I grew up in the 70’s and 80’s. I often look back at these years in these articles to offer contrast to what life is like now. Shifts in culture and technology have fundamentally changed the lives of children and the role of parents—at times for better, at times for worse. One big shift has […]
Behavior
Dealing with High-Energy Kids
Martial arts has a reputation for helping kids with behavioral issues learn self-control, so parents will often come to our school seeking help. Over the past 25+ years, I have seen kids enrolled to help deal with a variety of issues. These include trouble with anger and/or fear, being bullied, difficulty concentrating in school, disrespectful […]
Should Your Child Do Chores?
My wife, Julie, and I have worked hard over the years to have a healthy and rewarding relationship. We have challenged each other in many unexpected ways and have both grown as a result. One of the things I learned from her, she began teaching me early in our relationship while we were in grad […]
Reduce Conflicts with Your Child by Pre-Framing
Kids are born to play. Their favorite activities involve playing, and they learn best when play is at the center of what they are doing. As a consequence, they have a hard time stopping play when they are required to move on to other, less-fun activities. While watching my daughter play on park playgrounds, I […]
Double Binds: Do You Send Mixed Messages?
In Zen Buddhism, teachers will use a variety of tools and methods to guide their students towards enlightenment. Meditation and the practice of art forms that cultivate stark, spare beauty are examples. Another is the use of a Koan. A Koan is an unsolvable riddle. A typical feature is the simple presentation of two or […]
Are You An Overindulgent Parent?
Are You an Overindulgent Parent? We are all hearing stories about helicopter parents and the ill-equipped children they are raising. Educators (and employers!) are having to learn strategies for dealing not just with their students, but also with their parents. Kids seem to have fewer and fewer life skills and are more likely to be […]