Kids are wired to find ways to get their needs met. Part of parenting is guiding them in how to accomplish that by using communication and negotiation without having to resort to manipulation. When kids don’t have the opportunity to negotiate their wants and needs with their caretakers, they learn to be sneaky and…
Childhood today sure is different than when we grew up. While we spent hours on end playing outside with the neighbors, kids today are in their rooms, hanging out with their friends online. While we had to wait hours by the phone for a friend’s parents to let them call, today’s kids snapchat with…
The parenting hot topic these days is “self-regulation.” Self-regulation is the ability to control oneself in terms of behavior and emotions without external enforcement. One of the best ways to teach kids self-regulation, is by teaching manners. We know that first impressions are very important; they have a huge impact on whether or not…
As parents, there are many times when we need our kids to cooperate with our directions and others when we have to tell them no. It can feel like we are always the bad guy. This feeling can tempt us to waver on our better judgment. But there is a sure fire way to…
With about a 50% divorce rate in this country, it’s worth writing about how break-ups relate to kids. One of the hardest parts of divorce is dealing with the negative feelings that may have developed between partners. When kids are involved, they can become casualties of war. One of the most important things we…
Memorial Day weekend is a time to reflect on the sacrifices made by our service members and to spend time with friends and family. It’s the kick-off to summer vacation for school children and teachers. Families are anticipating a long-awaited respite from homework and sports schedules. Throughout the neighborhood grills are wafting temptation and…
Raising kids is like building a house. There must be a solid foundation for strength and longevity. Our children will lay their own unique design upon our parental groundwork. Over the years, I’ve developed a style of raising kids that I call Foundational Parenting. It combines three different parenting styles to address the changing…
As my youngest is about to graduate high school and head off to college in the fall, a lot of people have been asking me if I’m dreading the “empty nest.” Although it’s a little sad that I won’t be seeing my kids every day anymore, it’s exciting to see them become their own…
One of the simplest, and most effective, parenting tips is to always let our kids know what the expectations are. If the family is going out to eat, it’s a great idea to talk with the kids about how to behave in a restaurant before heading out the door, or in the car on…
My dad always says that the most important quality a person can have is integrity. One of the things I remember hearing a lot when I was a kid was “Don’t do a half-assed job.” He always said that even if all I’m doing is sweeping the floor, I should aspire to be the…