Until about the age of six, children do not generally have the aptitude to think in abstract terms. But they do have an imagination, and they do fantasize... it is just that they reduce or compare the fantasy to something real that they can comprehend. If they fantasize about a "universal mind" or a "universal being" or God then they usually conjure up an image that is real to them. Then, until about twelve, it is the family traditions and their observations of family faith that are the motivations for their spiritual thinking....

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We want our children to do the right thing, especially when they are out with their friends. We want to believe in them, but somehow, we don't feel certain that they would. Have you ever asked yourself why you feel and act that way? Maybe the answer lies in the fact that, although you intend to, you rarely teach them how to develop their self-discipline. Or maybe it is because your parents never taught you how to develop yours. Well, it's never too late to learn. Here are fourteen principles to set you on the right track: 1....

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John Bishop's Goal Setting for Students. com Parents - Minimize Homework Hassles? It's 6:30 at night and you just got home from a long day at work, but the day's not over yet. First, there's dinner, then homework and don't forget the chores. Your husband has to finish his proposal by 7 a. m., and you have an important presentation for the president of the company tomorrow. Add a little stress from the monthly bills and the possibility of Dad's company being downsized, and you have the average US family scenario....

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A sure way to double the joys of parenthood is to give birth to twins! You'll have twice the smiles, goos & coos, giggles, and firsts (first words, first steps, first burps...) But for many soon-to-be parents of twins, once the excitement wears off, the math sets in... Suddenly you find yourself with twice the dirty diapers, twice the mouths to feed in the middle of the night, twice the formula to buy. Then, there are twice the outfits and booties to get. You'll need two cribs, playpens, baby swings....

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While youth gangs are nothing new -- they've been traced back to the early 19th century -- the demographic of a youth gang is something that is constantly changing. Many people stereotype gang members as urban, inner city males from racial minorities, but in fact gangs are a problem in suburbs as well as cities, for all races and for girls as well as boys. There are about 750,000 gang members in the United States, according to estimates by the U. S. Department of Justice, and one-third of them are under the age of 18....

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Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord. It is caused by either a virus or bacteria. Viral meningitis is usually mild and does not require medical treatment. Bacterial meningitis however can be life-threatening and can come on very quickly. Children under five are most likely to be affected and sadly some of these will die. There are several types of bacteria that can cause meningitis, the most common being meningococcal bacteria. Most of us carry this bacteria in our noses and throats without becoming ill....

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The biggest complaint you hear from parents about their children is "they don't listen to me and I have tried everything" Then when you start talking, you find out that parents give in at the end because it is just too exhausting to be consistent. For example--you want your child to go to bed at a certain time. Instead of sticking to that time and being consistent, your child starts begging or screaming or taking a fit to stay up later and you give in. What you need to do is just stick to the time for a short while and your child will adapt after 4 or 5 times....

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Compulsory attendance laws are school authorities' first assault on parental rights. These laws force almost forty-five million children to sit in often boring classes six to eight hours a day for twelve years. Compulsory attendance laws force parents to hand over their children to state employees called teachers, principals, and administrators, whose competence they must take on faith. Compulsory attendance laws show contempt for parents' rights because they are based on the notion that the state owns our children for twelve years, and that parents should have little say in the matter....

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Choosing a good car seat for your child's protection is a prime consideration for any new parent. To give your child the best chance of escaping injury in the event of a collision, you'll need to a car seat suited to your child's age and weight. To choose a proper car seat, you'll need to understand that there are three main types of car seats for children. These are: infant car seats, infant / toddler (convertible) car seats, and booster seats. Infant Car Seats If you have a newborn baby, or your child is under a year old, he needs to ride in a rear-facing car seat....

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Search for Assurance: The Power of Belonging The job hunt is on, as is the quest to find another great preschool and neighborhood to be part of. After feeling out of place, hearing over and over that an item I'm searching for is not available, or a pretty basic procedure I thought I had a grasp of is "done differently here. You must be from overseas," I'm really glad to be back. It's as I suspected-we each have a checklist of things we rely on to assure us that all is okay. For my elderly aunt, reciting the family tree mentally anchors her in the family, and strengthens her sense of belonging to it....

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Some public schools try to turn children against their parents with scary classroom stories or lessons about child abuse. Public school authorities have increasingly decided that they are children's first line of defense against child abuse. This new attitude falls under what is now known as "protective behavior curriculum." The assumptions behind this curriculum are that every child needs to be warned about and prepared for possible dangers of verbal, physical, and sexual abuse because allegedly every child is a potential victim, not only of strangers but of his or her own family....

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In a consumer-driven society that broadcasts values you don't approve of, how can you teach values to your kids? Here are ten ideas to help you: 1. Tell them your life stories and teach through your stories Kids love to hear stories about your childhood. Weave in some moral dilemmas, and you've got great opportunities to teach them values. It's especially effective at bedtime, when there are fewer distractions. They'll fall asleep with the story swirling around inside them. 2. Live your own life according to your values-walk the talk....

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