Opinion
Cyberbullying: It’s hurtful and complex to manage | Patti Skelton-McGoughan | Parenting Lifeline
You may have heard of a cyberbullying case in Issaquah that made national news. Two middle school students…
Opinion
Parenting Lifeline: The impact of disasters on kids | Patti Skelton-McGougan
When catastrophes strike and are covered widely by the news media, the barrage of tragic and disturbing images…
Opinion
Caffeine and and energy drinks may pose risk for kids | Patti Skelton-McGougan
Most of us are guilty of needing a little pick-me-up to start our day or a caffeine charge…
Opinion
Set reasonable rules during the holidays
The holidays are here, and with them come the upset of family routines. Schools out, parties abound and…
Opinion
Bullying of LGBTQ youth | What we can do as parents to teach compassion and understanding
In recent weeks, there have been a number of media stories on bullying of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual,…
Life
‘Fake pot’ legal, but dangerous | Patti Skelton-McGougan
There’s a new drug trend among youth that parents should be aware of — an herbal and chemical…
Life
Don’t let your kid’s screen time go overtime | Patti Skelton-McGougan
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than two hours of quality (emphasis on quality) television and…
Life
Sibling rivalries: How to help keep the peace | Patti Skelton-McGoughan
With school out, maybe you’re wondering how you will get through a summer of sibling sniping, tattling, competition…
Life
How to raise capable children | Patti Skelton-McGougan
Time after time, we discover that our children are more clever than we thought, surprised when they sagely…
Opinion
Youth suicide: What to know & what to do | Patti Skelton-McGougan
Suicide is always tragic. It represents pain and hopelessness so great that death appears to be the only…
Opinion
Protecting girls from bullying | Patti Skelton-McGougan
Protecting girls from bullying The recent tragic suicide of a Massachusetts teen as the result of bullying moves…
Opinion
Don’t let your kid’s screen time go overtime | Patti Skelton-McGougan
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than two hours of quality (emphasis on quality) television and…
Opinion
Talk about drugs with your kids early and often
Parents often wonder when they should sit their kids down to talk about drugs and alcohol. They may…
Opinion
Helping kids cope with bad news | Patti Skelton-McGougan
The recent earthquake in Haiti, the tsunami a few years ago and Katrina a bit earlier were all…
Opinion
How to help your child with health and body image issues | Patti Skelton-McGougan
On one side, you have the obesity epidemic plaguing our Big-Gulp generation of kids. On the other side,…
Opinion
How to help your family reduce holiday stress | Patti Skelton-McGougan
For children and teens, the holidays offer many possibilities for the “perfect” celebration which because it’s “perfect” is…
News
Patti Skelton-McGougan | Guiding your child through the ads and fads
From steroid-using athletes to celebrities who bounce between clubs and rehab, today’s role models can leave a lot…
Opinion
Patti Skelton-McGougan | How to help your maxed-out kids
All parents want success for their children and all children (though they may not always show it) want…
Opinion
Patti Skelton-McGougan | Back to school brings a new kind of bullying
Most of us were bullied at one time or another when we were kids. More often than not,…
Opinion
Plan ahead to launch your child into the future
Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the moon landing recently got me thinking how much sending our kids off…