Doubt.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... Help your kids find God during difficult times My oldest daughter, Serena, sniffled, "I thought you and Dad would stay together forever. How come Jesus didn't answer my prayers?" She sat on the edge of the bed, tears rolling down her face....

Life in our House Humor from Readers.
January 1, 2001... Edible Plants? My son and I were taking a nature walk when he stopped in his tracks to stare at a large patch of cat tails growing alongside the path. With great delight in his voice he exclaimed, "Mommy, look! Corn dog plants!" Deb...

The Honeymoon Date.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... Do you remember your wedding night and honeymoon? If your memory is a little foggy, it's time to refresh it with a "honeymoon memory" date. Over dessert at your favorite romantic restaurant, talk about your honeymoon. See how far you've come in...

Devotions for Two.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... Elkanah's Valentine (1 Samuel 1-2) Scripture tells us nothing about the courtship of Elkanah and Hannah. We don't know anything about what they looked like, their engagement, or the occasion of the wedding. What Scripture does provide...

Let It Snow.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... How to Build a Snow Fort 1. Choose the right day. The best time for building a snow fort is the day after a fresh snow fall. Ideally, the temperature should be slightly above freezing when the snow is heavy and most easily molded. And if...

The Whole Tooth.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... As your baby steadily acquires her first teeth, you'll notice lots of other physical and emotional changes as well. But more and more health professionals are becoming convinced that some of the "side effects" of teething -- drooling,...

Your Suddenly Picky Eater.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... When it comes to food, your child will probably beg in to show real likes and dislikes between the ages of 2 and 3. But his sudden finicky habits aren't necessarily a sign of disobedience. They are more likely a reflection of his growing...

When to Correct Bad Grammar.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... Mommy, Grandma taked me to the park and I runned all around! Then we goed to the pet store and seed some mouses!" When your preschooler is stumbling over the English language, it's tough to know lust how much correction you should offer....

Handling an Angry Child.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... Even if your child is sweet and quiet by nature, occasional outbursts of heated anger are common, especially once he reaches school age. Educational researcher Marian Marion explains that anger has three parts. The first is angers...

Nintendo Rules.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... If you can't seem to tear your 10-year-old away from the Nintendo, take heart. According to researchers, a child's interest in video games surges around fourth grade, then tapers off. While some experts have found proven benefits from video...

Pierce Talks.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... For a young teen, piercing is much more than a simple fashion statement. To your child, a piercing is an outward expression that says, "I'm growing up and making decisions on my own, even if they offend you." It's a normal part of the maturing...

The Truth about Boys and Girls.(a mother, of both a boy and girl, comments on raising them both)
January 1, 2001... They really are different. Here's what to do about it Snakes and snails and puppy dog tails? Sugar and spice and everything nice? What are little boys and girls made of, after all? Before the sixties, this question sparked little...

"Tell Me a Story".(former Secretary of Education comments on the power of children's literature)(Interview)
January 1, 2001... William Bennett, author of The Book of Virtues, explains how simple stories can transform your child's faith In our culture of high-speed internet, cut-away video and rapid sound bites, it's not easy to get kids to sit still for more than a...

Conquering the Hurry-Up Monster.
January 1, 2001... Not too long ago, I caught myself ranting and raving as I rushed my kids out the door to get somewhere on time. Feeling really angry and impatient, I knew my "hurry-up's" were getting louder and louder and I could feel my teeth clenching as I...

Food Fight.(the need, and means, of providing healthy food for children)
January 1, 2001... You've just spent the better part of your evening chopping, mixing and roasting only to be met with, "Mom, can I have a grilled cheese sandwich instead?" When your kids consistently refuse to eat anything that doesn't come in a box, even the...

Mom's. Valentines.(a personal account of a mother's valentines to her daughter and son)
January 1, 2001... The real reasons I love my kids This year for Valentine's Day, instead of giving my children another stale bag of candy hearts, I decided to sit down and write each one a love note that contained all of the special things I was always too...

Dr. Jekyll & Momma Hyde.(personal account: the two personalities of motherhood)
January 1, 2001... Facing the darker side of parenting Like most women, I changed profoundly when I became a mother. For starters, there emerged within me a person I had never met, a person I liked very much--a loving, caring, nurturing woman who thrived on...

FamilyTimewithGod.(families and religion)
January 1, 2001... Who's On First? Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength (Mark 12:30). WEEK 1: Measure Up YOU'LL NEED: A ruler, pen, masking rape, scissors, paper, paper...

Unhappy Napper.(establishing a firm nap schedule for a child; this and other topics are discussed)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... Q. I have a 17-month-old daughter. She's a very spirited child. My problem is that recently she has taught herself to climb out of her crib. Up until this point I've had no problems getting her to sleep. She'd have some milk while I rocked her,...

Oodles 2000.(Review)
January 1, 2001... Our picks for the year's best resources Baby & Toddler book series Wibbly Pig Likes Bananas Wibbly Pig Can Make a Tent Wibbly Pig Opens His Presents Wibbly Pig is Happy! written and illustrated by Mick Inkpen...

How Does Your Garden Grow?(mothering young children)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... What God can create from the mud of motherhood My first garden was planted in a Dixie cup. My kindergarten teacher passed out the paper cups and marigold seeds, then troweled mounds of dark earth into each of our "flower pots." A few...