Parents Latina

editor’s letter

Go Ahead, Ask Me Anything! Where do elves vacation during the summer? How is cement made? Who was your best friend in kindergarten? Like most kids, my daughters ask dozens of seemingly random questions every day. My 6-year-old, Eva, has adopted an interrogatory tone that can come off a little as if she’s cross-examining a witness withholding valuable information. Sometimes I answer right away—phew!—but often, I have to consult Google before satisfying my girls’ intense curiosity. Either way, I try my best to respond as thoughtfully as possible, no matter how exhausting the endless barrage of questions can occasionally get. I love that both of my kids are constantly thinking and learning about the world around them and that they’re actually interested in me and what I have to say. Seriously, I never want the…

#nofilter

TAKE NOTE! A Lesson in Perseverance Want to go back to school, but the idea of attending classes while caring for kids seems daunting? These inspiring mamas are proof that balancing books and babies is well worth the effort when you set your mind to it. “I went back to school to help my kids with their homework! I got my GED and then my associate degree in business. I’d share my straight A’s with my children, Devany, 12, and David, 9, to show them that if I can do it while raising a family, they can too.”Dulce Maria Paz; Richmond, VAA.B.A. in Business, Bryant & Stratton College, class of 2017“I was a waitress with a 2-year-old son, Julian, when I decided to get my master’s degree and then a Ph.D. in Spanish…

ages + stages

BABY A LITTLE HELP FROM MOM’S FRIENDS According to a study of more than 1,000 mother-child pairs, babies of moms who had more friends and expanded social networks tended to have higher cognitive test scores at 2 years old than those whose moms had fewer friendships and social relationships. So keep up those cafecito dates! PRESCHOOLER Q / My 3-year-old constantly trips and falls over rugs and toys. Should I be worried? A / Many kids this age can seem clumsy, especially if they are excited and move faster than they really should. As they grow, they’re getting used to their changing body and their relation to furniture, walls, and other objects in their environment. Encourage your child to slow down and be more careful of his surroundings. You can also pick up scattered toys…

mother nature will see you now

70% OF LATINOS SAY NATURAL REMEDIES WORK FOR COLDS. WHEN YOU WERE A KID, did your mom make you gargle with salt water and drink a concoction of honey and herbs at the first sign of a cough? If so, you’re not alone. According to research from Lightspeed/Mintel, Latinos are more likely than the general population to use herbal or homeopathic solutions for ailments such as allergies, muscle pain, and stress. “Many Latinos still carry traditions from their country of origin,” says Silvia Diego, M.D., a family-medicine physician in Modesto, California. “Their parents or grandparents grew up in an area where medicine was not accessible, so they had to do whatever they had to do when their loved one was ill.” Nancy Silva, M.D., a pediatrician in Wesley Chapel, Florida, is also…

crafts with culture

CELEBRATE NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, FROM SEPTEMBER 15 TO OCTOBER 15! TIP Dip a toothpick in water before carving designs to help the tip glide more smoothly. TAÍNO ROCK CARVINGS 1. Knead clay such as Model Magic (a little bigger than the size of a golf ball) until it’s smooth. 2. Press it into a flat disk, or use a cookie cutter to punch out a circle shape. 3. Etch designs into clay using round household objects, like paper-towel rolls, and the pointed end of a toothpick. For Taíno symbol inspiration, visit tainoage.com/symbols_book.html. 4. Add a hole and string to make a necklace. TIP Trim top and bottom felt edges if they don’t fold perfectly. MOLA PILLOWS 1. Measure and cut a 13x30-in. piece of felt. Lay the felt with the long edge horizontal. 2. With a pencil or chalk, mark a…

ace the school year!

EASE FIRST-DAY JITTERS Is your baby starting school this year? Follow these strategies for more smiles and fewer tears. 1. “If your child’s school has an open house in the summer, take a couple of pictures of the classroom and refer back to them with him so it will start to seem familiar. I use strategies like this for my students with autism, but it can benefit all kids.” —Brie Holtrop, special-education teacher in Orland Park, Illinois, who blogs at BreezySpecialEd.com 2. “Let your child in on a secret: Even teachers are nervous on the first day.” —Jennifer Munch, school counselor in Haverford Township, Pennsylvania 3. “Over the summer, have your child check out a couple of library books about riding a school bus. It’ll help it seem more exciting and less scary.” —Tom Brandon, school-bus driver…