Back to School Stresses: 4 Tips to Conquer Them By Anh Vazquez www.littlegrad.com As we drop our children at their classrooms, or watch them hop on the bus, or out of our minivans, thoughts race through our minds... will they eat a healthy lunch, did we spend enough time on their homework... are they making friends.. are we budgeting/saving enough for their future education... and so on. A recent survey from Little Grad, the Saving for College company, asked parents about the things that stress them out at back to school time. Time Stress. Not surprisingly, the leader of the list was having enough time in the day to attend to homework, get to activities on time, and not feel as if we were always running behind. Surprisingly, this was a top concern even amongst parents of pre-schoolers! Tip: It's a mixed blessing, having so many enriching activities to pick from. In your child's early years it is tempting to want to let them try a variety to see where their gifts lie. But once the kindergarten/elementary years start, and homework happens, a family needs to reevaluate their schedules. My recommendation is one activity per week, per child. Money Stress. Parents primarily think of educational expenses in reference to putting money aside to plan for college costs - as well they should - but there are a number of things that can cause financial stress. Many parents underestimate the expenses of even public schools, such as PTA dues, suggested charitable contributions, and numerous activity fees and that can leave a family's budget strained at the end of each month. Tip: Recognize that a child entering full time school is a change of phase of life - one that requires a sit down and re-set of a families monthly spending and priorities. If the family hasn't put in place some sort of saving plan for college, this is a great time to get started, whether that means starting an account, increasing the monthly automatic contribution, or looking into reward programs to add more to it. Also, recognize that the school community is an ongoing part of your life. If it adds value to your family, you will want to prepare to play your part financially. Health Stress. I remember the first week of pre-school when my daughter brought back her lunch, nearly untouched. I was worried she was going to faint from hunger, and that I didn't know how to pack a proper lunch. (Then I found out they were letting her 'charge' hot lunches... I pulled her credit and the PBnJ lunches started to disappear!) But many times it is hard to determine the right mix of healthy foods that are easy to pack and kids will eat. Tip: Get your child involved in the shopping and the packing of the lunches and snacks. You need your child to understand what a good balance of "go" and "slow" foods will make their bodies and minds feel strong all day long. You'll also learn interesting facts like which snacks are the easiest to eat while swinging from monkey bars. Clueless Stress. A new element of uncertainty comes into our lives when our children start making friends on their own. They talk about things their new friends do, say and believe, and you will see that you are not the leading opinion setter in your children's lives. It is unsettling, especially as these new ideas are often different from the attitudes and beliefs you have been raising them with. Tip: Invite these new influences into your home after school or a sleepover, or to meet somewhere neutral like a park for a play date. Get to know the parents and see what they are all about and why your kids are so drawn to them. Spending time with the friends also gives them the chance to get to know you - and to benefit from your thoughts, ideas and high spirits. Fear not, stress less. As you enter a new phase of life, you'll be given new chances to grow with your children. When something causes you stress, take a deep breath, and step into the unknown with humility and bravery. You made it through the diapers and the twos... you can do anything! Anh Vazquez, CEO of LittleGrad.com, earned a Master's degree from Stanford University and a Bachelor's degree from Carnegie Mellon University. After spending over ten years working for leading companies such as Intel, Netscape, and Wal-Mart, Anh's career interests shifted when she became the mother of two children. Anh drew on her experience as a senior executive at Wal-Mart's fastest growing division (Walmart.com) when she decided to start LittleGrad.com, a free service that helps parents save for their children's college education. LittleGrad.com has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, San Francisco Chronicle, and Money magazine. For more information please visit www.littlegrad.com Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com. More >>

Don't Spook Kids By Giving Non-Nutritious Candy This Halloween! Hand Out Fun, Glow-in-the-Dark Objects, Stickers, Other Party Favors Instead By Connie Bennett www.SugarShockBlog.com Adults, don't fall into the candy-giving trap this Halloween when those adorable, costume-clad kids ring your doorbell. Handing out those traditional blood-sugar bouncing "treats" is a "tricky" proposition. All that candy could send your neighbor's kids into SUGAR SHOCK!