Why Getting Angry Doesn’t Work
Recently I spent some time with a father who struggles to control his anger towards his children. He described a scene that had played out in his home shortly before our conversation:
My teenage ...
How to tell kids that aren’t yours what to do
Your 15 year-old son is hanging out in his bedroom with one of his mates. You are putting away the folding and give a quick tap on the door, open it, and walk in. You see your son’s friend ...
Settle down about selfies
The selfie craze has been in full swing for a year or two now.
Instagram, vine, facebook, tumblr, Flickr, youtube – the selfie portals are ubiquitous, and selfies are unavoidable. Even our former ...
The Art of Parenting: Knowing When to Step In, and When to Step Out
Many of our children don’t like to admit this – and if they’re reading this article, they’ll say it’s not true – but until at least the age of 16, our children need us to be actively ...
5 Ways to Raise a Savvy Child
Our children think they have all the answers. Just ask them. They’ll be sure to tell you why they are right and you are wrong – about almost everything.
As parents who are (hopefully) wiser, we ...
I am not your friend. I am your parent
Most parents want to have good relationships with their children. As those children become teenagers, things change. Parents still want good relationships with their children, but their children ...
I am not the maid – how to get 5 star service from the kids at home
Do the kids at your place think you're just there to do their bidding? You're not alone! Thankfully though, there are dozens of strategies for teaching our children that we do not exist solely to ...
Why a Teenager’s Brain is Like a Ferrari with Bicycle Brakes
Why do adolescents take risks – a lot? It’s almost like they feel they’re immortal. Adolescents are impulsive. They seek constant stimulation. They don’t weigh risks before they dive ...
Speaking Children-ese
Have you ever travelled to a country where your native tongue isn’t the primary language spoken? If you have, what did you notice about communication between the locals and yourself? If your ...
The UGLY truth about smacking our kids (Part 2)
In my last article I discussed a range of problems associated with smacking our kids. The article was designed to demonstrate that there is a lot of evidence that indicates that smacking kids ...