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3 Reasons Your Child Doesn’t Have to Hug Everyone

Social Interactions

Apr 13, 2021

It might seem polite to have kids hug others, even family and friends, but here are 3 reasons your child doesn't have to hug everyone. At a family gathering, a relative wanted a hug from my then-toddler, but my son was in no mood. I didn't force him to hug everyone or apologize for his shyness. Instead, I said, "Looks like you don't want to hug right now. Maybe later?" "Later," my toddler agreed. My relative, picking up the hint, requested a high-five instead, which my son much preferred. In my family, you hug everyone, especially the elders. We have huge gatherings with aunts, … [Read more...]

Why You Should Always Intervene when Adults Overwhelm Your Child

Social Interactions

Oct 24, 2020

Have you had to step in when adults overwhelm your child? It may feel awkward or frustrating, but here's why you need to intervene—and how. Imagine a family party and everyone is playing with the younger member, a two-year-old child. Grandpa is bouncing her up in his arms in what started as a game but has now been too much for her. Unfortunately, grandpa is oblivious and thinks she's still having a blast. How do you know when to intervene with family and friends—adults who may overwhelm your child but not know it? It's tricky dealing with family and friends with setting boundaries for … [Read more...]

4 Things You Shouldn’t Say about Other People’s Children

Development

Sep 06, 2020

Some comments can drive parents crazy. See if you're guilty of saying these 4 things you shouldn't say about other people's children. As parents, we get a ton of comments from others—whether loved ones or strangers—about our kids. Some are about how they look, or the way they behave, or even assumptions about their personalities. We get unsolicited, unhelpful advice, or "jokes" that aren't funny at all. Sure, some of these we can shrug away, especially if you're walking on eggshells around certain people. But other times, comments like these left unchecked can leave an impression not … [Read more...]

One Mistake You’re Probably Making when Your Child Misbehaves in Front of Others

Behavior

Jul 21, 2020

Do you know what to do when your child misbehaves in front of others? See the one mistake you may not even know you're making. The lady, the boy, me... we all wished we were somewhere else, not caught in this moment. Everyone stood on edge—except the father. "No. Come back here. You need to apologize to this lady correctly," the father said to his son, about seven-years-old. I was alone in the baby aisle or the store when this scene played out. The boy had bumped into another lady and kept going, oblivious to having hit her on accident. The dad, meanwhile, wasn't too happy about … [Read more...]

What to Do when Your Toddler Doesn’t Want Daddy

Social Interactions

Feb 26, 2020

Struggling when your toddler doesn't want daddy? Learn the best ways to help him cope with separation anxiety and take to both parents. "What am I—chopped liver?" my husband joked. Although he'd always been a hands-on dad with our kids, our then-toddler clearly preferred me over him. Despite being away at work, he couldn't convince our son to so much as pay him any attention. He'd start playing games, but our toddler would refuse. And diaper changes? I was the "lucky" one who had to do them all. We have to hand it to dads for being patient when our toddlers prefer us over them. … [Read more...]

Why You Need to Respond when Adults Tease Your Child

Communication

Jan 15, 2020

Do adults tease your child, even with good intention? Learn why you need to respond to others' teasing and how to do so firmly yet tactfully. You're at a family party, and grandpa teases your child and pretends to take away his toy. He means well, as most adults do when they try to make kids laugh, but now the teasing has grown out of hand and your child is getting upset. On one hand, you don't want to be that parent everyone has to be careful about with what they say to her kids. So you laugh it off, while still dropping enough hints that it's time to stop the teasing. But you … [Read more...]

Stranger Anxiety in Toddlers: 5 Things Every Parent Should Know

Social Interactions

Nov 07, 2019

Stranger anxiety in toddlers is not always a bad thing. Here’s what you need to know to help toddlers when they’re afraid of strangers. "Let's meet up for lunch," I told a friend. My husband, toddler and I were in her area, and we wanted her to finally meet the little guy. Except the minute he saw her, he cried. And I mean cried. He turned his body away from her and wrapped his arms around my neck. Even when he finally settled down, he never warmed up or showed his cheerful and friendly personality. Suffice to say, I felt horrible. Nothing about my friend would've warranted a reaction … [Read more...]

Why Every Parent Needs to Show Empathy

Communication

Oct 10, 2016

What does it mean to show empathy for kids? Discover ways to understand what children are feeling and why every parent needs to show empathy. Last night, my six-year-old thought I didn't care about him. And all because of wooden blocks. I opened our box of wooden blocks for my three boys to dig into. By the time they separated their stash, he had way more than the other two. In an attempt to be fair, I counted all the blocks and divided them equally among all three. And that meant taking a few blocks away from him. He started to pout and cry. It's just a bunch of blocks, I tried to … [Read more...]


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