-which means you could contribute to their getting all kinds of health and emotional problems. You certainly don't want to do anything that could help make these innocent children become angry, moody, depressed, tired, wired, sleepless, unfocused, or fat from those sugary foods, right? This Halloween, choose fun alternatives instead. There's no limit to the options. You could give out all kinds of fun, age-appropriate doodads and gizmos, such as: Glow-in-the-dark insects, spooky fingers and other objects Halloween-themed stickers, pencils, temporary tattoos, or other toys Holiday chalk, crayons, colored pencils, pens or animal-shaped erasers Rubber worms, spiders, or other creepy figures Non-Halloween-themed party favors such as hair clips, hair bands, scrunchies, plastic bracelets and rings (for girls). Party favors such as engine whistles, key chains, pens, and stickers. (For boys or girls). Rest assured, too: Kids will like your creative Halloween-giving ideas. In fact, researchers found that these non-candy favors can be a big hit. One study from Yale University revealed that half of the 284 trick-or-treaters aged 3 to 14 didn't want lollipops, fruit-flavored chews, or hard candies. Yeah, instead they preferred such toys as glow-in-the-dark insects, stretch pumpkin men, or Halloween-themed stickers and pencils. If you still insist on giving out food, try giving trick-or-treaters small, pre-packaged: Almonds or walnuts (Stay away from peanuts since some children are allergic to them.) Shelled sunflower seeds or pistachios Raisins (Although these are high in natural sugar, they're far preferable to candy.) Bottled water (Yeah, kids will be thirsty from all that trick-or-treating door to door!) So this Halloween, forego those nutrient-lacking candies. Decide to do something nice for your neighborhood's kids and instead give out something fun or at least more healthy. Connie Bennett is an experienced journalist (Los Angeles Times, TV Guide, cbs.com, etc.) and former, dedicated "sugar addict," who reluctantly quit sugar and refined carbs on doctor's orders in 1998. She now laughingly pokes fun of herself as a "Scary Sugar Shrew No More!" - see her fun cartoons at /www.sugarshock.com/cartoons.shtml . These days, Connie is regarded as a sought-after "Savvy Sugar Sleuth," who playfully and seriously educates people about the dangers of sugar and culprit carbs, which could include mood swings, depression, anger, "brain fog," and, of course, weight gain, and she helps "sugar sufferers" to break free from their dangerous habit. Connie is author of the engaging, engrossing book SUGAR SHOCK! (Berkley Books, Dec. 26, 2006); founder of an international KickSugar support group; founder of the award-winning SUGAR SHOCK! Blog ( www.SugarShockBlog.com ); a featured contributor to eDiets.com; a certified holistic health counselor; and a popular speaker. Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com More >>

Helping Kids Overcome Their Fears and Phobias By Patti Teel www.pattiteel.com Children love the fantasy and fun of dressing up in costumes and Halloween is usually an exciting and fun event for them. During October, however, the television networks begin running their annual horror flicks. Remember, young children still have trouble differentiating real life from make believe and many scary movies should be "off limits." A number of children have developed deeply rooted fears from watching movies that were too adult and scary. It can also be upsetting for children to see adults wearing terrifying masks or costumes. So enjoy the whimsy of the Halloween holiday but protect kids from the scary sights and sounds that could upset them. By nature, some children seem to have more fears than others. When the word "fear" is used correctly, it refers to the feeling experienced in response to a tangible danger, such as a speeding car or an angry dog. "Phobias" are excessive or exaggerated fears of specific objects or situations. Common childhood fears (or phobias) include a fear of the dark, dogs, heights, spiders, and storms. Jean Piaget is well known for his research regarding children's cognitive development. He calls ages two to four the "preoperational period" of development. It is characterized by reason being dominated by perception. This explains why preschoolers are often afraid of the dark and imaginary creatures such as monsters. Piaget's research revealed that around the age of six or seven, children's thinking begins to become more logical. Not surprisingly, around this age, children usually lose their fear of imaginary creatures but may become worried about other types of things such as school performance and social relationships. Encourage your children to tell you about their fears. If your child's fear is having a negative impact on his life, there are steps you can take to help your child overcome it early on. Many adult fears begin in childhood Completely avoiding feared objects and activities tends to increase rather that diminish the level of fear associated with them. We can see many examples of this-a fear of drowning is not likely to lessen by avoiding water; a fear of flying is not going to go away by avoiding airplanes; and a fear of school is not going to go away by allowing a child to stay home. Children often generalize their fears For example, a child is likely to think that all dogs are mean and unfriendly after a frightening experience with just one dog. A friendly golden retriever may happily approach a child with his tail wagging, but the child with a fear of dogs is likely to perceive the dog as a mean animal that is coming to attack. If a fear is not overcome, a child may begin to generalize it further and develop phobias about other types of animals in addition to dogs. Some fears must be confronted and dealt with because they will interfere with a child's daily life. Other phobias may not have to be confronted very often. Even when that is the case, beware that you can unwittingly teach your children to have the same phobias that you have. My husband and I have a rat phobia. I have generalized my fear to include opossums, hamsters, gerbils, and other rodents. Years ago, when we had a pet rabbit, he could even give me the creeps! While it seemed to me that I was only being a conscientious mother by passing along the dangers of rats to my daughter, when she screamed and came running out of her first-grade classroom in a panic because the teacher had a pet rat, I realized that I had probably overdone it. Much more so than the actual events themselves, children's reactions to fear and anxiety will affect the quality of their lives, both emotionally and physically. Their response can lead to personal growth, or it can impair that emotional growth. When children respond to the emotions of fear and anxiety by becoming stressed, it can affect their ability to be happy and experience