Austin’s traffic is pretty bad. And it only promises to get worse. Density is increasing without the infrastructure to keep up with it. Thanks to our handheld devices, that density is being confounded by distraction. There is an intersection near TMAA that regularly has very serious accidents. Several times a week, the lights of emergency […]
Being A Parent
Does Punishment Make Your Child Better at Misbehaving?
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 […]
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 […]
Give Your Child Benadryl for Peace and Quiet?
Some quick searches online bring up surveys that say this is a surprisingly common practice. In one survey, 20% of respondents said they had given their children Benadryl before a long car trip or a plane ride. 12% said they gave their kids a regular nightly dose to put them to sleep and have a […]
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 […]