Latest news with #Parents
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Inside the fight against the Oklahoma's plan to push Trump's big election lie in schools
Director of "We're Oklahoma Education" Erica Watkins joins "The Weekend" to share what she and other local parents are doing to fight against the Oklahoma Public Schools plan to teach Trump's Big Election Lie as fact in high school civics classes.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
New Car Seat Regulations Are Coming—Do You Have To Buy Another One?
Fact checked by Sarah ScottThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued new safety standards for car seats. NHTSA just extended its initial June 30, 2025 date of compliance to December 5, 2026. The new standards aim to protect young children from side crashes, known as a T-bone seats in the U.S. will soon need to meet new federal safety standards. The aim is to better protect young children in the event of a side-impact crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued the regulation and companies must now comply by December 5, 2026. This is a new extension to the previous date of June 30, 2025. The change is to give manufacturers more time to test and make the necessary changes to their car seats. "In their petitions for reconsideration, manufacturers stated that there are not enough test labs and small volume manufacturers don't have their own sled systems to design and verify their products to meet these new, more advanced safety requirements. Many large manufacturers have already complied," NHTSA tells Parents. "To ensure an adequate supply of child restraint systems for consumers to purchase while manufacturers adapt to the new standard, NHTSA is extending the lead time for compliance." Here's what families need to know about the new standards and what it means for their current car seats in the meantime. Known as Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 213a, the new standard includes a test simulating a 30-mph side crash, known as a T-bone collision. It applies to car seats for kids 40 pounds and under. "NHTSA's side-impact car seat safety rule will enhance safety and make child car seats even safer," NHTSA tells Parents. The new requirement is in addition to previous standards requiring a test simulating a 30-mph frontal impact. Frontal crashes are the most common and cause a significant number of deaths, a reason for the initial focus. But side-impact crashes also lead to serious injuries and fatalities. 'Side impacts are especially dangerous when the impact is on the passenger compartment because, unlike a frontal or rear-end crash, there are no substantial, energy absorbing structures between the occupant and the impacting vehicle or object,' NHTSA explains in its ruling. NHTSA announced in 2022 that it would be changing its requirements and initially gave manufacturers three years to conduct tests and update their seats. Now every car seat sold after December 5, 2026, must meet the new requirements. If you already own a car seat, you don't have to replace it. It's safe to use as long as it hasn't expired (car seats usually expire between 7 and 10 years), hasn't been recalled, and is installed correctly. Also, make sure you are using the right type of seat for your child's height and weight, which you can confirm on the NHTSA website. Keep in mind, many brands have already implemented the new standard. You can call the manufacturer to confirm if their car seats are complying with FMVSS 213a. Some may also have a label confirming they are FMVSS 213a compliant. Read the original article on Parents
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Can a Baby Name Propel Your Child to Stardom? Here's What Experts Say
Countless considerations go into picking the perfect baby name. For some parents, manifesting future fame for their little one may be on the list of things to think about. Case in point: Singer Reneé Rapp recently said her mother helped her become destined for stardom with her name choice. 'My mom chose my first and last name to be, well, okay, arguably chose my first and last name to both have [two letter R's]. She was like, 'Alliteration, just in case she wants to be a pop star' before I was born," Rapp explained on the Good Hang With Amy Poehler podcast. Jennifer Moss, the CEO and co-founder of author of The Baby Names Workbook and One in a Million Baby Name Book, and producer and co-host of The Baby Names Podcast, tells Parents there is some truth to this assertion. 'Alliteration is used in prose and poetry and just sticks in our brains and memory,' Moss says. But can you actually pick a baby name that predestines your kiddo for stardom? Of course, as Moss qualifies, 'No name is going to guarantee fame or success.' Likewise, baby name consultant Colleen Slagen of Boston, Massachusetts, and author of the book Naming Bebe, tells Parents, 'I don't think a child's name has anything to do with whether or not they are going to be famous.' That said, according to Moss, 'There are name combinations and sounds that can definitely make a name more memorable.' If you are looking for a baby name that will help your child reach fame or glory, try names with these attributes: Alliteration. The baby naming experts we spoke with recommend picking a name that has the same first letter as your baby's last name. Just think of Marilyn Monroe. 