I am looking for a good technique to stop my 5 yr old from hitting me when he doesn't get his way. I usually use the 1-2-3 counting and then time out in his room, but find for hitting it doesn't work well, because I am not going to let him hit me 3 times so it is 3 straight to his room, but in these situations he seems to continue to melt down and will hit me when...
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Many parents and caregivers feel alone in their struggles yet we all share similar joys, frustrations, and concerns. Sharing your questions in community not only adds tangible strategies to your parenting tool kit, but also helps restore your confidence. It reminds us that children and adolescents are not a problem to be solved, but an adventure to be lived.
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When Kids Hit: Helping Your Child Regulate His or Her Emotions
Michele Fallon • May 14 • No Comments
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7 Ways to Get Face-to-Face With Your Tween
Posted by Erin Walsh • May 10 • No Comments
I just wrote a post on the importance of face-to-face interaction for tweens. Here are a couple of ways to make sure you are striking a good balance between online and offline time:
- Carve out time for screen free meals. This is a great time to start conversations about the day and connect with one another.
- Ask...
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Texting Teenagers: Tween Girls Need Face-to-Face Interaction
Posted by Erin Walsh • May 10 • No Comments
Does this sound familiar?
You are driving your daughter and her two friends to a soccer game and the car is unusually quiet. They must be mentally preparing for the big game, you think. How nice. You maintain this illusion until you hit the first long red light at which point you glance into the back seat. Far from calm, the girls' thumbs are getting the workout of a lifetime. "Who are...
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Imaginative Play Builds Brains
Posted by Erin Walsh • April 27 • No Comments
Have you seen the Caine's Arcade video? My son just showed me it and what an incredible demonstration of imagination! Just thought you all would enjoy it.
Jill, Chicago
Jill,
The Caine's Arcade video has gone viral online and it is easy to see why. For those of you who haven't watched it, check it...
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Setting Limits and Nurturing "Digital Discipline"
Posted by Dr. Dave Walsh • April 19 • No Comments
Dr. Dave,
Getting through to my step daughter is frustrating for my husband and me. She is 12 years old and addicted to social networking sites and her cell phone already and seems to always have an attitude about anything and everything. How can we work through this?
Catherine, Tacoma, WA
Catherine, There has...
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Teaching Writing Begins With Raising Writers
Posted by Dr. Dave Walsh • April 17 • No Comments
I just read an article that today's generation of kids don't know how to write well. I know that texting will come easily to my daughter, how do I make sure that I am teaching writing well too?
Marilyn, New York
Today's information age requires that young people are skilled in multiple ways of communicating and organizing...
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Ten Ways to Raise Healthy, Active Kids
Posted by Dr. Dave Walsh • April 2 • No Comments
We know from research that active kids do better in school. Here are ten ways to get your kids moving:
- Make sure your child plays and exercises every day. Encourage a variety of activities to build strength, endurance, flexibility and fun.
- Give household chores that build muscles. Raking leaves is the...
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Active Kids: Exercise Builds Strong Brains
Dr. Dave and Erin Walsh • April 2 • No Comments
My son's school just cut recess again and I can't help but think that this isn't a good idea. He is a squirrely kid already - any thoughts on talking points for the school board?
Judy, Montana
Judy, School districts strapped for cash and facing pressure to increase test scores often try to preserve classroom instruction by making cuts to physical...
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5 Things to Love About Digital Media
Posted by Erin Walsh • March 26 • No Comments
I get asked a lot to come in to a community to talk about Internet Safety. I often begin these sessions by asking parents what they are most excited about and what concerns them most in terms of parenting kids in the digital age.
More...While many parents come to workshops worried...
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How to Talk to Teenagers
Posted by Dr. Dave Walsh • March 20 • No Comments
Does it seem like every conversation with your teenager ends in a power struggle or argument ? There are no guaranteed strategies to eliminate all parent-teen miscommunication but learning some tips for how to talk to teenagers can improve the odds!
- Focus on behavior. Instead of saying "You are really lazy," try "I am frustrated that you haven't taken out the garbage yet even though...
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Beyond the Sex Talk: Communicating With Your Kids About Sex and Sexuality
Posted by Dr. Dave Walsh • March 9 • 1 Comment
Many parents drag their feet into THE dreaded "sex talk" with their children. Maybe it's time we take the pressure off of that single talk. If we want the sex and relationships our children ultimately have to be physically, psychologically, and emotionally healthy then we'd better start talking to them about it early and often.
Some parents don't talk to their kids about sex because they...
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Beyond "Lock Down" and "Hands Off:" Parenting for Digital Citizenship
Posted by Erin Walsh • March 5 • No Comments
My kids are obviously being encouraged to use technology in school yet I am concerned about all the other 'stuff' that comes along with it like too much time on Facebook and tons of distraction. I hate being a grouch because I actually like this stuff. What approach should I take with my kids as they get more and more tech in their lives?
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Focusing on Entertainment? Children and Attention
Posted by Dr. Dave Walsh • February 27 • No Comments
My son comes home from school and can play video games for hours yet has a really difficult time focusing at school. What is going on here?
Marta, Missouri
This is certainly a problem that is bewildering parents everywhere. Whether it is texting, gaming, or spending time on Facebook, young people seem...
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Ten Ways to Improve Attention in Children
Posted by Dr. Dave Walsh • February 23 • No Comments
What's going on with children and attention in the digital age? Video games, texts, whirling toys, and non-stop entertainment have made it hard to strengthen children's focused attention systems. Here are some suggestions:
- Give babies only a couple toys at a time, so they learn to focus on one.
- Limit...
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To Pay or Not To Pay? Kids and Allowance
Posted by Dr. Dave Walsh • February 15 • 1 Comment
What are your thoughts on allowance?
Gina, San Francisco Bay Area
I hear variations of this question all the time. Are allowances a good idea? Should they be tied to chores? How much? When should you start?
Parents hear all sorts of conflicting information on kids and allowance. Since there is no research on the...
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Busy Kids? Balance is Key
Dr. Dave and Erin Walsh • February 13 • No Comments
Does the gain from advanced academic programs such as IB and AP so many youth are involved in (pushed by educators and parents) outweigh the lack of sleep and limitation of other experiences, such as 4-H, because of so much time spent on studying?
Shirley, Denver, CO
Shirley,
I think that the growing popularity of IB and AP...
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Overcoming Adult Amnesia
Posted by Dr. Dave Walsh • February 3 • No Comments
I just wrote a post on the teenage brain and the pitfalls of what I call "adult amnesia." Here are some tips to combat your selective memory of adolescence!
- Try to recall your own confusion and discovery, excitement and frustration, happiness and heartbreak during your teen years. It will help give you...
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Talking to Your Kids About Negative Lyrics
Posted by Dr. Dave Walsh • February 2 • No Comments
I have a teenage son who enjoys listening to music. Some of the lyrics have positive messages, others are not so impressive. Can you give me some ideas of how to talk with him about music choices?
Amy, St. Paul, MN
Amy,
Music has been a battleground for parents and teenagers for many...
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The Teenage Brain and "Adult Amnesia"
Posted by Dr. Dave Walsh • February 2 • No Comments
Are parents super selective in their memory recall such that they don't remember poor decisions they made when they were teenagers?
Shirley, Denver, CO...
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Video Game Addiction: I'd Rather Inventory©
Posted by Dr. Dave Walsh • January 26 • No Comments
I just wrote responded to a parent concerned about video game addiction. Use this inventory in conjunction with the Video Game Addiction Symptom Checklist to see if your child might need help.
Check each statement you agree with.
____I’d rather play video games than be with my friends....
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