A book can inspire joy and stir the imagination, and even better this holiday season is the gift of sharing that book with your child. “Turning the pages of a high-quality, print book filled with colorful pictures and rich, expressive language is best,” said Dipesh Navsaria, a pediatrician. “While touchscreens and other electronic devices may...

Summer is in full swing. And many parents are looking for activities to keep kids’ brains and bodies active as the school year wraps up. Here are a few ideas to check out locally: For budding creatives Dubuque Museum of Art Youth can get acquainted with the museum’s world-class art collection and explore exhibition highlights...

New parents have a lot to think about. From setting up the nursery, to picking out a name, there are so many details to consider, both small and large. Here are some tips to make your baby’s arrival easier: Prepare your household Bringing home a baby is going to shake things up for every member...

Looking for the perfect baby shower gift? A few go-to ideas can make welcoming little ones into the world a breeze. Here are some creative ones to consider: Cute, cuddly and customizable Making perfect friends for little ones, My Pal Scout and My Pal Violet Smarty Paws from LeapFrog are no ordinary stuffed animals. Their...

While pregnancy can be a joyful time, there can be a lot to think about. Whether you’re a first-time parent or you have a growing brood, welcoming your newest family member is a big task. Here are some tips for staying organized throughout the process: Do your research While certain parenting skills are intuitive, some...

While bunny and egg-shaped candies always are crowd-pleasing favorites during Easter, you can make the holiday extra special for kids with some less sugary treats that can be enjoyed year-round. For a joy-filled celebration, get inspired with these fun and egg-cellent ideas for Easter baskets: Great books Books unlock new worlds and ideas, making them...

Setting your high schooler up for a successful school year all starts with having the right educational tools and personal supplies. Here are the must-have items to add to your cart this back-to-school shopping season: A tablet or eReaderIf you remember your high school years as being defined by lugging heavy textbooks around campus all...

Educators and developmental experts discovered that elementary level knowledge should include knowing how to count to 10, dressing one’s self and writing one’s name (www.scholastic.com). Some of these skills are taught in a school setting, and some are learned at home. What about the life skills that are not taught in school? When should parents...

Setting your high schooler up for a successful school year all starts with having the right educational tools and personal supplies. Here are the must-have items to add to your cart this back-to-school shopping season: A tablet or eReaderIf you remember your high school years as being defined by lugging heavy textbooks around campus all...

Before you know it, summer will be in full swing. And many parents will be looking for activities to keep kids’ brains and bodies active once the school year wraps up. Here are a few ideas to help parents know what they can check out locally: For budding creatives Dubuque Museum of Art Youth can...

Before you know it, summer will be in full swing. And many parents will be looking for activities to keep kids’ brains and bodies active once the school year wraps up. Here are a few ideas to help parents know what they can check out locally: For budding creatives Dubuque Museum of Art Youth can...

Before you know it, summer will be in full swing. And many parents will be looking for activities to keep kids’ brains and bodies active once the school year wraps up. Here are a few ideas to help parents know what they can check out locally: For budding creatives Dubuque Museum of Art Youth can...

Looking to spend more quality time with your family? Check out these five ways to put down the devices and get active: 1. Upgraded outdoor games. Give outdoor play an upgrade with KidiGo NexTag from VTech, designed for ages 5 and older. More than just tag, it’s a high-tech spin on 20 different backyard games...

Looking for the perfect baby shower gift? A few go-to ideas can make welcoming little ones into the world a breeze. Here are some creative ones to consider: Cute, cuddly and customizable Making perfect friends for little ones, My Pal Scout and My Pal Violet Smarty Paws from LeapFrog are no ordinary stuffed animals. Their...

Looking to spend more quality time with your family? Check out these five ways to put down the devices and get active: 1. Upgraded outdoor games. Give outdoor play an upgrade with KidiGo NexTag from VTech, designed for ages 5 and older. More than just tag, it’s a high-tech spin on 20 different backyard games including...

Looking for the perfect baby shower gift? A few go-to ideas can make welcoming little ones into the world a breeze. Here are some creative ones to consider: Cute, cuddly and customizable Making perfect friends for little ones, My Pal Scout and My Pal Violet Smarty Paws from LeapFrog are no ordinary stuffed animals. Their...

