Photo Credit: Ashley M. Blanco Decision making is a part of daily living. It heavily influences our internal lives and deeply affects the quality of our external lives. Children and adolescents are not exempt from this part of life. They, too, make decisions about their actions. And many teens, believe it or not, struggle withContinue reading “Don’t Wait Until Something Happens to Teach Decision Making to Kids. Start Here Today.”
Tag Archives: parenting
Spotlight the Slipups
Challenges that arise during homework time can quickly become a threat to a highly sensitive child or adolescent. She perceives that she is not equipped to address the demands of the assignment. But her perceptions are not necessarily true. She has to learn how capable she is, and perceptions don’t always see the outcome. There’sContinue reading “Spotlight the Slipups”
On Crocs, Slides, and Pajamas
Today’s youth have the ultimate experience of opting into comfort. They can order almost any item they can afford from the phones without having to leave their location to receive their order. They can ease out of tolerance-building discomfort (those found in physical education, the arts, and sports) with claims of pain and injury. TheyContinue reading “On Crocs, Slides, and Pajamas”
This Reminds Me of Something My Teacher Said
Children with bursting lights of energy are full of ideas. Those with verbal capabilities can express their theories regarding the conversations and behaviors of children and adults surrounding them. They have ideas for how things work together. They also have hypotheses about why things may not work together in different contexts. It’s quite fascinating. TheseContinue reading “This Reminds Me of Something My Teacher Said”
Power Up for Homework Time with Pre-Homework Conversations
For many families across the United States, homework time is an evening must-do that, if not completed at school or the afterschool program, is an eye-rolling event during dinner preparation. “Only a few more years before they’re completing this on their own,” adults utter internally between the sighs of their patience. While a “a fewContinue reading “Power Up for Homework Time with Pre-Homework Conversations”
Don’t Give In! Your Children Want You to Win!
The ages at which children and youth begin to realize their parents are not really superheroes vary from child to child. But there is something notable about parents and guardians who demonstrate the power of addressing conflict. Instead of avoiding it or denying it, they collaborate with trusted family and friends, devising short-term and long-termContinue reading “Don’t Give In! Your Children Want You to Win!”
How to Respond When Children Push Boundaries Because They Feel Safe
One thing all children and teens need to grow into their most optimal and holistically healthy selves is a sense of physical safety that resonates as inner security. Decades of child development research, positive psychology, and neuroscience research support this truth. The journey to inner security is often characterized as “coming home to ourselves;” “creatingContinue reading “How to Respond When Children Push Boundaries Because They Feel Safe”
The Powerful Difference Between Speaking to Understand and Seeking to Understand
Have you ever thought this thought: “If I can just say the right thing at the right time, this child (or the student you love) would understand they have choices, and they’ll make a better choice?” I’ve had this thought. It comes from a sincere place, good-hearted place. But it also comes from a placeContinue reading “The Powerful Difference Between Speaking to Understand and Seeking to Understand”
Ashley M. Blanco 