Positive peer relationships are important to any and all individuals across the lifespan. The importance of having positive relationships is that they provide us with support and a sense of belonging. As parents, we can help encourage our children to develop positive peer relationships and provide support for healthy friendships. One of the best ways…
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We know good relationships maintain positive communication in times of conflict, but did you know that some research suggests that being positive during the positive is almost more important?! When your child shares their good news with you, it is a gift. You don’t have to be excited about all of the same things as…
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Reflecting on the poem above reminds us about how much more critical, less forgiving, and just less loving we can be to ourselves than others. We say things to ourselves that we would never say to friends, and yet our lack of self acceptance can impact our relationships. True long-term change is never motivated through…
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Hope isn’t just a touchy-feely word. We now have tons of research that shows us the connection between hope and mental wellbeing, including preventing and treating depression. But what does it mean to have HOPE? According to Hope Theory (yeah, that’s a thing!) people have high hope when they have these two things: Waypower: The…
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It’s sooo easy to focus on the negative behaviors of our children. When behavior needs correcting, we feel we can’t let it go or else the problem will get worse. When our children are doing things right in our eyes, however, it can feel more optional as to whether or not we acknowledge it. After…
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“Listen with curiosity. Speak with honesty. Act with integrity. The greatest problem with communication is we don’t listen to understand. We listen to reply. When we listen with curiosity, we don’t listen with the intent to reply. We listen for what’s behind the words” Roy T. Bennett Our loved ones will only communicate with us…
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Did you know that if you care for a young child or you are an early childhood teacher, you can help build the brain architecture of a young child?! All of the things you do with children, before they can even talk, may not seem like a big deal to some, but the work you…
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It is important for us as parents to be in the moment with out kids and to connect with them without any judgement of the situation. According to Dr. Carla Naumburg, a clinical social worker and author of Parenting in the Present Moment: How to Stay Focus on What Really Matters: ” It is not…
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It is not uncommon that families and children today are experiencing tremendous amount of stress that could potentially damage mental and physical health and well-being. Luckily, Dr. Ginsburg from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia has identified the 7 C’s of resilience that serves as a guideline for parents to help their children recognize their abilities…
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Bullying is a public health issue across the nation and is a form of youth violence. In fact, CDC’s Division of Violence Prevention states that bullying “may inflict harm or distress on the targeted youth including physical, psychological, social, or educational harm.” Unfortunately, there are many types of bullying that may include physical, verbal, or…
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