Want to raise kids with a genuine passion for curiosity? Discover effective ways to raise children who love to learn — and not because they have to. My son was in the kitchen trying to turn an empty box of strawberries into an airplane. He had attached a propeller from another toy to the front and strapped a rubber band he'd hoped would sling it forward. It even came equipped with landing wheels. The airplane never moved, much less flew, but this is the kind of learning I want to encourage in my kids. Not doing homework begrudgingly or even perfect grades, but the willingness to try … [Read more...]

Want to help your kids remember the information they learned for the long run? Get tips on how to make learning stick and encourage real learning. Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links, which means I will earn a commission—at no extra cost to you—if you make a purchase. I've done my share of cramming for tests, memorizing formulas and drilling information a few minutes before an exam. But did I really learn anything? After all, I can barely remember the details of the American Revolution or the anatomical parts of a frog (shudder). This is the topic of a recent book I … [Read more...]

Can't get kids to finish tasks like chores and school projects? Learn techniques on motivating children to do their best and follow through with their responsibilities. For many parents, it can already be a struggle to convince kids to do tasks like chores and homework. The bigger challenge then becomes how to get them to finish once they've started. A fellow parent emailed me about this exact situation, and many of us can relate. The desire simply isn't there, leading to potential arguments and nagging. So, how can we get kids to actually finish important tasks they need to … [Read more...]

Raising children who can think for themselves is important. Learn two effective strategies to raise a child who can think critically. I learned a big lesson on raising a critical thinker when my son scoffed at me to leave him alone. He had been playing with a drawing tool—a spirograph set—minding his own business. At one point, I heard heavy sighs and mutterings under the breath. I chimed in with, "What's up?" "I can't put these two pieces together," he admitted. "I'm trying to make a design but they don't fit." "Oh yeah, that looks tricky. Here—let me show you how to do it," I … [Read more...]