“We need help!” Mitch and Melinda have three kids, and their oldest son is now thirteen years old. “He’s developed an attitude, argues with us constantly, and creates all kinds of tension in our home.” These are good parents. I can vouch for them. They do...
The early signs of a budding leader are often things like determination, resourcefulness, and persistence. Unfortunately, some children demonstrate these qualities in ways that create conflict and resistance. They often argue relentlessly, have their own agenda, are stubborn, and expect others to do what they...
Parents know that talking things out is a good solution to disagreements. They often want to simply build more relationship with their young people by talking more. But many parents say, “My kids don’t talk.” Interestingly enough, many young people say, “My parents don’t listen.” Parents...
I was surprised by his comment and I didn’t know how to respond,” said Rhonda. She was confused. “I told my four-year-old, Jake, to take a Break. He wasn’t responding to my instructions and we had exchanged some heated words. He turned to me and...
If you do it well, sitting down as a family to eat a meal has an amazingly positive effect on family life. Unfortunately, some parents view the primary purpose of eating together as a time to teach kids about healthy food choices. Others see mealtimes...
[caption id="attachment_1727" align="alignright" width="127"] Dr. Scott Turansky[/caption] “I just want to have fun.” That was Carl’s response when his dad challenged him about his poor performance at school. Trying to further understand his son’s thinking, Dad asked, “What makes a good day for you?” “When I get to...
Parents often tire of prodding kids to start moving. They ask the question, “How can I get my child to do things on his own without me having to push him along?” The answer is to build internal motivation, but that can be complicated, especially...
You can motivate young children to do what you want using a number of different tools and strategies. Here are four that you’ll want to avoid because of the dangers associated with them. Reverse Psychology Reverse psychology coaxes a child to do the opposite of what you’re...