pleasure. Because we cannot control all of the things that will happen in our children's lives, it's important for us to help them learn healthy ways to cope. Reactions to fear can include: shortness of breath, fast breathing, a racing heart, a tightness in the chest, a lump in the throat, butterflies in the stomach, lightheadedness, dizziness, shaking, trembling, tingling feelings, a surreal feeling that things seem strange and tightening muscles. Steps to overcoming fears and phobias: Learn relaxation and self-calming skills such as progressive relaxation, breathing techniques, and visualization. Desensitize your child. By gradually exposing your children to their fears, you will be helping them to take progressive steps toward overcoming them. Clear up misconceptions. Many fears are based on misconceptions. For instance, many children are afraid of thunder, but if you explain what it is the fear will begin to give way to curiosity. Dubbed "The Dream Maker" by People magazine, Patti Teel is a former teacher and the author of The Floppy Sleep Game Book , which gives parents techniques to help their children relax, deal with stress, or fall asleep. Her innovative book also includes a section on ways to combat children's fears, phobias, and anxiety. Visit Patti online to subscribe to her free newsletter and learn more about her book at www.pattiteel.com . Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com. More >>

Handling Homework Excerpt from The Floppy Sleep Game Book , by Patti Teel www.pattiteel.com Limited amounts of homework in the primary grades may be beneficial; however, it should not be excessive, especially in the lower grades. The amount of homework assigned varies greatly from school to school and from teacher to teacher. As a rule of thumb, the National Education Association and the Parent Teacher Association recommend that children in elementary school spend approximately ten minutes of homework per grade. For instance, a first grader would be expected to do 10 minutes of homework while a fifth grader would spend 50 minutes. However, the time it takes to complete homework will depend on a child's ability to buckle down and concentrate, his ability to do the work, and his level of perfectionism. What one child might complete in 20 minutes could very well take another child an hour. If you feel as if your child is unduly overloaded with homework that is either too difficult or lengthy, don't try to solve the problem by doing his work. While it's difficult for parents to see their child frustrated by inappropriate homework, doing too much of your child's work is likely to lead to an overly dependent child who may be convinced that he cannot accomplish anything on his own. Most teachers are willing to individualize homework assignments if a child is truly struggling. If your child has a learning disability that is interfering with his ability to complete the homework, or is a perfectionist who spends an inordinate amount of time doing it, work closely with your child's teacher. Oftentimes, the work may be appropriate, but because your child either processes more slowly or is a perfectionist, it takes an excessive amount of time for him to complete it. If this is the case, see if your child can be assigned a shorter version of the same assignment. That way, he will still be learning the same things as the other students. If the work itself is too difficult, your child should be given a more appropriate assignment. Each child is an individual and sometimes what works for most, won't work for all. One of the purposes of homework is to begin to teach responsibility and for it to serve its purpose, a child must receive appropriate homework assignments. In the upper elementary grades, other issues may determine the amount of homework a child brings home. While some children use all their spare time at school to complete homework, others bring it home because they are not applying themselves at school. Also, teachers begin to give their students longer assignments, expecting children to budget their time and work all week towards completing it. This leads to problems for a child who procrastinate and attempts to complete a week-long assignment in a single night. If your child has a tendency to put off his homework until the last minute, you need to be aware of his assignments. That way, you can help him to consistently chip away at a large project. Be aware that projects which require a great deal of planning and organization may be particularly difficult for a child with ADHD. Often, their problems become more noticeable in the upper grades when organization becomes more of an issue. If your child is frequently misplacing his papers and is generally unorganized, help him to set up a system to keep his papers organized. Don't allow excessive homework to interfere with your child's sleepRemember, getting a good night's sleep is the most important assignment of all! Have a set time and place for homework. Have your child do his homework early enough in the evening so that he will have some down time before bed. Set up a spot for your child to complete his homework that is well lit, quiet and away from the television. Be available to help your child with his homework if he has questions, but don't do your child's work. Appropriate homework is a lesson in responsibility. Dubbed "The Dream Maker" by People magazine, Patti Teel is a former teacher and the author of The Floppy Sleep Game Book, which gives parents techniques to help their children relax, deal with stress or fall asleep. Patti holds Dream Academy workshops at schools, hospitals and libraries across the country where parents and children learn the playful relaxation techniques from her book and widely acclaimed children's audio series. Children at the Dream Academy workshops practice the three R's by resting their bodies, relaxing their minds and refreshing their spirits. Visit Patti online to subscribe to her free newsletter at www.pattiteel.com . Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com. More >>

