Success in school will not automatically happen. As school starts, parents are hopeful that their child will have a successful year. They are eager to see their kids thrive, make new friends, connect with old ones, get along with their teachers, and grow up just a little bit more in this new grade. As you…
Tips for Keeping Calm When Your Little Children Push Your Buttons
Do you ever have moments when keeping calm with your little children seems impossible? Perhaps you find yourself too angry to respond in a loving and calm way to your children. You know that yelling at your kids is not a good solution, but it’s hard not to react in a negative way when your…
Do You Approve of Your Child’s Friend Choices?
Do you like your child’s friend choices? Perhaps you don’t pay much attention because you are just glad they have friends to hang out with, friends to keep them busy. Or maybe your reactions weigh heavily in the opposite direction: you are ultra-cautious, perhaps paranoid about your kids’ friend choices. Who your child hangs out…
Creating a Blended Family That is Truly Blended
Parents who try to make their blended family like their first family may be headed for frustration and disappointment. It’s important to accept that things are different and focus on some fundamentals that can help make a happy blended family. A Strong Marriage Although it’s harder to work on your marriage in a blended family…
New School? New Grade? New Teacher? How Does Your Child Handle NEW?
What newness awaits your child this school year? For many children, the start of school is exciting and greatly anticipated. But for others, it means uncertainty and change as they head to a new school, a new city, or a new teacher. The thought of having new teachers, classrooms and friends can be a bit…
4 Areas of Independence Your Child Needs
How are you fostering independence in your child? As a parent, you may have a sense of satisfaction in knowing that you are needed. But as your kids get older, your need to be needed should fade and in fact, your child should need you less and less. Are you willing to give that up?…
“My Kids are Driving Me Crazy!”
With summer in full swing and the kids out of school, you may often find yourself thinking or even saying to someone, “my kids are driving me crazy!” If that’s you this summer, here are a few suggestions to ward off the craziness. Don’t give in to the idea that you have to keep your…
6 Ways to Protect Your Child’s Mental Health
There’s a lot of mental health chatter these days and for good reason. Consider these facts: 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and…
Talking to Your Child About Death
Talking to your child about death is a conversation no parent wants to have. But death is a subject that our kids must face in their lives, some sooner than others. For some, it’s the death of a parent or grandparent. For others, it’s the death of a famous person or the death of unknown…
5 Ways to Nurture Security In Your Kids
We all like to feel a sense of safety and security. Kids are no different. Children who feel secure are more likely to become independent and emotionally healthy as they grow up. When a child feels secure, they feel safe, not just physically, but emotionally as well. Children need to feel that it is okay…