The school bell has rung and the new school year is in full force. No matter where we live, or where our children go to school, all kids have something in common; they will be faced with peer pressure. As parents, there is much we can do to help our children prepare for, and deal with the pressure that will come from their peers. 1. Believe in our kids, they will believe in us. Our kids need to know...
Rejection is part of life. And although it is not fun, it is something that we all have to deal with. As parents, it is key for us to help our children understand rejection, long before it hits them, so that the situations don’t set them back, discourage them, or keep them from trying again. When your child is faced with rejection, don’t overreact. We need to sympathize with them, listen to them,...
As parents, we know we need to talk to our children about strangers, but it is hard to know how to talk to our children without scaring them. Start by helping your children understand what a stranger is. A stranger is anyone that your family doesn’t know very well. They don’t have to look mean and evil like TV portrays. When I was explaining strangers to our daughter, she said, “but we don’t...
Children are very quick to point out differences. With their limited experiences and understanding, it is hard to explain that differences are a wonderful part of life. Talking to our children about diversity can be tricky. We don’t want to compromise our family values, but we want to cultivate a true respect for everyone. There are a few key conversations we can have, that will help. Have a “diversity”...
Bedtime is hard for many families. Everyone is tired, worn out, and short on patience. As parents, if we stick to a routine and change the way we think about putting our kids to bed, it will really help with the bedtime battles. It can be a great time of day when we relax, connect, listen, talk and teach. Remember, sleep breeds sleep. The more your child sleeps, the more your child will sleep. We need...
Research shows us that adults who are grateful report having more energy, fewer health problems, and a greater feeling of well-being than those who complain. Most studies show that the more gratitude we show the healthier and happier we are. The same goes for children. Children who express gratitude are more appreciative, more empathetic, kinder, more enthusiastic and generally happier. Grateful children...
