Parenting

Soccer practice, karate lessons and dancing ... oh my! As you and your family race to get to work, school and do their homework, creating a work-life balance can be difficult.

Of course, you'll want your family to be well-rounded, which ranges from your spouse enjoying his or her hobbies, to your kids being able to excel outside of the classroom and develop their social skills. You must include after-school activities in their schedule so that they can become well-rounded individuals. But you can't overdo it.

Parents and even siblings should be aware of burnout signs in case your child is unable to vocalize it. As soon as they start asking, "But do I have to go?" you'll know soccer practice or ballet lessons are not quite as exciting as they once were.

Of course, verbal cues may manifest into physical ones as well. They may start experiencing stomach aches or headaches.

Like everything in life, the key to creating a balanced family life involves scheduling time to unwind, too. Although each child may require a different amount of time to relax, it's important to make sure that they are not so stressed that they can't unwind.

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It's no surprise that children's weight is expanding as rapidly as adult's these days. But would it surprise you to learn that only two percent of kids ages two through 19 get the recommended amount of nutrients each day? The USDA has set forth very clear guidelines on diet and exercise, and the majority of our children don't measure up.

Ideally, every child should get 60 minutes of vigorous exercise a day and eat a balanced selection of foods from all five food groups: grains, dairy, vegetables, fruits, meats and oils. Unfortunately, most of the calories and nutrients come from processed foods like cereal and sugar-laden drinks like juice boxes.

Let's take a closer look at exactly what your child should eat on a daily basis according to the USDA:

The grain group consists of foods like bread, pasta, cereal, tortillas and rice. At least half of the grains consumed each day should be whole grains, such as whole wheat, oatmeal and brown rice. Recommended...

Thanks to Internet technology, you can do almost anything from your home, including taking parenting classes. There are many companies that offer online parenting courses, and the prices range from free to very expensive. Reasons for taking a parenting class vary. They can be court-ordered, a requirement for adoption or for nervous first-time parents. No matter why you want to sign up for classes, here are two that can help you be a better parent.

Putting Kids First is a nationwide children's rights organization that provides parenting, divorce, and co-parenting classes online for $60 per course and through the mail for $70 per course. The online courses allow you to log into class when it is convenient, and there is no specific time limit. You can complete the course as quickly as you would like. PKF takes a psychoeducational approach, covering effective parenting, building self-esteem, teaching children responsibility and disciplining children.

Life Matters is headed by two marriage and family therapists, Thomas Cobb and Phyllis Grannis, who have developed a coaching approach to train parents to take charge of their lives in the areas of parenting and stress-related disorders. Life Matters offers two categories of parenting...

Parents know that they're lucky to have a vast array of information at their disposal via the Internet. The best sites, though, can be hard to find. These four web sites are user-friendly and extensive collections of information.

1. USA.gov - This web site sponsored by the United States' government answers questions about child care, child support, and youth employment. You can also find information on education, health, safety and crime prevention issues. There are special sections for expecting parents about pregnancy. For adoptive parents, there is a section on international adoption. Parents of babies and toddlers, preschoolers, young children, teens, and young adults have their own sections for information specific to them.

2. Family Education - In 1996, Family Education was the first parenting web site, and it has grown into a large network of educational sites for parents, teachers, and kids, including FunBrain....

Sleep can make a vital difference to children and parents. Adequate amounts of shut-eye allow children to feel rested, cheerful and alert. But, inadequate amounts can trigger mood-swings, laziness and an overall imbalance of health and well-being. Low levels of sleep can also hinder schoolwork and leave children more susceptible to colds and other viruses.

So what is the right amount of sleep? While each child is different and there is no magic number, there are some basic guidelines that can help determine the amount of sleep needed each night:

Less than one year: 12-16 hours
1-3 years old: 12-14 hours
3-6 years old: 10-12 hours
7-12 years old: 10-11 hours
12-18 years old: 8-9.5 hours

Sleep problems are likely to occur at some point during childhood years. Scary dreams, bedwetting, separation anxiety, stress and home-life can all influence how easily a child goes to bed – and stays there. According to webmd.com, here are seven tips that can help establish a calm and peaceful

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