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Disclosure: This post is sponsored by BIG.  Leave that Elf on the Shelf: Strategies for Surviving the Holidays The winter holidays are upon us! ‘Tis the season of light, music, merriment, family gatherings, and a full year’s quota of peppermint. Along with the joy, this time of year also brings many family and social obligations, disruptions to normal routines, and extra stimulation. It can be challenging for parents and children alike to navigate all the additional stimuli and expectations. Many families play host to a certain shelf-perched spy from the North Pole as a behavior management consultant. However, the experts at Behavioral Intervention Group (BIG) suggest some additional strategies to facilitate peace and help everyone in the house to have joyful days...

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Basis Charter Schools. 7 Steps to Establishing a Growth Mindset We come into this world with very little knowledge about the world we live in, but we are born with an innate desire and unlimited capacity for learning. We form ideas, discover interests, and develop skills in response to our environment. Every day we process new data. As we grow and build relationships, peers and mentors encourage, even compel, us to move forward, to progress, to increase our potential. Every day is filled with opportunity to learn, and there truly is no limit. Once children start school, they become increasingly aware of their own performance—and how they measure up. Naturally, they begin judging their own abilities as they...

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Our Lady of the Lake Children's Health. Flu is Widespread in Louisiana But it’s Not too Late to Vaccinate Children If you have school-age children then you probably know we’re having an unusually active flu season in Louisiana. Flu cases started rising in the Baton Rouge area in late September, much earlier than usual. By the third week of November, Louisiana doctors had seen nearly 20,000 children for flu-like symptoms, the state Department of Hospitals reported. The vast majority of those cases were Influenza B, a sometimes less-severe strain, but one that’s more likely to spread among children. A hallmark of most cases of flu is they strike swiftly with fever, extreme fatigue, coughing, sore throat, body aches...

Disclosure :: This post is sponsored by BASIS Charter Schools. Choosing A Great School :: Why Consider BASIS Baton Rouge? Choosing The Right School For Your Child As a parent, you want your child to have the best education possible. That’s why selecting the right school for your child to attend is such an important decision. However, with all the school options available, the process can become a bit overwhelming. The best way to ensure that your child receives a great education for his or her needs is to research and to know what to look for in a school. When choosing a school for your child, it’s a good idea to take the following into consideration. A Rigorous Curriculum Even students who are...

Disclosure: This post is part of a sponsored series with the National Football Foundation's Football Matters campaign.  Families Need Football I want to tell you a little story. A story about a little, 4 year old boy who had been so angry, so hard and so closed off for most of his little life that he failed to really connect with those closest to him. This boy of mine, had just failed to bloom and thrive. Then along came football.  In our 1.5 seasons of football we have watched that timid little boy create lifelong memories with friends he had not had before we started football. We watch every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday as he shows a determination and drive that...