Parenting
‘Great parenting’ often comes down to this simple habit, says Ivy League psychologist: It helps you raise determined, resilient kids
If you want to raise successful, resilient kids, help them find activities they actually like, says psychologist Angela Duckworth. Instead of forcing your children to try a specific sport or instrument, spend time exposing them to a variety of extracurriculars and take note of what they spend the most time thinking about, Duckworth said on […]
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Stop asking ‘How was school today?’ To raise successful, mentally strong kids, ask these 7 questions instead
“My child won’t tell me anything about their day!” It’s a common concern I hear from parents in my psychotherapy office. They’re hoping to gain a glimpse into their child’s world. But asking “How was school today?” usually leads to a one-word answer. As a therapist and the author of “13 Things Mentally Strong Parents […]
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I’ve studied over 200 kids—these 7 ‘magic phrases’ can calm any tantrum instantly
When your kid is in the middle of a tantrum, logic and lectures don’t work. I’ve studied over 200 kids and worked with hundreds of families, and one thing is clear: Tantrums aren’t about defiance. Research shows that during emotional overwhelm, a child’s prefrontal cortex (the part of the brain responsible for reasoning and language) essentially goes […]
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Olympic gold medalist: Don’t make this mistake if you want to raise successful, ‘internally motivated’ children
Don’t feel guilty if you can’t make it to your kids’ after-school sports practices, says two-time Olympic gold medalist Abby Wambach. Leaving your kids with their teammates and coaches — without your supervision — can make them more resilient, conscientious and internally motivated athletes, the former U.S. Women’s National Team soccer star said in an Oct. […]
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The 2 things parents need to do before giving kids a smartphone or social media, from a psychologist
The longer you wait to give your child a smartphone or allow them to join social media, the happier and more successful they’re likely to be as adults, says psychologist Jean Twenge. To help parents facilitate that technological delay, Twenge recommends starting to teach kids how to use those technologies in safe and healthy ways […]
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Risk-averse parents are fueling Britain’s ambition crisis, VCs say
Mother and daughter using the laptop at home Fg Trade | E+ | Getty Images Concerns of an entrepreneurial ambition deficit in the U.K. have led some venture capitalists to question the role of risk-averse parents and a costly education system in disenfranchising young British people from becoming founders. Last month, U.K. Business Secretary Peter […]
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Psychologist’s No. 1 non-negotiable parenting rule for happier, healthier kids: It’s ‘very straightforward and costs nothing’
A lot of parents struggle with the idea of giving their kids access to smartphones or other connected devices. How old should they be when they get their first phone or tablet? What parental controls, if any, should you use? No matter what you decide, you need to follow one “imperative” rule to help your […]
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I’ve studied over 200 kids—the ones with ‘exceptional’ social skills have parents who do 9 things early on
Many parents think kids develop strong social skills from memorizing phrases like “please” and “thank you.” But the real foundation is built much earlier, at home and through everyday interactions. I’ve studied over 200 parent-child relationships, and I’m a mother myself. I’ve found that kids learn to communicate and connect by watching how their parents behave. […]
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Dad of 11-year-old college graduate shares his No. 1 non-negotiable parenting rule: ‘She comes before everything’
Much of Rafael Perales’ daily life revolves around his 11-year-old daughter’s education. Considering that the pre-teen is already a college graduate, that’s very much by design. In May, his daughter Alisa earned two associate degrees — in mathematics and general science — from Crafton Hills College, a public community college in Yucaipa, California, where she […]
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Bestselling author: This parenting habit keeps you from raising successful kids—but you can start fixing it ‘immediately’
Plenty of kids would rather sit in front of their phone screen than play a sport, pick up an instrument or read a book. They might be modeling that behavior from their parents, bestselling author and podcast host Mel Robbins said during a panel discussion hosted by Verizon on Wednesday. She spoke from personal experience, […]
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