What Grown Kids Really Want for the HolidaysDecember/January 2023
Your young adults are long past the toy stage. Short expert tips here on what to give for holiday -- or birthday -- gifts.
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The New Rules of Allowances for KidsOctober 2021
Have you been wondering about best practices for giving an allowance to your kids? Here are money experts' best tips for how to do it effectively.
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The Single Mom Challenge of Saving for Retirement and Paying for CollegeApril 2022
It's not easy as a single parent to save for your own retirement and also help your teen with college costs. It's important to put on your own oxygen mask first, as the airlines like to say. Here's what to know.
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7 Financial Lessons Financial Mom Experts Want Girls to KnowMay 2022
We all want our kids to manage their money well once they hit adulthood, but these skills aren't learned intuitively. Tips here from mom money experts for girls (which will work for your boys too).
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How to Finance a Gap YearAugust 2022
Sometimes kids need a break from more education, and a gap year is the best move after high school. If your teen needs to take a breather before pursuing post-high school education, here's how to help them plan without breaking the bank.
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How Much Money Should You Borrow For College? Experts Offer Some Hard TruthsMay 2023
For most students, it's difficult to go to college without borrowing, and if you don't have parent help, it's even harder. But borrowing too much for a degree that won't pay well at the end of it all can backfire. What to consider.
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12 College Costs That Surprise New College ParentsFebruary 2020
Most college websites list 5 primary costs: tuition, meals and housing, books, travel, and personal costs. But, depending on where your student attends, college can included more costs you weren't planning for. These 12 rise to the top.
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Car Insurance Tips for New Drivers: 6 Ways to Save MoneyFebruary 2017
Insuring a new driver can be breathtakingly expensive. Sixteen-year-old boys cost the most, but all teens are costly to insure. Here's why and how to save a little.
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Do's and Don'ts for Parents of New Credit Card HoldersOctober 2021
Teens and young adults need to understand how credit cards work if they're going to use them in adulthood. The best way to get them started is while they live under your roof so you can guide them (and if you're a poor card user, maybe these tips will help you too).
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Avoid College Debt by Taking Advantage of These 6 Expert TipsDecember 2019
It's way too easy to get in over your head with loans for college. Here's what to know before you start borrowing.
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Dorm vs. Off-Campus Apartment: How to Estimate What College Housing Really CostsMarch 2021
What, precisely, will campus living look like in fall 2021 after being upended throughout 2020? Will residence halls continue to operate at reduced capacity? Some students are eager to get back on campus, while others will stick to the apartment living they handled this year.
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How to Raise a Problem-SolverSeptember 2018
It's so easy to take over the process or to offer too much advice. But letting kids handle things is the best way to develop their problem-solving skills. Easier said than done, right? Tips here from experts.
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Giving Life: Has Your Teen Considered Becoming an Organ Donor?February 2018
With getting a driver's license comes a decision about becoming an organ donor. Many young people favor it. Here's what to know.
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8 Pieces of Wisdom for Parents Sending a Child Off to CollegeAugust 2019
After saying goodbye to your college student on move-in day, one of the hardest things to come to grips with at home is the yawning lack of information. Here’s what I’ve learned, from college experts, campus orientations and my own years of being a college parent, about how to navigate this shift in the relationship.
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Parents: Make Sure These Health Forms are Sorted Out Before Your Kid Goes to CollegeAugust 2020
Every year, parent questions crop up about health forms for new college students, including HIPAA authorization and medical power of attorney. Here's how to help your kid in an emergency health situation.
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More Parents Are Borrowing to Pay for Their Kids' College. Here's How to Do It Without Risking Your Own FutureApril 2020
The fastest-growing segment of education borrowers, people over 60 are increasingly taking loans for children and grandchildren’s educations. Today, 3.6 million parents owe a collective $95 billion.
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Why Free Play Matters and How to Encourage itNovember 2016
Independent play is essential for children’s development because it allows children to engage with the world in an age-appropriate way, promoting imagination, creativity, cognitive and emotional development, as well as opportunities to master fears.
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What You Need to Know About Your Child's TeethMarch 2017
What to know about fluoride, home care, and best snacks to avoid cavities.
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Do You Know if Your Child's Summer Camp is LGBTQ-Friendly?June 2019
LGBTQ+ campers are a special population with specific needs. Here’s what LGBTQ+ families (and their friends) should look for when evaluating camp inclusivity.
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Does Your Teen Truly Understand Student Loan Debt?September 2017
Many new college students sign on to student loans before doing any research, and often don't understand their debt until after they graduate. What your family should know.
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What to Know about Health InsuranceJanuary 2019
Younger millennials and Gen Z'ers don't know a lot about how health insurance works, but they need to get up to speed. A primer on what they should understand.
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Teens Face a Gender Pay Gap Too: Here's How to Help Them Navigate itJune 2018
According to a gender pay expert, teen girls experience a pay gap too. And it turns out we're not giving our girls the skills they need for asking about and negotiating pay, skills they need for the adult work world. Read on for tips to parents and to girls.
(Also published in Seattle Times.)
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Getting Sick in College: How to Teach Your Child to Cope on Their OwnSeptember 2017
It's not a question of if, but when, your child will get sick. Here's why -- and ways to mitigate being sick all year long.
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Planning to Borrow for College? Then it's Time to Clean Up Your CreditJanuary 2018
Many families need to borrow for college. Having a solid credit score and a good credit history will give you better options. Here's what to know.
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How to Choose a 529 Plan on Your OwnJune 2017
One of the best savings vehicles for college is the state-sponsored 529 plan. But many people don't know about them or if they do, how to get started. Here's what to know.
