by Chris Jones | Jan 26, 2016 | Leisure & Vacation
Around the world, people who live in the Northern Hemisphere celebrate the mid-point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. In countries that use lunar calendars to determine festival days (many of which are in Asia and the Middle East), this signals the...
by Chris Jones | Jan 11, 2016 | Leisure & Vacation, Media Safety, Parenting Skills, Parenting Tips
Increasingly we rely on technology, email, voicemail, Facebook, Snapchat, and texting to communicate with others. It is not uncommon for groups of children and teens to gather for a social outing only to be found looking at their phones and not at one another. Our...
by Chris Jones | Dec 11, 2015 | Leisure & Vacation, Toddlers
The season is upon us! For many busy parents with young children, it is sometimes necessary to bring our young ones with us to the mall. With this reality in mind, we offer the following suggestions on having successful outings. Whether it is holiday shopping or long...
by Chris Jones | Dec 2, 2015 | Leisure & Vacation, Parenting Tips
Hanukkah is upon us. Menorahs, dreidels, latkes, jelly doughnuts, gelt, and of course presents. Given its proximity to Christmas, Hanukkah is often mistaken as the Jewish equivalent to the Christmas holiday. However this perception diminishes the beauty of the holiday...
by Chris Jones | Nov 24, 2015 | Discipline & Behavior, Leisure & Vacation, Parenting Tips
It’s not your fault. You imagined a magical family vacation at Disneyland. You honestly believed you would create happy memories that would last a lifetime. Perhaps you remember Disneyland from your own childhood and want to relive those experiences. Before you...
by Chris Jones | Oct 27, 2015 | Education, Leisure & Vacation
Take Part in Citizen Science, Part Two: 8 Year-Round Outdoor Observation Projects for Kids Outdoor observation, learning and fun needn’t stop when the weather turns a little chilly. There are terrific projects for year-round learners of all ages who are curious...
by Chris Jones | Oct 20, 2015 | Parenting Skills
Parents hear so often about how important it is to support our children’s emotional needs, and that we must serve as their social and emotional coaches. The role of the parent is to help children become more resilient, teach them coping skills, help them learn...
by Chris Jones | Sep 8, 2015 | Birth - First Year, Parenting Tips
Breastfeeding horror stories—about pain, milk supply issues, or the baby not gaining enough weight— abound, but they make me sad because most frequently they are preventable. That’s why my number one piece of advice to new moms is to line up your resources (a...
by Chris Jones | Aug 24, 2015 | Discipline & Behavior, Parenting Skills, Parenting Tips, Toddlers
Renee, mother of 5-year-old Jonathan, called me with her most recent challenge. Here’s how she described it: Jonathan can get very resistant to going somewhere new. The other day I told him that we were going to visit my friend Ellen and her family after...
by Chris Jones | Aug 13, 2015 | Choosing Schools, Toddlers
Every year over 500 San Francisco parents attend Parents Place’s Preschool Preview Night in Golden Gate Park at the Hall of Flowers. What are they hoping for? To find a first school that provides their child with a safe, stimulating learning place and that also...