【推荐2】For lots of kids, toddlerhood (幼儿期) is an important time for friendship. Studies show that the earlier kids learn to form positive relationships, the better they are at relating to others as teenagers and adults. Playing together also helps these kids practice social behaviors, such as kindness, sharing, and cooperation.

Even so, how quickly your child develops into a social creature may also depend on his temperament(性格). Some toddler s are very social, but others are shy. In addition, the way that toddlers demonstrate that they like other children is markedly different from what adults think of as expressions of friendship. Research at Ohio State University in Columbus found that a toddler’s way of saying “I like you” during play is likely to come in the form of copying a friend’s behavior.

This seemingly unusual way of demonstrating fondness can result in unpleasant behavior. Regardless of how much they like a playmate, they may still grab his toys, refuse to share, and get bossy. But experts say that this is a normal and necessary part of friendship for kids this age. Through play experiences, toddlers learn social rules. That’s why it’s so important to take an active role in your toddler’s social encounters by setting limits and offering frequent reminders of what they are. When you establish these guidelines, explain the reasons behind them.

Begin by helping your child learn sympathy (“Ben is crying. What’s making him so sad?”), then suggest how he could resolve the problem (“Maybe he would feel better if you let him play the ball.”). When your child shares or shows empathy(同理心) toward a friend, praise him (“Ben stopped crying! You made him feel better.”).

Another way to encourage healthy social interaction is by encouraging kids to use words- not fists-to express how they feel. It’s also important to be mindful of how your child’s personality affects playtime. Kids are easy to get angry when they’re sleepy or hungry, so schedule playtime when they’re refreshed.

【推荐2】In a world where screens are taking over, magazines can be a fun alternative to give our kids’ eyes a rest. Here is a list of four of our favorite magazines for kids to start reading today!

Anorak

Anorak was launched in 2006. The magazine is aimed at children between six and twelve years old. Cathy Olmedillas developed the magazine after realizing, as a new mother, that there weren’t any titles for children that she wanted to read with her son. This magazine is perfect for artistic, creative, and emotional children. The entire issue is a piece of artwork including great stories for kids to practice their reading comprehension and get inspired.

Faces

Faces helps kids aged nine to fourteen understand how people in other countries and cultures live. Each issue shares a different culture and how the children grow up there. This is a great subscription for kids who want to travel or simply learn about the great planet we live on.

OWL

Since 1976, OWL has ignited (点燃) the curiosity of kids aged nine to thirteen. OWL continues to give children access to new information in a humorous and engaging way. OWL inspires kids to learn through articles, puzzles, interviews and more to highlight the elements of science and tech, engineering, art and math.

Ranger Rick Jr.

Designed specially for kids aged four to seven, Ranger Rick Jr. is full of stories of outdoor adventures, animal facts, and more! Each issue has a wide range of content regarding all things to do with nature from stories of wild animals to activities to do as a family.

【推荐3】

The changing population throughout the globalizing world, in particular an increase in the aging population and a decrease in birth rates, is disturbing housing markets.

Since 1970, global average income per person has increased, with a few exceptions as in 2009 and 2015, and inequality has also widened among and within nations. The International Monetary Fund’s Global House Price Index collapsed in 2008 before climbing again to reach pre-crisis levels. Due to these population and financial trends, household structures have changed with increased preference for smaller, shared living quarters and less home ownership worldwide. Analysts increasingly focus on mapping and predicting effects of globalization on housing markets and individual decisions.

Countries at the forefront of globalization, namely the United States and China, as well as rapidly globalizing countries like India, expect their aging populations to double by the year 2050. Coupled with changes to the family structure, especially a childbirth rate nearly halved since 1950 and more two-income households, decisions involving the housing stock are more complex than ever before.

The three countries may share a common challenge: Their governments are not well prepared for rapid growth in their graying populations. Out of the three, the United States could be most affected, as the primary-mode of senior care in China and India is in-home care. If family support remains the top choice for senior care, this could prevent India and China from the possible negative effects of the inadequate public and private planning. In-home care involves family members covering the cost and accommodation of senior members. About 65 percent of US elderly in need of assistance rely on family and friends, and non-family senior care is relatively new for India and China.