It feels like school just started! But the homework battles and mounds of papers on my kitchen counter tell me that school is fully underway, and we are already nearing the end of the first quarter. Whether the school year has been calm or hectic for you, it is about to kick into high gear […]
From preschool through high school, it’s easy to get sucked into the trap of stressing (and over-stressing) about if our kids will grow up to be successful. We want them to work their hardest, earn perfect grades, and study to get top scores. We want them to play on the right teams and to work […]
Have you ever noticed that parents don’t stand around and talk about how their child didn’t make the team, failed a test, or cried as they waited in line for a roller-coaster? Parents prefer to talk about achievement, growth, and well-being rather than the disappointments their children experience. It’s no surprise children and adolescents do […]
Many parents put an extraordinary amount of resources into their child’s sports, including time, money, and emotional energy. Emotional energy? That doesn’t sound right, but I think for a lot of parents, it’s true. I encourage parents to ask themselves a few questions when they enroll their child in a sport and throughout their child’s […]
Electronics. I have a love-hate relationship with them. I love how easy they make everything, but hate how they seem to suck the brain right out of our kid’s head. The dazed, far-off stare of a child who has had too much screen time, followed by the anger and screams of that child when told […]
Steps to Help Prevent the “Summer Slide” Summer is almost here and I bet your children are already talking about the break from school. Honestly, as a parent, I am ready for the break as well. The summer months are a welcome pause from keeping up with each child’s school schedule, homework, tests, and projects. […]
When our kids have “big feelings,” intense emotional reactions to a situation, we as parents can end up having big feelings, too. Our kids can be pretty good at pulling feelings and emotional reactions from us. Most of us would probably agree that responding to our kids with sensitivity and empathy is a good thing, […]
An individualized education program (IEP) meeting can be a stressful event for many parents! As parents, we only want our child to receive the tools they need to succeed – but when our child has a learning difference, the tools can be more difficult to identify. IEP teams are most successful when parents and school […]
Most children begin to develop empathy as toddlers. Your child’s ability to understand, value, and respect others’ thoughts and feelings will mature over time. You can help your children to understand others’ feelings and feel for others in many ways. As you’re reading stories together, pay attention to the characters’ faces. Every now and then, ask your […]