Seven Ways to Keep our Parents Young By Stephan and Lisa LaCount www.activeadultliving.com What are some things we can do to help keep our parents young? Here are seven ideas to explore, which may slow down the ageing process and help keep your folks sharp and young at heart for years to come... Physical activities are a great way to help keep everyone younger. Even if your parent is housebound or confined to a wheelchair, there are ways to get exercise. My mother-in-law is in her early 80's and still does her Jane Fonda workout tape every morning right in the privacy of her bedroom. My father-in-law is less motivated to do structured exercises, but he does join mom for a daily brisk power walk through a local indoor shopping mall. If your parent has trouble with back, hips or legs then water aerobic exercise may be just the key. Mental exercise is important too! Nowadays, many community colleges and universities offer the opportunity to 'audit' classes (that is, to take the class for personal enrichment and not to earn a grade). Are your folks homebodies and not so social? My mum loves to do crossword puzzles and prides herself on her mental acuity, while my step dad enjoys seemingly endless hours surfing the Internet. Having a proper diet goes hand in hand with the ability to enjoy physical and mental activities. My mum has always been very docile and became very overweight. She's always been passionate about buffet restaurants and gave in to too much food and too many calories. Unfortunately it led to type II diabetes; she still loves the buffets but through self-control and determination she shed 80 pounds and went down 10 dress sizes. My husband and I have tried on several occasions to encourage her to write The Buffet Lover's Diet book (but she's content just to do her crossword puzzles). The bottom line on diet is that a person needs a balance of carbohydrates, proteins and fats, and calorie intake commensurate with their activity level. Of course, vitamins and minerals will likely be recommended by their physician to supplement their diet, and plenty of water every day is crucial, too. Social interaction is wonderful to help them connect with others of similar age and/or interests. Here again, even the housebound can now enjoy social interaction with online chat rooms or blogging. If they are able to get out and about, many seniors find great satisfaction in volunteerism, which provides social interaction as well as a sense of worth. Having a soul mate is a richly fulfilling experience. If your parents are no longer together or one has pre-deceased the other, it's never too late to find love and/or companionship. Even if there's resistance to finding a soul mate, pets make wonderful companions. Environment is an unfortunate necessity to consider these days. Adding years of life or improving one's quality of life must take into consideration how to effectively deal with such 21st century realities as pollution, additives, preservatives, toxins, and even stresses such as terrorism and living in an inflationary world on a fixed income. Obviously, anything that you can do to relieve or diminish your parents exposure to any or all of the environmental factors will certainly add quality, and likely, years of life. Spirituality and the practice of faith is definitely a way to add years to one's life. There are certainly numerous benefits in turning over your cares and worries to a higher power through prayer or mediation. Additionally, the very gathering together with others of your faith to worship provides a forum for social interaction. Stephan and Lisa LaCount are the authors of an exhaustive resource, 1001 Active Lifestyle Communities , which is available through bookstores for or it may be ordered online at the website www.activeadultliving.com . Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com More >>

Today's Family Man "Helping a Perfectionist Student" By Gregory Keer A question I received over the summer from a concerned parent asked about her 10-year-old who was already getting anxious about going back to school because she's heard the fifth-grade teacher is hard. The father said his daughter is a good student, but is developing a sense of perfectionism. He pointed out that he never pressures his daughter to be such a high achiever, nor does his wife, so he wanted to know what he could do to help his child. As a high-school teacher, I see all kinds of students, a number of whom have perfectionist personalities. Nothing but an 'A' is good enough, and often, if they don't achieve the highest score, they get upset or depressed. We're seeing younger and younger children begin anxieties over grades, body image, and old-fashioned popularity, so it's wise to start working on this issue now. Often, academic perfectionism is due to parental pressure, which isn't the case with the questioning parent. Sometimes, it's due to peer pressure and sheer competitiveness. A child may want to stand out in her crowd or rise to a higher level among her peers by being the top student. And still another cause can be internal pressure to gain control over her world. Getting all or most of the answers right gives a child a sense that she's got a hold over some part of her life, when other things may be less manageable. Talk to Your Child As with most concerns about your child, you should start with talking to her. Perhaps you have done some talking, but this time, be really specific with your questions. Ask her how she feels when she doesn't get an 'A,' when someone else does better than her, or when she's confused about a math problem or writing assignment. Be a Role Model Tell your child stories about yourself as a student and what made you worried. Mention your failures and how you learned from them. One of the best ways to help your child is to make them see you as a credible model who survived similar challenges. Teach her that failure is the gateway to more knowledge and that no one, let alone you, gets all the answers, especially the first time around. Recognize