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Dr. Laura

  • Five Strategies That Help Kids Want to Behave

    Discipline is one of the most googled words for parents. The word "discipline" has nothing to do with punishment. The root of "discipline" is "disciple," from the verb "to teach." The question, of course, is what kind of discipline is most conducive to learning?

  • Attachment Parenting: Create a Connection

    What do babies need? Their parents. Not the cute baby clothes you got at the shower. Not the baby swing, or seat, or crib. Not even diapers. You may need all that. But your baby needs his parents.

  • Gameplan for Mothering Your Newborn

    Welcome to Planet Parenthood, where the sleep is scarce but the love will blow you away. Your newborn may seem to be mostly eating and sleeping, but he or she is actually tackling some complicated developmental tasks:

  • How to Raise a Generous Child

    We all want our children to be generous. There are some people, in fact, who believe that our purpose on earth is to grow by giving to each other, an idea I find beautiful and inspiring. It is important to understand that you shouldn't force it however! Dr. Laura Markham explains.

  • When Your Toddler Starts Whining

    Whining is very common as little ones head into their second year. Babies who are beginning to toddle but not speaking much whine as a means of communication. They don't know that we find it irritating, and they wouldn't have the ability to communicate differently even if they did.

  • Helping Your School-Age Child Learn to Fall Asleep by Himself

    If your school-age child has difficulty falling asleep without you lying down with him, you are not alone. It is actually much more common than you'd think for a 7-year-old to be afraid of the dark and to need help falling asleep.

  • How Much to Help with Homework?

    So you've done what all the teachers advise and set up a regular place and time for your child to do his homework every night. So how come he's pestering you for help every minute? Isn't he supposed to do it himself?

  • Secrets of Peaceful, Happy Mornings

    So your household is into the swing of schooldays now, and your kids are getting used to their teachers. The faster pace of life is smoothing out as the days get cooler. You just wish you could make mornings a bit more peaceful. It isn't so hard...

  • Six Easy Everyday Strategies to Raise Your Child's IQ

    Many people believe that intelligence is static; either you're smart or you're not. But it turns out that intelligence is like a muscle: it can be developed with use. What's more, if you believe that's true, your brain has more potential!

  • Why Television Compromises Academics

    So your child is starting school and you want to get him off to a good start. What's the most important thing you can do? The answer in the interview below may surprise you: Wean him off TV. Research shows that as kids get older, the more TV they watch, the less likely they are to read.

  • Six Easy Everyday Strategies to Raise Your Child's IQ

    Many people believe that intelligence is static; either you're smart or you're not. But it turns out that intelligence is like a muscle: it can be developed with use. What's more, if you believe that's true, your brain has more potential!

  • Positive Discipline

    Ultimately, love is the only leverage we have with our children. Even if they worked, fear and "Because I say so!" only last for as long as they can be physically enforced. Every parent knows how fast children grow; fear works for a very short time if it works at all. Love, on the other hand, becomes a more effective motivator over time.

  • Curing Colic, Maybe

    I buy the idea that babies need another month or two in a womb-like environment to mature. But what do I do to create a this environment for my baby? Here are techniques to use when your baby cries, but they are also preventive tools to keep your infant from getting over-stimulated all day long:

  • 15 Everyday Strategies to Teach Your Child Values

    Talk explicitly about your values and why they are important to you. What IS integrity? Why is respectful behavior important in a church, synagogue or mosque? Helping children interpret the world is a crucial responsibility of parents.

  • When Your Toddler Starts Whining

    Whining is very common as little ones head into their second year. Babies who are beginning to toddle but not speaking much whine as a means of communication. They don't know that we find it irritating, and they wouldn't have the ability to communicate differently even if they did.

  • Breastfeeding: 9 Essential Steps to Success

    Most pregnant women are nervous about whether they will be able to breastfeed. Successful nursing starts with your intention. Here, 9 strategies to insure happy breastfeeding for mother and child.

  • Five Strategies That Help Kids Want to Behave

    Discipline is one of the most googled words for parents. The word "discipline" has nothing to do with punishment. The root of "discipline" is "disciple," from the verb "to teach." The question, of course, is what kind of discipline is most conducive to learning?

  • Why Do Kids Need Routines and Structure?

    Children, like the rest of us, handle change best if it is expected and occurs in the context of a familiar routine. A predictable routine allows children to feel safe, and to develop a sense of mastery in handling their lives. As this sense of mastery is strengthened, they can tackle larger changes.

  • Navigating the Tween Years

    Tweens are emerging teens, but they're still children. They'll astonish you with their ability to conceptualize and argue brilliantly, and then to do foolish things. Parenting tweens is a challenge because the pressures of the peer group magnify, kids demand more independence, and hormones flare as puberty approaches.

  • Ten Things Your Preschooler Needs

    Of course, the number one thing every child needs is love. But let's assume you adore your preschooler. What's the top ten list to help him thrive? Kids this age need guidance and limits, but remember that their brains are still developing. They get flooded with emotion very easily.