Dealing with Attention-Seeking Kids Do your kids get on your nerves with all of their attention-seeking behavior? Yep, mine do too. Bear with me on this post because I want to be direct in addressing this issue. I have worked with children and adolescents for over a decade, and I have heard many parents, teachers,… Read More
As parents, we are first leaders, trainers, advice givers, and boundary enforcers. However, I also want to focus on the profound impact that our relationship, not just our leadership, can have on our children. Authority: We have the incredible responsibility to teach our kids what we believe they will need to know as they grow… Read More
Christmas 2020 is certainly going to look different than we are used to. The sad truth is that many families with not have the opportunity to gather with extended families and friends. So, what are we going to do about it? Unfortunately, we cannot change the CDC recommendations or the COVID numbers. However, I wonder… Read More
Have you ever taken the Myers-Briggs Personality Test? There are many personality indicators involved, but I want to focus on Thinkers (T) and Feelers (F). These indicators give insight on how you experience life. All people certainly think and feel, but we tend to lean towards one of these more than the other. My daughter… Read More
Kids will be kids and learning to be respectful comes with maturity as they grow and develop. Our kids have to have a strong example if we want them to learn effectively. Our Attitude Sets the Tone: Building a culture of respect requires us as parents to treat the people we come in contact with… Read More
Why Does My Kid Act Like This? Do you ever wonder why your kids misbehave? Every one of their actions is communicating something important. Physical Needs: Our children have been communicating with us since the day they were born. When a baby cries, they are communicating one of the following: I am hungry! Feed me!… Read More
My wife and I are preparing to teach a 16-week parenting class at church. Over the past 15 years, I have had the opportunity to consult with parents at every stage of childhood development. Also, my wife and I have been parents for the past 11 years. I would like to point out a few… Read More
The Kid Connection: Part 5 How many times have you heard a GPS say, “Recalculating” when you chose not to obey the directions? Parenting is much like this because children frequently need redirection. Punishment vs. Discipline 2 Options Punishment is deterring behavior by creating discomfort. Results: Discipline is teaching effective self-management and effective interpersonal skills…. Read More
The Kid Connection: Part 4 Verbal Charades: Communication is certainly easier when we use words. But that’s not the whole story. My youngest son is 5 years old, and very sweet (sometimes). He was in speech therapy, and while he’s progressing well, some sounds are still problematic A few months ago, he was telling us… Read More
The Kid Connection: Part 3 Poor Mr. Wiggles: Last spring, I got up early one Saturday morning to mow my overgrown lawn. I was trying to hurry because I knew that the weatherman had forecasted storms with high winds that afternoon and evening. My 4-year-old son and my 7-year-old daughter came outside to play while… Read More
The Kid Connection: Part 2 In the last post, I introduced 4 C’s of connecting with your children: CARING, COMFORTING, COMMUNICATING, AND CORRECTING. This post is going to focus on parental caring for our kids. Feeling unconditionally cared for by parents develops a strong parent-child bond. What Speaks Love? In the book, The 5 Love… Read More
The Kid Connection Series: Part 1 In my last series, Creating Safety in Relationships, I discussed many important steps to establishing healthy adult relationships among partners. The parental relationship sets the tone for the family atmosphere. But what about parenting? Most of my early parent training was based in behaviorism. This basically means that… Read More