What Is Self-Esteem?
Self-esteem is the collection of beliefs or feelings that we have about ourselves, or our “self-perceptions.” How we define ourselves influences our motivations, attitudes, and behaviors and affects our emotional adjustment. Patterns of self-esteem start very early in life. For example, when a baby or toddler reaches a milestone, he or she experiences a sense of accomplishment […]
Your Child’s Mental Health: Building Self-Esteem in Children
Most parents have heard that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” and it’s especially true with self-esteem in children. All children need love and appreciation and thrive on positive attention. Yet, how often do parents forget to use words of encouragement such as, “that’s right,” “wonderful,” or “good job”?Regardless of your child’s age, good […]
20 Discipline Tips for Parents
1. Look for underlying needs. A great example of how this works is to give your child something to play with while waiting in line. 2. Give information and reasons. If your child colors on the wall, explain why we color on paper only. 3. Look for underlying feelings. Acknowledge, accept and listen to your […]
What’s Your Discipline Style?
“My child never listens to me! “She won’t pick up her toys!” “He won’t clean his room!” Expressions of frustration like these are all too familiar for many parents. Yet when these same parents try to address the problem with behavior management, they tend to focus on how children control (or do not control) themselves. […]
Addressing the Challenges of Dual-Income Families
Since February is the month for romance, and because I’ve been talking about the role of families and parenting, it seems appropriate to broaden the discussion to include dual-career households. Truth is, women are pursuing advanced degrees at an ever-increasing rate. In 2011, females accounted for 46.6 percent of the labor force. Households where both […]
Make Time for the Family Meal
In an effort to enrich their children’s lives with daily activities that take place outside the home, parents often spend a great deal of time transporting their kids from one activity to another. In the end, they lack the time and/or the energy to find out what’s really happening in the lives of their children. […]
Violence: What are the Warning Signs?
At a time when so many of us are struggling to understand what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the truth is, it’s beyond explanation. What we do know is that youth violence is on the rise, and it has reached unparalleled levels in our society. We also know that people who commit these acts […]
13 Tips for Staying Sane During the Holidays
Like most people, you’re probably feeling a little overwhelmed with the holidays approaching. Before things get out of hand, take a few minutes to examine your expectations. Try to scale back in an effort to make this holiday season more manageable. Here are some ideas that might help. Make an effort to relax. Your […]
Depression in the Elderly
While it’s true that everyone experiences sadness from time to time, we tend to think that it’s normal to be depressed later in life. Depression in the elderly could result from living with less income, the onset of physical symptoms or the loss of someone dear. Regardless, less than one out of every six elderly […]
What to Do When Your Child is the Bully
As difficult as it is to learn that your child has been bullied, it may be even tougher to discover that your child is the bully. It’s especially hard to intervene because aggressive behavior is often learned at home. And you may need to be referred for special training to help restructure family interactions. In […]