Stumped for holiday gifts for kids? Brighten the season for little ones by checking out these gift ideas: Unique experiences One-of-a-kind experiences can expand a child’s worldview and help create lifelong memories. There are numerous ideas to consider that will appeal to a broad range of interests. For a sports enthusiast, consider a one-on-one outing...

Stumped for holiday gifts for kids? Brighten the season for little ones by checking out these gift ideas: Unique experiences One-of-a-kind experiences can expand a child’s worldview and help create lifelong memories. There are numerous ideas to consider that will appeal to a broad range of interests. For a sports enthusiast, consider a one-on-one outing...

Back to school. This phrase for many means getting colored pens to write notes, a fresh and clean backpack for your supplies or getting new shoes just because it’s a new school year. As another year approaches, students and teachers are eagerly awaiting to get the ball rolling. But with every new year, there are...

Before you know it, summer will be in full swing. And many parents will be looking for activities to keep kids’ brains and bodies active once the school year wraps up. Here are a few ideas, with additional resources, to help get you started: For bookworms Carnegie-Stout Public Library Summer Reading Program: Highlighting the theme,...

Before you know it, summer will be in full swing. And many parents will be looking for activities to keep kids’ brains and bodies active once the school year wraps up. Here are a few ideas, with additional resources, to help parents get started: For budding creatives Dubuque Museum of Art Youth of all ages...

Have Easter guests jumping for joy by planning a celebration that is not only memorable and joyful, but affordable, too. To ease the stress of organizing the holiday event, Dollar General is offering these egg-citing ideas for activities, recipes and basket essentials that are convenient and budget-friendly. Hoppin’ activities While the egg hunt is a...

Tips for teaching empathy 1. Model kindness towards yourself and others. 2. Help children identify and describe feelings inside of themselves. 3. Help children recognize feelings in other people through facial expressions, body language, actions and words. 4. Teach your child specific strategies, such as deep belly breathing, to help them calm down from strong...

For expectant mothers, a pregnancy always brings changes and adjustments, but the March 2020 lockdown and what followed took that to a whole new level. For many, it brought abrupt changes that often were obsolete within a few hours. In the future, it’s a good bet that stories will be told around dinner tables and...

Sara Steuer knew at age 15 that she did not want to give birth to or raise children. Steuer found meaning in the arts, sketching for herself a future working in a big city. She would live in a loft, make lots of unique friends and perhaps meet a partner. Steuer would travel abroad. That...

Traveling with pets? Whether you’re taking to the skies or the highways and byways, bringing furry friends along for the ride can sometimes be stressful for pets and people alike. Consider these tips to make the journey easier on everyone: 1. Pack right. Be sure to pack more than enough food and medication for your pet...

When it comes to household duties such as changing diapers, handling chores and meals and managing family schedules and activities, many couples who don’t have children expect that they will more or less share the work equally should they have kids one day. The reality is not quite so rosy — at least for mothers....

The holiday season is officially underway. While it might be tempting to stay in and binge Hallmark movies and traditional holiday classics, an assortment of family-friendly happenings can be found across the tri-states to help you settle into the holiday spirit and count down to Christmas. Here are a few highlights. Be sure to check...

Amid the quiet and peaceful space of Challenge to Change, you’ll find a Zen table with a silver ball tracing a beautiful lotus flower in the sand, warmly colored walls and sink-in-and-relax furniture. But your eye immediately is drawn to a quote by the Dalai Lama on the back wall: “If every 8-year-old in the...

In a wonderful children’s book entitled, “One,” by Kathryn Otoshi, the character Blue marches to the beat of his own drum. Unfortunately, Red — a well-known hot head — makes it his mission to bully poor Blue. The other colors see this and feel bad for Blue, but no one is willing to stand up...

Amid the quiet and peaceful space of Challenge to Change, you’ll find a Zen table with a silver ball tracing a beautiful lotus flower in the sand, warmly colored walls and sink-in-and-relax furniture. But your eye immediately is drawn to a quote by the Dalai Lama on the back wall: “If every 8-year-old in the...

When it becomes standard practice to teach a subject in schools (such as math, science, social studies, physical education, etc.), it is common for a state to adopt academic content learning standards in that area. These are learning targets differentiated by subject and grade level that students are expected to learn each year. If your...