that she may not completely identify with you, but she will see you as being willing to meet her at her level. Speak to Other Parents and Siblings Especially if you're not getting enough of a clear picture from your daughter, you might want to discuss how her friends' parents perceive her. This is a tricky area, and you may even want to ask your daughter's permission to talk to the other parents, but you can learn something from an outsider's perspective. Perhaps the parent's own child has talked about your daughter and can offer insight. If you have another child who's older than your daughter, talk to him/her too. A sibling sees with different eyes and may have just the perspective you need. Inquire About the Teacher Encourage your daughter to talk to students who had the teacher in question. How hard is she? Why is she difficult? It may be that only one or two students feel the teacher was challenging while others found her funny, fascinating, or inspiring. You can do this with her or have her call people and report back to you. As a secondary resort, consider talking to the principal or other school advisor about the teacher and his/her expectations. Getting your daughter the lowdown in advance can mitigate a lot of anxiety. If possible, you may be able to meet with the teacher a couple of weeks before school starts since some instructors work on campus to prepare for the year. Round Out and Prioritize Her Activities Think about what your daughter does outside of the classroom or study time. Does she play sports or music? These are wonderful activities that can balance out her focus, as long as her perfectionism doesn't spill over into them. Discuss with her what she feels is most important to her life, as it stands today. Perhaps you can write down what she does on a given day and give each item a 'grade.' Does she need to do 'A' work in class? Would she be happy if she got a 'B' on the soccer field? Can she live with a 'C' on the flute? Not everyone can be great at everything and, if your child is suffering from anxiety in the effort to be perfect, a grading of her activities can show her that she can still be pleased with herself and have fun though she's not at the top of the mountain. Free Time She should also have free time built into the day and week in general. Time to just hang out, listen to music, watch TV, etc. If she's resistant to be unproductive, try taking her to a yoga class for kids (they do exist!). Teaching her the habit of decompressing is essential and centering even at her age. Watch Out for Other Signs Because my advice may only scratch the surface, think about talking to your pediatrician because perfectionism can have significant physical effects. In fact, continually pay attention to your daughter's behavior. If she develops regular sleep problems or loses appetite on an ongoing basis, you should consult your pediatrician for advice. Your daughter is still young and malleable, so taking care of her patterns now will save you all a lot of grief later. Offer Love and Support At the root level, what your daughter needs most is your unconditional love and support. You may already be giving that, but keep reminding her of how proud you are of her efforts, whether they result in 'A's' or much lower. Celebrate her work by posting her 'C' paper on the fridge as well as the 'A' on the math quiz to show her that you think she's grand no matter how she does. (c)copy;2006 Gregory Keer. All rights reserved. Gregory Keer is a syndicated columnist, educator, and on-air expert on fatherhood. His Family Man(r) column appears in publications such as L.A. Parent, Boston Parents' Paper, and Bay Area Parent. In addition to writing for Parenting magazine and the Parents' Choice Foundation, Keer publishes the online fatherhood magazine, www.familymanonline.com . He also contributes to USA Today, Pregnancy , DrLaura.com, and ParentingBookmark.com. Keer is a guest expert on television and radio and advisor to the Cartoon Network. He and his wife are the proud parents of three sons. Keer can be reached at www.familymanonline.com . For details on his parent coaching, go to www.familymanonline.com/section.php?section=consulting . Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com More >>

Send Kids Back to School with a Healthy Diet By Elizabeth Yarnell www.GloriousOnePotMeals.com It's time for kids to gear up for school. So what does that mean for your child's diet? Hopefully not a strict diet of fast food five days a week as you run to football practices and dance lessons. The start of the school year can indeed be a busy time for families, but it is possible to make healthy meals even with time constraints. It just takes a little know-how. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "The percentage of children who are overweight has more than doubled, and among adolescents the rates have more than tripled since 1980." Being overweight can be associated with diabetes and other physical and mental health issues for young people such as bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor self-esteem. Whether or not we want to hear about it - and most of us don't - we need to start thinking about what we feed our kids. The CDC found that 4 out of 5 teens don't get enough fruits or vegetables, over half get too much saturated fat, and most adolescents, particularly girls, don't get enough calcium in their diets. Research is now showing that the antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals contained in fruits and vegetables may protect against everything from cancer, heart disease, and stroke to cataracts, chronic obstructive lung disease, diverticulosis, high blood pressure and a multitude of other diseases. Even chronic grown-up immunologic diseases such as multiple sclerosis and adult-onset diabetes may benefit from a varied diet rich in plant-based foods. A diet based on whole foods rather than the packaged, processed, synthesized foods we have become dependent on, can be an effective long-term strategy to combat excess weight. Weight loss