Tag: activities

For those divorced parents who are ordered to share some type of visitation arrangement over the summer with their child(ren), there are always disruptions and potential issues that arise—ones that need to be dealt with during the back-and-forth transitions. For those children who spend the entire summer vacation with "the other parent" (because, perhaps, one parent lives on the other side of the country) the child(ren’s) return to the primary parent’s residence can be stressful, confusing, and depressing.

Dear Mr. Dad: My wife and I have been considering the option of homeschooling our children next year. Though it seems like a great idea in some ways, I’m still a bit hesitant. Will it hurt their social development? And what about when the time comes for college applications? Can you help me sort all of this out?

Homeschooling, which used to be very rare, has been getting steadily more popular over that past few decades. Parents embrace it for many reasons. They may be unhappy with the educational choices presented to them in their area. They may want more control over what their children learn, both in terms of curriculum and philosophy.

When I was a coach for an extra-curricular activity trying to plan practices, I was surprised how many children had commitments almost every day of the week! I could understand parents not wanting children who were couch potatoes with withered brain cells, but I saw the stress it caused both the parents and children.

Most parents would like their child to be involved in enriching activities, but it’s easy for schedules to quickly spin out of control. When it does, parents live in their cars and forget what their spouses looks like, while children try to manage their time like a corporate project manager.

My husband has been challenging me for the longest time to a game of pool. And anyone who knows me well knows that I am spherically challenged. In other words, I tend not to do well in games that involve balls. But why should I let that stop me? Is it not the spirit of the game that counts and not how well I actually do?

Investigating the role which leisure plays in long-term relationships, Dr. Dennis Orthner, a leading researcher in this field, concludes that in the critical stages of relationship adjustment, shared leisure activities have the power to both stimulate and cement the relationship.

Do you remember bike rides on Saturdays and lazy Sunday mornings with the paper? A typical weekend might have included grabbing a bite to eat with friends at a local bistro, taking in a movie or going out for brunch. Or perhaps you would have simply slept. Ah, glorious uninterrupted sleep. Where did those days go?

All of a sudden, your weekends are dictated by ballet, soccer and birthday parties. And your old system for managing life doesn’t work either. There is now a crushing need for that huge calendar hung on your kitchen wall boasting entries organized by color so that your partner can easily see what is happening without having to ask you.

During the early weeks and months of life, your infant is constantly growing and developing, and as a parent, you play a pivotal role in supporting that development. It’s important to know that expensive equipment and fancy toys are not required to foster your child’s development. Instead, go back to the basics and carry out a variety of simple, retro activities with your little one. You and your infant will have loads of fun and you’ll be fostering your child’s attachment to you, while also promoting brain development and confidence.