We hear a ton of advice on how to raise kids. But want to know the only parenting advice you should listen to, the one you should always follow? Find out in this article. Parenting advice. Whether it's from friends and family or online and in books, we hear plenty of it. And with a blog about parenting, it might seem ironic to hear my number one parenting advice. The one that everyone needs to follow, no matter the age of their child. And one you can always rely on: The only parenting advice you should listen to The advice? Do what works for you. It's so easy to share our … [Read more...]
Communicate Effectively with Kids by Changing Just a Few Words
Frustrated when your kids don't follow instructions? Communicate effectively with kids by changing a few words. Hang around kids long enough and you'll know they don't always follow instructions. If they do, they might spend a few minutes sulking or dragging their feet. Other times, they outright balk and refuse. What if we can avoid much of that with a few simple tweaks to our words? Or a quick change in our tone of voice? What and how we communicate to our kids sends powerful messages., sometimes so meaningful that it can alter their behavior and willingness to follow directions. … [Read more...]
Why We Need to Stop Telling Boys to “Man Up”
Want to raise strong, confident boys? Stop telling boys to man up. These 5 reasons explain the downsides of telling a boy to be a man and what to do instead. We value a certain kind of boy. The ambitious and popular boy all the girls have a crush on. The class clown who can make anyone laugh, and of course the boy who won't back down from insults or harsh words. Being ambitious, popular, funny or assertive isn't the problem, but hiding other aspects of being a boy in the name of "manning up" is. The documentary The Mask You Live In addresses these issues and how often we're telling … [Read more...]
Are You Teaching These Life Skills Your Child Needs in Adulthood?
Parenting includes teaching life skills your child needs in adulthood. Find activities and ideas to make learning life skills easy and effective at an early age. It's hard to imagine, but our kids will be adults. We assume we have time before they really need to buckle down and learn a few things. We don't think about important life skills they need to learn before becoming adults. Author and former Dean of Freshman at Stanford, Julie Lythcott-Haims, says many young adults don't have the skills they should've learned throughout childhood. Her book, How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of … [Read more...]
Why We Need to Stop Saying “That’s For Girls”
Do you or others you know say "That's for girls" or "That's for boys"? Here's why we need to stop defining and limiting our children's interests by gender. I had a problem with the cashier, and not for ringing an item up twice. It wasn't that at all. In fact, she greeted us with a friendly smile and rang up our purchases on time. But meanwhile, my son had been waiting and passed time by tinkering with whatever was nearby. In this case, he was running his hands through a box of bracelets. Pink bracelets. The cashier, oblivious to her comment, brushed my son's hand away and said, "Oh … [Read more...]
How to Give Your Child a Sense of Belonging
We all know the importance of developing a sense of belonging for children. Here's one of the simplest ways to do just that with your child. Let me tell you what I don't want to happen with my three kids: I don't want the typical stage of eye-rolling at their parents. Hiding away in their rooms. Keeping mum about their hobbies and interests. Counting down the days before they can move out. Feeling like an outsider in their own home. How to provide a sense of belonging for children When kids feel like they belong to your family unit, they'll be less likely to find this elsewhere. … [Read more...]
Be the Adult You Want Your Child to Be
The title says it all, doesn't it? Coined by author Brené Brown, we're reminded that the way we raise our kids starts with our behavior. Yes, we should phrase our words carefully and raise self-confident children. We should establish boundaries and follow through with consequences. And we should discuss the importance of being kind and empathetic to others. But those words are ineffective if we don't abide by the same standards ourselves. For instance, what happens when we insult our appearance, all while telling our kids that beauty is within? Or the times we've told them to speak … [Read more...]
These Are the Things Your Kids Will Remember About You
Do you feel pressured to create the "perfect childhood"? These are the things your kids will remember about you. A mere toddler, I remember running to my mom as she came through the front gates. I had been sitting on the steps with my brother and sister when I saw her squat down and stretch out her arms. At about five-years-old, I remember my sister and I vowing to stay up the entire night. To cap it off, we sneaked downstairs to the basement to watch The Flintstones at five in the morning. Feeling proud, we couldn't imagine why our parents were furious when they found us. Still … [Read more...]