The more I learn about Play Therapy techniques and principles, the more attuned I am to recognizing when to use them in everyday situations. There are not many dinners out with my husband where I do not recognize and observe opportunities for parents to have used a more effective technique with their children. Along the same lines, I also recognize when people use helpful methods and approach a situation in a manner that I recommend. This happened this weekend during the triathlon in my driveway. Let me explain. This past weekend, the 2007 Ironman Triathlon came to Pinellas and hundreds of athletes temporarily took over the county. It began in Clearwater for the swim, biked north into Palm Harbor and ran back south through Countryside. As it turned out, the “bike” leg of the event came right through my neighborhood.
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Socialization is a basic instinct that drives behavior. Wolves live in packs, cattle move in herds, fish swim in schools, geese travel in gaggles. 
Anyway, it seems that the most developed of the animal kingdom seem to have missed the proverbial innate cues somehow. Humans tend to withdraw to the comfort and familiarity of family, at the sacrifice of developing a social network, leading to a growing trend of isolated parents, children and families.
We are seeing more and more the obesity epidemic sweep the country. As we eat more and exercise less, we are dealing with increases in heart problems, diabetes, and medical complications. Unfortunately, the same is true for the children of this generation as well.
Going back to school is always filled with lots of emotions for children. Some can’t wait and others dread it. Each child is different, so structuring your back to school planning should recognize the specific needs of each child.
I love “people-watching”. I go to malls, grocery stores, parks, etc. and watch how people think, behave and speak. Sometimes this is enlightening for me, and I am able to understand certain things about families. I suppose because I am trained in recognizing patterns and behaviors in children, I frequently observe children acting out and have identified what I believe to be three common threads.
A child begins to develop and build self-esteem as early as 3 years old. Self-esteem and self-acceptance come from many different influences and areas, but work together to help a child establish a self-concept. The more opportunities given to a child to be comfortable with him or herself, the more positively he or she will feel about tackling tasks, taking on new challenges, and even experiencing failure.
The schoolyard antics of the past are easy to visualize: larger kids picking on smaller ones, the tough giving the weak a hard time, the popular jock demeaning the anti-social geek. However, the most severe cases of bullying in the 21st century occur not at school but in your homes. Welcome to the world of Cyberbullying.
Many parents put their children to bed and think they will peacefully drift off to sleep within minutes. Unfortunately, it is often not that easy. The National Sleep Foundation reports that 70% of children ten and younger are suffering with some type of sleep problem. Here are some common reasons children do not get enough sleep and tips to ensure a good night’s rest.
I am not sure if any of you saw the local newscast about Generation Y last week, but I found it SO interesting! Not only did they discuss some of the trends of the group, but also how Gen Y-ers are changing the way companies approach their employees as they are entering the work force.
Being the dog lover that I am, one of my favorite shows is The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan. Lately, as I have been watching that show for insight into my own dogs (Toby and Daisy, two beagles), I have been amazed at the similarities of raising children well and training dogs well.