Tag: kid

The process of transitioning back to school at the conclusion of summer vacation can be very difficult for children. There are many different aspects to this transition, some of which tend not to get the attention they deserve. As adults who focus on teaching the whole child, we want to take a comprehensive, thoughtful approach to making this transition as smooth as possible.

1. Encourage your child to view the start of the year in positive terms.

For many couples, it’s common to feel both excited and a little apprehensive at the start of a new school year, especially if your child is attending a new school. Although your child’s jitters will soon pass, preparing for the school year in advance will allow your child to feel more at ease and in control. Use these 10 tips to help them feel more comfortable on their first day.

1. Scout the route. Before school starts, take a walk or drive by the school and let your child see the route you both will be traveling each morning and afternoon.

If you and your spouse are the proud parents of an infant or toddler, you may not have encountered picky eating, yet… be thankful, it’s not always pretty!

Virtually every young child goes through some level of picky eating at one time or another. Parents that have kids who turn out to be "good eaters" will tell you the key to successfully navigating these stages is to put firm and healthful eating habits in place from the beginning, and then stick to them, even when the going gets tough.

Conflict is a part of life, and in many marriages it can be part of a daily occurrence. In my decade and a half of working with couples and families, when arguments and conflicts happen between parents, it almost always impacts much more than the two parties involved. Kids can often be affected and the impact can last a lifetime. Regardless of the genesis of the belief that the child has caused their parents’ problems, the guilt can be overwhelming and can lead to depression, anxiety, drug/alcohol abuse, relationship issues, future divorce, self-harm and even suicide.

These days, it seems like everyone has their own blog. Whether you're a professional, a celebrity wannabe or a teenager seeking an identity, blogging is supposed to be the next great way to get noticed. But what if you’re a parent? You certainly didn’t grow up with blogs, and naturally, you may have some questions about your child’s involvement in this new medium.

As a family psychologist, I get these questions a lot. As a preteen or teenager going through life’s normal growth stages, blogging can be very helpful indeed—fostering a social network (even if it is virtual), or providing an outlet for everyday frustrations.

The 21st century is marked by complexity and rapid change, but have you and your spouse’s parenting responded? Probably not enough given that many of us have learned largely from our own parents who are products of 19th century thinking. But here’s something that definitely hasn’t changed: You and your spouse as parents are your child’s first and most important teacher. Your child needs each of you to be wise and to give them the thinking skills they need to progress for now and into the future.

To meet their visions of success as adults in the twenty-first century, your child is going to need some pretty sophisticated skills.

You are your kids’ most impactful teacher. You teach them how they should brush their teeth, put on their clothes, ride a bike, tie their shoes, carry on a conversation and wash their hands. Your teaching is accomplished through explicit, intentional efforts and also through modeling by example. But how are you modeling habits and lifestyle choices that send a message about mental health? Here are some ways to model mental health habits and show your child that everyone has their own path toward a healthy mind.