Every once in a while, parents may wake up to the sounds of perfectly healthy children complaining of tummy aches and feeling sick. While occasionally pretending to be sick to avoid school is a normal part of growing up, more frequent or regular requests to play hooky may signal a larger problem. … [Read more...]

It had taken me months to be worn down to the idea of a puppy. I knew how much work a puppy would be. But they’d promised, “It will teach us responsibility,” they said. And, “we can learn to work together.” Now the day was finally here, car overfilled with anticipation and puppy supplies. As we … [Read more...]

“When she told me she loved me, I was done!” said a dad who participated in a study of low-income fathers and their children when asked about the rewards and costs of being a dad. He was candid about both joys and costs. The costs as a father can include lack of support from programs and the … [Read more...]

The Do’s and Don’ts of Parental Involvement in Youth Sports Parents play a pivotal role in either positively shaping a child’s sport experience or negatively influencing the outcome. Parents need to help their children discover the fun in the activities, why learning the basic fundamentals are … [Read more...]

Barbara H. Fiese, Ph.D. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Family Resiliency Center There is no mistaking it that family life is busy today. Parents work long hours, children are involved in activities after school, and it just seems like it is hard to find enough time in the day to shop … [Read more...]