I received several comments about my column, “Grandmother Hesitant to Voice Concerns About Granddaughters’ Dietary Habits.” The responses generally fell into one of three categories: (1) The grandmother should share her concerns head-on with her daughter-in-law; (2) The grandmother should not share her concerns; (3) Ambivalence – readers admitted to going back and forth on […]
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Healthy, Kid-Friendly Smoothie
Sometimes I wonder if other people get as much pleasure as I do from seeing their children eat healthy food. There is just something so reassuring about it, knowing that vitamins and nutrients are being flooded through their growing bodies. Luckily, on these hot, summer August days, smoothies are a big hit in my home. […]
Summer Salad – Hold the Lettuce
On more than one occasion I’ve heard my pre-schooler exclaim: “I love Kale!” or “Spinach is my favorite food!” This is typically followed by a statement that she will eat salad when she is seven, or some other very arbitrary age, date or time in the future. So, while my daughter loves to help me […]
Conversation Starters: Race and Parenting
As many of you know, I have had the honor of interviewing dozens of incredible parenting luminaries over the years for my articles in New York Family Magazine. This month’s article was the first time, I (and my good friend Verta) were the ones being interviewed rather than the interviewees. So it is with immense […]
Ask Dr. Gramma Karen: Incorporating Social Justice issues Into Parenting Practices
Dear Readers, Racial violence and unrest are uppermost in the minds of people across the country. Many have asked themselves: What can I do to make a positive difference? As my former colleague and good friend, Adelaide Lancaster, and her husband raise their three young children, she is addressing this question by purposely incorporating issues […]
What Can I Do About My Rude Toddler?
My toddler is becoming disrespectful. Her go-to response for me is yelling and rudeness. What can I do about this? I want her to express herself but frankly, I also want her to stop yelling at me. Ahhh, that fine line between empowerment and a tiny screaming gremlin. The first thing to do is chill […]
Preparation Strategies for Children with Hospital Fears
Going to the hospital can be scary for patients of any age, but especially for children who have no idea what to expect and have heard fear-based language from others. When your child needs to undergo some sort of treatment in the hospital, you can do something to alleviate those fears. It all starts by […]
Tips to Minimize Your Child’s Fear of the Dentist
Compared with the level of dental care available today – with revolutionary products, innovative procedures and state-of-the-art equipment – the care that parents received years ago as youngsters was seemingly from the Stone Age. Some parents may have had difficulty relinquishing the fears they concocted as a result of those experiences. They must, however, find […]