“Because I said so!!”How many times did your parents say this phrase to you? How often were you spanked as a child? How much yelling was there in your house growing up?It’s safe to say that parenting styles have changed over the years. While spanking may have been deemed okay years ago, most parents agree now that hitting a child...[ read more ]
What does it mean to have a healthy self-esteem? Some people think it means you are okay with how you look. Other people think you must accomplish something big in your life to have a good self-esteem. But the reality is, having a healthy self-esteem means you like and appreciate yourself faults and all. A good self-esteem can be the...[ read more ]
Have you heard the phrase “helicopter parent?” It describes a mother or father that ‘hovers’ around their child 24/7, overseeing their life to keep them from every potential danger, pitfall and mishap. It looks good on paper, but this kind of parenting forgets one important fact of reality: life happens. Adversity happens to all of us. Those children who engage with...[ read more ]
It's tough trying to get your teen to talk. Science has shown that the teenager's brain has yet to fully develop the frontal cortex, which is the area that controls our ability to reason, and to think before we act. As your teen's brain develops, they're also learning new things about themselves and their surrounding world; simultaneously, they're dealing with...[ read more ]
Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity-Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common developmental disorders experienced in children. ADHD is a condition that makes it unusually difficult for children to focus and pay attention, sit still, and control impulsive behavior. ADHD can be experienced as predominately one or the other- inattentiveness or hyperactivity/impulsivity. Most children with ADHD however, experience symptoms as a combination of both...[ read more ]
The old expression “Boys will be boys,” describes types of behavior that may not be appreciated by parents, teachers, and female siblings or peers. While the expression is outdated and simply inaccurate in terms of gender roles and stereotypes, many people still use this term to refer to behavior that pushes the envelope in male youth. These behaviors, though typically unwelcomed,...[ read more ]
It's well known that the teen years are the most trying time for parents. It may seem like their rebellion is personal, and that they're determined to make your home life miserable; but in reality, this is a natural process. Your teenager is maturing both physically and emotionally, and their brain is still developing. When their frontal cortex develops in...[ read more ]
Bullying has become a national epidemic. According to recent data, between 1/4 and 1/3 of school children say they have been bullied. And, according to surveys, 30% of young people admit to bullying others. While much research has gone into how we can prevent bullying, and many programs have been implemented and tested in schools, the results have been modest at...[ read more ]