Christmas and birthdays are quite a challenge in my household. Each of the children has very different interests and tastes and refuses to compromise on these tastes. My eldest is currently exploring the wonders of science and my house regularly looks like a lab from some horror movie. The results of his experiments are also very questionable.

With his birthday coming up we decided to be supportive parents and purchase the Be Amazing Lab-in-a-Bag Test Tube Wonders from Amazon.  It was an overwhelming success. My son loved the portability of the set (it comes in a see-through bag) and I loved the fact that it could be packed up so easily after use. The Be Amazing Lab-in-a-Bag Test Tube Wonders comes with a test tube rack, several giant test tubes with lids and 15 different activities that can be replicated several times.

Another bonus is that the Be Amazing Lab-in-a-Bag Test Tube Wonders parts and experiments are completely non-toxic and safe to use. This set my mind at ease when I watch him smell, taste and closely examine every experiment that he does.

At least my son is now a happy ‘mad scientist’.

If you’re a follower of my blog, you would have noticed that I have blogged about The Dove Movement To Raise Self Esteem here, on my family blog as well as on my beauty & fashion blog  from as far back as Year 2007.  I am so honoured to have been invited to be in the movement’s team of Champions. Our role is to help spread the word on this movement which women everywhere have the tools to take action and inspire each other and the girls in their lives. Thousands of women have joined the Dove Movement for Self-Esteem online, and we would love to have everyone of you out there to show your support too.

If this is the first time you are hearing about The Dove Movement, here’s a quick look at the initiative and it’s new vision:

If you’re ready to show your support, join us here! Together, we can inspire all women and girls to reach their full potential.

Bullying has been a natural part of the human existence since the beginning of time. Nonetheless, that doesn’t mean its acceptable or something to be tolerated. Most schools have bullying policies in place, but since teachers and administrators rarely witness bullying incidents, parents need to be aware of the warning signs and prepare to take action.

Warning signs of a bullied child manifest themselves in abnormal behavioural changes. Such changes include anxiety, irritability, restless sleep, frequent headaches, bed wetting, and a reluctance to go to school. If your child develops such behaviours, take the time to talk to him about his school experience.

If you do discover he is being bullied, the first step is to reassure him of your willingness to do whatever it takes to stop it. You’ll need him to give you specific dates, times, and what the bully’s actions were. If your child can’t give you specifics, you may need to ask him to hold on for a while and document future experiences for you.

Once the necessary information has been gathered, schedule a time to speak to his teacher, face-to-face. Explain the situation and provide the documented information to the teacher. Before the meeting is out, ask the teacher to explain the school’s bullying policy then arrange for a follow-up meeting in a week or two in order to evaluate progress.

Usually, speaking to a teacher resolves the problem. If not, you may need to schedule meetings with administration or the bully’s parents. Whatever you do, remain calm and rational at all times. Any emotional outburst will only cause the responsible parties to doubt your cause.

If you cannot resolve the issue through these meetings, seek the help of an outside adviser who specializes in such cases. An internet search should provide the names of some specialists in your area.

Sibling rivalry is a fact of life in every family with more than one child. Humans are competitive by nature, due to our natural survival instinct, so it’s nearly impossible to completely prevent it. Learning how to deal with it can keep it to a minimum.

Rivalry between brothers and sisters usually begins when a younger sibling becomes self-aware to the point that he realizes he is not confined to doing things according to his older sibling’s designs. As the younger child tries to express his own self-will, a competition ensues among the two in order to determine who will be the leader. A certain amount of this is fine, as it teaches children the give-and-take of the real world. But it should never be allowed to escalate to physical or verbal abuse. Sibling rivalry which gets out of hand can be reduced if parents follow a few simple guidelines.

First, don’t fall into the habit of comparing your children or labelling them. They are already struggling among themselves for dominance, so to hear that parents think one is smarter or better behaved simply adds fuel to the fire. Your children should all be treated as equally as possible within the framework of their individual personalities, and their individuality should be praised.

Spending dedicated time alone with each child is also a good idea. It shows him that he is valued for who is, minimizing his perception that he needs to be like his siblings in order to be accepted. A child who is comfortable with himself is much less likely to be caught up in rivalries.

Finally, encourage individual interests and hobbies in your children. When you hit on those one or two things that really capture a child’s attention, he’ll have no need to compete in a family power struggle.

Are you the type of parent who constantly worries about all the potential dangers lurking in the shadows, waiting to jump out at your children? Several studies done over the last decade indicate that parents are exceptionally prone to overprotective behaviour; more so than in any other western nation.

Avoiding over protectiveness is a matter of understanding two things: natural childhood tendencies and statistical realities. In the case of the former, children have boundless energy and a level of naiveté that leads them to do things adults consider unsafe. This is how they explore the world and learn new things. Parents need to understand this and relax.

As an example, climbing trees is both great fun and a real learning experience. Yes, it’s true that your child could fall and break and arm. So what? A broken arm isn’t the end of life, and if he does so he will have learned a valuable lesson in being careful. He will have also gained the skill of climbing and the knowledge of what it’s like to be up high. Being a parent myself, I can understand that it’s easier said than done, but that’s no excuse for not making the effort.

As for statistical realities, did you know that it’s statistically safe for a child to do many things which make us nervous? For example, your ten year-old is at greater risk of injury or death riding with you in the car than he is walking with a group of friends to the river on a Saturday. Parents who don’t grasp this reality are in danger of always acting based on what might happen as opposed to what is most likely to happen. This is what produces overprotective parenting.

Parents, know that a child’s body is incredibly resilient. Also understand that the world is a safer place than we often perceive it to be. Don’t let fear of injury or illness interfere with a child being a child.