Though it may seem contradictory, the sudden increase in social awareness that middle schoolers experience makes them more prone to bullying. Children in this age group are so hyper-sensitive to social dynamics that they frequently become highly reactive, competitive, and critical. This isn’t a personality flaw; instead, it’s a sign that the brain’s limbic system is operating ...
Few things about children baffle parents and teachers as much as sudden meltdowns. Sometimes a child is generally caring, gregarious, and insightful, but the moment she becomes frustrated by a task, fireworks begin. If this only happens occasionally, it’s probably nothing to worry about. When it happens frequently, however, it can lead to problems with learning and socialization. If ...
As most parents realize all too well, we’re living in violent times. From gang and terrorist activity to the prevalence of violence in video games and TV shows, everywhere we look today we’re confronted with aggression. Understandably, many parents find themselves worrying that it may not be possible to raise caring, compassionate children within such an environment. While ...
Other than seeing harm come to their children, what’s every parent’s worst nightmare? For most, it’s feeling out of control—that helpless, sickening feeling that arises when a child simply refuses to comply, no matter what you do. The majority of parents only have to deal with defiant behaviour of this caliber occasionally, or as part of ...
For parents, even the little white lies that children sometimes tell - e.g., claiming to have completed their homework ...
As children grow older, their behaviours change dramatically. While a hysterical tantrum over something minor is completely normal at two ...
You may have been approached by your child’s teacher or you may have noticed yourself that your child is ...
As I was driving my four-year-old son to a friend's birthday party, a truck, stopped at the traffic light in front of us, had a four-wheeler in its bed with a newly-shot deer flopped over the seat and roped down to keep its carcass from sliding off. Immediately after taking in the lifeless body of the deer, my son became ...
How we process information also affects how we interact with other people - a fact often overlooked when dealing with children who have learning challenges. In addition to struggling with certain academic concepts, children with learning and attention disorders also have difficulty connecting with peers. They may misread faces, body language, and tone of voice or miss social cues, for ...
Helping your child to build healthy self-esteem is one of the most important objectives for parents. Self-esteem is the core of a healthy personality; kids with a strong sense of self-esteem tend to be more resistant to peer pressure and they are better able to deal with challenges and handle responsibility. They manage their emotions more effectively and have lower ...
The journey of childhood is defined by the transition from a state of complete dependence to one of personal autonomy. To achieve healthy independence, kids need to be taught how to feel comfortable with every aspect of who they are. This is especially important for children with elevated anxiety levels. They must be provided with enough structure to make them ...