W e are coming out of a crazy 16 months. While the COVID-19 pandemic did not take up two entire calendar years of our lives, it did impact two school years for our children. That’s right — students in our community have not had a normal school term in two academic years. Even though the...

While the 2020-2021 school year has come to a close, there are plenty of ways for local students to keep learning during the summer months. Local educators said keeping kids academically engaged during the summer can help them grow as learners, as well as make the transition back to school in the fall a little...

“I don’t know how you do your job every day.” “I have children. I couldn’t do it knowing kids are being hurt.” “How do you do this work day in and day out?” People who work in child welfare hear these comments often. But my answer is always the same. “If I don’t do it,...

While the 2020-2021 school year has come to a close, there are plenty of ways for local students to keep learning during the summer months. Local educators said keeping kids academically engaged during the summer can help them grow as learners, as well as make the transition back to school in the fall a little...

Want to encourage kids to move more? The latest technology, gear and apps can help make movement and exercise fun. Here’s how: Learn online From dance to yoga to martial arts, there are a range of online classes available that are designed just for kids. These are perfect for a time when there remain extracurricular...

W ith the encouragement and support of parents, a love of learning can begin early and last a lifetime. To inspire kids to have fun while learning this summer, consider the following tips: Reward curiosity. Children naturally are curious, and the way you respond to their questions, stories and observations about the world around them...

Before you know it, summer will be in full swing. And even though the past year didn’t play out quite like parents might have expected, many will be looking for activities to keep their keep kids’ brains and bodies active once the school year wraps up. Here are a few ideas, with additional resources to...

For the past year, many of us have lived, played, worked and gone to school at home, making clutter inevitable — especially when it comes to kids’ bedrooms and playrooms. No matter how many times parents tell their children to clean their rooms, the collection of clothes, schoolwork and toys seems to build endlessly. Take...

Before you know it, summer will be in full swing. And even though the past year didn’t play out quite like parents might have expected, many will be looking for activities to keep kids’ brains and bodies active once the school year wraps up. Here are a few ideas, with additional resources to help parents...

There is a close-up photo of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speaking from a podium, holding on to it firmly as if he is leaning in to the enormous task ahead. In the new book, “That They Lived: African Americans Who Changed the World,” that photo is paired with a portrait of Rochelle Riley’s grandson,...

Katherine and Rebekah have seven children between them, degrees in education and psychology, experience as educators and developmental therapists. Parenting experts, right? No, we’re all amateurs. As mother (Katherine) and daughter (Rebekah), we believe “children should be seen but not heard” is pond scum advice. But we also have contrasting experiences. In the 1980s, Katherine...

“When I have kids, they are not going to watch TV.” “When I have kids, they are not going to have such an extreme number of toys.” “Oh, I will never let my kid play video games.” “iPad? Are you kidding me? Never will my kid’s beautiful little eyes be exposed to a screen.” These...

When you’re looking at the college admissions timeline, now is the time for parents to be planning ahead. There are two key items that need to be addressed: Campus visits This is when families need to get serious about which colleges they plan on visiting during spring break, if it’s possible. Surprisingly, some college tours...

Children look forward to opening birthday presents and gifts for special occasions. However, there are some things to keep in mind to make sure gifts are safe and appropriate. To help you make savvy selections, PlaySafe.org from The Toy Association, a leading site for toy safety information, is offering the following guidance: Avoid shady sellers...

With kids and teens spending more time online than ever these days due to social distancing guidelines and remote-learning, you might believe the time is now to graduate them to their very own device. However, as a result of all that additional screen time, families should be doubly sure that kids use their devices safely...

The words “empty nest” have become so synonymous with children leaving home that psychologists even have a term for the parental depression that often accompanies it: Empty nest syndrome. Although we know from the moment they’re born that raising a child to be an independent soul is the end goal, letting go can be painful....

1. Thou shalt offer neither suggestions nor commentary regarding names for thy expected grandchild, even if the proffered name is that of a fruit, an animal or a day of the week. 2. Thou shalt not permit thy grandchild to cheat at games; neither shall thee stop playing until said grandchild has won. 3. Thou...

1. Thou shalt offer neither suggestions nor commentary regarding names for thy expected grandchild, even if the proffered name is that of a fruit, an animal or a day of the week. 2. Thou shalt not permit thy grandchild to cheat at games; neither shall thee stop playing until said grandchild has won. 3. Thou...

