Note: This article has been updated with the latest marriage advice and research for 2021.

Page 1

A 3-year-old appears happy to have a new little one in the house, but the sudden increase in temper tantrums tells a different story. A ten-year-old feels resentful of her older sister's academic success and the praise she receives for it and begins misbehaving, slamming doors and screaming at her parents.

Everday words

When choosing toys for a child, it's important to consider not only their age, but also their stage of development. Different stages mean different skills, and that, in turn means different ways of interacting with, and enjoying a toy.

Whew! That sounds complicated! But you don't need a degree in child development to crack the code. You just need to understand the basics.

And that's why we're here.

How to Survive Your Daughter's Teen Years

The surging hormones and emotional changes that frame our daughters' adolescence can feel like a roller coaster ride. Sometimes the "terrible teens" can dim the glow of the most confident moms. Dr. Roni Cohen-Sandler, co-author of I'm Not Mad, I Just Hate You!: A New Understanding of Mother-Daughter Conflict, offers her advice for bridging the mother-daughter divide during your daughter's teen years.

Each stage of parenting offers its own unique challenges for very different reasons. Newborns make for a complete shock to your way of life. Toddlers let you know very quickly that you're not in charge. Elementary school kids can at least communicate with you though they might not – scratch that – they probably won't listen. And then there are the teens. Teen behavior is proof that extraterrestrial life does exist. Be prepared for five or six years of mental chess.

Even the most well-behaved kids sometimes get in trouble at school. Whether your kid is five or 15, what do you do when you learn that your child did something wrong in school? How do you, as a parent, handle the situation and discuss it with a defiant child? Or a quiet, shy child? Or a remorseful child?

More: Top Signs of Trouble for Grades K-8

Radiation

There's a reason that both puppies and babies are cute- they have to be, because each one will try your patience like no other force of nature. So if a person's patience level is truly like a muscle – the more you use it, the bigger it becomes – then adopt a puppy or have a child to find out. And what better time to recognize the similarities, and vast differences, then on National Puppy Day.

As always, your aim is to protect your children while being as open and honest as you can, given the circumstances and their ages and development. So, don't go into all the gory details. However, children who are told nothing about the reasons for their parents' divorce are unnecessarily frustrated and have a more difficult time working things through.

More: 12 Helpful Books for Kids About Divorce Recommended by Parents and Therapists

From laptops at home to tablets at school, kids use technology daily, and device use is beginning at an earlier and earlier age. In fact, parents are letting toddlers and even infants play with their phones and tablets.

If preparing for the holidays seems like a never-ending to-do List, you're not alone. Finding those last minute gifts, decorating the tree, or researching Hanukkah dinner recipes can all present unique challenges on top of the typical stresses of daily home and work life. What you don't need is added anxiety that can result from clashes with your in-laws. If that's an area where you struggle, use this helpful guide for dealing with in-laws during the holidays.

Being a parent is one of the most rewarding jobs on the planet and everyone who has the privilege of being a parent is truly lucky; however, it is not always easy. Usually, the most rewarding jobs come with hard work. It is through this hard work that we grow as parents and individuals and every now and then we are rewarded with those moments that stop us in our tracks, grab ahold of our hearts, and reassure us that what we are doing is good.

Number bonding? Skip counting? Does your child's Common Core math homework make your head spin? You're not alone.

Plenty of parents who grew up learning how to add and subtract with older teaching methods now look at their children's Common Core homework with a sense of panic, or at least mild bewilderment. Rest assured, you have not forgotten how to do first-grade math.

Your disciplining style