Freedom is Both Caught and Taught
In between the great food and fireworks you will encounter tomorrow, I want to remind you of two things: 1) The price our forefathers paid for our freedom; 2) the price you will need to pay so your child can learn how to handle his freedom and independence. In the end, freedom is both caught and taught.
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Travel Worries: What To Do About Them
After my last parenting seminar a mom walked up to me and said, "Steve, we are headed to a big family reunion and I have some travel worries. I'm concerned about their behavior before, during, and after this big event. Help!" Here's my response...
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Harsh Punishment: How It Backfires
In the two previous articles, I showed what can happen when you allow intense frustration to govern how you manage children: parents resort to punishment rather than using discipline. Following this further, when you punish using any of the techniques I listed in the last article (verbal threats, guilt, shame, physical pain, or the silent treatment), it can become harsh very quickly. As a result, harsh punishment can produce undue stress on children as well as some real negative problems. For starters:
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Punishment: 5 Negative Consequences
Today we are going to look further into the idea of using punishment and the 5 negative consequences that can follow. Find out if your child is experiencing any of the 5 negative consequences of punishment. I promise you're going to be surprised at what you'll discover!
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Vacation Warning!
Last week I spoke with a concerned mom whose child struggles with change, especially while traveling. Her question was simple, yet pointed: “How do I maximize the joy and reduce the tears and tantrums during my vacation? Here was my response:
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Discipline and Punishment: What’s the difference?
During a recent meeting with some moms, several asked a pressing question: "What's the Difference Between Discipline and Punishment?" Here's a hint. Both have very different goals, and both present very different outcomes over the course of a child's lifespan.
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How To Stay Connected During A Tantrum
The number one question that gets asked at my parenting seminars is, "How to stay connected during a tantrum?" Meanwhile, no parent wakes up in the morning and says, "I'm going to make my child miserable as we get ready to leave the house." Yet, all too often youngsters react as if creating misery is your goal.
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Listening Has Consequences!
Listening has both positive and negative consequences. Discover how to become more patient so that you can give your children everything they need to bond with you and become compassionate and independent little people who thrive.
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How to Really Listen to Kids
With the challenges you face each day as a busy parent, knowing how to really listen to kids is a real challenge. For example, as Joey came home from school he spent the first five minutes complaining to his mom about conflicts on the playground that day. In response, Joey's mom made statements like:
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How to Let Go of Daily Stress
As a loving parent, you know how hard it is to be compassionate and patient when you're stressed out. As such, it's really important to learn how let go of daily stress because parenting is full of situations that produce it. Keep in mind that if you are driving kids from one event to another, fixing a healthy meal, or dealing with a child who is having a major meltdown, these events are not the root cause of your stress.
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