Messy Rooms: How Do I Teach Children To De-clutter & Donate Toys To Charity?  The December holidays are coming to a close. As you come to from your turkey-induced drowsiness and look around, you feel a spark of motivation to use your few days off work to tackle some household chores you’ve been meaning to get to. The end of the year is drawing near and you are getting into the New Year spirit of “out with the old, in with the new” — and there’s a lot of “new” around you. As you walk through the house, you see piles of gifts everywhere! You immediately feel overwhelmed... (Read More ...)

December Holidays: What “History of Santa Claus” are You Creating?Honest Fun or Snowy “White Lies”? As the December Holidays arrive, you and your spouse begin discussing whether or not to do Santa with your toddler. She is old enough now to understand presents. Your husband has great memories of Santa, the fun, the excitement, the anticipation of wondering what Santa brought, leaving cookies for him and carrots for the reindeer. It’s a fun practice he wants to do with your toddler. You, on the other hand, remember the fun of the Santa tradition, but also felt terribly betrayed when you... (Read More ...)

December Holidays:  How Can You Instill The Spirit Of Giving When Children Get the Holiday Gimmees? You’re at the toy store, picking out a gift  for your nephew.  Your son is with you.  You think this would be a great time to teach him about the spirit of giving, by having him help you pick out the toy. All through the store you hear: “Look!  I really want this.  Can we get this for me?” “Hey, will you get this for me today?  I want this really bad!” “I just have to have this!” “Hey, I want that!  Why do we have to give it to my cousin?” You understand your child’s... (Read More ...)

December Holidays:  Is it Okay to Use Threats About Santas Good Bad List For Child Discipline? You are busy getting ready for the holiday family gatherings that are quickly approaching. While out shopping at the mall, your children start clamoring for you to take them to see Santa so they can give them their wish list. You want to do this on a day when you can get them dressed for the photo opportunity, so you tell them to wait until you can plan that outing another day. They protest in unison, “We wanna see Santa! We wanna see Santa!” You tell them you want them to look nice for Santa. They... (Read More ...)

How Do You Teach Children To Have An Attitude Of Gratitude & Instill A Spirit Of Giving? Your son has just opened his 4th present.  Instead of showing gratitude, he throws it aside and says, “What’s next!?”  Your Daughter starts throwing a fit because she just counted the gifts and she has one less than her brother.  The vision you had of a holiday filled with the spirit of giving has diminished in the matter of minutes.   The November and December Holidays are often known to be the season of influenza, but it’s also a season when “affluenza” can be particularly contagious,... (Read More ...)

How Can You Help With Teenage Problems When Your Teens Won’t Talk?   How Can You Help With Teenage Problems When Your Teens Won’t Talk Do Conversations With Your Teens Sound Like This? Jimmy, 15-years-old, just got home from soccer practice. “Tom is a jerk,” he fumed as he bounded through the door. “Jim Cooper, you know better than to call people names. What is the problem?” demanded his mom, Kim. Jim’s voice trembled with hurt as he angrily snapped, “He laughed and made fun me in front of everyone when I tripped and fell on the field today.” “Well, kids can be cruel at... (Read More ...)

Looking for Homework Tips For Parents of Children who Intentionally Don’t Do Their Homework?   Can you relate to Barb? Barb is a single mom.  She leaves work, rushes to pick up the children from after-school care and then home to start dinner.  Once dinner is started, she begins asking about homework.  Her teenager says “I’ll do it later.”  Barb says, “You need to get started now because your sister has a soccer game tonight and there won’t be time later.”  Her ten-year-old pulls the homework out of her bag and complains, “I’m not good at math.  I’ll never get these problems... (Read More ...)

Are You Doing More Homework Than Your Children? What Can Homework Helpers Do To Halt Homework Hassles?   Can you relate to Joan? Joan has two children who just can’t seem to get their homework done without her or them getting frustrated to tears.  Joan repeatedly picks up or delivers her one child’s forgotten homework . When her daughter does remember it, she doesn’t understand it and Joan feels like she has to teach her all over again! Her other child could get his homework done in a flash, if he would just sit down and do it. He puts it off, because he says he already knows it and thinks... (Read More ...)

How Do I Prepare Teens to Leave the Nest? Back to School Tips for Teens Entering High School   John is going be at the high school this year.  There are so many different students.  John seems to be more out spoken than he used to be and has started to back talk frequently.  His parents are concerned that John is shutting down the lines of communication he once had with them.  They are afraid he may get in with the “wrong crowd” and make some bad decisions.  Do you have a child transitioning from middle school to high school?   If so, you will want to find ways to keep the lines of... (Read More ...)

How Do I Prepare My Teen to Leave the Nest? Back to School Tips for Teens Headed to College   Amy is headed off college for the first time this Fall.  She will be 3 hours away from home.  It will be the first time she is that far away from her parents.  Amy’s parents are concerned about their daughter.  Will she make the right decisions?  They have concerns about teenage drinking.  Will she give into peer pressure?  They hope the values that are important to them will remain with their daughter during her time at college. Do you have a child headed off to college for the first time?  ... (Read More ...)