Blog Posts by Parents.com

Helping your child master these simple rules of etiquette will get him noticed -- for all the right reasons.
By David Lowry, Ph.D.

Your child's rude 'tude isn't always intentional. Sometimes kids just don't realize it's impolite to interrupt, pick their nose, or loudly observe that the lady walking in front of them has a large behind. And in the hustle and bustle of daily life, busy moms and dads don't always have the time to focus on etiquette. But if you reinforce these 25 must-do manners, you'll raise a polite, kind, well-liked child.-

Manner #1

When asking for something, say "Please."

Manner #2

When receiving something, say "Thank you."

Related: Kid-Made Thank You Notes

Manner #3

Do not interrupt grown-ups who are speaking with each other unless there is an emergency. They will notice you and respond when they are finished talking.

Manner #4

If you do need to get somebody's attention right away, the phrase "excuse me" is the most polite way for you to enter the

Check out these entertaining ways to beat the winter doldrums today.

By Rose Kennedy




1. Don't Let Winter Get You Down

Thanks a lot, January. The whole family-and it suddenly seems like there are a dozen of you-is stuck indoors, holiday bills are due, you're sporting an extra five pounds, and was that the sound of the water heater getting ready to give up the ghost? But don't say "blahs" yet, not when these quick pick-me-ups can give you a lift in seconds. And don't worry about that battered budget: most all of these ingenious suggestions are free.

13 Great Indoor Games & Activities

One thing Ellen Mahurin, the mom of a 5-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son, can count on in wintertime Yorktown, Virginia, is the cold. And the dark. "Sometimes I get a case of the blahs and I just sit around in our apartment all day watching movies with the kids. It can be enjoyable but come dinnertime and bedtime, the kids still have a lot of pent-up energy,"

These secret weapons will help you and the family stay well during the cold, dark months of winter.

Dorothy Foltz-Gray

In winter, viruses and bacteria abound like snowflakes. Work and school environments test our immune systems. And exercise likely takes a backseat when icicles are in view. But don't despair. You and your family can hang onto good health in spite of the challenges. Here's how.

1. Wash Up

Preempt viruses and bacteria by frequently washing your hands-and teach your kids to do the same, says Maritza Baez, M.D., a family physician in Buffalo, New York. Nothing fancy is required. Simply do this: "Work up a lather and wash for at least 30 seconds before eating and after you go to the bathroom," he says. Wash under your fingernails too. That's where germs lurk.

Strategies for Keeping Your Family's Hands Clean

"Use a new toothbrush after you've had a cold, the flu, a mouth infection, or sore throat," says dentist Jeff Golub-Evans,

Saying thank you won't be a chore with these fun easy-to-make cards. Even little kids can help!

By Holly Christian

Try these great strategies from Motherboard Moms for making postholiday organization and storage a breeze.

By Diana Reese

Michael Partenio

Nobody writes songs about what a joy it is to un-deck the halls of his or her garlands and boughs of holly-and then put it all away. For most people, picking up after the holidays is a major pain. But it doesn't have to be.

"I've got it down to a science," says Sarah Svoboda, a mom in Graham, Missouri, who decorates 17 trees inside her home-and whose outside lights on her farmhouse are visible from miles away. She relies on her own system of plastic bins and detailed labels to keep her organized for the holidays, storing items room by room.

Like Svoboda, you can figure out how and where to store your holiday keepsakes and decorations in a way that will save you time, money, and headaches. Our tricks from Motherboard Moms and professional organizers will help.

The most common way to store holiday decorations? In plastic tubs.

Photography & Text by Jennifer and Kitty O'Neil

Whether her passion is going green or getting fit, there's a gift idea here for your favorite mom.


What Moms Love
Moms are a sentimental bunch. In fact, in a recent survey, Motherboard Moms told us they cherish anything that is made for them by their children-from drawings and homemade note cards to ornaments and wreaths made of noodles.

But, let's be honest, what mom wouldn't like a gift that celebrates one of her passions other than her kids? That's why we asked Jennifer and Kitty O'Neil (ONeilSisters.com) to put together theme gift baskets just for moms. Whether you're buying for your own mother or need some hints to drop for yourself, check out this smorgasbord of ideas. Choose one item, build the whole package, or simply use these baskets to inspire your own perfect mom gift.

Gardening Mom

For a mom with a green thumb, gather gardening goodies inside a pail she can use in the spring. Stock it with useful items for

A no-stress holiday guide for MOPEs (Moms of Picky Eaters)! X-Ray Vision Carrots, anyone?

By Madonna Behen


1. Do a dry run

When it comes to holiday traditions, sitting down with your loved ones for a fabulous holiday dinner with all the trimmings is one of the very best.

But it's not always such a joyous affair when some of the smallest eaters in your family are also among the pickiest. Here's how to serve a variety of healthy holiday foods and keep your festive meal from morphing into a stressful ordeal.

For starters, "If you're serving a new food or dish to your child for the first time, it's best to do so at a time when there's minimal stress - and that usually isn't the case at a holiday meal," says Annette Bartz, R.D., a clinical dietitian at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. So a week or so before the big day, try serving that roasted butternut squash or green beans with almonds dish at a regular dinner, when there is less pressure and chaos.

"You

Happy, healthy families have something in common: they take the time to have FUN. Here, 10 inexpensive ways to enjoy each other.

By Diana Reese


The Secret to Happy, Healthy Families

My kids disagree as to which of them began the game of "alien eggball." After the green plastic ball-we joked it was an alien egg-appeared mysteriously in our backyard, we started playing something vaguely resembling volleyball with it, using the swing set as a net. Years later, in spite of my kids' advanced ages (now a teen and a tween), we still play alien eggball on warm summer nights and cool fall evenings. We have no rules, we don't keep score, but we have fun and laugh.

Turns out that kind of silliness is a key ingredient of happy families, according to Kenneth R. Ginsburg, M.D., M.S.Ed., author of A Parent's Guide to Building Resilience in Children and Teens: Giving Your Child Roots and Wings. "Kids need a deep-rooted connection with loving adults, and playing together fosters those