Providing researched based educational resources to meet the needs of Long Islanders
By Nancy Olsen-Harbich, MA “Why can’t they just get along? In our pre-parenting fantasies about the families we looked forward to creating, loving and supportive sibling relationships were a given – our fair and attentive parenting would eliminate all sources of rivalry. “Easy”, we thought. What happened? Why in the world are they fighting over…
By Kerri Kreh Reda, M.P.H. As a parent educator, I often suggest that parents use choices as a tool for guiding their child’s behavior. Offering choices is a great way to cut down on power struggles between you and your child because it allows you to set boundaries (the parent determines the choices) while…
By Tim Jahn, M.ED Pre-teens and teens love sleepovers, and why not? Hanging out with their best friends, staying up all night, eating lots of junk food, watching lots of junk TV, playing video games, gossiping about classmates – what’s not to like? Well, if you’re the host parent who has to feed this crew,…
By Nancy Olsen-Harbich, MA A wonderful morning at the park quickly disintegrates when you announce that it is time to go home and your child replies “That’s what you think!” Your request to clear the puzzle off the kitchen table so that you can set it for dinner gets a “No. I’m NOT done yet.”…
By Dinah Torres Castro Patience is a virtue, and it’s needed by parents every day. Imagine how difficult it is for grandparents and other relative caregivers to have that patience when they are called upon to raise their grandchildren or relatives. At a time in their lives when their thoughts should turn to planning a…
By Tim Jahn, M.ED Nearly every day, there is a report on the heroin epidemic or a story about another overdose. Many heroin users begin by abusing prescription opioids, and two-thirds of teens abusing prescription drugs say they get their drugs from family and friends. While doing spring cleaning in your home and putting away…
By Nancy Olsen-Harbich, MA You know that good reading skills can help your child throughout life, and that you can help develop a love for reading by reading aloud with your child. But how do you select the best books? Good books for preschoolers should be enjoyable, but they should also stimulate curiosity and imagination,…
By Kerri Kreh Reda, M.P.H. Getting and keeping kids moving is important due to the many benefits physical activity provides such as helping to prevent chronic disease, heart disease, and diabetes. Engaging in physical activity also promotes flexibility, better sleep, stress management, and weight management. Additionally, children’s school performance may be enhanced. In December of…
By Kerri Kreh Reda, M.P.H. If you have young children, you may not think it’s time to teach them about sex, but by age three children have already received many messages about sexuality. When you are expecting your baby, “Is it a boy or a girl?” is one of the first questions asked. Then we…
By Nancy Olsen-Harbich, MA Everyone Benefits When Preschoolers Get to Bed on Time Three and a half year old Emma hates to go to bed. Her parents adore her, but hate the bedtime battles. Even after Emma is peacefully asleep, her parents are still on edge, their plans to spend time enjoying each other’s company…