Avoid spoiling your child! Learn how to teach kids gratitude and practice thankfulness for the abundance they have. Many of us will (thankfully) never face true hardship at its grittiest. The kind that leaves you walking miles or taking three buses just to buy your groceries. Health diagnoses that leave you weeks or months to live. Most of us don't worry about diseases we drink from our water. And we don't live in a one-room makeshift home where owning a tin roof over yours is a sign of wealth. Still, sometimes we lack the empathy for these issues. We're buffered by our many comforts … [Read more...]

Worried about predators, both strangers and those you might know? Here are 7 smart ways to protect your child from predators. You've heard the advice a zillion times: "Don't talk to strangers!" Now we know better, as that advice isn't always so effective. For one thing, 90% of child sexual abusers are people we know and trust. Second, not all strangers are terrible. When kids are lost, they may have to rely on a stranger's concern and kindness. So, how can we protect our kids? To start, it's not about having one "big talk" or warning and calling it a day. It's a constant and … [Read more...]

Struggling with getting your kids to listen? Learn why teaching about emotions reduces misbehavior, and how to apply this in your daily life. My then-three-year-old told me I made him sad... and I couldn't be prouder. Let me back up. Picking up three kids from two schools in the afternoons was not my favorite part of the day. On one trip, I was buckling them in the van with all three telling me different stories at the same time. I was trying to listen to my eldest, who was first to talk, but his brothers kept interrupting. "You have to wait your turn to talk," I told both of … [Read more...]

Want to engage with your kids and help them think deeper? These family conversation starters will ignite discussion and critical thinking. Conversations with our kids can sometimes feel repetitive, don't you think? We ask, "How was school?" to get the predictable "Good" response. We might dive into asking what they did at school, which is better, but not by much. Beyond getting more than a one-word answer, I wanted to learn how to spur conversation with my kids to get them to think differently. I knew how important family conversation starters can be to encourage critical thinking and … [Read more...]

No parent would disrespect her child on purpose, but sometimes we do so without knowing. Check out these three ways we unintentionally disrespect kids — and what to do instead. Would you say you disrespect your kids? If you're like me, you would assume no, of course not. You love your kids and would never disrespect them. You wouldn't want others to do so, much less yourself. But sometimes we disrespect our kids without even knowing it. We mean well and may not see how our words affect them, or we overlook the consequences of our actions, thinking all is fun and jest when really, … [Read more...]