Parenting Tips
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Seminars help parents protect kids from tobacco, vaping
The School District of Lee County invites parents to three seminars in November and December about tobacco and vaping prevention. The rapid rise in teen e-cigarette use, called vaping, is now considered an epidemic by the FDA. more
Amanda Inscore
Ah, autumn
Crisp, cool air. Colorful leaves crunching under foot. Wait … in Southwest Florida? Not a chance. But we have something just as great. more
We all need support
Still — 16 years later — I vividly remember sitting curled up on the couch and sobbing into the phone. more
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Four tips to prevent burns
The smell of cookies baking in the oven or tasty sauces simmering on the stovetop is hard to resist for kids, but too many times, that temptation ends with burns and scalds that are preventable. more
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Going back to school in a post-Parkland world
With school shootings happening closer to home, many parents and students are left worried about the possibility of something like this affecting our communities, our schools and our children. more
Special to SW FL Parent & Child
Losing the Village
Do you feel your family is alone, on its own? Maybe there’s something you can do about it. more
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Zip your lip: Five phrases your child’s coach doesn’t want to hear
Words can be shut down; attitudes are harder to reform. more
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A rare way to learn
Every experience is a learning opportunity and a teachable moment inside and outside of our home. more
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Why I let my son set his own screen time
Near the end of the school year, my husband and I found ourselves arguing yet again with our 13-year-old son about what was a reasonable amount of time to spend on technology. more
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Five things your young athlete doesn’t need to know
There are times in parenting when keeping quiet becomes the wisest thing to do. This is especially true if your child is an athlete and you find yourself in the up-and-down roller coaster world of y more
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Code Yellow
An unverified out-of-state threat had been made toward my daughter’s elementary school. Police had been dispatched. The school was on a code yellow. more
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Why I’m glad my kids played sports
There was a lot of time, money, travel and emotional drama in those years of watching my kids take the youth sports journey. But I do not regret any of it. more
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Are teens really entitled, lazy, whiny Tide Pod-eaters?
Our obsession with teens being entitled, lazy, whiny Tide Pod-eaters is downright cliché. more
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How to survive a busy sports parenting schedule
As a sports parent, do you often count the days until the season ends and you will get a break? more
Special to SW FL Parent & Child
Whose dream is this anyway?
A year ago, my then-12-year-old son, who has been a die-hard, crazy-devoted soccer player basically his whole life, seemed to lose his enthusiasm. more
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How not to be a slave to youth sports
Are you feeling the subtle spiral of youth sports sucking you in? Before you wake up one day and find that it has made you its slave, here’s how you can guard against that. more
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Delivering the crushing news
I had to deliver some news to my daughter that was going to be incredibly disappointing. It hurt my mama heart to even think about it, and I was dreading it with every fiber of my being. more
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Seven traits of effective happy sports parents
Effective sports parents are those who know that their child is learning and growing through the youth sports experience, because Mom and Dad have chosen not to get in the way. more
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An ounce of prevention
Parents have an active part to play in keeping students safe. more
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