One of the most difficult challenges we can face as a parent is to help our child develop the appropriate social skills necessary to deal with a bully. Let’s face it. We all have to learn how to interact with others in a complex variety of relationships and settings. We…Read More

Safety is a topic high on every parent’s priority list. We all worry about the safety of our children in an uncertain world where danger lurks around every corner and we may feel inadequate to provide them with the necessary training for self defense. The question is how can I…Read More

Bullying is a complex event. Since my undergraduate work was in sociology, I usually look at systems when dealing with problem-solving. So it was only natural that my examination of the bullying problem focuses on system failures rather than the action of the individual bully. It is important for us…Read More

There are a host of issues that can be addressed under the topic of date safety. I want to address one way that parents can deal with a child who finds him/herself in a bad place, possibly already in trouble, with the possibility of even worse things to happen. This…Read More

Do you worry that your child might be saying “yes” when he or she should be saying “no?” A child needs tremendous strength and good character to avoid the dangers and temptations that young people encounter in today’s society. If you suspect your child is in with the wrong crowd,…Read More

Learning how to get along with other people, developing what we call social skills, is necessary in order to become a functioning member of a family, a peer group or a classroom. This involves a process of trial and error that teaches our children to distinguish between self and others…Read More

Here’s a common mistake that teachers and parents make in their desire to help children do their very best: they offer “constructive criticism” right from the very beginning. This can make children feel they’re being criticized before anything else. However, if children hear praise first, they are much more willing…Read More

Does your kid ever act-out in public? Does he or she have a special need, learning disability, or developmental disability? Young children with communications barriers, like autism or a hearing impairment, may act-out to communicate an unmet need. When a child can’t simply tell us verbally that they are tired,…Read More

Children who are quiet and unassertive find it difficult to interact with both peers and adults. They can find themselves overlooked in both school and social settings. To “break out of their shells,” they must learn to build friendships and gain leadership skills – both essential qualities for personal development….Read More

Is your child hesitant to try new things? Children can view new experiences as exciting challenges – or as insurmountable barriers. It’s all in the attitude. The fear of failure is a powerful deterrent to trying new things and gaining new skills. It contributes to feelings of low self-esteem. It…Read More