Struggling with your child's behavior? See the importance of understanding child development and behavior to help you stay calm and patient. I sometimes imagine what a day would look like if my kids behaved like adults. They'd share toys all the time, to start. They'd know better than to run with a plate full of crumbs and instead would place it slowly in the sink. Or they might understand it's the end of the day, and I don't have the mental energy to listen to endless stories. Of course, that isn't what happens—often, the opposite does. And I'd find myself feeling exasperated, … [Read more...]
How to Raise a Bright Child
Everyone wants to know how to raise a bright child and encourage a love of learning. Read how to raise smart children while still letting kids be kids. Is it possible to raise smart kids without pressure and power struggles? Absolutely. You don't even need tons of money, the latest apps, or extracurricular activities. Instead, what works stems from a loving, supportive environment with a belief in your child's abilities. Simple daily interactions that make a deep impression on how he learns. And being mindful of how you phrase learning and challenges that he faces. Genes make … [Read more...]
How to Raise Kids Who Love to Learn
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. His airplane 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 … [Read more...]
Top Ways to Help Kids Remember What They Learn
Want to help your kids remember the information they learned for the long run? Get tips on how to make learning stick and encourage 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. We've all done our share of cramming for tests, memorizing formulas and drilling information a few minutes before an exam. But did we really learn anything? After all, I can barely remember the details of the American Revolution or the anatomical parts of a frog (shudder). More importantly, are we passing on … [Read more...]
How to Motivate Children to Do Their Best
Can't get kids to finish chores and homework? Learn how to motivate children to do their best and follow through with responsibilities. "How many sentences do I have to write?" my son asked. The assignment was simple: write about a time you had courage, and draw an accompanying picture to go with it. Except right from the start, he had treated the assignment as a hassle, something to just get done, even haphazardly. It was no surprise then that his sentences showed no effort and his picture was barely legible. For many parents, convincing kids to do tasks like chores and homework … [Read more...]
The Simple Truth about Your Child’s Constant Questions
Do your kids bother you with question after question? Learn why a child's constant questions are actually good, and what you can do to nurture it. "What is time?" "Why is an orange a circle?" "How do people love each other when they're apart?" Your kids chase you around the house, even as you try to ignore them by reading a book or doing chores. Maybe you don't know how to explain how humans came to be or why life even started on earth. Other times, your child's constant questions do seem a bit silly or nonsensical. And it doesn't make answering these questions when you're busy and … [Read more...]
Why Too Many Toys Can Be Bad for Kids
Is your house overflowing with toys? More isn't always better, and can even have adverse results. Here are the downsides of having too many toys. Birthday parties and play dates have given me a glimpse into just how many toys other kids have compared to my own. Tall shelves filled with action figures, floors strewn with stuffed animals. I began to wonder what these kids might think coming into our home. The holidays have also made me wonder whether I give them enough gifts. For his first Christmas, my eldest didn't even receive a toy from us—I figured he was too young to even … [Read more...]
How to Respond when Your Child Makes a Mistake
How you respond to the mistakes your child makes is just as important as correcting it in the first place. Learn how to respond when kids make mistakes. I kept telling my boys to knock it off. We were eating dinner and the three of them were acting goofy with one another. On this particular night, they were moving their arms left and right in a marching swing. And as I had predicted, one of them knocked over a cup of water. To make matters worse, all three just sat looking at the water as it continued to drip onto the floor. As much of an accident as it was, the silliness and the … [Read more...]