Several years ago Money magazine performed a tax season experiment. Forty-five tax professionals participated in preparing the magazine's tax return. The result? Forty-five different bottom-lines. That's hard to believe. Now think about all the "professionals" out there who might give you many different bottom lines on how to be a better parent. But all should agree on these three things that your kids really...

This week we are featuring the 5 most popular Family Minutes from 2010. Today is Number 3...If your kids have a difficult time keeping up with their responsibilities at home, then create a chore chart. The one in our house works like this. We list the kids' names across the top. Then, down the side, we list the chores, such as taking out the garbage, washing the dishes, cleaning their room and doing the laundry....

November is National Adoption Awareness Month. There's a great need for loving, adoptive families. Children in the U.S., and around the world, are waiting for a family to call their own. A survey by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption found that 4 out of 10 adults have considered adopting a child, but many families don't pursue it. Misconceptions about adoption sometimes deter them from taking the next step…...

The best way for your child to learn to be a good decision-maker, is to involve them in your everyday decisions. For example, if you are in the market for another car, ask your child to research it with you on the Internet, go with you to the car dealer to look at cars, discuss with you the options…new or used, lease or purchase, low or high mileage. Sure, you'll ultimately decide, but bringing them into the...

It's the sound of a whining child! Parents will do almost anything to make it stop. But yelling or responding harshly to a whining child is one of the worst things you can do. Instead, try this. First, ignore it. If you do, your child will learn that whining doesn't work. Second, when your child begins to whine, simply leave the room. Third, remove the cause of the whining. Fourth, name it…say something...

By the time boys are 4 to 6 years old, they often feel the need for a masculine role model. And that need doesn't change as boys grow older. If your son's father is not in the picture, another adult male you trust needs to be involved in his life. You might find a man to mentor your son through a mentoring program. Or, you might have some male relatives, friends, or neighbors who would be good role models for...

Every year, Hollywood entices our kids with a flood of new films designed for their consumption.  But, just like their favorite foods at the grocery store, not everything made for them is good for them.  With so many movies being released, it’s tough to sort out the good from the bad.   Well, we can help.  Check out our movie monitor.  There you can see if the release of Monsters University or The Smurfs 2 is...