Re-feathering an empty nest Megan Amos, a licensed mental health counselor and owner of Compass Counseling in Dubuque, offers these tips for parents who are or will soon be empty nesters: Honor your feelings and give yourself time and space to grieve and adjust to a new normal. You might experience feelings of sadness, loss,...

“When I have kids, they are not going to watch TV.” “When I have kids, they are not going to have such an extreme number of toys.” “Oh, I will never let my kid play video games.” “iPad? Are you kidding me? Never will my kid’s beautiful little eyes be exposed to a screen.” These...

There is a close-up photo of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speaking from a podium, holding on to it firmly as if he is leaning in to the enormous task ahead. In the new book, “That They Lived: African Americans Who Changed the World,” that photo is paired with a portrait of Rochelle Riley’s grandson,...

Children look forward to opening birthday presents and gifts for special occasions. However, there are some things to keep in mind to make sure gifts are safe and appropriate. To help you make savvy selections, PlaySafe.org from The Toy Association, a leading site for toy safety information, is offering the following guidance: Avoid shady sellers...

With kids and teens spending more time online than ever these days due to social distancing guidelines and remote-learning, you might believe the time is now to graduate them to their very own device. However, as a result of all that additional screen time, families should be doubly sure that kids use their devices safely...

Katherine and Rebekah have seven children between them, degrees in education and psychology, experience as educators and developmental therapists. Parenting experts, right? No, we’re all amateurs. As mother (Katherine) and daughter (Rebekah), we believe “children should be seen but not heard” is pond scum advice. But we also have contrasting experiences. In the 1980s, Katherine...

The New Year is the perfect time to hit “reset” and start over with fresh dental habits that can help improve your health. “As we move into the new year, so many of us are looking at our health and wellness through a new lens,” said Ruchi Sahota, American Dental Association spokesperson. “Your oral and...

During cold and flu season and amid the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be more medicines in homes being used to treat symptoms. You can keep curious kids safe by keeping medicine up and away and out of sight and reach. The Up and Away campaign, in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention...

We are celebrating the winter holidays during a unique time in our history. There are many feelings swirling in our minds as we contemplate what life will look like in the weeks ahead — worry, fear, confusion, anger and sadness to name a few. While most of us want to make this holiday season as...

November is the month that we celebrate Thanksgiving and is a time when we are seasonally prompted to reflect on gratitude and the many things we are thankful to have in our lives. Gratitude, however, doesn’t have to be relegated to just one month of the year. In addition to simply being a humbling and...

As we prepare for gift giving, I would like to share some thoughts with you about the most precious gift you can give when caregiving. Presence can mean many things to each of us. I am referring to presence in caregiving, which the caregiver is fully engaged as they care for another. Presence is the...

Of all the gifts my parents bestowed upon me, the greatest is the love of reading. Reading can be life-affirming, arousing, argument-provoking, even terrifying. I can still hear my father, looking down through wire-rim glasses, licking his forefinger to turn the thin pages, then in an ominous voice that almost was a whisper, reading the...

As we prepare for gift giving, I would like to share some thoughts with you about the most precious gift you can give when caregiving. Presence can mean many things to each of us. I am referring to presence in caregiving, which the caregiver is fully engaged as they care for another. Presence is the...

“Never in the history of calming down has anyone calmed down by being told to calm down.” A truer statement probably has never been said, and yet, we often ignore these words when interacting with others — especially children — who are experiencing strong emotions. “Calm down.” “You’re overreacting.” “It’s not that big of a...

(Almost) all I ever needed to know, I learned from babysitters — that is, having one, being one and hiring many. My parents were homebodies, and my sister and I only had one babysitter when we were growing up: Mrs. Piermont from across the street. Oh, how to capture her in words. The smeared bifocals...

Parents vary widely in the diets and nutrition they believe to be best for their families. Dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, vegan and vegetarian diets have all become common in our culture, and our grocery store aisles reflect this trend. For many families, it is members with health issues and food allergies that determine which ingredients are...

Self care is important. The old adage that we can’t pour from an empty cup, meaning that we can’t help others with their needs before we’ve met our own, is true for everyone, especially those who care for others. If you’re anything like me, however, you nod your head when people talk about the importance...

