Many parents are reluctant to set limits because they don’t want to upset their children or incite power struggles. However, not establishing clear boundaries is proven to create emotional difficulties for children and make them more challenging to parent. Kids need limits to help them learn how to self-regulate. Without rules, they have no framework for coping with intense ...
With as busy as most parents are, it’s easy to overlook the many small opportunities we have to strengthen our relationship with our kids. Fortunately, building a solid, trusting bond with your child doesn’t require hours of research or complex parenting techniques. Instead, as is the case with any relationship, the parent-child connection thrives on consistent positive attention. ...
Parents try many different strategies in order to encourage their children to behave well: They reason with them, they reward them, they sometimes even nag or cajole them… But what if we’re overlooking the most effective way of connecting with our kids and teaching them self-regulation skills? According to numerous experts on child development, we are—and the answer ...
Many parents who criticize their children have good intentions. They often hope that by pointing out their child’s errors, they can help her (or him) overcome problem behaviours, learn the skills she needs to succeed socially and academically, and develop a strong sense of personal accountability. They intend, at base, to guide their child. Unfortunately, parents don’t always ...
As a psychologist living and working in Toronto, where 51% of residents were born outside Canada, I deal with immigration related ...
As children grow older, their behaviours change dramatically. While a hysterical tantrum over something minor is completely normal at two ...
Parenting is one of the most demanding jobs one will ever have. A parent’s desire to do the right ...
Having a child show deep attachment can be a moving experience. It propels parents to model good behaviour, maintain their child’s trust, and generally be the best people they can be… But at the same time, many parents worry that this level of attachment may not be healthy for their child. In today’s culture, there’s an enduring ...
Modern parenting methods typically revolve around a rigid system of enforcing accountability: If a child behaves well, he (or she) is rewarded. If a child behaves badly, he is punished. In theory, this approach is logical enough; we expect our children to learn that their actions have consequences. Furthermore, we expect this knowledge to help them form a natural aversion ...
Social distancing has increased parenting responsibilities and limited parents’ self-care resources, creating more stress and anxiety in many households. To cope with the sudden changes in routine brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, parents must adopt new parenting strategies designed to balance their needs with the needs of their children. Parents must also learn how to step into new roles, ...
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 ...
