Author Archives: Nicki Bradley

Destination Imagination: A Competition Unlike Any Other

This past weekend, two of my kids competed in Destination Imagination state finals in our state. My husband coached the team and it was such an amazing experience for all on the team. Destination Imagination is unlike other academic competitions. In fact, I consider it non-academic. You don’t need to be a spelling ace or a math whiz or a history buff. You don’t need to be gifted or talented. Since most people we talk to have never even heard of Destination Imagination (DI), I’d love to share. DI is a problem solving competition. Teams are grouped by level – … Continue reading →

Avoiding Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity is on the rise. It’s an epidemic of grand proportions (no pun intended). In this society that values looks and idolizes anorexic models, we simultaneously abuse our children’s bodies and stand by as they grow larger and larger and become more and more unfit. Childhood obesity has got to stop but the cycle begins at home. How do you know if your child is obese or at risk of becoming overweight? Knowing is half the battle. So many parents are in true denial, believing their children are simply “built big” or “sturdy” or retaining “baby fat”. It’s time … Continue reading →

Time to Take Off the Training Wheels?

At what age are most children ready to learn to ride a bike? The age varies and has more to do with balance and coordination than age, itself. Children must be able to coordinate balancing, steering, pedaling and braking all at the same time. Some children can master bike riding without training as young as four years old, others are upwards of 9 years old before they can even begin to master this complex skill set. The average age is about 6 years old. How can parents help teach balance? Many parents rely on training wheels to do what they … Continue reading →

Stepmoms Make Primetime TV!

This must be national Scared Straight week for potential future stepmoms and blended families! It seems like everywhere I turn, various popular TV shows are featuring some really scary stories about stepmoms-gone-wrong. In case the notion of the Wicked Stepmother wasn’t already burned into our social subconscious, this week will firm it up! Highlights from this week: Dr. Phil: On today’s show, titled The Final Ultimatum Dr. Phil features a stepmom who hates her stepdaughter. Yes, you read that correctly, she seriously hates the child. She refers to her as a “little thing” or a “monster”. Thank goodness that the … Continue reading →

Hazing: What Parents Need To Know

Last summer, at an Episcopal church camp in Prescott Arizona, a group of junior high school boys arrived for what they thought was going to be a spiritual leadership camp and left feeling sexually violated and demoralized. Camp counselors used broomsticks or poles to poke and prod these boys in their buttocks as both punishment and entertainment for counselors in a bad mood. Photographs were taken that clearly showed the displeasure on the faces of the campers. Although the prosecutor’s office did not find that there was any sexual intent, these boys were clearly harmed emotionally by the experience that … Continue reading →

Parents: Save at the Pump!

As parents, we probably drive more than anyone else around! Between taking our kids to and from school, soccer practice, swimming class, piano and to the mall and back, our kids are relying on our transportation services to get them where they need or want to be. How do parents save during this period of sky-rocketing gas prices? Carpool – this is the best way for parents to save money at the pump. Take turns driving the kids where they need to go, if at all possible. Consolidate trips – if you can’t carpool, use your time wisely by running … Continue reading →

A Parent’s Guide to Freecycle

If you haven’t heard of it yet, Freecycle is changing the way we look at junk! The notion that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure has never been so true! Freecycle is a network of individual local email lists across the country. Each list is free to join and available for those who have stuff they want to get rid of and for those who are looking for other people’s junk. Not only can you get rid of your stuff with a good conscience and not worry about filling up the landfills but you can often get rid of … Continue reading →

Divorced Parenting: Rules of the Exchange

Often, divorced parents rarely communicate outside the drop-off and pick-up of their children during visitation times. No one wants to take more time than necessary out of their lives to voluntarily communicate with someone they don’t get along with. But, beyond simple pleasantries, communicating at the children’s exchange is never a good idea. Often, simple communications turn into larger disagreements and it is inappropriate to use a time that should be happy and relaxed and child-focused as a convenient platform to spur an argument. The exchange is hard enough for children. It is typical for children to have difficulty transitioning … Continue reading →

Step-Families: Tips for Blending

Blending a family is, hands down, the most difficult part of re-marriage. Even if one spouse has children, the blending is usually difficult, sometimes painful, and occasionally impossible. Add kids from both sides and difficult ex-spouses and you’ve got your hands full! Here are a few tips for better step-family blending: Family meetings: hold a weekly family meeting when all the kids and adults can be present. Family meetings give kids an opportunity to air their feelings, focus on their accomplishments and feel like a family unit instead of just visitors. For more on family meetings, read this article. Family … Continue reading →

Bicycle Safety Tips

As the weather turns warmer, I see kids throughout my neighborhood participating in that age-old childhood pastime: bike riding. It’s fun, it doesn’t involve a screen or eating or talking on the phone, its free, its great exercise – what more could parents ask for? The fun doesn’t come without some risks. Following proper safety precautions can minimize and even eliminate injuries and risk: Children of all ages should wear a helmet while using anything with wheels – bikes, scooters, roller blades, roller skates, etc. Use a helmet every time, starting when your child is around 12 months old, even … Continue reading →