Beech Acres Parenting Center

  ...to www.BeechAcres.org/CommunityOnline !  All of our sites are now consolidated in one location with a common design.  It's all the same good information, however, so go visit the new site and partake ! Because of this change, new...

Relief from the heat used to mean trudging off with friends for a cool dip in the pool. For  today’s kids, it’s as least as likely to mean sitting in an air-conditioned house while venturing into cyberspace. The internet opens up a world of opportunity...

Those early ball games, before the kids have an understanding of strategy or the necessary skills to implement it, are mini-contests of endurance for dedicated parents.  Sitting it out under the blazing sun, you may realize with amusement that you’ve...

The world of a child or a teenager is a relatively small place.  It centers around family, school, perhaps a religious institution, and peers. Unlike adults, kids don’t have the freedom of venturing far outside of those boundaries.  As a result,...

Imagine yourself a witness to breaking news as you oversee the activities of your  three-year-old, Amber, and her friend Carly while working at your desk.  Colorful toys litter the floor, more than enough to occupy the imaginations of two little...

Kids and pets just go together. It starts harmlessly with the goldfish won at the school carnival, graduates to hamsters, and before you know it the ante is upped. Your children want a dog. And a dog can be a beloved addition to your family, if you...

Summer’s almost here, and you’ve decided it’s time for your child to learn to swim. If you’ve got a natural fish on your hands, sit back and enjoy the fun. But if your child is more conservative and fearful about trying new things, be prepared to get...

One of the scariest parts about walking through life’s toughest moments is the fear that our children will be harmed by seeing us upset. But if you think about it, it would be unusual indeed for a parent never to experience personal crisis over the years...

It’s not that you’re not busy the rest of the year, but things are really hopping in May. The end of the school year brings a cascade of sporting events, plays, and concerts. Just when you’re congratulating yourself on your dedication ...

Knowing that sexual activity carries with it the risk of HIV and cervical cancer, along with a host of other sexually transmitted diseases, it can be literally life-saving to talk with kids about sex. ...

An ounce of prevention  for homesickness   Summer camp sounds like a carefree vacation with just the right mix of the outdoors, great activities and the company of friends.   And it is all that, but there’s also another side to the...

 “I did use soap!  See the bubbles?” proclaims your sticky-fingered 3-year-old, chin jutted out, barely taller than the bathroom sink.   It’s a shock to discover that your child has developed the savvy to spin a tall tale to avoid your...

The music pounds aggressively from the speakers in your teenager's bedroom.  The assault of sound inspires visions of head banging and mosh pits.  Even more, it generates concern for the young adult you’re raising.    What is the...

  Turning sixteen is the exciting first step into the adult world of possibility, independence, college, careers, and a life of one’s own – but it’s not magic.  Hitting that 16th birthday doesn’t transform the adolescent who couldn’t remember...

A household is really a small community, and just as in a school or a neighborhood, its success depends on everyone’s participation.  An important aspect of that success is taking care of the house.  With a small “community” of busy people,...

  Going back to work?  It’s an exciting new beginning – and having that steady paycheck means a lot in terms of security and opportunities for your family.  But sometime during your first week working outside your home you’re likely to...

Why is it that when you reasonably answer “no” to your child’s request, it sometimes results in hurt feelings that last for hours or even days?  Even more mysterious, why is it that hearing “no” from other people doesn’t seem to upset her? ...

  ‘Helicopter parents’ – too much of a good thing?       It can be tough to decide how best to respond when your child has a problem. On one hand, you don’t want your kids to experience unnecessary pain; on the other hand, you...

Less pressure, more fun with your children     It’s an energizing idea to build fun into the whirlwind of family life, but scheduling some playtime may sound impossible.   Top priority already goes to the things that absolutely...

Building your child’s readiness  for summer camp     It may look like the North Pole outside your living room window, but look again! Summer’s just a blink away, and that means it’s already time to think about summer camp.  ...

Learn the art of the compassionate ‘No’       It’s the first snow day of the year, and kids’ spirits soar while their moms’ moods plummet. It may look like a Norman Rockwell painting outside, but inside the house, the stress is escalating....

Some children sail through the school year without a hitch.  They’re able to make friends, absorb new concepts, complete their homework, and do well on their tests. But not every child finds school so easy.  If your child is having difficulty,...

Some kids burst into the house after school with a streaming account of the details of their day.  “Johnny brought his skunk for sharing!” “Mary Ann’s lunch got run over by the bus!”    That’s not only delightful, but it also puts parents...

Holding a tiny new baby in your arms, it’s the most natural thing in the world to feel flooded with the desire to protect him and to make his life as perfect as possible.  But whether it’s on the first day of daycare or the first day of kindergarten,...

With an ongoing barrage of incidents of violence and sexual crimes, listening to the news is not for the faint-hearted.  It’s enough to make even the bravest parents consider, if only for a moment, not letting their children out of their sight. ...