You’ve Got 99 Problems – is Social Media One of Them?
As I write this, I’m toiling over how to talk to my daughter about an impulsive—and massive—deleting mission I just carried out on the battlefield of her electronic device. And honestly, my hesitation is not a result of any shocking activity on her part, or of an earth shattering discovery I’ve made, but rather […]
Another Reason to Get the Kids Outside: Vitamin D and Depression
Many of you already emphasize time outside for your kids, and we know the many physical, social, and emotional benefits of outdoor play for children and adolescents. If you find yourself worn down by requests for more time on electronics or complaints about the temperature, let me offer one more reason to stay strong and […]
Rev Up the Engine and Give Your Relationship the Fuel it Needs
Congrats, you’re celebrating your three year wedding anniversary! A year filled with tantrums, potty training, and being told “no” more times than you can count. Those are the expectations we have for three year-old children, not relationships. But have you ever stopped to think about the age of your marriage, and how you might treat […]
Ready for College?
Parents are concerned, and rightly so, about how their young adult will do in college that first semester. After all, the college indicated their child was prepared academically, but it did not evaluate all the skills that go into being successful that first year away from home. And this is the paradox of college acceptance: […]
4 Tips for Raising a Reader
School aged children are encouraged (and sometimes required) to complete summer reading. Many bookstores, schools, restaurants, and even sports teams have developed incentive programs to keep kids reading during the summer. For kids who love to read, these programs are often just icing on the cake – a goal to be achieved. The reading would […]
Parenting with a Growth Mindset
In the last few years there has been increased buzz in education about growth vs fixed mindset. Carol Dweck, a psychologist, has led the research into the impact of one’s mindset on performance and achievement. She identified two types of mindsets: growth mindset and fixed mindset. Dr. Dweck identified that individuals with a growth mindset […]
Strategies for a Successful Summer Break
While many children will be thrilled by the end of the school year, anticipating lazy days and sleeping in, the prospect of summer break isn’t always that pleasurable version for parents. And if you have a child with emotional or developmental issues who is challenging in the best of times, long breaks can in fact […]
Using Your Village: Parents Benefit from Connecting with Other Parents
I spent the Memorial Day weekend in a house with four families- eight adults and eleven children ages 1-9. There was chaos, laughter, tears, triumph and defeat, and less sleep than usual. But we were with our village, our tribe, and it was beautiful. Summertime can bring many great opportunities and events, but it also […]
Helping or Hurting? Where Parenting Strategies Go Wrong
If you listen closely, you can almost hear the collective sigh of relief from parents as the end of the school year approaches. While the prospect of a summer break from school will be a welcomed change for some families, others may feel they’re trading missing assignments and getting-out-of-bed complaints for fighting over electronics, messy […]
Connect First: Parenting Reminders As You Prepare For Summer
Connection is important for all of us, especially for children who are still developing in many ways. Research continues to show us the multi-dimensional benefits of interpersonal connection, including learning self-regulation skills. It is important for us to connect in two directions: towards ourselves and away from ourselves. Connecting within helps us to be aware […]