Blog • Page 2

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.

Submit a question to Dr. Dave's team or read through previous questions and add your thoughts and insights! We will answer you on our blog.

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  • Answering the "why me?" monster: Chores and kids

    When asked to do a chore, our 12 year old son always responds with a question such as "Why do I need to do that?" followed by multiple other questions. We are both teachers and have different ideas about what he is trying to accomplish with this response. We are interested in your ideas.

    Thanks,

    Sandi, Rosemount, MN... 

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  • Toddler Tantrums at Meal Time

    My baby is 13 months old. She is suddenly giving me fits at milk time and eating time. I feed her milk to her in my arms and we go to the high chair for lunches and juice or water. What am I doingwrong...or could you offer advice?

     Carrie, Miamisburg,OH

    Carrie, You’re not doing anything wrong. Your baby is doing what many do at about one year.... 

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  • Spoiled baby or secure attachment?

    Dr. Dave, I know that you do a lot of research on self-discipline and self reliance. I work with new parents and many are worried about "spoiling" their babies by responding immediately to their cries and picking them up. How should I respond?

    Cheryl, Mississippi

    ... 

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  • Cell Phone Rules: Getting to Know Your Child's "Contacts"

    In your book you say parents of preteen children, as is our case, should know their friends and parents. We agree fully. We have decided that we would like to limit our 12 year old daughter's cell phone contacts to friends we know/parents we know. This would require us to remove most of her contacts from her ALLOW list. Is this an appropriate approach as my concern is not... 

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  • Distracted child or ADHD?

    You mentioned in your new book , Smart Parenting, Smarter Kids, that kids with ADD or ADHD have a problem shifting their attention, or maintaining their attention.  Does that imply that an ability to focus on one task can still be called ADD or ADHD? Would that include attention given to video games and screens in general?

    Hend, Cairo,... 

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  • Media Influence: "Whoever Tells the Stories Defines the Culture"

    The power of stories

    We human beings come from a long line of storytellers. For many centuries our ancestors sat around campfires telling tales. Though the hearth of the kitchen table replaced the campfire for contemporary U.S. families, the storytelling didn’t stop. The stories came in all different sizes and shapes. Some recounted the news of the day with a bit of... 

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  • Kids Need Parents and Teachers on the Same Page

          “I don’t give some kids Cs or Ds any more,” a high school teacher told me after I had just concluded a workshop. 

         “Why?” I asked, assuming that I would hear how tired she was of arguing with a few chronically griping kids. However I learned that it wasn't the students causing her the grief. 

         “I don’t want to fight with the parents... 

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  • Media and Obesity: Plug Your Kids In To Good Health

    What do you think of the most recent report from pediatricians saying that screen time is part of the obesity epidemic in kids? 

    Javier, California

    Javier, 

    The policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics on media... 

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  • The Multitasking Generation: Are Kids Juggling Too Much?

    My daughter is constantly juggling homework, facebook, texting, and TV - all at the same time. She claims that she is really good at multitasking and can't study without it. I can't imagine trying to work like that. Do I just not get it? 

    Justin, Vermont

    Justin, It sounds like you are having the same conversation with... 

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  • Dr. Dave's new book - Smart Parenting, Smarter Kids

    How do you avoid power struggles with a two year old? Communicate with your 16 year old? Do sleep and nutrition matter? Dr. Dave talks about his new book and how brain science can help us raise bright, healthy kids.

    Watch now:

     

    ... 

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  • Teenage Sexting: How to Respond?

    With Rep. Weiner's texting incidents all over the news, how should I talk to my kids about it?

    Susan, Washington

    Susan, Great question. With politicians and teens alike making headline news for inappropriate and crude texting, the word "sexting" is fast becoming a critical part of the 21st century parenting lexicon.... 

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  • New Parenting Book - Raising Brighter, Healthier, and Happier Kids

    I just got back from Columbia, South Carolina where I had the privilege of spending the entire day as a guest of the United Way of the Midlands speaking to community leaders, professionals, and parents. I had the opportunity to share some of the highlights of my new parenting book, Smart Parenting, Smarter Kids, and had great conversations about how we can use brain science to raise... 

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  • Stress and children: What's the right balance?

    I watch my daughter spend so much time and energy protecting her kids from disappointment. My mom always said challenge was good for me! Should we really shield our kids so much?

    Miranda, A concerned grandma from Oklahoma

    Miranda,

    It's not easy to watch our kids experience stress and... 

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  • Born to Copy? Media Violence and Mirror Neurons

    Dear Dr. Dave, 

    There was recently a bomb threat at my son's high school. It seemed like the plot was right out of a video game. I can't help but think that there is a relationship - are kids just copying what they see in their... 

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  • Experience Counts: Development of the Brain - Part 2

    I just answered answered a question from Sue in Minneapolis, MN about the critical role of experience in the development of the brain (Part 1). For those of you who don't have time to read the whole post, want to share this information with colleagues or friends, or just don't love reading all that text check out this prezi we made on the same... 

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  • Teenagers and Cell Phones: Connected or Distracted?

    I took away my teenager's phone last weekend and she made it seem like I had destroyed her social life. She seems obsessed. What is the deal with teenagers and cell phones?

    Maria, New Mexico

    Think you can live for a week without your cell phone or the Internet? It's might be tough. But for your daughter, and many other... 

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  • Experience Counts: Development of the Brain - Part 1

    Dr. Dave, I just saw you speak last week. Can you explain again the role of "practice" and experience in brain development? I want to share this information with my kids!

    Sue, Minneapolis, MN

    Sue, Thanks for your question. As we discussed last week, the brain is an astounding three pound miracle and neuroscience has... 

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  • Children and Sleep: Tired Brains Suffer in School

    Hello! Is there any research that shows a time of day for learning, retention of information, and developing skills that is better than others?  Are there certain groups of people that do better at certain times of the day or does it depend more so on the individual? 

    At this facility, our morning classes are starting earlier and earlier.... 

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  • Internet Safety Videos

    You recently wrote a post about engaging youth in conversations about online safety and digital citizenship? Do you have any tips or resources on how to do this?

    - Monica, Toledo, Ohio

    This is a great question! Involving young people in this conversation can be as simple as asking what they are doing online and... 

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  • The Marshmallow Experiment

    I saw Dr. Dave Walsh present a couple of weeks ago and loved the video he showed of the marshmallow experiment. What a fun way to learn about impulse control and delay of gratification! Where can I find this video?

    Marjorie, Huron County, Michigan

    Marjorie, I am glad you... 

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