parenting tips

Overcoming Two of Parenting’s Greatest Challenges

By Dr. Lisa Firestone and Joyce Catlett   Raising children can be one of the most challenging jobs in life; it certainly is one of the most important. Renowned British pediatrician/ psychoanalyst, Donald Winnicott once told a group of parents:  “You are engaged in founding the mental health of the next generation.” Although, as parents,… Read more »

Learn More

Bullying and Mental Health

We all know that children who are beaten and abused by adults are more likely to develop problems of their own at some point in time – but did you know that bullying by peers is five times more likely to result in anxiety and twice as likely to result in depression and talking about… Read more »

Learn More

7 Tips for Parent’s to Help Their Teen Create a Strong Sense of Self

As we welcome in the New Year we also look at goals and new opportunities to explore in the coming year. A fresh start. As parents, it might be a great time to reflect on how you are supporting your kids in building a stronger sense of self. Sometimes as parents we can get a… Read more »

Learn More

6 Rules to Live By When You Discipline Your Child

Anyone can tell you that discipline is a messy business. Not even the best of parents could possibly get it right all the time. However, part of what complicates the process of teaching our kids to behave is that parents bring a lot of their own baggage to the table. Kids can be a big… Read more »

Learn More

How to Break the Cycle of Child Abuse

At this point, I shouldn’t have to list off all the reasons spanking your child doesn’t work. It’s science, it’s proven, and we may as well be revisiting a discussion of whether the world is flat. If the damage it does to children’s spirits (not to mention their actual brains) isn’t enough to convince you, maybe it should… Read more »

Learn More

7 Steps to Keep Your Teenagers Brains Healthy and Strong for the Final Weeks of School

So as the school year comes to an end and winds down, parents are at home trying to support their kids and teens through the stress of these final weeks: writing papers, taking finals, exams, quizzes, reading logs, math tests, science memorizing…etc… And this is usually on top of all those extracurricular activities parents try… Read more »

Learn More

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 »

Learn More

Is Your Technology Use Hurting Your Kids?

A recent study of families in fast food restaurants showed that 70 percent of parents were distracted by their devices during their meal. In the meantime, their children complained and misbehaved, throwing tantrums and even food at their parents. The usage of smart phones has overwhelmed the population, with people barely able to make it through dinner… Read more »

Learn More

6 Suggestions for Parents in the Digital Age

Technology – Taming the Tiger Technology is here to stay. Like a tiger, it is fiercely powerful, agile and needs to be handled with care.  Technology has become a staple in our lives, helping us with every thing from keeping track of appointments and paying bills to helping our kids with their homework through quick… Read more »

Learn More

Benefits of Mindful Parenting

You’re running late, picking up some last-minute groceries. Your 7-year-old is dressed for baseball practice, and your 3-year-old has just kicked off her shoes in the middle of the freezer aisle. Frantically, you attempt to put her shoes back on, which sends her into a tantrum. At this exact moment, your 7-year-old catches a glimpse… Read more »

Learn More