Separation anxiety - Three tactics you may want to try

Although separation anxiety might be common in babies and toddlers, some parents may be surprised to learn that it can continue well past their son or daughter's kindergarten years. The truth is that some children are simply more susceptible to the fear of being away from those who introduced them to the world. If your little one shows signs of this at a late age, there are several things you can do to quell the symptoms.

Try, try again. If it makes things easier, you should view separation anxiety as a football strategy - practice makes perfect. Leave your child with a babysitter you can rely on and evaluate the outcome. After some time, you're likely to see some improvement.

Don't emphasize the fact that you're leaving. Although it might be amusing for both of you to make funny faces and tell a few jokes before you leave the house, this might only lead your young one to miss you even more. Give your kid a simple hug and make a continuous ritual out of it every day.

Stay firm to your duties. It's tough for the little ones to comprehend the idea that you're filling their bellies by going to work. If they complain and whine a little as you're making your exit, don't succumb to their behavior. Instead, confirm to them that everything will be all right.

New Dad Advice

Managing a play date for dads: The basics

Sure, you love spending time with your son - playing superman, tossing the little guy into the air and sharing a spoonful of peanut butter from the container are all in a good day's fun. But as he gets older, it's important that he socializes with other youngsters - and the etiquette of these play dates can be difficult for dads to navigate. Here are a few pointers to keep in mind.

1. Keep groups in even numbers. The old adage "three's a crowd" is especially important to remember when organizing play dates for little ones. One-on-one meet-ups are often the most successful. When another child comes into the fold, it's only natural that two of the kids may team up and leave the other one hanging.

2. Don't let adult politics force a play date. Encouraging your son to hang out with your boss' child, your best-friend's daughter or the newest neighbor's kids may not work out as well as you hope. If a fight breaks out among the kids, it could cause tension among the grown-ups.

3. Supervise. It's imperative that you keep tabs on your youngster and all of those under your charge. Similarly, if you're dropping your little guy off for a visit at his newest friend's house, make sure that he'll be carefully watched over. If you don't know the parents well, stay at the house with your son, or suggest that you all meet up at a public place, like the park.

Related Articles – Dad Activities

Movie Review: The Smurfs

Hollywood always has a way of adding a "realistic spin" to a beloved classic tale, and the trend rears its ugly head once again in the latest family friendly flick to hit theaters - The Smurfs. Here, those little blue creatures struggle to break free from Gargamel's grasp and somehow end up being transported through space via a portal that takes them to New York City.

Although it's nice to catch a whiff of '80s nostalgia through the franchise that practically had a monopoly on Saturday morning, dads should also be prepared for a two-hour cheese-fest sprinkled with bits of blue.

Hank Azaria remains the highlight of the film. Evolving from his recent quirky roles in Mouse Hunt and Year One, the actor unleashes his dark side as Gargamel, an evil wizard who seems to have a verging-on-creepy love-hate relationship with his cat, Azrael. Azaria, the man who voiced Apu from the Simpsons, hasn't been this captivating since his turn as Agador in The Birdcage.

Neil Patrick Harris, who plays Patrick, the oblivious human who gets stuck with the Smurfs, does a decent job tackling the role of a soon-to-be father. Even though most dads might prefer to see a character who bumbles his way through the situation with foolishness and paranoia (Hugh Grant in Nine Months, anyone?), Harris's portrayal provides a somewhat more realistic and lighthearted take on the uncertainties one faces at the start of raising a family.

Read More The Smurfs Review