Montgomery Community Media

For those fifth graders who will be transitioning to middle school in the fall, it is an exciting and scary time for many of them. On the one hand, the idea of more expected freedom in middle school can be appealing. However, with that comes more responsibility. In addition, the transition can be tough socially […]

Despite the large amount of snow days this academic year, students are about three quarters of the way done with the 2013-2014 academic year. For children attending MCPS, the marking period ends next Thursday. Thus, with essentially one quarter left, it is a good opportunity for parents to review their child’s progress this year and […]

Most parents dread hearing about drinking, drugs and sex. Parents often worry that their teens may get involved in situations involving these items that they disapprove of. Worse yet, parents sometimes learn that their teens are involved in things that they shouldn’t be, and don’t know what to do. While whole articles could be written […]

Getting children to voluntarily complete their homework can be challenging for some parents. For children with ADHD, learning disabilities, or other issues that impact academic functioning, it can be especially tough. Here are a few basic tips to help your child complete their homework more easily: 1)      Devote a specific place for them to complete […]

Many people view some sibling rivalry as a normal part of growing up. For many parents, sibling rivalry becomes very frustrating to handle, and they worry about how their children will get along when they get older. Here are a few basic strategies to help improve sibling relations: 1)     Help your children to find activities […]

Wanting the latest shoes, hats, jackets, and other apparel is nothing new to most parents. No matter what decades you grew up in, there was likely certain items that you wanted because they were in style and your friends had them. Two main issues in appeasing teens today is being able to afford everything they […]

As children get older, they often spend more and more time with their friends and away from siblings and parents. While this is a fairly normal part of adolescence, it is still important to make sure your family is spending adequate quality time together as a family unit. Time spent nagging teens to complete their […]

Many parents often wonder how to teach teens to learn to manage money. Many children and teens get a weekly allowance. Some have to earn it by completing chores, whereas others simply get money regardless of what they do. Here are a few suggestions for determining how to structure an allowance system for your teen: […]

I’ve been writing this blog for the past six months and have written on a wide variety of topics. Obviously I want the information I present to be useful to those of you who take the time to read my blog weekly. Therefore, I’d like to give all of you an opportunity to let me […]

With the new year approaching, it is a great opportunity to reflect back on the past year and evaluate yourself as a parent. What things did you do well in the past year? What things can you improve on in the coming year? What services/resources can you obtain for yourself or your child in the […]