Providing researched based educational resources to meet the needs of Long Islanders
By Nancy Olsen-Harbich, MA As excited as you may be to have a new baby, your first child may not share your happiness. From the older child’s perspective, all the “fuss” created by a baby’s arrival in the household may be difficult to deal with and can cause ambivalent feelings towards the new baby. The…
By Tim Jahn, M.ED Do you need to wear a hazmat suit to enter your teen’s bedroom? Do you think it could qualify as a Superfund site? Dealing with a teen’s messy bedroom is a major source of irritation and conflict for many parents. Why are many teens’ rooms so messy? Like it or not,…
By Tim Jahn, M.ED Most parents would not want to think that their child could be a school bully. About 8% of school-age kids are bullies, so there is a chance your son or daughter could be one. How would you know? Here is a short checklist of common characteristics that bullies share: They like…
By Tim Jahn, M.ED About 14% of all school-age children are victims of bullying. Some children are more vulnerable than others including students with physical or learning differences and students who are perceived to be or have self-identified as gay, lesbian or transgendered. Many victims of bullying have no noticeable differences, but all victims seem…
By Nancy Olsen-Harbich, MA For children aged 3 to 5, the holidays offer many delights—the lights, the singing, the cookies and, yes, the presents. To keep the presents and “getting” in perspective, choose holiday traditions that convey your family’s values. Choosing Your Traditions: Bring the traditions from your own childhood that you truly cherish. Discuss…
By Dinah Torres Castro The Family Health and Wellness program encourages families to help the AAFCS celebrate the first annual Family & Consumer Sciences Day – a national celebration that educates families about the importance of preparing healthy meals and “dining in” together. “With the high rate of obesity in this country, especially among children,…
By Anastasia Beth Loper As an addendum to the work Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County’s community nutrition educator Maryann Birmingham has done, and continues to do, on the dangers of “Energy Drinks,” the death of an 18-year-old young man in Ohio this past spring from ingesting too large a dose of pure Caffeine Powder…
By Nancy Olsen-Harbich As Halloween approaches, parents should be aware that some Halloween costumes or decorations that seem just slightly scary or even cute to adults, may create real fears in young children. This is especially true of 3 to 5 year olds. Many childhood fears appear and then disappear as your child progresses. At…
By Dinah Torres Castro As the new school year begins parents often experience as much anxiety as their children when they think about homework. Sometimes we reflect on our own past experiences and wonder how we can make homework a more positive experience for our little ones. Start by recognizing that homework is really…
By Dinah Torres Castro Bedtime is a very important time of the day for both parents and children. Busy parents need time to catch up on chores, pursue personal interests, relax or talk with each other; children need enough sleep and quiet time to reflect on their day and rest assured that tomorrow will be…