'Stan Lee knew this when he named his comic book characters,' Moss says, pointing to the examples of Peter Parker and Bruce Banner. Slagen adds golfer Scottie Scheffler and basketball player Caitlin Clark to this list of alliterative names. Tradition. Want your wee one to run for president one day? Moss suggests employing a moniker that has been used by a previous head of state. 'The most common names among U.S. presidents are currently James, John, William, and George, in order,' she shares. Pleasing cadence. Moss points to the examples of Ryan Gosling and Saoirse Ronan as names that satisfy this rule. Uniqueness. Just think of Idris Elba as a star who doesn't share a name with anyone else. Slagen's tip for manifesting a future musician, meanwhile, is to choose an artsy, indie-type name, such as Ziggy or Bowie. Moss's only advice if you go this route: 'Don't get so crazy and unique that your child might get teased for their name.' Finally, Moss cautions against naming your child after a specific celebrity, since you never know when their reputation could take a hit (ahem, Sean Combs). These star baby naming tips are all in good fun. But it must be noted that if you do truly hope your child grows up to be famous so much that you're manifesting their fate from birth with a baby name, there may be a hefty price to pay when it comes to their well-being. There isn't necessarily a downside to picking an original name that rolls off the tongue, is easy to remember, and has no negative associations to date. But importantly, Laurie Kramer, PhD, a Northeastern University professor of applied psychology, reminds parents, 'Names have meanings.' Your child will eventually be interested in the meaning behind their name, or why they were given a certain name. 'Kids will catch on if they've been given a name that implies high expectations for them,' Dr. Kramer explains. 'Some names can represent a high bar which could lead a child to worry that they may not be able to live up to that expectation.' Your child could end up worrying they will disappoint their parents if they don't achieve what was hoped for them. There's also the potentially misguided motive of trying to mold your child's identity before they are ready to do that for themselves, according to Dr. Kramer. 'If you are naming a child with any expectation, that could be a burden on them,' agrees Moss. Just think of kids with names like Legend or Honor. 'That's a lot to live up to!' Moss asserts. Ultimately, she says that while it's normal for parents to have dreams for their kids, they may go their own way no matter what name you bestow upon them. The best advice, according to Slagen, is to pick a name because you love it, not to manifest some outcome. Read the original article on Parents
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Maximum Parental Leave Pay days to increase from July 1 for parents, carers
Parents or carers of children who will be born in the new financial year will soon benefit from more paid parental leave. From July 1, Services Australia will lift the number of Parental Leave Pay days from 110 to 120 for children born from that day. Parents, including of adoptive children, will be able to claim up to three months before the date they expect the child to 'enter their care'. Parental Leave Pay is intended to support families and caregivers who have taken time off work to care for a newborn or newly adopted child. Currently, parents with children born since July 1, 2024 receive 110 days of paid parental leave, including any claims before July 1, 2025. For the new maximum of 120 days, a parent or carer will have to provide proof that their child was either born or adopted from that date. The maximum number of Parental Leave Pay days is expected to rise again to 130 from July 1, 2026. In order to be eligible for the payments, a parent or carer must pass a work and income test and not be working the days they receive the payment. The payment is available before, during, and after employer-funded leave and is only available for a single child in the event of multiple children. The current payment for Parental Leave Pay is $183.16 per day before tax or $915.80 per five-day week. That is based on the weekly rate of the national minimum wage.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
What 'Touch Starvation' Does to Boys—And How Parents Can Help
Reviewed by Charissa Chamorro, PhDTouch is fundamental to human development, but gendered expectations around masculinity tend to strip positive touch out of some boys' lives. Touch starvation has been linked to loneliness, depression, and other negative health outcomes that can impact individuals well into adulthood. It's impossible for boys to avoid unhealthy messages about masculinity, but parents can help incorporate and encourage positive touch in their families to help protect boys against the impact of these watch the end of the World Series—or any major championship played by men—is to glimpse a rare phenomenon in American culture: men publicly, joyfully, and unabashedly holding each other in prolonged full-body embraces, men heartily grabbing and slapping each other's bottoms, and men piling on top of each other in a wriggling, jubilant haze. This is one of the only settings where this level of physical contact between men is culturally accepted—and it highlights a larger void: Some boys aren't getting enough touch, and that lack can have long-term consequences for their development and mental health. We spoke to experts about why this is happening, and how parents can use positive touch to enhance their sons' social and emotional wellbeing. Touch starvation, also known as 'skin hunger' or 'touch deprivation,' happens when a person doesn't receive enough physical affection. People who experience touch starvation are more likely to report loneliness, depression, stress, mood and anxiety disorders, secondary immune disorders, and a fearful-avoidant attachment style. By contrast, a 2016 study of undergraduate college students found that significant physical contact, especially in early childhood, was related to lower levels of depression and greater satisfaction in romantic relationships later in life. 