Anyone who’s different than others is more likely than other kids to feel isolated. This is especially true in the early adolescent years of 11 to 14, when fitting in is more important than at any other time in a person’s life.
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April 20, 2013
Family Conversation Makes the Difference: Talk to Your Baby! A Lot!
You can give your infant, toddler, or young child a big advantage by engaging in frequent conversation with her.
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March 1, 2013
From Peril to Promise: 10 Ways to Help Vulnerable Kids Become Resilient
Children worry. And some worry more than others. Worrying isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and in fact recent research shows that the most susceptible and vulnerable babies—when they have nurturing parents and safe, dependable early environments—can become the most successful people of all.* What can parents do to help their kids thrive?
January 18, 2013
Attunement and Advocacy: Strengthening Home and School Connections by Joanne Foster, EdD
Think for a moment—or longer: Are your children learning what they should be learning at school? Are they happy and productive? Sometimes parents perceive a mismatch between a child’s needs and the education they’re receiving. Finding a suitable “fit” between a student and the school system can be problematic. An effective plan requires thoughtful decision-making and collaborative effort on the part of many people—parents, teachers, administrators, consultants and, of course, the child. read more »
December 15, 2012
Helping Kids Handle Horrendous Events in the News
All children have worries. But worries can intensify when they hear alarming radio and television broadcasts, and adults talking or—worse—whispering about random shootings, floods, evacuations, and other frightening events. Children can find it difficult to put their own apprehension into words, get past a sense of isolation, or calm the feeling that the world is out of control—especially if adults exclude them from conversations about what matters. read more »
December 5, 2012
Mindsets and Gifted Education
Are some kids born smart? Or do they become smart? Is there anything parents and teachers can do to help kids become more intelligent or use their intelligence more productively?
November 4, 2012
Helping Children Cope with Challenging Times
Parents may think that once the worst of Hurricane Sandy has passed, their children will be over it. But no! Even as adults move on from the disruption, many children continue to need reassurance, answers to their questions, and help developing good coping strategies for present and future disasters, both close at hand and far away. read more »
August 28, 2012
Raising Smarter Kids: Seeing Beyond the Distraction of IQ
A news segment that was advertised as Secrets to Raising Smarter Kids: Clever Ideas to Boost their IQ recently appeared on CTV, a Canadian television network. We’re delighted to see their emphasis on the important roles that parents play in raising smarter kids (and we’re also pleased they used the name of our website in their title). read more »
August 10, 2012
Raising Successful Children by Madeline Levine
In this recent article in the New York Times, Madeline Levine makes the point that parents should not do for kids what kids can do (or almost do) for themselves. Kids do better when they have to work hard, and get to experience working through challenges on their own, or with minimal help. Boredom and frustration (in balance!) can be good.
She also makes the point that it’s important to kids’ eventual well-being and success in all that matters (careers, relationships, health, etc.) that their parents are living lives that they (the parents) find interesting. She says, ‘One of the most important things we do for our children is to present them with a version of adult life that is appealing and worth striving for.’
