Home for the holidays for divorced children
For many kids of divorce, the holidays may not be such a merry time. One of the main reasons for these children’s holiday blues is due to what they have come to believe about themselves …
Why Little Miss Muffet and nursery rhymes, need to make a comeback, it’s definitely time
Busy schedules along with high tech toys and screens have contributed to a decrease in parents reading nursery rhymes to their children and at great cost. Speech therapists tell me that kids are entering grade …
Why Little Miss Muffet and nursery rhymes, need to make a comeback, it’s definitely time Read More »
Girl leaders: One girl can change the world
According to a 2019 study by Plan International, 76% of girls globally aspire to be a leader in their country, community, and career. They surveyed over 10,000 girls and young women in more than 70 countries. One …
The different face of grit in disadvantaged youth
The now familiar concept of grit resonates with middle and upper class parents, but what is not often discussed is how different this quality can appear in disadvantaged children. People who exhibit grit go after something …
The different face of grit in disadvantaged youth Read More »
Why college freshmen are so lonely
A 2018 study by the American College Health Association found that 67% of females felt very lonely, up from 60% in 2013. 73% of females felt very sad, 45% felt so depressed it was difficult …
Why girls have suicidal thoughts
Suicidal ideation often emerges in adolescence, particularly among females. Girls are about twice as likely as boys to report considering suicide (22 vs.12 percent), and to attempt suicide (9 vs. 5 percent). The number of emergency room …
The latest extinct species? Neighbors
The latest species of creatures to go the way of the dinosaurs is neighbors, and along with them, a sense of community. According to the Pew Research Center, about 45% of people today socialize with their …
Homework, chores, routines: Top 4 tips on how to not mess up the school year
The 1st day of school is upon us once again, bursting with tears from children and whoops of joy from parents. Adults and kids will be faced with the daunting task of addressing agreements about …
Homework, chores, routines: Top 4 tips on how to not mess up the school year Read More »
Taking a Bite Out of Online Bullying- Part 1
There has been a lot of talk lately about online bullying and associated suicides. One area that gets little or no attention is what kids themselves can do to better take care of themselves in …
Are Hook-Ups Meaningless?
Many teenage girls today hook up with guys and have sex. These encounters are often described as being casual, random, emotionally detached, and with no strings attached. But I have wondered if that’s really true. …
Get outside in nature and play!!!
Turn off the TV and get out in nature and play! I know the temperature is starting to rise into the 90’s, and I can just feel people scrambling back inside to the comforts of …
Be kind to every child as they struggle with challenging lives
Be kind to every child you meet, because you don’t know what challenging adversities they are living through. It’s amazing to me what complicated lives so many children live, and how strong, resilient, and courageous …
Be kind to every child as they struggle with challenging lives Read More »
Walking is the best tool to decrease anxiety and increase innovation
Research has shown that walking can both decrease our anxiety and increase innovation. Fortunately, this does not require running marathons or doing Iron Man events. Regular participation in aerobic exercise has been shown to decrease …
Walking is the best tool to decrease anxiety and increase innovation Read More »
True love: How to find your soul mate
On the matter of true love, is there one soul mate out there destined for you, and if so, how do you find them? The truth is, no one really knows. There are as many …
Family values: the need to begin with the end in mind
Family values have taken a back seat in our culture, so I suggest that you begin with the end in mind. Based on where people spend their time and energy, it’s clear that we are …
Family values: the need to begin with the end in mind Read More »
Stop anxiously and negatively judging today’s youth
It’s high time we do a reality check and stop judging this new generation of youth so harshly. Four areas most under scrutiny are the gradually increasing age of first marriages, the effect of living …
Stop anxiously and negatively judging today’s youth Read More »
Mindfulness Tools to Prevent Stress and Anxiety
A new study on the positive effects of mindfulness education in school reminded me that practicing these tools at home can prevent stress and anxiety. These calming lessons done in the classroom helped students focus and …
College Admissions Cheating Scandal is a Symptom of a Deeper Problem
The college admissions cheating scandal, called Operation Varsity Blues, resulted in the indictment of 50 people, but this is just a symptom of a more far-reaching systemic problem. Parents, teachers, schools, and colleges have been …
College Admissions Cheating Scandal is a Symptom of a Deeper Problem Read More »
The Best Prescription for Stress and Depression: Laughter
Does laughter really reduce stress and depression and make us happier and healthier?Some researchers say that the definitive research into the potential health benefits of laughter just hasn’t been done. Yet, there have been many studies …
The Best Prescription for Stress and Depression: Laughter Read More »
WHY you go to College is Absolutely Critical for Success
WHY you go to college is far more important than where you go, despite cultural conditioning to the contrary. I’ve learned to ask high school girls what their plans are for after high school, and …
WHY you go to College is Absolutely Critical for Success Read More »