'The bottom line: touch keeps you alive. It's crucial,' Michael Thompson, PhD, a clinical psychologist specializing in children and families, tells Parents. That's one reason why skin-to-skin contact after birth has become a standard practice—it helps infants feel safe, secure, and connected. Despite the clear benefits of physical affection, Thompson says that American culture as a whole is touch starved. For boys, this issue is compounded by rigid ideas about masculinity that discourage emotional and physical closeness. The result is that some boys may not be getting enough touch from caregivers, teachers, friends, and other loved ones. 'What is the American icon? It's the lonely cowboy,' Thompson says. 'Human beings want to touch each other pretty much all the time. But once you indicate to boys that's not masculine, they're going to follow the rules absolutely. We are unwittingly training our boys to be the lone cowboy.'"Human beings want to touch each other pretty much all the time. But once you indicate to boys that's not masculine, they're going to follow the rules absolutely."This socialization starts early, and is almost impossible for parents to avoid. 'Boys are already being socialized whether parents know it or not,' says Matt Englar-Carlson, a men's mental health researcher and Chair of the Department of Counseling at California State University Fullerton. 'It's happening everywhere around them from the moment boys are exposed to the world, but particularly when they are exposed to media.' While parents can't always prevent these cultural messages from reaching their sons, they can provide a powerful counterbalance at home. When boys don't receive the essential human touch they need for healthy development, Thompson and Englar-Carlson say they may seek it in less appropriate—and sometimes more aggressive—ways. This might look like punching a friend in the arm or groin 'for fun,' but it can also show up as irritability, anxiety, social withdrawal, or difficulty calming down. 'For a lot of boys, the world isn't safe,' Englar-Carlson says. 'So touch becomes a pause, a safe harbor.' He also shares an easy rule of thumb: there is no limit to the amount of positive touch a parent can provide their son. He and Thompson share ways parents can help boys thrive through the power of positive touch. Address your own discomfort first. If boys sense their parents are uncomfortable with physical affection, they are more likely to develop a negative association with it. Use touch to calm and connect. A gentle touch can help calm kids' nervous systems, and can sometimes be more effective than trying to talk through or solve a problem. Find the touch your son prefers. It can be a hug, holding hands, putting your arm around him, rubbing the nape of his neck, rubbing the top of his head, or something else that he enjoys. Research other cultures together. In countries like China and Israel, boys and men in platonic relationships freely touch and embrace in public. Learning about these cultures can help boys question harmful gender norms. Incorporate touch into other routine activities. If you read together every night, for example, you can also turn it into a cuddle session. Model affectionate friendships. If you feel comfortable, ask if it's okay to give the host parent and child a hug at playdate drop off—your child is watching how affection works between adults. Distinguish between discomfort and fear. Some boys don't enjoy a certain kinds of touch. Others are afraid of being teased. Having a conversation helps to clarify boundaries and normalize healthy physical affection. Negotiate positive touch with older boys. If your son is self-conscious about public displays of affection, find a compromise. A goodbye hug can happen at home or a block away. You might say, 'I need to hug you. Is there a place I can do it where you'd feel comfortable?' Consider an all-boys summer camp. Being in a single-sex environment can allow boys to feel safe from gender policing. Thompson says he has met many men who described all-boys summer camp experiences as 'life changing." Craft a family counter narrative. The best way to protect against unhealthy messages about masculinity is for parents to be prepared with a counter narrative for their family. This could sound like, 'I realize that your friends may not hug their parents. But in our family it's really important that we show that we love each other, and one of the ways we do that is by hugging.' American culture often trains boys to be stoic, stripping them of one of the most basic human needs: touch. While trying to combat this on a societal level can feel daunting, our homes are one place where change is attainable. Whatever ways parents and caregivers choose to incorporate positive touch in boys' lives, it will only help them flourish in the future. And maybe one day, seeing a group of men embrace each other after a big win—or any other milestone—won't feel rare at all. It will simply reflect the full humanity that lives inside every man. Read the original article on Parents
