According to Dr. Peter Ernest Haiman, a child rearing expert and therapist, a child's need to develop a sense of autonomy is particularly strong between 1 and 4 years old.

Children inherit their parents' physical attributes, but scientists know less about whether they also inherit the personalities of their mother and father. Some personality traits appear to have a genetic basis, but several genes, not just one, contribute to personality.

Humans interact with their children in a variety of ways. Authoritarian parents tend to lay down the law and mete out harsh punishments, while permissive parents set few or no limits. The authoritative parenting style, in which parents are warm, loving and still set definite limits, seems to be the most effective.

Children have so many ways in which they need to develop: language skills, cognitive skills, social skills and physical skills.

While antibiotics can be a lifesaver when your toddler is sick, cranky and lethargic, they can be just as dangerous as they are helpful.

For most teens, homework is part of high-school life, who spend an average of four hours each week doing homework -- on top of a 32 1/2-hour school week, according to researchers at the University of Michigan.

Advances in technology allow children to have Internet access through computers and cell phones. Even if a parent is diligent in limiting a child's time on those devices, TV, iPods, MP3s, DVD players and video games are waiting in the wings, vying for your child’s attention.

It's the ubiquitous tool found in nurseries, hospitals and homes across the country: the nasal aspirator. Known commonly as a bulb syringe or nose sucker, it's used to relieve mucous in babies who don't yet know the art of blowing their noses.

Any activity that requires excessive force can result in injuries to a baby. Throwing a baby up high in the air poses several risks -- from whipping his head to an unintentional fall. If you still want to play with your baby in this manner, it's much safer to gently toss him than throw him high into the air.

Some food choices can pose serious safety issues for young children and are best if you wait to offer them. If you are contemplating whether you should share your next bowl of hot buttered popcorn with your child, consider a few important factors first.

Telling the truth is an important moral and ethical virtue that kids need to learn as early as possible. It is a value that will have a huge impact on their character development as they grow. Engage your child in activities to teach and reinforce the concept of honesty and emphasize why lying is wrong.

Children tend to put anything they can find into their mouths. It's not limited to babies or toddlers, either. Many preschool and early elementary age children also like to put objects into their mouths -- sometimes that object is a rock.