teaching kids

Why Do Kids Get Stuck on Certain Tasks?

When we focus on our kids’ learning process over their final product, we can take steps to help them overcome hurdles. In our daily lives, there is a premium on product or getting things done. Whether it is chores, homework, or getting to places on time, executing tasks is highly prized. In the immediate, there… Read more »

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Why We Need to Teach Kids Emotional Intelligence

For years, I’ve taught a weekly psychology class to students ranging from 7 to 14 years-old. In this class, I encourage self-reflection, asking kids to identify and express what they think and feel and to consider the thoughts and feelings of others. The results are often surprising. Strong, self-aware statements come out of their mouths… Read more »

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Top 8 Ways to Protect Your Kids Online and Improve Communication in the Family

As a middle school teacher, I constantly have parents come to me and ask if I would be willing to impose a rule for my class that students cannot use social networking sites like  twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, or any of those types of social networks at home, because they don’t want to be the bad… Read more »

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A Gender Sensitive Approach to Violence

Dr. Don Meichenbaum, PTSD expert, discusses an individuals journey from birth, to engaging in violence in this exclusive interview series with Dr. Lisa Firestone. I’m a clinical psychologist and for thirty-five years, I had been involved at the University of Waterloo, which is near Toronto and we have developed what are called cognitive-behavioral procedures to work… Read more »

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Learning from My Students

In honor of back-to-school season, here is a story from a PsychAlive reader about lessons learned as an elementary school teacher. As a teacher, it is easy  to feel that you are better than the kids you are teaching.  It is easy to feel that you always know what is right and know the best… Read more »

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Your Child and Self-Control: Job or Jail?

Whether your child grows up to lead a productive, satisfying life — or instead grows up to lead a life of crime — a new study shows that self-control is a determining factor.  An added benefit for those who have learned this form of personal power at an early age?  Fewer health problems and fewer… Read more »

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Role Models

“Example is not the main thing, it is the only thing.” Albert Schwitzer The most powerful influence that parents can have on their children’s lives is the example they set by how they live their own lives. Children instinctively identify with and imitate their parents. This psychological process has a much greater impact on a… Read more »

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Discipline

One of parenting’s most challenging opportunities Often in circumstances where it is necessary for a parent to discipline a child, the parent’s own anger or frustration comes through in lieu of healthy guidance and direction. At these times, we hear words we never thought we’d say coming out of our mouths: “Because I say so!”… Read more »

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