You benefit in obvious ways if your kids have chores because you have help with keeping the house clean. Just as importantly, your kids benefit from chores. A recent study showed that 82% of parents had chores when they were young, but only 28% of them require their own kids to do chores. However, when [...]
One thing that’s as familiar to the holiday season as Christmas carols and cold weather is the overwhelming crush of advertising. Ads for everything from clothes to jewelry to toys to cars confront us every time we turn our TV, open the newspaper or go online.As parents, the holidays are a challenging time as we [...]
One thing that’s as familiar to the holiday season as Christmas carols and cold weather is the overwhelming crush of advertising. Ads for everything from clothes to jewelry to toys to cars confront us every time we turn our TV, open the newspaper or go online.As parents, the holidays are a challenging time as we [...]
As kids are heading back to school, it's a good time to think about setting them up for success this school year. Children have different ways of learning and, thankfully, schools are starting to recognize these different styles. When you understand how your child learns, it can make school and homework easier for everyone. Children [...]
Inside Out, the latest movie from Disney/Pixar, is one of the best-reviewed movies of the summer. After seeing it with my kids, it’s easy to see why it’s received so many accolades. It’s a visually captivating film that is both funny and heartfelt. As a psychologist, I see that it can provide special value to [...]
It’s easy to find websites devoted to expensive and elaborate ways to keep your children entertained over the summer. I want to encourage you to embrace the boredom because it’s actually good for your kids! A while ago, I blogged about a study that showed how many adults would prefer an electrical shock to being [...]
I saw a story on the Today Show about a mom that had “cancelled” Christmas in response to the entitled attitude she saw from her kids. While that approach may be a bit severe, most parents I know struggle to balance their desire to give their kids a good experience with their desire to avoid [...]
For a long time, therapists have noticed a growth in mental health issues among students. This anecdotal observation was recently confirmed by the National College Health Assessment (NCHA), a nationally recognized research survey that collects data about students’ health habits, behaviors and perceptions. Some of the statistics from the NCHA’s most recent survey of college [...]
Issues of discipline in blended families can be complicated. Reaching a point where parents can instill discipline consistently and comfortably to all of the children in the family is not an easy or immediate process. So, how do you get there?Bond with your stepchild(ren). Discipline works best when there is a foundation of trust. Spend [...]
As Mother’s Day approaches, moms can look forward to receiving gifts and cards from their kids and perhaps jewelry or the day off from a spouse, but what gift should a mom get herself? While a day at the spa or a manicure may be enticing, my Mother’s Day suggestion is that moms be gentle [...]
