With schools and extra-curriculum activities being completely shut down to prevent the spread of coronavirus, our children are locked at home and have to go through major adjustments. While talking to parents, I learned that most of them quickly gave up on screen time restrictions as they don’t want to hear constant complaints from their children about how bored ...
When we’re observing someone else’s behaviour, it’s easy to appreciate the value of self-restraint. When we coach our children to “take a deep breath” or have a time out when they’re upset, for example, the value of emotional management becomes plain to see. Sometimes, however, we don’t recognize our own need for self-regulation strategies. Parenting ...
Failure is a normal part of life, but for a young child encountering it for the first time it can feel absolutely crushing. Most parents are already familiar with just how intensely kids experience defeat: they’ve seen their child refuse to ever ride a bike again after falling off a few times, for example, or heard her call herself “...
For decades, parents have argued over which approach to child-rearing works best: Should parents fill the role of strict disciplinarians, or should they allow their children to learn their own lessons freely? Does authoritarian parenting beget rebellion, or is it overly lenient parenting that really encourages children to act out uncontrollably? If you’re caught in the middle of this ...
Over the last two decades, ideological polarization has become a prominent threat to democracy, education, and society as a whole. ...
As a psychologist living and working in Toronto, where 51% of residents were born outside Canada, I deal with immigration related ...
Every child differs in his/her developmental capacity and pace. Some children learn to speak earlier than others. Some learn ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
