Policymakers and educators emphasize science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) instruction as key to individuals' and nations' future economic prosperity. It can be considered to be of particular value to students in developing countries and for disadvantaged students in developed countries. As families play a critical role in a…

What is play? Many researchers have made numerous attempts to discover what play really is. In order to answer the question, a working definition of play must be found. If children learn through play, then it is of utmost importance that parents, children's first teachers, provide opportunities for play at home. Furthermore, parents need to…

Details seven ways adults can ensure children's safety on the Internet: become familiar with the Internet community; learn how the Internet works; identify quality sites; learn what sites to avoid; teach children basic rules for Internet safety; place computers in high traffic areas and monitor use; and respond thoughtfully if a child visits an…

Discusses reasons childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions and the numerous health problems that can result. Suggests parents incorporate physical activity into their family's lifestyle; advocate for daily outdoor recess at school; provide healthful meals; respect their child's appetite; not use food for comfort or as reward; and limit…

Notes that the hobby of collecting is a way families can reinforce and expand a child's learning when not in school by encouraging development of classification, categorizing, and decision-making skills. Describes resources on and what can be learned by collecting rocks, seashells, cards, and stamps. (DR)

Highlights ways parents can support the development of writing at home through engaging activities. Offers suggestions including: (1) writing as an extension of imagination; (2) pictures and words; (3) expanding drawing; (4) entering the social world; and (5) everyday activities as sources of ideas. Asserts that forming a literacy club will help…

Discusses parents' responsibility to provide their children with a moral compass that comprises respect for others, kindness and caring, honesty and honor, and reverence for life. Recognizes that children experience difficulty in achieving goodness and that good behavior sometimes encounters painful consequences. Suggests that parents model…

Discusses the parental challenge of helping children say good-bye to a terminally ill loved one. Describes children's understanding of death and the grieving process. Provides suggestions for helping children, including letting children decide about visits to the hospital, expressing one's own feelings, encouraging questions, and returning to…

Examines traditional and current beliefs about the reading process, and presents specific strategies that parents and teachers can use to help children learn to read. Parents and teachers can use patterned books and the reading and writing of sentences to foster reading skills. (MDM)

Discusses nonschool-sponsored sports in children's education. Highlights the reasons that children participate in sports, children's definition of success in sports, the education of volunteer coaches and parents whose children are involved in sports, and suggestions for parents and educators who wish to support children in sports. (RJC)

Maintains that parents and educators should watch what children watch on television, especially commercials. Parents and educators should teach children to critically observe and analyze the messages and assumptions of television commercials. (BB)

This article addressed to parents indetifies various causes of stress in young children, and delineates methods which can be used to help children cope with stress. (CM)

Reviews literature focusing on six aspects of pet-person relationships that are most relevant to the growing child. Areas include love, attachment, and comfort; sensorimotor and nonverbal learning; responsibility, nurturance, and competence; learning about the life cycle; therapeutic benefits; and nurturing humaness, ecological awareness, and…