Parenting advice to open up communication, rebuild a relationship with your teen or know what to do when your son or daughter starts to pull away and give you the cold shoulder Let’s face it: teens really are a different species –and for a variety of reasons. Raging hormones, stress, sleep deprivation, growth spurts, self-consciousness and neurological wiring are just a few factors that make teens super sensitive, moody and irritable. So let’s have a little empathy—they are s

Potentially lethal activities kids do that every parent and educator must know Some things never change: teens have always been risk takers, thrill seekers and want to fit in. But oh the “creative” ways adolescents try to get high these days… like soaking tampons with liquor and inserting them, infusing alcohol into gummy bears and popping them anyplace and anytime, and drinking hand sanitizer. They even have clever ways to store their stash these days like in sandals that co

BC research and three takeaways for bully prevention That doesn’t imply that bullying can’t be reduced – after all, bullying is a learned behavior so it can be unlearned. What it does mean that we need to become far better consumers in purchasing and implementing “anti-bullying curriculums”  so we do ensure that those programs, policies, and practices that we do adopt will work with our children. That’s why I urge you to review the new research by the University of British Co

Parenting tips I offered as the  expert on the NBC Dateline special: “My Kid Would Never…” series “Stranger Safety Tips” “Hi kids!, he says. “Want an ice cream? I bet I have your favorite. Come look!,” he says. Then he slides open the window to reveal an enticing array of choices. Your child may be a bit cautious, but the driver opens the door and invites him or her to step in. “You can’t see all the selections from out there. Look what I have inside. I’m giving them out free

Simple ways to cultivate our children’s empathy all year round In today’s world of instant updates and on-demand media, we are often bombarded with horrific images and stories from around the globe of people hurting and in need. While our instincts as parents are to protect our child from those images, another option is to discuss these events that are beyond our control with our children. After all, most of us want our kids to be empathetic, kind and caring young men and wom

I often hear parents say they wish they had a manual on how to raise caring kids. Of course, there are many including the work of Dr. Michele Borba, who is one of the leading experts on nurturing character in kids. After reviewing hundreds of articles, book excerpts, interviews etc. from many of today’s top experts I have a question that isn’t answered in the current research. As my kids have grown and I used the strategies that clearly do work…..I stand back and take a look

Bullies have become an everyday part of our kids’ lives. In person or online, they are threatening kids and causing fear even when they are not in the same room. If we are going to help it is critical that we recognize the signs in our kids and know what to do if your child is becoming the victim of a bully. Dr. Michele Borba offers these helpful tips: Believe your child. Take his complaints seriously. Don’t overreact:  listen calmly and encourage him to tell you if it contin

By Dr. Michele Borba Get on board with the other parent. Anytime you are responsible for the care of another child always introduce yourself to the other kid’s parent. You can exchange emergency information but also bring up discipline. “Are here any special rules you’d like your child to follow?” What would you like me to do if they act up when they’re with me?” A brief chat will clue you into the parent’s discipline views and also make things easier in case there is a probl