and maintenance become delightful side-effects of eating right, instead of the main and perhaps, somewhat distorted, focus. And best of all, by offering real food we are modeling great lifelong eating habits for our kids! The major emphasis of the idea of eating for better health is on dietary patterns: what kinds of foods (processed or whole) we eat on a regular basis. This approach is extremely effective not only because it is easier to implement than calorie-counting for the individual and/or family, but also because a varied diet of whole foods provides a wide range of nutrients, vitamins and minerals for energy and health. According to the American Institute of Cancer Research (AICR), "Every new vegetable, fruit, whole grain or bean that finds its way onto your plate contributes disease-fighting power. And all the fat and calories you save may make a real difference on your waistline." Many of today's adults were raised on the "meat-and-potatoes" diet that included only a smattering of side-dish vegetables smothered in cheese, drenched in butter or deep-fried in lard. The idealized mother of the past built a meal for her family based around a hefty serving of meat followed by a large dose of processed starch (white rice, mashed potato flakes, packaged stuffing, etc.) with a few overcooked vegetables on the side, often smuggled away in napkins or under the table to the helpful family dog. It was cool eat food that came out of a box rather than from a farm, and to not like eating vegetables. The time has truly come for us to change our ways and return to eating a diet based in whole, unprocessed foods. That means feeding our kids real fruits and vegetables, meats, whole grains, and legumes instead of fruit chews, lunch meats, processed cheeses and white breads. Even a subtle change in diet can positively impact health and weight for the whole family. Knowledge is the key to making healthy food choices, and understanding that eating healthily is a lifelong opportunity may empower all of us to begin choosing healthy options of whole foods more often. Here's an easy recipe that uses whole foods in a cast iron Dutch oven to create a kid-pleasing meal that is both nutritious and delicious. Real cheese, whole wheat pasta, and a variety of vegetables make this meal a healthy and tasty choice for dinner. Use any combination of cheeses you desire, or even a cheese substitute (soy or rice cheese), to make this a mac-and-cheese you can feel good about serving. Glorious Macaroni Cheese Serves 4 Ingredients 4 cups macaroni-shaped whole grain pasta 1 1/3 cup water or liquid from canned tomatoes (see below) 6-10 drops olive oil 16-24 oz. cheese, sliced or grated 4 carrots, sliced 2 Tbsp. oregano, fresh chopped, or 1 tsp. dried salt and pepper to taste 1 cup broccoli florets, halved 1-2 cups spinach, roughly chopped 4-6 tomatoes, chopped, or 2 14 oz. cans, drained Instructions Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray inside of 3 1/2 or 4-quart cast iron Dutch oven and lid with olive oil, taking care to fully coat all interior surfaces. Place dry noodles in pot. If using canned tomatoes, drain and reserve the liquid and use to make the 1 1/3 cup of liquid, adding water as needed. If using fresh tomatoes, use all water. Add olive oil to liquid, stir and pour over pasta. Mix gently and spread pasta evenly across bottom of pot. Place a layer of cheese over pasta. Add carrots. Sprinkle with half of the garlic and half of the oregano. Lightly salt and pepper. Layer in broccoli and cover with a blanket of cheese. Sprinkle rest of spices and lightly salt and pepper. Top with spinach and fresh or drained canned tomatoes. Cover and bake for 30-35 minutes, or about 3 minutes after the aroma of a fully cooked meal escapes the oven. Tips Overcooking this recipe may cause the noodles to clump and a crusty layer to form along the bottom and lower sides of the pot. While these tasty strips are fun to crunch, you can avoid this effect by paying careful attention to when the aroma first escapes the oven and announces that the meal is ready. About the author: Elizabeth Yarnell is a Certified Nutritional Consultant and the author of Glorious One-Pot Meals: A new quick healthy approach to Dutch oven cooking , a guide to a guide to preparing quick, healthy and balanced one-pot meals. As a mother of young children, a diet of whole foods is an important strategy in her battle with Multiple Sclerosis. Visit Elizabeth online at www.GloriousOnePotMeals.com to subscribe to her free newsletter. The Glorious One-Pot Meal cooking method is unique and holds US patent 6,846,504. Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com More >>

Back to School Time Management Jill Hart CWAHM.com The kids are headed back to school and it feels like you should have a lot of extra time on your hands. Why aren't you able to accomplish all that needs to be done? Time management is a big struggle no matter what stage of life you're in. As work at home moms, it is even more important that we manage our time wisely. Below are five tips on how you can accomplish more during the time the kids are in school. Set your priorities - It's important to map out not only what needs to be accomplished during the time that you have allotted each day, but also what things are most important. Make a list of the tasks that need to be accomplished and then rank them according to deadline, desire to complete, etc. Keep in mind that the more you can do while the kids are in school, the more time you'll have with them the rest of the day. If at all possible, make time with you spouse and children the center of your day and try to work around it. Schedule your time - Now that you know what order your list needs to be accomplished in, take the time to write out a schedule of how and when you will complete each item. This will give you a tangible way to see your progress each day. Your schedule doesn't need to be set in stone - it needs to be somewhat flexible so that it doesn't become burdensome. Having a plan of action will help you