“Breastfeeding is an instinctual and natural act, but it is also an art that is learned day by day.” — La Leche League Becoming pregnant, giving birth and breastfeeding a baby can be defining moments in a woman’s life. Breastfeeding as an art form is illustrated through the intricate dance of communication between a baby...

There is a wonderful children’s picture book about a little girl who prides herself on being perfect. Every day when she awakes, she puts on matching socks, performs her chores without error and makes a sandwich with an exact 1:1 ratio of peanut butter to jelly. When she steps out the door on her way...

“There’s nothing in the world more powerful than a good story.” — Tyrion Lannister, “Game of Thrones.” Stories are a universal part of the human experience. The exchange of stories has taken place since human beings first started communicating. Ancient ancestors passed down cultural histories through oral storytelling, and village elders taught children morals and...

My husband, Kevin, and I had the most fun traveling pre-kids during our camping trips. We had a big travel trailer that we would haul around to all sorts of different destinations. We would leave on Thursday afternoons and come home on Sunday nights. It seemed as though the entire summer literally was a vacation...

I recently heard a story about a couple who had to cancel their anniversary celebration vacation to Las Vegas because of the pandemic. My heart broke for them. I think many can relate to this disappointment of canceling a vacation. I already have had to cancel two trips to Orlando, Fla., a wedding in Sweden...

Today, many parents are seeking ways to keep their kids engaged and learning beyond the schoolwork remotely assigned by teachers. Here are a few fun and creative ways you can use the power of the written word to help create special moments for kids, while imparting valuable lessons: Share life skills Adjusting to this new...

W ith the unprecedented closure of schools in the area in response to COVID-19, parents are faced with the challenge of keeping their children from boredom. The struggle is real. We feel you. We reached out through social media to Dubuque-area parents to find out what they’ve been doing to keep gray matter and creative...

Imaginative play has long been the trademark of childhood. Dolls, tea parties, dress-up, pretend battles and action figures are what many of us associate with good, old-fashioned child’s play. Parents today face intense criticism about the amount of time children are spending on electronic devices when they could be engaging in imaginative play. Technology has...

During the past several years, the word YET has been popping up in classrooms across the country. “I don’t know how to add big numbers YET, but I will learn if I keep listening in math” wrote one first-grader. “Writing in cursive isn’t easy for me YET,” stated a third-grader. “But I’ll get better if...

Parenting — one of the hardest things I have ever done, with hardly enough training. (Marriage is the other.) Now, I had some training. I read all of the parenting books. I attended Lamaze classes. And I would have watched all of the videos and subscribed to the blogs if they would have been available...

Screen time is a hot topic for parents and researchers alike. While digital devices are the norm, and children can certainly use them to their benefit, parents can also help children learn healthy digital habits. Research is working out the long-term impact of devices on children. Here’s what’s known so far, and what you as...

Three-year old Kyra Waterman already is a seasoned globetrotter. She has traveled to Hawaii, Sri Lanka and South Africa with her parents, Brock and Becky. And she’s about to add another stamp to her passport. The Dubuque family will be traveling to Belize this month, and Kyra will have a fellow traveling companion in 8-month-old...

I remember the date like it was yesterday. It was Nov. 1, 2010. My husband, Kevin, and I were celebrating our two-year anniversary, and I was hung over as hell. I remember us going to dinner at a fondue restaurant and him giving me a diamond pendant necklace. We both were excited to finally say...

In the raising of her twin 9-year-olds, an ongoing question persists for Stacy Raap: When does she give them their first cellphone? They already have classmates that have phones. But she is certain that now is not the right time. “We haven’t set out an age when we think they should get a phone,” Raap...

Having a baby typically is one of the happiest times in a couple’s lives but also one of the most transformative experiences a couple will go through. No longer is a couple focused only on each other, but now, they are responsible for the care of a newborn. While this can bring great joy, it...

Parents today might be a bit conflicted when it comes to the best ways to discipline their children. On one hand, they are urged to be aware of the whole child and to use positive discipline techniques when it comes to molding young minds. On the other hand, however, parents often are criticized for being...

