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Parenting
Competent Children: Part 2
What’s the deal with free range parenting? We read a great article in the New York Times that tackles this issue:
Advice from America’s Worst Mom
Leave us a comment and tell us what you think!
Tips for Parents of Picky Eaters
Dr. Corinne Masur
Just now I heard Katie Workman talking on the radio about picky eaters. What a great subject! Some of her advice and mine:
1. Eat with your children. As soon as they start eating solid food, pull the high chair up to the table and let your children eats meals with you. Let them see you eating and enjoying all sorts of food. When they are toddlers, give them little bits when they ask. Make sure they see you eat and enjoy a variety of vegetables, fruits, salads, etc. Continue reading
New This Week: The Specifics on How Much Frustration to Allow Your Baby to Feel
Dr. Corinne Masur
A reader of this blog suggested to me that it would be helpful for parents of young children if we were more specific – particularly about such things as when to help our children and when to wait and see whether they are capable of doing certain things themselves. In the spirit of specifics, we present:
A Guide to Raising Competent and Confident Children by Allowing Them to Experience Frustration Continue reading
What Do “High Quality Preschool Programs” Look Like?
When we evaluate what makes a preschool program successful, what are the important criteria? And how do we measure success?
In response to a Philadelphia Inquirer article advocating funding for “high quality preschool programs,” members of the Philadelphia Declaration of Play wrote the following letter: Continue reading
Check out our Q&A page!
So far, Dr. Fran has answered questions about selecting a preschool, adolescent emotions, and toddler interactions on the Ask Dr. Fran page.
Do you have questions about parenting? Send them to:
AskDrFran@gmail.com
Life Lessons from Legos
Dr. Fran Martin
I have always been a fan of children’s movies. This likely started when I was first taken to see Disney movies as a child. These were VERY special occasions for me – a real treat. Back then, they were only released every seven years which definitely heightened the excitement of seeing each new or old one. My personal favorite was Lady and the Tramp, a quintessential love story (in my mind/memory anyway). I loved taking my own children to animated films as well – all time favorites included Aladdin, Little Mermaid, An American Tail (with Feivel Mousekowitz) and The Incredibles. Continue reading
Holiday Gift Giving
Dr. Corinne Masur
When it comes to the holidays do we just go on auto pilot? Do what our own families did? Or do we try to think about what kind of holiday we want to provide for our children?
Parents often struggle over when to start giving gifts to their children and how to do so in a thoughtful way. Their own early experiences often influence what they want for their children at the holidays – whether this means following the traditions of their own families – or doing the opposite. Continue reading
Ask Dr. Fran
Check out our first Q&A on the Ask Dr. Fran page!
Submit your questions to AskDrFran@gmail.com and stay tuned for more thoughtful responses to your parenting questions.
New Mothering
Dr. Corinne Masur
A couple weeks after the birth of her first baby, one of the women in our mother-infant group came and in and immediately started to cry. “No one told me it would be so hard,” she said. The other women looked on, slightly horrified, as they were all still pregnant. And it was true. No one talks about how hard the transition is from non-mom to new mom. No one talks about the complete loss of autonomy, the feeling of being controlled by your baby, the dramatic change in the relationship with your partner, the extreme vulnerability you feel, how everything hurts your feelings and makes you cry, how hungry you feel for support and how you feel like YOU need nurturing while, in the mean time, you are expected to nurture your baby. Continue reading
Thoughtful Parenting 