avoid distractions and accomplish more during the time you have available. Delegate - Whenever possible, delegate tasks that can be accomplished by others. Have your kids stuff envelopes, have hubby print out business cards for you, and if you have a virtual assistant (VA), allow them to do some of the online work or phone calls for you. The best thing I've done for my business this last year is to hire a virtual assistant. She is fast, efficient and saves me a lot of time. I can be working with clients and making sales while she handles my article distribution and other tasks. The time saved is well worth the money spent. Let the phone ring - Customer service is one of the most important parts of running a home-based business. Being available for your customers and being willing to answer questions is what will set you apart from the many other businesses out there. However, if you are working to accomplish a task that is important to your business it may be necessary to allow the phone to ring and the answering machine to handle some calls. I'm not suggesting that you ignore your customers, but that you use your answering machine for what it is - a message service. By knowing who has called and what they need, you can call your customers back when you have time to work with them without feeling rushed. Also, by knowing what your customers need before your speak with them you can make preparations ahead of time, thus spending less time on the phone and saving both yourself and customer time. Take a Break - One of the biggest mistakes of work-at-home moms is to work too much. Because we are building our own businesses we feel that we will not succeed unless we're working - or at least thinking about work twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. This simply isn't true. Taking care of yourself is one of the best things that you can do for your business. Focusing on something other than your business can give you clarity and help you avoid burn-out. Running a home-based business while your children are in school is possible, but it does take efficiency and organization. It's very important that you set your priorities and your schedule your time in a way that is flexible and that allows you to get the most accomplished in the time that you have available. Don't get discouraged if it seems like you're not accomplishing much some days. Rest, go easy on yourself and do your best. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jill Hart is the founder of Christian Work at Home Moms, CWAHM.com . This site is dedicated to providing work at home moms with opportunities to promote their businesses while at the same time providing them spiritual encouragement and articles. Jill and her husband, Allen of CWAHD.com (Christian Work at Home Dads) reside in Nebraska with their two children.Listen to Jill's radio show, Christian Work at Home Moment, at http://www.cwahm.com/loudblog ! Permission Granted for use on Dr.Laura.com More >>

Pain in the Back: Your Child's Backpack May Not Be the Cause Dr. Robert Duvall www.losethebackpain.com Back pain is pervasive throughout the adult population. It is one of the most common reasons to visit a doctor. Young children are suffering from back pain much earlier than previously reported, and the use of overweight backpacks is a major contributing factor. In addition to overloaded backpacks, improper wearing of them may predispose a child to various health problems. Back pain usually results from repetitive loading as well as improper mechanics, not to mention kids are getting weaker and less physically active, leading to the child's inability to handle the load of the backpack. Does your child complain or exhibit the following signs and symptoms? Aching back Aching neck and shoulders Tingling in the arms and hands Slumped posture: rounded shoulders, forward head Posture changes when wearing a backpack Struggling when putting on or taking off the backpack Redness and/or soreness on the shoulders The major contributing factors associated with injury; Muscle imbalances: too weak in the abdominal area, shoulder blades, and/or lower body Slumped posture while standing and sitting Posture changes: arching the back, leaning forward, leaning to one side These factors may cause improper loading on the spine, which in turn can cause poor alignment of the vertebrae, which negatively impacts the function of the discs as shock absorbers. When the backpack is too heavy or positioned poorly, this causes muscles to work harder, leading to strain and fatigue that ultimately makes the back, neck and shoulders more susceptible to injury. Recommendations to ensure proper and safe backpack use; Do not carry more than 15 percent of the child's body weight. For example, a child who weighs 100 pounds should not carry more than 15 pounds in his or her backpack. Utilize both straps over the shoulders. This provides better distribution of the weight. Make sure they are well padded. If the backpack has a waist belt, use it to reduce the load on the shoulders and neck. Load the heaviest items closest to the child's back. Make sure the books and the other materials do not slide around. Make sure the backpack is positioned across the mid back and do not allow it to hang below the waist of the child. Straps should not be loose, and should be adjusted while putting on and taking off to permit free movement of the arms without twisting and side bending the spine. Parents should assist with the loading and the organization of the books and materials. Make sure the items are necessary for each particular day. If necessary, it's OK to have the child hand carry a couple of books. Listen to your child. If he or she continues to complain of pain and discomfort do not shrug it off. There are plenty of things children can do to avoid pain. Have them evaluated by a medical professional. You may consider a backpack that has wheels. Make sure the extended handle is the appropriate length to prevent the child from bending and twisting excessively. Be aware of your child's habits