Whether it’s dance lessons, computer projects, art class or yoga, kids are busy bees. But experts say that many aren’t spending enough time doing something much simpler and every bit as important as structured programming: Playing outdoors. “Finding time for the kids to play outside can be such a challenge for parents,” says Keri Wilmot,...

Whether it’s dance lessons, computer projects, art class or yoga, kids are busy bees. But experts say that many aren’t spending enough time doing something much simpler and every bit as important as structured programming: Playing outdoors. “Finding time for the kids to play outside can be such a challenge for parents,” says Keri Wilmot,...

While the gear, clothes and toys kids possess are signs of a joyful childhood, keeping it organized is essential for health, safety and even fun. Here are eight tips to clean up the clutter: Provide bins: Organize toys, art supplies and games. While clear bins make it easy to identify contents, colorful bins are visually...

This holiday season, keep in mind that what your children play with can have a large impact on their interests and brain development. So when it comes to a walk down the toy aisle, parents are becoming more discerning, leading smart toy makers to design toys with a learning component that‘s equally as important as...

When it comes to putting a smile on kids’ faces during the holiday season, video games are a pretty safe bet. So, how do you make buying decisions that make both kids and parents happy? And how do you choose video games that are fun for kids, but also safe and educational? Here is what...

Play is important for everyone, no matter their age. And when grandparents, parents and children play together, that’s where the real benefits of unstructured fun are discovered. “Play time with adults of different ages is not just a chance for families to bond, these interactions with positive role models can help children develop a range...

A large amount of food in the U.S. is never eaten. However, there are many easy ways families and communities can eliminate food waste in their daily lives, while also protecting the environment. Each year, more than 66 trillion gallons of water is used to produce food that is estimated to be lost or wasted....

School supply sales are in full swing, which means it’s time for the kids to go back to school. This can be an exciting time for children and their parents. But for some families, this time of year can be flooded with stress and anxiety. The 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health found a wide...

For many area students, the past two months have been filled with basking in the sun, vacations, sleeping in and a much more relaxed schedule. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. It’s August, and we’ve all seen the back-to-school ads. With a new school year comes new challenges for parents and children....

Even after years of encouraging girls to become more involved in science, technology, engineering and math, women remained underrepresented in those fields. The most prevalent discrepancy is in the science and engineering careers, according to a 2017 Girls Collaborate Project study. Whereas the overall workforce breaks down 50% men and 47% women, in the S&E...

Every parent has a plan for introducing little ones to something new, and brushing their teeth and teaching a good oral care routine is no different. The makers of CloSYS toothpaste, oral rinses and oral sprays offer tips and insight on starting kids off right when it comes to oral care. 1 Baby teeth erupt...

Dubuque author and illustrator Lindsey Chapman has published her second children’s book, “Clark & Cleo.” It features a giraffe that has trouble making friends at school because she’s self-conscious about how she looks. She learns not to dwell on her physical features, and instead, to focus on being kind to others and to herself. Her...

Ah, yes. Back-to-school. Back to early morning scrambles to make it out the door. Back to book bags, new shoes and sack lunches. Back to the normal routine. I know for some that your routine is anything but routine. Rushing here and there, juggling schedules for yourself and multiple kids. Healthy, home-cooked meals often don’t...

Someone once asked me when I was seven months pregnant with my second set of twins, “Did you know that the divorce rate for couples with multiples is 70%?” Umm … no. But thanks for letting me know. So basically, my chance for divorce then is 140%? OK. Listen, marriage is work. It is hard...

At your child’s next check-up, don’t be surprised if your pediatrician recommends a healthy dose of play. Beyond the typical preventive care strategies for healthy child development, more pediatricians are recognizing play’s multifaceted benefits. Play is fundamentally important for developing 21st century skills, including social, emotional, language and cognitive skills, according to a recent clinical...

The definition of an overachiever is someone who goes above and beyond their daily responsibilities to make a positive impact on the world. Celebrated actor, author and humanitarian Priyanka Chopra Jonas is a true overachiever. As the new G2 Overachievers spokesperson, she is sharing tips for discovering the overachiever in all of us and how...

A vacation from school is no excuse for a vacation from thinking. Not only can learning be made fun, but you also can avoid a rusty return to school by keeping kids’ minds active all summer long. Here are a few fun ways to make thinking and learning a priority, while not detracting from the...