About Parenting School Age Children: Why Parents Should Unplug, Talk to Kids, and More

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Parenting School Age Children Parenting School Age Children School Family Life Health & Development From Katherine Lee, your Guide to Parenting School Age Children What does it mean to be a good parent? That's an ageless question that is tricky to define. New research says engaging kids in in-depth conversation is a good idea, as is trying not be distracted by emails and texts when spending time with kids. What IS NOT a good parent is a bit clearer, as demonstrated by recent news reports of a couple who recently left their young children in a car in a parking lot so they could go gamble and a mom who left her 12-year-old home alone for a week so that she could go off and get married. In other news this week, research shows the importance of sticking to kids' sleep routines (that would fall under the "good parenting practice" category). The Benefits of In-Depth Conversations with Kids Do you engage in meaningful conversations with your child? Do you talk about the news, or about the plots, characters, and other aspects of the books you read together? Or do you mostly stick to everyday conversations that are not very deep? Parents who engage their kids in stimulating conversations significantly boost their language skills, says a new study from the Netherlands... Read more AWOL Parents Have you heard about the New Jersey mom who left her 12-year-old daughter at home alone for 6 days so that she could go across the country and get married? Or about a couple who left their 10-year-old and 1-year-old in their car in a parking lot to go gambling? Instead of a movement against helicopter parents or free-range parents, let's have a movement against selfish, neglectful parents with poor impulse control... Read more Summer and Sleep As children across the country look forward to the start of summer vacation, many parents I know are looking forward to the end of battles over bedtime and getting kids up on time for school early in the morning. But keeping those bedtimes consistent and not veering from your child's regular sleep routines is a good idea, says a new study... Read more Why Parents Should Unplug More Be honest: Have you texted, checked email, or engaged in other electronic distractions while spending time with your kids? How often would you say this occurs? I've certainly done it. But experts say that when we are distracted on our smartphones and computers, we are not fully focusing on our children. And when we do that, we are teaching our kids two things: that they are not a priority and that family time doesn't mean connecting with each other... Read more K-6 Children Ads Parenting Help Teen Children Help Children Parenting Kids Parents Child Featured Articles Teaching Kids Math During Road Trips Great Outdoor Games for Kids 5 Fun Kids Fitness Tips to Get Little Couch Potatoes to Move Best Kids CD Choices for Family Road Trips Planning Girlfriend Getaways 10 Tips on Flying with Children   More from About.com Plan a Unique Vegas Wedding The minister, music and champagne are just the beginning -- why not get married aboard a helicopter or have a pirate swing in to deliver your rings? Arrrr! More> Join About.com's User Panel! Share your opinions and help us make About.com more relevant, informative and enjoyable to use. More> This newsletter is written by: Katherine Lee Parenting School Age Children Guide Email Me | My Blog | My Forum   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About Parenting School Age Children newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2010 About.com   Must Reads Best Educational Games for Kids 10 Ways to Save Energy in the Summer Great Family Trips 7 Strategies for Limiting Media Violence Top 7 Child Discipline Tips Advertisement