PARENTING : How to break bad news to your child

Many parents feel that the world today is a scarier place than the one they grew up in. While some of the things you worry about are real, others border on paranoia.

When it comes to parenting, many of us often lament how we wish the job came with a rule book.

Your child may bite his nails for any number of reasons – curiosity, boredom, stress relief, habit, or imitation. Nail-biting is the most common of the so-called “nervous habits,” which include thumb-sucking, nose picking, hair twisting or tugging, and teeth grinding. It’s also the one most likely to continue into adulthood.

Intelligence Quotient” (IQ) is a score that reflects how “smart” a person is as compared to others when measured by a particular test or set of challenges. As long as you do not over-interpret IQ, well-designed and standardized intelligence tests are among the most accurate of all psychological tests and assessments.

The following IQ test was designed by Dr. Phil’s former professor and mentor, Dr. Frank Lawlis. It was created to evaluate children between the ages of 5 and 16 who are...

A child does not truly understand the concept of sharing until about age 5, says Sara Lise Raff, an educational consultant and mom of three.

I do not remember how old I was when I joined school because admission was pegged on a pupil’s ability to touch his/her opposite ear with the hand across the head. I do not understand the wisdom behind this, but irrespective of height, it is said that only a child at six years and above was capable of achieving this feat.

>On several occasions, I have had parents bring me their children because they were concerned that they were being abused.

When you catch your preschooler weaving a tall tale or denying something you know she’s done, she isn’t purposefully trying to deceive you. At this age, the line between reality and fantasy is still a bit fuzzy. So rather than being mischievous, her fibs may stem from:

Once you decide your child is ready for preschool, it’s time to find a good programme. It pays to start your search early.