Resources Parents Can Use to Raise Children Through Every Stage of Life, by Kristin Louis

Photo Credit: Unsplash

Raising children in today’s world is a fulltime job. From ensuring they have everything they need to grow into healthy adults to helping them become responsible and productive members of society, parents have so much on their plates. That’s in addition to also having full-time jobs and added responsibilities around the home. It’s enough to make any parent feel overwhelmed. 

While there’s no one secret that can make the responsibilities and worries of parents any easier, there are a few online resources that can provide support for each step of the way. Whether you are raising an infant or teenagers, consider checking these links out. 

You Can Encourage Your Kids to Learn and Grow with Positivity 

From the time your kids are born, they will never stop learning and growing. So, encourage positive development with these resources. 

Using an App to Track Your Baby’s Development 

A High-Powered Smartphone Can Ensure Apps Run Smoothly

Entertaining and Educational Activities for Young Children 

Common Reasons Teens Struggle in School 

You Can Give Your Kids’ a Sense of Security with Consistent Routines

Routine can keep you sane as a parent but consistent routines also help build structure and security for your children. You can use these resources to build routines for your family. 

Why Family Routines Matter

Establishing a Routine for New Babies 

Making Nap Time Easier for Young Children 

Stress-Free Morning Routines for Teens & Kids 

You Can Set Your Kids Up for Success with Some Basic Life Lessons

Focusing on learning and routines can help your kids’ development, but they also need to know how to thrive as adults. These resources can instill responsibility and independence. 

Crucial Coping Skills for All Children 

Age-Appropriate Chores for Ages 2-18

Cooking Skills All Kids Should Learn 

How to Help Teens Understand Money 

On Discipline: Beyond Consequences

You Can Protect Your Kids’ Health and Happiness with Simple Precautions. 

You can’t protect your kids from every danger out in the world, but you can use these resources to minimize the harm to their physical health and mental well-being.

Safe Sleeping Tips for Babies

Toddler-Proofing Your Home 

CDC Home and Community Safety Tips

Normal Teen Behavior or Mental Health Issue? 

There’s so much to being a parent that it’s hard to condense this topic into a single list of resources and tools. So, keep this guide handy to help answer some of your questions, but also know you have the ability and strength to figure things out on your own. Most of all, thank you for all that you do to foster health, happiness, and hope in future generations. 

For more on . . .

-N- Stuff  :  On Parenting : Submitting a guest-post

Caroline : a short film about love, misunderstood.

A few years ago, my wife and oldest son left me and my two youngest at the time home for 265 hours. I had a stable job, was on vacation from school, and help from various friends. My wife was coming home soon.

When she finally did make it back, I was sitting on the balcony of our 7th floor apartment, trying to process the time. Here’s a piece of what I wrote:

If you know {a single parent}, show ‘em some love. Make them dinner, wash their dishes, or babysit their kids. At the very least, by their coffee because I promise, they drink more than you. A beer wouldn’t hurt either:)

If you are one, you’re my hero. (via).

This film has all the same feels. Only worse.

Caroline from ELO films on Vimeo.

This film is terrifyingly brilliant. I literally feel the heat, the fear, and the panic in the little car, and I cannot help but ache for everyone involved.

The mother loves her kids, no doubt. But she’s stuck. No babysitter, no grace from work, and three little kids who need their mother to work, pay the bills, and rush them to the bathroom.

The spectators want to care for the kids. Because they’re good and decent people. Yet, they don’t see the whole and perfect picture.

The child loves her mother.

And everything is absolutely not okay.

Ugh.

How many situations like the above could be avoided if we all acknowledged the single parents around us and gave them an extra helping hand? How many children would be saved in the process?

If you know a single parent, show them some love. Make them dinner, wash their dishes, or babysit their kids. At the very least, by their coffee because I promise, they drink more than you. A beer wouldn’t hurt either:)

If you are one, you’re my hero. Sincerely.

For more on . . .

-N- Stuff  :  Short Films :  On Parenting : Single Parents

The film Caroline is produced by ELO films, a “co-writer / director duo Celine Held & Logan George. Their work as a team has premiered in competition at Cannes Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, and at South by Southwest. They were named one of Filmmaker Magazine’s ’25 New Faces of Independent Film’ of 2017” (via).

You can see more of their work here.