Blog Posts by Yahoo! Contributor Network

Parenting student athletes requires quite a balancing act. The older the student, the more complicated and essential it becomes to find the right balance between maintaining good grades and being a responsible, proficient athlete. As the mom of a tween and a teen who rotate between gymnastics, baseball, karate and ski racing, I've learned a few tricks that help sports play a beneficial role in a child's development of time management, sportsmanship, improving concentration and focus, being dedicated and responsible, and making friends.

Sports help kids learn time management.

When your child is involved in before or after school sports practices, when do they find time to study? School sponsored sports require students to maintain GPAs, and private coaches want their athletes available for long hours on a daily basis. Student athletes must learn to balance their free time and maximize their study time. When my daughter entered 7th grade she was an elite level gymnast, going directly

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If you're hosting a cookout or watch party for the London 2012 Olympic Games, don't forget about dessert! Show your support for the USA teams competing in this year's Olympic Games by making a red, white and blue cake. A flag-inspired cake can be a great way to show your patriotism and is sure to be a welcome addition to any dessert table. You can even make the cake ahead of time so you don't have to worry about dessert as you take care of other party preparations.

Follow these simple steps to make a show-stopping red, white and blue cake for your Olympic Games festivities:

#1: Decide what type of cake you want to make. You have a few options when it comes to making a red, white and blue cake for the event. You can use a vanilla cake mix and food coloring to make a layered cake of different colors, or opt for a white sheet cake that's covered with white frosting and decorating with strawberries and blueberries (or colored decorator frosting). For this particular project, we're

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Getting my daughters up and active isn't always easy. They like to sit down and the couch and relax to their favorite shows. They aren't alone. My husband and I enjoy the occasional sitcom, movie, and reality television show, too. How can we encourage them to stay active and be healthy when those words aren't always synonymous with our own lifestyle? As we've redefined our parenting practices in order to raise healthy, active, and confident kids, our entire family has reaped the benefits.

Turn off tech.

Whether you keep the technology in your household turned off for one specific hour, day, week, or month of the year, make it a point to place an emphasis on more than television, smartphones, and video games.

Go for an evening walk.

My daughters love our family walks after dinner. We don't do it every night, but when the sun is just starting to set and the kids still need to work off some energy before bed, an after-dinner walk is just what we need.

Keep a sports storage

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Sweltering summer temperatures can leave a complicated hairstyle in a wilted mess. Nobody wants to show up to a warm-weather soiree looking like they just walked out of the shower. Keep your cool by mixing up hot fashions with easy hairdos. Don't get stuck with same, tired looks; this year, try something new. You can work these five easy hair looks without taking a cosmetology class!

Low-side ponytail: All hair lengths can rock this look. For the best results, control your hair by rubbing in a quarter-sized amount of mousse into your dry hair. Gather the hair, using your fingers, below one of your ears. Cinch the hair together with a pretty ponytail holder. Slip a floral headband into your hair to control fly away strands.

Pom-pom ponytails: Perfect for medium and long hair lengths, these dual pom-pom ponytails make a dainty, youthful look - and they are cool! Use a comb to create two sections of hair at the back of the head. Comb together two low ponytails but instead of pulling

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There's no doubt about it. Our children are busier than ever. I have three children so I know this firsthand. Their schedules rival that of a busy executive. From soccer practice to music lessons there's barely a chance to grab a family dinner together. What can your child's busy sports activities teach your family about juggling a busy schedule?

Who's on First?

First, make a list of all of the activities your family has each day of the week. Do this faithfully the first of the month and then every Sunday to update any changes. Be sure to include all of your doctor appointments, playdates, school, sports, and church activities. Leave nothing behind. And most importantly do this with your children. When they see the list of activities and what's involved to keep everyone on time, it helps them understand how their day flows and what is needed to run a tight ship. They are part of the family team, after all.

Time it Right

In football terminology it's the end of the fourth

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For me, it has always been important for my children to understand why we celebrate the 4th of July. Yes, we love the fireworks, the festivities and the food. However, we equally enjoy celebrating our independence, freedom and patriotism. These five red, white and blue decorating ideas help kids get excited about celebrating our independence. After decorating, have a good time with your friends and family.

Flag Centerpiece

Jazz up your dining room table with a flag centerpiece. First, cover your table with a red or dark blue tablecloth. In the center of the table place a tall vase. Fill the vase with red or blue glass beads. Then, place five small American flags in the vase. After you are done with the centerpiece, children can make placemats from construction paper. Their placemats should have 4th of July themes like freedom. Finally, serve up some blueberries and strawberries with whipped cream for a delicious, kid-friendly treat.

Stars and stripes forever

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If you're in charge of organizing the Fourth of July BBQ this year, start a new tradition with a fun theme! While most of the neighbors will be hosting the traditional patriotic party, you can show off your creative side with a few variations. Plan ahead so you can make most of your menu items at least a day in advance, and start gathering props and decorations now to create an unforgettable event! Whether you're having everyone over to enjoy the pool or just inviting the crew for a backyard extravaganza, surprise your guests with something that's anything but ordinary.

Here are some fun themes and ideas for your Fourth of July BBQ:

Lady Liberty Theme

Have fun at the dessert table by making up some "Lady Liberty Cupcakes" during the festivities. This can be a fun activity for young kids and will keep everyone busy for at least an hour. Look for Statue of Liberty-shaped confetti or a stand-up party decoration as a centerpiece. Use other props with a patriotic theme to create

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A typical day for my family includes full-time work for dad, part-time work for mom, gymnastics classes for all three girls, moms morning out for my toddler, elementary school for my older daughters, Girl Scout meetings, homework, cooking, cleaning and (very occasionally) sleep. Whew. So where can we make time for our family with busy schedules all around?

1. Family breakfasts are a great alternative to a family dinner when school events and activities seem to get in the way. Don't just grab a banana and run out the door. Set everyone's alarm clock ten minutes earlier and sit down at the table and start the day as a family.

2. Game nights are popular choice for busy families. Don't restrict yours to night or weekends. Select a weekday afternoon when everyone can clear their schedules, for instance, and order pizza as a special early dinner treat.

3. Do your homework together. Don't let the kids walk in the door and head their separate ways-eat a snack together and make

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