Healthy Moms, Healthy Families

Dear Parents,

How stressed are you? In this issue, find strategies for avoiding unhealthy stress, including getting enough sleep, finding time to exercise, and taming self-expectations.

Understanding the defining characteristics of Asperger's Syndrome can help you participate in arriving at a diagnosis of your child. Our printable checklists can help.

Safeguard the health of your family by adopting Earth-friendly practices in small steps: eat organic foods, use natural household products, and go green with your lawn.

From the Editors at FamilyEducation.com

Avoiding Stress
When levels of stress become too great, physical illness and/or negative coping behaviors may follow.

Women's Stress Questionnaire: How Stressed Are You? Mothers: Staying Well Getting Enough Sleep Managing Migraines

Taming Self-Expectations Fitting Exercise into Your Schedule Stress Busters: Relaxing Naturally

Asperger's Syndrome
Learn the characteristics and symptoms of Asperger's Syndrome.

The Six Characteristics of Asperger's Syndrome The Reasons Behind the Behavior Your Asperger Child: Diagnosis Asperger Subtypes "The Rule Boy" Subtype

"The Logic Boy" Subtype "The Emotion Boy" Subtype Preventing Problems Rather Than Reacting to Them More on Asperger's Syndrome

Earth-Friendly Practices
There are lots of earth-friendly practices you can adopt both at home and in your community.

Top 10 Household Products to Avoid Earth-Friendly Baby Products Going Organic: Is It Worth the Cost? The Organic Vegetable Garden The Organic Lawn The Organic Flower Garden

Recycling Yard and Kitchen Waste: Composting Is Your Home Energy Efficient? 8 Tips to Minimize Car Use and Save Fuel Helping Your Child's School Go Green More on Going Green

Introducing FE Blogs!
We're proud to present two new parenting blogs on FamilyEducation.com: Aliki McElreath's Professor Mom chronicles and Todd Lieman's Skadaddle.

The other night I unwittingly created for my kids the "best dinner experience ever."
— Aliki McElreath, Professor Mom. Read more!

Activities Center

		Our Activities Center offers hundreds of activities for you and your family to enjoy together. Search by age range and activity type, such as arts & crafts, seasonal, or puzzles & games. You'll find everything you could want to entertain and educate, all in one place.

Birthday Gift Giving Guide
Finding that special birthday gift no longer has to be stressful. These lists of top ten birthday gift ideas for kids ages 0-5, 6-10, 11-13, and 14-18 will stimulate your creativity. Plus we have unique ideas for baby's first birthday and the year your child turns sweet sixteen.

Asperger's Checklists

		These printable checklists can help you provide input to those who are diagnosing or working with your child. Print them out and check off all characteristics that apply to your child – even if they don't occur all of the time. Social Interactions Language Skills Interests/Routines/Order Motor Skills Cognitive Issues Sensory Sensitivities

		Join in this discussion on our Message Boards with a woman who is wondering whether to accept a full-time job: "...I have been offered a full-time position with a company that comes with great health benefits...and a retirement plan.... I am torn between taking the job and keeping things the way they are.... If anyone has any advice, please share." —ericadawn