Words matter. This post shares parent phrases to avoid and what to say instead to connect and foster well-being in kids and teens.
Tag Archives: Social Emotional Skills
5 Ways to Help Kids Manage Anxiety About Coronavirus
With the constant stream of negative news about coronavirus and so much uncertainty, many kids are feeling fear and anxiety right now. Here’s how parents can help.
3 Steps to Navigate Family Conflict More Peacefully
Family conflict and arguments are inevitable. Differing needs and expectations create friction. These three steps will transform arguments in your home.
Nurturing Confidence in Girls – A Letter to My Daughter
Between 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 Matters
Some 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?
Social-Emotional Learning Activities for Kids
Social/Emotional activities and experiences help kids develop skills to better understand their world and connect with others. These downloadable activities open the door for conversations about emotions, conflict resolution, self-care as well as friendship.
Tattling vs. Reporting – Helping Kids Understand the Difference
When kids understand the difference between tattling or snitching and reporting it helps them feel safe to report unsafe situations.
The Surprising Reasons Middle School Students Start Dating
Over 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.)…
Four Surprising Things About Compassion
I’ve been inspired lately to learn about compassion. Not just compassion for our “tribe,” which comes pretty naturally, but for those not in our tribe. It’s not easy to find compassion for people that we don’t like, that we don’t agree with or that behave in difficult ways.