Jessica Speer‘s blog focuses on helping kids and families thrive. To subscribe, enter your email below or follow on Facebook or Pinterest.
Subscribe to Jessica Speer’s Blog Via Email
Parenting
- Nurturing Confidence in Girls – A Letter to My DaughterBetween the ages of 8 to 14, confidence levels in girls drop by 30%. I’m trying to gently reignite confidence, one loving reminder at a time.
- Parents: Are Your Kids Having More Emotional Outbursts at Home?Do emotional outbursts in your family tend to follow a certain pattern? Often in relationships, we get into a habit of reacting a certain way, even if it doesn’t work well. Strong emotions can be overwhelming for kids and parents…
- Parents: Why the Tendency to Blame Vs. Giving the Benefit of the Doubt MattersSome people tend to give others the benefit of the doubt, while other people tend to assign blame and assume bad intent. Which style has more positive relationships and overall happiness?
Understanding Your Kid’s Social World
- Social/Emotional Activities for Kids During QuarantineI hope you and your family are safe and healthy as we navigate this difficult time. To help your kids continue to learn and grow, here are a few activities that support social/emotional skills for elementary aged students. Feel free to share!
- Snitching vs. Reporting – Helping Kids Understand the Difference to Keep Themselves and Others SafeBy middle school, snitching has become socially unacceptable. Because of this stigma, older students may be afraid to report real trouble. Fear of being seen as a snitch peaks just as dangerous and inappropriate behaviors (bullying, sexual harassment, and threats of violence) are on the rise…
- The Surprising Reasons Middle Schoolers Start DatingOver the past year, I’ve been talking with tweens and teens to gather research for my next book, which explores the weird stuff that happens in middle school. I’m amazed by the honesty of students and their understanding of the underlying reasons driving social behaviors. (such as cliques, gossip, chasing popularity, etc.)…
Family Dinner Topics
- Family Dinner Topic: What’s on your post-quarantine bucket list?As we sat around our dinner table last night, I posed this question to my family: “What’s at the top of your post-quarantine bucket list?” The responses were heartfelt and simple: “Hang out with friends and neighbors, eat at a favorite restaurant, go to the library, walk to the ice cream shop, get back to a sports practice or fitness routine. It’s only been a few weeks, but the nostalgia for these regular activities was apparent.
- Family Dinner Topic: How Can We Make This An Awesome Summer For Our Family?Ahhh, summer break has arrived. Longer days, less structure and more family time can be a recipe for bliss…or battles and boredom. So last night at dinner I asked this question: “How can we make this an awesome summer for our family?”…
- Family Dinner Topic: What Inspires You?Have you ever noticed how people light up when they talk about something they’re passionate about? Our passions energize and inspire us. They define who we are. At dinner the other night, I asked this question to learn more about my family’s passions: What Inspires You?