Help your tween and early teen girl disconnect from the digital world
One of the key tasks of adolescence is for girls to develop a sense of self. This process takes time, quiet solitude, reflection, feedback and role modeling. If girls are “powered up” 24/7, often focused on their virtual self, it's difficult for them to hear their inner voice and to cultivate their authentic self. Parents need to be diligent in helping girls find and take time to be quietly introspective, outwardly active and unplugged.
Mary Ellen Young has a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and is the founder and past president of HGNA (Helping Girls Navigate Adolescence). She served as a school board member and was the Family Advocate for a statewide grant pro...
View Full ProfileAdvice for parents who want to talk so their children will listen
Our children sometimes feel more criticized than understood. In our eagerness to help, parents try to fix problems, correct behaviors or give feedback before we fully understand a child’s perspective. This article offers guidelines for parents who want to talk so their children will listen.
Dr. Eckerd is a licensed psychologist in practice since 1985. She specializes in working with individuals individuals dealing with cognitive rigidity, anxiety, and poor emotional control, social understanding or social skills. She trained extens...
View Full ProfileRecent ArticlesTalking to your children about coping with the loss of friendships
Have your children experienced a friend cutting them off? No longer wanting to be friends? Being “un-friended” on Facebook? If so, you know how much this can leave kids feeling confused, angry and untrusting of their friendships.
Mary Jo Rapini is a licensed certified intimacy/sex relationship psychotherapist in private practice. Mary Jo serves as an intimacy/sex therapist for hospitals and clinics and evaluates patients for bariatric surgery in the Houston area. She wa...
View Full ProfileRecent ArticlesRecognize the best ways to discuss serious family issues with kids
A family member gets ill, a loved one passes away, parents divorce. All of these issues are challenging. And when there are children in the family who are affected by these serious circumstances, it can be extra difficult to know how, when, where and what to tell them.
Carrie Contey, PhD is an internationally recognized coach, author, speaker and educator. Her work offers a new perspective on human development, parenting and family life. She guides, supports and inspires her clients to live with wide open and ...
View Full ProfileYour child's challenging behavior is their way of communicating
Instead of trying to change a child’s behavior, work needs to be done on changing the adult’s understanding of the actual behavior. Unusual behavior does not mean the child is choosing to misbehave. Behavior is a way to communicate to others. People with behaviors labeled as “difficult” or “challenging” are really sending a message. It may be a message of, “ I need the chance to make choices”, or “I want a friend,” or “ I want some fun in my life,” or “Please believe in my abilities,” or “I wish you could understand what I am thinking.”
Everything Charmaine does is because she believes life can be better. She works with and learns from parents of school-age children with disabilities by providing tools and strategies so their children receive the education they deserve. Ch...
View Full ProfileRecent ArticlesAccept differences to create effective family communication
Ideas about communication—what it is and what it should look like—varies from person to person. It has been said that communication starts with listening. But it starts much sooner than that. Communication begins between your ears, with your beliefs about communication.
Because misunderstands take root when you and your partner have different beliefs about what it means to communicate, it is very important to understand each other’s ideas. This article offers advice on improving communication within your family.
Brian R. King LCSW (ADHD & ASD Life Coach) is a #1 Best Selling Author, 25-year cancer survivor, adult with Dyslexia, ADHD, and Asperger’s. He’s also the father of three sons on the autism spectrum. He is known worldwide for his books and highly...
View Full ProfileTeach polite communication to kids and put an end to backtalk
The first time a child talks back to a parent, it is usually just honest emotion being expressed, such as, “No, I don’t like this.” The problem is not with a child’s opinion--which he or she is entitled to--it is the way in which the opinion is voiced. If parents do not immediately correct the way a child communicates, this pattern will continue and become worse over time because children assume this is an acceptable way to express one’s feelings.
