In an earlier article that was very popular among my readers, I wrote about my observations from a bowling alley after spending so much time there with my son. We, as a family, have since joined a weekly league mixed with adults and children. It has been so exciting...

I often wonder what my son thinks about what I tell him about himself. In other words, he develops an understanding of who he is and what he is capable of through what others communicate to him. In the course I teach at the University of South Florida, I spend a large...

I received an email this week from Dr. Jon Cowan about achievement and attention in kids. Although he was promoting his program and marketing his system, several sections of his email caught my attention. While it can be easy to assume that there is something...

The power of the spoken word is incredible. That is why motivational speakers and self-help books encourage positive self-talk and speaking what you want into your life. With this understanding in mind, I try to be very purposeful in my language and my conversations...

We had a family move in down the street from us a while back and my interaction with the six year old boy was such a success that I felt it necessary to share it with you. For you to fully understand the significance of what happened, let me give you the back story....

I had an experience this week that reminded me of a helpful tip to remember when interacting with kids. It is easy to feel compelled to direct children's behavior before it is necessary or prompt their actions in an attempt to be proactive, but it is actually more...

I try to be aware that although I raise my three year old based on Play Therapy principles, most kids are not used to the language and techniques that are commonly heard in my house. My son's closest friends are our next door neighbors, who are newly 4 and almost 6....

It is amazing how the focus of holidays change once you become a parent. I find myself thinking about lessons that can be taught, qualities that can be encouraged and morals and values that can be demonstrated rather than presents and lights. Here are eight activities...

As I reflect on last week and our Thanksgiving celebrations with family, especially with an impressionable toddler, I am reminded of the importance of teaching thanksgiving in children. Kids do not instinctively understand selflessness nor gratitude unless they are...

I was in a course last year with a woman who was widowed when her two children were young. She made a comment at one point that she realized early after her husband's death that her "job as a mother was to prepare her children to succeed without her." This has stayed...

As the summer keeps getting hotter here in the south, I am looking more and more for indoor activities to keep my son occupied. As a result, one of our favorite places has become the bowling alley (www.kidsbowlfree.com). My son LOVES bowling, and at two years old is...

As spring comes to an end and summer officially begins, parents are typically already dreading trying to come up with things to keep their little ones busy and happy for three months. So, I would like to pass along some really amazing (and FREE!) activities that I...