1. Set up consistent, predictable routines. Be careful not to confuse this with being rigid. You are aiming for a safe and nurturing environment where children know what to expect. 2. Have clear, consistent, age appropriate expectations. Children will push, test and manipulate when boundaries are inconsistent or …
Invite Your Creativity to Come Alive
Fifteen of the most important CEOs in America have stated that the most important skill for the leaders of our future is creativity. Did you get that? Not math skills….not getting A’s on tests…..but CREATIVITY! I read that statistic on the same day that I heard a report on CNN …
Ditch the But
One of the quickest ways to ‘kill’ a relationship is to utter these three words: “I understand but…” To say that you understand how another feels, thinks or perceives and to follow it with an immediate ‘but’ is to erase any of the connections that come from understanding. A true …
Parents Must Model Wanted Behavior
When children feel threatened their ‘lower’ brain immediately responds with a fight, flight or freeze reaction. It is vital that parents not take these responses personally. When your child runs away from you, fights back or just gives you a blank stare it is an indication that their lower brain …
5 Tips to Help Children Master Self-control
What do impulsivity, self-discipline and willpower have in common? They often require a conscious decision to delay gratification and for many people, that is a real challenge. Here are five strategies you can begin practicing immediately that can help your children experience success with delayed gratification: 1. Make Waiting …
Getting Kids to Talk
Parents often lament that their children don’t talk to them and when they do they give one word answers, “Fine.” “Nothing.” When children are little they jabber freely, sharing their thoughts, questions, desires, needs, feelings and vivid imaginations. Many times adults meet this outpouring of their inner world with condescendence, …
Getting Them to Talk
Parents sometimes lament that their children don’t talk to them and when they do they give one word answers, “Fine.” “Nothing.” When children are little they jabber freely, sharing their thoughts, questions, desires, needs, feelings and vivid imaginations. Many times adults meet this outpouring of their inner world with condescendence, …
Redefining Discipline
The reason using emotionally healthy discipline is hard is because PARENTS MUST DISCIPLINE THEMSELVES and model the very behavior wanted from the children. Listen to our MP3, “Redefining Discipline” to learn more about this very important topic.
The Gift of Understanding
Have you ever savored a moment when you were understood and appreciated as a unique and precious human being? Do you remember how pleasant it felt not to have to please anyone or complete a task and just rejoice in the freedom of being yourself? With all the pressures of …
Lit With Joy
I can’t get this question out of my mind: “When your children walk into the room do your eyes light up with joy?” I work with so many parents and grandparents who search for ways to enrich their children’s self esteem. I usually suggest they stop noticing what the kids …
Ten Successful People Who Struggled In School
As the new school year quickly approaches many parents feel a knot in their stomach as they begin to worry about the challenges their kids will face. While many successful people were top students, there are famous intelligent, creative folks who struggled with the demands of school. They became some …
Same Opportunity, Different Experience
I was sitting in the lounge area, waiting for my car to be washed when two moms walked in, each with a little boy. The children were about 3 years old. I could sense that a nugget was quickly developing. One mom was engaged in conversation with her child, explaining …
It’s All In Our Perception
I was taking my daily walk when I passed an elementary school playground with children at recess. “You’re lucky!” a young girl shouted to me. “Why do you say that?” I smiled back. “Because you’re free to take a walk and I’m stuck in school!” I thought that her perception …
Mind Chatter
You do not want your children to behave well because they fear you. You want them to make good choices because it feels good, because they want to and because they are in their own power when they do so. YOUR WORK is to shift the mind-chatter that takes their …