and physical make-up. Proper exercise and nutrition are key to preventing injuries immediately as well as later in life. The truth is as kids get stronger and their muscles become more balanced, they will build up the tolerance to these and other daily stresses of life. It just takes a little bit of knowledge and coaching from Mom and Dad to encourage your child to become more active in a fun way. I encourage you to keep in mind what I call "balanced muscle development." It is the key to any and all development. If you are not certain as to how a child can achieve a balanced body, please seek professional help from a certified health care provider. About the author: Dr. Robert V. Duvall, DPT, MPT, ATC, MGFI, graduated from Shenandoah University's Program in Physical Therapy with a Master of Physical Therapy degree in 1998. He earned his Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from the Physical Therapy Program at Shenandoah University. Visit www.losethebackpain.com to sign up for your free back pain e-mail educational course. Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com. More >>

"What Did You Learn in School Today?" Tips for Getting Your Kids to Talk about School By Thomas Haller and Chick Moorman "What did you learn in school today?" "Nothing." "Anything interesting happen? "Nope." "Did you like it?" "It was OK." Does getting your kids to offer information about school seem more difficult than pulling teeth? Do you ever feel like a lawyer cross examining your child in an attempt to find out what's really happening at school? Do you wish your child would volunteer more information about his educational experience so you wouldn't have to ask so often? If so, this article is for you. Employ the following do's and don'ts to increase your child's willingness to share useful and important information about his school experience. Don't play 20 questions. Ask a few questions each day and rotate them. No one likes being asked the same question every day. And no one likes being asked 20 questions on any one day. It feels like prying and gives the child one more reason to clam up. Scale back the number of questions you ask. Do ask questions that require more than a one word response. "Did you have a good day today?" and "How did it go today?" require one word answers. If you ask that kind of question you do not encourage a lengthy response. The child can answer, "Yes," and "Fine." Instead, ask a question that requires some thought. "Tell me about the most interesting thing that happened to you today," and "What surprised you about school today?" will usually generate more lengthy responses. Do use the "Say some more" technique to encourage your child to expand on a brief answer. After a short response, use the phrase, "Say some more" to elicit further information. Say some more is invitational and sounds less like a question. "Please continue," "Go on." and "Keep going" are parent talk phrases that encourage the child to keep talking. Don't seem desperate. Children can smell desperation. It gives them a sense of power to withhold from an adult something the adult appears to want so badly. When you come across as wanting information desperately you encourage the child to cling on to whatever it is she has that seems so valuable to you. Do use your parenting network to glean school information. If you don't have one, get one. Rely on the other parents in your child's classroom to provide you information. Remember, in a network, information flows both ways. So when you have useful information or hear a disturbing report contact the parents in your network. See what they know and share what you have learned. Do encourage your child to invite friends over. Your child will talk more freely in the presence of peers. Ask occasional questions to the friend to show your interest. Often the friend will tell you more than your own child. In addition, you will often overhear your child and her friends talking about school. Be still and listen. Don't ask questions to which you already know the answer. This is a set-up for your child. He may not answer the way you expect and then you are in the position of trying to determine if he is lying or hiding something. Instead, tell him what you know and ask for further clarification from his point of view. If your child ever starts talking about school, do stop talking and assume the listening stance. Give your child the space to talk. Listen non-judgmentally. Nothing will stop the flow if information faster than judging what is said. When you react like a judge the information flow dries up. Don't expect that your child is going to tell you everything that goes on at school. It's not going to happen. Be active and involved. Find out what is going on by being present. Get involved at school. Talk to the teachers regularly. Do create family times where conversation predominates. If the TV is on during dinner there is no space left for talk. If the radio and walkman's are on in the car, when can talk occur? Set the norm by talking about your day during these times. Be the change you would like to encourage in your family. There is no quick fix to get your kids talking about school. There is only a series of strategies that need to be implemented and used consistently throughout the school year. These skills will work if you work the skills. Your child didn't learn to be silent about school information overnight and she won't learn to speak more freely overnight either. Invest the time. You, your child, and your child's education are worth it. Chick Moorman and Thomas Haller are the authors of The 10 Commitments: Parenting with Purpose . They are two of the world's foremost authorities on raising responsible, caring, confident children. They publish a free monthly e-zine for parents. To sign up for it or obtain more information about how they can help you or your group meet your parenting needs, visit their websites today: www.chickmoorman.com or www.thomashaller.com . Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com. More >>