Communication Literacy in Children
What is a good childhood? Is it one that is happy? For the most part, yes. But happy in terms of being confident about self, rather than happy meaning without any sadness? Parents who...
Children and Entertainment Media Violence
"An authoritative study by George Gerbner of the University of Pennsylvania indicated that the average 16-year-old has witnessed 200,000 violent acts on TV., including 33,000 murders." ~ Robert Scheer
"We played the game by day...
Can Children Still Imagine?
Are our children losing the ability to imagine? Parents often express their concerns to me about the amount of time their children spend online talking with friends or playing computer games. When they are...
Back to School
Starting back to school after the summer can create considerable stress for children and adolescents, as well as their families. Unstructured time and freedom to choose one's activities give way to morning alarm clocks,...
Words As Weapons
Words can hurt. They may be said in anger, or with the intention of “teaching” someone. They may be the speaker's rendition of a truth he or she feels another needs to hear. They...
When Christmas is Not Merry
The Christmas season can certainly be a mixed blessing. There are many who simply love everything about the season, and delight in all the preparations and activity. Others, however, may not experience it the...
The Power of a Parent’s Words
Time and time again I see, in my office, the effects of harsh words said in anger. It might be a child, a teen, a husband or a wife, but the effect is always...
Teens Words Can Hurt Too
I have often written articles stressing the powerful impact a parent's words can have on children. A negative message may be held in consciousness for a lifetime. One of my faithful readers contacted me,...
Resolving Family Conflict in a Healthy Way
I have believed for a long time that most extended conflicts are counterproductive. Conflict may be useful in the beginning, because it points out to us that someone is unhappy with the way things...
No Such Thing as a Bad Child
There are no such thing as bad children. They may be rambunctious, inquisitive, impulsive, stubborn, uncooperative, even rebellious or disobedient. None of these words means “bad.” We use the word “bad” to describe food...