Kids lament, “ I can’t wait to grow up so I can do anything I want.” Adults know better. We know that to have freedom of independence, we have to follow the rules or live with the consequences. We have the freedom to drive wherever we want, but we have to go the speed limit …
A Zoom Course in The Art of Mindful Communication
If you have an interest in learning more about the communication skills discussed throughout my blogs, you can register for my Flagler College mini course. It is scheduled for 6 Monday evenings from 6:30 - 8:00 starting on Monday, March 8 and running through Monday, April 12. The cost is $49.00 and you can register …
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I Would Do Anything I Possibly Could For My Kids.
Most parents would agree with that: we’d donate an organ if our child needed it; we’d run in front of a speeding car to push our child out of harm’s way; we’d go without food if it meant our kids would be able to eat—we’d take a bullet if it came to that. But these …
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Why Parents and Teachers should never ask “Why”
“Why” robs children and adolescents of their responsibility. Consider the following “Why” questions: “Why didn’t you do your homework?” “Why haven’t you cleaned your room?” Now, let’s see how such a common type of question leads to irresponsible behavior: Why didn't you do your homework? I had practice after school, and then I had to …
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“Good job,” “Be nice,” and Other Meaningless Things We Say To Kids
Mom says, “Now play nicely.” Dad says, “You boys stop fighting.” The babysitter says, “She was such a good girl today.” Teachers write on student papers, “Good work.” Just what does good mean to a child? Or, for that matter, what do, nice, kind, fight, naughty, bad, and any other broad and, to a child, …
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Parents are asking,“How Can I Tell If My Kids Are Really Learning Something In Online Classes?”
I’m hearing from many concerned parents who are more and more worried about online classes. They wonder if their kids are taking their work seriously and really learning what they’ll need when they return to in-school classes. These are critical and deeply important concerns, so here are 2 strategies that effective teachers use in every …
Dropping Our End of the Stick
Ever play that tug-of-war game with your dog where you hold one end of a stick and your pet holds the other end in his mouth? Your dog loves this game and the longer and stronger you hold onto your end, the stronger your dog pulls his end – sometimes even growling as he pulls. …
Calling All Educators, and Parents Too: Food For Thought For When Schools Re-open
Companion piece to “Shall We Fight, or Shall We Solve A Problem?” Remember this longtime definition of insanity? “If after you try something 2 or 3 times and it doesn’t work, you keep on doing it the same way.” Having been a secondary teacher for 25 years and a teacher educator for 10 years, I …
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And you thought you spent a lot of time with your kids before this crisis
You’ve always been spending time with your kids: taking them to their games, to their music lessons, to their tutors, to their friends’ houses, to doctors’ appointments…. You’ve planned and hosted birthday parties, sleepovers, camping, movie nights, marshmallow roasts…. But this is sooo different. You are literally stuck inside with them as you try to …
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Words Matter – a Lot
This month’s blog is a companion to, “Shall We Fight or Shall We Solve a Problem?” Pretend for a minute that you and your adult sister live near each other and often swap clothes. She calls and asks if she can borrow your new sweater. You respond by telling her no because you haven’t worn …
Creating Responsible Kids 