By Rachel Nipper

Even though my Elementary School years are long gone, I can still vividly remember being in fifth grade and my teacher, Mr. Clark, having each member of my class wear a Yarmulke hat for morning recess. He was giving us an opportunity to learn not only what it was like to be different, but also to see how differently people would treat us. After our experience we wrote a short essay, which believe it or not, I still have to this day in my childhood keepsake binder.

I remember the warm days of summer—playing with my friends until we could barely see to ride our bikes home. Looking back I realize that may not have been the safest thing to do. As the days get longer and kids start spending more time outside, their risk of bumps, dings, and breaks increases.

If your kids are like mine, they’re very reluctant to get rid of any of their toys, even ones they haven’t played with in years. I’ve found that a week or two before Christmas is the best time to convince my kids to part with a few toys. Here’s why:

Spring forward, fall back. The autumn daylight savings time change is the “good” one because we gain an hour. Still, the sudden change in time (and when it gets dark outside) isn’t always an easy transition for kids. Plan for the change and be prepared to deal with a little readjustment. It’s getting darker earlier, so get the house ready for more indoor time.

It’s red ribbon week at my kid’s school. They’re dressing funny today. I imagine they’ll soon bring home ribbons that say, “Say No To Drugs.”

Great advice.

But I was a kid once, and although I never got caught up in drugs, I still made some decisions I regret. None of us are immune to mistakes. So how do we help our kids get through their young years with relatively few scars?

Do you remember the first book you fell in love with? Mine was Cannery Row, by John Steinbeck. I never get tired of that book. I can’t tell you how many times I read it as a kid. It made me want to become a writer…of all things. (You’d think it would make me want to become a marine biologist.)

With school in full swing, your kids are going to be bringing back all sorts of display-worthy A+ papers and art projects. After they’ve run their course on the refrigerator or picture frame, it’s time to let go; you can’t keep everything.

If it hasn’t happened yet, it will. You’ll be in the last stages of getting your family ready, just five minutes from heading out the door, and your toddler will start screaming when you try to put on her shoes. By the time she stops crying and settles down enough to let you help her, you’re off schedule and irritated.