Parenting educator Elizabeth Pantley is the author of twelve popular parenting books, available in twenty-six languages, including the best-selling No-Cry Solution series: The No-Cry Discipline Solution The No-Cry Sleep Solution The No-Cry ...
View Full ProfileRecent ArticlesImprove communication with family to ensure a happy holiday season
Most of us love the holiday season. What’s not to love about feasts, celebrations, gifts and vacations? But the reality is that all of the preparations for big meals, shopping for gifts, time spent in airport lines or traffic, as well as tons of time with family and changes in routines/ schedules, can bring some challenges. While each family celebrates the holiday season differently, most of us have one thing in common: added stress.
Elisheva is a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in working with children, adolescents, and families. With more than 14 years of experience in social work, Elisheva has worked with both adults and children in a variety of settings i...
View Full ProfileFostering a positive communicative environment for all children
Fostering a positive communicative environment at home entails establishing a declarative and imperative language ratio of 80 to 20. But what exactly is declarative and imperative communication?
Declarative language is the language of experience sharing. It is creative and dynamic in nature in that you cannot predict exactly what another person will say. Declarative language shares information, experiences and opinions.
Dr. Schwartz has 30 years of experience working with children with language problems and in particular, with children who are on the Autistic Spectrum and/or have Speech Apraxia. She holds a Ph.D. in Speech, and a Masters in Communicative Diso...
View Full ProfileSupport your child athlete to create great experiences and memories
The involvement of parents in the athletic experience of their children is a given. Without question, all parents should be part of this area of potential growth. But it is often a larger responsibility than realized. A parent’s involvement affects their own child, the coach, the rest of the team, the other parents and the officials. How they choose to be involved often becomes the reflective memories that their sons or daughters have of their entire athletic experience.
We have a team of speakers who work with coaches, athletes, leaders and teams by providing presentations and published materials designed to make a positive difference and be immediately applicable. Our team assists individuals, teams and organi...
View Full ProfileStrengthening communication brings family members closer together
Good communication is the key to any good relationship. But family communication is especially important because it sets the tone for how people interact with others in society. Improving family communication can help strengthen relationships and bring families closer together. Incorporate the following advice to open the doors to effective communication within your family.
Rick Goodfriend has been teaching communication skills to businesses audiences and the public for over a decade. He is an alumnus of the Nonviolent Communications leadership program, where he furthered his personal expertise in these innovative ...
View Full ProfileTeaching kids about money will help them avoid debt issues as an adult
If you are like many parents, you may look at the stack of bills on your desk and hope your children will not face the same challenges you do. By helping your children understand money and the challenges of debt now, you can help them make wise choices later in life. Here is some advice for speaking with your children about budgeting and preventing debt problems.
Kevin has worked with Freedom Financial Network since 2005. Before that time, he held the position of enrollment sales supervisor for Nationwide Financial Solutions in Tempe, Ariz. Kevin also has worked as a business analyst and customer service...
View Full ProfileRecent ArticlesNurturing your family relations by encouraging strong communication
Do you have a difficult time connecting with your kids? Is it challenging to communicate with them and understand their fluctuating moods and emotions? Do you and your family members struggle with mutual trust and respect?
Family connections and communication play a vital role in building and maintaining healthy family relations. The strong bonds you develop with your children and spouse are vital because when faced with important life choices, it is the strength of your connections that will help your family members make critical decisions.
Lucie Lawrence has a Ph.D. in human communication studies, with a concentration in family communication, disability and interpersonal relationships, from the University of Denver. Additionally, she holds a master's degree in journalism from the ...
View Full ProfileRecent ArticlesStrong parent-child relationships start with boundaries
Many parents worry about creating a strong relationship with their children. In our busy world--with technology surrounding us and competing for our attention--we must make time for our children. This article offers suggestions for building the foundation of a strong relationship with your children, which will last throughout childhood and into adulthood.
Clinical Social Work specializing in therapy with families and children Social Work Faculty at Salisbury University Adoptive Parent...
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