Ten Ways to Play With Your Kids
Since we have officially reached the summer months, I thought it might be appropriate to address what seems to be on every parent's mind: What am I going to do to keep the kids busy all summer? Here are ten easy, fun, low-cost ideas that are based on the principles of...
Child Therapist’s Role in Divorce
Several parents have raised similar questions regarding a therapist for children in the specific context of divorce. The role of a children's therapist should be very clear, and there are issues that arise when parents are no longer making joint decisions for their...
Anxious Behaviors in Kids
I have been asked by several parents about varying degrees of anxious behaviors in their children. Although I can not give anything other than thoughts and suggestions, I think it is important to have objective opinions and thoughts when facing something that is...
Parental Responsibility for Children’s Behaviors
I read a quote this week that jumped from the page into my reality in such a way that I felt compelled to write an article about it. There are times when the written word read in the right way at the right time, can make you feel like it is meant specifically for you....
Parental Guilt
I have received several questions from parents who are questioning their decisions or actions, and therefore feeling very guilty and ashamed. The situations have been very different, from work issues to depression, but the common theme was the "I feel like I am a...
Stop Negotiating with Your Children
One of the most common destructive patterns of parenting that I observe is negotiating with children. This can come in many forms, frequently in an attempt to be a kind parent rather than a dictator. The problem is that there is a multitude of negative outcomes when...
Differentiating Between Children and Their Behaviors
I believe it is so crucial to keep in mind that your child is more than their behaviors. It is easy to latch on to consistent patterns and generalize them into a schema under which you categorize them. Unfortunately, this is detrimental to their exploration and growth...
10 Things Not to Say to Your Kids
When I think about all of the phrases, anecdotes, and sayings about the power of the spoken word I am reminded of how I changed my way of communicating with children upon learning Play Therapy principles. I realize that using Play Therapy based language is a learned and practiced skill that requires time and effort, so I thought it would be helpful to share ten commonly used phrases parents say to their kids. I will also give the Play Therapy based alternative with a short explanation of why it is more effective.
Building Self-Esteem in Kids
I was asked by a parent to share some tips on how she can give her son tools to build his self-esteem, who is eleven. Her concerns are that he seems not to trust people easily, and has to warm up to people. He does not verbalize his feelings, and tends to shut down if...
Kids and Chores
One of the most common struggles among parents is chores and helping out around the house. In this instance, I was asked for help regarding getting a child to do her chores. This parent lives in India and is struggling to get her daughter to finish her household...
Making Sure Children Feel Understood
In the course that I teach at the University of South Florida, we discuss the difference between listening and hearing. I have touched on this idea in previous posts, and it is extremely important to understand that they are not the same thing. Especially when we...
Spanking Your Children – What Are the Effects?
One of the most long-standing debates in parenting circles is whether or not to spank your children. There are those who believe it is absolutely necessary and others who are fundamentally opposed to the practice. Of course, there are also those who fall somewhere in...