Yoga, mediation, mindfulness and loving-kindness all are recent buzzwords but why in the world am I mentioning them on a parenting website? What do they have to do with parenting? Like peanut butter and jelly, mindfulness and parenting go hand-in-hand. Much of the best parenting happens when parents pause and think about how to act […]
As our children kick into “wish list” overdrive this holiday season, it isn’t uncommon for them to ask for every new toy or gadget on the market. No matter what holiday you celebrate, many of our sons and daughters will be receiving a gift in the upcoming weeks. While we can’t predict the new […]
Most people know the teen years are a turbulent time for adolescents, but many might be surprised to know that mid-life parents are also undergoing significant changes. Stephen Small, human development and family relations specialist with UW-Extension and professor in the UW-Madison School of Human Ecology, says that parents and their teenage children are often […]
Happy Halloween! Soon super heroes, princesses, and zombies will be ringing your doorbell requesting a treat. However, as the parent of a pre-teen or teen, it may often feel as if the trick is on you as your teenage “monster”(?) changes his look, attitude or personality on a daily basis. While it may be confusing […]
We usually think of the teen years as a period of major changes in our children. Often overlooked is the fact that parents are also experiencing significant changes of their own. One of the things that makes these changes interesting — and challenging — is that mid-life parents and their teenage children are often changing […]
If you look at children’s menus in restaurants or kid-friendly food packages in the grocery store, it may seem that children only eat a limited number of foods, such as deep-fried chicken strips, macaroni and cheese, and chewy fruit snacks. “Not true,” says Gayle Coleman, nutrition education program specialist with the University of Wisconsin-Extension. “Throughout […]
The skills children bring with them to kindergarten, such as vocabulary, knowledge of letter names and sounds, and the ability to rhyme words, are strong predictors of future school success. Parents–a child’s first and most valuable teachers–most often set these skills in motion long before a child enters preschool or other formal schooling situation. “What […]
Families develop many holiday activities, events and rituals over the years. Some activities become family traditions and others fall by the wayside. As children get older, the schedules and demands of school, jobs and sports may affect their feelings about time-honored family traditions. One way for parents of teens and preteens to ensure that holiday […]
What is Parenthetical? Parenthetical is a little different than other sites you might visit. It was designed as a blog, website and social network for parents of tweens and teens. What YOU contribute to the site through questions, comments and advice is the most important part of Parenthetical. Our goal is to make Parenthetical a […]
Peers are an important part of the teenage years. As parents, our teens’ transition to greater reliance on peers can be tricky to navigate. This week’s parenthetical spot talks about the ways in which parents can successfully balance supporting their teen’s expanding social network and maintaining their own positive, influential role in a teen’s life. […]
