Changes in families have brought new sources of stress into the home. Much daily stress can be handled if families use effective ways of dealing with it. Guidelines for reducing stress are presented, including a section on children's stress. (MT)

Why children need critical thinking skills, how a climate for critical thinking can be created at home, and programs that promote critical thinking by elementary school children are discussed. (MT)

Appropriate ways to use computers in elementary schools are discussed, as are inappropriate uses. Ways parents have assisted educators in thinking about how computers are used are presented as examples. (MT)

In a family meeting all members participate equally and try to solve problems that affect each member individually and as a whole. Ground rules for starting a weekly meeting are offered. (DF)

Youth gangs can be found throughout all racial, ethnic, and religious groups. Characteristics of gang membership and suggestions for parent and school involvement in preventing gangs are discussed. (DF)

Explains how mirroring can help parents respond to their children's problems. Mirroring, which is also called active listening, reflecting, and empathetic listening, involves listening and responding rather than explaining, fixing, and advising. Mirroring can help parents soothe and solve troubling situations by hearing and mirroring what their…

Describes how parents can teach children to be creative problem solvers, providing information from the University of Michigan's Future Problem Solving Program (FPSP). The FPSP model involves brainstorming subproblems, identifying important problem areas, brainstorming solutions, brainstorming criteria for evaluating ideas, evaluating solutions,…

Presents suggestions for helping stepfamilies cope with problems they may encounter: (1) helping the children move from loss to reconnection; (2) being patient with everyone in the new family; (3) cultivating communication and negotiation; and (4) sensitizing school personnel and society. (SM)

Discusses what it is like for children to grow up with an awareness that they live in a world in which unrestrained technological prowess has created vulnerabilities on a global scale. The article examines how parents and teachers can help their children cope with and respond to world issues. (SM)

Discusses sources of stress in children's lives, noting adults too often trivialize situations children face, judging them by adult criteria. Parents must realize children's fears are real, and create a home that minimizes stressors and encourages openness. Suggestions for ways parents can help stress-proof their children's lives are included. (SM)

Children growing up today face unprecedented perils and problems, and for many children the world frequently seems to be an unpredictable place. Pressures on children come from a variety of sources, such as family, peer relationships, and changes in society. (JD)

Examines important issues for parents to consider when dealing with children of divorce and discusses several problem points to avoid, including loyalty conflicts, good parent/evil parent, family secrets, and feeling cheated. Several suggestions for helping children cope are offered. (SM)

The article presents guidelines for creating a thinking environment for children at home. Teachers today have little time to emphasize thinking skills, so parents must make their homes more thoughtful places by encouraging questions, open-mindedness, discussion, and practice time using simple everyday experiences to teach critical thinking and…