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There is a toy that just about does it all. Not only is it incredibly entertaining for one or one hundred (and everyone in between), it can also help develop gross and fine motor skills as well as stimulate creativity and help teach manners like taking turns. While playing with this item, your preschooler can learn about math and science. Depending on the size and what it is made of, it can be played inside or out and for the most part, one can be purchased relatively inexpensively and readily....

It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on everyone’s mental health. According to many recent studies and firsthand accounts across the country, college students were not exempt. Key Takeaways Many studies show that college students’ mental health was greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.Although all students’ experiences are unique, many students dealt with moving back home, a lack of breaks in the semester, and pressure to be productive during a time of uncertainty....

To find the best fertility clinic for you, take time to research any clinic you consider. Don’t just choose the first place that returns your call; pursuing fertility testing and treatment is a big step and can also involve big money and lots of time. You want to choose only the best. Speaking of the best, part of choosing a fertility clinic is personal and subjective. The best clinic for your friend may or may not be the best for you....

Kids fight with their friends. It’s a normal part of friendship, and one they have to learn how to navigate. Whether between besties or casual friends, tears, tantrums, sadness, stubbornness, isolation, indignation, and hurt feelings are possible consequences of these conflicts. Some kids are naturally more skilled at managing, moving past, and avoiding these disagreements, while others seem to be magnets for more frequent and intense friend battles. That said, most children, from toddlers to teens, may benefit from some help navigating these issues at one time or another....

When you’re a new mom, practicing self-care is challenging, but it’s also important. Your self-care needs are high, and you’re busy with a newborn and major life changes. Ironically, just when you need self-care most is when it’s most difficult to achieve! Here’s why self-care is important for new mothers, what self-care really means, and how to get what you need. What Is Self-Care? There’s a misconception that self-care is all about luxurious bubble baths, 90-minute massages, and premium mani-pedis....

If you celebrate Christmas, you might have told your kids about a certain jolly fellow who climbs down the chimney on December 24 with a sack full of presents in his sleigh. Whether you call him Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, Kris Kringle or some other moniker, the story of Santa brings joy to children all over the world. However, the magic of Santa can’t last forever. At some point, nearly all kids will learn that it’s actually their parents (or another family member) responsible for wrapping the presents and placing them under the tree while they’re sleeping....

Nose-picking. Mud tromping. Eating a french fry off the diner floor. These normal but dirty kids’ habits were once thought to be beneficial to kids’ immune systems, the idea being that they are getting exposed to germs in a controlled way that might prevent them from getting sick later. So some parents and grandparents would allow all of these in hopes it was building antibodies. But a recent study says this so-called “hygiene hypothesis” isn’t true....

After sitting in school all day, most kids can find lots of things they would rather do than sit down and do their homework. And now that kids have access to electronic devices, it’s no surprise that that they’d rather play video games than solve math problems. And some kids just don’t like to do their school work. It can be frustrating to a parent who tries to constantly remind a child to “Do your spelling....

Toys have a way of taking over. It starts innocently enough. You love your kids. You want to make them happy. But before you know it, you find yourself standing ​knee-deep in discarded Legos and naked Barbie dolls. The kids are bored; the house is a mess, and no one is happy. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Kids are easily overwhelmed with choice, and a child who is unsure of what to play with often ends up playing with nothing at all....

What Is Loyalty? Loyalty is a virtue we value in several types of relationships, including among family, friends, romantic partners, workplaces, organizations, religions, and nations. But what is loyalty, and why is it important? “People tend to define loyalty by what it is not (for example: not being betrayed, cheated on, or abandoned), but loyalty is much more than the absence of mistreatment,” says Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD, a clinical psychologist and professor at Yeshiva University....

The term “male gender role stress” refers to the experience of emotional distress as a result of violating or not adhering to traditional masculine gender role norms. Traditional masculine gender roles play a part in the severity of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in some men. Understanding Masculine Gender Roles Each society has its own rules about what’s considered appropriate behavior for men and women. In Western societies, men have traditionally been expected to be self-reliant, not emotional (except with regard to the expression of anger), confident and strong....

The name Melissa derives from the Greek word mélissa, meaning “bee,” which was taken from the word meli, meaning “honey.” It is, therefore, no surprise to learn that the name Melissa means “honeybee.” Parents (and some grandparents) may associate the name Melissa with their own childhoods; it was a top name back in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. But the name itself is timeless and where it’s not as popular as the name Emily, the name Melissa carries a similar, wholesome vibe....

Parents play a critical role in teaching their toddler-aged children health and safety techniques to avoid exposure to COVID-19, including wearing a face mask. Key Takeaways The American Academy of Pediatrics says children as young as two should wear a face covering to quell the spread of COVID-19.Parents can teach kids to wear face masks by practicing at home.The right face mask goes a long way toward helping young children feel comfortable wearing a mask....

Congrats! You and your partner are expecting a baby. Pregnancy is one of the most exciting and joyful times in life, but it can also be one of the most stressful. Your pregnant partner will be experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions—not to mention an intense storm of physical changes as their body changes to accommodate their growing baby. You may be wondering what your role will be in all of this, what the most vital things to know about pregnancy are, and whether you will know how to be the supportive partner you want to be....

Have you ever had the feeling when you’re talking to someone that they’re not quite telling the truth? Or, that what they’re saying isn’t matching up to the facts? Over time, have you caught them in multiple lies, some small and some not so small? You may have found yourself wondering why they’re lying to you so often. While most people tell the occasional fib, some people lie more frequently and even unconsciously, says Aimee Daramus, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist and author of “Understanding Bipolar Disorder....

A Biophysical Profile (BPP) is a test that is performed in late pregnancy using ultrasound and fetal monitoring. The Biophysical Profile is done as a way to try to watch how your baby is doing at the end of pregnancy. Reasons for a BPP Your doctor or midwife will use the numbers given, along with other factors to decide what to do, if anything with your treatment. This may include doing nothing, waiting and repeating the test, inducing labor, or a cesarean....

Relapses happen and are discouraging when they do. However, they don’t mean that you’ve failed or that you won’t ever be fully recovered. These setbacks are actually a normal part of the recovery process and offer the opportunity for both learning and strengthening recovery. Let’s first define the terms: A lapse or slip is the occurrence of a minor symptom while a relapse refers to a recurrence of frequent binge eating or purging....

Robert Yerkes (May 26, 1876 - February 3, 1956) was an American psychologist best remembered for his work in the areas of intelligence testing and comparative psychology. He is also known for describing the Yerkes-Dodson law with his colleague John Dillingham Dodson. The Yerkes-Dodson law suggests that there is a relationship between arousal levels and performance. During Yerkes’ tenure as President of the APA, he became involved in developing the Army’s Alpha and Beta Intelligence Tests as part of the World War I effort....

For good reason, the focus of most parents is to provide for their baby’s basic needs, like making sure they get the food, sleep, care, supervision, and love they need. Managing these tasks is a full-time job. But it’s also key to be aware of your young child’s behavior, including their emerging social and communication skills, as differences in these skills can be traits of being autistic. These skills can develop within a wide time frame but if you notice anything that seems concerning, contact their pediatrician or healthcare provider for evaluation....

An online affair, or cyber affair, is generally considered a form of cheating. Cyber affairs are secret extramarital relationships that include intimate and sexual undertones. They’re conducted online through chat, email, or social media, or they can happen via texting. Like any form of infidelity, online affairs are damaging to a committed relationship, and they can trigger feelings of insecurity, anger, or jealousy in a partner. They are seen as acts of betrayal and can lead to a loss of trust....