Human beings are built to reflect each other’s emotions. When children display intense feelings and behaviors, our brains naturally reflect those. We start to feel stressed, angry, fearful, or overwhelmed, just like our kids. The most helpful thing we can do is to develop a brain calming practice and make it part of our daily routine.
Human beings are built to reflect each other’s emotions. When children display intense feelings and behaviors, our brains naturally reflect those. We start to feel stressed, angry, fearful, or overwhelmed, just like our kids.
We all get stressed. It may surprise you to learn that stress can actually be good for our bodies and brains—if we know how to deal with it. Learn practical techniques to reduce your stress, in the moment and over the long term.
Parents are vulnerable to passing on to their children unhealthy patterns of the past. Understanding your own childhood - both the positive and difficult experiences - can prevent us from recreating the harm to our children that was done to us.
It has been said that perfectionism is a trait that makes life an endless report card on accomplishments or appearances. The tendency toward perfectionism has increased significantly among young people over the past 30 years. It can be associated with depression, anxiety, eating disorders and even suicide. The needs to feel accepted and to be cared about tend to drive perfectionism and without treatment, may get worse over time.
Perfectionists strive for flawlessness in themselves and/or in others. If you’re wondering whether you have these tendencies, the chances are that you do to one degree or another.
A strong positive relationship with your child is the basis of cooperation. In this class you will learn ten steps to build the secure attachment relationship with your child that sets the stage for cooperation by celebrating successes and finding opportunities to offer warm positive feedback that works.
Children are happiest when they know what to expect. Arguments and misbehaviors often start when they feel that a rule is unfair or unexpected. When you talk about family rules and routines together as a family, it helps everyone feel better about what to expect even when they don’t get exactly what they want.
A better relationship with your child starts with helping them to understand and talk about their own feelings and the feelings of others. This skill is called “emotional intelligence” and it helps them to feel better about themselves and grow closer to you. As you help your child to develop more emotional intelligence it will naturally lead to less arguing and misbehaviors at home and help them to have stronger relationships throughout their life.
It can be a challenge to help your child feel safe when we are all navigating a new normal and trying to keep up. Children are especially at risk if they have not learned skills to cope with fear and other stressors. Now that children are spending more time with parents, it is particularly important for parents to recognize that we are the filters through which our children see that world.
Do you find yourself trying to solve your child's problems?
Do you sometimes get into conflict about problems that aren't really yours to solve?
Do you wish your child would be more effective at dealing with challenges?
When you recognize who "owns" a problem, you are able to determine who is responsible for solving a problem. Once you know which problems are yours to solve and which problems are your child's responsibility to solve, life gets a lot easier.
We often fall into conflicts when we try to solve our kids' problems. And it is important to raise children who know how to solve problems. When teens perceive that they are problem solvers, they are less likely to use substances, less likely to harm themselves or others and they are all around more competent.