5 Signs Your Child is Ready for Kindergarten

By Sara Sykes, Kindergarten Teacher at Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child, a Catholic independent pre-K to grade 12 school in Summit, NJ “Is my child ready for kindergarten?” is one of the top questions I receive from parents as an elementary school teacher. And while there are many factors that go into determining […]

Why You Should Say “Yes” to Being on your HSA Board.

I  wrote a piece 2 years ago about why I said “yes” when I was asked to be on the HSA board for our elementary school. Knowing that those calls are going out around now to line up next years victims, I mean, candidates, I thought I’d revisit the topic and explain why I said “yes.” […]

How to Beat Back to School Anxiety

Also read: How to Relieve Teen Anxiety Watch what you say. Your children will take your vibe and run with it. If you are dreading the start of school, if you have anxiety about your child’s ability to succeed, if you are worried about the teacher she will get or already know she has, keep it […]

Should Kids Have Homework? One Superintendent Says “No.”

Read a Tips’ teen contributor’s view on being overworked: “Even God Rested on Sunday.” Starting this September, Long Beach elementary school students can say “good-bye” to “traditional” homework. I can hear the cheering from here. Instead, the district is asking children to “WRaP” every night: WONDER, READ, and PLAY. It’s a bold move because as parents, we have come to believe that homework is good practice for the […]

Should You Pull Your Kids Out of School for a Vacation?

Former teacher and mother, Jennifer Celiberti, weighs in on the question of where or not you should let your children miss school for a vacation. It’s amazing how we see things differently depending on our perspective.  As a young, enthusiastic teacher, I couldn’t imagine why any parent would take their children out of school for […]

Science Fair Project: Rainbow Roses

This would fascinate kids and it’s an easy one…and a pretty one. Make a bouquet of rainbow roses: 1. Split the stems. 2. Place each end in a different color food coloring. The roses will draw the liquid coloring into the petals.   15+ of Our Must-Have Family Games.

Kids and Stress – Helping Your Child Cope

As adults we may often look back on our youth with nostalgia and long for simpler times. But sometimes being long removed from the carefree days of childhood, we may forget the trials and tribulations of that stage of life. And what may seem to us as simple issues with concrete solutions can be huge […]

Why I Said “Yes” When They Asked Me to Be Our School HSA President

When I got the phone call, I definitely felt a little dread in my stomach. I knew why they were calling. They’re going to ask me to be the HSA (Home and School president–what we called the PTA growing up.)  It’s one of those things that a part of you wants to do…another part fears it […]

3 Things to Avoid on the First Day of Preschool

The first day a preschool can create anxiety not just for children–but for adults too. For many parents, it’s the first time that they’ve ever been separated from their child. Or maybe you’ve been separated when you’ve had a sitter or eft them with grandparents, but the first day of school could be the first […]

Morning Routines Made Easier

Weekday mornings can be brutal for families, but they don't have to be. These tips can help get everyone up and on there way.