Julie Rains's blog

6 Simple Rules for Water Park Safety

Posted July 23, 2010 - 21:00 by Julie Rains

Safety, Entertainment

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As a former lifeguard and water safety instructor, I am impressed with the safety practices of the mega-water-park in my area. Still, I wouldn’t rely completely on a well-trained stranger to protect my children. Here are simple rules to keep kids safe when they are supposed to be having fun.

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Gifted with a Learning Disability: Navigating School

Posted April 5, 2010 - 20:00 by Julie Rains

Education

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It's not unusual for a child to be both gifted and learning disabled. In fact, I think that all children are gifted in some way yet many encounter difficulty at some point. Here are tips on navigating school whether your child has received an official gifted with LD designation or not.

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10 Tips to Avoid Doing Your Kids' Homework

Posted November 2, 2009 - 13:44 by Julie Rains

Education, K-8, High School

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Some parents spend many school nights supervising and struggling with their children's homework. I am a lousy homework helper so I have found some ways to get my kids to stop bugging me. Here are 10 tips to get your kids to do as much for themselves as possible.

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8 Ways to (Gently) Toughen up Your Kid

Posted August 16, 2009 - 19:32 by Julie Rains

Extra Curricular

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I organized a whitewater rafting trip for my son’s scout troop recently. Such outings can be challenging and help kids mature. As the day progressed, I found myself considering what parents can do to toughen up their kids. Here are steps to building confidence and resilience.

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Coping With Group Projects

Posted April 24, 2009 - 07:21 by Julie Rains

Education, Conflict Resolution, K-8

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Teachers seem to assign group projects on a routine basis now vs. hardly ever when I was a student. But not everyone likes group work. I particularly enjoy the observation of Scout Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird that “miles of construction paper and wax crayon were expended by the State of Alabama in its well-meaning but fruitless efforts to teach me Group Dynamics.” Here are ideas on coping with group activities.

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Teacher Gifts Guaranteed To Be Loved

Posted November 30, 2008 - 10:26 by Julie Rains

K-8, Parent-Teacher

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My kids have outgrown the time for giving teacher gifts at school. But a post from rocksinmydryer on "Getting Practical About Teacher Gifts" reminded me of gift-giving strategies at my their elementary school: parents can control their spending but accommodate teachers’ wishes. These tips may work for you and your school, public, private, or home.

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Good, Clean Eating: What Works At My House

Posted September 30, 2008 - 12:15 by Julie Rains

Nutrition

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Is getting your family to eat a healthy diet beyond your reach? Despite my insistence on natural, not-overly-processed foods, my kids still love Frosted S’Mores-flavored Pop-Tarts and fast-food burgers. Tosca Reno, mother of three, shares her approach for encouraging healthy habits in her book The Eat-Clean Diet for Family & Kids. I’ll tell you what’s worked at my house.

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Six Secrets To My Sanity

Posted September 10, 2008 - 11:27 by Julie Rains

Wellness

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Does being a mom (or dad) ever drive you crazy? Here are my secrets to staying sane.

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What College Admissions Officers Won’t Tell You And More

Posted June 4, 2008 - 04:39 by Julie Rains

High School, Higher Education

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College admissions officers try to position their colleges as selective by spouting statistics that make acceptance seem elusive. They may tell you, for example, that the university received 12,000 applications for 1,600 openings in its freshman class. You may assume that the university has an acceptance rate of 13.33% but your math (though reasonable) would be wrong. I’ll tell you what college admissions officers won’t tell you and more.

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Are Mothers Of Boys (Only) Considered Real Moms?

Posted April 25, 2008 - 11:04 by Julie Rains

Culture, Extra Curricular

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I’ll admit that as the mom of 2 male children and no female ones, I sometimes feel invalidated in my motherhood. Am I being overly sensitive or is there a bias against moms with sons?

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Should I Get My Kids Ready For College Or Life?

Posted March 20, 2008 - 13:43 by Julie Rains

Education

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A couple of months ago I went to a community breakfast at a private school that prepares its students for the best colleges in the state and nation. The speaker told this overachievement-oriented audience that parents should focus on preparing their children for life, not college.

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Making A Memorable Valentine's Day Treasure

Posted February 7, 2008 - 12:15 by Julie Rains

Social Skills

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Looking for a creative, memorable, enriching, and fun Valentine’s Day activity? Here’s an easy one that will help spread kindness and appreciation.

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Waiting For The Impulsive Brain To Mature

Posted January 24, 2008 - 08:11 by Julie Rains

Discipline, K-8

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ScienceDaily reports “In youth with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the brain matures in a normal pattern but is delayed three years in some regions, on average, compared to youth without the disorder...” What does this mean for parents of overly active, somewhat impulsive, and imperfectly inattentive children?

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The Childbirth Resort: Hospital and Birth Center Differences

Posted January 14, 2008 - 11:35 by Julie Rains

Birth

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What’s the advantage of giving birth at a freestanding birth center rather than a community hospital? For me, it was a hot tub, Gatorade, and SWAT-team avoidance.

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Children's Consignment Sale Clears Closet, Yields Cash

Posted December 31, 2007 - 09:48 by Julie Rains

Finances, Pre School

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Want to get rid of clothing that your kids have outgrown, find bargain kids’ stuff, make money, and raise funds for your favorite cause? Participate in a children’s clothing consignment sale or organize your own.

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Phonics Resources At Your Fingertips

Posted December 22, 2007 - 08:52 by Julie Rains

Learning Tools

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Looking for phonics resources? Here are some ideas on how to find what you need and what worked for me.

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