Parenting

In light of last week’s Fathers’ Day celebration, it seems appropriate to reassess why people decide to have kids and the actual benefits of parenthood. When thinking about the origins of human civilization, children were to contribute to family survival and care for their parents as they got older. However, for those modern couples firmly planted in urban environments, it would not be amiss to ask: What’s in it for me? A recent Wall Street Journal article investigates the potential benefits and pitfalls of choosing to have children and its findings may surprise you.

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Summer break for most Beijing students is just around the corner, which means kids will have to decide how they will spend those hot, sticky days. Some will while them away at the water parks, but others may find that they can’t afford the recreation fee, as their savings are nothing but linty pockets. If parents refrain from simply handing over money, they can teach kids how to manage their finances in a world of economic uncertainties.

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It is traditionally thought that women most keenly feel the struggle between balancing home-life and work-life. However, according to a recent New York Times article, it seems that men may be finally catching up to the stress levels experienced by working mothers.

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The US National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion recently stated that parents need to enforce stricter limits on the number of hours their kids spend watching the tube. They consider this especially important for keeping children active and preventing the health risks associated with spending too much time in front of the TV. 

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 The Good News: You’ve done a remarkable job of raising your child to begin his/her first steps towards higher learning and self-sufficiency.

 
The Bad News: You’re on the hook for 4 (hopefully, only 4) years of tuition, books and beer money. Plus room and board expenses equivalent to the cost of a mid-priced home in America (or 2 parking spots in Beijing).

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Summer is here and we all have our hot weather gear on to prove it. The temperature is rising, the kids are out of school and it's time to pack your holiday itinerary with oodles of fun.

Our huge double summer feature has come to the rescue of families still searching for ways to fill their hot and sticky days. We've got a list of 20 any day activities to satisfy restless little ones. Want to get out and about? Nine Beijing day trips, excursions and fun spots will keep you occupied. Need a beach-side break? Kara Chin has found China's best sandy locales, including Sanya and nearby Crab Island. If traveling across the Middle Kingdom, our China excursions will have you prepped and ready to go with all the best tips from people who've done it before. Heading overseas? Get inspired with four great family holidays from around the world.  

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After a spate of school killings and violent attacks across China, local authorities have clamped down on International Children's Day celebrations. Long lines at your local Pizza Hut are still expected, but there are noticeably less large scale activities than in previous years.

Check out these interesting articles from local newspapers:

Children's Day garden party to take no chances

After deadly attacks, security tightened at schools ahead of Int'l Children's Day

More security at schools for Children's Day

Beijing residents should think twice before purchasing a tricycle for their kids for Children’s Day. The Global Times reported that tests in Guangdong Province have shown that only 40 percent of the baby tricycles examined met all of the safety requirements. 

In Shanghai, 30 percent of the tricycles tested were not safe for toddlers due to poor handlebar design and faulty positioning of the pedals and handbrakes. 

Safety concerns with the Guandong tricycles included “excessive amounts of removable substances that toddlers can peel off and swallow, such as paint, which may cause chronic poisoning in young children.” 

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Desperate parents are calling on family therapist Alyson Schafer to save them from countless tantrums, messy rooms and broken bedtime deadlines. Honey, I Wrecked the Kids: When Yelling, Screaming, Threats, Bribes, Time-Outs, Sticker Charts and Removing Privileges All Don’t Work takes parenting to a positive level, outlining a system for discovering the reasons behind a child’s misconduct, among other tactics. 

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6. An apple a day…

An apple a day keeps the doctor away, right? The truth is that we have to eat a lot more than just an apple a day to stay healthy. We must consume plenty of different fruits and vegetables to benefit from the many vitamins, minerals and enzymes they contain. I like to tell my kids that they need to eat a rainbow of foods. Our plates should be filled with colour; the orange of squash, the red of tomatoes, the purple of cabbage and the green of bok choy. Living in China we are very lucky to have such a wide selection of fruits and vegetables to choose from. Add variety to your diet and try something new. The Canadian Food Guide  recommends eating seven to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables each day! See what the World Health Organization has to say about the importance of eating more fruits and vegetables.

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