We are in the midst of the holiday season, and many of the songs we hear are joyous and happy but this may not be a happy time for all. For some, the holidays are sad due to the absence of a loved one (because of distance or loss), a change in family life due to divorce or unresolved family issues...

With the school year well underway, my children brought home their mid-term report cards last week. As we reviewed their grades and talked about areas to improve, there was a hint of expectancy in my oldest sons' voice. "Mom, I can't wait to show this to grandpa! He's going to give me lots of money...

We are almost two weeks in to summer, and for me that is a little sad because that means the longest day of sunlight has already come and gone. In addition, as I look at the calendar, we are in the midst of celebrating the Fourth of July. I always look forward to...

Since April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, I thought it might be a good idea to shed a little light on the issue of child abuse in our communities, and highlight a resource that is available for the victims and their families. In fiscal year 2016, there were 245,388 calls to the Child...

If you are in the habit of reading this blog, you know that I have written several times about the topic of caregiving. Having worked with older adults and their caregivers in my former career "life" and continuing to provide programs for them, I feel that they are some of the most selfless, noble...

Recently my niece posted a copy of a contract that her father developed when she and her brother were little that set out the rules for playing with Legos.  The contract has 6 (!) segments, with my favorite stating that the contract starts on February 12, 1995, it ends at the year 2002, with a...

Everyone is aging, but do you ever wonder why some people seem to age more successfully than others? We all know of some older adults out there that just seem to be more "spry." But this is not always in a physical sense. They might be mentally sharp and just overall vivacious! What is their secret...

In the last article I mentioned that optimism, socialization and purpose were just a few of the characteristics proven to improve quality of life. So what are the additional elements that contribute to positive aging? Of course, eating a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight is another...

Were you spanked as a child? While in elementary school in the 80's, I have vivid memories of the "board" in the principal's office. The rumor was, if you were sent to the principal's office for misbehavior, you would be spanked with the board. While I cannot confirm if this practice was true, it...

In my previous job working with families with children under the age of three, parents talked a lot about growth charts. "My child is in the X percentile for height and the X percentile for weight. What does this mean? Should I be concerned?" Of course, the first thing that we did was direct the...

Technology is so prominent in our society today, bringing disadvantages along with the benefits. How many times have you seen a toddler or small child handed a smartphone, tablet or another similar device to keep them occupied while in public? While this can be helpful in a pinch, this form...

Child's play is a phrase that describes something that is very simple to accomplish.  However, child's play is actually increasingly complex tasks that have a large impact on a child's social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development.  Infants play by themselves, called "solitary...

  With the holidays rapidly approaching, I wanted to re-share an article published a couple of years ago that was written by Extension colleague Janice McCoy.  She points out the benefits of sharing meals together: Family mealtimes during the holidays can be memorable...

Earlier this month, there was a news item on TV about a local family whose daughter was suffering from lead poisoning.  She had a lead blood level 9x higher that what is recommended as acceptable by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).  The national news stories last year about Flint,...

I get asked by the participants of my Wits Fitness Brain Training classes "how is technology today affecting our children's memory or ability to remember?" Good question. In the Wits Fitness classes, we do many activities that "exercise" memory and recall – all without the assistance of the...

Good Communication is Important Good communication is essential in all aspects of our lives, but it can sometimes be hard to accomplish. In a time where people have never been more "connected" to each other with technology, our skills in meaningful communication...

This blog post was originally published in April 2015.  With a new school year underway, many of you may find it helpful to see again!   You and your child have spent countless hours together bonding and forming daily routines. It has been wonderful witnessing your child's growth and...

Should my child be walking by now?  Is my child saying enough words for his age?  Is my child supposed to be recognizing written words?  When do kids begin to write their name?Sound familiar?  Many parents are not sure if their child's development is on track or not.  One...

        Natural Illinois: Leaves Are All Around A tip sheet from the Illinois Early Learning Project You don't have to go to exotic places to find interesting plants and animals to study at home or in the classroom! From violets and bluestem to oak trees and pines,...

Throughout 2017, I'll be taking a close look at common concerns that caregivers experience, such as important caregiving skills, asking for help as a caregiver, and understanding your loved one's condition. Watch all of these videos at our...