How to Maintain Friendships While Still Making Fatherhood Your Main Priority
Father’s Day is this Sunday, and many new—and not so new—dads might be reflecting on how fatherhood has changed their lives. Once you’re a dad, it’s easy to feel like there’s barely time for a conversation with your spouse, much less making plans with friends. Although work and family may be robbing you of any […]
Coping With Your High School Graduate
Perhaps you’ve been dealing with senioritis for the last few months of your teen’s high school experience. If so, you’re already familiar with the challenges that come with the territory, from a decline in motivation and performance to challenging the rules and regulations of your household. Now that high school graduation is over, your teen […]
Things That Go Bump In The Night
Helping Children Cope with Nightmares Nightmares are a common occurrence for adults, but they tend to be an even greater issue for young children. Nearly half of all children ages 3 to 6 will experience frequent nightmares at some point. And while nightmares can be extremely unsettling for adults, they at least have the emotional […]
Helping Children Deal With Violence
In my last post, I discussed how young children process and deal with violent or frightening images, such as when they inadvertently see incidents of terrorism or natural disaster on TV. Truth is, young children see the world much differently than adults do, and understanding that is an important starting point. In this post, I’d […]
Helping Young Children Deal With Traumatic Images
It’s easy to assume that we live in a time period that is far more dangerous, tense and violent than it’s ever been. Every day seems to bring a new horror—the fallout from wars, mass shootings, and acts of terrorism—all broadcast in hi-def across our media platforms. And while the reality of that unprecedented danger […]
Childhood Obesity: A Growing Concern
According to the Centers for Disease Control, childhood obesity has more than tripled in the last 30 years, with one-third of all U.S. children now considered to be overweight or obese. Although there are some medical conditions that can contribute to excess body weight, most overweight or obese children simply eat too much and move […]
Children and Competition
Children are bound to compete in many ways—for playground space, toys—even for attention from the adults in their life. We live in a world where competition is inevitable and a natural part of life. That said, it’s a parent’s job to channel their child’s competitive urge in ways that benefit the child’s development into […]
Kids Who Hate School: 6 Strategies for Middle and High School
School refusal generally decreases dramatically as children grow older. Although kids can still feel socially rejected throughout adolescence, the sheer size of most middle and high schools lends itself to kids finding a buddy or two. Also, many academic problems have been worked out by then — either through direct remediation, compensation or inclusion in […]
Make the Most of Your Parent-Teacher Conference
(14 Questions to Ask Your Child’s Teacher) It’s that time of year again—time to meet and communicate with your child’s teachers. Typically parent-teacher conferences are the most formal means of communication between parents and teachers; they provide a rich opportunity to build communication and understanding between the home and school. Even still, these conferences can […]
Mommy, I hate school! What’s a parent to do?
Spinach and broccoli are supposedly good for you, so we encourage our kids to eat them—often with moderate or no success. Likewise, kids are supposed to stomach a dozen or more years of schooling. Although you may be able to force your kid to eat spinach or broccoli, learning is a bigger challenge. When your […]