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What to Know If Your Child Fails Out of CollegeMay 2017
Students struggle for all kinds of reasons in their first year of college, and sometimes it involves failing out. Here's what to know about how to help your teen.
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Money Conversations to Have with Your First-year College KidAugust 2017
Even if your new college student is savvy about money, moving away to school is a big transition and involves lots of unanticipated costs. Here's what to discuss so everyone's on the same page about who's in charge of what.
(Also published in the Chicago Tribune.)
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How to Help Your College Student with Loneliness, Without HoveringSeptember 2016
Students head off to college expecting it to be great and aren't prepared for homesickness, academic difficulties, and friendship woes. Here's how to help.
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Why Kids Should Work (and 10 Ideas for Jobs)September 2016
Kids learn all kinds of skills from working, and they don't need to wait until they're 16 to start. Tips here for younger kids.
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For a Happier Family, Stop Overspending on KidsJuly 2016
It's so very easy to get caught up in keeping up with the Joneses, but our efforts can tank our bank account and don't necessarily benefit our kids. Here's how to drown out the cultural noise.
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4 Things Teens Really Need from Their ParentsJune 2016
Connecting with your teens isn't easy when they ignore you, shut you out, or head off with friends all the time. But they need us as much now as when they were little. Here's what to know.
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7 Life Skills Your Teen Should Learn Before Moving OutFebruary 2016
Sometimes parents are guilty of doing too much for their kids, and it can backfire when students go off to college. Read on for some life skills all young adults need.
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Surprise! Video Games Offer Real BenefitsDecember 2015
Video games get a bad rap, and played excessively they can indeed be problematic. But gaming offers benefits too. Read on for what your kid is gaining, and what to do about limits.
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How To Help Your Child Establish CreditNovember 2015
Young adults don't understand the benefits of credit or how to use it. Here's what to teach them.
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What Your Teen Can Do if Someone's Texting While Driving ThemJanuary 2016
What can a teen passenger do if their friend is texting while driving? Three tips for how to handle the situation. Plus some important statistics on teen driver crash risks.
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4 Legal Documents Your 18-Year-Old Might Want to HaveNovember 2015
Accidents happen, but now that your 18-year-old is of legal age, you might not be able to help. Discuss these four legal documents so your child doesn't get caught in a jam.
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Playborhoods: How to Create a Safe, Unstructured Play SpaceNovember 2015
Mike Lanza didn't want his kids growing up without free play and unstructured outdoor time. So he created a playborhood. Here's why he says they're an important antidote to today's overscheduled childhoods.
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Is My Child Old Enough to Babysit?October 2015
A few key questions to consider to determine if babysitting is the next step for your tween or young teen.
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Why Our Kids Need a Cultural ShiftOctober 2015
College anxiety has reached unprecedented levels. What is going on? My reflections and questions on the role of overparenting, social media, and why we need to keep talking about this issue. No easy answers on this one.
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Why I've Stopped Nagging My Son About HomeworkApril 2015
By the time kids are in high school, they need to start owning the homework process, in my opinion. Here's why I think we need to pull back (without letting them drown).
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Paying Attention: With Diagnoses on the Rise, Teens and Families Find New Ways to Manage ADHDOctober 2014
ADHD used to be a younger child's issue, but these days more kids are being diagnosed in their teen years. Here's what the condition looks like and why it's complicated.
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The Silent Treatment: Helping Kids Overcome Selective MutismApril 2014
A young child's silence may be more than temperament. Here's what selective mutism looks like and what you can do about it.
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Globetrotting Teens: Finding the Right Summer Abroad ProgramFebruary 2014
Does your teen want to travel abroad with a summer program? Here's what parents should be asking about.
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Cliques and Conflicts: Helping Young Girls Manage the Social SceneAugust 2013
Wondering if your grade-school girl's drama is normal? It is! Cliques and conflicts start way before middle school these days; read on to find out why.
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Getting Ready for Kindergarten July 2013
Starting kindergarten is a major milestone. A primer for the big change, including getting organized, meeting the teacher, talking through fears (your child's), and keeping tears at bay (yours).
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Nude AwakeningJuly 2013
What do you do if you catch your preschooler and her friend in the buff? Don't freak out, for one thing. Read on for more tips.
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Rockin' It: Why Rock Climbing is Great for KidsApril 2011
While some kids love team sports, others prefer solo ambitions. Climbing experts weigh in here on why kids are naturally good rock climbers and offer tips for getting started.
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Boastful BoysNovember 2010
Worried about how much your tween boy brags? Turns out it's normal. But here are a few tips to keep in mind.
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Falling on Deaf EarsOctober 2010
Fed up with giving your disorganized, slow-moving boy a million reminders? Here's the skinny on why boys tune out their moms and what to do about it.
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Expanding VocabulariesSeptember 2010
You think if you don't swear, your kids won't learn the words. Think again. Read on for why you can't avoid the inevitable.
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Boys to MenSeptember 2010
Girls are hitting puberty, but so is your boy even if he doesn't know it. Tips for getting a conversation started about what's in store for him.
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Easy RidersSeptember 2010
Your child is getting ready for school and feeling anxious about riding the bus. Tips for the transition.
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Cures for CussingJune 2010
Quick tips on what to do when your kid learns to swear (because he will).
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Checking the CompetitionDecember 2008
What happens when you sign your son up for a chess tournament (and then another), and trophies begin to trump his love of the game? Read on to learn about children and competition.
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Dreading WaterSummer 2006
You can take your daughter to swim lessons, but you can’t make her dunk. How I finally came to terms with my own expectations.
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