Bill Corbett

Every October, our neighborhoods suddenly fill with pumpkins, ghosts, witches, skeletons, costumes, and bowls overflowing with candy. Children happily dress as everything from superheroes to friendly ghosts and head into the darkness in search of treats. But have your children ever asked you why we celebrate Halloween in the first place? The answer goes back a very long way. Halloween has roots stretching back more than 2,000 years to ancient Celtic traditions surrounding Samhain , a seasonal observance marking the transition from the harvest season into winter. Over many centuries, those customs blended with Christian observances and folk traditions and eventually evolved into the Halloween celebrations we recognize today. Free Coloring Page Click to Download Even some familiar Halloween traditions have interesting histories. Carving pumpkins grew out of an older tradition of carving lanterns from vegetables such as turnips. Dressing in costumes has connections to centuries-old custom...

 If you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time, you may have just done a double take. The Ovulation Murders? On a parenting blog?  Yes. You’re in the right place. Since 2010, I’ve been writing about parenting, children, behavior, cooperation, discipline, communication, and the sometimes-messy business of raising human beings. I’ve taught parenting classes, coached parents, written books about raising cooperative children, hosted radio and television programs, produced podcasts, and written hundreds of articles intended to make family life just a little easier. So I completely understand if seeing a psychological thriller called The Ovulation Murders pop up here seems a little… unexpected. But there’s another side of my writing that many of my longtime readers may not know about. I’ve Always Been Fascinated by Human Behavior Long before I began teaching parenting, I studied psychology. What has fascinated me throughout my adult life is a deceptively simple question: ...

What do you do when your child suddenly becomes fascinated with snakes, reptiles, or other creatures that make you uncomfortable? In my podcast Creating Cooperative Kids (click this title to listen to the audio podcast), I sit down with environmental educator and author Nancy Hopkins , better known as The Snake Lady , to discuss how parents can respond when their child's curiosity clashes with their own fears. Nancy shares practical advice on introducing children to reptiles in a safe and educational way, explains why many adults develop a fear of snakes, and offers simple strategies for exploring a child's interest without immediately saying "no." We'll also discuss her children's book, Sassy Green Tree Boa , and how storytelling can help both Nancy Hopkins, a.k.a The Snake Lady children and parents better understand these often-misunderstood animals. Whether you're a parent facing this dilemma right now or simply interested in learning more about repti...