Helping to Create Fearless and Self-Confident Kids

Helping to Create Fearless and Self-Confident Kids

I have this amazing activity that I do with college students in the course that I teach at USF that typically creates a very poignant reaction. It goes something like this, with 20 and 21 year olds: ME: "How many of you can dance?" STUDENTS: One or two raise their...

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Validating Your Child’s Feelings

Validating Your Child’s Feelings

My hubby and I were talking the other night about how easy it is for parents to focus on what they want their child to do, rather than acknowledging why they don't want to do something in the first place. For example, if my son is playing with his cars and we ask him...

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Four Ways to Demonstrate Parental Acceptance to Your Kids

Four Ways to Demonstrate Parental Acceptance to Your Kids

So, as many of you know, I just finished up my PhD. The final requirement is a research project and paper, which I studied an online format of the Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT) parent training. The results were amazing! Interestingly, one of the measures of...

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Interpreting the ‘Why’ in Your Kids’ Messages

Interpreting the ‘Why’ in Your Kids’ Messages

I often get parents who are having a hard time understanding something related to their children who email me asking if I can help. I had a mom write to me a while back and ask what she should do about the picture that her daughter gave to her. Email from a Mom Here...

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Five (More) Things Not to Say to Your Kids

Five (More) Things Not to Say to Your Kids

Wow, I can't believe it has been almost five years since I wrote 10 things not to say to your kids. It really is amazing the reaction to that article. Some completely agreed, some were convicted to change behaviors, some thought it was ridiculous! But, I always aim to...

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Play Therapy Principles and a Rope Swing

Play Therapy Principles and a Rope Swing

I don't know if you faced the same dilemma, but on a rainy Labor Day this week, my husband and I struggled to figure out what to do as a family. We threw out a few ideas, but finally settled on a three-story indoor gym at a local center. Our son could play for two...

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Speaking Positively About Your Kids: A T-Ball Story

Speaking Positively About Your Kids: A T-Ball Story

I don't know if this holds true for you as well, but I am learning that little league opens up all kinds of insights about parents and kids. Our son started in T-Ball this year and it has been very interesting to observe the dynamics on the field, on the bench, in...

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