I have recently learnt a very important thing about myself - I am very task orientated. I love interacting with my children, but I am not too good on free play and just hanging out. I benefit from a little structure and play with a focus. I don't mind if the game goes off on a tangent, but I do need that little bit of structure to feel really relaxed with my children.

Children who learn from their mistakes will grow up into self-assured adults

EVERYONE makes mistakes – we adults know that for sure but not all children do. When a child makes a mistake or worse still, faces failure, we need to guide them through the experience in order for them to come out of it positively.

A child’s experience with a mistake or failure could lower his self esteem. The last thing you should do is react with disappointment, anger or impatience. Be calm when they make mistakes. Be calm when you make mistakes yourself, especially in their presence.

Yesterday, Sunday January 24th, my wife and I took our kids to a concert by Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra. It was the second time J and K went to concert.

Nutritionist Joy Bauer shows TODAY’s Al Roker favorable alternatives to grilled cheese, chips and popcorn.

Having a headache coming up with healthy recipes that your children will love? Then you must check out Menu Planning Central.

For some reason, both my children had been sleeping with us ever since they were born.

We were always in the same bedroom. You know how inconvenient it is to have intimate moments with your spouse with children tagging along in the same bedroom. But I have always believed that one day my children will raise their hands and volunteer to move out of our room. This is a common belief for parents who follow attachment parenting. AP practitioners believe that children will never grow too attached and they will become independent when the time comes.

Monday was my daughter’s first day in primary school.

It is a bit of a challenge for J as she is not the most sociable child in the world. And life must be too overwhelming for her as she will be surrounded by more than 350 students of the same age – out of the sudden. Not to mention her seniors in the afternoon session.

In these busy times, when parents and children have schedules packed to the max, family closeness can fall by the wayside. Most of us have to make an effort to guarantee that work, school, sports, and chores don’t swallow up the very relationships that make those things important.

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Having a family was the best thing that ever happened to him, Tiger Woods said in a major interview recorded before he became embroiled in a sex scandal.

The interview, for the pay-television Sky network, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, was conducted in Melbourne last month and broadcast in New Zealand on Tuesday.

The broadcaster had intended to screen the interview on December 25, but brought it forward after the world number one said last Friday he would be taking an "indefinite break" from golf and admitted to infidelity in his marriage.

The interview, conducted by respected sports broadcaster Murray Deaker, principally focused on Woods' relationship with his New Zealand caddie Steve Williams, although Deaker did ask Woods about his family.

"Family first and golf second. Always be like that?," Deaker asked.

"Always," Woods, who was mostly stony faced throughout the interview, replied. "It has been great actually. It has been the best thing that ever happened."

Woods said he learned family values from his mother Kultida.

"She was the disciplinarian in our family. You would think with my Dad (Earl) being a former Special Forces operative he would be the tough guy, but no, he was the softy.

"My mum was tough," he added while breaking into one of his few smiles.

Woods said since becoming a father he now had less time to devote to his game, although time management skills he learned at Stanford University, where he had to juggle study, fitness training, practice and playing, had been invaluable.

"I learned a lot at Stanford and certainly it has applied once I had a family.

"I don't practice as much as I used to. I don't spend as much hours on the golf course as I used to.

"My focus is so much more intense than it used to be, because I don't have the time.

"Whatever I have to get done, is in a shorter amount of time."

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BE1A920091215

We, everyone at PW, would like to take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas 2009 and a Happy New Year.

By J, 6 years old.

When your child has to be hospitalized for some unavoidable reason, there are things that you can do to prepare him for this unwelcome experience.

Though this is no simple task (especially for young children), that doesn't mean you can't help the little one have "a pleasant stay" in the hospital.

J has been attending piano classes for a few months now. But before we take the plunge and invest thousands of dollars in a piano, my wife and I want to make sure that she really likes it.

In the meantime, the only piece she uses for practice is a toy keyboard she borrowed from her cousin!

It’s that time again and buying gifts for Christmas can really be a chore… unless we have in mind what to buy. With a list of hottest toys at your disposal, you will never go off track. What's more, the children will thank you for getting them these exciting toys!

Here is a list of some helpful tips:

Accept the Situation

Let us face it, being a single parent is not an easy thing. With the myriad tasks to be done – plus the weight of the responsibilities they carry – these single parents putting their heart out just so they are able to bear such a heavy burden. 

Pictures, albums and home video may be the only way children ever know they even participated in trick or treating as a baby. Who are we kidding? We all know the fun of baby’s first Halloween or two is more for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and siblings. Here are some suggestions for saving money on baby’s first trick or treat experience as well as safety tips to make the night as fun as it can be.