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Ten Great Tips…. to Avoid Saying “No!”
Too much reliance on saying “No” in everyday situations can result in an angry
child, a frustrated adult and little change in behavior. Happily, there are
many positive ways to intervene wi
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Back-to-School: Managing the Emotional Roller-Coaster
According to parenting expert Madelyn Swift, children tell us through their behavior what we need to teach them. That certainly applies when it comes to managing the emotional roller coaster that com
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Keeping Children Safe: Make Home a Safety Zone
In a world turned upside down with frightening events, what can parents do to help their children feel safe?
As a parent, you are an anchor for your children, and the home you create for them is a
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“Mommy, Pay Attention!”
“Mommy, Pay Attention!”
When children repeat behaviors that annoy adults, it’s often their way of saying, “I need you to pay attention to me!” Although sometimes frustrating
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Three-year olds try out the art of spin
“I did use soap! See the bubbles?” proclaims your sticky-fingered 3-year-old, chin jutted out, barely taller than the bathroom sink.
It’s a shock to discover that your c
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“Mommy, Daddy -- Can I Have It?”
The best planned shopping trips can suddenly fall apart into tears and tantrums, but a little forward thinking can prevent momentary disappointments from ruining an entire day. Here’s how to
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Children Give Signals When Something Bad Has Happened
With an ongoing barrage of incidents of violence and sexual crimes, listening to the news is not for the faint-hearted. It’s enough to make even the bravest parents consider, if only for a mo
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What's in a "No?"
Why is it that when you reasonably answer “no” to your child’s request, it sometimes results in hurt feelings that last for hours or even days? Even more mysterious, why is it that hearing “n
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Teachable Moments: When your child walks off the field
Those early ball games, before the kids have an understanding of strategy or the necessary skills to implement it, are mini-contests of endurance for dedicated parents. Sitting it out under
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Teddy-Bear Parents Build Kids’ Optimism
It’s Halloween week at preschool, and an energetic new teacher decides to surprise her class by dressing up in a giant teddy-bear costume.
To her great surprise and chagrin, three of her little c
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Follow, Don’t Fight, Children’s Emotions
“This is too hard! I’ll never get it! I’m just stupid!” The slam of your 10-year-old son’s bedroom door underscores his angry voice.
“No one will ever want to go out with me,” your teenage
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Help Tweens Navigate Choppy Waters
A dedicated dad sinks into a chair, the makings of his son’s Pinewood Derby car in his hand. I look questioningly at the block of wood and mysterious trappings of the car-to-be.
“Oh, this is the
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Build Kids’ Ability to Stand Up for Their Beliefs
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you knew that something was terribly wrong, but everyone around you insisted that all was well?
Perhaps you were belittled for assert
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The Down Side of Doing it All
“What do you mean you didn’t pay my library fine???” your teen shrieks. “I won’t be able to take out books to write my paper!” The door slams and a picture crashes to the floor.
It’s a scene th
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Grabbing the Opportunity
As I was standing in line at the coffee shop last week, the YouTube video of the beating of a teen girl in Florida by other girls came onto the overhead TV screen.
It happened that a small hig
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Kids’ Friendships Can Last a Lifetime
The phone rang one night last week, and there, to my surprise, was the voice of an old friend.
Best friends at the age of 13, we’d helped each other cope with recitals, canoe trips, and a plet
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Love of a Pet Prepares Kids for Life
I’ll bet you can remember the moment you first locked eyes with a beloved pet.
I remember presenting our children with a part-Lab puppy on Valentine’s Day. I had wrapped a huge box in bright r
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