If you’re raising a child, you are likely familiar with the ups and downs of parenting. When children are young, bandages for skinned knees and hot chocolate for a bad day can easily make things right again. But as kids grow, parents and caregivers can be faced with challenges that are more difficult to fix. […]
Earth Day 2017: Getting Kids Outdoors and Away From Their Phones
Before the digital age, spring and summer days were more likely to be spent outside—riding bikes, playing games or just hanging out. Social media did not exist and socializing typically meant face-to-face interaction. This Earth Day, we call on parents (and teens!) to get outside and reap the health benefits of the great outdoors. These days, kids […]
How Kindness Changes Us
Most of us know that displaying kindness and giving to others feels good. But now there’s research that says kindness can actually rewire our brain in a way that contributes to both emotional and physical well-being. According to researcher and author Barbara Fredrickson, professor of psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, “The […]
Why Parents Need a Balanced Approach to Empathy
There’s no doubt that children of empathic parents thrive more than those raised without it. Research proves that theory and it makes sense when you think about it: Creating an environment for your children that makes them feel loved, safe and cared for is a natural way to help them excel in life. But there’s a […]
Giving May Be the Key to Happiness
It’s been a rough few months in the United States. The election has divided not only our country but some families as well, leaving many feeling unsettled this holiday season. But the truth is, there are positive things happening all around us. Generosity is stronger than ever. While 2015 was the nation’s most charitable year […]
How to Emotionally Survive the 2016 Election
Your heart is racing and you are reminding yourself to take a deep breath. You cannot remember an election this ugly, this divisive, or this draining. The constant buzz on the news, at work, and even in our kids’ schools is wreaking emotional havoc on the entire nation. According to a recent Harris Poll conducted for […]
How to Talk to Your Teen About Mental Health
Today is World Mental Health Day, which reminds us how important it is to be aware of the signs, symptoms, and ongoing support necessary for managing mental health conditions in our children and teens. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in five teens and young adults suffers from clinical depression, a serious condition that requires prompt, […]
How Mindfulness Can Help With Back-to-School Anxiety
The fun-filled days of summer are slowly winding down and it’s time once again to think about getting the kids back to school. While some parents may be rejoicing at the idea of returning to “normal” schedules and some structure, for many, this time of year can cause a lot of anxiety. Will your daughter […]
Emotional Coaching: One of the Best Things You Can Do for Your Child
I remember when my daughter was 12 and came home from school and had her first pre-teen, full-throated, emotional breakdown. She was sobbing so hard I could barely make out the words she was saying, let alone calm her down. It made me nostalgic for the terrible twos, when I held her tight, told her […]
How Self-Compassion Can Help Parents and Teens
Summers can be stressful for families. If you have young children and work full- or part-time, you’re probably scrambling to get them into day camps or looking for help from friends or other family members. And if you’re home all summer with your children, you more than likely will be chauffeuring them to and from […]
